20-08-2013
Samar to lead Pakistan in Afghanistan friendly
KARACHI: Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) defender Samar Ishaq will lead Pakistan in
their international friendly against Afghanistan in Kabul on Tuesday.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Sunday unveiled the squad for their lone warm-up match ahead of the upcoming SAFF Championships in Nepal which will leave for Kabul on Monday.
The SAFF Championships kick off in Kathmandu on Aug 31 with Pakistan facing arch-rivals India in their opening Group A match on Sept 1.
The players morale is high and they are looking forward to doing their best, Pakistan assistant coach Shahzad Anwer told Dawn on Sunday from Lahore where the team held their last practice session.
Playing Afghanistan will be good for us as they are ranked above us in the FIFA rankings.
Afghanistan were runners-up to India in the last edition of the SAFF Championships and are currently placed 139 in the rankings against Pakistans 167.
Shahzad lamented the fact that Pakistan will be playing just one game ahead of the regional event.
It wouldve been great if we couldve have played a few more games so that the players could assess their shortcomings but nonetheless were hopeful of performing well, he said, adding that it was unfortunate that the two-match series against Bangladesh was cancelled.
With long-serving goalkeeper and captain Jaffar Khan being ruled out of the tournament with injury, Pakistan would have KRL shot-stopper Saqib Hanif and Denmark-based custodian Yousaf Butt fighting for the No 1 jersey.
Shahzad, though, was coy on who of the two would be Pakistans first choice in goal.
Yousuf has performed well for the country over the last year for the country, he said. But the match against Afghanistan will offer Saqib a good chance to prove himself worthy of a starting berth.
Yousuf, who is part of Pakistan146s Denmark-based quartet which includes his brother Yaqoob Butt, Hassan Bashir and Mohmmad Ali, will not be a part of the touring party to Kabul.
The four players will join the squad before Pakistan leave for Nepal on Aug 23.
Moreover, Pakistans star defender Zesh Rehman will not take part for Pakistan in the SAFF Championships despite having shown his interest in representing the team in Nepal.
Zesh will not be in the squad for the SAFF Championship, a well-placed source told Dawn on Sunday.
Although he is a great player and has loads of international experience, [Pakistan coach] Zavisa Milosavljevic wants players who are willing to join the squad before their departure to Nepal.
Zesh, who formerly played for English Premier League side Fulham and now plays for Kitchee in Hong Kong, had expressed his desire to take part in the SAFF Championships earlier last week.
I am in touch with the officials of the PFF and hopefully will get to play in the SAFF Cup this time, he told Indian sports website Sportskeeda.
It is undoubtedly the biggest football tournament in the SAFF region so it would be an honour to play in it again.
Squad for Afghanistan friendly: Saqib Hanif, Muzammil Hussain, Mohammad Hameed, Samar Ishaq, Kamran Khan, Mohammad Ahmed, Ahsanullah, Saddam Hussain, Mohammad Adil, Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Afridi, Zia Us Salam, Naveed Ahmed, Mohammad Riaz, Kaleemullah, Mohammad Mujahid, Saeed Ahmed.
Umar Akmal suffered epileptic fit
KARACHI: Pakistan batsman/wicket-keeper Umar Akmal suffered an epileptic fit during a flight to Jamaica and spent a night in a hospital before being rushed home, a relative said on Sunday.
We are told that Umar suffered a seizure [epileptic related problem] on the flight to Jamaica and was rushed to a hospital where he spent a night before being rushed back to Pakistan, the relative said.Umar had been playing for Barbados Tridents in the ongoing Caribbean League after Pakistans recent tour to the West Indies.
Umars physio was with him who took him to the hospital. The same official will be travelling with him to Dubai as a precaution, added the relative.
Doctors in the West Indies have ruled Umar out of any danger, the family said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday pulled the 23-year-old from the squad to tour Zimbabwe and replaced him with wicket-keeper/batsman Sarfraz Ahmed.
Umar was selected for the Twenty20 and one-day legs of the tour.
Pakistan plays the first of two Twenty20 matches in Harare on Aug 23 before playing three one-day and two Tests on the tour.
The PCB said on Saturday that Umar had been called back from the West Indies for fitness problems. Local media had initially reported that Umar was suffering from a back problem.
Umar has immediately been called back, a PCB statement said. He will undergo a complete medical examination to reassess the level of his fitness, meanwhile the national selection committee has proposed the name of Sarfraz as his replacement for Pakistan one-day and T20 squads for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe.AFP
Barca hit seven, Isco grabs late winner for RealAFP
MADRID: Gerardo Martino enjoyed his competitive debut with Barcelona more than Carlos Ancelotti's with Real Madrid as the La Liga champions stormed to a 7-0 rout of Levante in their season opener at the Nou Camp on Sunday.
Real had to come from behind against Real Betis for a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu, new 30 million euro signing Isco heading an 86th-minute winner.
Jorge Molina had put the lively visitors ahead in the 14th minute only for Karim Benzema level in the 26th.
Elsewhere, Brazilian striker Diego Costa scored twice as Atletico Madrid beat Sevilla 3-1 away, and Granada were 2-1 winners at Osasuna.
At the Nou Camp, World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and Spain striker Pedro both scored twice, while new 57 million euro ($76.00 million) signing Neymar started on the bench and came on as a 63rd-minute substitute with the game already resolved.
Barca made a whirlwind start, scoring six times before halftime as the team responded to Argentine Martino's calls for greater intensity in their pressing game and a more direct approach.
The debut exceeded all my expectations, Martino told a news conference as he insisted he had not made any changes to the way the team played.
I am not looking for a Barca modeled by Martino. I was already a fan of Barca's concepts of play before I came, and all I want them to do is to do some things they have forgotten or stopped doing.
We put them under pressure well and kept it going for a long time.
The outstanding Cesc Fabregas squared for Alexis Sanchez to tap in the opener in the third minute, and Messi exchanged passes with Pedro to stroke in the second.
Dani Alves struck the third after another slick passing move on the edge of the area, and Pedro, who started wide on the left of the attack keeping Neymar on the bench, bagged the fourth.
Adriano was felled for a penalty in the 42nd which Messi fired home, and Fabregas set up Xavi with an extravagant looping pass over the defence for the sixth, just before the break.
A limp display from the cash-strapped visitors, under new coach Joaquin Caparros, could only look to a string of saves from goalkeeper Keylor Navas as any sort of positive.
ROUSING RECEPTION
Brazil forward Neymar was given a rousing reception when he came on for his competitive debut and showed a few nice touches but it was Pedro who notched the seventh after a mix up in the Levante defence in the 73rd.
While Real pursue Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale for a reported world record 100 million euros, it was a player who cost Betis one euro and 20 cents, Cedrick Mabwati, who set up the opener at the Bernabeu.
The Congolese winger surged forward and crossed low for Molina to divert the ball past Diego Lopez, preferred in the Real goal ahead of Iker Casillas.
Betis were audacious in their approach and Joan Verdu should have doubled the lead when he fired wide as the hosts looked disjointed.
Real had already had two goals ruled out for offside when new signing Isco fed Benzema, and the France striker scored at the near post.
Betis's Nosa slammed a header against the crossbar from a corner and Cedrick had a good shot for a penalty waved away, but Real responded in the second half, Cristiano Ronaldo rattling the crossbar straight after the re-start.
The Portugal forward, Angel Di Maria, Benzema and Marcelo all had further chances as the pressure grew, and with time running out Marcelo crossed and Isco headed just under the crossbar.
We can do better, Ancelotti told a news conference.
We played some good combinations, but the problem was our defensive play. It was a problem of balance. The first game is never easy.
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15-08-2013
Muhammad Asif confesses to spot-fixing
English cricketer charged in Bangladesh corruption scandal
LONDON: English cricketer Darren Stevens on Wednesday admitted to being charged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) with failure to report attempted corruption in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
The ICC announced on Tuesday that seven people had been charged with match-fixing in the BPL, with a further two accused of failing to report approaches to fix the 2013 edition of the Twenty20 competition.
I confirm that I have been charged by the ICC with a failure to report a corrupt approach made to me during BPL2 in February this year, Stevens said in a statement released by his English county side Kent.
I have not been involved in any corrupt activity and have not been charged with any and I am cooperating with the ICC and ACSU (Anti-Corruption and Security Unit) in their investigation and prosecution of the corruption charges in matters relating to the BPL.
The charge Stevens is facing carries a maximum penalty of a five-year suspension from cricket. He and the other individuals have 14 days in which to enter their pleas.
Stevens is the first of the nine people accused to reveal his identity.
The 37-year-old all-rounder added that he was totally against corruption and would never do anything other than perform to the best of my ability in any game.
He also revealed that he has not been banned from playing by the ICC -- unlike the seven people directly accused of corruption -- and therefore remains willing and able to play for Kent.
The charges stem from Stevens' tenure with the Dhaka Gladiators BPL team, which the ICC has confirmed is the only club being investigated over allegations of match-fixing and spot-fixing.
All of the nine people under investigation have been charged under the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) anti-corruption code and face a disciplinary tribunal hearing.
The charges were announced on Tuesday by ICC chief executive David Richardson, but he did not reveal the identities or nationalities of those charged.
The scandal has already ensnared Mohammad Ashraful, the former Bangladesh captain, who made a tearful confession to match-fixing on national television in June after being quizzed by the ICC's officials.
He was allegedly involved in fixing a match between the Dhaka Gladiators and the Chittagong Kings during this year's second edition of the BPL.
Local media have reported that the batsman was paid about one million taka ($12,800) to lose the match on February 2.
Ashraful, who became the country's youngest Test centurion in 2001 at the age of 17, was also allegedly involved in fixing another match 10 days later against the Barisal Burners, which his team lost by seven wickets, local reports have said.
The affair has further shaken confidence in the game across South Asia.
Bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and 38 others were charged by Delhi police in July over alleged spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League, while former Bangladesh spinner Shariful Haque was given an indefinite ban last September after being found guilty of spot-fixing during the first season of the BPL.
In March the BCB banned international umpire Nadir Shah for 10 years after a sting operation by an Indian TV channel found him apparently willing to fix matches for cash.
Angry Afridi demands cut to 'obscene' movie
Federer wins seventh career match
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14-08-2013
All players except Rizwan Senior fit, says Akhtar
LAHORE: Pakistan hockey teams head coach Akhtar Rasool said on Monday except Rizwan Senior all the probables at the national training camp for the Asia Cup were fit.
Talking to reporters as the camp resumed after the Eid-ul-Fitr break at the National Hockey Stadium here on Monday, Akhtar said Rizwan had a hair-line fracture on his left hand. The coach however hoped that the player would regain fitness before the start of the Asia Cup starting in Malaysia on Aug 24.
All the other probables who reported at the camp are quite fit and it seems they all followed the fitness programme given to them for maintaining fitness during the Eid holidays, Akhtar, a former Olympian, added.
Akhtar, under whom the team face a challenging task of winning the Asia Cup to make the 2014 World Cup, said the morale at the camp was high and the players were in high spirits.
During the next few days we will try our best to give final shape to our match strategy [for the Asia event], and to remove all the flaws noticed in the attacking and mid-field areas,the coach said.
Meanwhile, secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa also visited the camp and said the fit-looking boys were working hard.
Bajwa said the final team would be announced by the head coach in the next couple of days.
Pakistan last won the Asia Cup title way back in 1989.
Though it is a hard target for Pakistan to win the Asia Cup in order to qualify for the World Cup, in the last couple of years the green-shirts have stamped their supremacy in the Asian region by winning the Asian Champions Trophy, so the PHF hopes our team will clinch the title in Malaysia, Bajwa stated.Sports Reporter
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13-08-2013
Nadal routs Raonic, lifts third Canadian title
MONTREAL: Fourth seed Rafael Nadal needed just 68 minutes to deliver a body blow to Canada's biggest tennis week, routing Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-2 to capture the ATP Montreal Masters on Sunday.
The Spaniard then made it clear that he is planning to carry on next week to the final major tune-up prior to the US Open, the combined ATP-WTA Cincinnati event.
We'll see tomorrow, but I'm fine. I was able to recover well, I felt good physically today, said Nadal who made quick work of Raonic, who now becomes the first Canadian to be ranked in the top 10 on the ATP Tour.
Nadal won his 25th Masters 1000 title and lifted his eighth trophy of the season to run his career title total to 58.
Nadal feels ready to go for another title in Cincinnati which began on Sunday. He looked smooth on the court Sunday, giving no indication that his chronic knee problems are a current worry.
He says his focus is now on Montreal and he will not be thinking ahead to the August 26 start of the US Open in New York.
The victories and the loses don't affect the way that I prepare or the way that I work for things, Nadal said.When I will be in New York, I will work on thinking about the US Open.
I always go tournament by tournament. I did very well this week on the hardcourts. I'm happy with that. I need to keep going this way.
Nadal remains undefeated this season on the hardcourts after winning the Indian Wells title in March. He also won in Canada in 2005 and 2008.
Raonic, who was held to just four aces in the final, fell short in his bid to become the first Canadian to win the title since 1958.
Rafa really gave me a clinic today, said a deflated Raonic, who has broken new ground all week in the sport for Canada. This was the most important moment of my career so far.
I'm happy I could have it here in Canada.Nadal stands at 48-3 this year and has reached the final in 10 of 11 events he has entered.
Nadal showed no weakness on Sunday as he broke Raonic twice in the opening set, broke on a double-fault to start the second and claimed his fourth Masters title of the season after Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome.
It was a dominating victory in which the big-hitting Canadian's serve was all but nullified by precision returns from Nadal.
This was an amazing victory for me, said Nadal, who lost only one point in the opening set on serve.
I knew my serve would be very important and I felt consistent. My returns were also unbelievable.
I played a fantastic match against a tough opponent. He just had a few more mistakes today than usual.Nadal will move back to third place on the ATP world rankings on Monday while Raonic vaults into No. 10.
Pakistan U-19 ease to third consecutive win
KARACHI: Pakistan won their third consecutive match in the ongoing U-19 tri-nation tournament in England against Bangladesh at the Kibworth Cricket Club in Leicester. Pakistan eased to a seven wicket win with their openers scoring most of the runs after the bowlers had restricted Bangladesh to 149.
The pick of the Pakistani bowlers was Kamran Ghulam, an upcoming left-arm spinner who claimed figures of four for 18 in his 10 overs. Ghulam was aided by another left arm spinner, Zafar Gohar who claimed three wickets for 14 runs in his 7.4 overs to build on the three early breakthroughs provided by Zia-ul-Haq and Hussain Talat.
Struggling against spin, the Bangladesh batsmen could only survive for 43.4 overs with only three of the top nine batsmen reaching double figures. Nazmul Hossain was the only batsman offering significant resistance, scoring 46 runs.
The Pakistani batsmen were off to a solid start with both openers scoring half-centuries. Captain Sami Aslam scored a steady 58 before being bowled by Mosaddek Hossains off spin. His opening partner, Hussain Talat, however remained not out on 71 as Pakistan eased to victory in the 32nd over with seven wickets to spare.
Bangladeshs leg spinner Jubair Hossain was the pick of the bowlers claiming two wickets but was expensive, giving 34 runs in his four overs.Pakistan1s next match is against England on the 13th of August, 0945 GMT.
Broad bowls England to Ashes series win
CHESTER-LE-STREET: Stuart Broad bowled England to a stunning 74-run fourth Test win over Australia with more than a day to spare as they took an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match Ashes series.
Australia, set 299 to win on Monday's fourth day at Chester-le-Street, were well-placed at 168 for two but slumped to 224 all out as paceman Broad took six wickets for 50 runs for a Test-best match haul of 11 for 121.
The victory means England, who had already retained the Ashes, have won three successive Test series against Australia for the first time since the 1950s.
Australia, looking for their first win in eight Tests, lost five wickets for 13 runs as 168 for two was transformed into 181 for seven.
Man-of-the-match Broad, who had taken five first-innings wickets, enjoyed a purple patch of six wickets for 20 runs in 45 balls, with Tim Bresnan taking two for eight in 24.
David Warner and fellow left-hander Chris Rogers gave Australia a solid platform with an opening stand of 109 before first-innings century-maker Rogers edged off-spinner Graeme Swann to Jonathan Trott at slip on 49. Swann then had Usman Khawaja lbw for 21.
Warner, who missed the first two Tests of the series, both of which Australia lost, after being banned for punching home batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar in June, looked in fine touch while making a 74-ball half-century that included a six off Swann.
But on 71, he was drawn forward to a Bresnan ball angled across him, and edged it to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Broad then dismissed Australia captain Michael Clarke for 21 with a superb delivery that came into the star batsman and clipped the top of off stump, before getting Steven Smith to play on after bottom-edging a hook.
Shane Watson, like Smith, was out for two as he fell in familiar fashion, lbw playing across his front pad, to Bresnan.
He reviewed Aleem Dar's decision but, with technology indicating the ball would have clipped leg stump, the Pakistani umpire's call was upheld.
The collapse continued as Brad Haddin, the last of the recognised batsmen, was lbw, moving across his stumps, to Broad for four.
Australia, understandably, challenged but with the Decision Review System indicating the ball would have just hit the top of leg stump, New Zealand umpire Tony Hill's original verdict was confirmed and Australia were 181 for seven, with both sides having used up their reviews.
And when Broad had Ryan Harris lbw, Australia were exactly 100 runs shy of victory with just two wickets standing.
Broad bowled Nathan Lyon for eight and, after England took the extra half hour, ended the match when he had Peter Siddle hole out to James Anderson at mid-off.
Earlier, fast bowler Harris took a Test-best seven for 117 as England, who resumed on 234 for five, made 330 all out in their second innings.
Although Ian Bell could only add eight to his overnight 105, England's total was bolstered by Bresnan's dashing 45 and Swann's unbeaten 30.
Queensland fast bowler Harris took four for 43 with the new ball on Monday after reducing England to 49 for three on Sunday.
His return, in his 15th Test, surpassed the 33-year-old's previous innings best of six for 47 against England at Perth in 2010.
Harris struck twice in two deliveries with the new ball.
He first bowled Bell off the inside edge for 113, his highest score of the series after he made 109 in both England's wins at Trent Bridge and Lord's, to end a near five-hour innings of 210 balls which included 11 fours.
Harris's next ball rose sharply and Prior played on for a duck. The fifth and final Test starts at The Oval in south London on August 21.
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08-08-2013
Have batsmen been cheating Hotspot in the Ashes?
SYDNEY: The International Cricket Council (ICC) have launched a probe into allegations some batsmen in the Ashes series have used silicone tape on the edge of their bats to confuse Hotspot technology, Australia's Channel Nine TV reported on Wednesday.
The ongoing five-test series between England and Australia has been riddled with controversy over the inconsistency of the Decision Review System (DRS), part of which is the Hotspot thermal imaging technology. Hotspot uses infra red cameras to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman, bat or pad, with any contact supposed to show up as a bright spot on the image.
Cricket Australia last week requested an explanation from the ICC over the dismissal of Usman Khawaja during the third test at Old Trafford. The batsman was given out caught despite a review of the television pictures and Hotspot which showed no convincing evidence of a nick off the bat. Later in the same match, England batsman Kevin Pietersen was also given out, caught behind, but again the Hotspot failed to pick anything up.
Hotspot's Australian inventor, Warren Brennan, was reported in the British media to be preparing a statement on the technology for release on Wednesday.
A Tweet posted on Tuesday from an unverified Twitter account under his name and entitled @HotSpotInventor read: We will make a statement tomorrow about hotspot in regard to the remainder of the Ashes series. Another, in reply to former England captain and media pundit Michael Vaughan posted on Aug 5 read: Michael, its time you investigate why players are using fibreglass tape on the edges of their bats.
The ICC declined to comment when Reuters contacted a spokesperson on Wednesday but Pietersen was far more forthcoming with his opinion on the matter in a series of angry tweets. Horrible journalism yet again! My name brought up in hotspot crisis suggesting I use silicon(e) to prevent nicks showing! Such hurtful lies, Pieterson wrote. I am never afraid of getting out! If I nick it, I'll walk..To suggest I cheat by covering my bat with silicon(e) infuriates me, he added. How stupid would I be to try & hide a nick when it could save me on an LBW appeal, like in 1st innings where hotspot showed I nicked it.
England coach Andy Flower also called for improvements in the DRS system after the third test was drawn, ensuring the hosts, who won the first two test, would retain the Ashes.
In surprise offensive, Border says England 'worried' and 'vulnerable'
SYDNEY: Former Australia captain Allan Border on Wednesday cranked up the pressure on England ahead of the fourth Ashes Test, saying Alastair Cook's team appeared vulnerable and worried.
The tourists' hopes of regaining the famous urn were washed away by a rain-affected third Test draw at Old Trafford that concluded Monday and gave Ashes-holders England an unassailable 2-0 lead with two to play.But after losing the first two Tests, Australia's performance at Manchester was much better with their batting finally firing, in contrast to England's.
After the second Test at Lord's, Border, known as Captain Grumpy, slammed Australia's top three as embarrassing while telling Shane Watson to sort himself out, but he has had a change of heart.
What a difference two weeks can make. In the space of 14 days, my perception and gut-feel about this Australian side has changed, said Border, who captained the side 93 times as it rebuilt in the mid-1980s, laying the foundations for a long period of dominance.
England has retained the Ashes and well done to them, but the performance of this largely inexperienced Australian team has filled me with confidence.
Border, who played Tests scoring 11,174 runs, said it looked like Australia had drawn their own line in the sand at Old Trafford, in much the same way Australia did during the 1986-87 series.
Border's Australians lost that series 2-1 but won the World Cup in 1987 before starting 16 years of Ashes domination in 1989.
They showed real fight and England are worried, he said in a comment piece on the Cricket Australia website.
The Poms were playing catch-up cricket from day one, going slow with over rates and doing everything they could to negate our chances of winning. At the end of the day rain saved England - it's as simple as that.
The way this side is going over the next few months, look out. Australia has the momentum.
Old Trafford proved England is vulnerable, he added.
Australia has broken the spell (Jimmy) Anderson and (Graeme) Swann had over them, playing Cook's two go-to men with more assurance.
The confidence in the group has grown and the boys can sense they're back in the contest. England has some good cricketers, but what this kind of performance does is put doubts in their minds.
Cook, (Jonathan) Trott and (Kevin) Pietersen don't look as insurmountable as they once did. I reckon we've turned a corner.
The fourth Ashes Test starts in Chester-le-Street, the headquarters of northeast county Durham, on Friday.
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07-08-2013
Pakistan to play Afghanistan in T20
LAHORE: Pakistan on Monday announced it will play Afghanistan in a Twenty20 International later this year to help the development of cricket in the war-ravaged nation.The two sides will meet on Dec 8 in Sharjah, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman said.
Giving Afghanistan an international match is our contribution towards the development of the game in the neighbouring country, the spokesman said.
The match is part of an agreement between the two countries in March under which the PCB will help Afghanistan improve its cricket infrastructure and team standard.
Afghanistan qualified for the last two World Twenty20 tournaments in 2010 and 2012 but lost all their matches.
The Sharjah match will be their first against any top teams outside the International Cricket Council events.
Afghanistan Cricket Board chief executive Mohammad Murad expressed delight at the latest opportunity for his team.
We are excited by the opportunity to play against a full (ICC) member nation, Murad said in Kabul.
Win or lose, the experience gained by our players will be absolutely invaluable.
Full members are entitled to play Test matches while Afghanistan is an associate ICC member.AFP
Onions added to England squad for fourth Ashes Test
MANCHESTER: England gave Durham paceman Graham Onions the chance of playing the fourth Ashes Test on his Chester-le-Street home ground after including him in a 13-man squad on Monday.
Just hours after England had retained the Ashes courtesy of a rain-affected draw in the third Test at Old Trafford on Monday, the selectors unveiled their squad for the fourth match of the series, which starts at north-east county Durham's headquarters on Friday.
Fast bowler Chris Tremlett was also selected, with all 11 players who took the field at Old Trafford included as England look for a series victory after winning the first Test at Trent Bridge by 14 and the second, at Lord's, by a colossal 347 runs.
But there was no place for in-form batsman James Taylor, who'd been in the 14-man squad at Old Trafford as cover for Kevin Pietersen.
But star batsman Pietersen, who had been struggling with a calf problem, made 113 in England's first innings 368 at Old Trafford.
While the players should be congratulated on retaining the Ashes there is still a lot of cricket left in this series and it is important that the players recover and refocus ahead of another crucial week of Test cricket, said England national selector Geoff Miller.
The inclusion of Graham Onions and Chris Tremlett gives (coach) Andy Flower and (captain) Alastair Cook an opportunity to assess both the fitness of the bowling attack following the third Test as well as the conditions at Durham, the former England off-spinner added.
England squad Alastair Cook (capt), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior (wkt), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graham Onions, Chris Tremlett
Flower calls for 'calm' DRS verdicts
MANCHESTER: England coach Andy Flower joined the captains of both sides in calling for improved use of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the remaining two Ashes Tests against Australia.
Holders England retained the Ashes after the third Test at Old Trafford ended in a rain-affected draw on Monday, leaving the home side 2-0 up with two to play ahead of the fourth Test in Durham starting on Friday.
But once again the use of DRS by the officials this Ashes was a major talking point after yet more contentious rulings in Manchester.
Firstly umpiring is a very tricky business but I would say that there are very clear protocols to use and to stick to and I think some calm decision-making needs to be made over the next two Tests, Flower said Tuesday.
Sometimes the available technology has contradicted itself and former Zimbabwe batsman Flower added: I think there are improvements that can be made.
There are improvements in the use of the technology and the use of experts who know how to use the technology that could make a difference to getting better results.
Given eight of the International Cricket Council's 12-strong elite panel of umpires are barred from officiating in Ashes matches because they are from either England or Australia, this series has been overseen by the quartet of Pakistan's Aleem Dar, Sri Lanka's Kumar Dharmasena, New Zealand's Tony Hill and South Africa's Marais Erasmus, who've rotated the standing and third umpire roles between them.
In the first Test at Trent Bridge, where Erasmus was widely criticised for overturning Dar's original not out decision and ruling England batsman Jonathan Trott was out lbw, six out of 13 reviews led to a changed decision.
At Lord's, where England won the second Test by 347 runs, only one review led to an overturned call.
Meanwhile at Old Trafford, where Hill and Erasmus were the men in the middle with Dharmasena the third umpire, the teams sought 10 reviews, with none of the standing umpires' decisions reversed.
This appeared to indicate the teams were becoming progressively more careless with their challenges, when further exposure to DRS ought to produce the reverse effect, or that the third umpire was increasingly reluctant to over-rule his two standing colleagues.
At Old Trafford, there were times when both England and Australia, more than being frustrated at DRS verdicts going against them, didn't seem to understand why their challenges had failed. In Manchester, the most controversial case involved the first innings dismissal of Australia batsman Usman Khawaja, given out caught behind off the bowling of off-spinner Graeme Swann for one by Hill.
DRS appeared to indicate there was no noise at the moment the bat ought to have hit the ball and nor did Hotspot reveal an edge.
Yet Dharmasena upheld Hill's decision, prompting Australia great Shane Warne to label the decision absolutely shocking.
Meanwhile both Australia captain Michael Clarke and England counterpart Alastair Cook said they were confused by the application of DRS this series.
I'm a fan of DRS, I am a fan of technology in our game and there's obviously been a couple of occasions where both teams have been a bit confused but the one thing I like about is that it is consistent for both teams, said Clarke.
Cook added: In practice, DRS has worked really well, maybe apart from this series. I don't know whether it's just because it's the Ashes the cricketing gods have thrown up some slightly inconclusive evidence.
We are just a little bit confused at the moment why certain decisions have been overturned and certain decisions haven't been overturned.
I don't think that's just with an England cap on, I think both sides would be feeling that.
We are a little bit confused with it but hopefully the ICC can iron out (the problems) and we can get back to what it's designed for which is making more decisions correct.
Sharapova tops Forbes rich list of female athletes
PARIS: Tennis stars dominated the list of the world's 10 best-paid female athletes, Forbes magazine said on Tuesday, but highlighted the yawning earnings gap with their male counterparts in most sports.
Russia's Maria Sharapova headed the list, published on forbes.com, earning a total of $29 million (#18.9 million, 21.9 million euros) between June 2012 and June this year.
Tennis took the top four positions, with world number one Serena Williams of the United States second ($20.5 million), China's Li Na third ($18.2 million) and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus fourth ($15.7 million).
Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark was in seventh ($13.6 million), followed by Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland ($7.4 million) and Serbia's Ana Ivanovic ($7 million).
US Nascar driver Danica Patrick (fifth with $15 million), South Korean figure skater Kim Yuna (sixth with $14 million)and American golfer Paula Creamer (10th with $5.5 million), were the only non-tennis stars in the top 10.
But the business magazine said disparities remained between men and women in terms of earnings in sport.
World number one golfer Tiger Woods, for example, was the highest-paid athlete on the planet with earnings of $78 million in the 12 months between June 1, 2012 and June 1 this year.
Los Angeles Laker basketball star Kobe Bryant will earn $30.5 million next season but the highest salary in the women's equivalent of the NBA is $107,000.
Park Inbee of South Korea won $585,000 for winning the women's US Open but men's winner Justin Rose was awarded $1.4 million, the magazine noted.
Forbes said that there was increasing parity in terms of pay in tennis, after moves in recent years to put prize money on a more equal footing.
Endorsements that come on the back of Grand Slam wins such as Sharapova's 2012 French Open title dwarf most players' winnings.
The 26-year-old, for example, earned $23 million in endorsements with sportswear manufacturers Head and Nike after her victory at Roland Garros.
She has also launched her own brand of sweets, Sugarpova.
Nevertheless, in Forbes' June 24 list of the world's 100 highest-paid athletes, multiple tennis Grand Slam winner Roger Federer of Switzerland earned $71.5 million, second only to Woods.
Sharapova, number 22 in the top 100 list, earned more than the current men's number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia ($26.9 million) and Spain's Rafael Nadal ($26.4 million).
But in a sign of the ground to be made up, Williams' earnings were only enough to place her 68th in the top 100, while Li Na was 85th -- and all three were the only women in the list.
Forbes list of the world's highest-paid female athletes 2013:
1. Maria Sharapova (RUS), tennis, $29 million
2. Serena Williams (USA), tennis, $20.5 million
3. Li Na (CHN), tennis, $18.2 million
4. Victoria Azarenka (BLR), tennis, $15.7 million
5. Danica Patrick (USA), Nascar, $15 million
6. Kim Yuna (KOR), figure skating, $14 million
7. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN), tennis, $13.6 million
8. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL), tennis, $7.4 million
9. Ana Ivanovic (SRB), tennis, $7 million
10. Paula Creamer (USA), golf, $5.5 million.
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06-08-2013
Dominant South Africa seal T20 series
HAMBANTOTA: South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 22 runs in the second Twenty20 international in wind-swept Hambantota on Sunday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
JP Duminy scored 30 off 23 balls and David Miller hit an aggressive 21-ball 36 as the Proteas reached 145-6 after electing to take first strike in the day-night match.
Fast bowlers Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Morne Morkel then claimed two wickets each as Sri Lanka, the world's top-ranked Twenty20 side, were restricted to 123-7 by an impressive South African fielding display.
Kumar Sangakkara played a lone hand for the hosts with an attractive 39 off 35 balls, but he was only one of three batsmen who crossed 30 in difficult conditions for both teams due to the stiff breeze.
The series win helped South Africa salvage pride after an embarrassing 4-1 defeat in the preceding one-day internationals.
South Africa's Twenty20 captain Faf du Plessis said the win was sweet revenge for that loss.
Sri Lanka showed no mercy in the one-day internationals and we certainly don't want to be showing them any in the T20s, du Plessis said.
The team has shown great character after what happened earlier. I thought we played a great game of cricket to get to 145 despite the wind. We were tactically very good in the bowling also.
The tourists, who won the first Twenty20 game by 12 runs in Colombo on Friday, will be looking to secure a series whitewash when the final match is played in Hambantota on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka, who will lose their number one ranking to second-placed Pakistan if they are defeated again on Tuesday, paid the price for poor batting.
I think it was a gettable score, but we just did not bat well, said skipper Dinesh Chandimal.
There were too many rash strokes. Hopefully we will do better and win on Tuesday.
Left-armer Tsotsobe removed danger man Mahela Jayawardene and Chandimal in his first three overs with both batsmen falling to catches by wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock.
Morkel claimed the vital wicket of Sangakkara, caught superbly in the covers by David Wiese, before having Nuwan Kulasekara caught behind. Thisara Perera remained unbeaten on 22 off 20 balls as the South Africans fielded superbly to keep the runs in check.
Earlier, aggressive batting by Duminy and Miller helped the tourists recover after they were reduced to 48-3 in the ninth over.
The tourists were unchanged for the second game, while Sri Lanka brought in Jayawardene and Kulasekara in place of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Jeevan Mendis.
Seamer Kulasekara finished with two for 22, while Sachithra Senanayake claimed two for 18 in four steady overs of off-spin bowling.
Opener de Kock scored 19 and star batsman AB de Villiers was run out on 15.
England retain Ashes after third Test draw
MANCHESTER: England retained the Ashes after rain meant the third Test against Australia at Old Trafford ended in a draw on Monday.
Only 20.3 overs were possible on the fifth and final day, but that was still long enough for England to collapse to 37 for three, having been set 332 to win after Australia declared on their overnight 172 for seven.
But England, 2-0 up in the five-match series after wins by 14 runs and 347 runs at Trent Bridge and Lord's respectively, only had to draw this match to be sure of retaining the Ashes.
And they had the result they required when the match was abandoned as a draw at 4.39pm local time (1539GMT).
Earlier, Ryan Harris struck twice in quick succession to remove England captain Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott before Peter Siddle claimed the prize wicket of Kevin Pietersen.
However, the bad weather for which Manchester venue Old Trafford is infamous, but which had stayed away until Sunday evening, took charge.
At the close, England were 295 runs shy of the victory target, with Joe Root, dropped on four, 13 not out and Ian Bell four not out.
Now the best Australia can hope for is to share the series 2-2. In the event of a drawn campaign, the team that last won the Ashes retains them and in this series that means England following their 3-1 win in Australia in 2010/11.
One consolation for Australia was that this result ended a run of six successive Test defeats, their worst for 29 years, and meant they avoided equalling their all-time record losing streak of seven set between 1885-88.
Australia captain Michael Clarke, who made a superb first innings 187, was angry when the umpires took the players off for bad light on Sunday before rain ended the day's play.
The weather was still against Australia when rain delayed Monday's scheduled start by 30 minutes.
Harris, though, brought one back late into left-hander Cook to have him lbw for nought, with England yet to score a run.
Cook reviewed Tony Hill's decision but with nothing to suggest an incorrect decision, the New Zealand umpire's verdict was upheld.
Trott survived a leg before appeal from Harris when on nine, a decision the Australians reviewed only to be defeated by a marginal 'umpire's call' verdict after replays showed the ball taking the outside part of leg stump.
But Trott was out for 11 when he carelessly glanced Harris and was caught down the legside by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Australia nearly had a third wicket when Root, who'd taken 26 balls to get off the mark, edged Siddle's sixth ball only for the normally reliable Clarke to drop the second slip chance.
But Siddle had the huge compensation of having Pietersen, who made 113 in the first innings, caught behind for just eight as he pushed forward.
Pietersen challenged the decision and while the audio part of the Decision Review System indicated a noise, there was no mark on the Hot Spot thermal imaging device.
However, Sri Lankan third umpire Kumar Dharmasena, in the latest contentious DRS judgment this series, decided there was insufficient evidence to overturn Hill's original verdict and England were 27 for three, with no reviews left.
Australia were now well-placed to press for victory, only for the weather to intervene again.
After rain delayed the start of the second session, Siddle struck Bell on the thumb with the third ball following lunch. But as Bell received on-field treatment, more rain fell and play was suspended.
The series, which could yet see the first drawn Test campaign between England and Australia since 1972, continues Friday with the fourth Test at Chester-le-Street, the first Ashes match to be staged at the headquarters of north-east county Durham.
Brief scores
Australia 527-7 dec (M Clarke 187, S Smith 89, C Rogers 84, M Starc 66 no, B Haddin 65 no; G Swann 5-159) and 172-7 dec England 368 (K Pietersen 113, A Cook 62, I Bell 60; P Siddle 4-63, M Starc 3-76) and 37-3
United reject second Chelsea bid for Rooney
LONDON: Manchester United have rejected a second offer from rivals Chelsea for unsettled forward Wayne Rooney, the Premier League champions said on Monday.
The Europa League winners tabled an improved bid for Rooney, having had an initial cash offer rebuffed last month.
A bid was received yesterday and immediately rejected, a United spokesperson told the BBC. Our position remains that he is not for sale.
Rooney left United's recent pre-season tour of the Far East due to a hamstring injury, hours after arriving in Bangkok.
The England striker has also now been ruled of Tuesday's pre-season friendly at AIK Stockholm because of a shoulder problem he picked up in a behind-closed-doors match at the weekend.
According to recent media reports, Rooney has been 'angry and confused' with his situation at United after comments from new manager David Moyes that suggested he was a backup in attack to Robin van Persie.
The former Everton player has been the subject of transfer speculation since retired manager Alex Ferguson said at the end of last season that the 27-year-old had asked to leave the club.
Rooney joined United for 27 million pounds ($41.24 million)in August 2004 and has made 402 appearances for the club, scoring 197 goals and winning five league titles and the Champions League.
He has two years left of a contract that, according to media reports, earns him a basic salary of 250,000 pounds ($381,800) a week.
Indian blind team to tour Pakistan
LAHORE: The body running cricket for the blind in Pakistan said Monday it has persuaded its counterparts in India to come on tour in February next year.
The trip would be the Indian blind team's third tour to their arch-rivals, the last coming in December 2011 when they lost both the one-day and Twenty20 series.
"We have convinced India to send their blind team to Pakistan for a three one-day and three Twenty20 international tour next February," Syed Sultan Shah, president of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Association, told AFP.
The matches will be played in Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad, Shah said.
"They were reluctant to send their team owing to security reasons but we managed to convince them because blind cricket is all about peace and harmony and there are no fears on holding such a series," said Shah.
The ball used in blind cricket is bigger, with ball bearings inside it so the batsman can hear it coming.
Of the 11 players in each team four must be totally blind, four partially blind and three partially sighted.
Regular international cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus during the Lahore Test match in March 2009.
Shah, also president of World Blind Council, said India wants to host the Asia Cup for blind teams next year.
Pakistan's blind team toured India last year to feature in the Blind World Twenty20 held in Bangalore. India beat Pakistan to lift the trophy.
India and Pakistan have not played a full bilateral series since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, though Pakistan did visit for a short series in December-January. (AFP)
Stosur topples Azarenka for Carlsbad crown
CARLSBAD: United States / California: Samantha Stosur steamrolled top-seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday to win the WTA Carlsbad crown, her first title since the 2011 US Open.
Australia's Stosur, the fifth seed, made a late decision to accept a wild card into the draw pay off, notching her first victory over Azarenka in their ninth career meeting.
Stosur decided to play Carlsbad after she was bundled out of the previous week's tournament in Stanford in the second round.
"Stanford didn't quite go to plan, and I took a last minute wild card that obviously, now I'm super-grateful for," she said.
Stosur hadn't reached a quarter-final all year until this week, when she beat second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarters before dispatching fellow wild card Virginie Razzano of France in the semi-finals.
She brushed off suggestions that with a US Open title already on her resume, her victory in this hardcourt tuneup for the final Grand Slam of the year suddenly thrust her among the Flushing Meadow favorites. But she was delighted to collect a fourth career title.
After racing through the opening set against an out-of-sorts seeming Azarenka, Stosur broke for a 4-2 lead in the second.
Facing a 0-40 deficit in that game, Azarenka saved one break point with an ace, but on the next point saw a forehand bounce back off the net cord.
Stosur kept the pressure on, muscling a forehand winner over on game point to take a 5-2 lead.
Azarenka trailed 15-30 in the next game, but held serve to force Stosur to serve for the match.
After a shaky double-fault for 15-15, Stosur edged ahead with a stinging forehand volley. She gave herself a match point with a service winner and sealed it when Azarenka fired wide with a backhand. (AFP)
Del Potro beats Isner to win Washington title
WASHINGTON: Juan Martin del Potro showed he deserves to be among the favorites to win the US Open by rallying to beat John Isner in Sunday's final of the Washington Open.
The 24-year-old top seed from Argentina shook off a sluggish start to beat the US eighth seed 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 for his third title in six years at the $1.76 million ATP and WTA hardcourt event, a tuneup for the year's final Grand Slam event beginning in New York in three weeks.
World number one Novak Djokovic, defending champion Andy Murray, five-time US Open winner Roger Federer and 2010 US Open champion Rafael Nadal were del Potro's picks as the players to beat at Flushing Meadows.
In his first event since an epic five-set loss to Djokovic in the longest semi-final in Wimbledon history, del Potro showed his left knee was fine after an injury at Wimbledon.
Del Potro stretched his Washington win streak to 14 matches by adding to the titles he won in the US capital in 2008 and 2009. The last time he won in Washington he went on to win the US Open, the only Grand Slam title since the 2005 Australian Open not taken by Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Murray.
Seventh-ranked del Potro won his 15th career ATP title, his second of the year after Rotterdam in February, and improved to 4-0 all-time against Isner, the ATP season aces leader, despite not getting to sleep until 3 am after a rain-interrupted semi-final.
Isner, ranked 20th, missed out on his third crown of the year after title runs last week in Atlanta and in April at Houston.
Del Potro broke Isner in the fourth and sixth games of the second set, in each taking an Isner overhead smash and firing back a lightning-like forehand winner.
Isner netted a forehand to surrender a break in the seventh game of the third set and del Potro saved three break points in the final game before taking the title after 89 minutes on a backhand cross-court winner.
Slovakian seventh seed Magdalena Rybarikova won her second Washington title in a row, beating German Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) in the women's final, for her fourth career WTA crown and her first of the year. (AFP)
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05-08-2013
Clarke furious as bad light stops play in third Test
MANCHESTER: Australia captain Michael Clarke was furious after the umpires took the players off the field for bad light in the third Test against England at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Australia, who at 2-0 down in the five-match series had to win this match to stand any chance of regaining the Ashes, were 172 for seven in their second innings, a lead of 331 runs, when umpires Marais Erasmus and Tony Hill called a halt at 4.26pm (1526GMT) on the fourth day.
Although the floodlights were on, the umpires decided conditions were too dangerous to continue when it looked as if fast-medium bowler Stuart Broad was about to be brought back into the attack 36 minutes after tea.
Had England persisted with off-spinner Graeme Swann the chances are that play would have continued.
We try and play as long as we can. We were able to stay out a heck of a lot longer under the lights, but when we started losing it (tracking the ball) completely from square leg, we gave the skipper (England captain Alastair Cook) the option to use spin, and he didn't want to do that, said New Zealand's Hill.
It used to be the case the umpires would 'offer' the light to the batsmen to see if they wanted to continue or not.
