Dhoni earns more than Rooney & Bolt

Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has pipped the likes of Manchester United star Wayne Rooney and ‘ Sprint King’ Usain Bolt in the latest list of the 100 highest- paid athletes for the year 2011- 12 released by Forbes magazine on Monday.

According to the list, Dhoni is ranked 31st, ahead of Rooney (37th with $ 24.3 mn), Bolt (63rd with $ 20.3 mn), tennis World No. 1 Novak Djokovic (62nd with $ 20.6 mn) and even batting legend Sachin Tendulkar (78th).

Of his total earnings of $26.5 million ( approximately Rs 145.7 cr), Dhoni earned $ 23 mn ( Rs 126.5 cr) through endorsements. Tendulkar earned $ 18.6 million ( Rs 102.3 cr ) with $ 16.5 mn ( Rs 90.7 cr) from endorsements in the past year.

Interestingly, the Indian captain’s earnings through endorsements are more than that of Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Argentine football star Lionel Messi.

Ronaldo, who is ninth in the overall list, raked in $ 1 million less than Dhoni, while Messi — 11th in the list with total earnings of $ 39 million — earned $ 19 million from endorsements which is $ 4 million less than that by Dhoni. This proves that despite cricket not being as popular as football or tennis, the sheer market size of India has put Dhoni above many of the more renowned athletes.

Serbian tennis ace Djokovic — the winner of six Grand Slams singles titles — is 62nd on the money list with $ 20.6 million to his name in the past year, while Olympic 100m champion Usain Bolt is 63rd with total earnings of $ 20.3 million.

Maria Sharapova is the richest among women’s sportspersons at 26th position with earnings of $ 27.9 million.

Boxers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao topped the Forbes list. Mayweather, who ranks No. 1 for making $ 85 million off two fights last year, is serving a three- month jail sentence for domestic battery in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao, second on the list at $ 62 million from earnings and endorsements, lost to US fighter Tim Bradley on July 9.

Tiger Woods, who had topped the Forbes list since 2001, fell to third this time with $ 59.4 million, his earnings off $ 16 million from the previous year and by half since his peak in 2009, mostly due to lost endorsement deals following his sex scandal. Miami Heat star LeBron James ranks fourth at $ 53 million, the highest of 13 basketball players and on the list.

Swiss tennis star Roger Federer was fifth at $ 52.7 million followed by NBA star Kobe Bryant at $ 52.3 million, US golfer Phil Mickelson at $ 47.8 million, English football star David Beckham of the Los Angeles Galaxy at $ 46 million and Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo at $ 42.5 million.

American football star Peyton Manning, of Denver Broncos, ranks 10th overall with his earnings of $ 42.4 million.

Yahoo! Cricket Caption Challenge - 25

Wise guys, you've been getting better and better at those funny captions. Here's another chance for you to show off.



Think you have a better caption for this picture? Post your funny ones in the comments section below and we'll republish the best ones with your name.

Euro 2012: Fanzone

A couple enjoys warm weather in a Euro 2012 fan zone in central Kiev June 6, 2012. Four Ukrainian cities will host matches for the Euro 2012 soccer championship. (REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko)



Spanish supporters cheer before their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Ireland at the PGE Arena in Gdansk, June 14, 2012. (REUTERS/Juan Medina)




Poland soccer fans wait for the start of the Group A Euro 2012 soccer match between Poland and Russia at the National stadium in Warsaw June 12, 2012. (REUTERS/Pascal Lauener)




Netherlands' fans kiss at the end of their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match against Germany at the Metalist stadium in Kharkiv June 13, 2012. (REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi)




A Netherlands' fan cheers before their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match against Germany at the Metalist stadium in Kharkiv June 13, 2012. (REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi)




A Dutch soccer fan shouts slogans at the Euro 2012 fan zone in Kharkiv, some 480 km (300 miles) east of Kiev, June 13, 2012, ahead of the Group B Euro 2012 between Netherlands and Gemany. (REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko)




An Irish fan waits for the start of their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Croatia at the City Stadium in Poznan, June 10, 2012. (REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler)




A Germany fan cheers before their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match against Netherlands at the Metalist stadium in Kharkiv, June 13, 2012. (REUTERS/Michael Buholzer)




Polish fans cheer before the start of their Group A Euro 2012 soccer match against Greece at the National Stadium in Warsaw, June 8, 2012. (REUTERS/Pawel Ulatowski)




