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Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Anil Kumble,who had a base price of $400,000,on Tuesday pulled out of the Indian Premier League auction scheduled to be held on January 8 and 9 in Bangalore after citing business commitments

Kumble pulls out of IPL auction

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Anil Kumble,who had a base price of $400,000,on Tuesday pulled out of the Indian Premier League auction scheduled to be held on January 8 and 9 in Bangalore after citing business commitments. The team said that Kumble will now be the chief mentor. Kumble was recently elected president of the Karnataka Cricket Association and is also the chairman of the National Cricket Academy. Kumble is also involved in wildlife conservation. He dismissed suggestions that he decided to retire from the IPL as Royal Challengers hadn’t retained him and put him up for auction. “I am not upset that I have not been retained. This is not the reason for me deciding to skip the auction. There is no bitterness,it is my and only my decision. I have lots of responsibilities due to which I decided to stop playing. There are lot of things on the plate and I need to ensure that I fulfil my responsibility,” Kumble said on Tuesday. This means that Kumble who called it quits from Tests in Nov. 2008,has retired from all forms of the game. “I wish to withdraw from the players auction for IPL IV scheduled for the 8th and 9th of January 2011 in Bangalore,” said the leg-spinner in an IPL release. Soon after Kumbles announcement,RCB appointed him as the chief mentor of the side.

England still on top

England closed to within 113 runs of an innings lead against a fighting Australia after an engrossing second day of the final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The tourists,chasing their first series win Down Under in 24 years,got off to a rollicking start with a 98-run opening partnership before Australia struck back with three wickets,including that of Kevin Pietersen. At close,England were 167/3 in reply to Australia’s 280 with Alastair Cook unbeaten on 61 and nightwatchman James Anderson not out one. Earlier,Mitchell Johnson (53) and Ben Hilfenhaus (34) seized the initiative for the home side after lunch with some lusty hitting in a lively 76-run partnership for the ninth wicket.

Dempo beat ONGC

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Dempo put up a disciplined performance to score a 2-0 victory over ONGC in the seventh round of I-League at the Nehru Stadium in Margao. Dempo,who registered their third win in the league,made early forays and took the lead in the eighth minute of the match through striker Joaquim Abranches. The return of Abranches gave a definite boost to Dempo’s attack as he,along with man-of-the-match Roberto Silva,spearheaded the home team’s forwardline.

Kaka enjoying return

Real Madrids Kaka was delighted to return to action on Monday when he played the last quarter of an hour of the La Liga giants 3-2 win at Getafe just under five months after a knee operation. The Brazil playmaker and 2007 World Player of the Year looked fit and hungry,linked well with Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo and managed one effort on goal that flew well wide. “I went through some very difficult moments during this period but at last I think it’s over. I didn’t know when I would return,if I would return,and I am very happy. I felt really good,” he said.

Rovers eye Ronaldinho

Premier League struggler Blackburn hope to sign Ronaldinho from AC Milan and have approached David Beckham in an attempt to sign the former England captain on loan. The chairperson of the company that bought Blackburn in November said on Tuesday that their Brazilian office is negotiating with representatives of Ronaldinho,a two-time world player of the year and 2002 World Cup winner. Venky’s chairperson Anuradha J. Desai said that Blackburn offered the Brazil forward a 2 1/2-year contract worth $32.8 million.