But a change to the regulations in October 2010 left the issue solely in the hands of the umpires after concerns had been raised the old system was unfair to the fielding side.
The playing conditions changed a few years ago so it's now our decision.
We try and communicate and let everybody know, said Erasmus, whose joint interview with Hill on Sky television was booed by angry fans when replayed over the giant screens at Old Trafford.
For a while there England's fielders were asking about the light and the possibility when they bat.
It was fine by then but it kept dropping, dropping, dropping.
Eventually we told the captain (Cook) to bowl spin which eventually he decided not to. That pushed our hand because it's a safety issue.
Clarke, 30 not out when play was halted Sunday, had a prolonged conversation with South African official Erasmus as he and batting partner Ryan Harris stayed in the middle while England walked off.
Eventually, Clarke and Harris followed their opponents into the dressing-room.
He asked us 'why suddenly?', Erasmus said of his conversation with Clarke.
We actually communicated with each other (Erasmus to Hill) in that particular over so it wasn't a sudden decision.
We were monitoring the light all the time, it's not just something that we just suddenly decided. England only need a draw in this match to retain the Ashes, something made more likely by play being suspended.
After some 30 minutes of no play because of bad light, rain fell to further hamper any prospect of play resuming Sunday.
Duminy, Miller lift South Africa to 145-6
HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka: Aggressive batting by JP Duminy and David Miller steered South Africa to 145-6 in the second Twenty20 international in wind-swept Hambantota on Sunday.
Duminy scored 30 off 23 balls and Miller hit a 21-ball 36 after the
tourists, who elected to bat after winning the toss, were reduced to 48-3 in the ninth over.
South Africa need a win to wrap up the three-match series, having won the first game by 12 runs in Colombo on Friday.
The tourists were unchanged for the second game, while Sri Lanka brought in Mahela Jayawardene and Nuwan Kulasekara in place of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Jeevan Mendis.
Seamer Kulasekara finished with two for 22, while Sachithra Senanayake claimed two for 18 in four steady overs of off-spin bowling despite the windy conditions.
Opener Quinton de Kock scored 19 and star batsman AB de Villiers was run out after making 15. (AFP)
Top seed Azarenka reaches WTA final
CARLSBAD, United States / California: Top seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus advanced to the final of the $795,000 WTA Southern California Open on Saturday by defeating Serbian seventh seed Ana Ivanovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.
Former world No. 1 Azarenka, who won three days past her 24th birthday, will play for the title Sunday against the winner of a later semi-final between Australian fifth seed Samantha Stosur and French wildcard Virginie Razzano.
Two-time defending Australian Open champion Azarenka seeks her 17th career title and third of the season as she tunes up for the US Open, where she lost in the final last year.
Razzano's remarkable run has included victories over two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, Czech third seed Petra Kvitova and eighth seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain.
Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion and 2010 French Open runner-up, lost in last year's quarter-finals in her Grand Slam title defense at Flushing Meadows. (AFP)
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04-08-2013
India elects to bowl in final game vs Zimbabwe
BULAWAYO: India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to bowl first against Zimbabwe in the final match of a five-game one-day series.
India, which is looking to register its first whitewash in a five-game away series, made two changes, bringing in Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan for Ambati Rayudu and Rohit Sharma.
Zimbabwe made four changes: Kyle Jarvis, Timycen Maruma, Natsai M'shangwe and Tinotenda Mutombodzi replaced Prosper Utseya, Sikandar Raza, Michael Chinouya and Tendai Chatara.
India won the first three games in Harare by six wickets, 58 runs and seven wickets and the fourth one at Bulawayo by nine wickets.
Teams:
Zimbabwe: Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor (captain), Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Brian Vitori, Kyle Jarvis, Timycen Maruma, Natsai M'shangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi.
India: Shikhar Dawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Jayadev Unadkat.
Russia's Efimova breaks world 50m breaststroke record
BARCELONA: Russia's Yuliya Efimova broke the women's 50m breaststroke world record on Saturday morning, the fourth record to fall at these world swimming championships in Barcelona.
Having won the world 200m breaststroke title on Friday night, the 21-year-old Efimova clocked 29.78secs in the morning's 50m heats at Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi pool, shaving just two hundredths of a second off the four-year-old record set by Jessica Hardy of the USA.
Pietersen and Bell defy Australia
MANCHESTER: Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell kept Australia at bay with bold fifties but England still had plenty of work to do in the third Test at Old Trafford on Saturday.
At tea on the third day, Ashes-holders England were 211 for four -- a deficit of 316 runs -- and still needing a further 117 runs to reach a total of 328 that would see them avoid the follow-on
But they had at least denied Australia who, at 2-0 down with three to play, had to win this match to stand any chance of regaining the Ashes, a wicket in the session.
Pietersen was 78 not out and Bell, who'd already made two hundreds this series, 51 not out with the fifth-wicket duo's partnership so far worth 101.
England resumed Saturday on 52 for two after Australia had made 527 for seven declared on the back of captain Michael Clarke's commanding 187.
It was Clarke's highest Test score against England and the highest in an overseas Test by any Australian since nightwatchman Jason Gillespie's extraordinary 201 not out against Bangladesh seven years ago.
Shortly before Friday's close, Australia paceman Peter Siddle removed opener Joe Root and nightwatchman Tim Bresnan.
England captain Alastair Cook was 36 not out and Jonathan Trott two not out.
However, Trott was out for five when he edged a good length ball from fast bowler Ryan Harris low to Clarke at second slip.
Trott's exit brought in fellow South Africa-born batsman Pietersen,
arguably England's most talented batsman.
Later, left-hander Cook completed a 138-ball fifty including seven fours.
But shortly before lunch Starc had Cook caught superbly for 62 by diving wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who held a right-handed chance off a genuine glance.
At lunch, England were 119 for four with Pietersen 33 not out and Bell unbeaten on four.
Pietersen then attacked Nathan Lyon, danced down the pitch to drive the off-spinner for two superb sixes in successive balls as he completed a 71-ball fifty also including six fours.
Australia took the new ball with England 198 for four off 81 overs but, three balls later, Bell drove Starc down the ground, with his subsequent three off Siddle seeing him to a 93-ball fifty including eight fours and a six. (AFP)
Granollers downs Monaco in Kitzbuehel final
KITZBUHEL, Austria: Spain's eighth seed Marcel Granollers won the Kitzbuehel Cup clay-court event on Saturday after coming from a set down to beat Juan Monaco 0-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 in the final.
Monaco, seeded two, appeared on course to win his second title of the year when he comprehensively won the opening set to love in just 23 minutes.
However, the 53rd-ranked Granollers, who knocked out defending champion Robin Haase in the semi-finals, came back to level the match in a second set tie-break before eventually holding his nerve to win the decider.
Granollers was 4-0 and then 5-2 up, but finally converted his fourth match point on Monaco's serve to take the third set 6-4.
It is the Spaniard's fourth career tour title, but his first since 2011. (AFP)
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03-08-2013
U-23 squad named as PCB gets down to day-to-day business
LAHORE, Aug 1: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced the squad for the 2013 Asian Cricket Council (ACC) U-23 Emerging Cup as better sense started to prevail at the PCB after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders which allowed the games regulatory body to take decisions only on a day-to-day basis.
The ACC U-23 Emerging Teams Cup is scheduled to be held from Aug 15 to 26 in Singapore.
It may be mentioned that the PCB has filed a review petition against the IHCs decision to only allow the PCB caretaker chairman Najam Sethi to take decisions on a day-to-day basis.
In the review petition, the PCB has demanded extra-constitutional powers for the caretaker chairman, claiming that Sethi is not in a position to work properly in the wake of the IHC orders.
However, now when the PCB has announced the U-23 team for the Emerging Cup tournament, it seems that they have finally fathomed the meaning of day-to-day matters and are continuing to take decisions accordingly. Besides announcing the U-23 team, the PCB also extended contracts of three members of the national selection committee, namely Azhar Khan, Saleem Jaffer and Farrukh Zaman who named the team on Thursday.
Besides, the caretaker chairman has also extended contracts of Intikhab Alam, Haroon Rasheed, Shafiq Ahmed and of all those whose contracts were valid till July 31.
Defending its position, the PCB in a press release stated: The team was selected by Azhar Khan, Saleem Jaffer and Farrukh Zaman who are members of the existing national selection committee which earlier selected the national team for the tour of the West Indies. On July 3, the contracts of the selectors along with a number of others were extended to Aug 31 by the PCB management.
The PCB caretaker chairman has acted after consultation with the attorney general of Pakistan with regards to authorising day-to-day matters as directed by the Islamabad High Court, it concluded.
Hopefully, the caretaker chairman will focus all his energies on holding the PCB elections in 90 days as ordered by the IHC, instead of getting occupied with acquiring all powers including the sale of media right for Pakistan matches since it could also be sold out on series-to-series basis.
Moreover, Hammad Azam has been named as captain of the U-23 team. Pakistan are placed in Group A along with India U-23s, Afghanistan and Nepal. Pakistan begin their campaign against India on August 18 at Kallang Cricket Ground in Singapore. Group B features Under-23 sides from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, along with UAE's senior team and Singapore.
Squad:
Hammad Azam (captain), Umar Waheed, Babar Azam, Ehsan Adil, Raza Hassan, Umar Siddique, Usman Salahuddin, Usman Qadir, Mohammad Waqas, Bilawal Bhatti, Ruman Rais, Azeem Ghumman, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Nasir Malik, Mohammad Nawaz.
Officials: Aftab Baloch (manager), Mansoor Rana (coach), Usman Ghani (physio) and Ibrar Ahmed (trainer).
Reserves: Taimoor Ali, Mir Hamza, Jamal Anwar, Shahzaib Ahmed Khan, Zeeshan Ali Ashraf.
Emboldened Australia leave England in a pickle
MANCHESTER: Australia's remarkable Ashes fightback left England staring at a first innings total of 527 for seven on Friday and the loss of two late wickets on day two of the third test made the task look even more imposing.England were 52 for two at stumps after painstaking play.
With his under-pressure side 2-0 down in the five-match series, Australia captain Michael Clarke earlier led from the front and moved on from his overnight 125 to craft a near chanceless 187 - his highest test score against England.
His bold declaration after tea caught many at Old Trafford on the hop but his statement of intent was heeded by his bowlers, who kept things tight against nervous England batsmen.
England captain Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 36 and Jonathan Trott on two after Lord's centurion Joe Root edged in-form quick Peter Siddle behind for eight from 57 deliveries and nightwatchman Tim Bresnan (1) seemed to do the same.
However replays suggested no nick, but he did not review.
Cook survived on 15 when he edged returning off-spinner Nathan Lyon onto wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's knee and the ball dropped just short of a flat-footed Clarke at slip.
But Clarke's day was to be remembered for his batting as he further inspired his side before finally falling when tiredness got to him. He was bowled, awkwardly playing on to Stuart Broad.
Australia had not bagged a century in the series but Clarke, who hit Bresnan for three straight fours as he passed , began to turn the tables on those who laughed at his prediction of a 3-2 series win after the second test humbling at Lord's.
His wicket was Broad's 200th in test cricket but it was scant consolation for England, who have laboured under the Old Trafford sun and saw Steve Smith (89), Chris Rogers (84), Haddin (65 not out) and Mitchell Starc (66 not out) rack up handy scores on a largely flat pitch.
Graeme Swann did take five for 159, removing Smith when the number five gave away his wicket by skying a top-edged sweep to Jonny Bairstow in the off-spinner's first over of the day.
WARNER TAUNTED
His dismissal prompted the return of David Warner. The left-hander punched England's Joe Root in a Birmingham bar during June's Champions Trophy, leading to a ban from the Australia side, but he was drafted back in for this test with the batsmen previously struggling.
Warner was widely booed and taunted from the packed stands as he walked to the crease.
He was initially watchful but got a thick edge on five off Swann, the ball hitting wicketkeeper Matt Prior's knee and bouncing up for slip Jonathan Trott to take the catch.
Warner conferred with Clarke and reviewed, but replays showed a clear nick and there was nothing wrong with the catch.
Warner's review came after controversy on Thursday when Usman Khawaja was given out by the on-field and third umpires despite not appearing to edge Swann behind. Cricket Australia asked the ICC for clarification over the incorrect call.
The jubilant crowd waved Warner back to the dressing room with glee, leaving Haddin to come in and steady Australia.
He had a bit of luck when his inside edge was dropped on 10 by Prior off the unusually misfiring James Anderson, who ended with nought for 116 on his Lancashire home ground.
Clarke, who won the toss, then got out and left the field to wild applause from the posse of green and gold clad Australians in the vast temporary stand at the revamped Manchester venue.
Siddle (one) was Swann's fifth victim when bowled as spin looked to be the way forward for the rest of the test, with Lyon impressing and pacemen struggling to extract reverse swing.
Early rain hit famously wet Manchester but the sun came out just before the start. Showers are possible on Saturday though, with the damp bowlers' footholes already causing problems.
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02-08-2013
Clarke stirs Australia with battling ton
MANCHESTER: Centurion Michael Clarke played a true captain's innings as Australia shrugged off another umpiring controversy to produce an Ashes fightback and rack up 303 for three on the first day of the third test on Thursday.
The unflappable Clarke was 125 not out from 208 balls at the close after notching the tourists' first ton of the series with a flicked single, while Steve Smith was unbeaten on 70 after a day of fluctuating fortunes which ended with Australia on top.
England, who are 2-0 up in the five-match series and will retain the Ashes at the revamped Manchester venue with a win or a draw, were cheered on by a packed crowd and a lone trumpeter but some pizzazz was missing from their play and the atmosphere.
Opener Chris Rogers, 35, fell short of his first Australia century when he was trapped lbw by a fullish ball from spinner Graeme Swann for a test high 84 in the middle session.
Replays showed Rogers was right to be given out, but Usman Khawaja's dismissal before lunch was the major talking point.
He was adjudged to have been caught behind off Swann for one but reviewed umpire Tony Hill's decision.
Third umpire Kumar Dharmasena sided with his colleague despite replays showing no obvious edge in the latest decision review system (DRS) dispute to afflict the series and Australia.
Shane Watson earlier got away with several loose shots through the slips, over gully and just short of point but was caught at slip by Alastair Cook off paceman Tim Bresnan for 19.
Clarke and Rogers, obeying the message from on high to knuckle down and build an innings after repeated Australian carelessness with the bat this series, were watchful but pounced on any loose bowling as the pacemen struggled with footholes.
WARNER BACK
Clarke was impressive in his 24th test ton if not at his very fluent best having been troubled by spectators above the pavilion sightscreen when taking on Swann, who took two for 82.
Smith survived another minor DRS controversy when England reviewed a not-out lbw decision against Swann and Hawk-Eye said just less than half the ball would have hit leg stump, thus reverting to the umpire's call.
The hosts later wasted their second and last review on Smith when DRS showed he had not edged James Anderson behind. He was then plum in front to Stuart Broad on 24 but Hill said not out.
Australia had lost the toss at Trent Bridge and Lord's, when England batted first both times on their way to victory, and the relief on Clarke's face was visible as the coin landed his way.
The tourists, who risk losing a seventh test in a row and a third straight Ashes series, brought in David Warner at six after the aggressive left-hander returned from his banishment to the A squad as punishment for punching England's Joe Root in a bar in June.
He replaced the ineffective Phil Hughes, while off-spinner Nathan Lyon came in for left-armer Ashton Agar and paceman Mitchell Starc replaced the injured James Pattinson.
England were unchanged with Kevin Pietersen fit to play.
England: Alastair Cook (capt), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior (wkt), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson
Australia: Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Usman Khawaja, Michael Clarke (capt), Steven Smith, David Warner, Brad Haddin (wkt), Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Tony Hill (NZL) TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
German footballer says Afridi is his favorite
ISLAMABAD: German footballer Dietmar Hamann while admiring Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi on Thursday said he is one of his favorite cricketers and he enjoys seeing him playing on the field.
Dietmar Hamann who represented Bayern Munich, Newcastle United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Germany, said it is great to see Afridi back in the Pakistan team. "I am pleased that Afridi did well in the recently concluded West Indies tour. Afridi is a tremendous cricketer," Dietmar Hamann said in an interview to Pakpassion.net.
In the West Indies tour, Afridi reached the milestone to hit 400 sixes in an international career. It took Afridi 437 innings and 17 years to complete 400 sixes.
Dietmar Hamann who represented Germany on 59 occasions and was a member of the 2002 World Cup squad that finished runners up, said Sachin Tendulkar is also his favorite cricketer.
"Sachin is a wonderful cricketer. I have always enjoyed watching all-rounder's in action as they have a lot of skill to perform with both bat and ball and are generally the stand out cricketers," he said.
Talking about the popularity of cricket in Germany, he said the popularity of cricket is mainly amongst the Pakistani and Indian communities living in Germany. "Some of the local population also play cricket and I would class it as a developing sport in Germany," he added.
India thump Zimbabwe to go 4-0 up
BULAWAYO: India made light work of their fourth one-day international against Zimbabwe on Thursday, as they beat the hosts by nine wickets to take a 4-0 lead in the series.
After bowling Zimbabwe out for just 144, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina hit unbeatean half-centuries as India achieved their target inside 31 overs.
Debutant Cheteshwar Pujara was the only Indian batsman to lose his wicket when he was bowled by Tendai Chatara for 13, before Sharma and Raina were granted an easy return to form as they knocked off the remaining 122 runs required.
After going 12 one-day innings without a half-century, Raina was promoted up the order and finished unbeaten on 65 from 71 deliveries.
Although Sharma had failed to contribute in the first three matches, he was not troubled as he constructed a patient innings of 64 not out.
An 80-run partnership for the sixth wicket between half-centurion Elton Chigumbura and Malcolm Waller was as good as it got for Zimbabwe as they posted their lowest total of a disappointing series.
The home side slumped to 47 for five inside the opening 16 overs of the innings as India's bowlers sliced through the Zimbabwean top order.
Man of the match Mohit Sharma led the attack on his international debut, claiming 1 for 13 in his first six-over spell after India had won the toss and elected to field.
Sharma also grabbed the key wicket of Waller to end what little resistance Zimbabwe had to offer, and finished with figures of 2 for 26 from 10 overs.
The 24-year-old set India on their way when he had Sikandar Raza caught behind in the seventh over of the innings, before Hamilton Masakadza contributed to his own demise when he was run out whilst taking a sluggish single.
With Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams both dismissed without scoring and Vusi Sibanda bowled by Ravindra Jadeja for 24, Zimbabwe looked as though they could be bowled out for a double-digit score.
However Chigumbura and Waller revived the innings with a patient stand, which ticked along at just over three runs per over until the batting powerplay was taken.
The 36th over brought 11 runs, but the next one brought a wicket as Sharma had Waller caught behind for 35.
With the lower order unable to contribute, Chigumbura was soon left stranded on 50 not out as Zimbabwe were bowled out in 42.4 overs.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra claimed the last three wickets of the innings to record figures of 3 for 25.
India will have the opportunity to complete a series whitewash when the final match takes place at the same venue on Saturday. (AFP)
Isner wins but rain hits Nishikori, Del Potro
WASHINGTON: John Isner, fresh off a seventh ATP title, fired 19 aces Wednesday to beat Alex Kuznetsov 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/4) at the ATP and WTA Washington Open.
Eighth-seeded American Isner, who won last week at Atlanta, advanced to the round of 16 at the $1.76 million hardcourt event before rain washed out most of the day's matches.
That included tournament openers for Argentine top seed Juan Martin Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion and a two-time Washington winner, and second seed Kei Nishikori, who received first-round byes.
Two other second-round matches were halted, with South African seventh seed Kevin Anderson leading Australian qualifier James Duckworth 6-3, 3-6, 5-4 and German third seed Tommy Haas leading US qualifier Tim Smyczek 3-6, 7-5, 1-0.
The total washouts for Nishikori, ranked a career-best 11th this week, and Del Potro mean they will have to win five times in four days to take the title.
Thursday's schedule has both players slated for two matches.
That bolsters Isner's hopes for back-to-back trophies, despite a tough title run last week.
Big-serving Isner won six of seven tie-breakers he played in Atlanta, but dropped one to Anderson in the final and only won the last-set tie-breaker after saving two match points.
Isner will play India's 129th-ranked Somdev Devvarman on Thursday for a spot in the quarter-finals. They last played in the 2007 US college finals when top seed Isner was an upset loser.
Mardy Fish, who has missed much of the past year with heart problems, ousted French 13th seed Julien Benneteau 6-3, 7-5 for his 299th career ATP match victory.
The 64th-ranked American's back-to-back wins are his first since March.
On the women's side, Germany's Andrea Petkovic upset sixth-seeded compatriot Mona Barthel 6-2, 6-2 to reach the last eight in the only match completed.
Three other second-round matches were postponed to Thursday, including German top seed Angelique Kerber's meeting with American Melanie Oudin. (AFP)
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01-08-2013
Sri Lanka thrash Proteas to take series 4-1
COLOMBO: Tillakaratne Dilshan narrowly missed a second successive century as Sri Lanka whipped South Africa by 128 runs in Colombo on Wednesday to wrap up the one-day series 4-1.
The hosts, already holding a decisive 3-1 lead, piled up 307-4 after
electing to take first strike and then shot the Proteas out for 179 in 43.5 overs in the day-night match at the Premadasa stadium.
AB de Villiers played a captain's knock of 51, but could not prevent South Africa from being condemned to their 13th defeat in 15 one-dayers on Sri Lankan soil.
The tourists were struggling at 137-8 when Ryan McLaren hit 29 and Aaron Phangiso an unbeaten 18 down the order to boost the total.
Seamer Suranga Lakmal and off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake marked their first appearance in the series by sharing five wickets. Ajantha Mendis claimed three for 36.
Opener Dilshan, who hit an unbeaten 115 in the fourth game in Pallekele on Sunday, plundered 13 boundaries before he was bowled for 99 by McLaren in the 39th over.
Lahiru Thirimanne, promoted to number three, scored 68 and Kumar Sangakkara was unbeaten on 75 off 45 balls as the South African bowlers wilted in steamy conditions.
Left-handed Thirimanne and Dilshan put on 163 for the second wicket after Kusal Perera was caught behind off Morne Morkel in the fifth over.
South Africa lost wickets in a heap to plunge to 85-6 by the 20th over, with Senanayake and Lakmal grabbing two wickets each.
The Proteas were 60-1 in the 10th over when the dismissal of star batsman Hashim Amla for 18, leg-before to Senanayake, triggered a middle-order collapse.
Lakmal removed Farhaan Behardien and David Miller in the space of three balls after Faf du Plessis had fallen to Thisara Perera for six.
De Villiers and the tailenders delayed the end, but Sri Lanka emerged comfortable winners with an impressive all-round display.
In a match that held only academic interest, Sri Lanka rested regulars Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Upul Tharanga and Rangana Herath. They were replaced by Lakmal, Senanayake, Angelo Perera and Kusal Perera.
The tourists recalled McLaren and spinner Phangiso in place of Rory Kleinveldt and Robin Peterson.
The teams will now play three Twenty20 internationals, with the first match to be held at the same venue on Friday. (AFP)
Hantuchova opens Carlsbad campaign with a bang
CARLSBAD, United States / California: Daniela Hantuchova roared into the second round of the WTA Southern California Open on Tuesday with a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing of Austrian Tamira Paszek.
Slovakia's Hantuchova, who needed just 47 minutes to dispatch Paszek, set up a second-round clash with second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, and also warmed up for her marquee doubles match on Wednesday with former world number one Martina Hingis.
Swiss great Hingis will be playing her first WTA match since 2007 when she and Hantuchova play first-round doubles against Julia Goerges of Germany and Darija Jurak of Croatia.
Hingis won five Grand Slam singles titles and nine in doubles and spent a total of 209 weeks as world number one before she retired for the first time in 2003.
A comeback bid ended in a second retirement in 2007.
Top seed Victoria Azarenka will also be in action on Wednesday, opening her campaign with a second-round match against 2010 French Open winner Francesca Schiavone of Italy.
The only seeded player in action on Tuesday was number eight Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, who eased into the second round with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Japanese qualifier Sachie Ishizu.
In other matches Urszula Radwanska rallied from a break down four times in the opening set on her way to a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 victory over New Zealand qualifier Marina Erakovic.
Kazakh qualifier Sesil Karatantcheva came back from 3-1 down in the first set and 5-3 down in the second to beat Goerges 6-3, 7-5 and advance to a second-round meeting with fifth-seeded Aussie Samantha Stosur.
Britain's Laura Robson also had to battle. Japan's Ayumi Morita served for their match at 6-4, 5-4, taking a 30-0 lead, but couldn't close it out and eventually fell 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
US qualifier Coco Vandeweghe sped into the second round, downing wildcard Allie Kiick 6-1, 6-2 in just 62 minutes.
Vandeweghe fired 12 aces as she set up a clash with either former world number one Ana Ivanovic or defending Carlsbad champion Dominika Cibulkova.
Not only is she the defending champion in this US Open tuneup event, Cibulkova arrives in Carlsbad fresh from lifting the trophy in Stanford, California, on Sunday. (AFP)
Zimbabwe, India to make changes for 4th ODI
BULAWAYO: India have remained tight-lipped about their intentions but Zimbabwe expect to face a changed team when the two sides meet in the fourth one-day international in Bulawayo on Thursday.
The Indians have already taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, having shown a strong desire to win by naming the same XI throughout the tour so far.
However with the series already decided, Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor anticipates a few new faces in the Indian line-up over the next two matches at Queens Sports Club.
Three of the four Indian players who are yet to see action in the series are uncapped in one-day cricket, with Ajinkya Rahane the odd man out having played 16 ODIs.
However top-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and right-arm seamer Mohit Sharma would appear to be at the front of the queue for a place in the side, and could replace Shikhar Dhawan and R Vinay Kumar on Thursday.
Vinay Kumar took no part in Wednesday's net session and has disappointed on the tour so far, while Dhawan may be rested after cracking a century in the second match.
Having spent most of his career in the shadow of India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who skipped the tour of Zimbabwe, Karthik is enjoying the chance to prove his value to the side.
Meanwhile, Taylor confirmed that Zimbabwe are likely to stick to their tactic of fielding three specialist seamers and suggested that Timycen Maruma could replace one of Zimbabwe's misfiring batsmen. (AFP)
Michael Clarke provoked raucous laughter
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Michael Clarke provoked raucous laughter when he said Australia could still win the Ashes after the Lord's pasting but he was at it again on Wednesday when he asserted his tourists could buck the odds and beat England at Old Trafford.
Two down in the series and coming off the back of a thumping 347-run defeat at Lord's, the bookmakers make Clarke's side 4-1 outsiders to keep their slender hopes of winning the series alive in Manchester starting on Thursday.
No test cricket captain is ever likely capitulate before the toss has been made, though, and Clarke, encouraged by a tense 14-run defeat in the first test, was a model of positive mental attitude in his column in a popular Sydney newspaper. "England were the better team at Lord's but we know we can beat them," he wrote in Daily Telegraph on Wednesday. "This is not some sort of hollow boast. We almost won the first test at Trent Bridge little more than a fortnight ago. Big results can turn on little moments.
"We have shown enough on this tour individually to know that if we put our performances together as a unit we are a very competitive side.
"Everyone in the top seven has scored a half-century in the first two tests and our bowling has been generally strong."
Clarke assured readers the management of his long-standing back injury meant he would be able to play in the third test.
Australia are expected to recall spinner Nathan Lyon for the Old Trafford test and Clarke's comments suggested it would be at the expense of, rather than in addition to, teenager Ashton Agar.
"England have brought Monty Panesar into their 14-man squad as a second spinner, reinforcing the belief that Old Trafford can help the spinners," he added.
"However, there has already been help for the spinners from the dry pitches we have played on in the first two tests and I don't expect the conditions in Manchester to be that much different."
Clarke, who could also welcome David Warner back to the team after a period of exile in the wake of his attack on England's Joe Root in a Birmingham bar, also suggested he would bat first if he won the toss.
"They are generally good conditions for batting in the first innings and that is where we really have to cash in," he concluded.
"A good first innings allows you to control the game and gives your bowlers the chance to be more attacking, knowing there is a good buffer of runs.
"There are three tests left and we always turn up to a game believing we can win. "Let's see what sort of history we can create over the next few weeks."
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31-07-2013
Teen star Meilutyte sets new world record
BARCELONA: Lithuania's teenage Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte broke the women's 100m breaststroke world record with a new mark of 1min 04.35secs on Monday in the semi-finals at the swimming world championships.
The 16-year-old, who pulled off a shock win in the Olympic final in London last year, blazed into Tuesday's final in Barcelona and punched the water repeatedly with delight when her record was confirmed. "The world record means more than the gold medal, I've achieved my main target," she said.
She broke the four-year-old mark of 1min 04.45secs, set by Jessica Hardy of the USA during the era when the high-tech swim suits were legal and the petite Lithuanian burst into tears as her achievement sank in.
Meilutyte faces Hardy in Tuesday's final and the Lithuanian said adding world gold to her Olympic title would be the stuff of daydreams. "The world record was always a dream for me, but yes, obviously a gold medal at the world championships would be like the cherry on top of the ice cream," said the teenager.
Meilutyte, who trains in Plymouth, England, is the hot favourite in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke in Barcelona, an unusual position for the blonde schoolgirl, who was little known outside swimming circles just a year ago.
Meilutyte was voted best Lithuanian athlete of 2012 in her home country after her Olympic triumph.
The Lithuanian sent warning signals to opponents in June when she became the first woman to go under 30 seconds in the 50m breaststroke in a textile suit with a European record of 29.96 sec.
Last month, she also beat her own European record in the 100m breaststroke with 1min 05.20 sec before she tore up the world record in Barcelona. (AFP)
Ecuador striker dies suddenly in Qatar - agent
QUITO: Ecuador striker Christian Benitez has died suddenly in Qatar at the age of 27, his agent Jose Chamorro said Monday.
Speaking to Ecuadorian Gama TV, Chamorro claimed Benitez, known as "Chucho", had suffered a heart-attack.
He had complained of abdominal pains and was transferred to a hospital, where he died on Monday, Chamorro said.
Benitez, who was top scorer in the Mexican league last season with Club America, had just signed for Qatari outfit El-Jaish and had travelled to the club to undergo a medical before completing his move.
Ecuador's interior minister Jose Serrano took to Twitter to pay tribute to the player, who also turned out for English side Birmingham City for one season. "Dear Chucho thank you for your goals and your happiness," said the minister. "A hug to your family and especially to your father."
Benitez was considered a key part of Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda's Ecuador team that is hoping to qualify for next year's World Cup in Brazil, sitting third in the South American qualifying group. (AFP)
Fifth-seed Stosur wins WTA opener
CARLSBAD, United States / California: Australian fifth seed Samantha Stosur, coming off a shock first-round loss last week, defeated American Varvara Lepchenko 7-5, 6-1 on Monday at the WTA Southern California Open.
Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion, fell behind 3-1 in the opening set before rallying to capture it in 57 minutes and cruise from there to victory in her opener at the $795,000 hardcourt event.
"I got off to a little bit of a slow start, losing my first two service games. That isn't how you want to start matches," Stosur said. "But if you start poorly then end well, that's all that matters. I got through that little rough patch at the start and then found my groove a little bit more."
Stosur had been planning to take this week off and return to her Florida training camp ahead of tournaments the next two weeks in Toronto and Cincinnati. But her crash out at Stanford last week forced a change in plan. "After not doing as well as I wanted last week, I thought coming here would be a pretty good opportunity to play those matches and try and build on something a little bit. "No matter how bad or good you play, if you win you always feel better. Last week was pretty disappointing. To come here and win today in a nicer feeling."
In other opening matches, two-time Grand Slam singles champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia was ousted by France's Virginie Razzano 6-2, 6-4 and 2010 French Open winner Francesca Schiavone beat fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (6/8), 6-4. (AFP)
Franklin wins second worlds gold in 100m back
BARCELONA, Catalonia: Teenage US swimming star Missy Franklin claimed her second gold at the swimming world championships on Tuesday in Barcelona with victory in the women's 100m backstroke.
In a commanding performance, Franklin clocked 58.42secs in the final, just missing out on the four-year-old world record, with Australia's Emily Seebohm 0.64sec adrift and Japan's Aya Terekawa touching the wall 0.81sec behind.
Minutes after receiving her backstroke gold, 18-year-old Franklin finished second fastest in the 200m freestyle semi-finals to qualify for Wednesday's final.
After victory with the USA team in Sunday's 4x100m freestyle relay final, this was Franklin's second gold medal of the eight world titles she is bidding for at the eight-day world championships, which finish Sunday.
The backstroke medal placings in Barcelona were an exact repeat of those at the 2012 London Olympic final, something not lost on Franklin.
Seebohm collected her second silver at Barcelona, after second in Sunday's freestyle relay, admitted she had wanted to go faster. (AFP)
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30-07-3013
Snedeker captures Canadian Open crown
OAKVILLE, Canada: Brandt Snedeker fired a two-under par 70 on Sunday and held off a late charge by fellow American Dustin Johnson to win the $5.6 million PGA Canadian Open by three strokes.
Snedeker captured his sixth career PGA title and second of the year after a February triumph at Pebble Beach, finishing on 16-under par 272 with countrymen Johnson, Jason Bohn, Matt Kuchar and William McGirt sharing second on 275.
It was Snedeker's third triumph in his past four attempts to win a US PGA event with a 54-hole lead, having also done so at Pebble Beach and last year's Tour Championship. He also led the Masters after 54 holes but settled for a share of sixth.
Snedeker claimed the $1 million top prize at Glen Abbey Golf Club after shooting a third-round 63 on Saturday to take the lead following the departure of 36-hole leader Hunter Mahan, who withdrew to attend the birth of his first child -- daughter Zoe was born early Sunday morning.
Snedeker birdied the par-5 second hole and answered a bogey at the sixth with a birdie at the par-3 seventh to stretch his lead to two strokes. After starting the back nine with a birdie, Snedeker was on 16-under and three strokes ahead.
But when Snedeker took a bogey at the par-3 12th, he opened the door for Johnson, who birdied the par-5 13th and 16th to grab a share of the lead.
Johnson's title bid collapsed on the 17th, when he fired the ball out of bounds and then he left his fourth shot in a fairway bunker on the way to a triple-bogey seven that dumped him out of contention, even after a closing birdie at the par-5 18th.
From there, Snedeker added a birdie at 16 and parred the final two holes to secure the victory.Americans Mark Wilson, John Merrick and Roberto Castro shared sixth on 276. (AFP)
F1: Indian, S.Korea GPs under threat
BUDAPEST: Political and financial issues could threaten next year's Indian and South Korean grand prix, as Formula One paymaster Bernie Ecclestone looks to add new races in the United States, Russia and Austria.
Ecclestone expressed doubts about both countries hosting races in 2014 at a confidential briefing for team principals in the paddock during last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
"I'm juggling a lot of balls," he reportedly said.
Formula One is looking to add up to three races to its calendar in 2014 with Black Sea resort and Winter Olympics' host city Sochi set to become the first Russian venue on the circuit.
There is a return to Austria where Spielberg will host a race while New
Jersey in the United States is also set to be on the calendar.
South Korea is seen as a logical move to be left off the list, as the Yeongam circuit south of Seoul has lost money since it first hosted Formula One in 2010, and local authorities are unwilling to cover losses.
India first staged F1 in 2011 at a privately financed circuit at Greater Noida near the capital, New Delhi, but has struggled to find a widespread following.
The Indian government, meanwhile, is keen on taxing drivers during their time in the country as a proportion of their earnings rather than profit.
Ecclestone is said to have agreed to pay a flat-rate sum for this year's race to meet government demands but is seen as unlikely to comply in 2014 given the other candidates to host races.
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29-07-2013
Samar to lead Pakistan in Afghanistan friendly
their international friendly against Afghanistan in Kabul on Tuesday.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Sunday unveiled the squad for their lone warm-up match ahead of the upcoming SAFF Championships in Nepal which will leave for Kabul on Monday.
The SAFF Championships kick off in Kathmandu on Aug 31 with Pakistan facing arch-rivals India in their opening Group A match on Sept 1.
The players morale is high and they are looking forward to doing their best, Pakistan assistant coach Shahzad Anwer told Dawn on Sunday from Lahore where the team held their last practice session.
Playing Afghanistan will be good for us as they are ranked above us in the FIFA rankings.
Afghanistan were runners-up to India in the last edition of the SAFF Championships and are currently placed 139 in the rankings against Pakistans 167.
Shahzad lamented the fact that Pakistan will be playing just one game ahead of the regional event.
It wouldve been great if we couldve have played a few more games so that the players could assess their shortcomings but nonetheless were hopeful of performing well, he said, adding that it was unfortunate that the two-match series against Bangladesh was cancelled.
With long-serving goalkeeper and captain Jaffar Khan being ruled out of the tournament with injury, Pakistan would have KRL shot-stopper Saqib Hanif and Denmark-based custodian Yousaf Butt fighting for the No 1 jersey.
Shahzad, though, was coy on who of the two would be Pakistans first choice in goal.
Yousuf has performed well for the country over the last year for the country, he said. But the match against Afghanistan will offer Saqib a good chance to prove himself worthy of a starting berth.
Yousuf, who is part of Pakistan146s Denmark-based quartet which includes his brother Yaqoob Butt, Hassan Bashir and Mohmmad Ali, will not be a part of the touring party to Kabul.
The four players will join the squad before Pakistan leave for Nepal on Aug 23.
Moreover, Pakistans star defender Zesh Rehman will not take part for Pakistan in the SAFF Championships despite having shown his interest in representing the team in Nepal.
Zesh will not be in the squad for the SAFF Championship, a well-placed source told Dawn on Sunday.
Although he is a great player and has loads of international experience, [Pakistan coach] Zavisa Milosavljevic wants players who are willing to join the squad before their departure to Nepal.
Zesh, who formerly played for English Premier League side Fulham and now plays for Kitchee in Hong Kong, had expressed his desire to take part in the SAFF Championships earlier last week.
I am in touch with the officials of the PFF and hopefully will get to play in the SAFF Cup this time, he told Indian sports website Sportskeeda.
It is undoubtedly the biggest football tournament in the SAFF region so it would be an honour to play in it again.
Squad for Afghanistan friendly: Saqib Hanif, Muzammil Hussain, Mohammad Hameed, Samar Ishaq, Kamran Khan, Mohammad Ahmed, Ahsanullah, Saddam Hussain, Mohammad Adil, Faisal Iqbal, Yasir Afridi, Zia Us Salam, Naveed Ahmed, Mohammad Riaz, Kaleemullah, Mohammad Mujahid, Saeed Ahmed.
Umar Akmal suffered epileptic fit
We are told that Umar suffered a seizure [epileptic related problem] on the flight to Jamaica and was rushed to a hospital where he spent a night before being rushed back to Pakistan, the relative said.Umar had been playing for Barbados Tridents in the ongoing Caribbean League after Pakistans recent tour to the West Indies.
Umars physio was with him who took him to the hospital. The same official will be travelling with him to Dubai as a precaution, added the relative.
Doctors in the West Indies have ruled Umar out of any danger, the family said.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday pulled the 23-year-old from the squad to tour Zimbabwe and replaced him with wicket-keeper/batsman Sarfraz Ahmed.
Umar was selected for the Twenty20 and one-day legs of the tour.
Pakistan plays the first of two Twenty20 matches in Harare on Aug 23 before playing three one-day and two Tests on the tour.
The PCB said on Saturday that Umar had been called back from the West Indies for fitness problems. Local media had initially reported that Umar was suffering from a back problem.
Umar has immediately been called back, a PCB statement said. He will undergo a complete medical examination to reassess the level of his fitness, meanwhile the national selection committee has proposed the name of Sarfraz as his replacement for Pakistan one-day and T20 squads for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe.AFP
Aqeel whips Omer in style to land mens singles crown
KARACHI: Pakistan No 1 Aqeel Khan produced sterling performance while routing former Sindh No 1 Omer Shahid in straight sets to add yet another feather in his cap in the inaugural Modern Club Founding Members Ranking Tennis Championship on Sunday.
Playing on his home court in front of a sizeable crowd, Aqeel, unarguably one of the best players for over a decade, swept aside his opponent 6-3, 6-2 to fetch the men146s singles crown.
Aqeel146s supremacy was never in doubt as he displayed his acumen to the delight of fraternity of the game. But the credit also goes to Omer for making the final lively after upsetting Yasir Khan in three-set semi-final a day earlier.
Talented 15-year-old Ibrahim Iltifat fought aggressively to turn the tables on fighting Malik Hamza 6-4, 4-6, 10-6 to land the juniors under-17 title. After being tied one-all in the best of three-set battle, the third and decisive set was decided on super tie-break in favour of the former.
Up and coming Neha Khan, the reigning Sindh No 1, claimed the ladies singles title on points. Her younger sister Wania Khan had to be content with second place. Rida was the third girl who competed in the contest which was played on round robin in which every participant played two games.
Neha and Wania are the grand daughters of hockey celebrity Anwar Ahmed Khan.
The under-15 title went to Sindh No 1 Raza Sawani who accounted for Marib Malik 6-1, 6-2 in the final.
Similarly, Rayyan Jawad and Ibrahim Khan won under-11 and under-9 titles respectively.
Like the ladies, there were fewer entries in men146s doubles, seniors 45 and seniors 55 plus doubles events.Aqeel pairing with Yasir defeated the duo of Zohair Raza and Omer Shahid 6-2, 6-2 to annex men146s doubles honours.
The combination of Javed Iqbal and Zafar Hasan won the seniors 45 title inflicting 6-1, 6-1 defeat on Karim Gul and Akhter while the pair of Zafar Hasan and Jamil Khan clinched the seniors 45-plus event. They beat Karim Gul and Idrees 6-1, 6-2.
Aqeel Khan received the glittering trophy and a purse of Rs17,000 from Dr Abdul Sattar Jaffer, President of the Modern Club soon after the final. Omer received runner-up prize money of Rs7,000 and runner-up trophy.
Cash prizes of a sum of Rs50,000 were disbursed among winners and runners-up. Semi-finalists were also rewarded in men146s singles and juniors146 under-17 singles.
The ceremony was attended among others by secretary of the Modern Club Nasser Jaffer, chairman organising committee Abdul Razzak Jaffer, administrator of the club, former Olympian Abdul Waheed Khan, hockey greats Anwar Ahmed Khan, Jehangir Butt, M. Ashraf, senior vice-president of Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Sultan Maqsood and tournament secretary Zafar Hasan Khan.
Speaking on the occasion, Sattar Jaffer lauded the efforts of Abdul Waheed Khan and his team for providing healthy competition to youth.
He expressed his happiness to learn that players of Modern Club have swept the titles.
Paying rich tributes to one of the founding member of Modern Club, the late Sulaiman Jaffer, Waheed announced dedication of all his honours to him with whom he had a spiritual relationship.
He also complimented tennis coach Jamil Khan and his children Aqeel, Jalil and Yasir for making the Modern Club proud.