Polish soccer fans wait for the start of their Group A Euro 2012 soccer match against Greece at the National Stadium in Warsaw, June 8, 2012. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)




Netherlands' Rafael van der Vaart's wife Sylvie signs autographs to German fans before the Euro 2012 soccer match between Netherland and Germany in Kharkiv June 13, 2012. (REUTERS/Thomas Bohlen)




Netherlands' fans are pictured before their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match against Germany at the Metalist stadium in Kharkiv June 13, 2012. (REUTERS/Felix Ordonez)




An Ireland's fan cheers before the start of their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Spain at the PGE Arena stadium in Gdansk, June 14, 2012. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)




A Croatian fan with her face painted in national colours cheers before their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Italy at the city stadium in Poznan June 14, 2012. (REUTERS/Dominic Ebenbichler)




France soccer fans pose with French national flags in front of the Donbass Arena stadium in Donetsk June 11, 2012. France will play its first match of the Euro 2012 soccer championships against England in Donetsk on Monday. (REUTERS/Michael Buholzer)




Spanish supporters cheer before their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Ireland at the PGE Arena in Gdansk, June 14, 2012. (REUTERS/Juan Medina)




Poland soccer fans cheer before the Group A Euro 2012 soccer match against Russia at national stadium in Warsaw June 12, 2012. (REUTERS/Pascal Lauener)




Ireland's fans react during their Group C Euro 2012 soccer match against Spain at the PGE Arena stadium in Gdansk, June 14, 2012. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach




Sweden soccer fans paint each others faces before marching to the Olympic stadium in Kiev June 11, 2012. Sweden will play its first match of the Euro 2012 soccer championships against Ukraine in Kiev on Monday. (REUTERS/Anatolii Stepanov)




Portugal (L) and Denmark soccer fans with their national colours painted on their faces cheer before their Group B Euro 2012 soccer match at the New Lviv stadium in Lviv, June 13, 2012. (REUTERS/Eddie Keogh)




A Croatian soccer fan poses for a picture in downtown Poznan, June 14, 2012. Croatia and Italy will play their Euro 2012 Group C soccer match at the Municipal Stadium in Poznan on Thursday. (REUTERS/Tony Gentile)





A Polish soccer fan shouts on his way to the National Stadium in Warsaw, June 12, 2012. Russia on Tuesday will play Poland in their Euro 2012 Group A soccer tournament in Warsaw.

Blame poor early coaching for Raina's weakness against bouncers

India, June 17 -- Watching the trials and tribulations of Jonny Bairstow as he faced a short-pitched onslaught from the West Indies pace bowlers took my mind back twelve months to when Suresh Raina faced a similar assault by the England attack.

I was also reminded of what that excellent England paceman and part time poet John Snow said in the 1960s; "The bouncer is a short and emphatic examination paper that you put to the batsman."
Both the on-field actions of pace bowlers and Snow's comment are ample reasons for coaches of talented young batsmen to think carefully about the way they prepare players for the future. Any coach fortunate enough to have a young batsman who he thinks is skilled enough to reach international level should automatically have his pupil learn the full repertoire of shots. If that mission is accomplished, the player, on reaching international level, will then have the option of deciding which shots he employs on the day, depending on the bowlers and the conditions.
If the young batsman isn't fully prepared, then he faces the prospect of trying to survive at the highest level while fighting with one hand tied behind his back.
Horizontal bat shots
My South Australia captain Les Favell, a ferocious proponent of the horizontal bat shots, often said; "At international level you must be able to hook or cut to succeed and it's better if you can play both."
This is wise counsel for the simple reason that Test fast bowlers tend to take a quick look at a young player's technique and if that appears to be in order they then apply Snow's examination paper. This approach is designed to find out if the young batsman is really determined to have a long stay in the middle or if he'd rather be back by the hotel swimming pool sipping on a pina colada.
Because Test matches are only won by so many runs or so many wickets, it's imperative that batsmen not only survive but also prosper against the short ball. It's possible for a batsman to take a boxer's approach of bobbing and weaving for a while but against the better attacks that method has a limited life span.
Desperate method
Raina found this out in the series against England; after being constantly badgered by the English quicks, he eventually lashed out at Trent Bridge only to be caught off a top-edge hook.
Cricketers have a saying; "There are two types of hook. The one played out of fright and the other played by choice."
The former is easy to spot because it ends up resembling "a get away from me shot", much like the one Raina played at Trent Bridge.
Both Bairstow and Raina are talented and have the skill to make big scores in Tests. The game needs young players like them to succeed because they are both extremely entertaining cricketers. If both fall short of expectations, it could be the result of an inadequate preparation for a future at Test level.
Faulty approach
This failure could either be in the form of not being taught the full repertoire of shots at a young age or some poor advice to shelve the hook or pull at an early stage in their career.
Cricket has made some tremendous advances in the process of becoming fully professional at international level. However, I'm not sure enough thought has been given to the preparation of young players for a possible international future. Putting the best coaches in charge of the most talented young cricketers would be a good start.
Cricket can't afford to have talented individuals fall short of international level purely because their technique failed. Temperament can be a matter of fortune but skill can be honed.
Hopefully both Bairstow and Raina will get their games sorted out and go on to have successful Test careers. If they don't, it will most likely be because they failed the John Snow examination.
The writer is a former Australia captain.

