G-Mac delighted with start to US Open

Graeme McDowell insisted he was delighted to kick off the defence of his US Open crown with a fine 70 at Congressional.

The Ulsterman produced a very consistent display with two birdies and just a single bogey to put himself amongst the early pacesetters.

"Very happy with the way I played today [Thursday]," he told Sky Sports. "I drove the ball beautifully which is a big key on this golf course - you've got to play it from the fairway to have a chance and I positioned the ball really well.
"I hung in there well and any greens I missed I scrambled well and the only bogey of the day was on one with a gap wedge in my hand out of the right bunker and I plugged it in the front bunker and made five there, but I really hung tough after that and gave myself.
"I gave myself a bunch of chances, I couldn't quite convert - it would have been nice to pick up one of those on 17 or 18 - but dream start and happy with it."
With nine straight pars on his back nine, McDowell produced just the kind of consistent, error-free golf required at a US Open and insists he is relishing the task in hand.
"You've only got to look at the scoreboard today [Thursday], no-one's going crazy, the pins were gentleish today but no-one's really gone that deep," he continued.
"Like I said you've got to drive it great to have a chance to score, but if you do that you can fire at a few pins.
"But as we know this golf course is going to get tougher and tougher and tougher so I'm really pleased with the way I controlled the ball today [Thursday] because I'll need to continue to do that this weekend.
"I feel really, really good this week. There's been a lot of talking about the past and I was really ready to get here and start moving towards the future again.
"It's been a great 12 months and I wouldn't change it for the world, but I'm happy to be here, hand the trophy back and start talking about what I want to achieve in the rest of my career."

Newey impressed by Vettel approach

Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey believes Sebastian Vettel's level-headed attitude has been the key to his success.

Reigning Formula One world champion Vettel is currently romping away this year as the 23-year-old leads the standings by 60 points ahead of a chasing pack spearheaded by McLaren's Jenson Button.
Newey, who has spent virtually his entire career working in F1, has been left amazed by the cool approach adopted by Vettel for one so young.
"The very special thing with Sebastian is how mature he is at this age," said Newey on formula1.com.
"I've seen so often that when drivers suddenly rise from obscurity to incredible stardom and fame that it goes to their head.
"They lose ground and their head gets a bit too big. Sebastian is remarkably level headed.
"He is a very private man and isn't into the fame at all. He thinks a lot about what he does and rarely makes the same mistake twice, and he is very hard working.
"He is always in the paddock in the evening, speaking with his engineers, going through the data and reflecting on what he did in the car.
"I think that's one thing all great drivers have in common."
Newey, the most successful designer in F1 with seven titles to his name with Williams, McLaren and now Red Bull, concedes the pressure of striving to be the best does take its toll.
"It's a constant stress so it is simply the level I live on," added Newey.
"I find my biggest enemy is time. The job is very time consuming - and can be over consuming if you are not careful.

"To find enough time for the family - to have a life outside Formula One - I really have to snatch this time.
"Then when I find myself idle for an hour, I almost feel guilty about it because I am not doing something. So time is the biggest pressure.
"Of course, there is also the pressure to do well. If you are doing badly then you want to do well, and then when you do, you are under pressure to maintain it. It's the eternal circle."
Naturally for Newey, the pressure for this season is obvious as he said: "We have to win the championship - nothing less."

Chelsea, Arsenal appeal to Taarabt

Adel Taarabt admits he could be tempted by a move to a big-four Premier League club such as Chelsea, but values playing regularly at QPR.

Taarabt was instrumental in Rangers' promotion to the top-flight last season, and was named Championship Player of the Year for his efforts.
His fine form has reportedly turned the heads of some of the country's biggest clubs, with Liverpool and Manchester United among those to be linked with the 22-year-old.
But while the Moroccan says he would like a move to a high-profile side, he admits he would prefer to play every game for Rangers than warm the bench at Chelsea.
He told Football365.fr: "I like the London clubs. I do not hide my liking for Chelsea.
"I would prefer to play regularly at QPR to being on the bench for a season at Chelsea. Now, if they told me I'd play 20 games per season, I think I'd be very tempted."
The midfielder, who scored 18 goals in 44 games for Rangers last season, also spoke about a move to Arsenal to link up with fellow Moroccan Marouane Chamakh.
"The idea is very appealing. Especially since there is also Samir Nasri, who I know very well," he added.
"But after that, there is a real possibility of playing the minimum."
Former Tottenham man Taarabt, who is contracted at Loftus Road until June 2013, claims clubs interested in his services have been in contact with QPR.
Asked if he would like a move to a big club in England, he replied: "It's currently what I'm trying to achieve. Today, I have a two-year contract with QPR.
"Yes, there is contact but I cannot say more, as you can imagine."