Waheed reiterated that the event will be upgraded to national status next year.
Zafar also spoke on the occasion and gave a resume of the event.
Final results:
Men146s singles: Aqeel Khan bt Omer Shahid 6-3, 6-2
Juniors146 under-17 singles: Ibrahim Iltifat bt Malik Hamza 6-4, 4-6, 10-6
Under-15 singles: M. Raza Sawani bt Marib Malik 6-1, 6-2
Under-11 singles: Rayyan Jawwad bt Amin Shafi 8-5
Under-9 singles: Ibrahim Khan bt M. Yayha 8-4.
Barca hit seven, Isco grabs late winner for RealAFP
Real had to come from behind against Real Betis for a 2-1 win at the Bernabeu, new 30 million euro signing Isco heading an 86th-minute winner.
Jorge Molina had put the lively visitors ahead in the 14th minute only for Karim Benzema level in the 26th.
Elsewhere, Brazilian striker Diego Costa scored twice as Atletico Madrid beat Sevilla 3-1 away, and Granada were 2-1 winners at Osasuna.
At the Nou Camp, World Player of the Year Lionel Messi and Spain striker Pedro both scored twice, while new 57 million euro ($76.00 million) signing Neymar started on the bench and came on as a 63rd-minute substitute with the game already resolved.
Barca made a whirlwind start, scoring six times before halftime as the team responded to Argentine Martino's calls for greater intensity in their pressing game and a more direct approach.
The debut exceeded all my expectations, Martino told a news conference as he insisted he had not made any changes to the way the team played.
I am not looking for a Barca modeled by Martino. I was already a fan of Barca's concepts of play before I came, and all I want them to do is to do some things they have forgotten or stopped doing.
We put them under pressure well and kept it going for a long time.
The outstanding Cesc Fabregas squared for Alexis Sanchez to tap in the opener in the third minute, and Messi exchanged passes with Pedro to stroke in the second.
Dani Alves struck the third after another slick passing move on the edge of the area, and Pedro, who started wide on the left of the attack keeping Neymar on the bench, bagged the fourth.
Adriano was felled for a penalty in the 42nd which Messi fired home, and Fabregas set up Xavi with an extravagant looping pass over the defence for the sixth, just before the break.
A limp display from the cash-strapped visitors, under new coach Joaquin Caparros, could only look to a string of saves from goalkeeper Keylor Navas as any sort of positive.
ROUSING RECEPTION
Brazil forward Neymar was given a rousing reception when he came on for his competitive debut and showed a few nice touches but it was Pedro who notched the seventh after a mix up in the Levante defence in the 73rd.
While Real pursue Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale for a reported world record 100 million euros, it was a player who cost Betis one euro and 20 cents, Cedrick Mabwati, who set up the opener at the Bernabeu.
The Congolese winger surged forward and crossed low for Molina to divert the ball past Diego Lopez, preferred in the Real goal ahead of Iker Casillas.
Betis were audacious in their approach and Joan Verdu should have doubled the lead when he fired wide as the hosts looked disjointed.
Real had already had two goals ruled out for offside when new signing Isco fed Benzema, and the France striker scored at the near post.
Betis's Nosa slammed a header against the crossbar from a corner and Cedrick had a good shot for a penalty waved away, but Real responded in the second half, Cristiano Ronaldo rattling the crossbar straight after the re-start.
The Portugal forward, Angel Di Maria, Benzema and Marcelo all had further chances as the pressure grew, and with time running out Marcelo crossed and Isco headed just under the crossbar.
We can do better, Ancelotti told a news conference.
We played some good combinations, but the problem was our defensive play. It was a problem of balance. The first game is never easy.
Banned Mohammad Asif starts talking to Pakistan board
LAHORE: Banned Pakistan paceman Mohammad Asif on Monday spoke for the first time to the anti-corruption and vigilance wing of the cricket board as an initial step towards reviving his career.
The 30-year-old was banned for seven years, two of them suspended, after being found guilty of spot fixing at Lord's in 2010 along with then captain Salman Butt and pace partner Mohammad Aamer.Last week he became the third and last player to confess his part in bowling deliberate no-balls during the England Test in return for money. He also apologised to the fans.
All three players along with their agent Mazhar Majeed were jailed by a British court in 2011.
A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman confirmed that Asif had met anti-corruption and vigilance officials.
Asif has volunteered information sharing and the meeting was in that connection, the spokesman told AFP.
The International Cricket Council made sharing information about fixing, an apology and rehabilitation mandatory to having their suspended bans dropped when the punishments were imposed in 2011.
Butt has five of his 10 years suspended while Aamer's five was the minimum that could be imposed.
Asif said he intends to do more sessions on information sharing.
This was the first session in which information sharing was done and there will be more such sessions, Asif told reporters outside the Gaddafi stadium in the eastern city of Lahore.
I have shared whatever information I have. The ICC and PCB will decide on players' rehabilitation only after gauging the level of truth in their statements.
Before the ban, Asif had taken 106 wickets in 23 Tests and was widely regarded as one of the most skilful new-ball bowlers in the game.
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15-08-2013
Muhammad Asif confesses to spot-fixing
KARACHI (Web Desk) - Disgraced Pakistani fast bowler Mohammad Asif on Wednesday apologised for his role in a notorious 2010 spot-fixing scandal, admitting his guilt for the first time and accepting a five-year ban.
The 30-year-old is the last of three players to come out with a confession, after team-mates Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamer admitted their part and presented themselves for rehabilitation.
Asif, pace partner Aamer and then-captain Butt were banned for contriving deliberate no-balls in return for money during the Lord's Test against England in 2010.
A year later an anti-corruption tribunal of the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned Butt for 10 years, with five suspended, Asif for seven years with two suspended and Aamer for five years.
The tribunal had made confession, apology and rehabilitation mandatory to avoid the suspended portion of the ban.
"I accept the punishment from the ICC tribunal in 2011," Asif said at a news conference. "I apologise for my actions that have brought disrespect to my beloved country, to the millions of fans in Pakistan and in the world."
The trio and their agent Mazhar Majeed were also jailed by an English court over the affair in 2011. The players were released last year.
Touted as the best new-ball bowler in the world by legendary Pakistani paceman Imran Khan, Asif's career was first derailed in 2006 when he and fellow paceman Shoaib Akhtar tested positive for banned steroids.
They were let off by a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tribunal but another failed dope test in the inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2008 resulted in a one-year ban for Asif.
He was also detained at Dubai airport on return from the 2008 IPL after a banned drug was found in his possession.
Asif said he felt sorry for his repeated mistakes."When I look back at the events of my career, I feel very sorry," he said.
Asif warned future players to avoid the pitfalls of fixing."I request to all the players who want to represent their countries that they must keep away from all sorts of corruption," he said.
"I am ready to help any player who wants to avoid such pitfalls. I will duly cooperate with the ICC, its anti-corruption unit and with the PCB in fighting the corruption in the game."
Asif said he was ready to go through the PCB rehabilitation programme. "I have suffered a lot because of my wrongdoings.
Now on the Independence Day of my country, I promise that once my ban finishes I will try to repair the damage I have done."
Before the ban, Asif had taken 106 wickets in 23 Tests and was widely regarded as one of the most skillful new ball bowlers in the game.
English cricketer charged in Bangladesh corruption scandal
The ICC announced on Tuesday that seven people had been charged with match-fixing in the BPL, with a further two accused of failing to report approaches to fix the 2013 edition of the Twenty20 competition.
I confirm that I have been charged by the ICC with a failure to report a corrupt approach made to me during BPL2 in February this year, Stevens said in a statement released by his English county side Kent.
I have not been involved in any corrupt activity and have not been charged with any and I am cooperating with the ICC and ACSU (Anti-Corruption and Security Unit) in their investigation and prosecution of the corruption charges in matters relating to the BPL.
The charge Stevens is facing carries a maximum penalty of a five-year suspension from cricket. He and the other individuals have 14 days in which to enter their pleas.
Stevens is the first of the nine people accused to reveal his identity.
The 37-year-old all-rounder added that he was totally against corruption and would never do anything other than perform to the best of my ability in any game.
He also revealed that he has not been banned from playing by the ICC -- unlike the seven people directly accused of corruption -- and therefore remains willing and able to play for Kent.
The charges stem from Stevens' tenure with the Dhaka Gladiators BPL team, which the ICC has confirmed is the only club being investigated over allegations of match-fixing and spot-fixing.
All of the nine people under investigation have been charged under the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) anti-corruption code and face a disciplinary tribunal hearing.
The charges were announced on Tuesday by ICC chief executive David Richardson, but he did not reveal the identities or nationalities of those charged.
The scandal has already ensnared Mohammad Ashraful, the former Bangladesh captain, who made a tearful confession to match-fixing on national television in June after being quizzed by the ICC's officials.
He was allegedly involved in fixing a match between the Dhaka Gladiators and the Chittagong Kings during this year's second edition of the BPL.
Local media have reported that the batsman was paid about one million taka ($12,800) to lose the match on February 2.
Ashraful, who became the country's youngest Test centurion in 2001 at the age of 17, was also allegedly involved in fixing another match 10 days later against the Barisal Burners, which his team lost by seven wickets, local reports have said.
The affair has further shaken confidence in the game across South Asia.
Bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and 38 others were charged by Delhi police in July over alleged spot-fixing in the Indian Premier League, while former Bangladesh spinner Shariful Haque was given an indefinite ban last September after being found guilty of spot-fixing during the first season of the BPL.
In March the BCB banned international umpire Nadir Shah for 10 years after a sting operation by an Indian TV channel found him apparently willing to fix matches for cash.
Kaneria launches another appeal against ban
KARACHI: Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria said Wednesday he has filed an appeal in a London court against his life ban for spot-fixing, vowing to fight on to clear his name.
The 32-year-old was barred for life last year after an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) disciplinary panel found him guilty of spot-fixing in a 2009 county match.
Kaneria was banned for luring his Essex county team-mate Mervyn Westfield into conceding a set number of runs for money in a pre-arranged deal.
His appeal against the penalty and an attempt to have it reduced were both rejected earlier this year.
Through my lawyer in England I have filed an appeal in the Commercial Court as my fight against the ban will go on until I am proven innocent, Kaneria told AFP.
The ban effectively prevents him from playing any international or domestic cricket worldwide as boards under International Cricket Council (ICC) jurisdiction have agreed to uphold punishments imposed by individual countries in such circumstances.
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif, famous for blowing the whistle on team-mates' involvement in match-fixing in 1994, demanded an independent inquiry.
I think there should be an independent inquiry, either by the high court or by the International Cricket Council, he told AFP.
Westfield was banned for five years and also jailed for four months in 2012 by a British court.
Angry Afridi demands cut to 'obscene' movie
KARACHI: Pakistani cricket star Shahid Afridi Wednesday demanded that the producers of a film about a boy emulating his rise to stardom cut an "obscene" scene which he fears could damage his image.
The big-hitting all-rounder had given his blessing to "Main Houn Afridi" ("I am Afridi") but is now worried it may lead young viewers astray.
The $1 million Pakistan-made movie tells the story of a young man who dreams of becoming as great a player as Afridi, and the trials he faces as he tries to follow in his hero's footsteps.
Afridi was furious at a scene in which the hero hugs and kisses a girl in a nightclub.
The scene was shown in trailers for the film on various TV channels.
"I had given permission for the film with an aim to give kids some positive healthy entertainment, to divert their minds towards cricket and it should not have obscene things," said Afridi, 33.
"I want to tell the people that the film is not related to my life."
Afridi, who shot to stardom in 1996 aged 16 when he hit a world record one-day international hundred off 37 balls, said he wanted the producer to cut the scene.
"A lot of kids and families would go to watch the movie because of me and if they see things like that they will feel bad, so I hope they remove those scenes and run the film," he said.
The movie had already suffered technical glitches which stopped it being released over the Eid holiday weekend.
Producer Humayun Saeed, a top actor in Pakistan, initially wanted Afridi to take the lead role, but the cricketer said it would not be in keeping with the traditions of his tribe.
Afridi said he was also concerned because the film's promotional material wrongly suggested he had acted in the film.
"I had declined the offer to act because my elders are against acting, nor did I charge a single penny from them," he said.
The movie was expected to lift the sagging Pakistani film industry, which struggles to compete with glitzy, big-budget Bollywood in neighbouring India.
The big-hitting all-rounder had given his blessing to "Main Houn Afridi" ("I am Afridi") but is now worried it may lead young viewers astray.
The $1 million Pakistan-made movie tells the story of a young man who dreams of becoming as great a player as Afridi, and the trials he faces as he tries to follow in his hero's footsteps.
Afridi was furious at a scene in which the hero hugs and kisses a girl in a nightclub.
The scene was shown in trailers for the film on various TV channels.
"I had given permission for the film with an aim to give kids some positive healthy entertainment, to divert their minds towards cricket and it should not have obscene things," said Afridi, 33.
"I want to tell the people that the film is not related to my life."
Afridi, who shot to stardom in 1996 aged 16 when he hit a world record one-day international hundred off 37 balls, said he wanted the producer to cut the scene.
"A lot of kids and families would go to watch the movie because of me and if they see things like that they will feel bad, so I hope they remove those scenes and run the film," he said.
The movie had already suffered technical glitches which stopped it being released over the Eid holiday weekend.
Producer Humayun Saeed, a top actor in Pakistan, initially wanted Afridi to take the lead role, but the cricketer said it would not be in keeping with the traditions of his tribe.
Afridi said he was also concerned because the film's promotional material wrongly suggested he had acted in the film.
"I had declined the offer to act because my elders are against acting, nor did I charge a single penny from them," he said.
The movie was expected to lift the sagging Pakistani film industry, which struggles to compete with glitzy, big-budget Bollywood in neighbouring India.
Federer wins seventh career match
CINCINNATI, Ohio: Roger Federer made a smoother comeback after dealing with back pain in recent weeks.
The five-time champion who is defending the title and needs as many matches as possible before the August 26 start of the US Open, won his seventh career match against German friend Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) in the second round at Cincinnati on Tuesday.
The fifth-ranked Swiss felt in his element as he played the tournament for the 13th time, improving his record to 31-10 this season.
Spanish third seed David Ferrer joined Federer in the third round with a 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-4 victory over American Ryan Harrison.
Montreal finalist Milos Raonic struggled in the opening set against Jack Sock, but found his rhythm for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win and a date on Wednesday with Janko Tipsarevic.
In other men's results, Feliciano Lopez opened with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) upset of Japanese 10th seed Kei Nishikori, while German 11th seed Tommy Haas made up for an early exit a week ago in Canada by reaching the second round with a 6-4, 6-4 win over South African Kevin Anderson.
Russian veteran Nikolay Davydenko stopped Frenchman Benoit Paire 7-6 (10/8), 6-3 and Spaniard Tommy Robredo beat Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (9/7), 6-2.
Canadian Vasek Pospisil, who has jumped to 40th in the world after his Montreal semi-final appearance, advanced to the second round when France's 15th seed Gilles Simon retired trailing 6-2, 1-1 with a hip injury. (AFP)
The five-time champion who is defending the title and needs as many matches as possible before the August 26 start of the US Open, won his seventh career match against German friend Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-6 (9/7) in the second round at Cincinnati on Tuesday.
The fifth-ranked Swiss felt in his element as he played the tournament for the 13th time, improving his record to 31-10 this season.
Spanish third seed David Ferrer joined Federer in the third round with a 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-4 victory over American Ryan Harrison.
Montreal finalist Milos Raonic struggled in the opening set against Jack Sock, but found his rhythm for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win and a date on Wednesday with Janko Tipsarevic.
In other men's results, Feliciano Lopez opened with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) upset of Japanese 10th seed Kei Nishikori, while German 11th seed Tommy Haas made up for an early exit a week ago in Canada by reaching the second round with a 6-4, 6-4 win over South African Kevin Anderson.
Russian veteran Nikolay Davydenko stopped Frenchman Benoit Paire 7-6 (10/8), 6-3 and Spaniard Tommy Robredo beat Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (9/7), 6-2.
Canadian Vasek Pospisil, who has jumped to 40th in the world after his Montreal semi-final appearance, advanced to the second round when France's 15th seed Gilles Simon retired trailing 6-2, 1-1 with a hip injury. (AFP)
14-08-2013
All players except Rizwan Senior fit, says Akhtar
Talking to reporters as the camp resumed after the Eid-ul-Fitr break at the National Hockey Stadium here on Monday, Akhtar said Rizwan had a hair-line fracture on his left hand. The coach however hoped that the player would regain fitness before the start of the Asia Cup starting in Malaysia on Aug 24.
All the other probables who reported at the camp are quite fit and it seems they all followed the fitness programme given to them for maintaining fitness during the Eid holidays, Akhtar, a former Olympian, added.
Akhtar, under whom the team face a challenging task of winning the Asia Cup to make the 2014 World Cup, said the morale at the camp was high and the players were in high spirits.
During the next few days we will try our best to give final shape to our match strategy [for the Asia event], and to remove all the flaws noticed in the attacking and mid-field areas,the coach said.
Meanwhile, secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa also visited the camp and said the fit-looking boys were working hard.
Bajwa said the final team would be announced by the head coach in the next couple of days.
Pakistan last won the Asia Cup title way back in 1989.
Though it is a hard target for Pakistan to win the Asia Cup in order to qualify for the World Cup, in the last couple of years the green-shirts have stamped their supremacy in the Asian region by winning the Asian Champions Trophy, so the PHF hopes our team will clinch the title in Malaysia, Bajwa stated.Sports Reporter
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13-08-2013
Nadal routs Raonic, lifts third Canadian title
The Spaniard then made it clear that he is planning to carry on next week to the final major tune-up prior to the US Open, the combined ATP-WTA Cincinnati event.
We'll see tomorrow, but I'm fine. I was able to recover well, I felt good physically today, said Nadal who made quick work of Raonic, who now becomes the first Canadian to be ranked in the top 10 on the ATP Tour.
Nadal won his 25th Masters 1000 title and lifted his eighth trophy of the season to run his career title total to 58.
Nadal feels ready to go for another title in Cincinnati which began on Sunday. He looked smooth on the court Sunday, giving no indication that his chronic knee problems are a current worry.
He says his focus is now on Montreal and he will not be thinking ahead to the August 26 start of the US Open in New York.
The victories and the loses don't affect the way that I prepare or the way that I work for things, Nadal said.When I will be in New York, I will work on thinking about the US Open.
I always go tournament by tournament. I did very well this week on the hardcourts. I'm happy with that. I need to keep going this way.
Nadal remains undefeated this season on the hardcourts after winning the Indian Wells title in March. He also won in Canada in 2005 and 2008.
Raonic, who was held to just four aces in the final, fell short in his bid to become the first Canadian to win the title since 1958.
Rafa really gave me a clinic today, said a deflated Raonic, who has broken new ground all week in the sport for Canada. This was the most important moment of my career so far.
I'm happy I could have it here in Canada.Nadal stands at 48-3 this year and has reached the final in 10 of 11 events he has entered.
Nadal showed no weakness on Sunday as he broke Raonic twice in the opening set, broke on a double-fault to start the second and claimed his fourth Masters title of the season after Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome.
It was a dominating victory in which the big-hitting Canadian's serve was all but nullified by precision returns from Nadal.
This was an amazing victory for me, said Nadal, who lost only one point in the opening set on serve.
I knew my serve would be very important and I felt consistent. My returns were also unbelievable.
I played a fantastic match against a tough opponent. He just had a few more mistakes today than usual.Nadal will move back to third place on the ATP world rankings on Monday while Raonic vaults into No. 10.
Pakistan U-19 ease to third consecutive win
The pick of the Pakistani bowlers was Kamran Ghulam, an upcoming left-arm spinner who claimed figures of four for 18 in his 10 overs. Ghulam was aided by another left arm spinner, Zafar Gohar who claimed three wickets for 14 runs in his 7.4 overs to build on the three early breakthroughs provided by Zia-ul-Haq and Hussain Talat.
Struggling against spin, the Bangladesh batsmen could only survive for 43.4 overs with only three of the top nine batsmen reaching double figures. Nazmul Hossain was the only batsman offering significant resistance, scoring 46 runs.
The Pakistani batsmen were off to a solid start with both openers scoring half-centuries. Captain Sami Aslam scored a steady 58 before being bowled by Mosaddek Hossains off spin. His opening partner, Hussain Talat, however remained not out on 71 as Pakistan eased to victory in the 32nd over with seven wickets to spare.
Bangladeshs leg spinner Jubair Hossain was the pick of the bowlers claiming two wickets but was expensive, giving 34 runs in his four overs.Pakistan1s next match is against England on the 13th of August, 0945 GMT.
Broad bowls England to Ashes series win
Australia, set 299 to win on Monday's fourth day at Chester-le-Street, were well-placed at 168 for two but slumped to 224 all out as paceman Broad took six wickets for 50 runs for a Test-best match haul of 11 for 121.
The victory means England, who had already retained the Ashes, have won three successive Test series against Australia for the first time since the 1950s.
Australia, looking for their first win in eight Tests, lost five wickets for 13 runs as 168 for two was transformed into 181 for seven.
Man-of-the-match Broad, who had taken five first-innings wickets, enjoyed a purple patch of six wickets for 20 runs in 45 balls, with Tim Bresnan taking two for eight in 24.
David Warner and fellow left-hander Chris Rogers gave Australia a solid platform with an opening stand of 109 before first-innings century-maker Rogers edged off-spinner Graeme Swann to Jonathan Trott at slip on 49. Swann then had Usman Khawaja lbw for 21.
Warner, who missed the first two Tests of the series, both of which Australia lost, after being banned for punching home batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar in June, looked in fine touch while making a 74-ball half-century that included a six off Swann.
But on 71, he was drawn forward to a Bresnan ball angled across him, and edged it to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Broad then dismissed Australia captain Michael Clarke for 21 with a superb delivery that came into the star batsman and clipped the top of off stump, before getting Steven Smith to play on after bottom-edging a hook.
Shane Watson, like Smith, was out for two as he fell in familiar fashion, lbw playing across his front pad, to Bresnan.
He reviewed Aleem Dar's decision but, with technology indicating the ball would have clipped leg stump, the Pakistani umpire's call was upheld.
The collapse continued as Brad Haddin, the last of the recognised batsmen, was lbw, moving across his stumps, to Broad for four.
Australia, understandably, challenged but with the Decision Review System indicating the ball would have just hit the top of leg stump, New Zealand umpire Tony Hill's original verdict was confirmed and Australia were 181 for seven, with both sides having used up their reviews.
And when Broad had Ryan Harris lbw, Australia were exactly 100 runs shy of victory with just two wickets standing.
Broad bowled Nathan Lyon for eight and, after England took the extra half hour, ended the match when he had Peter Siddle hole out to James Anderson at mid-off.
Earlier, fast bowler Harris took a Test-best seven for 117 as England, who resumed on 234 for five, made 330 all out in their second innings.
Although Ian Bell could only add eight to his overnight 105, England's total was bolstered by Bresnan's dashing 45 and Swann's unbeaten 30.
Queensland fast bowler Harris took four for 43 with the new ball on Monday after reducing England to 49 for three on Sunday.
His return, in his 15th Test, surpassed the 33-year-old's previous innings best of six for 47 against England at Perth in 2010.
Harris struck twice in two deliveries with the new ball.
He first bowled Bell off the inside edge for 113, his highest score of the series after he made 109 in both England's wins at Trent Bridge and Lord's, to end a near five-hour innings of 210 balls which included 11 fours.
Harris's next ball rose sharply and Prior played on for a duck. The fifth and final Test starts at The Oval in south London on August 21.
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08-08-2013
Have batsmen been cheating Hotspot in the Ashes?
The ongoing five-test series between England and Australia has been riddled with controversy over the inconsistency of the Decision Review System (DRS), part of which is the Hotspot thermal imaging technology. Hotspot uses infra red cameras to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman, bat or pad, with any contact supposed to show up as a bright spot on the image.
Cricket Australia last week requested an explanation from the ICC over the dismissal of Usman Khawaja during the third test at Old Trafford. The batsman was given out caught despite a review of the television pictures and Hotspot which showed no convincing evidence of a nick off the bat. Later in the same match, England batsman Kevin Pietersen was also given out, caught behind, but again the Hotspot failed to pick anything up.
Hotspot's Australian inventor, Warren Brennan, was reported in the British media to be preparing a statement on the technology for release on Wednesday.
A Tweet posted on Tuesday from an unverified Twitter account under his name and entitled @HotSpotInventor read: We will make a statement tomorrow about hotspot in regard to the remainder of the Ashes series. Another, in reply to former England captain and media pundit Michael Vaughan posted on Aug 5 read: Michael, its time you investigate why players are using fibreglass tape on the edges of their bats.
The ICC declined to comment when Reuters contacted a spokesperson on Wednesday but Pietersen was far more forthcoming with his opinion on the matter in a series of angry tweets. Horrible journalism yet again! My name brought up in hotspot crisis suggesting I use silicon(e) to prevent nicks showing! Such hurtful lies, Pieterson wrote. I am never afraid of getting out! If I nick it, I'll walk..To suggest I cheat by covering my bat with silicon(e) infuriates me, he added. How stupid would I be to try & hide a nick when it could save me on an LBW appeal, like in 1st innings where hotspot showed I nicked it.
England coach Andy Flower also called for improvements in the DRS system after the third test was drawn, ensuring the hosts, who won the first two test, would retain the Ashes.
In surprise offensive, Border says England 'worried' and 'vulnerable'
The tourists' hopes of regaining the famous urn were washed away by a rain-affected third Test draw at Old Trafford that concluded Monday and gave Ashes-holders England an unassailable 2-0 lead with two to play.But after losing the first two Tests, Australia's performance at Manchester was much better with their batting finally firing, in contrast to England's.
After the second Test at Lord's, Border, known as Captain Grumpy, slammed Australia's top three as embarrassing while telling Shane Watson to sort himself out, but he has had a change of heart.
What a difference two weeks can make. In the space of 14 days, my perception and gut-feel about this Australian side has changed, said Border, who captained the side 93 times as it rebuilt in the mid-1980s, laying the foundations for a long period of dominance.
England has retained the Ashes and well done to them, but the performance of this largely inexperienced Australian team has filled me with confidence.
Border, who played Tests scoring 11,174 runs, said it looked like Australia had drawn their own line in the sand at Old Trafford, in much the same way Australia did during the 1986-87 series.
Border's Australians lost that series 2-1 but won the World Cup in 1987 before starting 16 years of Ashes domination in 1989.
They showed real fight and England are worried, he said in a comment piece on the Cricket Australia website.
The Poms were playing catch-up cricket from day one, going slow with over rates and doing everything they could to negate our chances of winning. At the end of the day rain saved England - it's as simple as that.
The way this side is going over the next few months, look out. Australia has the momentum.
Old Trafford proved England is vulnerable, he added.
Australia has broken the spell (Jimmy) Anderson and (Graeme) Swann had over them, playing Cook's two go-to men with more assurance.
The confidence in the group has grown and the boys can sense they're back in the contest. England has some good cricketers, but what this kind of performance does is put doubts in their minds.
Cook, (Jonathan) Trott and (Kevin) Pietersen don't look as insurmountable as they once did. I reckon we've turned a corner.
The fourth Ashes Test starts in Chester-le-Street, the headquarters of northeast county Durham, on Friday.
Liverpool must keep word and let me go: Suarez
LONDON: Liverpool's Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez has accused the club of not honouring a clause in his contract which would let him leave Anfield, in comments published in Wednesday's Guardian.
Suarez repeated his desire to join a club in the Champions League and said that Liverpool had gone back on an agreement written into his contract, signed last August, which obliges them to sell to any club offering more than #40 million ($60.7 million).
Last year I had the opportunity to move to a big European club and I stayed on the understanding that if we failed to qualify for the Champions League the following season I'd be allowed to go, he told the paper.
Now all I want is for Liverpool to honour our agreement.
Arsenal are reported to have bid #40,000,001 for the controversial Uruguayan in a bid to trigger the release agreement.
Liverpool maintain the clause only obliges them to negotiate with clubs offering more than #40 million, but Suarez disagrees.
I have the club's word and we have the written contract and we are happy to take this to the Premier League for them to decide the case but I do not want it to come to that, he told the Guardian.
I'm 26. I need to be playing in the Champions League. I waited one year and no one can say that I did not give everything possible with my team-mates last season to get us there.
Suarez arrived at Liverpool in January 2011 after a #22.8m transfer from Ajax, but his time at Anfield has been marred by accusations of racism against Manchester United's Patrice Evra and a biting incident against Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic last season.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has urged Suarez to repay the support of the club and its fans by staying at Liverpool.
There's been a lot of speculation over the course of the close season but the reality is that he's a player who is very much valued at Liverpool and unless there's any sort of offer that comes in that's anywhere near his value, there's nothing to consider, he said, adding: We haven't had that.
Drunk Panesar fined for public urinating: police
LONDON: England spin bowler Monty Panesar has been fined for drunkenly urinating in public after being asked to leave a nightclub, police revealed on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old was ejected from a club in Brighton on the English south coast in the early hours of Monday morning.
After he was seen urinating near the venue, police were called and he was issued with a fine for being drunk and disorderly.
A 31-year-old man received a fixed penalty notice for being drunk and disorderly after being seen urinating in public near the Shooshh Club in King's Road Arches, Brighton, around 4:13am (0313GMT) on Monday (August 5), said a police spokesman.
The Sun newspaper claimed that Panesar was told to leave the club for harassing women and that he urinated from the promenade above the venue onto bouncers standing below.
Panesar was a member of the England squad that retained the Ashes after drawing the third Test against Australia in Manchester on Monday, but he did not play.
He has made 48 Test appearances for England and taken 164 wickets, but was omitted from the squad for the fourth Ashes Test, which starts on Friday in Durham, northeast England.
His county side, Sussex, said they would investigate the reports.
Sussex County Cricket Club can confirm that an incident took place involving Monty Panesar in the early hours of Monday, August 5, the club said in a statement.
The matter is under full investigation and the club will make no further comment at this stage.
The 31-year-old was ejected from a club in Brighton on the English south coast in the early hours of Monday morning.
After he was seen urinating near the venue, police were called and he was issued with a fine for being drunk and disorderly.
A 31-year-old man received a fixed penalty notice for being drunk and disorderly after being seen urinating in public near the Shooshh Club in King's Road Arches, Brighton, around 4:13am (0313GMT) on Monday (August 5), said a police spokesman.
The Sun newspaper claimed that Panesar was told to leave the club for harassing women and that he urinated from the promenade above the venue onto bouncers standing below.
Panesar was a member of the England squad that retained the Ashes after drawing the third Test against Australia in Manchester on Monday, but he did not play.
He has made 48 Test appearances for England and taken 164 wickets, but was omitted from the squad for the fourth Ashes Test, which starts on Friday in Durham, northeast England.
His county side, Sussex, said they would investigate the reports.
Sussex County Cricket Club can confirm that an incident took place involving Monty Panesar in the early hours of Monday, August 5, the club said in a statement.
The matter is under full investigation and the club will make no further comment at this stage.
07-08-2013
Pakistan to play Afghanistan in T20
Giving Afghanistan an international match is our contribution towards the development of the game in the neighbouring country, the spokesman said.
The match is part of an agreement between the two countries in March under which the PCB will help Afghanistan improve its cricket infrastructure and team standard.
Afghanistan qualified for the last two World Twenty20 tournaments in 2010 and 2012 but lost all their matches.
The Sharjah match will be their first against any top teams outside the International Cricket Council events.
Afghanistan Cricket Board chief executive Mohammad Murad expressed delight at the latest opportunity for his team.
We are excited by the opportunity to play against a full (ICC) member nation, Murad said in Kabul.
Win or lose, the experience gained by our players will be absolutely invaluable.
Full members are entitled to play Test matches while Afghanistan is an associate ICC member.AFP
Onions added to England squad for fourth Ashes Test
Just hours after England had retained the Ashes courtesy of a rain-affected draw in the third Test at Old Trafford on Monday, the selectors unveiled their squad for the fourth match of the series, which starts at north-east county Durham's headquarters on Friday.
Fast bowler Chris Tremlett was also selected, with all 11 players who took the field at Old Trafford included as England look for a series victory after winning the first Test at Trent Bridge by 14 and the second, at Lord's, by a colossal 347 runs.
But there was no place for in-form batsman James Taylor, who'd been in the 14-man squad at Old Trafford as cover for Kevin Pietersen.
But star batsman Pietersen, who had been struggling with a calf problem, made 113 in England's first innings 368 at Old Trafford.
While the players should be congratulated on retaining the Ashes there is still a lot of cricket left in this series and it is important that the players recover and refocus ahead of another crucial week of Test cricket, said England national selector Geoff Miller.
The inclusion of Graham Onions and Chris Tremlett gives (coach) Andy Flower and (captain) Alastair Cook an opportunity to assess both the fitness of the bowling attack following the third Test as well as the conditions at Durham, the former England off-spinner added.
England squad Alastair Cook (capt), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior (wkt), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Graham Onions, Chris Tremlett
Holders England retained the Ashes after the third Test at Old Trafford ended in a rain-affected draw on Monday, leaving the home side 2-0 up with two to play ahead of the fourth Test in Durham starting on Friday.
But once again the use of DRS by the officials this Ashes was a major talking point after yet more contentious rulings in Manchester.
Firstly umpiring is a very tricky business but I would say that there are very clear protocols to use and to stick to and I think some calm decision-making needs to be made over the next two Tests, Flower said Tuesday.
Sometimes the available technology has contradicted itself and former Zimbabwe batsman Flower added: I think there are improvements that can be made.
There are improvements in the use of the technology and the use of experts who know how to use the technology that could make a difference to getting better results.
Given eight of the International Cricket Council's 12-strong elite panel of umpires are barred from officiating in Ashes matches because they are from either England or Australia, this series has been overseen by the quartet of Pakistan's Aleem Dar, Sri Lanka's Kumar Dharmasena, New Zealand's Tony Hill and South Africa's Marais Erasmus, who've rotated the standing and third umpire roles between them.
In the first Test at Trent Bridge, where Erasmus was widely criticised for overturning Dar's original not out decision and ruling England batsman Jonathan Trott was out lbw, six out of 13 reviews led to a changed decision.
At Lord's, where England won the second Test by 347 runs, only one review led to an overturned call.
Meanwhile at Old Trafford, where Hill and Erasmus were the men in the middle with Dharmasena the third umpire, the teams sought 10 reviews, with none of the standing umpires' decisions reversed.
This appeared to indicate the teams were becoming progressively more careless with their challenges, when further exposure to DRS ought to produce the reverse effect, or that the third umpire was increasingly reluctant to over-rule his two standing colleagues.
At Old Trafford, there were times when both England and Australia, more than being frustrated at DRS verdicts going against them, didn't seem to understand why their challenges had failed. In Manchester, the most controversial case involved the first innings dismissal of Australia batsman Usman Khawaja, given out caught behind off the bowling of off-spinner Graeme Swann for one by Hill.
DRS appeared to indicate there was no noise at the moment the bat ought to have hit the ball and nor did Hotspot reveal an edge.
Yet Dharmasena upheld Hill's decision, prompting Australia great Shane Warne to label the decision absolutely shocking.
Meanwhile both Australia captain Michael Clarke and England counterpart Alastair Cook said they were confused by the application of DRS this series.
I'm a fan of DRS, I am a fan of technology in our game and there's obviously been a couple of occasions where both teams have been a bit confused but the one thing I like about is that it is consistent for both teams, said Clarke.
Cook added: In practice, DRS has worked really well, maybe apart from this series. I don't know whether it's just because it's the Ashes the cricketing gods have thrown up some slightly inconclusive evidence.
We are just a little bit confused at the moment why certain decisions have been overturned and certain decisions haven't been overturned.
I don't think that's just with an England cap on, I think both sides would be feeling that.
We are a little bit confused with it but hopefully the ICC can iron out (the problems) and we can get back to what it's designed for which is making more decisions correct.
Sharapova tops Forbes rich list of female athletes
Russia's Maria Sharapova headed the list, published on forbes.com, earning a total of $29 million (#18.9 million, 21.9 million euros) between June 2012 and June this year.
Tennis took the top four positions, with world number one Serena Williams of the United States second ($20.5 million), China's Li Na third ($18.2 million) and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus fourth ($15.7 million).
Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark was in seventh ($13.6 million), followed by Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland ($7.4 million) and Serbia's Ana Ivanovic ($7 million).
US Nascar driver Danica Patrick (fifth with $15 million), South Korean figure skater Kim Yuna (sixth with $14 million)and American golfer Paula Creamer (10th with $5.5 million), were the only non-tennis stars in the top 10.
But the business magazine said disparities remained between men and women in terms of earnings in sport.
World number one golfer Tiger Woods, for example, was the highest-paid athlete on the planet with earnings of $78 million in the 12 months between June 1, 2012 and June 1 this year.
Los Angeles Laker basketball star Kobe Bryant will earn $30.5 million next season but the highest salary in the women's equivalent of the NBA is $107,000.
Park Inbee of South Korea won $585,000 for winning the women's US Open but men's winner Justin Rose was awarded $1.4 million, the magazine noted.
Forbes said that there was increasing parity in terms of pay in tennis, after moves in recent years to put prize money on a more equal footing.
Endorsements that come on the back of Grand Slam wins such as Sharapova's 2012 French Open title dwarf most players' winnings.
The 26-year-old, for example, earned $23 million in endorsements with sportswear manufacturers Head and Nike after her victory at Roland Garros.
She has also launched her own brand of sweets, Sugarpova.
Nevertheless, in Forbes' June 24 list of the world's 100 highest-paid athletes, multiple tennis Grand Slam winner Roger Federer of Switzerland earned $71.5 million, second only to Woods.
Sharapova, number 22 in the top 100 list, earned more than the current men's number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia ($26.9 million) and Spain's Rafael Nadal ($26.4 million).
But in a sign of the ground to be made up, Williams' earnings were only enough to place her 68th in the top 100, while Li Na was 85th -- and all three were the only women in the list.
Forbes list of the world's highest-paid female athletes 2013:
1. Maria Sharapova (RUS), tennis, $29 million
2. Serena Williams (USA), tennis, $20.5 million
3. Li Na (CHN), tennis, $18.2 million
4. Victoria Azarenka (BLR), tennis, $15.7 million
5. Danica Patrick (USA), Nascar, $15 million
6. Kim Yuna (KOR), figure skating, $14 million
7. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN), tennis, $13.6 million
8. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL), tennis, $7.4 million
9. Ana Ivanovic (SRB), tennis, $7 million
10. Paula Creamer (USA), golf, $5.5 million.
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06-08-2013
Dominant South Africa seal T20 series
JP Duminy scored 30 off 23 balls and David Miller hit an aggressive 21-ball 36 as the Proteas reached 145-6 after electing to take first strike in the day-night match.
Fast bowlers Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Morne Morkel then claimed two wickets each as Sri Lanka, the world's top-ranked Twenty20 side, were restricted to 123-7 by an impressive South African fielding display.
Kumar Sangakkara played a lone hand for the hosts with an attractive 39 off 35 balls, but he was only one of three batsmen who crossed 30 in difficult conditions for both teams due to the stiff breeze.
The series win helped South Africa salvage pride after an embarrassing 4-1 defeat in the preceding one-day internationals.
South Africa's Twenty20 captain Faf du Plessis said the win was sweet revenge for that loss.
Sri Lanka showed no mercy in the one-day internationals and we certainly don't want to be showing them any in the T20s, du Plessis said.
The team has shown great character after what happened earlier. I thought we played a great game of cricket to get to 145 despite the wind. We were tactically very good in the bowling also.
The tourists, who won the first Twenty20 game by 12 runs in Colombo on Friday, will be looking to secure a series whitewash when the final match is played in Hambantota on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka, who will lose their number one ranking to second-placed Pakistan if they are defeated again on Tuesday, paid the price for poor batting.
I think it was a gettable score, but we just did not bat well, said skipper Dinesh Chandimal.
There were too many rash strokes. Hopefully we will do better and win on Tuesday.
Left-armer Tsotsobe removed danger man Mahela Jayawardene and Chandimal in his first three overs with both batsmen falling to catches by wicket-keeper Quinton de Kock.
Morkel claimed the vital wicket of Sangakkara, caught superbly in the covers by David Wiese, before having Nuwan Kulasekara caught behind. Thisara Perera remained unbeaten on 22 off 20 balls as the South Africans fielded superbly to keep the runs in check.
Earlier, aggressive batting by Duminy and Miller helped the tourists recover after they were reduced to 48-3 in the ninth over.
The tourists were unchanged for the second game, while Sri Lanka brought in Jayawardene and Kulasekara in place of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Jeevan Mendis.
Seamer Kulasekara finished with two for 22, while Sachithra Senanayake claimed two for 18 in four steady overs of off-spin bowling.
Opener de Kock scored 19 and star batsman AB de Villiers was run out on 15.
England retain Ashes after third Test draw
Only 20.3 overs were possible on the fifth and final day, but that was still long enough for England to collapse to 37 for three, having been set 332 to win after Australia declared on their overnight 172 for seven.
But England, 2-0 up in the five-match series after wins by 14 runs and 347 runs at Trent Bridge and Lord's respectively, only had to draw this match to be sure of retaining the Ashes.
And they had the result they required when the match was abandoned as a draw at 4.39pm local time (1539GMT).
Earlier, Ryan Harris struck twice in quick succession to remove England captain Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott before Peter Siddle claimed the prize wicket of Kevin Pietersen.
However, the bad weather for which Manchester venue Old Trafford is infamous, but which had stayed away until Sunday evening, took charge.
At the close, England were 295 runs shy of the victory target, with Joe Root, dropped on four, 13 not out and Ian Bell four not out.
Now the best Australia can hope for is to share the series 2-2. In the event of a drawn campaign, the team that last won the Ashes retains them and in this series that means England following their 3-1 win in Australia in 2010/11.
One consolation for Australia was that this result ended a run of six successive Test defeats, their worst for 29 years, and meant they avoided equalling their all-time record losing streak of seven set between 1885-88.
Australia captain Michael Clarke, who made a superb first innings 187, was angry when the umpires took the players off for bad light on Sunday before rain ended the day's play.
The weather was still against Australia when rain delayed Monday's scheduled start by 30 minutes.
Harris, though, brought one back late into left-hander Cook to have him lbw for nought, with England yet to score a run.
Cook reviewed Tony Hill's decision but with nothing to suggest an incorrect decision, the New Zealand umpire's verdict was upheld.
Trott survived a leg before appeal from Harris when on nine, a decision the Australians reviewed only to be defeated by a marginal 'umpire's call' verdict after replays showed the ball taking the outside part of leg stump.
But Trott was out for 11 when he carelessly glanced Harris and was caught down the legside by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Australia nearly had a third wicket when Root, who'd taken 26 balls to get off the mark, edged Siddle's sixth ball only for the normally reliable Clarke to drop the second slip chance.
But Siddle had the huge compensation of having Pietersen, who made 113 in the first innings, caught behind for just eight as he pushed forward.