Tennis crisis: AITA bats for Paes; Maken backs down

The ongoing feud in Indian tennis intensified further on Tuesday with the All India Tennis Association (AITA) backing Leander Paes and Sports Minister Ajay Maken saying it is the prerogative of the AITA to pick the best combination.

Clarifying his statement that AITA should think of sending two doubles teams for London, Maken said he did it only because some prominent and iconic players brought to his notice certain issues concerning selection. 

Maken also added it was not for the politicians or the ministry to interfere in the selection process and that it was for the AITA to pick the team keeping the national interest in view. 

Maken's reaction came shortly after the AITA defended its decision to pair Leander Paes with Mahesh Bhupathi and lobbed the ball back into the ministry's court, giving it five options to resolve the selection issue.

Maken said he does not wish to be a part of the selection process.

"The sports ministry doesn't wish to be a part of the selection process. It had raised with AITA certain issues which had been brought to its notice by certain eminent and iconic players," said Maken. 

Earlier, AITA secretary general Bharat Oza, in his reply to Sports Minister Ajay Maken said that "asking Leander to pair with a junior player (Yuki Bhambri or Vishu Vardhan) would be the most inappropriate decision". 

Oza also said that doing so will be an insult to Leander, who enjoys great respect in the international tennis circuit. 

Elaborating the five options to the sports ministry, Oza wrote: "Ask the players to follow the decision of the selection committee consisting of five Davis Cup players and 1 Fedeation Cup player. This means that Leander should play with Mahesh. This also means that there will be only one pair but in the views of the selectors the best possible pair."

The second option, in case Mahesh does not want to play with Leander, Bopanna should play with Leander as per the decision of the AITA selection committee. This again means only one pair will represent India at the Olympics.

The third option is of two Indian pairs at the Games. Leander would pair up with either Yuki Bhambri or Vishnu Vardhan and Mahesh could team up with Rohan Bopanna.

As per the fourth option, if Leander decides not to go to Olympics with a lower ranked player, only Mahesh and Bopanna will represent India. The AITA in the final option said disciplinary actions should be taken against Mahesh and Bopanna if they don't abide by the decision of the selection committee and Leander takes court with a junior partner.

Coming down hard on Mahesh and Bopanna, Oza said: "It should be understood that two players cannot make a pact with each other to keep out the No.1 player out and thereafter publicly suggest in the media that No.1 player should go to the Olympics with the No.5 player." 

After Bhupathi, Bopanna backs out

Rohan Bopanna declined AITA's offer to pair up with Leander Paes for the men's doubles event of the London Olympics.

Following Bhupathi's adamant refusal to team up with Paes, Bopanna's stand has placed the AITA in further distress after it had nominated the estranged Bhupathi-Paes as partners. 

Bopanna made his disinclination to toe AITA's line this morning despite stating that it is his "dream to represent India in Olympics". 

"With all respect and humility, I have been unable to accept AITA's offer and have communicated my decision to them in writing this morning," he said.

Paes responds

Paes however has said that he would partner anybody that AITA chooses. "I have no reaction to the recent statements made by Mahesh Bhupathi to the media. I have always maintained that I will play with whoever the selection committee and AITA choose and this continues to be my stand," he said.

