Napier (New Zealand), Mar. 27: India was up against the wall on the second day of second cricket Test against New Zealand at McLean Park here on Friday, trailing the hosts by 540 runs and with only seven wickets in hand.

Replying to New Zealand’s mammoth 619 for nine declared, India was precariously placed at 79 for the loss of three wickets at the close of play. At the crease were batting stalwarts Rahul Dravid on 21 with two boundaries and Sachin Tendulkar, who is yet to open his account.

London, Mar 27: Sir Alex Ferguson will quit as Manchester United boss at the end of next season, his son Darren has said.

Ferguson Junior believes his 67-year-old dad will be happy once United overhaul Liverpool’s record of 18 league titles.

“His health is fine and he’s building a new team. If they win this year then they catch Liverpool in terms of titles won. I can see him doing this year and next — and then that might be it for him,” The Sun quoted Peterborough boss Darren, as saying.

London, Mar 27: Ace English midfielder David Beckham has blown away all talk of international retirement by declaring that he wants to play until he turns 50.

Former England skipper Beckham is expected to win his 109th cap in the friendly against Slovakia at Wembley, breaking Bobby Moore’s record for an outfield player.

“I’d love to go to the World Cup and be involved in every squad that gets picked up to that time. I don’t think I’d ever retire.”

Melbourne - Williams upstaged the favourites Friday in the first official Formula One practice session of 2009.

German Nico Rosenberg, third in Melbourne last year, topped the time sheets ahead of Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.

Team-mate Kazuki Nakajima was second in the first free practice of the day. Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen was in third place for Ferrari, followed by the first Brawn GP driven by Brazilian veteran Rubens Barrichello.

Denver, Colorado - The International Olympic Committee on Thursday voiced satisfaction with the progress being made by organizers of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Meeting in Denver, Colorado, the IOC heard from French skiing legend Jean-Claude Killy, chairman of the Sochi evaluation committee, that progress in preparing the games in the Black Sea resort city were making satisfactory progress.

Organizers said that construction of venues could begin as soon as May.

Gelsenkirchen, Germany  - Schalke 04 parted company with coach Fred Rutten Thursday, just hours after the Dutchman said he had been told by club general secretary Peter Peters that he would not be retained next season.

The 46-year-old Rutten was informed of the decision after a crisis meeting with supervisory board Chairman Josef Schnusenberg, which the club described as "very practical and also at times emotional."

Rutten's backroom coaching team of Mike Bueskens, Youri Mulder and Oliver Reck will take control of the first team until a successor has been found.