Pietersen challenged the decision and while the audio part of the Decision Review System indicated a noise, there was no mark on the Hot Spot thermal imaging device.
However, Sri Lankan third umpire Kumar Dharmasena, in the latest contentious DRS judgment this series, decided there was insufficient evidence to overturn Hill's original verdict and England were 27 for three, with no reviews left.
Australia were now well-placed to press for victory, only for the weather to intervene again.
After rain delayed the start of the second session, Siddle struck Bell on the thumb with the third ball following lunch. But as Bell received on-field treatment, more rain fell and play was suspended.
The series, which could yet see the first drawn Test campaign between England and Australia since 1972, continues Friday with the fourth Test at Chester-le-Street, the first Ashes match to be staged at the headquarters of north-east county Durham.
Brief scores
Australia 527-7 dec (M Clarke 187, S Smith 89, C Rogers 84, M Starc 66 no, B Haddin 65 no; G Swann 5-159) and 172-7 dec England 368 (K Pietersen 113, A Cook 62, I Bell 60; P Siddle 4-63, M Starc 3-76) and 37-3
The Europa League winners tabled an improved bid for Rooney, having had an initial cash offer rebuffed last month.
A bid was received yesterday and immediately rejected, a United spokesperson told the BBC. Our position remains that he is not for sale.
Rooney left United's recent pre-season tour of the Far East due to a hamstring injury, hours after arriving in Bangkok.
The England striker has also now been ruled of Tuesday's pre-season friendly at AIK Stockholm because of a shoulder problem he picked up in a behind-closed-doors match at the weekend.
According to recent media reports, Rooney has been 'angry and confused' with his situation at United after comments from new manager David Moyes that suggested he was a backup in attack to Robin van Persie.
The former Everton player has been the subject of transfer speculation since retired manager Alex Ferguson said at the end of last season that the 27-year-old had asked to leave the club.
Rooney joined United for 27 million pounds ($41.24 million)in August 2004 and has made 402 appearances for the club, scoring 197 goals and winning five league titles and the Champions League.
He has two years left of a contract that, according to media reports, earns him a basic salary of 250,000 pounds ($381,800) a week.
Indian blind team to tour Pakistan
The trip would be the Indian blind team's third tour to their arch-rivals, the last coming in December 2011 when they lost both the one-day and Twenty20 series.
"We have convinced India to send their blind team to Pakistan for a three one-day and three Twenty20 international tour next February," Syed Sultan Shah, president of the Pakistan Blind Cricket Association, told AFP.
The matches will be played in Lahore, Faisalabad and Islamabad, Shah said.
"They were reluctant to send their team owing to security reasons but we managed to convince them because blind cricket is all about peace and harmony and there are no fears on holding such a series," said Shah.
The ball used in blind cricket is bigger, with ball bearings inside it so the batsman can hear it coming.
Of the 11 players in each team four must be totally blind, four partially blind and three partially sighted.
Regular international cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus during the Lahore Test match in March 2009.
Shah, also president of World Blind Council, said India wants to host the Asia Cup for blind teams next year.
Pakistan's blind team toured India last year to feature in the Blind World Twenty20 held in Bangalore. India beat Pakistan to lift the trophy.
India and Pakistan have not played a full bilateral series since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, though Pakistan did visit for a short series in December-January. (AFP)
Stosur topples Azarenka for Carlsbad crown
Australia's Stosur, the fifth seed, made a late decision to accept a wild card into the draw pay off, notching her first victory over Azarenka in their ninth career meeting.
Stosur decided to play Carlsbad after she was bundled out of the previous week's tournament in Stanford in the second round.
"Stanford didn't quite go to plan, and I took a last minute wild card that obviously, now I'm super-grateful for," she said.
Stosur hadn't reached a quarter-final all year until this week, when she beat second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarters before dispatching fellow wild card Virginie Razzano of France in the semi-finals.
She brushed off suggestions that with a US Open title already on her resume, her victory in this hardcourt tuneup for the final Grand Slam of the year suddenly thrust her among the Flushing Meadow favorites. But she was delighted to collect a fourth career title.
After racing through the opening set against an out-of-sorts seeming Azarenka, Stosur broke for a 4-2 lead in the second.
Facing a 0-40 deficit in that game, Azarenka saved one break point with an ace, but on the next point saw a forehand bounce back off the net cord.
Stosur kept the pressure on, muscling a forehand winner over on game point to take a 5-2 lead.
Azarenka trailed 15-30 in the next game, but held serve to force Stosur to serve for the match.
After a shaky double-fault for 15-15, Stosur edged ahead with a stinging forehand volley. She gave herself a match point with a service winner and sealed it when Azarenka fired wide with a backhand. (AFP)
Del Potro beats Isner to win Washington title
The 24-year-old top seed from Argentina shook off a sluggish start to beat the US eighth seed 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 for his third title in six years at the $1.76 million ATP and WTA hardcourt event, a tuneup for the year's final Grand Slam event beginning in New York in three weeks.
World number one Novak Djokovic, defending champion Andy Murray, five-time US Open winner Roger Federer and 2010 US Open champion Rafael Nadal were del Potro's picks as the players to beat at Flushing Meadows.
In his first event since an epic five-set loss to Djokovic in the longest semi-final in Wimbledon history, del Potro showed his left knee was fine after an injury at Wimbledon.
Del Potro stretched his Washington win streak to 14 matches by adding to the titles he won in the US capital in 2008 and 2009. The last time he won in Washington he went on to win the US Open, the only Grand Slam title since the 2005 Australian Open not taken by Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Murray.
Seventh-ranked del Potro won his 15th career ATP title, his second of the year after Rotterdam in February, and improved to 4-0 all-time against Isner, the ATP season aces leader, despite not getting to sleep until 3 am after a rain-interrupted semi-final.
Isner, ranked 20th, missed out on his third crown of the year after title runs last week in Atlanta and in April at Houston.
Del Potro broke Isner in the fourth and sixth games of the second set, in each taking an Isner overhead smash and firing back a lightning-like forehand winner.
Isner netted a forehand to surrender a break in the seventh game of the third set and del Potro saved three break points in the final game before taking the title after 89 minutes on a backhand cross-court winner.
Slovakian seventh seed Magdalena Rybarikova won her second Washington title in a row, beating German Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) in the women's final, for her fourth career WTA crown and her first of the year. (AFP)
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05-08-2013
Mishra's six wickets helps India to series whitewash
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra took six wickets as India completed a series whitewash over Zimbabwe in the fifth one-day international at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday.
Mishra has bamboozled the Zimbabwe batsmen throughout the series and recorded figures of six for 48 as the home side collapsed to 163 all out.
India chased down the modest total with ease, Ravindra Jadeja hitting a massive six to complete the game with seven wickets still intact and 96 balls left in the innings.
The first two games were very well fought out by Zimbabwe, but the guys stepped it up in the next three and we are pretty happy with the performance, India captain Virat Kohli said in a television interview after the game.
Belief is key, all these 11 guys who played on the field believe that they can win games all by themselves and that is a big thing in international cricket. It has been a beautiful thing to be part of.
India won the toss and elected to field first in overcast conditions that suited the bowlers. Only Sean Williams (51) put up any sort of fight for the Zimbabweans, with Hamilton Masakadza (32) the only other player to get out of the teens.
Mishra's six wickets took his tally for the series to 18 at an average of just 11, more than double the next highest Indian wicket-taker, Jaydev Unadkat, who managed eight.
India lost Cheteshwar Pujara (0) in the first over of their reply, bowled by the excellent Kyle Jarvis who took two for 18 in eight overs, but never looked troubled in their chase.
Shikhar Dhawan (41), Ajinkya Rahane (50) and Jadeja (48 not out) provided a solid base for the thumping win.
We have been outplayed by a very good team and there haven't been too many positives. We have been way below our best as a team and individuals. It's tough to swallow, Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor said.
Our mental approach is our biggest issue, maybe our mindset is not all there when we are trying to build a partnership as batters, that is an area we can work
Clarke furious as bad light stops play in third Test
Australia, who at 2-0 down in the five-match series had to win this match to stand any chance of regaining the Ashes, were 172 for seven in their second innings, a lead of 331 runs, when umpires Marais Erasmus and Tony Hill called a halt at 4.26pm (1526GMT) on the fourth day.
Although the floodlights were on, the umpires decided conditions were too dangerous to continue when it looked as if fast-medium bowler Stuart Broad was about to be brought back into the attack 36 minutes after tea.
Had England persisted with off-spinner Graeme Swann the chances are that play would have continued.
We try and play as long as we can. We were able to stay out a heck of a lot longer under the lights, but when we started losing it (tracking the ball) completely from square leg, we gave the skipper (England captain Alastair Cook) the option to use spin, and he didn't want to do that, said New Zealand's Hill.
It used to be the case the umpires would 'offer' the light to the batsmen to see if they wanted to continue or not.
But a change to the regulations in October 2010 left the issue solely in the hands of the umpires after concerns had been raised the old system was unfair to the fielding side.
The playing conditions changed a few years ago so it's now our decision.
We try and communicate and let everybody know, said Erasmus, whose joint interview with Hill on Sky television was booed by angry fans when replayed over the giant screens at Old Trafford.
For a while there England's fielders were asking about the light and the possibility when they bat.
It was fine by then but it kept dropping, dropping, dropping.
Eventually we told the captain (Cook) to bowl spin which eventually he decided not to. That pushed our hand because it's a safety issue.
Clarke, 30 not out when play was halted Sunday, had a prolonged conversation with South African official Erasmus as he and batting partner Ryan Harris stayed in the middle while England walked off.
Eventually, Clarke and Harris followed their opponents into the dressing-room.
He asked us 'why suddenly?', Erasmus said of his conversation with Clarke.
We actually communicated with each other (Erasmus to Hill) in that particular over so it wasn't a sudden decision.
We were monitoring the light all the time, it's not just something that we just suddenly decided. England only need a draw in this match to retain the Ashes, something made more likely by play being suspended.
After some 30 minutes of no play because of bad light, rain fell to further hamper any prospect of play resuming Sunday.
Duminy, Miller lift South Africa to 145-6
Duminy scored 30 off 23 balls and Miller hit a 21-ball 36 after the
tourists, who elected to bat after winning the toss, were reduced to 48-3 in the ninth over.
South Africa need a win to wrap up the three-match series, having won the first game by 12 runs in Colombo on Friday.
The tourists were unchanged for the second game, while Sri Lanka brought in Mahela Jayawardene and Nuwan Kulasekara in place of Tillakaratne Dilshan and Jeevan Mendis.
Seamer Kulasekara finished with two for 22, while Sachithra Senanayake claimed two for 18 in four steady overs of off-spin bowling despite the windy conditions.
Opener Quinton de Kock scored 19 and star batsman AB de Villiers was run out after making 15. (AFP)
Jadeja first Indian after Kumble to top ODI bowlers` list
DUBAI (Web Desk) - Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja on Sunday became the first Indian bowler to top the bowlers` chart in the latest ICC ODI Player Rankings after former captain Anil Kumble claimed the pole position way back in 1996.
Jadeja, who took five wickets in five matches during India`s recently-concluded ODI tour of Zimbabwe, has leapt four places to join West Indies` off-spinner Sunil Narine on top of the list.
This is the first time Jadeja is heading the bowlers` chart.
Kumble had topped the table for 11 matches in November-December 1996. Overall, Jadeja is the fourth India bowler after Kapil Dev (March 1989), Maninder Singh (December 1987-November 1988) and Kumble to claim the number-one spot in ODIs.
The series against Zimbabwe also turned out to be a big one for India`s leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who has rocketed 47 places to 32nd spot after bagging a record 18 wickets.
The India team, meanwhile, consolidated its position as number one team in ICC ODI rankings. A 5-0 series win over Zimbabwe has helped it strengthen its position at the top.
Though the series sweep earned the Indian side just one ratings point to help it finish at 123, it now has a lead of nine ratings points over second ranked team, Australia.
In the batting table, however, both Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni have lost a position each to be placed at 4th and 7th spots, respectively.
Suresh Raina in 17th (up by one) and Shikhar Dhawan in 23rd (up by 16) have made progress in the list, which is still headed by South Africa`s Hashim Amla.
Sri Lanka`s Kumar Sangakkara has achieved a career-best rating of 829 points and has equalled his best-ever ranking of third after finishing as the highest run-getter in the ODI series against South Africa.
Top seed Azarenka reaches WTA final
Former world No. 1 Azarenka, who won three days past her 24th birthday, will play for the title Sunday against the winner of a later semi-final between Australian fifth seed Samantha Stosur and French wildcard Virginie Razzano.
Two-time defending Australian Open champion Azarenka seeks her 17th career title and third of the season as she tunes up for the US Open, where she lost in the final last year.
Razzano's remarkable run has included victories over two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, Czech third seed Petra Kvitova and eighth seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain.
Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion and 2010 French Open runner-up, lost in last year's quarter-finals in her Grand Slam title defense at Flushing Meadows. (AFP)
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04-08-2013
India elects to bowl in final game vs Zimbabwe
India, which is looking to register its first whitewash in a five-game away series, made two changes, bringing in Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan for Ambati Rayudu and Rohit Sharma.
Zimbabwe made four changes: Kyle Jarvis, Timycen Maruma, Natsai M'shangwe and Tinotenda Mutombodzi replaced Prosper Utseya, Sikandar Raza, Michael Chinouya and Tendai Chatara.
India won the first three games in Harare by six wickets, 58 runs and seven wickets and the fourth one at Bulawayo by nine wickets.
Teams:
Zimbabwe: Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor (captain), Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Brian Vitori, Kyle Jarvis, Timycen Maruma, Natsai M'shangwe, Tinotenda Mutombodzi.
India: Shikhar Dawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Dinesh Karthik, Suresh Raina, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Jayadev Unadkat.
Russia's Efimova breaks world 50m breaststroke record
Having won the world 200m breaststroke title on Friday night, the 21-year-old Efimova clocked 29.78secs in the morning's 50m heats at Barcelona's Palau Sant Jordi pool, shaving just two hundredths of a second off the four-year-old record set by Jessica Hardy of the USA.
Pietersen and Bell defy Australia
At tea on the third day, Ashes-holders England were 211 for four -- a deficit of 316 runs -- and still needing a further 117 runs to reach a total of 328 that would see them avoid the follow-on
But they had at least denied Australia who, at 2-0 down with three to play, had to win this match to stand any chance of regaining the Ashes, a wicket in the session.
Pietersen was 78 not out and Bell, who'd already made two hundreds this series, 51 not out with the fifth-wicket duo's partnership so far worth 101.
England resumed Saturday on 52 for two after Australia had made 527 for seven declared on the back of captain Michael Clarke's commanding 187.
It was Clarke's highest Test score against England and the highest in an overseas Test by any Australian since nightwatchman Jason Gillespie's extraordinary 201 not out against Bangladesh seven years ago.
Shortly before Friday's close, Australia paceman Peter Siddle removed opener Joe Root and nightwatchman Tim Bresnan.
England captain Alastair Cook was 36 not out and Jonathan Trott two not out.
However, Trott was out for five when he edged a good length ball from fast bowler Ryan Harris low to Clarke at second slip.
Trott's exit brought in fellow South Africa-born batsman Pietersen,
arguably England's most talented batsman.
Later, left-hander Cook completed a 138-ball fifty including seven fours.
But shortly before lunch Starc had Cook caught superbly for 62 by diving wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who held a right-handed chance off a genuine glance.
At lunch, England were 119 for four with Pietersen 33 not out and Bell unbeaten on four.
Pietersen then attacked Nathan Lyon, danced down the pitch to drive the off-spinner for two superb sixes in successive balls as he completed a 71-ball fifty also including six fours.
Australia took the new ball with England 198 for four off 81 overs but, three balls later, Bell drove Starc down the ground, with his subsequent three off Siddle seeing him to a 93-ball fifty including eight fours and a six. (AFP)
Granollers downs Monaco in Kitzbuehel final
Monaco, seeded two, appeared on course to win his second title of the year when he comprehensively won the opening set to love in just 23 minutes.
However, the 53rd-ranked Granollers, who knocked out defending champion Robin Haase in the semi-finals, came back to level the match in a second set tie-break before eventually holding his nerve to win the decider.
Granollers was 4-0 and then 5-2 up, but finally converted his fourth match point on Monaco's serve to take the third set 6-4.
It is the Spaniard's fourth career tour title, but his first since 2011. (AFP)
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03-08-2013
U-23 squad named as PCB gets down to day-to-day business
The ACC U-23 Emerging Teams Cup is scheduled to be held from Aug 15 to 26 in Singapore.
It may be mentioned that the PCB has filed a review petition against the IHCs decision to only allow the PCB caretaker chairman Najam Sethi to take decisions on a day-to-day basis.
In the review petition, the PCB has demanded extra-constitutional powers for the caretaker chairman, claiming that Sethi is not in a position to work properly in the wake of the IHC orders.
However, now when the PCB has announced the U-23 team for the Emerging Cup tournament, it seems that they have finally fathomed the meaning of day-to-day matters and are continuing to take decisions accordingly. Besides announcing the U-23 team, the PCB also extended contracts of three members of the national selection committee, namely Azhar Khan, Saleem Jaffer and Farrukh Zaman who named the team on Thursday.
Besides, the caretaker chairman has also extended contracts of Intikhab Alam, Haroon Rasheed, Shafiq Ahmed and of all those whose contracts were valid till July 31.
Defending its position, the PCB in a press release stated: The team was selected by Azhar Khan, Saleem Jaffer and Farrukh Zaman who are members of the existing national selection committee which earlier selected the national team for the tour of the West Indies. On July 3, the contracts of the selectors along with a number of others were extended to Aug 31 by the PCB management.
The PCB caretaker chairman has acted after consultation with the attorney general of Pakistan with regards to authorising day-to-day matters as directed by the Islamabad High Court, it concluded.
Hopefully, the caretaker chairman will focus all his energies on holding the PCB elections in 90 days as ordered by the IHC, instead of getting occupied with acquiring all powers including the sale of media right for Pakistan matches since it could also be sold out on series-to-series basis.
Moreover, Hammad Azam has been named as captain of the U-23 team. Pakistan are placed in Group A along with India U-23s, Afghanistan and Nepal. Pakistan begin their campaign against India on August 18 at Kallang Cricket Ground in Singapore. Group B features Under-23 sides from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, along with UAE's senior team and Singapore.
Squad:
Hammad Azam (captain), Umar Waheed, Babar Azam, Ehsan Adil, Raza Hassan, Umar Siddique, Usman Salahuddin, Usman Qadir, Mohammad Waqas, Bilawal Bhatti, Ruman Rais, Azeem Ghumman, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Nasir Malik, Mohammad Nawaz.
Officials: Aftab Baloch (manager), Mansoor Rana (coach), Usman Ghani (physio) and Ibrar Ahmed (trainer).
Reserves: Taimoor Ali, Mir Hamza, Jamal Anwar, Shahzaib Ahmed Khan, Zeeshan Ali Ashraf.
India exert control with nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe
India romped to a nine-wicket win in the fourth one-day international against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo on Thursday to underline their superiority in the five-match series.
The tourists raced to the modest target of with nearly 20 overs to spare after skittling the Zimbabwe top order and bowling out the home side for at Queens Sports Club.
Only an unbeaten half-century from Elton Chigumbura saved Zimbabwe from a more emphatic defeat.India have won all four ODIs in the series by a comfortable margin.
Suresh Raina scored 65 not out and Robin Sharma an unbeaten 64 as India chased down the target in 30.5 overs for the loss of only debutant Cheteshwar Pujara.
There was something in the wicket early on and we sought to extract that, and the bowlers did that to good effect, India captain Virat Kohli said.
Debutant Mohit Sharma took the first wicket in the seventh over and there was a steady procession of batsmen back to the pavilion thereafter as Zimbabwe slumped to 47 for five in just the 16th over.
Chigumbura and Malcolm Waller restored some pride, though at a pedestrian pace, with their 80-run partnership taking more than 20 overs.
Waller was eventually caught behind off Mohit Sharma for 35 but Chigumbura went on to reach 50 just before the last wicket fell.
In reply India began sluggishly, but once Pujara departed Raina and Robin Sharma sought to finish off proceedings early.
It was all about giving the guys who haven't had a decent bat time in the middle and a chance to give it a go, Kohli said.
A fourth successive hammering, albeit from the world champions, left Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor perplexed.
It's frustrating on a pretty good batting wicket (not to make runs), he said at the post-match presentation.
We can't find the answers. We've done the hard work in practice but come up short again. It's got to be the mental side weighing us down.The final match of the series is at the same venue on Saturday.
Emboldened Australia leave England in a pickle
With his under-pressure side 2-0 down in the five-match series, Australia captain Michael Clarke earlier led from the front and moved on from his overnight 125 to craft a near chanceless 187 - his highest test score against England.
His bold declaration after tea caught many at Old Trafford on the hop but his statement of intent was heeded by his bowlers, who kept things tight against nervous England batsmen.
England captain Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 36 and Jonathan Trott on two after Lord's centurion Joe Root edged in-form quick Peter Siddle behind for eight from 57 deliveries and nightwatchman Tim Bresnan (1) seemed to do the same.
However replays suggested no nick, but he did not review.
Cook survived on 15 when he edged returning off-spinner Nathan Lyon onto wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's knee and the ball dropped just short of a flat-footed Clarke at slip.
But Clarke's day was to be remembered for his batting as he further inspired his side before finally falling when tiredness got to him. He was bowled, awkwardly playing on to Stuart Broad.
Australia had not bagged a century in the series but Clarke, who hit Bresnan for three straight fours as he passed , began to turn the tables on those who laughed at his prediction of a 3-2 series win after the second test humbling at Lord's.
His wicket was Broad's 200th in test cricket but it was scant consolation for England, who have laboured under the Old Trafford sun and saw Steve Smith (89), Chris Rogers (84), Haddin (65 not out) and Mitchell Starc (66 not out) rack up handy scores on a largely flat pitch.
Graeme Swann did take five for 159, removing Smith when the number five gave away his wicket by skying a top-edged sweep to Jonny Bairstow in the off-spinner's first over of the day.
WARNER TAUNTED
His dismissal prompted the return of David Warner. The left-hander punched England's Joe Root in a Birmingham bar during June's Champions Trophy, leading to a ban from the Australia side, but he was drafted back in for this test with the batsmen previously struggling.
Warner was widely booed and taunted from the packed stands as he walked to the crease.
He was initially watchful but got a thick edge on five off Swann, the ball hitting wicketkeeper Matt Prior's knee and bouncing up for slip Jonathan Trott to take the catch.
Warner conferred with Clarke and reviewed, but replays showed a clear nick and there was nothing wrong with the catch.
Warner's review came after controversy on Thursday when Usman Khawaja was given out by the on-field and third umpires despite not appearing to edge Swann behind. Cricket Australia asked the ICC for clarification over the incorrect call.
The jubilant crowd waved Warner back to the dressing room with glee, leaving Haddin to come in and steady Australia.
He had a bit of luck when his inside edge was dropped on 10 by Prior off the unusually misfiring James Anderson, who ended with nought for 116 on his Lancashire home ground.
Clarke, who won the toss, then got out and left the field to wild applause from the posse of green and gold clad Australians in the vast temporary stand at the revamped Manchester venue.
Siddle (one) was Swann's fifth victim when bowled as spin looked to be the way forward for the rest of the test, with Lyon impressing and pacemen struggling to extract reverse swing.
Early rain hit famously wet Manchester but the sun came out just before the start. Showers are possible on Saturday though, with the damp bowlers' footholes already causing problems.
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02-08-2013
Arthur reaches deal with Cricket Australia
SYDNEY: Former Australian cricket coach Mickey Arthur said Wednesday he had reached a settlement with Cricket Australia over his sacking after he significantly reduced his claim for damages.
The South African had been suing for his job back or up to Aus$4 million (US$3.7 million), claiming there was a deliberate campaign against him and he had no choice but to take legal action.
After conciliation talks lasting more than 13 hours at the Fair Work Commission in Sydney, the two parties reached a confidential agreement, the Australian Associated Press reported.
Arthur was ousted two weeks before the start of the Ashes series in England, with two years left on his contract, and was replaced by Darren Lehmann.
I am very happy with the financial settlement we have reached tonight with Cricket Australia, he said in a statement.
For me, this was never solely about the money. I just wanted to be treated fairly, and with dignity and respect.
I have significantly reduced my claim, as it is being settled tonight and not dragging on at significant cost, Arthur said, adding he also wanted to protect Australia's cricket team from any further publicity surrounding the dispute.
Details of Arthur's case which were leaked to the media revealed divisions in the team. Skipper Michael Clarke allegedly described his then-vice-captain Shane Watson and his faction in the side as a cancer, and Arthur termed himself the meat in the sandwich between the two camps.
Arthur had also alleged discrimination on grounds of nationality.
He was sacked after Australia lost a Test series in India 4-0 and followed it up with a poor showing at the Champions Trophy in England. The tournament was marred by the off-field misconduct of batsman David Warner.
Under Lehmann Australia lost the first two Ashes Tests, with former skipper Allan Border lamenting the top-order batsmen as embarrassing.
They must win or draw the third Test starting Thursday to keep the five-game series alive.
Clarke stirs Australia with battling ton
The unflappable Clarke was 125 not out from 208 balls at the close after notching the tourists' first ton of the series with a flicked single, while Steve Smith was unbeaten on 70 after a day of fluctuating fortunes which ended with Australia on top.
England, who are 2-0 up in the five-match series and will retain the Ashes at the revamped Manchester venue with a win or a draw, were cheered on by a packed crowd and a lone trumpeter but some pizzazz was missing from their play and the atmosphere.
Opener Chris Rogers, 35, fell short of his first Australia century when he was trapped lbw by a fullish ball from spinner Graeme Swann for a test high 84 in the middle session.
Replays showed Rogers was right to be given out, but Usman Khawaja's dismissal before lunch was the major talking point.
He was adjudged to have been caught behind off Swann for one but reviewed umpire Tony Hill's decision.
Third umpire Kumar Dharmasena sided with his colleague despite replays showing no obvious edge in the latest decision review system (DRS) dispute to afflict the series and Australia.
Shane Watson earlier got away with several loose shots through the slips, over gully and just short of point but was caught at slip by Alastair Cook off paceman Tim Bresnan for 19.
Clarke and Rogers, obeying the message from on high to knuckle down and build an innings after repeated Australian carelessness with the bat this series, were watchful but pounced on any loose bowling as the pacemen struggled with footholes.
WARNER BACK
Clarke was impressive in his 24th test ton if not at his very fluent best having been troubled by spectators above the pavilion sightscreen when taking on Swann, who took two for 82.
Smith survived another minor DRS controversy when England reviewed a not-out lbw decision against Swann and Hawk-Eye said just less than half the ball would have hit leg stump, thus reverting to the umpire's call.
The hosts later wasted their second and last review on Smith when DRS showed he had not edged James Anderson behind. He was then plum in front to Stuart Broad on 24 but Hill said not out.
Australia had lost the toss at Trent Bridge and Lord's, when England batted first both times on their way to victory, and the relief on Clarke's face was visible as the coin landed his way.
The tourists, who risk losing a seventh test in a row and a third straight Ashes series, brought in David Warner at six after the aggressive left-hander returned from his banishment to the A squad as punishment for punching England's Joe Root in a bar in June.
He replaced the ineffective Phil Hughes, while off-spinner Nathan Lyon came in for left-armer Ashton Agar and paceman Mitchell Starc replaced the injured James Pattinson.
England were unchanged with Kevin Pietersen fit to play.
England: Alastair Cook (capt), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior (wkt), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson
Australia: Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Usman Khawaja, Michael Clarke (capt), Steven Smith, David Warner, Brad Haddin (wkt), Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Tony Hill (NZL) TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI) Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
German footballer says Afridi is his favorite
Dietmar Hamann who represented Bayern Munich, Newcastle United, Liverpool, Manchester City and Germany, said it is great to see Afridi back in the Pakistan team. "I am pleased that Afridi did well in the recently concluded West Indies tour. Afridi is a tremendous cricketer," Dietmar Hamann said in an interview to Pakpassion.net.
In the West Indies tour, Afridi reached the milestone to hit 400 sixes in an international career. It took Afridi 437 innings and 17 years to complete 400 sixes.
Dietmar Hamann who represented Germany on 59 occasions and was a member of the 2002 World Cup squad that finished runners up, said Sachin Tendulkar is also his favorite cricketer.
"Sachin is a wonderful cricketer. I have always enjoyed watching all-rounder's in action as they have a lot of skill to perform with both bat and ball and are generally the stand out cricketers," he said.
Talking about the popularity of cricket in Germany, he said the popularity of cricket is mainly amongst the Pakistani and Indian communities living in Germany. "Some of the local population also play cricket and I would class it as a developing sport in Germany," he added.
India thump Zimbabwe to go 4-0 up
After bowling Zimbabwe out for just 144, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina hit unbeatean half-centuries as India achieved their target inside 31 overs.
Debutant Cheteshwar Pujara was the only Indian batsman to lose his wicket when he was bowled by Tendai Chatara for 13, before Sharma and Raina were granted an easy return to form as they knocked off the remaining 122 runs required.
After going 12 one-day innings without a half-century, Raina was promoted up the order and finished unbeaten on 65 from 71 deliveries.
Although Sharma had failed to contribute in the first three matches, he was not troubled as he constructed a patient innings of 64 not out.
An 80-run partnership for the sixth wicket between half-centurion Elton Chigumbura and Malcolm Waller was as good as it got for Zimbabwe as they posted their lowest total of a disappointing series.
The home side slumped to 47 for five inside the opening 16 overs of the innings as India's bowlers sliced through the Zimbabwean top order.
Man of the match Mohit Sharma led the attack on his international debut, claiming 1 for 13 in his first six-over spell after India had won the toss and elected to field.
Sharma also grabbed the key wicket of Waller to end what little resistance Zimbabwe had to offer, and finished with figures of 2 for 26 from 10 overs.
The 24-year-old set India on their way when he had Sikandar Raza caught behind in the seventh over of the innings, before Hamilton Masakadza contributed to his own demise when he was run out whilst taking a sluggish single.
With Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams both dismissed without scoring and Vusi Sibanda bowled by Ravindra Jadeja for 24, Zimbabwe looked as though they could be bowled out for a double-digit score.
However Chigumbura and Waller revived the innings with a patient stand, which ticked along at just over three runs per over until the batting powerplay was taken.
The 36th over brought 11 runs, but the next one brought a wicket as Sharma had Waller caught behind for 35.
With the lower order unable to contribute, Chigumbura was soon left stranded on 50 not out as Zimbabwe were bowled out in 42.4 overs.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra claimed the last three wickets of the innings to record figures of 3 for 25.
India will have the opportunity to complete a series whitewash when the final match takes place at the same venue on Saturday. (AFP)
Isner wins but rain hits Nishikori, Del Potro
Eighth-seeded American Isner, who won last week at Atlanta, advanced to the round of 16 at the $1.76 million hardcourt event before rain washed out most of the day's matches.
That included tournament openers for Argentine top seed Juan Martin Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion and a two-time Washington winner, and second seed Kei Nishikori, who received first-round byes.
Two other second-round matches were halted, with South African seventh seed Kevin Anderson leading Australian qualifier James Duckworth 6-3, 3-6, 5-4 and German third seed Tommy Haas leading US qualifier Tim Smyczek 3-6, 7-5, 1-0.
The total washouts for Nishikori, ranked a career-best 11th this week, and Del Potro mean they will have to win five times in four days to take the title.
Thursday's schedule has both players slated for two matches.
That bolsters Isner's hopes for back-to-back trophies, despite a tough title run last week.
Big-serving Isner won six of seven tie-breakers he played in Atlanta, but dropped one to Anderson in the final and only won the last-set tie-breaker after saving two match points.
Isner will play India's 129th-ranked Somdev Devvarman on Thursday for a spot in the quarter-finals. They last played in the 2007 US college finals when top seed Isner was an upset loser.
Mardy Fish, who has missed much of the past year with heart problems, ousted French 13th seed Julien Benneteau 6-3, 7-5 for his 299th career ATP match victory.
The 64th-ranked American's back-to-back wins are his first since March.
On the women's side, Germany's Andrea Petkovic upset sixth-seeded compatriot Mona Barthel 6-2, 6-2 to reach the last eight in the only match completed.
Three other second-round matches were postponed to Thursday, including German top seed Angelique Kerber's meeting with American Melanie Oudin. (AFP)
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01-08-2013
Sri Lanka thrash Proteas to take series 4-1
The hosts, already holding a decisive 3-1 lead, piled up 307-4 after
electing to take first strike and then shot the Proteas out for 179 in 43.5 overs in the day-night match at the Premadasa stadium.
AB de Villiers played a captain's knock of 51, but could not prevent South Africa from being condemned to their 13th defeat in 15 one-dayers on Sri Lankan soil.
The tourists were struggling at 137-8 when Ryan McLaren hit 29 and Aaron Phangiso an unbeaten 18 down the order to boost the total.
Seamer Suranga Lakmal and off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake marked their first appearance in the series by sharing five wickets. Ajantha Mendis claimed three for 36.
Opener Dilshan, who hit an unbeaten 115 in the fourth game in Pallekele on Sunday, plundered 13 boundaries before he was bowled for 99 by McLaren in the 39th over.
Lahiru Thirimanne, promoted to number three, scored 68 and Kumar Sangakkara was unbeaten on 75 off 45 balls as the South African bowlers wilted in steamy conditions.
Left-handed Thirimanne and Dilshan put on 163 for the second wicket after Kusal Perera was caught behind off Morne Morkel in the fifth over.
South Africa lost wickets in a heap to plunge to 85-6 by the 20th over, with Senanayake and Lakmal grabbing two wickets each.
The Proteas were 60-1 in the 10th over when the dismissal of star batsman Hashim Amla for 18, leg-before to Senanayake, triggered a middle-order collapse.
Lakmal removed Farhaan Behardien and David Miller in the space of three balls after Faf du Plessis had fallen to Thisara Perera for six.
De Villiers and the tailenders delayed the end, but Sri Lanka emerged comfortable winners with an impressive all-round display.
In a match that held only academic interest, Sri Lanka rested regulars Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga, Upul Tharanga and Rangana Herath. They were replaced by Lakmal, Senanayake, Angelo Perera and Kusal Perera.
The tourists recalled McLaren and spinner Phangiso in place of Rory Kleinveldt and Robin Peterson.
The teams will now play three Twenty20 internationals, with the first match to be held at the same venue on Friday. (AFP)
Hantuchova opens Carlsbad campaign with a bang
Slovakia's Hantuchova, who needed just 47 minutes to dispatch Paszek, set up a second-round clash with second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, and also warmed up for her marquee doubles match on Wednesday with former world number one Martina Hingis.
Swiss great Hingis will be playing her first WTA match since 2007 when she and Hantuchova play first-round doubles against Julia Goerges of Germany and Darija Jurak of Croatia.
Hingis won five Grand Slam singles titles and nine in doubles and spent a total of 209 weeks as world number one before she retired for the first time in 2003.
A comeback bid ended in a second retirement in 2007.
Top seed Victoria Azarenka will also be in action on Wednesday, opening her campaign with a second-round match against 2010 French Open winner Francesca Schiavone of Italy.
The only seeded player in action on Tuesday was number eight Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, who eased into the second round with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Japanese qualifier Sachie Ishizu.
In other matches Urszula Radwanska rallied from a break down four times in the opening set on her way to a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 victory over New Zealand qualifier Marina Erakovic.
Kazakh qualifier Sesil Karatantcheva came back from 3-1 down in the first set and 5-3 down in the second to beat Goerges 6-3, 7-5 and advance to a second-round meeting with fifth-seeded Aussie Samantha Stosur.
Britain's Laura Robson also had to battle. Japan's Ayumi Morita served for their match at 6-4, 5-4, taking a 30-0 lead, but couldn't close it out and eventually fell 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
US qualifier Coco Vandeweghe sped into the second round, downing wildcard Allie Kiick 6-1, 6-2 in just 62 minutes.
Vandeweghe fired 12 aces as she set up a clash with either former world number one Ana Ivanovic or defending Carlsbad champion Dominika Cibulkova.
Not only is she the defending champion in this US Open tuneup event, Cibulkova arrives in Carlsbad fresh from lifting the trophy in Stanford, California, on Sunday. (AFP)
Zimbabwe, India to make changes for 4th ODI
The Indians have already taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, having shown a strong desire to win by naming the same XI throughout the tour so far.
However with the series already decided, Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor anticipates a few new faces in the Indian line-up over the next two matches at Queens Sports Club.
Three of the four Indian players who are yet to see action in the series are uncapped in one-day cricket, with Ajinkya Rahane the odd man out having played 16 ODIs.
However top-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and right-arm seamer Mohit Sharma would appear to be at the front of the queue for a place in the side, and could replace Shikhar Dhawan and R Vinay Kumar on Thursday.
Vinay Kumar took no part in Wednesday's net session and has disappointed on the tour so far, while Dhawan may be rested after cracking a century in the second match.
Having spent most of his career in the shadow of India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who skipped the tour of Zimbabwe, Karthik is enjoying the chance to prove his value to the side.
Meanwhile, Taylor confirmed that Zimbabwe are likely to stick to their tactic of fielding three specialist seamers and suggested that Timycen Maruma could replace one of Zimbabwe's misfiring batsmen. (AFP)
Michael Clarke provoked raucous laughter
Two down in the series and coming off the back of a thumping 347-run defeat at Lord's, the bookmakers make Clarke's side 4-1 outsiders to keep their slender hopes of winning the series alive in Manchester starting on Thursday.
No test cricket captain is ever likely capitulate before the toss has been made, though, and Clarke, encouraged by a tense 14-run defeat in the first test, was a model of positive mental attitude in his column in a popular Sydney newspaper. "England were the better team at Lord's but we know we can beat them," he wrote in Daily Telegraph on Wednesday. "This is not some sort of hollow boast. We almost won the first test at Trent Bridge little more than a fortnight ago. Big results can turn on little moments.
"We have shown enough on this tour individually to know that if we put our performances together as a unit we are a very competitive side.
"Everyone in the top seven has scored a half-century in the first two tests and our bowling has been generally strong."
Clarke assured readers the management of his long-standing back injury meant he would be able to play in the third test.
Australia are expected to recall spinner Nathan Lyon for the Old Trafford test and Clarke's comments suggested it would be at the expense of, rather than in addition to, teenager Ashton Agar.
"England have brought Monty Panesar into their 14-man squad as a second spinner, reinforcing the belief that Old Trafford can help the spinners," he added.
"However, there has already been help for the spinners from the dry pitches we have played on in the first two tests and I don't expect the conditions in Manchester to be that much different."
Clarke, who could also welcome David Warner back to the team after a period of exile in the wake of his attack on England's Joe Root in a Birmingham bar, also suggested he would bat first if he won the toss.
"They are generally good conditions for batting in the first innings and that is where we really have to cash in," he concluded.
"A good first innings allows you to control the game and gives your bowlers the chance to be more attacking, knowing there is a good buffer of runs.
"There are three tests left and we always turn up to a game believing we can win. "Let's see what sort of history we can create over the next few weeks."
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31-07-2013
Teen star Meilutyte sets new world record
The 16-year-old, who pulled off a shock win in the Olympic final in London last year, blazed into Tuesday's final in Barcelona and punched the water repeatedly with delight when her record was confirmed. "The world record means more than the gold medal, I've achieved my main target," she said.
She broke the four-year-old mark of 1min 04.45secs, set by Jessica Hardy of the USA during the era when the high-tech swim suits were legal and the petite Lithuanian burst into tears as her achievement sank in.
Meilutyte faces Hardy in Tuesday's final and the Lithuanian said adding world gold to her Olympic title would be the stuff of daydreams. "The world record was always a dream for me, but yes, obviously a gold medal at the world championships would be like the cherry on top of the ice cream," said the teenager.
Meilutyte, who trains in Plymouth, England, is the hot favourite in both the 50m and 100m breaststroke in Barcelona, an unusual position for the blonde schoolgirl, who was little known outside swimming circles just a year ago.
Meilutyte was voted best Lithuanian athlete of 2012 in her home country after her Olympic triumph.
The Lithuanian sent warning signals to opponents in June when she became the first woman to go under 30 seconds in the 50m breaststroke in a textile suit with a European record of 29.96 sec.
Last month, she also beat her own European record in the 100m breaststroke with 1min 05.20 sec before she tore up the world record in Barcelona. (AFP)
Ecuador striker dies suddenly in Qatar - agent
Speaking to Ecuadorian Gama TV, Chamorro claimed Benitez, known as "Chucho", had suffered a heart-attack.
He had complained of abdominal pains and was transferred to a hospital, where he died on Monday, Chamorro said.
Benitez, who was top scorer in the Mexican league last season with Club America, had just signed for Qatari outfit El-Jaish and had travelled to the club to undergo a medical before completing his move.
Ecuador's interior minister Jose Serrano took to Twitter to pay tribute to the player, who also turned out for English side Birmingham City for one season. "Dear Chucho thank you for your goals and your happiness," said the minister. "A hug to your family and especially to your father."
Benitez was considered a key part of Colombian coach Reinaldo Rueda's Ecuador team that is hoping to qualify for next year's World Cup in Brazil, sitting third in the South American qualifying group. (AFP)
Fifth-seed Stosur wins WTA opener
Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion, fell behind 3-1 in the opening set before rallying to capture it in 57 minutes and cruise from there to victory in her opener at the $795,000 hardcourt event.
"I got off to a little bit of a slow start, losing my first two service games. That isn't how you want to start matches," Stosur said. "But if you start poorly then end well, that's all that matters. I got through that little rough patch at the start and then found my groove a little bit more."
Stosur had been planning to take this week off and return to her Florida training camp ahead of tournaments the next two weeks in Toronto and Cincinnati. But her crash out at Stanford last week forced a change in plan. "After not doing as well as I wanted last week, I thought coming here would be a pretty good opportunity to play those matches and try and build on something a little bit. "No matter how bad or good you play, if you win you always feel better. Last week was pretty disappointing. To come here and win today in a nicer feeling."
In other opening matches, two-time Grand Slam singles champion Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia was ousted by France's Virginie Razzano 6-2, 6-4 and 2010 French Open winner Francesca Schiavone beat fellow Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (6/8), 6-4. (AFP)
Franklin wins second worlds gold in 100m back
In a commanding performance, Franklin clocked 58.42secs in the final, just missing out on the four-year-old world record, with Australia's Emily Seebohm 0.64sec adrift and Japan's Aya Terekawa touching the wall 0.81sec behind.
Minutes after receiving her backstroke gold, 18-year-old Franklin finished second fastest in the 200m freestyle semi-finals to qualify for Wednesday's final.
After victory with the USA team in Sunday's 4x100m freestyle relay final, this was Franklin's second gold medal of the eight world titles she is bidding for at the eight-day world championships, which finish Sunday.
The backstroke medal placings in Barcelona were an exact repeat of those at the 2012 London Olympic final, something not lost on Franklin.
