SPORTS DIGEST: CRICKET: Unpredictable weather prevented India setting England a meaningful victory target in the second Test, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said after it ended in a tame draw on the final day yesterday.
India won the two-match series 1-0 after they claimed the first Test in Chennai by six wickets having achieved a memorable fourth innings target of 387 runs.
Yesterday's result in Mohali was the first draw under Dhoni, who began his captaincy with three wins, including the 2-0 home series win over Australia.
Dhoni said he chose to allow opener Gautam Gambhir, out for 97 after a first innings 179, and Yuvraj Singh (86) to go for their hundreds on the last day instead of setting a target. England, set an improbable 403 runs to get in 43 overs, were 64 for one when play was called off after tea, after two-and-half hours were lost due to fog in the morning.
Mosley may seek re-election
MOTOR SPORT: International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley will decide in June whether to stand for re-election, he said yesterday.
Mosley announced in April, after becoming embroiled in a sado-masochistic sex scandal that triggered calls for his resignation, that he would stand down when his term expires next October. However, the world motorsport chief, backed by success in a confidence vote, has since spoken of considerable pressure from members for him to stay in office.
He told the official Formula One website (www.formula1.com) he still had no plans to run for re-election but would make a decision in June. "The difficulty is finding somebody who has the necessary experience, but also the time and inclination to do the job," he said.
No date set for Woods to resume playing yet
GOLF: While professional golf prepares to confront a bleak economic landscape in 2009, the biggest talking point in the game relates to the timing and immediate impact of Tiger Woods's comeback from injury.
The American world number one has been sidelined since his astonishing US Open victory in June when he defied stabbing knee pain and a double stress fracture of his left tibia to clinch his 14th major title.
Although Woods is ahead of schedule in his recovery from reconstructive knee surgery and began hitting full shots two weeks ago, he has no idea when he will return to competitive golf.
The US Masters in April is his first priority for the 2009 season and ideally he would like to play in a couple of events before that in preparation.
The WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Tucson in late February is a possibility for his much anticipated comeback, although the March 12th-15th WGC-CA Championship in Miami is more likely.
Woods accepts his return to the PGA Tour will depend on the pace of his healing and he has not yet been able to hit full shots with every club in his bag.
"I'm really not all that fired up about playing just because I can't play, the 32-year-old said.
I don't know how my legs are going to start recovering . . . I think I can handle a full swing now, but I'm not there yet," Woods added.
Olazabal names European team
GOLF:Captain Jose Maria Olazabal has added Englishmen Nick Dougherty and Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal to his European team to play Asia at the Royal Trophy next month. Their selection completes Olazabal's eight-man team for the January 9th-11th contest, won by Europe on the previous two editions.
Larrazabal (25) won the French Open in June and was named Rookie of the Year by the European Tour.
Dougherty's selection comes after wins at the Singapore Masters and Alfred Dunhill Links, as well as several top-five finishes on the European Tour. The event will be held in Thailand until 2011, after which it will alternate between Europe and Asia.
EUROPE: Paul Lawrie (Scotland), Niclas Fasth (Sweden), Oliver Wilson (England), Soren Hansen (Denmark), Johan Edfors (Sweden) Nick Dougherty (England) Paul McGinley (Ireland), Pablo Larrazabal (Spain)
ASIA: Prayad Marksaeng (Thailand), Hideto Tanihara (Japan), Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand), Ryo Ishikawa (Japan), S.K. Ho (South Korea), Liang Wenchong (China), Charlie Wi (South Korea), Toru Taniguchi (Japan).
Wilkinson has more surgery
RUGBY:Newcastle have confirmed that Jonny Wilkinson (above) has undergone a second operation in the battle to overcome his latest injury.
Falcons rugby director Steve Bates said: "As was always the plan, the back-up to the original operation was to have an arthroscopy, which took place in the north-east a couple of weeks ago. The surgeon who did that original operation is saying that everything looks okay to proceed on to the next stage of his rehabilitation."
Eilberg appointed dressage coach
EQUESTRIAN: FERDI EILBERG, former world class performance director of coaching to the British dressage team, has been appointed dressage coach to the Irish senior event team, writes Margie McLoone.
The announcement was made yesterday by Horse Sport Ireland's eventing high performance manager Ginny Elliott who said: "I worked with Ferdi when he was coach for the British eventing team. He is a gifted trainer and I believe the squad will benefit greatly from his expertise."
Eilberg, who moved to England from his native Germany in 1980, said: "I have a long history with eventing, particularly in Britain, and I have worked with some of the Irish dressage riders before. I'm looking forward to working with the eventers and I think Ginny and I can make a considerable difference. I am very excited at the prospect of working with Horse Sport Ireland and the Irish team."
Elliot also announced that she will continue to use the services of Michael Quirke to assist with show jumping training.