Paes, though, expressed a preference for Bopanna. "It is a well-known fact that when asked by the AITA, I have expressed my preference to play with Rohan Bopanna as my partner in the Olympics 2012, based on his physical fitness and big serve. Winning a medal at the Atlanta Olympics is the most cherished memory I have in my tennis career. To play for our flag, and represent India for the 6th time at the Olympics, is my greatest honour. I will, as I always have in the past, put my best foot forward," he added.

Bhupathi's refusal

A visibly upset Bhupathi had made clear his stand in an interview to a television channel, and also through an official email to AITA the contents of which were later made available online. 

"I have already told AITA that I will not be available to play the Olympics if I am paired with Leander. I haven't even spoken to Leander since November. Rohan and I would have been the best pairing and we have repeatedly told the AITA that," he had said.

Bhupathi and Bopanna had also issued a joint statement, slamming the AITA's decision. "To not send one of the best tennis teams in the world to the Olympics - and to, instead, choose to nominate one that has had four previous unsuccessful attempts - fails to put the interests of the nation first," the statement read.

After Bhupathi, Bopanna backs out

Indian tennis descended further into the mire on Monday as Rohan Bopanna declined AITA's offer to pair up with Leander Paes for the men's doubles event of the London Olympics.

Following Bhupathi's adamant refusal to team up with Paes, Bopanna's stand has placed the AITA in further distress after it had nominated the estranged Bhupathi-Paes as partners. 

Bopanna made his disinclination to toe AITA's line this morning despite stating that it is his "dream to represent India in Olympics". 

"With all respect and humility, I have been unable to accept AITA's offer and have communicated my decision to them in writing this morning," he said.

Bopanna said the very basis of his forming a team with Bhupathi was to play together in the Olympics and that the tennis body was fully aware of this. 

The big-serving Bopanna also claimed that Paes and he do not make for a good pairing and their partnership, if it were to materialize, was unlikely to yield the desired result.

"Since the beginning of the year, I have partnered with Mahesh Bhupathi towards playing together as at team at the Olympics. This was communicated to the AITA at every step and we were encouraged to continue to play together.

"Having played alongside Leander Paes only twice during my career, I recognize that as a team we are under-prepared for the demands of the Olympics and, in good faith, I could not accept AITA's offer that we play together."

Bopanna said he wouldn't risk personal integrity for Olympic glory.

"I understand that many might find this decision difficult to comprehend. However, my professional integrity will not permit me to make this compromise. I owe this to the partners I have played with in the past, Mahesh Bhupathi who I currently play with and those I will partner in the future. I will still be able to look each of them in the eye.

"I believe we are nothing but the product of our choices," he added.

Bopanna also aimed a taunt at Paes, who had severed his partnership with Bhupathi last year to remain in the top-10 with a different partner.

"In October 2011, I broke up an extremely successful partnership with Aisam Qureshi as I believed that Olympics preparedness required hard work and understanding between partners and the numerous little adjustments that make a team work.

"This was the toughest professional decision I have taken, as it signified an end to a great partnership and jeopardized a close friendship that was built over many years of struggle and, ultimately, success on the ATP Tour. 

Having been ranked No. 8 in the world last year, I could have taken a far easier route to Olympics qualification - if that was my only goal - by continuing my existing partnership and aiming for a personal top-10 ranking."

Paes responds

Paes however has said that he would partner anybody that AITA chooses. "I have no reaction to the recent statements made by Mahesh Bhupathi to the media. I have alwaysmaintained that I will play with whoever the selection committee and AITA choose and this continues to be my stand," he said.

Paes, though, expressed a preference for Bopanna. "It is a well-known fact that when asked by the AITA, I have expressed my preference to play with Rohan Bopanna as my partner in the Olympics 2012, based on his physical fitness and big serve. Winning a medal at the Atlanta Olympics is themost cherished memory I have in my tennis career. To play for our flag, and represent India for the 6th time at the Olympics, is my greatest honour. I will, as I always have in the past, put my best foot forward," he added.

Maken reacts

Meanwhike, Sports minister Ajay Maken has questioned AITA's decision to send only one men's doubles team when it had the option of picking two."We can send 2 teams, why send 1? Hidden question is on who should pair Sania? Why disturb victorious Grand Slam mixed double pair?" Maken tweeted.

Sania waits

The prospect of another Olympic medal rests upon this partnership quagmire. French Open mixed doubles winner Sania Mirza awaits a wildcard and also the identity of her partner in the London mixed event to further her Olympics dreams. Bhupathi, in whose company she claimed the Roland Garros title recently, has already refused to compete citing his reluctance to partner Paes - his AITA designated partner. 