Seebohm collected her second silver at Barcelona, after second in Sunday's freestyle relay, admitted she had wanted to go faster. (AFP)
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30-07-3013
Snedeker captures Canadian Open crown
Snedeker captured his sixth career PGA title and second of the year after a February triumph at Pebble Beach, finishing on 16-under par 272 with countrymen Johnson, Jason Bohn, Matt Kuchar and William McGirt sharing second on 275.
It was Snedeker's third triumph in his past four attempts to win a US PGA event with a 54-hole lead, having also done so at Pebble Beach and last year's Tour Championship. He also led the Masters after 54 holes but settled for a share of sixth.
Snedeker claimed the $1 million top prize at Glen Abbey Golf Club after shooting a third-round 63 on Saturday to take the lead following the departure of 36-hole leader Hunter Mahan, who withdrew to attend the birth of his first child -- daughter Zoe was born early Sunday morning.
Snedeker birdied the par-5 second hole and answered a bogey at the sixth with a birdie at the par-3 seventh to stretch his lead to two strokes. After starting the back nine with a birdie, Snedeker was on 16-under and three strokes ahead.
But when Snedeker took a bogey at the par-3 12th, he opened the door for Johnson, who birdied the par-5 13th and 16th to grab a share of the lead.
Johnson's title bid collapsed on the 17th, when he fired the ball out of bounds and then he left his fourth shot in a fairway bunker on the way to a triple-bogey seven that dumped him out of contention, even after a closing birdie at the par-5 18th.
From there, Snedeker added a birdie at 16 and parred the final two holes to secure the victory.Americans Mark Wilson, John Merrick and Roberto Castro shared sixth on 276. (AFP)
F1: Indian, S.Korea GPs under threat
Ecclestone expressed doubts about both countries hosting races in 2014 at a confidential briefing for team principals in the paddock during last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix.
"I'm juggling a lot of balls," he reportedly said.
Formula One is looking to add up to three races to its calendar in 2014 with Black Sea resort and Winter Olympics' host city Sochi set to become the first Russian venue on the circuit.
There is a return to Austria where Spielberg will host a race while New
Jersey in the United States is also set to be on the calendar.
South Korea is seen as a logical move to be left off the list, as the Yeongam circuit south of Seoul has lost money since it first hosted Formula One in 2010, and local authorities are unwilling to cover losses.
India first staged F1 in 2011 at a privately financed circuit at Greater Noida near the capital, New Delhi, but has struggled to find a widespread following.
The Indian government, meanwhile, is keen on taxing drivers during their time in the country as a proportion of their earnings rather than profit.
Ecclestone is said to have agreed to pay a flat-rate sum for this year's race to meet government demands but is seen as unlikely to comply in 2014 given the other candidates to host races.
German women take sixth Euro title
SOLNA: Goalkeeper Nadine Angerer saved two penalties to help Germany win a record sixth consecutive women's European Championship with a 1-0 success against Norway in Solna on Sunday.
Substitute Anja Mittag scored the only goal just a few minutes after being introduced from the bench at the beginning of the second period but the true star of the show was Angerer.
She deflected Trine Ronning's first half spot-kick away with her knee before thwarting Solveig Gulbrandsen from 12 yards in the second period.
Those two crucial stops meant Mittag's close range tap-in from a pinpoint cross from Celia Okoyino da Mbabi was enough to help the Germans avenge a shock group stage defeat by the same opponents. "Of course it's a great feeling, especially as many didn't expect us to win this title," Germany coach Silvia Neid told uefa.com, reserving special praise for her heroine 'keeper. "I met Nadine Angerer in November and we had a long conversation. We said that fitness is important if you want to be a good goalkeeper and we both agreed on that. "We met again in February and she had worked hard during the winter break. You could see that she was much better when it came to her ability to jump and physical flexibility. "This tournament and this match are the reward for the hard work she did during the winter break."
Germany have now won eight of the 11 women's Euro events and have not failed to lift the trophy since Norway triumphed in 1993.
It was a richly deserved victory as Leonie Maier hit the bar with a looping header in the opening minutes and near the end Nadine Kessler bobbled a scuffed effort against the base of the upright.
They dominated throughout but Norway had their chances, not least from the penalty spot.
In the first half Catherine Dekkerhus crumpled to the turf under Okoyino da Mbabi's challenge but Ronning couldn't find the net.
Caroline Hansen was the next to hit the ground after seemingly minimal contact in the second period but again Angerer proved equal to Gulbrandsen's penalty.
Norway had the ball in the net soon after but Ada Hegerberg had strayed a yard offside when slotting home Maren Mjelde's cross from the right.
It was the fourth time twice previous winners Norway had lost to Germany in the final after defeats in 1989 (to West Germany), 1991 and 2005.
Norway boss Even Pellerud refused to single anyone out over the missed spot-kicks. "This is not the time to blame anyone or think too much about (the missed penalties). Sometimes you score, sometimes you don't," said the 60-year-old.
Norwegian defender Maren Mjelde sought to take the positives out of the painful loss. "We have done a really good job in this tournament. We made it to the final - we hoped for gold, now it's silver. Now I'm really disappointed, but tomorrow, when we think about it, everybody will be glad and satisfied with what we have done here. This was a good start to something good." (AFP)
Hamilton wins his first race for Mercedes
BUDAPEST: Lewis Hamilton ended weeks of frustration on Sunday when he finally won his first race for Mercedes by claiming a dominant text-book triumph in the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 28-year-old Briton led from pole position to the chequered flag, apart from three short spells for pit-stops, as he secured his fourth victory at the Hungaroring in sweltering conditions.
The 2008 world champion came home 11 seconds clear of Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus and third-placed defending triple world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, who was unable to force his way into second place in the closing laps.
It was Hamilton's 22nd win of his career and a success that restored him among the challengers for this year's drivers' championship.
He is now fourth in the title race with 124 points behind leader Vettel on 172 and Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso on 134 and 133 respectively. "It's an incredible feeling and I'd like to thank all the fans here," said Hamilton. "My team did an incredible job, we studied a lot last night and were hoping the tyres would last. "We had no idea it would go that well, but I was hungry for it today. I was going all out. Usually, I get stuck in traffic, but today I was going for every move I could. I wasn't having any of that. "This has been one of the best and most important wins of my career," he added. "To change teams and to win here for Mercedes Benz. This is a real privilege for me and I hope there are many more to come."
Raikkonen said: "I keep making my life difficult on Saturdays so we pay the price. I had a good car, we did two stops, it was tight with Seb at the end, but we gained some good points in the championship."
Vettel, who appeared upset by a brush with the Finn during their duel, said: "It was not the best race. The start was difficult and when Lewis pulled in we thought we could do it on the softs. "But I damaged my front wing which did not help. I tried to hang on in there and tried to fight back with Kimi. I could not get him on the straight. I told Kimi I was not happy, but he was laughing. That's racing."
Mercedes team chief Ross Brawn praised Hamilton. "That was a brilliant drive from Lewis, he didn't put a foot wrong," said Brawn. "He has had an exceptional weekend from Saturday afternoon all the way through to today. We really didn't know how the tyres would play out, but this could be a good step for the rest of the year for us today."
It was the Mercedes team's third win of the season, German Nico Rosberg having won the Monaco and British races.
Australian Mark Webber finished fourth in the second Red Bull ahead of two-time champion Alonso and sixth-placed Frenchman Romain Grosjean of Lotus, who endured a familiar race of incidents and penalties.
Grosjean was later penalised 20 seconds for a clash with Jenson Button but he retained his sixth-place finish.
Button came home seventh for McLaren ahead of Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari and Sergio Perez in the second McLaren.
Pastor Maldonado delivered the Williams' team's first point of the season by finishing 10th.
Hamilton's pole was his third in successive races that had seen him unable to exploit the advantage - a spectacular tyre failure at Silverstone wrecking his hopes while leading the British Grand Prix.
But this time, in Mercedes' 350th race as engine suppliers in Formula One, he enjoyed some of the luck that had been missing elsewhere to mark his 120th Grand Prix with a well-taken win.
Alonso and Ferrari later escaped with a 15,000-euro fine for illegal use of their DRS in the race.
FIA technical officials reported the team to the stewards when data downloaded after the race revealed that Alonso had triggered DRS three times when not within one second of another car.
Officials said a setting error was to blame and that any advantage gained was negligible. (AFP)
29-07-2013
Coventry to swim to 2016, aim for all-time record
Last Updated On 28 July,2013 About 6 hours ago Save Zimbabwe swimmer says she will continue swimming through the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
BARCELONA (AP) - Two-time Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe has announced she will continue swimming through the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
While skipping the current world championships, Coventry says she will begin training again early next year with coach David Marsh and longtime mentor Kim Brackin in North Carolina.
Coventry says, "If I don t get a medal it will be a disappointment but I m more excited about the process."
With seven Olympic medals overall, Coventry is tied with former Hungarian great Krisztina Egerszegi for the most women s individual medals excluding relays in the pool.
At the announcement arranged by her sponsor Arena, Coventry says "it would be nice to break that record."
The 29-year-old Coventry recently became an IOC athlete member. She will get married in two weeks.
BARCELONA (AP) - Two-time Olympic champion Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe has announced she will continue swimming through the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
While skipping the current world championships, Coventry says she will begin training again early next year with coach David Marsh and longtime mentor Kim Brackin in North Carolina.
Coventry says, "If I don t get a medal it will be a disappointment but I m more excited about the process."
With seven Olympic medals overall, Coventry is tied with former Hungarian great Krisztina Egerszegi for the most women s individual medals excluding relays in the pool.
At the announcement arranged by her sponsor Arena, Coventry says "it would be nice to break that record."
The 29-year-old Coventry recently became an IOC athlete member. She will get married in two weeks.
Lewis Hamilton wins Hungarian GP from pole start
BUDAPEST (AP) - Lewis Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday for his first victory of a frustrating season and a record-equaling fourth triumph on the Hungaroring circuit.
Kimi Raikkonen was second after holding off a strong late challenge from Sebastian Vettel, who was third ahead of Red Bull teammate Mark Webber.
Hamilton s first year with Mercedes has been tricky, and he came into the race with low expectations of victory despite securing his fourth pole this season and his third in a row.
"This is probably one of the most important Grand Prix wins of my career," Hamilton said after equaling Michael Schumacher s record of four victories here. "I hope there are many more to come."
Hamilton managed his tires wisely to get his 22nd GP win and the first since the United States GP last November. Prior to Hungary, he had been third three times.
"We were on the back foot when we came in, I wasn t even expecting to be on pole," said Hamilton, who also won from pole in Hungary last year. "Four wins, that s incredible. I love it here."
Hamilton remains fourth overall but is likely too far behind to mount a serious title challenge as the season takes its mid-season summer break.
Leader Vettel has 172 points, 38 clear of Raikkonen and 39 ahead of Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso. Hamilton has 124, some 48 points adrift of Vettel.
"I hope today is the first step in (catching up) but we have a lot of races coming up," Hamilton said. "I remember the first time I won (a race), it was an exceptional feeling. Today it was a really calming feeling when I came over the line."
The next race is the Belgian GP on Aug. 25.
After he won, Hamilton kissed his Mercedes and then hugged team boss Ross Brawn. When he raised the winner s trophy, he looked emotional as he pointed to members of his team to share the moment with them. "The guys have just been phenomenal all year," Hamilton said. "I feel like I really earned my keep today."
During the race, the British driver was in no mood for compromise, however, barking back at an engineer over the race radio, "Hey man, I m trying to drive here. I m happy with the way the car is," when he received some late advice.
His teammate Nico Rosberg had to abandon right near the end with flames billowing from the back of his car. He was unhurt.
Vettel has four wins overall, having won at the German GP three weeks ago. "The start was difficult and when Lewis pulled in we thought we could do it on the softs," said Vettel, who has never won in Hungary. "I damaged my front wing which did not help. We wanted a little bit more today."
He tried desperately to get past Raikkonen and they almost collided on the penultimate lap as the Finn blocked his move. "I had no doubt that I could keep him out," Raikkonen said.
But Vettel thought Raikkonen should have given him more room. "I told him, but he was laughing. In the heat of the moment, it was quite tight getting in there," Vettel said.
Romain Grosjean started third and finished sixth in an eventful race for the Frenchman. The pressure was on tire manufacturer Pirelli at this race.
The teams recently held in-season testing sessions at Silverstone to assess new tires provided by Pirelli, after several spectacular blowouts on the same circuit at the British Grand Prix in June prompted a furious response and even a boycott threat from drivers.
Pirelli decided that from this race until the end of the season, it will revert to last year s tires combined with the current compounds from this season. Soft and medium tires were available for the race and they held up well.
"The first time ever I can remember my tires not being a problem," Hamilton said. "I really hope we re able to do the same" in Belgium.
With 14 corners and short straights, the Hungaroring is the second most difficult track to overtake on after Monaco although it has a long run down to turn 1. Hamilton held his racing line perfectly on it to get an early boost.
Grosjean tried to pass inside Vettel before the first turn, but the German moved to the right to protect himself.
Rosberg went wide on turn 5 and onto the grass. Dirt and dust flew up from his Mercedes when he rejoined the track, and then shortly after nudged into Felipe Massa s Ferrari.
The Brazilian s front wing was clipped and flapped about providing at least some breeze on a brutally hot day where the track temperature reached 51 degrees Celsius (123 Fahrenheit).
Staying out longer on mediums, Webber and Button found themselves playing a key early part in the race. Vettel was stuck behind Button, who was third, and ahead of them Hamilton was behind Webber s Red Bull.
Webber pitted on lap 24 and, with Button still blocking Vettel, Hamilton streaked ahead. "I guess (Jenson) did me a favor there," Hamilton said about his former McLaren teammate.
Alonso and Vettel pitted together on lap 35, as Hamilton clocked the day s fastest lap.
Grosjean was given a drive through penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage and an earlier collision with Button was to be investigated by stewards after the race.
After his final stop, Vettel came out behind the 2007 F1 champion Raikkonen. "I lost a bit of speed and tried to fight back," Vettel said. "It was very close with Kimi in the end."
Amla back as South Africa bat first
PALLEKELE: South Africa's captain AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat in the fourth one-day international against hosts Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Sunday.
The Proteas, trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, need a win to take the series into Wednesday's decider in Colombo.
The tourists were boosted by the return of star batsman Hashim Amla, who missed the last match due to a knee injury. Seamer Rory Kleinveldt was also included for the first time in the series.The duo replaced opener Alviro Petersen and seamer Ryan McLaren.
Sri Lanka, who will take the series if they win the match, brought back batsman Lahiru Thirimanne in place of Angelo Perera.
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera.
South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Rory Kleinveldt, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.Umpires: Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI) and Rod Tucker (AUS)
Kohli leads India to crushing series-win over Zimbabwe
HARARE: India wrapped up their one-day series against Zimbabwe at the first opportunity on Sunday, as they beat the hosts by seven wickets in the third ODI at Harare Sports Club.
After bowling Zimbabwe out for 183, with legspinner Amit Mishra claiming figures of 4 for 47, India needed just 35.3 overs to pass their target as captain Virat Kohli's half-century saw them home.
Kohli finished unbeaten on 68, having adapted perfectly to the slower pace of the wicket in a measured 88-ball innings.
Although Zimbabwe dismissed opener Rohit Sharma cheaply for the third time in the series, Shikhar Dhawan struck 35 from 32 balls to provide India with a solid base.
After Dhawan fell to Tendai Chatara, Kohli constructed a patient 64-run stand with Ambati Rayudu that made the outcome of both the game and the series clear.
While Rayudu was unable to see the job through, falling caught and bowled to Brian Vitori for 33, Kohli added the remaining 53 runs required with Suresh Raina, who finished on 28 not out.
Sean Williams's 45 was the highest score in a tame batting display by Zimbabwe, who lost both of their openers in the first seven deliveries of the innings and were bowled out in 46 overs.
Although Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor put on 65 for the third wicket, there were no other partnerships to speak of as the Zimbabweans put in another tame showing.
Taylor was out for 23 when he chipped Jaydev Unadkat to mid-off, while Amit Mishra picked up Masakadza, who made 38, and Malcolm Waller with successive deliveries.
Williams did his best to revive the innings with a fluid 53-ball knock, but then ran himself out as he attempted an unlikely second run.
Zimbabwe's final total was boosted by a wag of the tail as Tendai Chatara made 23 and Brian Vitori scored 17, before Amit Mishra dismissed both players to wrap up the innings.
The final two matches of the series will be played in Bulawayo on August 1 and 3.
Teams:
Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (capt), Vusi Sibanda, Sikandar Raza, Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, Michael Chinouya, Brian Vitori, Tendai Chatara.
India: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Shami Ahmed, Vinay Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat.
Pietersen in as England recall trio to Ashes squad
LONDON: Kevin Pietersen was included in a 14-man squad for next week's third Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford despite concerns over his calf injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced Sunday.
Star batsman Pietersen will be given time to prove his fitness for the match, which starts at the Manchester venue on Thursday, with Nottinghamshire's James Taylor added to the squad as cover.
England have also altered their bowling options by bringing in Monty Panesar as a second spinner and recalling fast bowler Chris Tremlett in place of seamers Steven Finn and Graham Onions.
Pietersen, who has been sidelined for much of this year, suffered his latest fitness setback in England's crushing 347-run second Test win at Lord's last week and could not field in the second innings.
Taylor always looked the most likely candidate to be called up as cover after the ECB sought special dispensation for the diminutive batsman to guest for Sussex in their ongoing tour match against Australia at Hove.
The 23-year-old Taylor responded by making an unbeaten 64 on Saturday's second day of three.
Taylor played two Tests against South Africa last year but didn't make the England squad for the tours of India and New Zealand, falling behind the likes of Nick Compton and Joe Root in the England pecking order.
However, he has been in good first-class form this season, scoring 824 runs in 15 County Championship appearances, including an unbeaten double century against Sussex in June.
147Kevin Pietersen is continuing his recovery from a calf strain and he will be assessed by the medical team closer to the start of the Test and we have therefore included an extra batsman in James Taylor who has been in good form for Nottinghamshire this season,148 said England national selector Geoff Miller in a statement announcing the squad.
Meanwhile left-armer Panesar has been included in the squad alongside off-break bowler Graeme Swann on account of Old Trafford's reputation for providing spin-friendly pitches which has endured despite the ground not having staged a Test for three years because of extensive redevelopment.
Sussex bowler Panesar last played a home Test four years ago when he held out with the bat to help guide England to a draw in the 2009 Ashes opener at Cardiff but has featured nine times abroad in recent years.
Tremlett, who starred in England's 3-1 Ashes series win in Australia in 2010/11 has not played a Test for 18 months, with injuries checking his progress. But the giant paceman has impressed for Surrey this season.
Finn played in England's narrow 14-run first Test win at Trent Bridge but was dropped for the second Test at Lord's, with all-rounder Tim Bresnan selected in his place. Durham fast-medium bowler Onions was in the squad for the first two Tests but did not play in either match.
Chris Tremlett has worked hard to regain fitness and form following a couple of injuries and his performances for Surrey this season have been very encouraging, said Miller.
Including an additional spinner in Monty Panesar who has plenty of international experience provides (captain) Alastair Cook and (coach) Andy Flower with a number of options, former England off-spinner Miller added.
Victory at Old Trafford would see England, currently 2-0 up with three to play, clinch the series and retain the Ashes.
However, a cautious Miller said: The players worked hard at Trent Bridge and Lord's to get into a very good position in this Investec Ashes Series but will be fully aware that there is still a great deal of cricket left in the series.
England squad: Alastair Cook (capt), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior (wkt), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, James Taylor, Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar
Star batsman Pietersen will be given time to prove his fitness for the match, which starts at the Manchester venue on Thursday, with Nottinghamshire's James Taylor added to the squad as cover.
England have also altered their bowling options by bringing in Monty Panesar as a second spinner and recalling fast bowler Chris Tremlett in place of seamers Steven Finn and Graham Onions.
Pietersen, who has been sidelined for much of this year, suffered his latest fitness setback in England's crushing 347-run second Test win at Lord's last week and could not field in the second innings.
Taylor always looked the most likely candidate to be called up as cover after the ECB sought special dispensation for the diminutive batsman to guest for Sussex in their ongoing tour match against Australia at Hove.
The 23-year-old Taylor responded by making an unbeaten 64 on Saturday's second day of three.
Taylor played two Tests against South Africa last year but didn't make the England squad for the tours of India and New Zealand, falling behind the likes of Nick Compton and Joe Root in the England pecking order.
However, he has been in good first-class form this season, scoring 824 runs in 15 County Championship appearances, including an unbeaten double century against Sussex in June.
147Kevin Pietersen is continuing his recovery from a calf strain and he will be assessed by the medical team closer to the start of the Test and we have therefore included an extra batsman in James Taylor who has been in good form for Nottinghamshire this season,148 said England national selector Geoff Miller in a statement announcing the squad.
Meanwhile left-armer Panesar has been included in the squad alongside off-break bowler Graeme Swann on account of Old Trafford's reputation for providing spin-friendly pitches which has endured despite the ground not having staged a Test for three years because of extensive redevelopment.
Sussex bowler Panesar last played a home Test four years ago when he held out with the bat to help guide England to a draw in the 2009 Ashes opener at Cardiff but has featured nine times abroad in recent years.
Tremlett, who starred in England's 3-1 Ashes series win in Australia in 2010/11 has not played a Test for 18 months, with injuries checking his progress. But the giant paceman has impressed for Surrey this season.
Finn played in England's narrow 14-run first Test win at Trent Bridge but was dropped for the second Test at Lord's, with all-rounder Tim Bresnan selected in his place. Durham fast-medium bowler Onions was in the squad for the first two Tests but did not play in either match.
Chris Tremlett has worked hard to regain fitness and form following a couple of injuries and his performances for Surrey this season have been very encouraging, said Miller.
Including an additional spinner in Monty Panesar who has plenty of international experience provides (captain) Alastair Cook and (coach) Andy Flower with a number of options, former England off-spinner Miller added.
Victory at Old Trafford would see England, currently 2-0 up with three to play, clinch the series and retain the Ashes.
However, a cautious Miller said: The players worked hard at Trent Bridge and Lord's to get into a very good position in this Investec Ashes Series but will be fully aware that there is still a great deal of cricket left in the series.
England squad: Alastair Cook (capt), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior (wkt), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, James Taylor, Chris Tremlett, Monty Panesar
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28-07-2013
Former world number one Hewitt, who reached the final at Newport earlier this month but lost to France's Nicolas Mahut, rallied for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over third-seeded Croatian Dodig.
Hewitt is in search of his first ATP title since 2010. To have a shot at it, he'll have to get past big-serving Isner, who defeated James Blake 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/5).
Hewitt has won four of their five prior encounters, including a victory over Isner in the Newport semi-finals.
Saturday's other semi-final will pit second-seeded South African Kevin Anderson against American Ryan Harrison.
Anderson fired 12 aces in a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 quarter-final win over
Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.
The 27-year-old Anderson, who has reached a career high 21st in the world rankings, is in the final four the second time in as many tournaments after making it to the semis in Bogota last week.
Harrison reached his first tour-level semi-final in more than a year with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/2) victory over Colombia's Santiago Giraldo. (AFP)
Hockey team unlikely to compete in CW Games 2014
The Games are being held in Glasgow in 2014, but the deadline to give 145Expression of Interest146 by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) expired on July 21 owing to the nasty tussle.
The POA led by Arif Hasan is being recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) does not recognise it. Instead, the PSB has formed a parallel body of the POA headed by Akram Sahi, which has no standing at the international level.
An official statement issued by the POA (Arif Hasan), said: This press release is being issued to highlight the factual position regarding the participation of the Pakistan hockey team in the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
The POA is constrained to make it public that owing to lack of Expression of Interest by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), the Pakistan hockey team may not be able to participate in the 20th Commonwealth Games 2014 at Glasgow.
After receipt of communication from the Commonwealth Games Federation that for team sports it was mandatory that the concerned federation gives an Expression of Interest in writing, the POA had sought the commitment from the PHF in its letter dated July 18, 2013, with the deadline for the reply expiring on July 21, 2013,148 the POA stated.
After the letter was not responded to, the POA sent a reminder to the PHF on July 22, 2013. This reminder clearly stated that Expression of Interest from the federation concerned was a requirement of the CGF, communicated vide their email of July 17, 2013.
The reminder also stated: the consent of Pakistan Hockey Federation (Expression of Interest) was sought by a return email as we have to confirm the same to the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games latest by July 23, 2013 failing which the Pakistan hockey team may not be considered for participation in the 10-Team event by the FIH for these Games. This reminder too has remained unresponded to.
Owing to the artificially charged environment prevailing in sports in the country, both the original letter and its reminder were also copied to the federal ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, the PSB and other international bodies.
The participation of Pakistan hockey in the event would have afforded it a great opportunity to build its squad for the 2016 Olympic Games by competing against some of the best outfits like Australia, England, New Zealand, Malaysia and South Africa. Actually, outside of Germany, the Netherlands and Spain, all the top ranked teams in the world take part in the event. Why the PHF deliberately wanted to stay away from the Commonwealth Games is anyone146s guess.
The POA nevertheless is still willing to take up the case with the Commonwealth Games Federation provided the PHF submits its expression of interest by not later than Monday afternoon. The National Olympic Committee is confident that its request to the Commonwealth Games Federation can still get Pakistan included in the line-up of 10 nations at Glasgow 2014. But this is absolute final deadline as we are not sure whether the CGF will allow any further extensions.
In case of its failure to respond, the onus for non-participation in a frontline event of almost global import shall once again lie with the PHF, it concluded.
Meanwhile, when contacted, PHF secretary Asif Bajwa told Dawn that he had received the e-mail from the POA on July 19 and soon after he sent it to the PSB to get its advice under the current circumstances, since the board was the donor providing tickets and TA/DA to the PHF for these games.
The PSB in reply advised the PHF to make contact with the legitimate POA body of Akram Sahi Bajwa said. The PHF, in response to that letter asked the PSB to ask Akram Sahis body to send the Expression of Interest to the PHF, if it has received any, Bajwa further elaborated.
After that the PSB has forwarded the same PHFs letter to Akram Sahis body to proceed further but the PHF has not received any reply, said Bajwa.
He further went on to say that on Friday, after the media had released the news sent by the POA, he again wrote a letter to the PSB expressing the PHF wanted to appear in the Commonwealth Games and it wanted a clear reply before Monday.
The national hockey will be the main suffering party in the current situation as it has qualified for the Youth Olympics Games and the Asian Games. The participation in the Asian Games will also pave the way for participation in the 2016 Olympics.
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Super Over gives HBL PCB Ramazan T20 Cup
Over the years, matches between these arch-rivals haven been fiercely contested and the final of the Pepsi presents Advance Telecom PCB Ramazan T20 Cup was no exception when PIA fought back from the brink of defeat through the heroics of Anwar Ali who smashed the last ball of the match for a straight six to level the scores.
Appropriately, the title-deciding encounter provided thrills and spills for a decent turnout something which was sadly lacking in the preceding 22 games of the extravaganza which was treated to exhilarating stuff from both sets of players with senior pros Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik engaged in an intriguing battle of the captains in a game that kept fluctuating at breakneck pace.
Younis struck the first psychological blow when he opted to go for batting after winning the toss. A true pitch, dedicatedly laid out by NSKs head curator Ahsan Arain and his diligent support staff, it was a sensible move given the pressure situation of the game itself.
The decision to demote Imran Farhat to No 3 from his customary opening role paid off handsomely as the 31-year-old made up for his lean patch 47 runs in the previous five innings here with a belligerent 65. Striking the ball cleanly, the enigmatic Pakistan left-hander slammed seven boundaries and three sixes in his dominant 37-ball knock to put HBL in command at that point in time.
Sharing in productive partnerships of 58 in 34 balls with Hafiz Asad Baig (28 off 25, four boundaries) and 38 in 26 deliveries with Younis (20 off 18, one four), Imran146s domineering presence put PIA totally on the back foot with HBL poised to post the first 200-plus total in the event when they had advanced to 106-2 in the 12th over.
But a startling capitulation saw HBL lose the momentum with the last eight wickets failing for the addition of only 32 runs, starting with the departure of Imran, who was well held at deep cover by Ghulam Mohammad off Anwar Ali in the 15th over.
Salman Saeed, the young paceman who conceded three boundaries and one six to the rampaging Imran in his opening over that cost 22 runs, made a great comeback to end up with excellent figures of three for 29, making him the competitions most successful wicket-taker with a haul of nine from five matches.
Malik, the inspiration behind PIAs countless successes, was the one scalp with the highest price tag. And when Fahad Masood induced an edge to the wicket-keeper on the first ball the former Pakistan captain negotiated in the first over of the chase, the HBL had landed a jackpot.
In fact, it was a night of horrors for Malik since he was also out for a golden duck in the one-over eliminator during which his team mustered 7-2, leaving Imran Farhat to complete the final rites for the eventual champions at just past quarter to three in the morning.
Faisal Iqbal scored 42 from 40 balls but his failure to accelerate the pace of scoring cost PIA dearly before Sarfraz Ahmed (30 off 15 balls, three fours and one six) and Anwar Ali (17 off eight, two sixes) just served to extend the suspense before Younis gleefully accepted the winners trophy and Rs2 million from the chief guest, Shoaib Siddiqui the commissioner of Karachi.
Malik received the runners-up and Rs1 million on behalf of his PIA team among the major prizes along with the best all-rounder award, while Imran Farhat was most eligible recipient of the Man-of-the-Match award.
Mohammad Yasin, the Khan Research Laboratories opener, was adjudged the tournaments best batsman
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German giants clash in Wembley re-match
Bayern's 2-1 win over Dortmund at London's Wembley in May meant Munich became the first German team to win the treble of European, league and cup titles, but Borussia are viewing the Super Cup showdown as a yardstick, rather than Wembley payback. "This is not revenge for Wembley," said Borussia's Germany defender Mats Hummels ahead of the game in Dortmund.
Borussia may have finished second, and fully 25 points, behind Bayern in last season's Bundesliga, but Hummels added: "For us, it is a good test to know where we stand, but we won't base our motivation on the fact that we lost in London."
With the new Bundesliga starting on August 9, bragging rights are up for grabs in this pre-season showdown, but much has already changed for both teams since Arjen Robben's late winner at Wembley.
Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes has been replaced by ex-Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, Spain under-21 captain Thiago Alcantara has been recruited from the Camp Nou and Germany midfield star Mario Goetze has joined from Dortmund.
Dortmund have also rung the changes by signing attacking midfielders Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, from St Etienne, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Illness or injury means neither are due to start at Dortmund's sold-out Westfalenstadion, with a crowd of 80,645 expected.
Mkhitaryan is out for the next few weeks having torn ankle ligaments in a pre-season match, while Aubameyang, along with Poland winger Jakub 'Kuba' Blaszczykowski, is expected to be on the bench as he recovers from a stomach disorder.
Between them, Dortmund and Bayern have won the last four Bundesliga titles and there is much global interest in the match, which will be broadcast in 195 countries.
While Dortmund will start without their newly-signed trio, Bayern's star-studded squad will be at virtually full strength.
The European champions have won all nine of their pre-season friendlies at a canter, seeing off Catalan giants Barcelona 2-0 in Munich in Wednesday's friendly.
Guardiola has ten full internationals in his midfield and has said he will meet club bosses after Saturday's match to discuss whether any players should be sold before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
Brazil midfielder Luiz Gustavo has been linked to Wolfsburg, while Premier League side Liverpool are reported to be interested in Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri.
Both sides have played down the bad blood which flowed between them earlier this year, especially following the April announcement that Goetze had activated a clause in his contract to join Bayern. "Last season, there were one or two irritations, but they were dealt with publically or internally," said Dortmund's director of sport Michael Zorc. "We would do well to just talk about ourselves."
In February, Bayern's president Uli Hoeness had boasted "the status quo in Germany has been restored" after Munich beat Dortmund in the German Cup quarter-final.
Bayern's director of sport Matthias Sammer insisted: "There'll always be a bit of rivalry". (AFP)
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Hejnova sets season best in 400m hurdles 
Hejnova, who strengthened her position at the top of the Diamond League standings, also set a new personal best time as she beat Shakes-Drayton for the third time in a League meeting this year as she surged to 53.07. (AFP)
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Bolt wins London 100m in 9.85sec 
Returning to the Olympic Stadium where he defended his title 12 months ago, the Jamaican won in 9.85sec. "It's wonderful to be back here. I had a bad start but that's never the best part of my racing," said Bolt in his last race before next month's world championships in Moscow. "The more races I have, it'll be OK. "It's always great to be in London, there's so much energy."
Michael Rodgers of the United States was second in 9.98sec with Jamaica's Nesta Carter, in 9.99sec, taking third. (AFP)
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27-07-2013
Dhawan, Unadkat power India to victory
HARARE: A fortunate century by opener Shikhar Dhawan and some incisive bowling from left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat guided India to a 58-run victory over Zimbabwe in the second one-day international on Friday.
Dhawan was gifted three lives on his way to 116 as India posted an imposing 294 for eight, but there was nothing lucky about Unadkat's bowling as he stamped out a promising start by Zimbabwe and finished with figures of 4 for 41.
Although Zimbabwe won the toss and gained the right to bowl first in helpful conditions, they produced a ramshackle performance in the field and gave away soft wickets during their reply.
The hosts dismissed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the opening 10 overs, but Dhawan led a charmed life as he was caught off a Kyle Jarvis no-ball, dropped by wicketkeeper Brendan Taylor when he was on just 14 and then put down again when he was on 70.
Dhawan made the most of the opportunities, putting on a 159-run stand with Dinesh Karthik to guide India out of trouble after they had slumped to 65 for four.
The left-hander went to his third one-day century in 115 balls, while Karthik scored a sturdy 69 before he was run out in a mix-up with his batting partner.
Dhawan departed in the following over when he played a Prosper Utseya delivery onto his stumps, but India finished strongly as R Vinay Kumar and Shami Ahmed took 23 runs from the final over, which was bowled by left-arm spinner Sean Williams.
Zimbabwe made a confident start to their reply on an improving pitch, led mainly by Vusi Sibanda's half-century. However Unadkat's controlled bowling turned the innings around as his first two overs went for just six runs, and his third brought the wicket of Zimbabwe opener Sikandar Raza.
After Zimbabwe had advanced to 109 for one, Unadkat returned have Sibanda caught at midwicket for 55, and then run out Taylor for a duck.
Zimbabwe's innings faded rapidly thereafter, with spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra accounting for Sean Williams and Malcolm Waller respectively.
Elton Chigumbura hit 46 and Prosper Utseya scored an unbeaten 52, but Zimbabwe never looked like getting close to the Indian total on their way to a final total of 236 for nine.India lead the five-match series 2-0 with the third game to be played in Harare on Sunday.
Teams:
Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (capt), Vusi Sibanda, Sikandar Raza, Hamilton Masakadza, Sean Williams, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, Kyle Jarvis, Brian Vitori, Tendai Chatara.
India: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Shami Ahmed, Vinay Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat
South Africa win to stay alive in Sri Lanka series
PALLEKELE: David Miller and Lonwabo Tsotsobe played key roles as South Africa stunned hosts Sri Lanka by 56 runs in the third one-dayer in Pallekele on Friday to stay afloat in the five-match series.
Miller plundered a robust 85 not out off 72 balls to steer South Africa to 223-7 after unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis had reduced the tourists to 154-7 in the 42nd over.
Tsotsobe then ripped through Sri Lanka's top order with three wickets in the space of six runs before finishing with 4-22 as the hosts were bundled out for 167 in the day-night game.
The victory ended South Africa's 11-match losing streak in one-day cricket on Sri Lankan soil and gave AB de Villiers' tourists a badly-needed win in the current series.
With Sri Lanka 2-1 ahead, South Africa must also win the fourth match at the same venue on Sunday to take the series into the decider in Colombo next Wednesday.
Thisara Perera lit up the gloomy evening for the hosts by smashing five sixes and a boundary in the 33rd over sent down by left-arm spinner Robin Peterson.
With the second ball declared a wide, the 35 runs taken in the over fell just one run short of the world record of six sixes hit by South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs off Dutch bowler Daan van Bunge during the 2007 World Cup.
Perera's run sequence in the over was six, a wide, six, six, six, four and a six, but his sensational hitting came too late for the hosts to deliver an unlikely win.
It's hard to explain how proud I am of the boys, de Villiers said. It was not easy and we were under pressure through the game.It was a really good performance. But we did not have enough partnerships going.
Left-handed Perera made 65 off 49 balls with five sixes and as many boundaries, before he was caught in the deep off Farhaan Behardien, who finished with three for 19.
Sri Lanka paid the penalty for a shoddy batting display in which six batsmen failed to reach double figures and only two others entered their 20s.
Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews, returning to the side after serving a two-match suspension due to his team's slow over-rates in the tri-series in the West Indies, paid rich tributes to Perera.
He is turning out to be a good all-rounder, said Mathews. The pitch was not easy to bat on, but it looked as if Thisara was batting on a different wicket.
With Thisara playing so well, I should probably have stayed there with him. We need to get everything together on Sunday.
Earlier, Miller hit five sixes and four boundaries to boost the total from 100-5 after South Africa had won the toss and elected to take first strike.
Skipper de Villiers led the recovery with 47, before left-handed Miller pushed the scoring with his fifth one-day half-century, the first by a South African in the series.Miller put on 69 for the eighth wicket with Ryan McLaren, who remained unbeaten on 14.
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Perera, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera.
South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Alviro Petersen, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Robin Peterson, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Ranmore Martinesz (SRI) TV umpire: Rod Tucker (AUS) Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Liverpool reiterated their desire to hold on to prized striker Luis Suarez on Friday and said the coveted Uruguayan would feature against Thailand in the final leg of their Asian tour..
Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre said both bids had been rejected and the club would not welcome any further offers for the 26-year-old, who scored 23 goals last season but collected a 10-game suspension for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in April.It has never been our intention to sell Luis, Ayre told reporters in Bangkok on Friday.
As has been widely reported in the media, we've received two separate offers from Arsenal for the player and we've rejected both offers.
So, our situation remains the same and Luis Suarez remains a Liverpool player. He's here in Thailand as part of our squad.
Suarez had been given extended leave by Liverpool after representing his country in the Confederations Cup in June and joined up with the squad in Australia last week, playing 20 minutes in the win over Melbourne Victory on Wednesday.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said his controversial striker, who has previously served a ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra, was slowly working his way back to full fitness after the break.
He's still getting up to fitness. He's about three weeks or so behind all the other players but the one thing about Luis is he loves to play the game, Rodgers told reporters.
He loves training and he loves working but he lives for the game of football. So, I'm sure at some stage he'll play a part.
One player who is departing Anfield is goalkeeper Pepe Reina with Rodgers confirming the Spanish stopper's loan move to Serie A side Napoli.
Rodgers said Liverpool only signed goalkeeper Simon Mignolet from Sunderland as they had expected Reina to leave on a permanent deal.
As events transpired, that move didn't happen and it left us with two very good goalkeepers, the Northern Irishman said.
As a senior goalkeeper, he needs to be playing. It's a very important year for him with the World Cup next year. It wouldn't have served any purpose, both for the club and him personally, if he'd been the one missing out.
It's decided he will go to Napoli and we've got two very good goalkeepers still at the football club. We'll review it after the loan finishes.
After Sunday's game against Thailand, Liverpool will return to Europe to play final friendly matches against Olympiakos, Valerenga and Celtic before opening their Premier League campaign against Stoke City on Aug. 17.
Fabregas staying at Barcelona: Martino
BARCELONA: Barcelona's new coach Gerardo Martino has made it clear he is counting on Cesc Fabregas for next season and does not want the Spain midfielder to accept an offer from Manchester United.
United coach David Moyes said on Thursday the English champions had not given up their pursuit of Fabregas, who returned to his boyhood club in 2011 after eight seasons with United's Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Obviously I am not going to get involved in the club's economic affairs but they have already rejected two offers so I will add a third, Martino said at his first news conference since he was appointed to succeed Tito Vilanova on Tuesday.
1We are going to keep him here, added the Argentine, a former coach of Paraguay and most recently Newell's Old Boys in his native Rosario.
Barca vice president Josep Maria Bartomeu also ruled out selling Fabregas, saying it was normal for United to be interested in the 26-year-old as he was a great player but that the club were counting on him.
Barca hired Martino after Vilanova was forced to step down due to illness as he is known to favour the club's possession-based playing style.
The silver-haired 50-year-old said his immediate priorities were to get to know the squad and coaching staff and make sure the players retained their hunger for success.
He would be focusing as well on making sure Barca's World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, who is also from Rosario, was able to continue his phenomenal scoring run of recent seasons.
What we are going to try to do is make him feel as comfortable as he has up to now, making him feel good in the team, Martino said. With that he will do the rest.
One thing Martino said he would be working on was making sure Barca pressured opponents high up the pitch and that they were comfortable defending a long way from their own goal.
He will have a first chance to test his theories with his new charges when Barca play a friendly at Polish side Lechia Gdansk on Tuesday.
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26-07-2013
Australia fear slow recovery for struggling team
Australian cricket is in the pits, amidst accusatory finger-pointing, and as England savour a golden era, the once pre-eminent Aussies wallow in a black hole of their own making.
Australia capitulated to a crushing 347-run defeat at Lord's on Sunday with more than a day left to hand Alastair Cook's team a 2-0 series lead with three Tests to play.
That was their sixth consecutive Test defeat, coming on the back of a 4-0 series loss in India -- their worst performance in 29 years, and just one loss away from the record of seven straight reverses from 1884-87.
When skipper Michael Clarke, in his post-match interview, refused to accept that Australia's hopes of retrieving the Ashes were finished, he was openly mocked by sections of the Lord's crowd.
This Australian side has been denigrated as the worst ever to tour England and recriminations in Australia are rife. Former greats have not held back in their condemnation of the team.
Allan Border, who as captain rebuilt a similarly enfeebled Australian team in the mid-1980s, laying the foundations for a long period of dominance, said the top batting order should be embarrassed. Fast bowling great Glenn McGrath declared the team had hit rock-bottom.
Blame for Australia's demise has been dumped not only on the current players but also on Cricket Australia (CA) for its focus on the Twenty20 Big Bash League, which has taken scheduling precedence over the traditional four-day Sheffield Shield, the nursery of future Test stars.
Former captain Ricky Ponting, who has fended off calls to come out of retirement to rescue his country, chided CA for its preoccupation with the glitzy Big Bash at the expense of the national team.
"Cricket Australia is a business and they have invested a lot of time in the Big Bash, while cuts have been made in first-class cricket... but we must remember that the strength of this business will be measured by the success of the national team," Ponting wrote in the Daily Mail.
CA has also come in for some flak over its controversial sacking of coach Mickey Arthur, just weeks before the start of the Ashes series, and replacing him with Darren Lehmann.
Arthur's sacking has led to a damaging lawsuit, which exploded just before the Lord's Test. But Australia team performance chief Pat Howard insists his organisation did not err in changing coaches so close to the Ashes.
