Napier, Mar. 24: India’s batting machine has dented the confidence of New Zealand’s fast bowlers so much, that a majority of them have owned up to not possessing the required counter-attacking skills.

One of them is New Zealand’s most experienced bowler, Kyle Mills.

In the wake of a master class 42nd Test hundred by India’s Sachin Tendulkar (160) at Hamilton, Mills made little effort to mask his inadequacies as he reflected on the least-memorable episode of his 19-test career.

Brisbane, Mar. 24: Out of favour Australian cricket all rounder Andrew Symonds alcohol-related woes continue.

On Sunday, he was kicked out of a Brisbane bar. The Daily Telegraph can reveal that, five days earlier, Symonds had to be woken by his Queensland team-mates after a bender so he could make his flight home from the Sheffield Shield final in Melbourne.

Symonds, 33, appears to have learnt little from being stood down by Cricket Australia in January when told to seek counselling for his off-field behaviour.

London, Mar 24: University eggheads have unveiled a formula for the perfect spot kick – leaving no excuse for footballers who’re prone to fluffing penalties.

Researchers, who studied hour after hour of footage to reach the conclusion, say the formula promises 100 per cent success.

According to them, the shot should be 65mph or more, which requires a run-up of five to six paces, commencing from the edge of the 18-yard line — approaching the ball at an angle of 20 to 30 degrees.

And it must cross the goal line at exactly 0.5m below crossbar and 0.5m inside either post.

London - Chelsea's fading Premier League title hopes suffered a further blow on Monday as Nicolas Anelka was confirmed to be suffering a toe injury.

The France striker has been ruled out of his country's two World Cup qualifiers against Lithuania, and could miss Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool.

Anelka has been replaced in the France squad by Paris St Germain's Guillaume Hoarau.

Dusseldorf - Germany are aiming to take another step towards the 2010 World Cup with qualifying round wins against Liechtenstein and Wales despite some injury concerns.

Forward Miroslav Klose, midfielder Torsten Frings and defender Arne Freidrich are not fit to play while there are doubts around midfielder Piotr Trochowski and goalkeeper Rene Adler.

But coach Joachim Loew insisted on Monday that "we have players to replace them."

Vienna - Disgraced Austrian cross-country ski coach Walter Mayer has been arrested on doping charges, the Austrian Press Agency APA reported on Monday.

Citing prosecutors, APA said that Mayer is under investigation for buying the blood booster EPO at a Vienna pharmacist and distributing it to athletes.

The pharmacist is suspected of having sold doping substances to Mayer and an Austrian cyclist. The pharmacist and cyclist, who have not been identified, have also been arrested over the affair.