Bhupathi's refusal

A visibly upset Bhupathi had made clear his stand in an interview to a television channel, and also through an official email to AITA the contents of which were later made available online. 

"I have already told AITA that I will not be available to play the Olympics if I am paired with Leander. I haven't even spoken to Leander since November. Rohan and I would have been the best pairing and we have repeatedly told the AITA that," he had said.

Bhupathi and Bopanna had also issued a joint statement, slamming the AITA's decision. "To not send one of the best tennis teams in the world to the Olympics - and to, instead, choose to nominate one that has had four previous unsuccessful attempts - fails to put the interests of the nation first," the statement read.

Cricket: Banned Aamer wants to return: psychologist

Pakistan's disgraced paceman Mohammed Aamer is looking forward to returning to cricket "as and when possible", the psychologist helping to rehabilitate his career said Monday.
In the first of several counselling sessions Maqbool Sabri, who was hired by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to counsel Aamer, said his client appeared "positive and relaxed" despite his five-year ban from the game for cheating.
The 20-year-old was found guilty of spot-fixing during a Test at Lord's in 2010, spent three months in a British jail and was banned from the game by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The ICC also banned pace partner Mohammad Asif and ex-captain Salman Butt, ordering the trio to undergo rehabilitation.
Sabri said Aamer was upbeat in the first of eight to 10 sessions.


"I am very surprised that he was very positive and relaxed during the first session with me on Saturday," Sabri told AFP. "I think that Aamer's lawyer was a positive influence on him and has guided him well."
Before the scandal, Aamer was regarded as the hottest new international talent due to the lethal left-arm pace bowling which likened him to Pakistan former great Wasim Akram.
Sabri said Aamer believes he belongs in the cricketing world.
"Aamer realises that cricket is his profession and he wants to return to the game as and when possible, and during the session we moved towards enlightment," he said.
"I think he realises that he made a mistake... and since he is very passionate about his cricket I have to make him ready for that," Sabri added.
Aamer has decided not to appeal his ICC ban. He was released from prison in February. Asif was freed last month and Butt is still serving his 30-month sentence.

The greatest World Cup match ever

Australia and South Africa have had many memorable contests across Tests and One-Day Internationals, but their clash in the 1999 World Cup semi-final at Edgbaston on 17 June 1999 has its own place of pride in cricketing history.






Australia went on to thump Pakistan by eight wickets in the final to lift their second World Cup trophy.This match ended in a tie, but Australia went through to the final because of their superior run rate in the Super Six stage. It was not a game for the weak-hearted as there were twists and turns aplenty, which finally ended following a brain-fade on the part of Lance Klusener, who had a brilliant outing in the 1999 World Cup. BRIEF SCORES: Australia 213 in 49.2 overs (Michael Bevan 65, Steve Waugh 56, Shaun Pollock 5-36, Allan Donald 4-32) TIED ...
more 





South Africa captain Hansie Cronje won the toss and elected to field first. Shaun Pollock gave South Africa a dream start when he had Mark Waugh caught behind by Mark Boucher off the fifth delivery of the match.





Ricky Ponting hit three boundaries and a six in his 48-ball 37 before Allan Donald ended the 51-run partnership for the second wicket between 'Punter' and Adam Gilchrist. Five balls later, Donald struck again when he had Darren Lehmann caught behind by Mark Boucher.





Jacques Kallis just about passed the fitness test for this semi-final, but he then put in a heroic and Herculean effort with the bat and ball. He had figures of 10-2-27-1 in Australia's innings and accounted for Adam Gilchrist, who found life uncomfortable in the middle and made an uncharacteristic 39-ball 20. At the fall of Gilchrist's wicket, Australia had slumped to 68 for 4 after 17 overs.





Australia captain Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan then put on an invaluable 90-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Though it took the pair 22.3 overs to get those runs, their safe and go-slow approach paid rich dividends in the end.





The partnership was broken by Pollock when he had Waugh caught behind off the third deliver of the 40th over; and three deliveries later the South African all-rounder trapped Tom Moody plumb in front.
Bevan then had his second important partnership of Australia's innings as he and Shane Warne (18) added 49 runs for the seventh wicket before Pollock and Donald took two wickets each as Australia lost their last four wickets for six runs and set South Africa a target of 214 to chase and book their place in the final.





Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten got South Africa's chase off to a solid start with their 48-run partnership before Shane Warne started doing what he does best. In his second and the 13th over of the South African innings, Warne bowled a gem of a delivery that was pitched outside the leg stump but then turned sharply and clipped Gibbs' off stump. Gibbs, who made a 36-ball 30, was so shocked that he stood transfixed in the middle for a while ...
more 





In his very next over, Warne was at it again as he bamboozled Gary Kirsten (18) and clean bowled him as the left-handed opening batsman attempted an ill-advised sweep shot. Warne wasn't quite done for this over as two balls later he had Hansie Cronje caught by Mark Waugh at first slip. The leg-spin legend had taken three wickets in eight balls to reduce South Africa to 53 for 3 from the comfort of 48 for 0. South Africa's woes worsened when ...
more 





Like in the Australian innings, Jacques Kallis and Jonty Rhodes did a repair job as the pair added 84 runs in 19.1 overs for the fifth wicket with the latter being the more aggressive. Paul Reiffel ended the partnership and Rhodes' 55-ball 43 knock when the batsman holed out to Michael Bevan in the 41st over.





Shaun Pollock hit a boundary and six in his 14-ball 20 even as Kallis (53 from 92 deliveries) continued to mix caution and aggression at the other end. But, Warne took his fourth wicket of the match when he had Kallis caught by Steve Waugh at covers and then Damien Fleming clean bowled Pollock. At this stage, South Africa was 183 for 7 in the 46th over.





It was then the Lance Kluesener show as the left-handed lower middle-order southpaw was at his attacking best and blitzed his way to a 16-ball 31* without taking too many risks even though Mark Boucher and Steve Elworthy were dismissed within two deliveries of each other to leave South Africa 198 for 9 in the 49th over.





South Africa needed 9 runs to win from the last over of the match bowled by Damien Fleming. Klusener hammered the first two deliveries to the boundary as the target was reduced to one from four deliveries. In a trailer of the events that would soon unfold, Allan Donald backed up too far while trying to get a single but Darren Lehmann missed the run out opportunity.





Kluesner and Donald failed to learn from that near escape and off the very next delivery, the latter was run out to provide the first ever tie in World Cup history. Klusener pulled the delivery down the wicket and called Donald through for the single, but South Africa's No. 11 was late to react and then dropped his bat; to make matters worse, both batsmen found themselves at the bowler's end. The Australian fielders then did a bit of relay ...
more 





The semi-final match ended in a tie and Australia held their nerve to sneak into the final even as South Africa choked yet again in the knockout stages of the World Cup.

Cricket's oldest foe

Rain clouds have a way of manipulating sporting fortunes.




Rain wiped out two days of cricket in the ongoing Birmingham Test.

Lovers of sport have it easy these days. There is something live to watch on television almost daily, and summer – that most sought after commodity in Europe – brings with it an abundance of riches for couch potatoes.

With several different contests in currency, evenings in India for sports fans revolve around perplexing choices: should they pitch their voyeuristic tent in the red sludge of Roland Garros, or tail the fortunes of the bickering Englishmen as they take on the equally fractious West Indies; should they chuck these entirely to watch another combustible entity – perhaps the most volatile in modern sport – erupt into a flame of excellence down in Sri Lanka?

What the viewer hasn’t yet factored in is the play of the elements. Rain and sport have a storied, and much-hated, history and it is often claimed in parts that have been worst hit by the fickleness of Mother Nature that the surest way to end a drought is to drive in three pegs of wood in a field, and wait for the skies to open.

This past week, unwelcome precipitation curtailed three separate competitions around the globe, delaying the French Open in Paris, washing out the first two days’ play in the England-West Indies Test in Birmingham, and ruining the opening ODI between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Is there anything more frustrating than sitting before the idiot box waiting for rain to withdraw its clammy fingers from the middle? Is it safer to just stick with soccer and admire the way Euro-2012 is likely to cock a snook at  any curtailment the heavens throw its way?

Cricket, with its susceptible square, infinite strategic intricacies and tactical nuances – all of which are affected enormously by the ‘conditions’, is a sport that has always been at the receiving end of nature.  Even after a game resumes, provided the clouds have receded and the wind dropped, the intervention of weather takes its toll one way or the other - either by dramatically changing the contest through the altered environment, or, in one-day cricket, through a series of miscalculations that have been formalized as mathematical systems predicting target scores in curtailed games.