"You make decisions not just for one week or two weeks but you make them for a period and who's going to best galvanise the side," Howard said this week.
"I don't want to go into that particularly, but who was going to get the best out of this group, that was a simple decision."
Discipline has been a factor, with opener Shane Watson among four players sent home from India for not submitting written feedback requested by Arthur, in what was dubbed the "homework" incident.
And in England, batsman David Warner was banned for punching England's Joe Root in a bar following a Champions Trophy defeat, and was then sent to Africa for match practice with Australia A.
The Australian newspaper's cricket writer Gideon Haigh believes Australia is now beset by the same quandary as England through much of the 1990s.
"It can't achieve stability without success; but it can't achieve success without stability," Haigh said.
"Australians examined English teams in the 1990s with some perplexity. They were often composed of good cricketers yet somehow punched below their weight. Why? Because they always seemed to be fixing last week's problem, and in doing so causing next week's.
"Australians now see this phenomenon replicated in their own ranks."
But there are voices calling for patience in resurrecting the moribund Test team.
"There is no fun, fast, stroke-of-magic out of Australia's predicament," The Melbourne Age's Greg Baum said this week.
"The problems manifest now are the result of mistakes made long ago. Doubtlessly, more mistakes are being made now that will only become apparent down the track.
"Decline, a downhill process, happens quickly. Rising takes much longer, is fraught with missteps, and is painful. Expect more pain in this series."
Former captain Greg Chappell believes it may take two years for Australian cricket to get out of the mire.
Chappell, who has seen the recent decline as Cricket Australia's national talent manager, said Australia had been slow to react as the game changed. He warned there were no quick fixes, comparing the current situation to the mid-1980s.
Former wrestler arrested in fatal stabbing
Sheriff s officials say the woman was stabbed Wednesday night and the suspect fled. Twenty-nine-year-old Brian McGhee s vehicle was spotted in Tampa and authorities began pursuing him.
Authorities say McGhee crashed his vehicle late Wednesday during the pursuit. The woman died of multiple stab wounds early Thursday.
As a wrestler, McGhee went by the moniker "The Future" Donovan Ruddick. He worked for World Wrestling Entertainment from 2010 to 2012.McGhee s was taken to a Tampa hospital after the crash.
A photo of what appears to be a bleeding arm or leg was posted Wednesday night to a Facebook page under McGhee s name.
Ref charged in Bosnia sent home from U19 champs
UEFA says it learned Wednesday of charges against Emir Aleckovic, and "therefore decided immediately to send the referee home." Bosnian media reported that Aleckovic is accused of inappropriate behavior.
UEFA says the case relates to "alleged wrongdoings in Bosnia-Herzegovina" and doesn t involve the under-19 tournament being played in Lithuania.
The Bosnian federation said in a statement it suspended Aleckovic during its investigation.
Aleckovic, who is 33, was promoted to FIFA s list of international referees in 2010. He was among six referees at the UEFA tournament and worked a 0-0 draw between France and Georgia on Saturday
Australia trailed 2-0 before Mitchell Duke scored in the 76th minute and Tomi Juric equalized three minutes later, but Osako sealed the win with his second goal in the 80th to give Japan its first win of the tournament.
Manabu Saito scored in the 26th minute and Osako gave Japan a 2-0 lead in the 56th before the Australians came to life.
China won the tournament in 2005 while South Korea claimed the title in 2003 and 2008. Japan faces winless South Korea on Sunday in the final.
Italian match-fixing hearing ends
The Italian football federation s disciplinary committee will now examine the evidence and is expected to pass sentence midway through next week.
Prosecutor Stefano Palazzi has asked for Mauri to be suspended for 4 1/2 years. He has requested a six-point deduction for Lazio and three-point penalty for both Genoa and Lecce.
Mauri is one of eight players accused of rigging games and failing to report match-fixing for two Serie A games, Lazio vs. Genoa and Lecce vs. Lazio in May 2011.
Around 40 Lazio fans held a sit-in protest on Thursday morning, in front of the Rome hotel where the hearing was taking place.
Fabregas bid 'ongoing': Moyes
OSAKA: Manchester United boss David Moyes said Thursday the English champions' attempts to sign Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas remained alive after reports said two earlier bids had failed.
Moyes, who was appointed as Alex Ferguson's successor at the end of last season, tabled an initial offer of 25 million pounds ($38 million, 29 million euros), later upping the ante to 30 million pounds, British reports said.
Asked about any progress in United's talks with Barcelona on Spanish international midfielder Fabregas, Moyes simply said: Ongoing.
Moyes is keen to sign the creative midfielder but reports from Spain suggest Barca will not make a decision on Fabregas until they appoint a successor to cancer-stricken coach Tito Vilanova.
Moyes also said Robin van Persie, who pulled out of United's last match on their Asian tour with a thigh-injury, was expected to play against Cerezo Osaka on Friday despite being absent from training.
Injured striker Wayne Rooney is on the mend, he added.
Wayne is running, probably at the level where we thought he would be just now and he'll pick up his work again, he said.
Disaffected Rooney's withdrawal from the Red Devils' pre-season Asian tour with a minor hamstring injury has heightened speculation that a move away from Manchester United is imminent.
Rooney has been linked to rival club Chelsea, but United have made it clear they are not interested in selling him 150 going so far as to post an eye-catching billboard on their Twitter account that announced his return for a friendly against Swedish side AIK Fotball on August 6.
United's second friendly in Japan comes on the heels of their 3-2 loss to Yokohama Marinos on Tuesday.
It was the Red Devils' second loss in three matches so far in their Asian tour which will wind up with a game in Hong Kong next Monday.
United's Japanese star Shinji Kagawa meanwhile looked forward to a return to the club where he began his career.
Tomorrow, I will play against the side which helped me grow up and sent me to the world, the 24-year-old said.
I will give all I have as I know their supporters and coach are excited about it.
I want to work hard and produce results in an effort to impress, said Kagawa, who had a disappointing first season with United scoring just six goals in 20 league matches.
25-07-2013
India bowls in 1st ODI in Zimbabwe
HARARE (AP) - India won the toss and opted to bowl first in the opening one-day international against Zimbabwe on Wednesday and handed debuts to two new players.Batsman Ambati Rayudu and left-arm seam bowler Jaydev Unadkat will play their first ODIs, while India is captained by Virat Kohli after Mahendra Singh Dhoni was rested for the five-match limited-overs tour.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik also gets a chance at Harare Sports Club in the absence of Dhoni.
Zimbabwe retained the spine of its regular team and is led by Brendan Taylor. Legspinner Tinotenda Mutombodzi was picked for just his second one-dayer.
The hosts are under new coach Andy Waller for the first time, the father of batsman Malcolm Waller, who also plays.
Lopez posts welcome win for Spain in Gstaad
The victory from fifth seed Lopez helped to ease the pain for a country which has won two of the last three titles here (through Nicolas Almagro and Marcel Granollers) after the second-round eliminations earlier of a pair of compatriots.
Guillermo Garcia-Lopez was crushed 6-1, 6-2 as Argentine Juan Monaco won his opening career match at the elite alpine venue located at 800 metres above sea level in a quiet pedestrianised village.
Monaco, champion two months ago in the dirt in Dusseldorf, won his 18th match of the season on clay, taking 64 minutes with four breaks of serve.
There was more Spanish disappointment for Pablo Andujar, beaten in just over two hours 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 by Russian sixth seed Mikhail Youzhny, who welcomed nine double-faults from his rattled opponent and who broke on five of 16 chances.
Lopez wasted no time in advancing, winning the opening set with a break of serve against Kuznetsov and then taking a 5-3 lead on his second break of the sunny afternoon before booking into the last eight after little more than an hour on the fast clay.
Swiss second seed Stanislas Wawrinka was due to open after a bye awarded to the top four seeds, when he faced another Spaniard in Daniel Gimeno-Traver, whom he beat on clay in Argentina four months ago. (AFP)
Axed coach Arthur confident of resolution
Dumped Australian cricket coach Mickey Arthur failed Wednesday to reach a settlement with Cricket Australia over his abrupt sacking, but said he was confident a resolution will be found.
Although we didn't come to an outcome today, I'm pretty confident that there was enough goodwill in the room for us to continue talks next week,Arthur said after more than five hours of conciliation talks at Sydney's Fair Work Commission.
Arthur, a former coach of the Proteas, said he was hopeful of a settlement when talks resume next Wednesday.
As I've said, all I want is a fair and reasonable outcome, and hopefully we will get a solution next week.
Arthur was sacked after Australia lost a Test series in India 4-0 and followed it up with a poor showing at the Champions Trophy in England.
The tournament was marred by the off-field misconduct of batsman David Warner.
Despite this, the 45-year-old said on Sunday his sacking left him devastated.
He said his reputation had suffered greatly as a result of his public ousting before a major Ashes series.
The damage to my reputation and career has been immense, which means the chances of me getting a senior job are that much less, Arthur said in a statement.
Arthur claimed that after his dismissal, he received nothing in writing from Cricket Australia, no contact, and no payment at all, not even my basic leave pay, until I was forced to bring in lawyers to assist in the process.
He said he had hoped that Cricket Australia would be willing to discuss the matter privately, but instead details were leaked to the media, including allegations that Australia captain Michael Clarke had told him that all-rounder Shane Watson and his faction were a cancer within the team.
Lawyers for Arthur, who was fired two years before his contract was due to expire, have said the coach was suing for racial discrimination.
Cricket Australia disputes a number of claims made by Arthur but has said it will not be articulating these disputes publicly except to say that we are confident in our legal position, are comfortable with the level of support provided to Mickey and look forward to resolving this matter in an appropriate manner.
Arthur was replaced by Darren Lehmann in the days ahead of the Ashes. Australia have lost the first two Tests, with former skipper Allan Border lamenting the top-order batsmen as embarrassing
Gerrard delights huge Aussie crowd with goal
MELBOURNE: Steven Gerrard sent the 95,000 crowd home happy with a trademark goal in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Australia's Melbourne Victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
The Liverpool skipper scored in the first half and Spaniard striker Iago Aspas got home in injury time off some Luis Suarez trickery, to seal a hard-fought win over the two-times A-League champions.
Despite an emotional rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone" by the capacity red-clad crowd prior to the kickoff, Liverpool struggled to dominate the home side -- even though they were missing all their Socceroo stars playing at the East Asian Cup in South Korea.
Gerrard's goal gave Liverpool the half-time lead, but it took until deep into injury time before they added a second goal after some clever lead-up work from want-away Uruguayan striker Suarez.
New signing Aspas was there to score from close range off Suarez's pass with the last kick of the game.
Every touch made by Gerrard was greeted with a huge roar from the pro-Liverpool capacity crowd.
Gerrard had a long-range shot beaten away by goalkeeper Nathan Coe midway through the opening half, but Victory were comfortable on the ball, passing it around the pitch for long periods and not overawed.
The Victory produced a much stiffer, more composed performance than the A-League All-Stars thrown together and battered by Manchester United 5-1 in Sydney a few days earlier.
Liverpool got the breakthrough in the 32nd minute when Gerrard interchanged passes with Welsh midfielder Joe Allen before storming into the goal area and firing past Coe.
Gerrard made way on the hour, and then Suarez made his way on to the ground among wholesale substitutions in the 72nd minute.
Suarez was playing for the first time for Liverpool since biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic. Suarez was suspended for 10 games over the incident and will miss the start of the Premier League season as a result.
It was Liverpool's second win of their Asian pre-season tour after they defeated Indonesia XI 2-0 in Jakarta last weekend. They now head to Bangkok where they will play Thailand on Sunday.
New signing Kolo Toure and Brazilian Philippe Coutinho did not play against Melbourne Victory because of injury. (AFP)
The Liverpool skipper scored in the first half and Spaniard striker Iago Aspas got home in injury time off some Luis Suarez trickery, to seal a hard-fought win over the two-times A-League champions.
Despite an emotional rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone" by the capacity red-clad crowd prior to the kickoff, Liverpool struggled to dominate the home side -- even though they were missing all their Socceroo stars playing at the East Asian Cup in South Korea.
Gerrard's goal gave Liverpool the half-time lead, but it took until deep into injury time before they added a second goal after some clever lead-up work from want-away Uruguayan striker Suarez.
New signing Aspas was there to score from close range off Suarez's pass with the last kick of the game.
Every touch made by Gerrard was greeted with a huge roar from the pro-Liverpool capacity crowd.
Gerrard had a long-range shot beaten away by goalkeeper Nathan Coe midway through the opening half, but Victory were comfortable on the ball, passing it around the pitch for long periods and not overawed.
The Victory produced a much stiffer, more composed performance than the A-League All-Stars thrown together and battered by Manchester United 5-1 in Sydney a few days earlier.
Liverpool got the breakthrough in the 32nd minute when Gerrard interchanged passes with Welsh midfielder Joe Allen before storming into the goal area and firing past Coe.
Gerrard made way on the hour, and then Suarez made his way on to the ground among wholesale substitutions in the 72nd minute.
Suarez was playing for the first time for Liverpool since biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic. Suarez was suspended for 10 games over the incident and will miss the start of the Premier League season as a result.
It was Liverpool's second win of their Asian pre-season tour after they defeated Indonesia XI 2-0 in Jakarta last weekend. They now head to Bangkok where they will play Thailand on Sunday.
New signing Kolo Toure and Brazilian Philippe Coutinho did not play against Melbourne Victory because of injury. (AFP)
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24-07-2013
Sri Lanka bat against South Africa
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's captain Dinesh Chandimal won the toss and elected to bat in the second one-day international against South Africa at the Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Tuesday
The Proteas will look to level the five-match series after being routed by 180 runs in the first game at the same venue on Saturday.
South Africa were boosted by the return of star batsman Hashim Amla, who missed the opener due to a strained neck.
Amla replaced Colin Ingram, who was bowled first ball by Lasith Malinga on Saturday. Sri Lanka retained their winning combination
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Jehan Mubarak, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Shaminda Eranga, Thisara Perera.
South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Alviro Petersen, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso.
Umpires: Rod Tucker (AUS) and Ruchira Palliyaguruge (SRI). TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Barcelona test Guardiola's new-look Bayern
After Guardiola won 14 titles between 2008 and 2012 at Barcelona, the pre-season run out has added spice, especially given recent events which have strained relations between the two European powerhouses.
Guardiola took charge of Bayern last month, amid great fanfare, after the Bavarians lured the 42-year-old to Munich following his year's sabbatical in New York.
Guardiola has already poached Spain Under-21 captain Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona to bolster his star-studded midfield which includes Holland's Arjen Robben and France winger Franck Ribery.
But Guardiola stirred up bad blood with his former bosses earlier this month when he accused the Barcelona board of trying to damage him.
Guardiola lashed out in a press conference, making allegations against the board, which were later refuted, that he had snubbed Vilanova while he was being treated for cancer in New York.
I will never forget that they used Tito's illness to cause me damage, because it's a lie that I never saw him in New York, he said.
With relations strained off the field, there is plenty of spice on it, although both teams are likely to name weakened teams.
Bayern's Germany stars Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Goetze are both recovering from injury, while neither team is expected to have their Confederations Cup stars in action.
Both Barcelona's new Brazil star Neymar and Spain's Carles Puyol, who is working his way back to fitness after knee surgery in March, are expected to sit it out.
Senior stars Javier Mascherano, Adriano Correia, Alex Song and Alexis Sanchez are likely to feature among a host of reserves, while Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi is set to play some part.
Barcelona have something to prove against Bayern having been humbled 7-0 on aggregate in last season's Champions League finals when the Germans backed up a 4-0 win in Munich with a 3-0 rout at the Camp Nou.
Having already chalked up wins over Bundesliga opposition Hamburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach in a pre-season tournament over the weekend, the Barcelona friendly is a big test for Guardiola's new-look Bayern.
He has introduced a 4-1-4-1 system, from the 4-2-3-1 formation which won last season's treble, and switched Germany captain Philipp Lahm from right-back into midfield with France winger Franck Ribery up front.
The game's kick-off time has been brought forward to 1830 local time (1630 GMT) to allow home-team fans to watch Germany's women in the semi-final of the 2013 European Championships.
Pattinson out of remainder of Ashes
Australia bowler James Pattinson is out of the remainder of the Ashes series owing to a stress fracture in his back, Cricket Australia confirmed Monday.
James Pattinson reported some hip and back soreness on the final day of the second Ashes Test, said Team doctor Peter Brukner said.
We had some scans done today (Monday) in London that have identified an early stage low back stress fracture.
147part in this Test series and will commence a rehabilitation program with the aim to have him back for the Australian summer.
Australian selectors may now recall Mitchell Starc, left out for the 347-run loss at Lord's, while James Faulkner and Jackson Bird are also available to back up Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris.
Cricket Australia general manager Pat Howard said: While we are obviously disappointed for James, the selectors have five bowlers fit and ready to perform in England, providing them with many options.
England lead the series 2-0 and could clinch overall victory in Manchester, starting from August 1.
Renegades re-sign Muralitharan for Big Bash
Muralitharan will partner leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, who is currently playing for Australia A.
But Muralitharan, who finished his Test career with a record 800 wickets, will not be facing old rival Shane Warne again.
The Australian, who had played with the Melbourne Stars, on Monday announced his retirement from the game.
Murali is still going strong and was our leading bowler last season with 11 wickets, said Renegades chief Stuart Coventry.
When you have someone like him going for less than six runs an over you expect he'll play a key role again.
Siddle is set to play for the Renegades following the conclusion of the fifth Ashes Test, but there were question marks over Pattinson, who on Monday was ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes with a stress fracture in his back.
Cricket Australia said he would undergo a rehabilitation programme with the aim to have him back for the Australian summer.
I want to get back into playing short-form cricket, said Siddle.
To have that opportunity again in four over bursts, having a crack and getting the pace up there ... I think it'll be a lot of fun.The Big Bash League gets underway in December
Martino replaces Vilanova as Barcelona coach
The agreement is pending the drafting and signing of the contract, they added.
In the next few hours, the timetable of his arrival in Barcelona, the signing of the contract and his presentation to the media will be firmed up.
Vilanova, 44, stepped down last week to continue treatment for throat cancer after leading Barca to the La Liga title in his first season since taking over from Pep Guardiola.
Known as Tata (grandad), the silver-haired Martino burnished his reputation after steering Messi's old club Newell's Old Boys to Argentina's Final championship last month and to the semi-finals of this season's Libertadores Cup.
He made his name as a coach when he took Paraguay to the last eight of the 2010 World Cup, where they lost 1-0 to eventual champions Spain, and after quitting in 2011, turned down a lucrative offer from Colombia.
Martino elected instead to return to Newell's, the club where he played 509 matches as a midfielder under compatriot Marcelo Bielsa, from whom he is said to have inherited many of his coaching ideas.
BARCELONA STYLEHe is also a self-confessed admirer of Guardiola, who took over at German and European champions Bayern Munich at the end of last season.
I feel identified with the kind of football Barcelona play, Martino told Spanish sports daily Marca in June.It's the style I like most, he added.
The respect for the ball, playing out from the back, possession, interchange of passes.
The pass is the essence of football.
Martino becomes the fourth Argentine to coach at Barca after Roque Olsen, Helenio Herrera and Cesar Luis Menotti.
His main priorities next season will be to retain the La Liga title while leading Barca to a third European crown in six seasons and their fifth overall.
He inherits a team which has lost several younger members, including midfielder Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich, but has added Brazil forward Neymar, seen as one of the most exciting talents in the game.
Club officials have also said they want to buy another centre back to partner Spain's Gerard Pique and that Paris St Germain's Brazil captain Thiago Silva was their primary target.
Barca launch their bid for a fifth La Liga title in six years at home to Levante on the weekend of Aug. 17/18.
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23-07-2013
Former captains, cricketers welcome court's decision
LAHORE: Two former Pakistan cricket captains and two former Test cricketers welcomed the decision of the apex court for appointing new Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board from the
regional cricket bodies to stream line the affairs of cricket right
from basics to top level.
"There is dire need to appoint a good cricket administrative from
the regional cricket bodies and a right candidate can be picked from them to address the problems our cricket is facing at many levels", said two former captain Inzamam ul Haq and Muhammad Yousuf along with two former test cricketers, Saeed Anwar and Saqlain Mushtaq in a joint statement here on Monday.
They said the detailed judgment of the Islamabad High Court is
in right direction that the new Chairman PCB be appointed from regional bodies and have a good cricket back ground being a former first class or Test cricketer.
They were of the view that regional cricket bodies are the nucleus
of the cricket and there are good administrators who are serving the regional cricket bodies since long and the most suitable among them is the former President, Lahore City Cricket Association, Khawaja Nadeem Ahmed who has vast experience of cricket handling.
"He is attached with the game for nearly three decades and he has
good leadership qualities besides being a former first class cricketer and under his dynamic leadership LCCA has gained the status of a role model body", they added.
They said the experiment to appoint non-cricketers as the head of
the PCB has brought adverse impact on the overall cricket of Pakistan and urged the government to take this aspect into consideration before appointing the new chairman.
The group of former test cricketers said Kh Nadeem brings in
necessary experience of good governance of cricket besides being a private entrepreneur and during his association with the LCCA trend setting efforts were made to revive cricket in Lahore which remained in doldrums for the last twenty three years. "New bench marks have been set as far as development of cricket is concerned in Lahore at grassroots level and measures were taken to revamp cricket on modern lines with professionalism", they added.
They said the biggest issue which Pakistan cricket was facing, was the resumption of international cricket in the country, besides revamping domestic cricket structure.
"At this stage when foreign teams are not visiting Pakistan owing to security concerns, we can concentrate on overhauling our domestic cricket structure by making it more competitive which will help new talent to polish its skills and to become quality cricketers in near future" they added.
"To execute all these measures we need a good administrative running the affairs of the PCB and it is the only way to bring improvement in our overall cricket",they said. (APP)
Shane Warne officially retires
SYDNEY: Australia great Shane Warne on Monday officially announced his retirement from the game, confirming he will not play with the Melbourne Stars in Australia's Big Bash League.
The leg-spin legend, who was Friday inducted into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame at Lord's, was instrumental in lifting the profile of the domestic Twenty20 league in its first two seasons and was one of its biggest drawcards.But the 43-year-old said his time was finally up.
I think the time is right for me to hang up my Big Bash boots -- juggling business, family and commentary commitments across two continents is not easy,said Warne.
I've always loved the game but now it's time to observe. I wish Cameron (White) and rest of the lads all the best.
White will retake the captaincy.
Melbourne Stars head coach Greg Shipperd believes his team and the league are indebted to Warne for what he has helped them achieve during the first two seasons.
It was always a privilege to share a dressing room with Shane, Shipperd said.
His unique and exceptional skills will remain a symbol of excellence for generations to come.
During his international career, Warne was the first bowler to take 700 Test wickets and represented Australia in 145 Tests between 1992 and 2007. In all, he took 708 Test wickets at an average of 25.41.He also took 293 wickets in 194 one-day internationals at an average of 25.73.
The leg-spin legend, who was Friday inducted into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame at Lord's, was instrumental in lifting the profile of the domestic Twenty20 league in its first two seasons and was one of its biggest drawcards.But the 43-year-old said his time was finally up.
I think the time is right for me to hang up my Big Bash boots -- juggling business, family and commentary commitments across two continents is not easy,said Warne.
I've always loved the game but now it's time to observe. I wish Cameron (White) and rest of the lads all the best.
White will retake the captaincy.
Melbourne Stars head coach Greg Shipperd believes his team and the league are indebted to Warne for what he has helped them achieve during the first two seasons.
It was always a privilege to share a dressing room with Shane, Shipperd said.
His unique and exceptional skills will remain a symbol of excellence for generations to come.
During his international career, Warne was the first bowler to take 700 Test wickets and represented Australia in 145 Tests between 1992 and 2007. In all, he took 708 Test wickets at an average of 25.41.He also took 293 wickets in 194 one-day internationals at an average of 25.73.
Chelsea stroll to win against Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: English football giants Chelsea cruised to a 4-1 victory over a Malaysian selection as part of their pre-season Asia tour on Sunday.Bertrand Traore opened the floodgates in the fifth minute, tapping home a low cross from Kevin De Bruyne after a deft dummy from Romelu Lukaku.
The Blues doubled their advantage just before the half hour mark, as De Bruyne -- returning from a loan spell at Werder Bremen -- smashed home an unstoppable half volley after taking Lukaku's flicked header in his stride.An awkward landing followed the scorching shot however, and the promising Belgian was stretchered off moments later clutching his knee.
But team manager Jose Mourinho dismissed concerns of a serious injury after the game. Lukaku put the tie to bed in first-half injury time with a near post finish to make it 3-0.The second half was pretty much a procession as Chelsea were barely threatened by a Malaysian side who lacked the spark to trouble the Blues' defence.
There was drama in the dying stages of the match as Victor Moses drove home a fourth for Chelsea in the 88th minute.
The Malaysian fans finally had something to cheer about in stoppage time as Fadhli Shas headed home a consolation goal for the home side.
Mourinho said he was satisfied with his team's performance. "If this was an EPL match, we would have collected six points already. Even though we don't have the points, this is a good warm-up for us," he told reporters. "So far I am impressed with the players' identity, personality and mentality to win, which is embedded in their system... Chelsea are learning to play the way I like," the new manager said, adding that De Bruyne had given the team a fright. "When he signalled to the bench, we thought the worst. But after assessing him, we are relieved there is no ligament damage, and it's not a serious one," he said of the injury.Chelsea's victory came on the heels of a 1-0 win over Thailand's Singha All-Star XI on Wednesday, thanks to a goal by Lukaku.
The Blues next head to Jakarta under close scrutiny after new team manager Jose Mourinho reportedly made a ten million pounds (11.5 million euros, $15.1 million) bid for Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.
The Premier League champions insist the England striker is not for sale.
Mourinho said Demba Ba would start the next match in Jakarta. "Lukaku started this one so Ba will play in the next one. We are still without six players, which we will have for our United States tour," he said. (AFP)
The Blues doubled their advantage just before the half hour mark, as De Bruyne -- returning from a loan spell at Werder Bremen -- smashed home an unstoppable half volley after taking Lukaku's flicked header in his stride.An awkward landing followed the scorching shot however, and the promising Belgian was stretchered off moments later clutching his knee.
But team manager Jose Mourinho dismissed concerns of a serious injury after the game. Lukaku put the tie to bed in first-half injury time with a near post finish to make it 3-0.The second half was pretty much a procession as Chelsea were barely threatened by a Malaysian side who lacked the spark to trouble the Blues' defence.
There was drama in the dying stages of the match as Victor Moses drove home a fourth for Chelsea in the 88th minute.
The Malaysian fans finally had something to cheer about in stoppage time as Fadhli Shas headed home a consolation goal for the home side.
Mourinho said he was satisfied with his team's performance. "If this was an EPL match, we would have collected six points already. Even though we don't have the points, this is a good warm-up for us," he told reporters. "So far I am impressed with the players' identity, personality and mentality to win, which is embedded in their system... Chelsea are learning to play the way I like," the new manager said, adding that De Bruyne had given the team a fright. "When he signalled to the bench, we thought the worst. But after assessing him, we are relieved there is no ligament damage, and it's not a serious one," he said of the injury.Chelsea's victory came on the heels of a 1-0 win over Thailand's Singha All-Star XI on Wednesday, thanks to a goal by Lukaku.
The Blues next head to Jakarta under close scrutiny after new team manager Jose Mourinho reportedly made a ten million pounds (11.5 million euros, $15.1 million) bid for Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.
The Premier League champions insist the England striker is not for sale.
Mourinho said Demba Ba would start the next match in Jakarta. "Lukaku started this one so Ba will play in the next one. We are still without six players, which we will have for our United States tour," he said. (AFP)
Rookie Marquez claims US Grand Prix
MONTEREY: Rookie Marc Marquez won the US Grand Prix on Sunday, extending his championship points lead and becoming the youngest rider in Moto GP history to win back-to-back series races.The 20-year-old Spaniard, who won earlier this month in Germany, captured his third victory of the season as he beat out German pole sitter Stefan Bradl at the Laguna Seca raceway. "I'm very happy because it's great to go into the summer break with this result," Marquez said. "It's a new circuit and I've got 25 points."
Bradl claimed his first podium spot and nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi of Italy finished third.
With the victory, the Repsol Honda Team rider becomes the first rookie to win at Laguna Seca.
Marquez also won races at a new course in Austin, Texas, in April and last week in Germany, as he surpassed Freddie Spencer as the youngest to record consecutive victories.
Starting in second place on Sunday, Marquez negotiated a couple of nifty passes, including an overtake of Rossi on the treacherous Corkscrew corner in the early stages.
He then roared past Bradl to win the race by 2.2 seconds on the 2.2 mile track on a northern California hilltop. "I overtook Valentino then caught Bradl," he said. "I stayed behind him for about 12 laps, then tried to pass him to open up a gap."
Laguna Seca is the second of three MotoGP events on US soil this year as international motorcycle racing seeks to make a big splash and gain more North American fans.
Marquez now has a 16-point lead over teammate Dani Pedrosa in the overall points race at the season's halfway mark. Lorenzo is in third, 26 points adrift of Marquez.
LCR Honda's Bradl celebrated his a first podium finish from the pole position. "I am so pleased with my result. The pressure was high this week," Bradl said. "My first podium here. We did good speeds all week."
The 34-year-old Rossi held off Alvaro Bautista for the final podium spot. Spain's Pedrosa rounded out the top five.Rossi returned to Yamaha this year after a couple of frustrating seasons with Ducati.
Former 2006 Moto GP champ Nicky Hayden was the top American Sunday, finishing in eighth. Hayden learned this week he won't be returning to Ducati next year.
Spain's Jorge Lorenzo finished sixth as he rode Sunday through the pain of a broken collarbone. He injured it in a crash at Assen, Netherlands in June and then re-fractured it in Germany.
Officials held a moment of silence before the start of the race to honour the memory of Italian Andrea Antonelli, who died after a crash during the World Supersport race in Moscow earlier on Sunday.
The second half of the MotoGP season begins in three weeks in Indianapolis. (AFP)
22-07-2013
Pakistan 68-2 as rain stops play
GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: Rain interrupted play in the fourth one-day international between the West Indies and Pakistan at the Beausejour Stadium on Sunday.
In a match reduced to 49 overs-per-side, the Pakistanis were 68 for two off 17 overs in reply to a West Indies total of 261 for seven which featured an undefeated 106 from Marlon Samuel.The series is poised at 1-1. (AFP)
Samuels ton steers Windies to 261-7
In a match reduced to 49 overs-per-side, the Pakistanis were 68 for two off 17 overs in reply to a West Indies total of 261 for seven which featured an undefeated 106 from Marlon Samuel.The series is poised at 1-1. (AFP)
Samuels ton steers Windies to 261-7
GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: Marlon Samuels hit his fifth one-day hundred, pacing the West Indies to 261 for seven against Pakistan in the fourth ODI at the Beausejour Stadium on Sunday.
Early-morning rain delayed the start of play by over an hour and resulted in the match being reduced to 49 overs-per-side.
Scoreless for 60 of the 106 deliveries he faced in compiling a painstaking 46 in the tied thriller at the same venue on Friday, the experienced right-hander Samuels returned to something like his sumptuous best.
He stroked four sixes and nine fours off 104 balls in finishing on 106 not out to give the West Indies bowlers something to work with in pursuit of a 2-1 series lead ahead of the final match back at the Beausejour on Wednesday.
He put on 95 for the fifth wicket with Lendl Simmons who hit 46 off 44 balls before he played on to Saeed Ajmal.
West Indies made two significant decisions before a ball was bowled in replacing hard-hitting Kieron Pollard with Devon Smith and demoting Chris Gayle to number five in the batting order in light of his continuing struggle for runs against the new ball.
He was back in the middle at 63 for two after Smith fell cheaply to
Mohammad Irfan and Johnson Charles (32) was trapped leg-before by Wahab Riaz, benefiting from a huge slice of luck almost instantly when put down by Mohammad Hafeez off Wahab before he had scored.
Although far from his destructive best, Gayle contributed 30 to a 57-run third-wicket stand with Samuels before failing to clear long-on off the bowling of Shahid Afridi.
Despite that success, Afridi and Wahab Riaz felt the brunt of the late batting assault, piloted by the determined Samuels, whose celebration on reaching three figures off the penultimate ball of the innings revealed a fierce determination not usually associated with the elegant, almost laid-back Jamaican batsman. (AFP)
Team Sky's Froome, the winner of three stages, claimed his maiden yellow jersey with a winning margin of 5min 03sec on second-placed Colombian Nairo Quintana of Movistar.
Race debutant Quintana, who moved up to second place thanks to his maiden stage win at the summit finish of Annecy-Semnoz on Saturday, secured the race's white jersey for the best young rider and the best climber's polka dot jersey.
Slovakian Peter Sagan of Cannondale won the points competition's green jersey for the second successive year.
Argos sprinter Kittel ended Briton Mark Cavendish's hopes of a fifth consecutive win on the Champs Elysees when he outsprinted the Omega-Pharma sprinter and German Andre Greipel of Lotto in a thrilling dash for the line.
It leaves Kittel, with four stage wins, as the top sprinter of this year's race.
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What if Pakistan had defeated the West Indies in 1975?
The first was the matter of belief. The same questions that are asked as Chris Froome rides up Mont Ventoux, or when LeBron James rides the elevator to deny Tiago Splitter, were asked. That same question was asked after MS Dhoni did for India versus Sri Lanka as Holder did for the West Indies. That question, of course, is: how do we know this is all clean? It1s a matter of concern that the greatest attribute of sport the emotional roller coaster that it provides 150 is seen as too good to be true. Personally, I believe that this was as clean as a whistle. Just looking at those final three overs, each of Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Umar Akmal and Misbah would have needed to have been in on the plot for it to have worked. In fact, going through each and every mistake over the previous 97 overs and you can easily conclude that everyone, including the umpires, needed to be in on the action. And even with everyone involved it would have been nigh on impossible to deliver a tie in that fashion. Just look at the last ball: if Holder connects Windies win, if he misses then its Pakistans game, just because he edged it the match turned out the way it did. The fact is that Pakistan eased up as the 8th wicket went down, and as the Windies refused to self-destruct, Pakistan panicked in trying to get back into the zone.
The other, more relevant, aspect was that on the same day as Samir Chopra wrote his ode to Mushtaq Mohammads team that went to the West Indies, it was somehow appropriate that the last wicket pair did what they did. Many of us grew up on the stories of nail-biters between these two sides. It goes back to the 1975 World Cup, when a 64- run last wicket partnership between Deryck Murray and Andy Roberts denied Pakistan a victory by scoring the winning runs off Wasim Raja in the final over of the game. IF Pakistan had won that match, they would have just needed to score big and beat Sri Lanka in their last group match to go through to the semi-finals (which they did, beating SL by 192 runs), and West Indies and Australia would have been a playoff for the second berth. Instead the other two went through, met each other in the final, and started a decade long rivalry at the top of the cricket tree. Would Lloyd146s team have been as self-confident if they hadnt been World Champions? Would Australia, after the World cup final loss, have been as ticked off as they were at the end of the year when they beat the Windies 5-1 in a home Test series; a series which led to Lloyds team adopting the ruthlessness of Australia and begin a 20-year domination? How would Pakistan146s history have been if they had won a World Cup even before Imran Khan became a regular in the team? On such fine threads as that Roberts-Murray partnership does the history of world cricket hang.
Pakistan would have their revenge 12 years later, though. After reaching the final in the first three editions of the World Cup, WI failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the 1987 edition. All they needed was one more victory and they would have qualified. That victory could well have been the match at Lahore where Pakistan went into the final over needing 14 to win with the last pair standing. Courtney Walsh would end up conceding those 14 runs (13 of them to Abdul Qadir), and the video of that over would be shown often enough on PTV in the 1990s that those born even after that match have a vague recollection of watching that final over. This was in the middle of a great rivalry (profiled in his unique brilliant way by Rob Smyth here) where Pakistan came as close as anyone to taking the crown from the West Indies. This era also included the match at Port of Spain where Abdul Qadir, the number 11, blocked out the final over from Viv Richards after Ijaz Faqih and Saleem Yousuf had batted for more than an hour for the 9th wicket.But most famous, and obviously relevant, for all in our generation was one cloudy morning in Antigua. In one corner stood the crumbling but still proud empire of the West Indies 150 who had lost only one series at home in the previous twenty-six years! They had also staved off the attack from Steve Waughs Australia only a year prior to this. In the other corner stood Pakistans generation of the 90s looking for the great mark they needed to leave behind in Test cricket. Sure they had beaten every team bar South Africa (mostly in Asian conditions) over the previous seven years (if you consider the 1st Test of the 1999 Asian Test Championship as the 3rd Test of the series against India as Pakistanis are wont to do), but they had never had a great victory outside the continent. After the loss at Hobart earlier that season, followed by the results of the Qayyum Report, added to the age of that side, it was assumed (rightly as it turned out) that this would be the last hurrah for this generation. A rain affected series came down to the final Test. Pakistans Yousuf Youhana-led 269 was countered by Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Jimmy Adams giving their team the lead of just 4 runs. Then, despite the efforts of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf, the West Indian pace quartet tore through Pakistan to leave them with a target of just 216; in response, Wasim Akram single-handedly kept Pakistan in the game over the 4th day, removing Wavell Hinds on the last ball of the days play. But requiring 72 to win with six wickets in hand, the hosts were the favourites. Instead, as was their habit, the Pakistani bowlers turned it up to 11 as they removed five players for 53 runs in the first session and a bit. Then, for the final 19 runs, the walking wicket that was Courtney Walsh somehow survived with Jimmy Adams. That day included a bunch of missed run outs, including Saqlain Mushtaq failing to collect when Walsh and Adams were both at the other end (I am sure Umar Akmal sympathizes), Moin Khan panicking, Wasim Akram bowling like the god of wind injected with steroids (in his last great Test performance), and for a few hours the then-unknown Billy Doctrove becoming the most hated man in Pakistan. We thought he was bent, the following decade would show that he wasnt he was just incompetent.
And talking of incompetence we return to yesterdays match. The decline of these two great historical nations over the past decade or so can best be illustrated by this: after all the names that I have mentioned over the last few paragraphs from Richards and Walsh to Akram and Qadir, it somehow felt appropriate that the match yesterday was decided by Wahab Riaz bowling to Kemar Roach and Jason Holder. O how the mighty have fallen.
Sangakarra century leads Sri Lanka to stunning win
COLOMBO: Kumar Sangakarra celebrated his 350th one day international appearance with a career-best 169 on Saturday as Sri Lanka crushed South Africa by 180 runs at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
His innings was the third-highest by a Sri Lankan in 50-over cricket and came off 137 balls, with 18 fours and six sixes.
It carried the home side to 320 for five, a total South Africa never threatened as they were bowled out for 140 inside 32 overs.
The Proteas, missing leading batsman Hashim Amla, won the toss and chose to bowl, but only Morne Morkel (2-34 in 10 overs) found line and length.
Sangakarra started cautiously. He scored his first 66 runs off 91 balls, but the next 103 came off just 46 deliveries.
He shared a 123-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Lahiru Thirimanne, who scored 17 of those as Sangakarra dominated.
It was a bit two-paced, said Sangakarra afterwards in a television interview. t was about facing enough deliveries...I took 34 overs to get going, but I stuck in there. Morkel bowled good spells -- it was about absorbing that and targetting the others.
South Africa lost Colin Ingram for a first-over duck and never looked as if they could threaten the home total, Alviro Petersen and Robyn Peterson top-scoring with 29 apiece.
Spinner Rangana Herath was the pick of the bowlers with three for 25, while Thisara Perara grabbed three for 31.
It's not the end of the series, I know my boys will fight back, Proteas captain AB de Villiers said.
Not a lot of positives, but we can only improve. It is mentally hard to accept, but we will fight back.We were way below par, but I know what the players are capable of...
The result represents Sri Lanka's biggest margin of victory over South Africa, in terms of runs.
The second one day international will be on Tuesday at the same venue
Root the hero as England grind Australia into dust
LONDON: Opener Joe Root was the individual hero on Saturday as England ground Australia into the dust with batting that was first attritional then ruthlessly aggressive on the third day of the second Ashes Test at Lord's.
After taking a first innings lead of 233 on Friday before conceding three quick wickets, England batted throughout the day to reach 333 for five at the close with Root unbeaten on 178, his second Test hundred.
England, who won the first Test at Trent Bridge last Sunday by 14 runs, now lead Australia by 566 with six sessions still to play and fine weather forecast for the final two days.
Root, promoted to opener for the Ashes series after batting in the middle order against India and New Zealand, confirmed the class he has shown since scoring 73 on his Test debut last December.
His technique, poise and clean fluent driving on both sides of the wicket was of the highest order and marked him out as a worthy successor to his great Yorkshire predecessors Herbert Sutcliffe, Len Hutton, Geoff Boycott and Michael Vaughan.
Root reached his hundred with a cut to the point boundary and accelerated to pass from 311 balls with 18 fours. He then struck two sixes over mid-wicket in leg-spinner Steve Smith's final over the day.
Ian Bell, who was reprieved on three after an umpire review when he appeared to have edged Ryan Harris straight to Smith at gully, added 74 to his first innings 109 in quick time against a flagging attack.
Peter Siddle, who took all three wickets to fall on Friday evening, bustled in with his customary energy from the Pavilion end at the start of play but neither he nor the other Australian paceman were able to extract anything from the pitch.
Tim Bresnan, sent in as nightwatchman on Friday, took 30 balls to get off the mark but was in no trouble thereafter, staying on the front foot and reaching 38 before he was caught at mid-wicket by Chris Rogers attempting a hook off James Pattinson.
Only 83 runs were scored in the opening session and 57 in the second before England cut loose after tea against spinners Smith and Ashton Agar.
Bell played all the shots in his locker, bringing up the 150 partnership with Root with a reverse sweep for four.
He seemed set for his second hundred of the match and the fourth in his last three Ashes Tests when he pulled a long-hop from Smith straight to Rogers at mid-wicket.
After taking a first innings lead of 233 on Friday before conceding three quick wickets, England batted throughout the day to reach 333 for five at the close with Root unbeaten on 178, his second Test hundred.
England, who won the first Test at Trent Bridge last Sunday by 14 runs, now lead Australia by 566 with six sessions still to play and fine weather forecast for the final two days.
Root, promoted to opener for the Ashes series after batting in the middle order against India and New Zealand, confirmed the class he has shown since scoring 73 on his Test debut last December.
His technique, poise and clean fluent driving on both sides of the wicket was of the highest order and marked him out as a worthy successor to his great Yorkshire predecessors Herbert Sutcliffe, Len Hutton, Geoff Boycott and Michael Vaughan.
Root reached his hundred with a cut to the point boundary and accelerated to pass from 311 balls with 18 fours. He then struck two sixes over mid-wicket in leg-spinner Steve Smith's final over the day.
