Trinidad and Tobago elect to bat against Somerset

October 8th, 2009 BANGALORE - The inaugural Champions League Twenty20 cricket extravaganza started with a dazzling opening ceremony at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium here Thursday. For the next 15 days, twelve teams drawn from hosts India, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago will compete in cricket's first ever international club tournament.

October 7th, 2009 BANGALORE - Cricket's first ever international club tournament -- Champions League Twenty20 -- will kick off here Thursday with a high voltage match between local favourites Royal Challengers and South African Cape Cobras. Some of game's big names will turn out in their club jerseys for the twelve teams drawn from hosts India, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago.

October 6th, 2009 JOHANNESBURG - West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has said that all star players of the West Indies will make themselves available for national duty soon. Speaking from his home in Trinidad, Bravo told the Sydney Morning Herald: " We are looking forward to getting back playing international cricket." It is the clearest statement of intent to come out of the Caribbean in months, and a positive sign for the Australian summer.

October 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Former England Test opener Marcus Trescothick has said that the passion shown for cricket by Indians can help him overcome his fear of touring. The Somerset batsman is set to fly out for the Champions League Twenty20 to do battle with the world's best club sides next week.

September 12th, 2009 COLOMBO - Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat against India in the Compaq Cup cricket tri-series at the R.Premadasa stadium here Saturday. Both teams have already made it to the final Monday as New Zealand have lost both their matches.

September 7th, 2009 LONDON - Former England opener Marcus Trescothick, who retired from international cricket due to stress-related illness, is all set to tour India for next month's Twenty20 Champions League after being named in the Somerset squad. Trescothick's illness surfaced during England tour to India three years ago and he had to leave midway through the series.

August 17th, 2009 LONDON - Former England Test batsman Marcus Trescothick faces returning to India three years after a terrifying attack of depression led the talented cricketer to cut short an India tour. Trescothick, regarded as one of England's most talented batsmen, flew back to England after repeated panic attacks in February 2006.

August 12th, 2009 LONDON - England batsman Marcus Trescothick may come out of his retirement if selectors give him a chance to play in the final Ashes Test at The Oval. Trescothick said that he can play in the last match if it was just a one-off appearance.

August 11th, 2009 LONDON - Somerset County Cricket Club CEO Richard Gould believes former England opener Marcus Trescothick can be coaxed to come out of international retirement to participate in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval next week. The left-handed opener has not played Test cricket since returning to England before the start of the 2006/07 Ashes tour in Australia.

July 30th, 2009 MUMBAI - The Champions League Twenty20 cricket will kick off in Bangalore Oct 8 with the Royal Challengers Bangalore taking on the Cape Cobras of South Africa at the N. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

July 29th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad will host the first Twenty20 Champions League to be played Oct 8-23. The venues are home to the three Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises -- Delhi Daredevils, Bangalore Royal Challengers and Deccan Chargers -- who have qualified for the 12-team tournament that will have 23 matches.

July 25th, 2009 SYDNEY - Former Australian Test opener Justin Langer has expressed his desire to play for the national team once again, saying he is ready to comeback from retirement to play in the third Ashes Test. Langer, who recently broke Don Bradman's record of scoring most first-class runs, said he is ready to play the third Ashes Test against Australia "for nothing".

July 24th, 2009 SOMERSET - Former Australian opener Mathew Hayden has lauded former mate and opening partner Justin Langer for overtaking the legendary Sir Donald Bradman as his country's most prolific scorer in first class cricket. Giving an instant tribute to Langer, an emotional Hayden, who is on a business trip to India, was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald, as saying that Langer was a worthy successor to Bradman because he cherished the game's traditions and had qualities that made him one of Australia's most successful opening batsmen.

June 27th, 2009 KINGSTON - The Jamaican health ministry has put the ongoing one-day series between India and the West Indies under "special swine flu surveillance" after the outbreak of influenza A(H1N1) in the island nation. Health Minister Ruddy Spencer has asked the local administration to take proper action to prevent the spread of the virus at public gatherings and has also appealed to the infected people to stay away from cricket grounds.

June 22nd, 2009 KINGSTON - The Indian cricket team kept its fingers crossed and geared up for the One-day series against the West Indies as the first ever Caribbean Games to be held in Trinidad and Tobago, slated for July, has been cancelled due to the outbreak of swine flu. Trinidad and Tobago's Health Minister Jerry Narace and Sports Minister Gary Hunt said the Games were cancelled to prevent the spread of the influenza A (HINI) virus that has so far spread to more than 76 countries and infected more than 30,000 people.