2010 Champions League T20

The 2010 Champions League Twenty20 will see two groups of five teams each competing in a round-robin format, with the top two sides from each group going through to the semi finals.

The set-up is a departure from the 2009 edition, which had four groups of three teams, with the two teams from each group advancing to another league stage which determined the semi-finalists. Despite the change, the tournament features the same number of matches - 23 - as last year. The matches have been evenly distributed across four venues, with each stadium hosting at least five games.

The Mumbai Indians open the event on September 10th against the South African side Lions at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, which also hosts the final on September 26. Mumbai and Lions are part of Group B, along with South Australia, Royal Challengers Bangalore and a team from the West Indies that will be determined in late July.

The teams drawn in Group A are the 2010 IPL champions Chennai Super Kings, Australia's Big Bash champions Victoria, South Africa's Pro Series champions Warriors, which is a combination of the Eastern Province and Border first-class teams, as well as Sri Lanka's Wayamba, which represents the North Western Province, and New Zealand's Central Districts.

2010 Airtel Champions League Twenty20 Competing Teams

Chennai Super Kings (DLF Indian Premier League – India)

Mumbai Indians (DLF Indian Premier League – India)

Royal Challengers Bangalore (DLF Indian Premier League – India)

Victorian Bushrangers (KFC Twenty20 Big Bash – Australia)

South Australian Redbacks (KFC Twenty20 Big Bash – Australia)

Warriors (Standard Bank Pro 20 Series – South Africa)

Highveld Lions (Standard Bank Pro 20 Series – South Africa)

Central Stags (HRV Cup Twenty20 – New Zealand)

Wayamba Elevens (Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Cup – Sri Lanka)

TBC (West Indies Domestic Twenty20 Champions)

Glorious 800-wicket Test finish for Murali

The cricket world will remember this day as the one on which its greatest offspinner rolled his arm over for the last time in Tests. It was a day rich in emotion and scripted perfectly, as Muttiah Muralitharan ended his career by picking up his 800th Test wicket with the last ball he bowled.

But, in rather typical fashion, the affable Sri Lankan turned it into a day in which he honoured those who taught him the game, and showed that he is not short of gratitude.

Among his special invitees were Sunil Fernando, who coached him in school, and Daryl Foster, who worked with him first at Kent and then in western Australia’s biomechanics lab when accusations of chucking were being hurled at him.

Murali’s family was there too: parents Sinnasamy Muttiah and Lakshmi, Chennai-born wife Madhimalar and son Naren, along with his brothers Shashi, Prabhu and Shree. The significance of the day was lost on young Naren but the others were delirious with delight.

“It was very, very important to him that the whole family be present to watch him today,” Madhimalar told the Hindustan Times as the presentation ceremony unfolded after the game. “It’s his milestone and you can imagine how much we wanted to be here for him.”

But Murali’s loyalty goes beyond family. “He never ever forgets people who have helped in his most difficult times,” explained Madhimalar. “He wanted all the people who went out of the way to help him when he was in trouble to be here and celebrate with him.”