IPL - Chennai Super King's New Coach

The former New Zealand captain, Stephen Fleming, is likely to take over as the coach of IPL-Chennai Super Kings from Kepler Wessels(SA) for the Champions Twenty20 League. He, however, will not be playing for the team in then tournament next month. Wessels, who led the team to the finals in the inaugural IPL season and helped them qualify for the Champions Twenty20 League next month, confirmed that his one-year tenure was over. "My contract was just for one year," he told.

He recently committed to Wellington for the domestic Twenty20 campaign in New Zealand beginning February 2009, a move which could also see him turning out for the team in the next edition of the Champions League

His appointment is the latest in the series of management changes by the IPL teams ahead of the second season. Hyderabad's Deccan Chargers, who finished at the bottom of the league, brought in Adam Gilchrist as their new captain, replacing VVS Laxman and Bangalore's Royal Challengers, who finished just ahead of Hyderabad in the points table, replaced Martin Crowe, their coach last year, with Ray Jennings. The Hyderabad, Jaipur and Delhi franchises have already changed their chief executives.

Michael Hussey had already announced that he would represent Chennai and not Western Australia for the Champions Twenty20 League which kicks off on December 3 with the finals in Mumbai on December 10. Chennai Super Kings will face Victoria in their opening Group A encounter on December 4 in Mumbai. Middlesex and Titans are the other teams in the group.

Thanks: cricinfo.

Chandrayaan - Closer to the Moon

Chandrayaan-1 within 500 km of the moon - India's first unmanned lunar spacecraft, moved closer to the moon today, when it broke free from it elliptical orbit around the earth, speeding into deep space towards the moon. This was disclosed by a top space agency official.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) director S. Satish told IANS yesterday, "The liquid apogee motor (LAM) on board will be fired around 5.00 a.m. Tuesday for about five minutes to make the transition and position the spacecraft at about 500 km from the moon's surface and over 3,84,000 km away from the earth."

It was launched on 22 October on board the 316-tonne PSLV-C11 from Satish Dhawan space center at Sriharikota spaceport off the Andhra Pradesh coast, 80 km north of Chennai. We will keep you posted for more news about the Chandrayaan, so keep watching this space.

Anil Kumble - JUMBO Retired from Test Cricket

Anil Kumble annouced his retirement today at Feroz Shah Kotla. Third highest test wicket taker with 619 wickets says good bye to cricket after playing 132 test matches on the eve of third test match between Autralia and India - November 2' 2008. He played 20 matches took "111" wickets against Australia with 10 wickets in an innings twice. When playing in India he is the king he took overall 350 wickets and away his stats are 269 wickets.

Watch his last moment as an Indian Test Cricketer.

Anil Kumble retired from tests - Video

Call for peace in SL - Tamil Actors Fasting

From superstars to junior artists, the entire fraternity of Tamil actors came together on Saturday to observe a day-long fast in Chennai to voice their concern for Tamils caught in the Sri Lankan civil war and demanded an immediate ceasefire in the Lanka.

But the artists carefully avoided provocative remarks against the government or in support of the LTTE. Leading actors Rajnikanth and Kamal Hassan, joined the fast, along with those active in politics from the film world like Vijayakanth and Sarath Kumar.

Several leading actors and technicians voiced their concern over the sufferings that Tamils were undergoing in Sri Lanka. Sarathkumar, president of SIAA and Radha Ravi, General Secretary, led the fast.

"Thala" Deepavali

Ultimate star Ajith who made waves with Billa is all set to capture hearts again with his Aegan. The movie will be hitting the theatres on October 25th. Aegan has been given a ‘U’ certificate by the censor board, with some cuts. The film is directed by Raju Sundaram and Nayantara again pairs with Ajit.

Renovate 100 Theaters in TamilNadu - Pyramid Saimira Plans

Pyramid Saimira Group, India`s leading entertainment conglomerate, has announced its plans to renovate 250 theatres in the 4 states of South India, with an investment of Rs 2 billion over the next 18 months.

The first theatre that will be renovated under this initiative is Jyothi Theatre, a single- screen theatre on the outskirts of Chennai.

Speaking about the renovation of Jyothi theatre, P. S Saminathan, chairman, Pyramid Saimira Group, said, ``The company will be renovating theatres in 100 centers in Tamil Nadu, with an investment of close to Rs 750 million. It will be extending its renovation initiative to the other states also, with Kerala in November, Andhra Pradesh in December and Karnataka in January,`` Saminathan said.

``The company is looking to invest close to Rs 2 billion in infrastructure improvement program, which will offer all cine-viewers in South India, the best movie- viewing experience,`` Saminathan added.

All the theatres will have computerized ticketing facilities and seat selection kiosks, Along with the latest digital projection and DTS sound technology, the theatres will be equipped with an in-built mobile zone enabled with blue-tooth, video booth for live TV, radio and overhead projection facilities.

The theatres will also have modernized security facilities, with fire retardants, safety lighting and metal detectors, Facility for news gathering mechanism with Broad band and video conferencing will also be available.

Strong Public Support for Smoking Ban in India

Most Indians support plans to tighten existing laws for a complete ban on smoking in public places, according to results of a survey published Thursday.Some 92 percent of the 1,030 people who answered the survey in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata, strongly favoured curbs on lighting up at work or in hotels, bars, restaurants, cinemas, schools and hospitals, it said.

Eighty-four percent also agreed that breathing second-hand smoke was a serious health hazard, mirroring the findings of similar surveys conducted in other countries that have now gone smoke-free.

India has some 120 million smokers -- about one-fifth of the population. The country has already outlawed spitting and urinating in public to little noticeable effect, but health experts say urgent action is needed as a newly prosperous middle class succumbs to "western-style" ailments such as lung cancer and heart disease.