West Indies vs India 5th ODI | June 16, 2011, India in West Indies, 2011|Photo Gallery

India in West Indies, 2011 5th Oneday International scorecard

West Indies vs India, 5th ODI

Venue: Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica   Toss: West Indies (Elect to field)

	West Indies Innings		R	B	4s	6s	SR
	L Simmons	c A Mishra & b V Kumar	6	16	0	0	37.5
	A Barath	lbw A Mishra	17	46	1	0	36.96
	R Sarwan	retired hurt	75	94	5	1	79.79
	M Samuels	not out	28	25	3	0	112
	D Bravo	st P Patel & b A Mishra	86	99	3	6	86.87
	K Pollard	not out	24	13	3	1	184.62
	C Baugh(wk)	dnb	0	0	0	0	0.00
	D Sammy(c)	dnb	0	0	0	0	0.00
	A Russell	dnb	0	0	0	0	0.00
	K Roach	dnb	0	0	0	0	0.00
	A Martin	dnb	0	0	0	0	0.00
	Extras	b - 0, lb - 9, w - 9, nb - 1, Total - 19
	Total: (255 for 3 in 48.4 overs)		255 (5.24 runs per over)

Fall of Wickets

1/12 (Lendl Simmons, 4.2 ov.), 2/53 (Adrian Barath, 15.2 ov.), 3/213 (Darren Bravo, 45.1 ov.)

	Bowler		O	M	R	W	Econ
	Vinay Kumar		9	2	46	1	5.11
	Ishant Sharma		9.4	0	49	0	5.07
	Amit Mishra		10	1	46	2	4.6
	Ravichandran Ashwin		10	1	50	0	5
	Suresh Raina(c)		6	0	35	0	5.83
	Yusuf Pathan		1	0	7	0	7
	Virat Kohli		3	0	13	0	4.33

Go to Top

	India Innings		R	B	4s	6s	SR
	S Dhawan	c R Sarwan & b K Roach	11	26	1	0	42.31
	P Patel(wk)	c A Martin & b A Russell	6	11	0	0	54.55
	V Kohli	runout (C Baugh)	94	104	10	0	90.38
	M Tiwary	c C Baugh & b K Pollard	22	22	1	1	100
	R Sharma	b A Martin	57	72	2	1	79.17
	S Raina(c)	c A Barath & b K Pollard	0	4	0	0	0
	Y Pathan	c C Baugh & b A Russell	30	29	2	1	103.45
	R Ashwin	not out	8	7	1	0	114.29
	A Mishra	b A Russell	0	1	0	0	0
	V Kumar	c C Baugh & b K Roach	2	8	0	0	25
	I Sharma	b A Russell	0	2	0	0	0
	Extras	b - 0, lb - 1, w - 19, nb - 1, Total - 21
	Total: (251 all out in 47.3 overs)		251 (5.28 runs per over)

Fall of Wickets

1/15 (Parthiv Patel, 3.4 ov.), 2/21 (Shikhar Dhawan, 6.6 ov.), 3/79 (Manoj Tiwary, 15.6 ov.), 4/189 (Virat Kohli, 36 ov.), 5/190 (Suresh Raina, 36.5 ov.), 6/225 (Rohit Sharma, 42.6 ov.), 7/245 (Yusuf Pathan, 45.2 ov.), 8/246 (Amit Mishra, 45.3 ov.), 9/249 (Vinay Kumar, 46.6 ov.), 10/251 (Ishant Sharma, 47.3 ov.)

	Bowler		O	M	R	W	Econ
	Kemar Roach		10	0	52	2	5.2
	Darren Sammy(c)		6	0	48	0	8
	Andre Russell		8.3	0	35	4	4.12
	Kieron Pollard		8	0	39	2	4.88
	Anthony Martin		10	1	39	1	3.9
	Lendl Simmons		5	0	37	0	7.4

Umpires: Ian Gould (Eng) & Norman Malcolm (WI)

Third Umpire: Joel S Wilson (WI)

Match Referee: Jeff Crowe (NZ)

Akhtar chooses business over cricket

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar said he will not participate in the Sri Lankan Premier League, since he wants to concentrate on his business.

"The issue is that I have started a business and it needs a lot of time from me. So I wouldn't be able to make it to Sri Lanka," Akhtar, who retired during the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, said.

The fast bowler from Rawalpindi also said that for the time being he has lost his appetite for the game because of his business interests.

The Sri Lankan Premier League (SPL), on the lines of the Indian Premier League, has attracted players from many countries including Pakistan's Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq.

The first edition of the league, hosted by Sri Lanka's cricket Board, will be played from July 19 to August 4.

Akhtar has told his supporters that he is keen to get one final farewell match from Pakistan and his home association had also said it would support him.

But with no international team touring Pakistan, the PCB has also not responded positively to Akhtar's desire to play a farewell match.

Akhtar retired at the age of 35 during the 2011 ICC CWC, which also turned out to be a controversial tournament for him as he was fined and charged with quarreling with teammate Kamran Akmal over a dropped catch during the match against New Zealand.

Sreesanth to be fit for England tour

Ruled out of the West Indies Test series due to an elbow injury, India pacer S Sreesanth is hoping to be fit for the England tour starting next month.

Sreesanth took time out from his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore to visit the temple to pray to Lord Ayyappan.

"I hope I am fit before England series. I can't wait to swing the ball in England and win the series for India. I am preparing myself for the England series and am hoping for a strong comeback," he said.

Sreesanth would fancy a strong performance in England if he is selected in the Indian squad as he has played for Warwickshire county in 2009.

India play a four-match Test series against England starting on July 21, followed by a Twenty20 International and five ODIs.

Sreesanth rued missing out of the West Indies Test series, which begins on June 20.

"I surely miss West Indies, loved bowling there in 2006 when we won. I still remember getting Brian Lara out for a duck at Antigua," he concluded.