Tennis is perhaps is as affected by bad weather as cricket is, but thankfully, matches in the racquet sport resume from whatever score they were interrupted at. Marred contests between bat and ball are an entirely different proposition. The bondages of air time, the associated corporate compulsions and logistical loopholes prevent cricket matches from spilling over into the next day, and more often than not reworked scores leave a lot to be desired.

The example (and there are many) that comes first to mind is the 1992 World Cup semifinal between England and South Africa, which was reduced to a farce by 12 minutes of rain. South Africa were prevented (thanks to a bizarre Rain Rule and Channel Nine’s insistence on a prompt result despite the provision of a rest day) from seeing a magnificent late-order rally to its end. It was rain too, partly at least, that enabled Hansie Cronje and Nasser Hussain to forfeit an innings each in the now infamous ‘Leather Jacket’ Test match, a decision later discovered to have been influenced by a bookie.

It isn’t just sustenance and irritation that the heavenly sprinkles provide. Rain has even decided a Test series. In 1936-37, England, possessed of a 2-0 lead, held the five-match series down under in a stranglehold and were running through the Australians in the third game. Down came the rain, and in a twinkling the Aussies’ innocuous first innings 200 assumed alarming proportions.

On a wicket rendered ‘sticky’, in an air laden with moisture, England were shot out for 76, and as the sun emerged on the morrow, Australia and Don Bradman made the best of the conditions to pile on 564, leaving England to buckle down in an impossible fourth innings chase. The third and fourth Tests too were weather affected, but by then Bradman was in his groove as he drove Australia to a remarkable 3-2 turnaround from a two-Test deficit.

No doubt, the slippery twists that result from a downpour are enthralling to watch. Even if they weren’t, is there a way to circumvent the influence of the surroundings on a cricket match? If day-night Tests can be mulled over, why not a gigantic billion-dollar covered stadium, however impractical that sounds? Wouldn’t such a scenario – one where games continue in a vacuum shielded from external factors – deprive the sport of the glorious uncertainties that are its hallmark?

Perhaps it was this fascinating and unique intertwining of the activity and its environment that compelled past Prime Minister of Britain, distinguished first class cricketer and former MCC Chairman Alec Douglas-Home to once wryly wish: “Oh God, if there be cricket in heaven, let there also be rain.”

Venues of Euro 2012

Euro 2012 will be the 14th European Championship for national football teams organised by UEFA. The final tournament will be hosted by Poland and Ukraine between 8 June and 1 July 2012. It is the first time that either nation has hosted the tournament.

Arena Lviv [Lviv] Capacity: 34,915 Built: 2008–2011 Opened: October 29, 2011 Who plays there: FC Karpaty Lviv Stadium Fact: All seats are covered, while part of the roof assembly is transparent to provide sufficient sunlight for the turf. The stadium's parking is located underneath the arena which consists of three levels. Games to be played there: Three games in Group B: Germany vs Portugal on 9 June, Denmark vs Portugal on 13 June and Denmark vs Germany on 17 June. Where is Lviv?: The western Ukraine city is located on the edge of the Roztochia Upland, approximately 70 km from the Polish border and 160 km from the eastern Carpathian Mountains.

City Stadium [Poznan] Capacity: 43,090 Year built: 1980; Renovated in 2010 Opened: 23 August 1980 Who plays there: Lech Poznan and Warta Poznan Stadium Fact: In the years 2003–2010 the stadium underwent a complete reconstruction, including the building of four new fullly covered stands. The grand opening after the final renovation took place on 20 September 2010, with Sting's Symphonicity Tour concert. Games to be played there: Three games in Group C: Croatia vs Republic of Ireland on 10 June, Croatia vs Italy on 14 June, and Republic of Ireland vs Italy on 18 June. Where is Poznan?: A city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, Poznan is the country's fifth largest city and is an important centre of trade, industry, and education.

Donbass Arena [Donetsk] Capacity: 51,504 Broke ground: 27 June 2006 Opened: 29 August 2009 Who plays there: Shakhtar Donetsk Stadium Fact: Donbass Arena was designed by ArupSport, who also designed the City of Manchester Stadium (Manchester, England), Allianz Arena (Munich, Germany) and the Beijing National Stadium (Beijing, China). The soaring roof effect makes the Stadium resemble a flying saucer. The external lighting makes the Stadium shine at night. Games to be played there: Three games in Group D: France vs England on 11 June, France vs Ukraine on 15 June, England vs Ukraine on 19 June. 1xQF on June 23 and 1xSF on 27 June. Where is Donetsk?: Founded in 1869 by a Welsh businessman John Hughes, Donetsk is a large city in eastern Ukraine on the Kalmius river.

