Wellington, Apr. 2 : Double-sided bats are here to stay, but Kiwi batsman Jesse Ryder isn't too taken up with the idea of using it.

New sponsor Gray Nicolls handed Test batsman Jesse Ryder the jazzy bat, invented for hitting reverse sweeps with the back of the bat''s flat surface, and some space-age helmets yesterday.

Gray Nicolls'' Cameron Black said the bats had caused a stir in Australia after David Warner hit Australian team-mate Shaun Tait on to the roof of the Adelaide Oval using the back of the bat.

Wellington, Apr. 2: ICC President David Morgan and Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat on Thursday met the board of New Zealand Cricket as part of their ongoing process of information sharing with Members.

The two-hour meeting in Wellington was the third of its kind for the pair, in the country as part of the ICC’s centenary celebrations, having caught up with the boards of Cricket Australia in Melbourne and Cricket South Africa in Johannesburg in February.

Bhopal, Apr 2 : Indian hockey team is geared up to make a mark at the Sultan Azlan Shah Trophy to be played in Ipoh, Malaysia from April 5 to 12 after undergoing rigorous practice session in Bhopal.

Indian Hockey coach Harendra Singh said that the five-nation event comprising of New Zealand, Pakistan, Egypt, Malaysia and India, would be a build-up for the Asia Cup and also to improve the international rankings.

Los Angeles  - With the game on the line, Paul Pierce had the ball and the Boston Celtics star didn't have to think twice about what he was going to do with it.

Pierce hit Ray Allen for the game-winning three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in the second overtime, lifting the Celtics to a dramatic 111-109 home-court victory over the pesky Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night.

"When you have one of the greatest shooters to ever play the game it's a no-brainer," said Pierce, who finished with a game-high 32 points. "I'll proclaim Ray the greatest shooter that I've ever seen in the history of the NBA. You have to talk about guys that have done it crucial situations and Ray has done it."

London, Apr. 2: The new England shirt goes on sale today and fans reckon that it is a real winner.

Umbro’s latest design was given its first run when England took on Slovakia last Saturday. It features the famous Three Lions crest and a snazzy button-up collar.

The 50-pound shirt has been designed with comfort in mind.

The Daily Star quoted David Blanch, Umbro senior designer and the man behind the kit, as saying that: “It’s flexible and comfortable.”

London, Apr. 2 : Acting England cricket team coach Andy Flower may be the frontrunner for the post of full-time coach or team director, but rumour mills are agog with news that Indian crcket team coach Gary Kirsten is also in the race for the coveted assignment.

While The Telegraph reports that Flower is expected to continue his partnership with captain Andrew Strauss into the summer, the Daily Express says that Kirsten has emerged as a strong possible challenger.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said that it will begin the interview process as soon as the England team arrives home next week, with an appointment set to be announced before the West Indies tour starts at Lord's on May 6.