Cook

Alastair Cook expects hard work against NZ at Headingley

Leeds: England captain Alastair Cook believes Headingley will be far from the bowling-friendly ground of old when the second Test against New Zealand starts at Yorkshire's headquarters on Friday. England shot out the Black Caps for just 68 in their second innings at Lord's last week to set-up a 170-run win that put them go 1-0 up in a two-match series.

Stuart Broad, with a Test-best seven for 44, and James Anderson -- who took his 300th Test wicket at Lord's -- did the bulk of the damage. But Cook said on Thursday he did not expect the new-ball duo to have things all their own way on a Headingley pitch once renowned for aiding seamers. "Over the last couple of years there have been some high-scoring games here and it's quite similar to Lord's," Cook told Sky Sports News. "If it's sunny it can be a nice pitch to bat on and we will have to work hard in every session."

Prior to their Lord's encounter, England had been held to a 0-0 draw in a three-match Test series in New Zealand. And last week's clash at Lord's saw the Black Caps push England hard until an hour before lunch on the fourth day when they collapsed to 29 for six. "If you look at it without the emotive side of last week's game, it was nip and tuck for three days," said opening batsman Cook. "We had to work very hard in those three days to 

2nd Test: England look to seal series against New Zealand

London: Buoyed by Stuart Broad's match-winning burst at Lord's, England will look to seal a series win over New Zealand in the second and final Test starting at Headingley on Friday before turning their attention to Australia in July. Broad's seven-wicket haul in the second innings of the first Test bowled England to a 170-run victory as New Zealand were skittled for just 68 having matched the hosts for three...  

Apple CEO Tim Cook makes no apology for company's tax strategy

Washington: Apple Inc Chief Executive Tim Cook made no apology on Tuesday for the iPad maker saving billions of dollars in US taxes through Irish subsidiaries and told lawmakers that his company backs corporate tax reform, even though it may end up paying more. The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has found that Apple in 2012 alone avoided paying $9 billion in US taxes, using a strategy involving three offshore...  

England crawl to 160/4 on Day 1 against New Zealand

London: In the curtain-raiser to an action-packed English summer of international cricket, New Zealand stole the show by limiting England to a plodding 160-4 on the first day of the first Test at Lord's. The stage was set for England to show their true colors on Thursday, with the team back at full strength, at cricket's HQ, and desperate to rectify for a humbling series draw in New Zealand two...  

England face 33 scheduled playing days in Australia

Sydney: England will have 33 scheduled international playing days on their Ashes tour to Australia starting in November, Cricket Australia said on Thursday. The tour programme includes five Tests, a streamlined five one-day international series, three Twenty20 internationals and five other tour games. The Ashes Test series begins at Brisbane's Gabba ground on November 21 with further Tests in Adelaide (December 5-9), Perth (December 13-17), Melbourne (December 26-30) and the...  

As it happened: England vs New Zealand, first Test, day 1

New Zealand bowlers kept a check on the run-rate as England batsman got out after getting starts. Trent Boult got 2 two wickets with Martin and Wagner taking one each. CLICK HERE for live ball-by-ball updates from day one of the first Test between England and New Zealand being played at Lord's in London. PLAYING XIs: ENGLAND: 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Nick Compton, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Ian Bell,...  

No lack of effort or application in NZ, says Cook

London: England were not complacent or under-prepared during their disappointing tour of New Zealand this year, captain Alastair Cook said on Wednesday. England, the world's second-ranked side, were outplayed by their eighth-ranked hosts and only a courageous century by Matt Prior and a rearguard batting effort on the final day secured the draw in the third test that left the series level at 0-0. "It was not a lack of...  

England squad for first Test announced, Bresnan, Swann recalled

London: Graeme Swann and Tim Bresnan have both been recalled by England in a 12-man squad announced Saturday for next week's first Test against New Zealand at Lord's following their respective recoveries from elbow surgery. Off-spinner Swann and seamer Bresnan both last played Test cricket in the series-clinching win over India in Nagpur in December and missed the recent drawn three-Test series in New Zealand. However, Nottinghamshire's Swann and Yorkshire's...  