Metalist Stadium [Kharkiv] Capacity: 38,863 Opened: September 12, 1926 Renovated: December 5, 2009 Who plays there: Metalist Kharkiv Stadium Fact: Including improvements for Euro 2012, the stadium has undergone four renovations over the course of its history. In the most recent round of renovations, the South Stand was completed and a completely new East Stand was built. The South Stand contains a three-storey shopping mall and office complex. Games to be played there: Three games in Group B: Netherlands vs Denmark on 9 June, Netherlands vs Germany on 13 June and Portugal vs Netherlands on 17 June. Where is Kharkiv?: It is located in the northeastern region of Ukraine; and rests at the confluence of the Kharkiv, Lopan, and Udy rivers, where they flow into the Seversky Donets watershed.

Municipal Stadium [Wroclaw] Capacity: 44,416 Year built: 2009-2011 Opened: September 10, 2011 Who plays there: Slask Wroclaw Stadium Fact: The shape of the stadium is highlighted by the innovative design of its external walls. The building is covered by glass fibre mesh coated with teflon. The colors of the external walls of the stadium can be changed using a sophisticated lighting system. Games to be played there: Three games in Group A: Czech Republic vs Russia on 8 June, Czech Republic vs Greece on 12 June, Poland vs Czech Republic on 16 June. Where is Wroclaw?: It is the largest city in western Poland, and is situated on the River Oder in Lower Silesia.

National Stadium [Warsaw] Capacity: 58,145 Year built: 2008-2011; On the site of Stadion Dziesieciolecia [10th-Anniversary Stadium.] Opened: January 29, 2012 Who plays there: Poland's national team Stadium Fact: The stadium has a unique retractable PVC roof which unfolds from a nest on a needle suspended above the centre of the pitch. The multi-purpose stadium can also host concerts, cultural events and conferences. Games to be played there: Three games in Group A: the tournament opener between Poland and Greece on 8 June, Poland v Russia on 12 June, and Greece v Russia on 16 June. 1x QF on 21 June, 1x SF on 28 June. Where is Warsaw?: Poland's capital and largest city is located on the Vistula River, roughly 260 km from the Baltic Sea and 300 km from the Carpathian Mountains. It is also known as the "phoenix city" because it has survived many wars throughout its history. Most notably, the city had to be painstakingly rebuilt after the extensive damage it suffered from World War II, during which 80% of its buildings were destroyed.

Olympic Stadium [Kiev] Capacity: 70,050 Opened: 12 August 1923 Renovated: 1941, 1999, 2011 Who plays there: Ukraine's national team Stadium Fact: For most of its history the stadium was known as the Republican Stadium. It has been renovated for Euro 2012, with a rebuilt lower tier, a completely new west stand and the addition of a new unique roof covering the entire seating area. Games to be played there: Three games in Group D: Ukraine vs Swedene on 11 June, England vs Sweden on 15 June and France vs Sweden on 19 June. 1xQF on June 24 and Final on July 1. Where is Kiev?: Ukraine's capital and largest city is located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River.

PGE Arena [Gdansk] Capacity: 44,636 Year built: 2008-2011 Opened: 14 August 2011 Who plays there: Lechia Gdansk Stadium Fact: Previously called the Baltic Arena, the stadium’s name was purchased by the Polish Energy Group (PGE) for 35 million zloty (about 8.5 million euro) for five years in December 2009. The city of Gdansk sold the naming rights in order to cover some of the costs of its construction. PGE Arena’s exterior is designed to resemble amber which has long been extracted on the Baltic coast. Games to be played there: Three games in Group C: Spain vs Italy on 10 June, Spain vs Republic of Ireland on 14 June and Croatia vs Spain on 18 June. 1xQF on 22 June. Where is Gdansk?: The city lies on the southern edge of Gdansk Bay (of the Baltic Sea), in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the Tricity. Gdansk is situated at the mouth of the Motlawa River, connected to the Leniwka, a branch in the delta of the nearby Vistula River, whose waterway system supplies 60% of the area of Poland and connects Gdansk to the national capital in Warsaw.