Ian Bell, who was reprieved on three after an umpire review when he appeared to have edged Ryan Harris straight to Smith at gully, added 74 to his first innings 109 in quick time against a flagging attack.
Peter Siddle, who took all three wickets to fall on Friday evening, bustled in with his customary energy from the Pavilion end at the start of play but neither he nor the other Australian paceman were able to extract anything from the pitch.
Tim Bresnan, sent in as nightwatchman on Friday, took 30 balls to get off the mark but was in no trouble thereafter, staying on the front foot and reaching 38 before he was caught at mid-wicket by Chris Rogers attempting a hook off James Pattinson.
Only 83 runs were scored in the opening session and 57 in the second before England cut loose after tea against spinners Smith and Ashton Agar.
Bell played all the shots in his locker, bringing up the 150 partnership with Root with a reverse sweep for four.
He seemed set for his second hundred of the match and the fourth in his last three Ashes Tests when he pulled a long-hop from Smith straight to Rogers at mid-wicket.
20-07-2013
Williams eases into Swedish Open semi-finals
The American 16-time Grand Slam winner will now play Czech Republic third seed Klara Zakopalova who had little trouble eliminating Dutch hope Richel Hogenkamp 6-2, 6-3.
Williams broke her opponent's serve three times in each set and was never in trouble on her way into the final four.
The second semi-final will pit home favourite Johanna Larsson against Italian Flavia Pennetta after both players won their quarter-final matches in straight sets.
The 24-year-old Larsson, who is looking for her first WTA singles' title, dropped just three games on the way to a 6-1, 6-2 thrashing of Frenchwoman Mathilde Johansson.
Pennetta who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon, and had a career high world ranking of 10 in 2009, also made short work of her French opponent with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over veteran Virginie Razzano.
The 31-year-old from Brindisi won the doubles titles in Sweden along with Gisela Dulko in 2009 and 2010 as she chases her first single's title at Bastad and 10th WTA victory.
Pennetta and Dulko also teamed up to win the Australian Open doubles' crown in 2011. (AFP)
South Africa, Sri Lanka seek one-day revival
The Proteas lived up to their reputation as cricket's chokers, a tag outgoing coach Gary Kirsten said was fully justified following the semi-final defeat against England at the Oval in London.
Sri Lanka, World Cup runners-up to India in 2011, fell to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men twice in two weeks when the Champions Trophy defeat was followed by a loss in the tri-series final in the West Indies.
Dinesh Chandimal, 23, will lead the Islanders in the first two matches against South Africa after regular captain Angelo Mathews was handed a two-match ban for his team's slow over-rates in the tri-series.
Sri Lanka will miss frontline seamer Nuwan Kulasekara, who sustained a finger injury in the West Indies, for the first two games. Batsman Jehan Mubarak was recalled after four years.
The tourists will be without the injured duo of Dale Steyn and Graeme Smith, while veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis prolonged a self-imposed break after sitting out the Champions Trophy.
In further trouble for South Africa, fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe were doubtful for Saturday's match after picking up minor niggles at the start of the tour.
The series, which will be followed by three Twenty20 internationals, is the first assignment for South Africa's new coach Russell Domingo, who served as Kirsten's deputy till the Champions Trophy.
Russell communicates very well and he will make sure everyone understands their role really well, said South African captain AB de Villiers, who is also the team's wicket-keeper and star middle-order batsman.
The important thing is to try and be consistent everytime we take the field. We have to do the basics well. It's about us finding a rhythm as a team.
South Africa warmed up for the series with a 73-run win over a local side in Colombo on Wednesday as JP Duminy hit form with 92 and Chris Morris and Robin Peterson claimed three wickets each.
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Perera, Jehan Mubarak, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Shaminda Eranga, Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal.
South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla, Alviro Petersen, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
John Buchanan quits as NZ's director of cricket
Buchanan's resignation comes only days after national selection manager Kim Littlejohn said he would not reapply for his role.
In less than a year, New Zealand has announced changes of captain, coach, director of cricket, chief selector and board chairman. (AP)
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19-07-2013
Bell ton rescues England
LONDON: Ian Bell's third hundred in successive Ashes matches saw England fight back against Australia in the second Test at Lord's on Thursday.
Ashes-holders England were 289 for seven at stumps on the first day, having been in dire straits at 28 for three when Bell came in.
Yet just when it seemed England had regained control, part-time leg-spinner Steven Smith took three wickets for 18 runs in six overs late in the day.Tim Bresnan was seven not out and nightwatchman James Anderson four not out at the close.
Bell's 109 was the same score as he made in the second innings of England's 14-run first Test win at Trent Bridge last week, with both these centuries following his 115 in the final match of the 2010/11 Ashes in Sydney.
The 31-year-old was the fourth Englishman to score centuries in three consecutive Ashes Tests after Jack Hobbs, who did it twice, in 1911/12 and 1924/25, Walter Hammond in 1928/29 and Chris Broad, whose son Stuart was in England's side Thursday, in 1986/87.
Bell, together with Warwickshire colleague Jonathan Trott (58) and Jonny Bairstow (67), shared partnerships of 99 and 144. Yet England's grip was loosened when Smith dismissed Bell, Bairstow and Matt Prior.
After the teams were presented before play to Queen Elizabeth II, monarch of both Britain and Australia, it was the tourists who bossed the early exchanges.
England were soon three wickets down with skipper Alastair Cook, opening partner Joe Root and dangerman Kevin Pietersen all out cheaply.
Shane Watson got the ball rolling for Australia when he brought one back into Cook's pads to have the left-hander lbw for 12.
Ryan Harris, recalled after Australia dropped the wayward Mitchell Starc, then took two wickets in an over.
The 33-year-old, playing just the 13th Test of his injury-ravaged career and first in more than a year, had Root lbw in his third over.
Root referred the decision and after all the controversy surrounding the use of the Decision Review System (DRS) in the first Test, it was no surprise that New Zealand's Tony Hill, now in the third umpire's chair, took several minutes before upholding Sri Lankan on-field official Kumar Dharmasena's decision that the ball had hit pad first.
Four balls later, Harris shaped a delivery up the slope which Pietersen, on two, nicked to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Often criticised for slow scoring, the fluent Trott had scored 11 fours when he top-edged a pull off a Harris short-ball to give Usman Khawaja a simple catch at deep square leg.
Bairstow, on 21, was bowled by Peter Siddle but was told to wait as Dharmasena asked Hill to check for what turned out to be the slightest of no-balls.
At tea, England were 183 for four with Bell 62 not out and Bairstow, the son of late England wicketkeeper David, unbeaten on 28.
The first over after the interval saw fast bowler James Pattinson concede 16 runs, with Bell stroking three elegant boundaries.
After his frontline attack, including teenage left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, had found life tough on a typically good Lord's pitch, Australia captain Michael Clarke turned to Smith as his sixth bowler.Bell struck Smith's fifth ball, a full toss, for four.
But the next saw him edge a leg-break to Clarke at slip to end a more than five hour innings including 16 fours.Then 271 for five became 274 for six when Bairstow, still to score a Test century, gave his wicket away when he chipped a Smith full toss straight back to the bowler.
Smith's purple patch of three wickets for 12 runs in 22 balls continued when Prior was caught behind by Haddin.
Teams:
England: Alastair Cook (capt), Joe Root, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Matt Prior (wkt), Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson
Australia: Shane Watson, Chris Rodgers, Usman Khawaja, Phil Hughes, Michael Clarke (capt), Steven Smith, Brad Haddin (wkt), Ashton Agar, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Ryan Harris Umpires: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI), Marais Erasmus (RSA) TV umpire: Tony Hill Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)
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Eyeing prospective Fulham future, team leave for SAFF U-16 Championship
KARACHI: If Pakistan successfully retain their SAFF U-16 Championship title later this month, there will be more on offer for the players than just the glory.With the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) in talks with Fulhams Pakistan-born owner Shahid Khan over the possibility of sending the countrys young talent to train at the English Premier League clubs academy, impressive performances could see many of the Nepal-bound squad off to west London at the end of the event.
The PFF finalised the squad for the regional competition on Wednesday at the culmination of a training camp in Lahore for the event which will be held from July 20 to 30 in Kathmandu.
The squad will leave for Nepal on Thursday, PFF secretary Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi told Dawn on Wednesday. We are confident that they can retain the title [which was won in the inaugural edition of the event in 2011].
The players for the event were selected after the National U-16 Championship held in Abbottabad last month and Lodhi is hopeful that the team will perform to its full potential.
The coaches have been working really hard to improve the players skill and fitness and hopefully they will be able to perform to their best, he added.
1Although we couldnt arrange for some foreign exposure for them, Im pretty sure that they are better than the squad of 2011.For a better future, the players need to be at their best.PFFs marketing consultant Sardar Naveed Haider Khan has been in talks with Fulham over the induction of players from this crop into their academy.
He is hoping that some of the outstanding ones get a chance to train with the London club.
The boys are excited by that prospect, Naveed told Dawn on Wednesday.
This is one of the best teams the country has produced and Im hoping if Fulham can induct a few of them into their academy and they stay there for five-six years, they can be good professional players as we in Pakistan don1t have those state-of-the-art facilities.
The players might get a chance to train in England but their chance of featuring in the lucrative English Premier League and following in the footsteps of Pakistans star defender Zesh Rehman wont come until the senior team improves its FIFA ranking.
Football Association (FA) stipulations for players to feature in the EPL require them to be full internationals with their national team having an average ranking of 70 over the last two years.
Zesh, who also played for Fulham, had to leave the club for Englands second-tier Championship when he decided to play for Pakistan.
But Naveed believes, even the chance to train at Fulhams academy could open new doors for Pakistans youngsters.
Even if they are able to train at the academy that will be more than enough, he said.
It will ensure them a bright future from the past they come from and even if they cant play in the EPL, clubs from all over Europe can have a look at them and if they like what they see our players could be featuring in other top European clubs.
Pakistan will be one of seven teams at the SAFF U-16 Championships after Maldives refused to take part in the event. The seven teams will be drawn into two groups of four and three with the draws set to be conducted on Friday.
Squad: Salman Raheem (captain), Rashid Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Junaid, Wali Khan, Mohammad Shahbaz, Mohammad Zohaib, Mohammad Shoaib, Adnan Ashraf, Faisal Hassan, Muneer Ahmed, Zain-ul-Abideen, Mateen Akram, Zulfiqar, Arslan Ali, Mohammad Waleed Ayaz, Abdul Saboor, Rajab Ali, Adnan Khaliq, Hamza Shabir, Mohsin Fareed.
Officials: Sajjad Mehmood (Head Coach), Mohammad Hassan Baloch (Assistant Coach), Noman Ibrahim (Goalkeeper Coach), Kamran Mehdi (Physio).
The PFF finalised the squad for the regional competition on Wednesday at the culmination of a training camp in Lahore for the event which will be held from July 20 to 30 in Kathmandu.
The squad will leave for Nepal on Thursday, PFF secretary Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi told Dawn on Wednesday. We are confident that they can retain the title [which was won in the inaugural edition of the event in 2011].
The players for the event were selected after the National U-16 Championship held in Abbottabad last month and Lodhi is hopeful that the team will perform to its full potential.
The coaches have been working really hard to improve the players skill and fitness and hopefully they will be able to perform to their best, he added.
1Although we couldnt arrange for some foreign exposure for them, Im pretty sure that they are better than the squad of 2011.For a better future, the players need to be at their best.PFFs marketing consultant Sardar Naveed Haider Khan has been in talks with Fulham over the induction of players from this crop into their academy.
He is hoping that some of the outstanding ones get a chance to train with the London club.
The boys are excited by that prospect, Naveed told Dawn on Wednesday.
This is one of the best teams the country has produced and Im hoping if Fulham can induct a few of them into their academy and they stay there for five-six years, they can be good professional players as we in Pakistan don1t have those state-of-the-art facilities.
The players might get a chance to train in England but their chance of featuring in the lucrative English Premier League and following in the footsteps of Pakistans star defender Zesh Rehman wont come until the senior team improves its FIFA ranking.
Football Association (FA) stipulations for players to feature in the EPL require them to be full internationals with their national team having an average ranking of 70 over the last two years.
Zesh, who also played for Fulham, had to leave the club for Englands second-tier Championship when he decided to play for Pakistan.
But Naveed believes, even the chance to train at Fulhams academy could open new doors for Pakistans youngsters.
Even if they are able to train at the academy that will be more than enough, he said.
It will ensure them a bright future from the past they come from and even if they cant play in the EPL, clubs from all over Europe can have a look at them and if they like what they see our players could be featuring in other top European clubs.
Pakistan will be one of seven teams at the SAFF U-16 Championships after Maldives refused to take part in the event. The seven teams will be drawn into two groups of four and three with the draws set to be conducted on Friday.
Squad: Salman Raheem (captain), Rashid Khan (vice-captain), Mohammad Junaid, Wali Khan, Mohammad Shahbaz, Mohammad Zohaib, Mohammad Shoaib, Adnan Ashraf, Faisal Hassan, Muneer Ahmed, Zain-ul-Abideen, Mateen Akram, Zulfiqar, Arslan Ali, Mohammad Waleed Ayaz, Abdul Saboor, Rajab Ali, Adnan Khaliq, Hamza Shabir, Mohsin Fareed.
Officials: Sajjad Mehmood (Head Coach), Mohammad Hassan Baloch (Assistant Coach), Noman Ibrahim (Goalkeeper Coach), Kamran Mehdi (Physio).
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West Indies unchanged for third ODI
GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia: West Indies have resisted the temptation to ring the changes and go into the third One-Day International of the five-match series against Pakistan on Friday in St Lucia with the same squad that shared the honours with the visitors over the first two matches in Guyana.
There was much speculation that the selectors would have explored other options in both batting and bowling for the remaining three ODI's.
However they have chosen to keep with the same eleven that played both matches at Providence along with batsman Devon Smith and fast bowler Tino Best. Despite being the most prolific batsman in domestic cricket in the Caribbean in 2013, Smith is considered fortunate to have been retained as he failed to score
in both matches he played in the preceding Tri-Nation Series involving Sri Lanka and eventual winners India.
Best is considered less of a gamble, especially given the time of year that these matches are being played when pitches around the region are generally expected to be greener and offering more assistance to the pacers. With a 16-man travelling party, Pakistan have a wider pool from which to draw their final eleven and there is a strong case for Junaid Khan playing at the Beausejour Cricket Ground alongside fellow left-arm seamers Mohammad Irfan and
Wahab Riaz.
His inclusion would likely be at the expense of Asad Ali, the right-armer who opened the bowling with the giant Irfan in the opening fixtures at Providence. In the batting department, the tourists remain as vulnerable as ever.
Contrasting half-centuries by Shahid Afridi and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq more than adequately compensated for the failure of the others in the line-up in the opening match last Sunday.
But in the second match two days later, poor shot selection - with Misbah and Afridi the chief culprits - paved the way for a West Indies win despite fifties by opener Nasir Jamshed and wicketkeeper-batsman Umar Akmal. Not that
the West Indies are in any way significantly different.
They were routed for just 98 in the first match, their lowest-ever total in an ODI in the Caribbean, and were reliant on the Bravo brothers, Darren and skipper Dwayne, to post what proved to be a match-winning total in the second encounter. It all points to more domination by the bowlers of both sides when the series resumes on Friday unless someone on either side can rise above the
prevailing mediocrity to produce a truly special batting exhibition. (AFP)
18-07-2013
The Daily Mail, the domestic Press Association news agency and Sky Sports News television said that the league champions had turned down an offer from the west London club, without quoting sources.The channel added that United immediately rejected Chelsea's offer.
Reports said the Blues offered 10 million GBP (11.5 million euros, $15.1 million) plus either Juan Mata or David Luiz in exchange.
Rooney, 27, has been at the centre of speculation about a possible move away from Old Trafford ever since he made a transfer request just before the departure of former boss Alex Ferguson at the end of last season.
Earlier this month, the Daily Mail claimed that Chelsea had made a #60 million offer for the striker.
Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho last week stopped short of stating that he hoped to sign the England international, saying only that he liked Rooney very, very much.
But new United manager David Moyes hit back this week, repeating that Rooney was not for sale.
It's hard to keep repeating myself but I will do -- Wayne's a Manchester United player and will remain that,he said in Bangkok, where United are on a pre-season tour.
Rooney, however, was on Tuesday reported to be angry and confused by later comments from Moyes that he would be used as back-up to striker Robin van Persie next season
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Cavani joins PSG in record French transfer
PARIS: Edinson Cavani was on Tuesday officially unveiled as Paris Saint-Germain's latest mega-signing, the striker joining the French champions for a Ligue 1 record 64 million euros ($84 million) from Napoli.The 26-year-old Uruguay international, Serie A's top scorer last season with 29 goals, has joined Laurent Blanc's expensively-assembled Qatari-backed side on a five-year contract.
The deal makes Cavani the fourth most expensive player in history, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009 for 94 million euros, Zinedine Zidane and Kaka.
The previous highest French transfer was set earlier this year, when Colombia forward Radamel Falcao signed for Monaco from Atletico Madrid for a figure estimated at nearly 60 million euros.
I'd like to thank everyone who made this transfer possible, it's a great project, a delighted Cavani, nicknamed 'the Matador', told a press conference.
I'd also like to thank the people in Napoli who went out of their way to make it possible, added the player who arrived in Europe in 2007 on a near five million euro move to play for Palermo.
I come here with lots of joy, lots of confidence, lots of hunger and lots of motivation to win major trophies, he said.
My message to everyone in this city and to the (PSG) fans is that I'm here with an enormous appetite to reach these aims.
Elaborating on why he chose PSG Cavani commented: It's a very rich and very ambitious project, and I'm like that too. It's going to help me grow as a player.
This club is one of the top sides in the world, it's one of a group of sides that can win the Champions League.Sitting alongside him was PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi who said:
Everyone wanted him, but today he signed for us.
He was the highest scorer in Italy, I hope he's going to do even better for us this season.8
Al-Khelaifi went on to single out the club's outgoing sporting director Leonardo for his instrumental role in securing the services of the Serie A sharpshooter.
A big thank you to 'Leo', he's done a great job here for the past two years, Al Khelaifi told the press conference to announce the headline deal.
This was the Brazilian's final act in his post before resigning from PSG as a result of the season-long ban he received this month for pushing a referee after PSG's league game against Valenciennes on May 5.
Leonardo, 43, was pivotal not only in Cavani's arrival at the Parc des Princes but also the capture from Napoli's Serie A rivals AC Milan of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva.
PSG's previous club record signing was Lucas Moura, the attacking midfielder who joined in January from Sao Paulo in a deal worth a reported 45 million euros.
With former coach Carlo Ancelotti, Leonardo used his Italian contacts to also raid Italy for the likes of goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, defensive midfielder Marco Verratti, attacking midfielder Javier Pastore and forward Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Cavani's signing comes after a turbulent close season for PSG with Leonardo's costly brush with authority and the protracted search - Blanc was far from top of their wish list - for a new coach to replace Ancelotti after the Italian's move to Real Madrid.
Yet despite all that Al-Khelaifi, whose consortium has splashed out 315 million euros on players since taking over the club in 2011, insisted PSG's future was bright.
The arrival of Cavani proves the continuity of our project to make PSG the best club in Europe, he insisted.
Cavani will have the chance to start repaying his new owners' faith in him when PSG kick off their title defence against Montpellier on August 9.
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17-06-2013
Sacked Arthur wants 3.6m US dollar compensation
Mickey Arthur is demanding 3.6 million dollars in compensation or reinstatement as Australia's cricket coach following his sacking last month, according documents seen by the country's Seven News TV station.
South African Arthur also claimed to have suffered racial discrimination and said that captain Michael Clarke had described fellow batsman Shane Watson's influence on the team as a cancer.
Arthur was earning 400,000 Australian dollars ($363,700) a year and up to 200,000 in bonuses. He was contracted until June 2015 and wanted payment for three years beyond that, estimating his losses to be as much as 4 million Australian dollars ($3.64 million).
We're disappointed that it's come to this position, Cricket Australia lawyer Dean Kino told Seven News.
But Cricket Australia is confident in its position on this matter. And I'm sure it'll get resolved in the appropriate fashion.
The TV station said the documents reveal tension between Clarke and Watson, particularly regarding team discipline.
Arthur was sacked after David Warner punched England's Joe Root in a bar, the latest in a series of disciplinary issues to dog the team.
He added that he felt discriminated against because he was South African and did not understand the 'Australian way'.
Australia, now coached by Darren Lehmann, lost a thrilling first Ashes test against England by 14 runs and start the second at Lord's on Thursday.
South African Arthur also claimed to have suffered racial discrimination and said that captain Michael Clarke had described fellow batsman Shane Watson's influence on the team as a cancer.
Arthur was earning 400,000 Australian dollars ($363,700) a year and up to 200,000 in bonuses. He was contracted until June 2015 and wanted payment for three years beyond that, estimating his losses to be as much as 4 million Australian dollars ($3.64 million).
We're disappointed that it's come to this position, Cricket Australia lawyer Dean Kino told Seven News.
But Cricket Australia is confident in its position on this matter. And I'm sure it'll get resolved in the appropriate fashion.
The TV station said the documents reveal tension between Clarke and Watson, particularly regarding team discipline.
Arthur was sacked after David Warner punched England's Joe Root in a bar, the latest in a series of disciplinary issues to dog the team.
He added that he felt discriminated against because he was South African and did not understand the 'Australian way'.
Australia, now coached by Darren Lehmann, lost a thrilling first Ashes test against England by 14 runs and start the second at Lord's on Thursday.
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Unchanged Pakistan field first against West Indies
PROVIDENCE: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and put West Indies in to bat in the second one-day international of their five-match series at the Guyana National Stadium on Tuesday.
On the heels of a convincing 126-run victory in the first ODI on Sunday, the visitors predictably named an unchanged XI, with Misbah saying at the toss that he expected his bowlers to exploit the conditions following considerable rainfall on the day between the two fixtures.
West Indies captain Dwayne Bravo revealed that he would have also preferred to bat first and despite the batting capitulation two days earlier when his team were routed for just 98, chose to retain the same team, which includes former captain Darren Sammy who is playing his 100th ODI.
Pakistan: Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq*, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal134, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Asad Ali, Mohammad Irfan
West Indies: CH Gayle, J Charles134, DM Bravo, MN Samuels, LMP Simmons, DJ Bravo*, KA Pollard, DJG Sammy, KAJ Roach, SP Narine, JO Holder
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Real Madrid world's most valuable team
Real Madrid headed a trio of European soccer clubs at the top of a list of the world's 50 most valuable sports teams released by Forbes on Monday which was dominated by National Football League (NFL) franchises.
Manchester United (3.17 billion) swapped places with Real and sit in second spot while Spanish soccer champions Barcelona (2.6 billion) moved up five places to third.
Major League Baseball's (MLB) New York Yankees ($2.3 billion) fell one spot to fourth, followed by the NFL's Dallas Cowboys ($2.1 billion) and New England Patriots ($1.6 billion).
Rounding out the top 10 were MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers ($1.6 billion), the NFL's Washington Redskins and New York Giants, and London-based soccer club Arsenal ($1.3 billion).
With 30 teams in the top 50, the NFL occupies 60 percent of this year's list. The average value of the top 50 teams is $1.24 billion, which is a 16 percent increase from last year.
The 20 non-NFL teams in the top 50 are comprised of seven each from MLB and soccer, three from the National Basketball Association, two from motor racing and one from the National Hockey League.
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Africa safari the wrong call for Warner - Border
David Warner's exile to Africa after punching England's Joe Rootdefies belief, and the fiery batsman should be readying himself for an Ashes recall in the Australian team's practice nets, according to former test captain Allan Border.
He was to board a plane later on Tuesday to join the Australia A team for a tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa where he would have adequate preparation in match conditions, selector John Inverarity said last week.
It defies belief David Warner is about to leave the Ashes tour for an Australia A tour of Africa, former Australia skipper Border said in his column in Sydney's Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.
1I get the thinking, send him to South Africa and Zimbabwe to find form and bring him back later in the series, but I strongly disagree with it.
Unless Jimmy Anderson bobs up in the Zimbabwe side, Warner scoring runs won't count for anything, Border added, referring to the England seamer, who took 10 wickets in a match-winning performance at Trent Bridge.
He would be far better served facing (Australia paceman) James Pattinson in the nets. The standard of bowling he will face in Africa and the conditions will be chalk and cheese to the challenges that await him in England.
Australia's top order struggled in both innings in the first test, sparking demands from local media to bring the hard-hitting 26-year-old back for the second match, which starts at Lord's on Thursday.
Warner told reporters on Monday that he knew he was on thin ice, but had not been placed under any off-field restrictions by new coach Darren Lehmann.
(Lehmann) just said to go out there and score runs and be myself, Warner was quoted by Fairfax Media as saying.
Just get that X-factor back that I can have for this team so hopefully I can score some runs.
Definitely still enjoy myself off the field. There's no bans, there's no curfews, no nothing. The mistakes, I've learned, I've become more mature off the field as well.
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Sharapova pulls out of Stanford event
STANFORD, United States: World No.2 Maria Sharapova pulled out of next week's WTA Tour Standford Classic with a nagging hip injury.
Sharapova's withdrawal Monday has robbed the tournament of one of its biggest names. The Russian suffered the left hip injury during Wimbledon which ended earlier this month.
"We understand that a player's health must always come first," said
tournament director Kim Hall.
Hall also said Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens, who is ranked 15th overall, had pulled out. Officials did not give a reason for Flipkens's withdrawal.
With the loss of Sharapova, the top draws in the event now include recently crowned Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli and world number four Agnieszka Radwanska. Former US Open champion Samantha Stosur, of Australia, and 2010 French Open winner Francesca Schiavone are also in the field.
Sharapova and Flipkens will be replaced in the 28-player draw by world number 46 Daniela Hantuchova and Christina McHale, who is ranked 79th.
The tournament, which includes singles and doubles players, runs from July 22-28. (AFP
Sharapova's withdrawal Monday has robbed the tournament of one of its biggest names. The Russian suffered the left hip injury during Wimbledon which ended earlier this month.
"We understand that a player's health must always come first," said
tournament director Kim Hall.
Hall also said Belgium's Kirsten Flipkens, who is ranked 15th overall, had pulled out. Officials did not give a reason for Flipkens's withdrawal.
With the loss of Sharapova, the top draws in the event now include recently crowned Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli and world number four Agnieszka Radwanska. Former US Open champion Samantha Stosur, of Australia, and 2010 French Open winner Francesca Schiavone are also in the field.
Sharapova and Flipkens will be replaced in the 28-player draw by world number 46 Daniela Hantuchova and Christina McHale, who is ranked 79th.
The tournament, which includes singles and doubles players, runs from July 22-28. (AFP
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16-07-2016
Review the review system, Australia moans after defeat
Cricket's decision review system and the continuing struggles of Australia's brittle batting order bore the brunt of frustrations Down Under on Monday after the tourists' heart-breaking 14-run defeat in the first Ashes test.
The DRS, roundly criticised throughout the seesawing clash over five days, ultimately decided the match in Nottingham on Sunday when the technology picked up a nick from wicketkeeper Brad Haddin that umpire Aleem Dar had failed to detect.
The caught-behind decision captured Australia's final wicket and justly handed England a 1-0 lead in the five-test series, but the manner of victory left many purists cold.
It also left local media seething after England tail-ender Stuart Broad was allowed to remain at the crease when Dar missed a thick edge, a costly oversight that Australia were unable to appeal, having used up their DRS quota.
Dar gave (Broad's) most obvious of edges not out and Australia had used both its reviews so the decision stood," prominent Australian cricket writer Malcolm Conn wrote in Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper.
This is wrong. The DRS was originally introduced to get rid of the howler but in this match all matter of margin calls were judged by technology while the howler stayed."
Until cricket finds a way of using technology to get rid of the howler then the game will continue to make a fool of itself.
EMOTIONAL MAN
Despite the controversies, which also saw England batsman Jonathon Trott out lbw after the operator of the Hot Spot technology failed to analyse the correct delivery, both captains backed the system and said it had not influenced the result.
England skipper Alastair Cook, who had two referrals in hand when Haddin was dismissed, said the use of the review was a skill in itself.
Opposing skipper Michael Clarke had failed to master it, cricket pundit Robert Craddock told cable broadcaster Fox Sports.
We in Australia have acted more on impulse. Michael Clarke is a very emotional man... I think Australia needs far more calculation than what they have at the moment, Craddock said.
Wicketkeeper Haddin was Australia's leading second innings scorer with 71, and teenage spinner Ashton Agar top-scored in the first innings with a brilliant 98 on debut at number 11, but their heroics underlined the failings of the team's established batsmen.
After moving to 84 without loss in pursuit of 311, Australia lost six wickets for the addition of 80 runs to leave Haddin and the tail facing a veritable mission impossible.
Batsman Ed Cowan's twin failures through rash shots in both innings came in for a storm of criticism and some media called for the exiled Dave Warner, set to tour Africa with Australia A after punching England batsman Joe Root in a boozy bar-room incident, to be quickly re-instated.
Australia came so close despite some major deficiencies in its top order,148 the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper said.
They are major deficiencies that have been bubbling along and band-aided for several series. Major surgery is required before the second test at Lord's to fix it.The second test starts on Thursday
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India clubs oppose new IPL-style league
India's top football clubs are up in arms against the national federation over moves to stage a cash -rich franchise-based tournament inspired by cricket's popular Indian Premier League early next year.But the clubs have declined to release their players for the tournament, which they say will threaten their existence and ruin the national I-League domestic competition.
We don't think the new league will be beneficial to Indian football, said Raj Gomes, who heads the I-League Professional Football Clubs Association.
How can we allow players to play for another club in the middle of the season?
Valanka Alemao, the chief executive officer of popular Goa-based club Churchill Brothers, also vigorously opposed the proposed tournament.
I do not understand why the AIFF wants to hold a new league, Alemao said. This new entity will eventually supersede the I-League and cause the slow death of existing clubs.
The common goal should be to improve Indian football. How does it help if you get some retired or semi-retired players to grab a few eyeballs for a minute?"
It will benefit everyone if the AIFF tries to improve the I-League, instead of starting another tournament, she said.
We don't think the new league will be beneficial to Indian football, said Raj Gomes, who heads the I-League Professional Football Clubs Association.
How can we allow players to play for another club in the middle of the season?
Valanka Alemao, the chief executive officer of popular Goa-based club Churchill Brothers, also vigorously opposed the proposed tournament.
I do not understand why the AIFF wants to hold a new league, Alemao said. This new entity will eventually supersede the I-League and cause the slow death of existing clubs.
The common goal should be to improve Indian football. How does it help if you get some retired or semi-retired players to grab a few eyeballs for a minute?"
It will benefit everyone if the AIFF tries to improve the I-League, instead of starting another tournament, she said.
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'It's time for me to give a lot to the team'
All-rounder Shahid Afridi returned to international cricket with a blistering half century and a career-best 7-12 as Pakistan recorded a thumping 126-run victory over West Indies in the first one-day international on Sunday.
Afridi, recalled after missing last month's Champions Trophy due to poor form, scored 76 off 55 balls to pilot Pakistan to 224-9. Afridi then skittled West Indies out for 98 in 41 overs to record the second-best ever bowling figures in one-day internationals after Sri Lanka's Chamina Vaas' 8-19 against Zimbabwe in 2001.It was also West Indies lowest ever ODI total against Pakistan.
West Indies had Pakistan on the mat at 47-5 before Afridi and captain Misbah-ul-Haq (52) featured in a 120-run stand against some inconsistent bowling which saw the home team bowling 23 wide balls. The partnership was sixth-wicket record for Pakistan against the West Indies in ODIs.
It was the most difficult pitch on which I have ever played, Misbah said.
The ball was seaming and stopping, but it was Afridi's day, the way he batted and bowled.
West Indies never looked to threaten Pakistan's total from the onset once 7-foot-1-inch fast bowler Mohammad Irfan clean bowled Johnson Charles with a low full toss and had Darren Bravo caught behind down the legside. Chris Gayle, who wanted to make his 250th ODI appearance a memorable one, was run out in a mix-up with Marlon Samuels for just one run as West Indies slumped to 7-3 in five overs. Lendl Simmons and Samuels batted at a snail's pace before Afridi started the slide in the 23rd over.
Afridi had Simmons stumped and trapped captain Dwayne Bravo leg before wicket off the next delivery. He went on to claim the wickets of Kieron Pollard, Samuels and Kemar Roach in his opening spell of eight overs before he returned to finish off the innings by claiming the last two wickets of Sunil Narine and Holder.
Wow, wow, wow, what a pitch it was for me to bowl on. I just try to keep it simple, sometimes I get good turn off the pitch and if I don't get turn I try to bowl straight ones for leg before wicket decisions, Afridi said after the match.
I try hard and I back myself and I want to thank people back home. It's not time for me to just survive in the team, but to give a lot to the team.
Of his explosive knock earlier in the day Afridi said, I tried to stay positive. I knew Misbah was at the other end. I knew he would stay till the end, it gave me the confidence to go after it.
There was another milestone for Afridi in the match as he reached 350 wickets in ODIs to become the third Pakistani to achieve the feat after Wasim Akram (502) and Waqar Younis (416).The second ODI of the five-match series will be played at the same venue Tuesday.
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Vinci defeats Errani in 'friendly' Palermo final
PALERMO, Italy / Sicily: Roberta Vinci won the Palermo Open on Sunday with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over her close friend and defending champion Sara Errani as the two Italians produced an entertaining finale to the WTA event.
Errani, who also won at Palermo in 2008 and teamed up with Vinci to win the doubles crown in 2011, dropped the first set 6-3 before bouncing back to level the match by the same score and sending it to a deciding frame.
However the 30-year-old Vinci held her nerve to close out the match 6-3 for her 10th WTA title and is now on the verge of breaking into the world's top ten players.
Her best individual result at a Grand Slam was in 2012 when she reached the quarter-finals of the US Open but the Taranto native has teamed up with her off-court chum Errani to win doubles's titles at the 2012 French Open and US Open before they made it a hat-trick of major wins at the 2013 Australian Open.
They were also both on the Italian team that won the 2009 and 2010 Fed Cups with victories on both occasions over the United States. (AFP)
Errani, who also won at Palermo in 2008 and teamed up with Vinci to win the doubles crown in 2011, dropped the first set 6-3 before bouncing back to level the match by the same score and sending it to a deciding frame.
However the 30-year-old Vinci held her nerve to close out the match 6-3 for her 10th WTA title and is now on the verge of breaking into the world's top ten players.
Her best individual result at a Grand Slam was in 2012 when she reached the quarter-finals of the US Open but the Taranto native has teamed up with her off-court chum Errani to win doubles's titles at the 2012 French Open and US Open before they made it a hat-trick of major wins at the 2013 Australian Open.
They were also both on the Italian team that won the 2009 and 2010 Fed Cups with victories on both occasions over the United States. (AFP)
15-07-2013
Irfan grabs two as West Indies lose early wickets
GEORGETOWN: Replying to Pakistan's target of 225 runs, West Indies scored twelve runs for the loss of three wickets at the end of the ninth over of their innings after Pakistani pace bowler Muhammad Irfan grabbed two early wickets on Sunday.
Opener Johnson Charles was bowled by Irfan for naught in the second ball of the innings.and then had Dwayne Bravo caught behind in the fifth over.Bravo scored only five runs.
Hard-hitting batsmen Chris Gayle was run out during the same over by Misbah-ul-Haq which left the hosts at 8-3 at the end of the fifth over.
Earlier West Indian captain Dwayne Bravo won the toss and elected to bowl first in the rain-hit match which was delayed for half an hour.
Pakistan made 224-9 in the first one-day international against West Indies at the National Cricket Stadium in Guyana.
Shahid Afridi returned to international cricket and smashed 76 off 55 balls on Sunday as Pakistan scored 224-9 against an inconsistent West Indies in the first one-day international.
Afridi, who was dropped for last month's Champions Trophy due to poor form, hit six fours and five sixes as West Indies lost its grip after fast bowler Jason Holder's 4-13 had reduced the tourists to 47-5.
The hard-hitting Afridi dominated Pakistan's record-breaking 120-run sixth wicket stand against West Indies off 113 balls with Misbah-ul-Haq holding the innings together with a sedate 52 off 121 balls.
Afridi holed out in the deep in the 39th over which helped West Indies to hit back but its bowlers were guilty of bowling 23 wides which swelled Pakistan's total.
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England hold nerve to clinch 14-run win
NOTTINGHAM: James Anderson took five wickets for the second time in the match as England just held their nerve to win the first Ashes Test against Australia by 14 runs at Trent Bridge on Sunday.
When Australia lost their ninth wicket on the fifth and final day, they were 80 runs adrift of their victory target of 311 and all but out of the match.
But by lunch they were 291 for nine, just 20 runs away from a stunning upset with Brad Haddin 69 not out and James Pattinson unbeaten on 22.
However, the third over after lunch saw Haddin, on 71, eventually given out caught behind by opposing wicketkeeper Matt Prior off man-of-the-match Anderson's full-length delivery England, in a Test full of controversial umpiring decisions, had though first to challenge Pakistani on-field umpire Aleem Dar's original not out verdict.
But third umpire Marais Erasmus, using Hot Spot technology, overturned the call and that meant Ashes-holders England had gone 1-0 up in this five-match series ahead of the second Test at Lord's on Thursday.
Pattinson finished on 25 not out after a last-wicket stand of 65.
It was the second remarkable last-wicket Australia partnership of the match after their first innings 163, a tenth wicket Test record featuring teenage debutant Ashton Agar's 98 -- the highest score by a Test No 11.
England spearhead seamer Anderson, who took four wickets for 12 runs Sunday, finished with an innings return of five for 73 and a match haul of 10 for 158 - only the second time in his 83-Test career he'd taken 10 or more in a Test following his 11 for 71 against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2010.
Australia battled hard and a lot of credit to them. Jimmy was outstanding, said England captain Alastair Cook at the presentation ceremony.
Meanwhile, Australia captain Michael Clarke said Anderson and England batsman Ian Bell, whose second innings 109 laid the platform for victory, had been the difference between the sides.
The boys can hold their heads high, said Clarke, after Australia's fifth straight Test loss, in their first Test under new coach Darren Lehmann, following their 4-0 thrashing in India earlier this year.
It was a wonderful game of cricket but credit to England, they fought well. The two best performers in the match were Ian Bell and Jimmy Anderson and England deserved the win.
Anderson, who has now taken 49 wickets in seven Trent Bridge Tests at just over 17 apiece, admitted: The match had the nerves going but I love bowling here and I'm happy to pick up some wickets again.
It generally swings here but whatever way we can get the ball moving, it is a bonus for us.
All was going well for England earlier Sunday when Anderson took three wickets for six runs as Agar (14), Mitchell Starc (one) and Peter Siddle (11) were all caught by Cook at first slip to leave Australia nine down.
But when Pattinson swept off-spinner Graeme Swann for six, Australia needed just 31 more runs for victory.
Haddin, with 26 needed , was dropped on 64 by a diving Steven Finn, running round in the deep, off Swann as a sun-drenched capacity crowd of 17,000 watched the most nerve-jangling climax to an Ashes Test since England's two-run win at Edgbaston in 2005.
Australia resumed Sunday on 174 for six still needing a futher 137 runs to win after they lost three wickets for three runs late in Saturday's play.
But the fact 19-year-old Agar, promoted to No 8, was still there was a warning to England not to under-estimate Australia's tail.
Haddin, 11 not out overnight, continued to mix aggression with defence, and took Australia to 200 when he cover-drove fast-medium bowler Anderson for four.
Anderson, one of only four England bowlers to take more than 200 Test wickets, eventually had left-hander Agar edging to Cook.
And 207 for seven soon became 211 for eight when Starc, who has a Test-best score of 99, managed just a single before he too fell to the Anderson-Cook combination.
The pair almost had their third wicket when Siddle on 10 got an edge only for Cook to drop the chance.
However, Siddle added just one more run to his total before he edged a full-blooded drive off Anderson and Cook, going high to his right, held a sensational catch.
England had put themselves into a strong position thanks to a seventh-wicket second innings stand of 138 between Bell and Stuart Broad (65).
But Broad was controversially given not out on 37 despite edging the ball to slip -- one of several contentious decisions in this enthralling match.
Scores:
Australia 280 (A.Agar 98, P.Hughes 81 not out, S.Smith 53, J.Anderson 5-85) & 296 (B.Haddin 71, C.Rogers 52, S.Watson 46, J.Anderson 4-73)
England 215 (J.Trott 48, P.Siddle 5-50) & 375 (I.Bell 109, S.Broad 65, K.Pietersen 64, A.Cook 50)
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14-07-2013
England four wickets away from victory in Ashes opener
NOTTINGHAM: England were on the brink of winning the first Test against Australia after more umpiring controversy dogged the Ashes series opener at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
Australia were 174 for six at stumps on the fourth day, still needing a further 137 runs to reach their victory target of 311 after they lost three wickets for three runs late in the day.
No side has made more to win in the fourth innings of a Trent Bridge Test than England's 284 for six against New Zealand in 2004.
But the fact teenage debutant Ashton Agar, who in Australia's first innings made 98, the highest score by a Test No 11, was still there was a warning to Ashes-holders England they had work left to do if they were to go 1-0 up in this five-match series.
Brad Haddin was 11 not out and Agar, promoted to No 8, one not out.
England captured the prize scalp of Australia captain Michael Clarke when Stuart Broad, himself at the centre of an umpiring row on Friday, had the tourists' best batsman caught behind by wicketkeeper Matt Prior for 23 off an excellent full-length delivery.
Pakistan's Aleem Dar, the bowler's end umpire, checked with square leg colleague Kumar Dharmasena to see if the ball had carried. However, the Sri Lankan was unable to give that confirmation and the on-field duo referred the decision to third umpire Marais Erasmus.
Replays showed clearly that Prior had taken a clean catch and Clarke was given out by Dar. But the batsman immediately challenged the decision.
Again the verdict was passed to South Africa's Erasmus and, with Hot Spot technology showing the ball had nicked the bat, Dar once more raised his finger to spark a slump that saw Australia decline from 161 for three to 164 for six in the space of 18 balls.
Australia had now used up all their reviews and next ball Steven Smith was lbw to Graeme Swann as the off-spinner, like Broad bowling on his Nottinghamshire home ground, extracted sharp turn.
Left-hander Phil Hughes, playing back to another sharply spun Swann delivery, was initially given not out on naught by Dharmasena.
This time England challenged the call and, with the Decision Review System showing the ball had just pitched in line before striking the batsman plumb in front of his stumps on the back leg, Hughes was out for a duck to the raucous delight of most of a 17,000 capacity sun-drenched crowd.
Australia had frustrated England before opener Shane Watson was lbw to a Broad inswinger for 46.
Watson challenged the verdict but had to go after DRS showed the ball clipping leg stump. That meant the all-rounder wouldn't be adding to his meagre tally of two centuries in what was now his 42nd Test.
Then to what became the last ball before tea, Ed Cowan edged part-time spinner Joe Root to Jonathan Trott at slip.