Cabinet clears direct benefit transfer for LPG subsidy

New Delhi: The Cabinet on Thursday cleared direct benefit transfer on LPG subsidy. The scheme was to be introduced on January 1, but was postponed two times, most recently because only 13 per cent of Aadhaar numbers among the beneficiaries chosen for the launch areas had bank accounts. Under a pilot project for LPG subsidy transfer, 20 districts in the country will be covered by May 15. While about 32...  

Jet fuel prices cut by a steep 5.3 per cent

New Delhi: Jet fuel prices were on Wednesday cut by 5.3 per cent, the second steep reduction in rates in one month. Aviation Turbine Fuel, or ATF, price at Delhi was cut by Rs 3,545.94 per kilolitre (kl), or 5.35 per cent, to Rs 62,649.95 per kl, according to Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest fuel retailer. The reduction in rate, made possible due to declining international oil prices, came...  

Non-subsidised LPG price cut by Rs 54 per cylinder

New Delhi: The price of non-subsidised LPG cylinders was cut by Rs 54 per bottle on Tuesday. The move came just hours after petrol price was slashed by Rs 3 per litre, effective from midnight. On April 1, the price of non-subsidised cooking gas was reduced by Rs 3 per cylinder in line with fall in international rates. The government had in September 2012 fixed a quota of six subsidised...  

Essex grateful for England captain Alastair Cook

London: Essex were glad to have England captain Alastair Cook on board for a rare County Championship appearance as 15 wickets fell on a dramatic first day against Hampshire at Chelmsford on Monday. The opening batsman finished the opening day of this four-day Second Division clash unbeaten on 25 in an Essex total of 5 for 72 after the hosts had dismissed Hampshire for a seemingly meagre 197 featuring 60...  

New Zealand keen to complete 'unfinished business' in England

Wellington: A galvanised New Zealand head to Britain on Monday determined to finish off a job they came so close to completing in a thrilling climax to their drawn Test series against Alastair Cook's England at home last month. Brendon McCullum's underdogs had the entire Eden Park crowd on the edge of their seats as they got to within one wicket distance of achieving a remarkable 1-0 series victory over...  

Apple to dole out $100 billion to shareholders by the end of 2015

New York: Apple is opening the doors to its bank vault, saying it will distribute $100 billion in cash to its shareholders by the end of 2015. At the same time, the company said revenue for the current quarter could fall from the year before, which would be the first decline in many years. Apple CEO Tim Cook also suggested that the company won't release any new products until the...  

Boston bomb suspect spotted on video, no arrest made

Boston: Investigators have spotted a Boston Marathon bombing suspect from security video taken before two blasts ripped through central Boston on Monday, a US law enforcement source said on Wednesday, in what is potentially the biggest break in the case yet. No arrests had been made, and the suspect in the video had not been identified by name, two US government officials said. Police may make an appeal to the...  

Boston: Lid of pressure cooker used blasts found

Boston: Over a day since twin blasts in the US city of Boston killed three people, the lid of the pressure cooker that was used in the bombings has been found on a rooftop. Two identical pressure cooker bombs containing BB-pellets and nails were used in the attacks to cause maximum damage. CNN, meanwhile, has reported that a Taliban or al Qaeda hand has been ruled out. The Federal Bureau...  

Boston: Bombs were in cookers, says person briefed on probe

Washington: The explosives used in the deadly Boston Marathon bombing were contained in 6-liter pressure cookers and hidden in black duffel bags on the ground, a person briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press on Tuesday. One of the explosives contained shards of metal and ball bearings, and another contained nails, the person said. A second person briefed on the investigation confirmed that at least one of the explosives...  

Alastair Cook targets era of England dominance

London: England captain Alastair Cook believes his team could be on the verge of a period of sustained dominance which would peak with a World Cup triumph in two years. Cook is confident England's recent lacklustre displays in the drawn Test series against New Zealand were just a blip that will soon be forgotten as they head into a frenetic programme over the next few months. England play New Zealand...