Before tea Chris Rogers, playing his second Test five years after his debut, completed a maiden Test fifty off 104 balls with eight fours.
But soon after tea, Rogers tamely chipped James Anderson to Ian Bell at midwicket. Earlier, Bell's 109 had been the cornerstone of England's second innings 375.
Bell, 95 not out overnight, shared a seventh-wicket partnership of 138 with Broad (65).
All-rounder Broad was controversially given not out on 37 on Friday despite edging Agar to Clarke at slip, a decision Australia couldn't challenge as by then they'd used up both their innings reviews.
Bell has been often accused of not scoring runs when England most needed them but this was arguably the most valuable innings of his Test career. Broad was eventually out for 65 when caught behind off James Pattinson.
This time Broad 'walked' before Bell's near six-and-a-half hour innings, including 15 boundaries, ended when he too was caught behind, this time off Mitchell Starc.
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Arthur to sue Cricket Australia: report
SYDNEY: Sacked coach Mickey Arthur has hired a legal firm and is seeking compensation after Cricket Australia tore up his contract last month, a report said Saturday.
The South African, the first foreign-born coach of the Australian team, was sacked just 16 days before the start of the Ashes series in England.
Cricket Australia high-performance manager Pat Howard and chief executive James Sutherland called Arthur into a meeting ahead of the Ashes and told him he was to be replaced immediately by Darren Lehmann.
Citing sources, The Weekend Australian newspaper said Cricket Australia had offered Arthur a cash settlement, hoping to head off a court battle.
Arthur had been contracted to the end of the 2015 World Cup and entitled to three months' notice, the newspaper said.
The Weekend Australian said there were legal concerns about the way Arthur's sacking was handled.
Arthur went quietly at the time, admitting he had been shocked and shattered and had had no idea he was about to lose his job when summoned to the meeting, it said.
He refused to blame the players and acted with good grace at a hastily-convened press conference to announce his departure.
Nobody likes losing their job, he said at the time of his sacking. All I can say is I have given this job 100 percent commitment.
If it wasn't good enough, so be it. I leave with a lot of professional pride and a lot of professional dignity. That is how I always like to be remembered.
Arthur flew back to Australia immediately after the decision to consider his future, learning in transit that his mother had died.
The Australian said Arthur had appointed high-profile legal team Harmers Workplace Lawyers to seek damages.Cricket Australia refused to comment on the report.
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Hanif, Tahir deny reports of rift in team management
KARACHI: Pakistan hockey team coach Hanif Khan on Friday said there was no rift among members of the team management, and termed media reports about the differences mere rumours.
We are working hard to make a comeback in the Asia Cup next month, Hanif, the former Olympian, said. I dont know from where such rumours surfaced when we are looking to lift the teams performance for the Asia Cup collectively.
It was reported in the media that coach Hanif and consultant Tahir Zaman have refused to work together, however both the officials denied such reports of infighting.
Hanif said he was hopeful that the green shirts would make a comeback in Asia Cup and win the title to claim a place in the 2014 World Cup.
We have the talent to outdo our opponents. Hopefully, our injured players will recover; we are also working on our grey areas. We missed a lot of opportunities inside the circle in the World Hockey League. Had we availed those chances the results in the WHL would have been different.
But now we are working on those areas and hopefully our players will produce a better show next month, Hanif added.
Meanwhile, Tahir also brushed aside reports of rift in the team management. He reiterated Hanif146s words that some key players were injured, which was the reason Pakistan failed to perform at the WHL.
Some of our key players were injured, which was one of the reasons we failed to perform in the WHL. However, this is not a justification but a fact. I assisted the team management from behind the scenes so there is no question of conflicts, which actually never happened, Tahir insisted.Tahir reckoned that the Asia Cup would be a tougher test for Pakistan.
The WHL offered three places for the World Cup while only the winners at the Asia Cup will qualify for the World Cup. The Asia Cup will be the battleground also for India, Malaysia and South Korea along with Pakistan for the World Cup qualification. Therefore, the contest will be tough and seeking a place for the World Cup through the Asia Cup will be a tougher assignment for green shirts, he explained.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has convened an emergency meeting on July 15 to discuss teams performance in the WHL and preparation for next month146s Asia Cup.Agencies
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Real pay $51 million for Spain Under-21 star
MADRID: Real Madrid extended their new policy of snapping up promising home-grown talent by paying 39 million euros ($50.9 million) to buy Spain Under-21 midfielder Asier Illarramendi out of his contract with La Liga rivals Real Sociedad on Friday.
Big-spending Real president Florentino Perez is known for luring galacticos like David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Bernabeu but Illarramendi's capture follows hard on the heels of the purchase of playmaker Isco from Malaga and the return of fullback Daniel Carvajal from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
The trio were in the Spain squad that won the Under-21 Euro championships in Israel last month and Isco and Illarramendi were both named in UEFA's team of the tournament.
Real sealed the deal for Illarramendi when they deposited the 23-year-old's buyout fee of 32.19 million euros plus value-added tax (VAT) of 6.76 million with Spain's professional league (LFP), Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay, flanked by the player, told a news conference.
The Basque club, who qualified for the Champions League playoffs last season, did not want Illarramendi to leave but Real's move automatically triggered his exit, he added. We would have preferred to hold on to Asier Illarramendi than get the money but life goes on, he said.
Illarramendi is seen as a long-term replacement for Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso, another former Sociedad player who will be 32 in November, and he will also compete for a place with Germany's Sami Khedira and Croatia's Luka Modric.
He has agreed a six-year contract and will be presented at the Bernabeu stadium on Saturday after undergoing a medical, Real said on their website.
I thought long and hard with the people around me and I came to the conclusion that it was a unique offer and opportunity, one I couldn't refuse, a tearful Illarramendi, a product of San Sebastian-based Sociedad's youth academy, told reporters.
I will give my all in all the training sessions and if I play I will give my all then too, he added. I love (Sociedad) but a decision had to be taken and of course Real Madrid excites me too.
POOR SEASON
Real are looking to bounce back from a poor season under former coach Jose Mourinho, who quit and returned to Chelsea after failing to win any major silverware.
Portuguese Mourinho was replaced by Italian Carlo Ancelotti, whom Real bought out of his contract with French champions Paris St Germain.
Under construction magnate Perez, Real have spent hundreds of millions of euros on players but have failed to win the 10th European crown they have been chasing since their last continental triumph in 2002.
They are the world's richest club by income ahead of Spanish rivals Barcelona in second, according to accounting firm Deloitte.
Illarramendi's move is another reminder that it is increasingly the case that only the two heavyweights can afford the nation's best players and those who do not play for Real or Barca are seeking top wages abroad.
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13-07-2013
Bell and Broad shine as England take control
NOTTINGHAM: England took control of the opening Ashes test on Friday after a wicketless evening session for Australia on the third day, reaching 326-6 for a lead of 261 runs.
Ian Bell was 95 not out from 228 balls with 12 fours and his unbroken partnership of 108 with Stuart Broad has transformed the test at Trent Bridge.
Broad made a controversial 47 not out from 122 balls, which included five fours but only after he was given not out despite clearly edging Ashton Agar to Michael Clarke at slip, a decision Australia was unable to overturn having wasted its referrals.
Mitchell Starc had Australia's best bowling figures with 2-66.
Bell's discipline and Broad's brinkmanship turned the contest back in England's favor after Australia had been on top for the first two sessions.
England began the third day on 80-2, and after two days of unrelenting drama the first hour was comparatively slow.
Kevin Pietersen (64) brought up his 50 with a drive off Starc in the 50th over, and Cook whipped Agar through midwicket to bring up the century partnership in the 54th.
But there were few chances until Pietersen dragged Pattinson onto his stumps on the final ball before the drinks break three overs later with 121 on the board.
Cook reached his 50, from 164 balls, with a single from Agar, but the 19-year-old Australian removed him in the 60th with an off break that Clarke took high over his head to leave the total on 131-4.
The dismissals slowed an already pedestrian run rate, best exemplified by Shane Watson bowling 34 balls before England managed a scoring shot against him.
Australia used its final referral in the 69th over, claiming an lbw decision against Bairstow from a ball that was drifting considerably down leg side and this wastefulness would return to haunt them.
Bell was given lbw to Watson in the 79th over but he successfully referred the decision, to raucous cheers from the crowd when a replay showed the ball was missing leg stump.
By this stage, every single was being cheered, but in the next over, Agar had Bairstow caught behind. Matt Prior looked well set until he was caught by Ed Cowan trying to pull Siddle through midwicket, ending a useful stand of 44.
Bell reached his 50 with two runs off Pattinson, and he scored his 6,000th test run shortly before tea.Broad rode his luck throughout the evening session.
He might have been given out lbw to Agar had Australia not used up its reviews and his knock included an all-run four, but he also produced a classy cover drive off Starc to bring up the 50 partnership and a driven four from Pattinson as Australia's frustration mounted.
Cowan missed a difficult chance to catch Broad, who was on 37, at short leg off Agar and in the 118th over he was caught by Clarke at slip only to be given not out by Aleem Dar, to Australia's fury.
In the 129th Broad cut Watson through point to bring up the hundred partnership and take England's lead past 250.
As Australian tempers boiled over Pattinson was given a verbal warning by umpire Kumar Dharmasena for an excessive appeal after Bell was correctly given not out lbw in the next over and England ends day three in a far better position than looked likely at tea.
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Pakistan victorious in close fought tour opener
Pakistan came out victorious in their first tour match against the Guyana side in the Caribbean, in a closely fought contest at Bourda.
Pakistans batting woes continued to worry them as late contributions pushed them to 246 before Mohammad Irfan and Saeed Ajmal halted the Guyanese chase seven runs short.
After being sent into bat by the hosts in overcast conditions, Pakistan eased to 12 for no loss in three overs before rain interrupted play briefly. After resumption of play, the opening pair of Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad put on 62 at a scoring rate of just under four an over before Jamshed was bowled by the left arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul.
The same bowler claimed Mohammad Hafeez146s scalp six overs later to leave Pakistan at 86-2. With captain Misbah-ul-Haq at the other end, Shehzad reached his half century in 58 balls before eventually getting stumped on 68 off the bowling of Devendra Bishoo.
The Pakistan skipper was first of three quick wickets to fall to spin, followed by the young pair of Umar Akmal, who is making a comeback in this series, and Asad Shafiq to leave Pakistan at 160-6.
However, Shahid Afridi, making yet another comeback to the national side, rescued Pakistan along with Wahab Riaz. Afridi hit 31 runs in his trademark aggressive fashion scoring sixes off Steven Jacobs and Keon Joseph but was soon caught while trying to clear the long-off boundary.
Umar Amin, however, provided some late momentum with a couple boundaries to carry his side to 246-9, scoring an unbeaten 17 in the process. The pick of the local bowlers was Permaul who finished the innings with overall figures of 10-3-27-3.
Guyanas chase started poorly with the 7-foot tall pacer Mohammad Irfan claiming the wickets of both openers Trevon Griffith and Anthony Bramble within the first five overs. Windies veteran Ramnaresh Sarwan put on 54 runs for the third wicket partnership with Leon Johnson. Sarwan lost his wicket to left arm spinner Abdur Rehman, edging the delivery through to keeper Umar Akmal who is filling the spot vacated by elder brother Kamran.
Leon Johnson led the recovery by the hosts hitting Afridi for two fours in one over and then pulling Abdur Rehman for six over mid-wicket to take Guyana to 138. At this point, Pakistan spin wizard Saeed Ajmal put the brakes on the innings, dismissing Johnson and then Fudadin.
Left arm batsman Narsingh Deonarine put up resistance to the Pakistan bowling attack hitting five fours and two sixes before being bowled by Ajmal on 55, leaving the hosts with 77 to get from the final 10 overs. The Guyanese batting tail showed resilience, adding 41 for the 9th wicket but Ajmal claimed his 5th wicket, trapping Steven Jacobs in front of his wicket before rookie pacer Asad Ali dismissed Bishoo for his first wicket of the day, handing Pakistan a 7 run win.
Pakistan play the West Indies in the first of five ODIs on Sunday in Providence (18:00 PST), followed by two T20 internationals.
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HotSpot inventor apologises for Trott dismissal
The inventor of the Hot Spot thermal imaging replay system has apologised to England for the manner in which Jonathan Trott was given out by the third umpire on the second day of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.
England collapsed to 11 for two in their second innings against Australia on Thursday after Joe Root and Trott, out for a duck, fell to successive Mitchell Starc deliveries.
Root chose not to challenge his decision, even though replays suggested he would have been reprieved, as technology indicated he had made no contact with the ball before being caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Next ball, Pakistani on-field umpire Aleem Dar initially gave Trott not out in reply to Australia's lbw appeal.
Australia challenged his decision and South African third umpire Marais Erasmus overturned Dar's original verdict despite the fact the side on Hot Spot image of the dismissal, which might have confirmed whether Trott had in fact edged the ball first, was not available.
Host broadcaster Sky explained the Hot Spot camera missed the Trott wicket as it was replaying Root's exit a ball earlier.Images cannot be replayed and played at the same time.
Meanwhile the inventor of the Hot Spot system apologised for an operator error.
Here is the absolute truth from our perspective in regard to the Trott incident, Warren Brennan told the cricinfo website.
It was operator error. My operator did not trigger the system in order to cater for the Trott delivery.
Instead the operator sat on the Root delivery in order to offer a replay from the previous ball and did not realise until it was too late that he should have triggered the system for the Trott delivery as the priority.
Simple mistake, something that anyone could have made but my Hot Spot operator has worked on the system since 2007 and to my knowledge this is the first serious mistake he has made.
Hot Spot is provided by an independent company for both Sky and the ICC.
Dar seemed bewildered when told he had to give Trott out and the batsman himself was aghast.
Later the Snickometer, which is not part of the official review system, revealed a thin edge.
But neither this nor the square leg Hot Spot angle were available to Erasmus who was able to view only shots picked up from behind the bowler's arm, which showed no mark on the bat.
Normally the third umpire overturns a decision only if there is conclusive evidence of an error.
England eventually reached 80 for two, a lead of 15 runs, at stumps on the second day.
But they left Trent Bridge convinced they should have been better placed after another contentious third umpire decision went against them.
Australia last man Ashton Agar was on six, with the tourists 131 for nine -- 84 runs behind England's first innings 215 -- when he survived a desperately close stumping appeal from home wicketkeeper Matt Prior off the bowling of off-spinner Graeme Swann.
The 19-year-old Agar, on his Test debut, went on to make 98 -- the highest score by a Test match No 11 - in a record last-wicket stand of 163 that took his side to 280 and a first innings lead of 65. England and many other observers were convinced Agar was out.
It was a shocking decision, said former England captain Bob Willis, now a Sky Sports pundit who last month caused a furore by claiming England had tampered with the ball during the Champions Trophy to gain reverse swing.
It cost England dearly. That was a terrible decision and it may lose the game for England.
Willis, one of only four England bowlers to have taken 300 Test wickets, was also scathing about Trott's exit.It was staggeringly bad -- unbelievable, he added.
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12-07-2013
West Indies announces squad to face Pakistan
PORT OF SPAIN: West Indies on Thursday named a 13-man squad for the opening one-day internationals against Pakistan in Guyana.
The matches will be played at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday, July 14 and Tuesday July 16.
The series will also mark the return of international cricket to Guyana after a one-year absence and will include five One Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals.
Guyana will host the first two ODIs, followed by three ODIs at the Beausejour Cricket Grounds in St Lucia.
The Arnos Vale Cricket Ground in St Vincent will host the two Twenty20 Internationals on July 27 and 28.
Squad: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith.
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Record-breaker Agar puts Aussies on top
NOTTINGHAM: Teenage debutant Ashton Agar fell agonisingly short of becoming the first Test match No 11 to score a century but still helped give Australia the edge in their Ashes opener against England at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
England, at tea on the second day of the first Test, were 11 for two in their second innings with Mitchell Starc on a hat-trick after removing Joe Root and Jonathan Trott with successive deliveries.
Earlier it seemed England would have a commanding first innings lead as Australia collapsed to 117 for nine in reply to the Ashes-holders' first innings 215.
But 19-year-old Agar went on to make 98 -- the highest score by any Test No 11, surpassing Tino Best's 95 for the West Indies against England at Edgbaston last year.
Together with fellow left-hander Phil Hughes (81 not out), Agar shared a Test record 10th wicket partnership of 163.
This topped the previous last wicket record stand of 151 shared jointly by Brian Hastings and Richard Collinge for New Zealand against Pakistan at Auckland in 1972/73 and Azhar Mahmood and Mushtaq Ahmed for Pakistan against South Africa at Rawalpindi in 1997/98.
Australia resumed Thursday on 75 for four, a deficit of 140 runs, after an overcast first day where seamer Peter Siddle rocked England with five for 50.
But Thursday saw sunshine and blue skies which promised better batting conditions for Steven Smith, 38 not out overnight, and Hughes.
James Anderson, who on Wednesday had gone past England fast bowling great Fred Trueman's record of 307 Test wickets, made the breakthrough Thursday.
Smith, driving loosely at Anderson, gaining reverse-swing, was caught behind by wicket-keeper Matt Prior for 53.
This was the start of an Australia collapse that saw five wickets lost for nine runs.
Agar did survive a desperately close stumping appeal from Prior off spinner Graeme Swann on six, with Australia then 131 for nine -- 84 runs adrift -- as third umpire Marais Erasmus eventually ruled in his favour.
Agar, primarily a left-arm spinner and a shock selection for this Test after playing just 10 first-class matches for Western Australia with a highest score of 71 not out, then cashed in with shots worthy of a top-order batsman.
The fall of the ninth wicket saw Thursday's first session extended by 90 minutes but this allowed Agar to late cut Swann for four to level the scores after he'd struck the spinner for a brilliant straight six.
But, in sight of a century, Agar -- recently playing club cricket for
southern English side Henley -- pulled Stuart Broad to Swann at deep midwicket to end a two-and-quarter hour innings of 101 balls including 12 fours and two sixes.
Anderson starred for England with five for 70, his 14th haul of five or more wickets in an innings in 83 Tests.
England then saw Root caught down the legside by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and next ball Trott was given not out by Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar after a raucous Starc lbw appeal.
Australia reviewed the decision and, with the technology at his disposal not detecting an edge, Erasmus instructed the decision be reversed.
Trott was stunned and later the 'snicko' system, not yet used by third umpires because of the length of time it takes, revealed a thin nick. (AFP)
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India on top after Sri Lanka collapse
PORT OF SPAIN: Sri Lanka lost their last eight wickets for 30 runs, to be dismissed for 201 off 48.5 overs in the final of the Tri-Nation Series at Queen's Park Oval on Thursday.
A 122-run second-wicket partnership between Kumar Sangakkara (71) and Lahiru Thirimanne (46) had placed the Sri Lankans in an excellent position at 171 for two in the 38th over to launch a concerted assault in the final stages of the innings.
However a succession of injudicious shots, coupled with the failure to appreciate the requirements of the situation, saw batsman after batsman gifting his wicket away while the Indians kept their cool.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the calmest of them all, marshalled his forces superbly on returning to the side while effecting three stumpings and playing his part in strangling the opposition when they would have been expected to be flourishing and racing towards a formidable total. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja benefited most, claiming four of the last five wickets at a cost of 23 runs.
Ashwin was the only one of the seven bowlers used who completed a full 10-over allotment, taking the key wicket of Sangakkara along with Kusal Perera at a personal cost of 42 runs. Sangakkara's wicket was key to India as he was caught at mid-on by Vinay Kumar.
Kumar's namesake, Bhubneshwar, made the early strikes for India on a bright, humid morning with the wickets of openers Upul Tharanga and Mahela Jayawardene, the former captain falling for 22 in his 400th one-day international. (AFP)
A 122-run second-wicket partnership between Kumar Sangakkara (71) and Lahiru Thirimanne (46) had placed the Sri Lankans in an excellent position at 171 for two in the 38th over to launch a concerted assault in the final stages of the innings.
However a succession of injudicious shots, coupled with the failure to appreciate the requirements of the situation, saw batsman after batsman gifting his wicket away while the Indians kept their cool.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the calmest of them all, marshalled his forces superbly on returning to the side while effecting three stumpings and playing his part in strangling the opposition when they would have been expected to be flourishing and racing towards a formidable total. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja benefited most, claiming four of the last five wickets at a cost of 23 runs.
Ashwin was the only one of the seven bowlers used who completed a full 10-over allotment, taking the key wicket of Sangakkara along with Kusal Perera at a personal cost of 42 runs. Sangakkara's wicket was key to India as he was caught at mid-on by Vinay Kumar.
Kumar's namesake, Bhubneshwar, made the early strikes for India on a bright, humid morning with the wickets of openers Upul Tharanga and Mahela Jayawardene, the former captain falling for 22 in his 400th one-day international. (AFP)
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Warne gets Hall of Fame honour
NOTTINGHAM: Australia great Shane Warne is to be inducted into the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame, the global governing body said in a statement issued from its Dubai headquarters on Thursday.
The leg-spin legend will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame during the tea interval of the second day of the second Ashes Test between England and Australia at Lord's on July 19.
Warne was the first bowler to take 700 Test wickets. He played 145 Tests for Australia in between 1992 and 2007 and took 708 wickets at an average of 25.41.
His tally of 3,154 Test runs is the most by any player without making a hundred.
Warne also took 293 wickets in 194 one-day internationals at an average of 25.73.
Warne is the 69th male member of the Hall of Fame and the 18th from Australia.
ICC Cricket Hall of Fame - initial inductees (55): Sydney Barnes (ENG), Bishan Bedi (IND), Alec Bedser (ENG), Richie Benaud (AUS), Allan Border (AUS), Ian Botham (ENG), Geoffrey Boycott (ENG), Donald Bradman (AUS), Greg Chappell (AUS), Ian Chappell (AUS), Denis Compton (ENG), Colin Cowdrey (ENG), Kapil Dev (IND), Sunil Gavaskar (IND), Lance Gibbs (WIS), Graham Gooch (ENG), David Gower (ENG), WG Grace (ENG), Tom Graveney (ENG), Gordon Greenidge (WIS), Richard Hadlee (NZL), Walter Hammond (ENG), Neil Harvey (AUS), George Headley (WIS), Jack Hobbs (ENG), Michael Holding (WIS), Leonard Hutton (ENG), Rohan Kanhai (WIS), Imran Khan (PAK), Alan Knott (ENG), Jim Laker (ENG), Harold Larwood
(ENG), Dennis Lillee (AUS), Ray Lindwall (AUS), Clive Lloyd (WIS), Hanif Mohammad (PAK), Rodney Marsh (AUS), Malcolm Marshall (WIS), Peter May (ENG), Javed Miandad (PAK), Keith Miller (AUS), Bill O'Reilly (AUS), Graeme Pollock (RSA), Wilfred Rhodes (ENG), Barry Richards (RSA), Vivian Richards (WIS), Andy Roberts (WIS), Garfield Sobers (WIS), Brian Statham (ENG), Fred Trueman (ENG), Derek Underwood (ENG), Clyde Walcott (WIS), Everton Weekes (WIS), Frank Woolley(ENG), Frank Worrell (WIS)
2009 Inductees: Herbert Sutcliffe (ENG), Steve Waugh (AUS), Wasim Akram (PAK), Victor Trumper (AUS), Clarrie Grimmett (AUS)
2010 Inductees: Rachael Heyhoe Flint (ENG), Ken Barrington (ENG), Courtney Walsh (WIS), Joel Garner (WIS)
2011 Inductees: Belinda Clark (AUS), Frederick Spofforth (AUS), Curtly Ambrose (WIS), Alan Davidson (AUS)
2012/13 Inductees: Enid Bakewell (ENG), Brian Lara (WIS), Glenn McGrath (AUS), Shane Warne (AUS)
(AFP)
The leg-spin legend will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame during the tea interval of the second day of the second Ashes Test between England and Australia at Lord's on July 19.
Warne was the first bowler to take 700 Test wickets. He played 145 Tests for Australia in between 1992 and 2007 and took 708 wickets at an average of 25.41.
His tally of 3,154 Test runs is the most by any player without making a hundred.
Warne also took 293 wickets in 194 one-day internationals at an average of 25.73.
Warne is the 69th male member of the Hall of Fame and the 18th from Australia.
ICC Cricket Hall of Fame - initial inductees (55): Sydney Barnes (ENG), Bishan Bedi (IND), Alec Bedser (ENG), Richie Benaud (AUS), Allan Border (AUS), Ian Botham (ENG), Geoffrey Boycott (ENG), Donald Bradman (AUS), Greg Chappell (AUS), Ian Chappell (AUS), Denis Compton (ENG), Colin Cowdrey (ENG), Kapil Dev (IND), Sunil Gavaskar (IND), Lance Gibbs (WIS), Graham Gooch (ENG), David Gower (ENG), WG Grace (ENG), Tom Graveney (ENG), Gordon Greenidge (WIS), Richard Hadlee (NZL), Walter Hammond (ENG), Neil Harvey (AUS), George Headley (WIS), Jack Hobbs (ENG), Michael Holding (WIS), Leonard Hutton (ENG), Rohan Kanhai (WIS), Imran Khan (PAK), Alan Knott (ENG), Jim Laker (ENG), Harold Larwood
(ENG), Dennis Lillee (AUS), Ray Lindwall (AUS), Clive Lloyd (WIS), Hanif Mohammad (PAK), Rodney Marsh (AUS), Malcolm Marshall (WIS), Peter May (ENG), Javed Miandad (PAK), Keith Miller (AUS), Bill O'Reilly (AUS), Graeme Pollock (RSA), Wilfred Rhodes (ENG), Barry Richards (RSA), Vivian Richards (WIS), Andy Roberts (WIS), Garfield Sobers (WIS), Brian Statham (ENG), Fred Trueman (ENG), Derek Underwood (ENG), Clyde Walcott (WIS), Everton Weekes (WIS), Frank Woolley(ENG), Frank Worrell (WIS)
2009 Inductees: Herbert Sutcliffe (ENG), Steve Waugh (AUS), Wasim Akram (PAK), Victor Trumper (AUS), Clarrie Grimmett (AUS)
2010 Inductees: Rachael Heyhoe Flint (ENG), Ken Barrington (ENG), Courtney Walsh (WIS), Joel Garner (WIS)
2011 Inductees: Belinda Clark (AUS), Frederick Spofforth (AUS), Curtly Ambrose (WIS), Alan Davidson (AUS)
2012/13 Inductees: Enid Bakewell (ENG), Brian Lara (WIS), Glenn McGrath (AUS), Shane Warne (AUS)
(AFP)
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Australia to ban broomstick putters from 2016
The Professional Golfers Association of Australia on Thursday said it will ban the use of broomstick putters at its sanctioned tournaments from 2016 to move in line with other international tours.
The anchored stroke has been in the spotlight since being used by a series of players to win major championships, with Australian Adam Scott the latest to use the club to claim the Masters title at Augusta in April.
PGA of Australia chief Brian Thorburn said his organisation wanted to avoid a situation in which professional golfers would have to compete under different conditions on different international tours.
The implementation of this rule will inevitably affect a number of our professionals who compete both at home and abroad, and it's important they now have clarity and time to adapt, Thorburn said in a statement.
Throughout this process our greatest priority was to ensure consistency so that when our professionals, and of course visiting internationals, play in Australia they will be competing under the same conditions adopted across all the world's top tours.
Golf's main ruling bodies, including the Royal & Ancient and US Golf Association, have previously announced that broomstick-style putters would be outlawed from the start of 2016.
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11-07-2013
Chelsea sign Aussie 'keeper Schwarzer
Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has joined English Premier League giants Chelsea on a one-year contract.
It's a phenomenal club. It's one of the biggest and best clubs in the world, and it's an honour to sign for Chelsea. I didn't take much convincing to come here, Schwarzer told chelseafc.com.
Schwarzer moved to England in 1996 to join Bradford before making 367 league appearances in 11 years with Middlesbrough.
He won the League Cup with 'Boro in 2003 and appeared in the 2006 UEFA Cup final against Sevilla.
During his time at Fulham he became the first overseas player to make more than 500 Premier League appearances and reached another European cup final as the Cottagers lost out to Atletico Madrid in 2010.
contract with Jose Mourinho's Blues runs until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where the veteran keeper will hope to add to his 108 caps given Australia's qualification for the tournament.
The signing appears to have solved Chelsea's goalkeeping dilemma.
The Europa League winners were on the lookout for a support keeper to Petr Cech following the release of Ross Turnbull and Hilario at the end of the season and Premier League rivals Norwich this week confirmed rejecting two formal offers for England stopper John Ruddy.
Schwarzer revealed returning Blues boss Mourinho had helped persuade him to join 147one of the best clubs in the country148 after speaking to the Portuguese about his future options.
He told Sky Sports News: 147I've spoken to the manager at Chelsea and it was very easy to make the decision that Chelsea was the right club for me.
The size and ambition of the club and the opportunities at the club ticked all the boxes. It was an amazing opportunity to join a fantastic club.
It's one of the best clubs in the country, if not one of the best clubs in the world, so it was very easy to make the decision after speaking to the manager.
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Ireland qualify for 2015 World Cup after dramatic Dutch tie
Ireland on Tuesday qualified for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 after a dramatic last-gasp tie with the Netherlands.
But Ireland's point was good enough to see them top the ICC World Cup League Championship and advance, for the third successive time, to ICC's flagship event that will be staged in Australia and New Zealand in 2015.
After Tuesday's result, Ireland topped the table on 20 points, with nine wins from 12 matches.
There is still one place up for grabs from this tournament with four sides - Scotland, Netherlands, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - all still capable of claiming second position.
While the top two sides from the ICC World Cricket League Championship will go forward to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, the six sides that do not qualify from this event will have a second chance to qualify through the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier New Zealand 2014, alongside Hong Kong, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Uganda.
The 10 teams will lock horns for the remaining two positions in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
Score summary from the ICC World Cricket League Championship one-day international between the Netherlands and Ireland at Amstelveen on Tuesday:
Ireland 268-5 (E Joyce 96 n.o., N O'Brien 50, P Stirling 49) off 50 overs Netherlands 268-9 (W Barresi 46, D van Bunge 45, E Szwarczynski 44; K O'Brien 3-52) off 50 overs
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India beat Sri Lanka to join them in Tri-nations final
PORT OF SPAIN: India overcame Sri Lanka and the almost continuous threat of inclement weather on Tuesday at Queen's Park Oval to advance to the final of the Tri-Nation Series two days later against the same opponents.In yet another match in Trinidad severely affected by rain, the World Cup and Champions Trophy holders battled to 119 for three off 29 overs before a torrential downpour just before midday seemed set to force the match into a reserve day.
However the conditions improved significantly in late afternoon, and with the Sri Lankans set a revised target of 178 off 26 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis system, Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced an outstanding spell of seaming bowling, taking four for eight off his allotted six overs and ensuring that Sri Lanka were routed for 96 in reply.
India's 81-run margin of victory was also sizeable enough to ensure that while they finished level on nine points with both Sri Lanka and the West Indies, their net run-rate was superior to the Caribbean side's, so knocking Dwayne Bravo's team out of the competition and giving the hosts an unwanted two extra days to prepare for the five-match One-Day International Series with Pakistan, beginning on Sunday in Guyana.
Kumar exploited the helpful conditions masterfully, extracting pace and bounce off a greenish pitch and moving the ball both ways.
I feel proud to put in a performance like this for my country, especially in a match of such importance, he said, reflecting on his match-winning effort, the best by an Indian in One-Day Internationals at Queen's Park Oval.
I really enjoyed bowling here, just as it was in England, so I just tried to bowl in good areas consistently.
He accounted for Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara off successive deliveries in his second over, although Sangakkara could consider himself unfortunate to be adjudged LBW.
There was no doubt though about his other victims, Mahela Jayawardene slicing a catch to third man and Lahiru Thirimanne driving unerringly to Virat Kohli at cover.
India's captain, who earlier in the day appeared thoroughly flustered by the challenging conditions, never allowed the Sri Lankans a way out of their dire straits, employing his support bowlers effectively.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja accounted for skipper Angelo Mathews and topscorer Dinesh Chandimal (26) to ensure there was to be no miraculous revival.
To bounce back the way we've done and top the table after losing the first two matches really shows a lot of character, said a delighted Kohli in the aftermath of victory.
It was all about playing smart cricket when we were batting to ensure we didn't lose wickets slogging. It worked out well for us with the help of the Duckworth-Lewis (method).
Rohit Sharma's patient, unbeaten 48 at the top of the order when India were put in was vital to holding the innings together on a bright but increasingly humid morning.
He lost the attacking Shikhar Dhawan in Mathews' first over while Herath once again proved his worth with the ball, the left-arm spinner trapping the struggling Kohli leg-before on the back foot and then bowling Dinesh Karthik.
By the fall of that third wicket it became inevitable that a rain interruption was only a matter of minutes away.
Sharma and Suresh Raina ensured there were no further casualties before the showers descended and waited with their teammates in hope that they would have the chance later in the day to pull off the victory needed to get to the final.
With the showers eventually relenting, their determination and the inspirational bowling of Kumar saw them through
However the conditions improved significantly in late afternoon, and with the Sri Lankans set a revised target of 178 off 26 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis system, Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced an outstanding spell of seaming bowling, taking four for eight off his allotted six overs and ensuring that Sri Lanka were routed for 96 in reply.
India's 81-run margin of victory was also sizeable enough to ensure that while they finished level on nine points with both Sri Lanka and the West Indies, their net run-rate was superior to the Caribbean side's, so knocking Dwayne Bravo's team out of the competition and giving the hosts an unwanted two extra days to prepare for the five-match One-Day International Series with Pakistan, beginning on Sunday in Guyana.
Kumar exploited the helpful conditions masterfully, extracting pace and bounce off a greenish pitch and moving the ball both ways.
I feel proud to put in a performance like this for my country, especially in a match of such importance, he said, reflecting on his match-winning effort, the best by an Indian in One-Day Internationals at Queen's Park Oval.
I really enjoyed bowling here, just as it was in England, so I just tried to bowl in good areas consistently.
He accounted for Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara off successive deliveries in his second over, although Sangakkara could consider himself unfortunate to be adjudged LBW.
There was no doubt though about his other victims, Mahela Jayawardene slicing a catch to third man and Lahiru Thirimanne driving unerringly to Virat Kohli at cover.
India's captain, who earlier in the day appeared thoroughly flustered by the challenging conditions, never allowed the Sri Lankans a way out of their dire straits, employing his support bowlers effectively.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja accounted for skipper Angelo Mathews and topscorer Dinesh Chandimal (26) to ensure there was to be no miraculous revival.
To bounce back the way we've done and top the table after losing the first two matches really shows a lot of character, said a delighted Kohli in the aftermath of victory.
It was all about playing smart cricket when we were batting to ensure we didn't lose wickets slogging. It worked out well for us with the help of the Duckworth-Lewis (method).
Rohit Sharma's patient, unbeaten 48 at the top of the order when India were put in was vital to holding the innings together on a bright but increasingly humid morning.
He lost the attacking Shikhar Dhawan in Mathews' first over while Herath once again proved his worth with the ball, the left-arm spinner trapping the struggling Kohli leg-before on the back foot and then bowling Dinesh Karthik.
By the fall of that third wicket it became inevitable that a rain interruption was only a matter of minutes away.
Sharma and Suresh Raina ensured there were no further casualties before the showers descended and waited with their teammates in hope that they would have the chance later in the day to pull off the victory needed to get to the final.
With the showers eventually relenting, their determination and the inspirational bowling of Kumar saw them through
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Finn double revives England in Ashes opener
NOTTINGHAM: Steven Finn brought England back into the first Ashes Test as bowlers held sway on an overcast opening day at Nottingham's Trent Bridge on Wednesday.
At stumps, Australia were 75 for four in reply to England's seemingly meagre 215, a deficit of 140 runs, after 14 wickets had fallen in the day's play.
Fast bowler Finn took two wickets in two balls before England spearhead James Anderson produced a superb delivery to clean bowl Australia captain Michael Clarke, the tourists' best batsman, for nought.
Steven Smith, not even in the original Ashes squad, was 38 not out and Phil Hughes, no longer an opener but batting at six, seven not out as floodlights pierced the gloom.
Shane Watson, who in 41 previous Tests had managed just two hundreds, was out in familiar fashion when he pushed forward firmly against Finn without adjusting for away movement and was caught by third slip Joe Root for 13.
Next ball Australia were 19 for two when Ed Cowan, who spent the early part of the season at Trent Bridge, with Nottinghamshire, carelessly chased a wide delivery and was caught at second slip by county colleague Graeme Swann.
Clarke came in on a hat-trick, which he survived narrowly after Finn missed both the outside edge and off stump by fractions.
But Clarke lasted just five more balls with Anderson producing a near unplayable delivery that angled in and seamed away late to hit off stump.
Australia had lost three wickets for three runs to be 22 for three and this with regular England new ball bowler Stuart Broad off the field with a shoulder injury suffered while batting.
Opener Chris Rogers, recalled for his second Test five years after his debut, hung on for over an hour.
But the 35-year-old veteran of the English county circuit was eventually lbw for 16 to Anderson, bowling from around the wicket.
Earlier, Australia fast medium-bowler Peter Siddle took five wickets for 50 runs after England captain Alastair Cook won the toss, with Jonathan Trott's 48 the hosts' top score.
In his first Ashes Test as captain, Cook was caught behind off James Pattinson for just 13.
Root, in his first Ashes Test and first as an opener, made a promising 30 before he was bowled off-stump by Siddle's excellent outswinging yorker.
England, notoriously slow starters in recent Test series, lost star batsman Kevin Pietersen for 14 shortly after lunch when he nicked Siddle to Clarke in the slips.
Trott was in good touch and struck nine fours before Siddle, bowling from wide on the crease, induced him to play on.
Bell made 25, 24 in boundaries, when he edged a half-cock shot off Siddle to Watson in the slips. (AFP)
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10-07-2013Pakistan-South Africa battles cut short
Pakistan have been forced to play abroad because foreign teams have refused to tour the country since militants attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in 2009.
It will be South Africa's second series against Pakistan in the UAE, following two Tests, five one-dayers and two Twenty20s in 2010.
The Pakistan Cricket Board said the matches will be played between October 14 and November 15.
South Africa, ranked number one in Tests, will open the tour with a three-day warm-up match before the first Test in Abu Dhabi on October 14.
Schedule:
5 Oct -South African team arrival
8-10 Oct - three-day warm-up match (venue to be decided) 14-18 Oct -1st Test - Abu Dhabi 23-27 Oct - 2nd Test - Dubai
30 Oct - 1st one-day international - Sharjah 1 Nov - 2nd one-day international - Dubai 6 Nov - 3rd one-day international - Abu Dhabi 8 Nov - 4th one-day international - Abu Dhabi 11 Nov - 5th one-day international Sharjah
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Struggling India axe hockey coachNEW DELHI: India's field hockey chiefs on Tuesday sacked national coach Michael Nobbs due to the team's poor performances, making the Australian the fourth foreign coach to be axed in the past decade.Nobbs will not be working with the national team, Hockey India secretary-general Narinder Batra told reporters in New Delhi. We have informed the Sports Authority of India about it.
It was felt that Nobbs was unable to improve the team's performance or produce the desired results.Hockey India's high performance director, Dutchman Roelant Oltmans, will step in as a temporary replacement for Nobbs before the next coach is appointed, Batra said.
Nobbs, 58, was appointed Indian coach in June 2011 for a five-year term that would have seen him in charge until the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The former Australian international, who played in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, made no immediate comment on his sacking.
India, who won the last of their eight Olympic hockey golds in 1980, finished last in the 2012 London Olympics under Nobbs. The team also failed to make the semi-finals in the recent World Hockey League in the Netherlands.
Nobbs follows in the footsteps of three other foreign coaches -- Spaniard Jose Brasa, Australian Ric Charlesworth and Germany's Gerhard Rach -- whose contracts were terminated prematurely by India's hockey bosses.
Oltmans, 58, will take charge for next month's Asia Cup tournament in Malaysia, which India must win to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in the Netherlands.
The Dutchman will be assisted at the Asia Cup by former India player Maharaj Krishan Kaushik.
Former players welcomed the decision to remove Nobbs, saying the Australian had not taken the team forward.
He (Nobbs) was not able to produce results. He did not deserve to get a longer run, said India's only World Cup-winning captain Ajitpal Singh.
He should have been removed immediately after the London Olympics. Let us give Kaushik a chance now since foreign coaches have not delivered.
Former India player Joaquim Carvalho, who also served briefly as national coach, said Nobbs' stint was a complete failure.
One can't call him a good coach, Carvalho said.
A good coach is someone who makes good strategies, possesses good management and communication skills.
A good coach is someone who reads the game well. But India's performance just went down under him, he said.
It was felt that Nobbs was unable to improve the team's performance or produce the desired results.Hockey India's high performance director, Dutchman Roelant Oltmans, will step in as a temporary replacement for Nobbs before the next coach is appointed, Batra said.
Nobbs, 58, was appointed Indian coach in June 2011 for a five-year term that would have seen him in charge until the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
The former Australian international, who played in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, made no immediate comment on his sacking.
India, who won the last of their eight Olympic hockey golds in 1980, finished last in the 2012 London Olympics under Nobbs. The team also failed to make the semi-finals in the recent World Hockey League in the Netherlands.
Nobbs follows in the footsteps of three other foreign coaches -- Spaniard Jose Brasa, Australian Ric Charlesworth and Germany's Gerhard Rach -- whose contracts were terminated prematurely by India's hockey bosses.
Oltmans, 58, will take charge for next month's Asia Cup tournament in Malaysia, which India must win to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in the Netherlands.
The Dutchman will be assisted at the Asia Cup by former India player Maharaj Krishan Kaushik.
Former players welcomed the decision to remove Nobbs, saying the Australian had not taken the team forward.
He (Nobbs) was not able to produce results. He did not deserve to get a longer run, said India's only World Cup-winning captain Ajitpal Singh.
He should have been removed immediately after the London Olympics. Let us give Kaushik a chance now since foreign coaches have not delivered.
Former India player Joaquim Carvalho, who also served briefly as national coach, said Nobbs' stint was a complete failure.
One can't call him a good coach, Carvalho said.
A good coach is someone who makes good strategies, possesses good management and communication skills.
A good coach is someone who reads the game well. But India's performance just went down under him, he said.
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Two Sri Lankan umpires banned in fixing scandal
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka cricket bosses Tuesday banned two umpires named by an Indian TV programme last year that claimed they were willing to make favourable decisions during matches for cash.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said it banned Sagara Gallage for 10 years and Maurice de la Zilwa for three years from all forms of the game after a disciplinary hearing over allegations in the television sting.
SLC did not give details of the hearing nor the allegations against the pair, but official cricket sources said the disciplinary panel found sufficient evidence to punish them.
A source close to the disciplinary enquiry said Gallage declined to participate in a hearing.
It is clear from the evidence that the two umpires had negotiations with the Indian party (TV sting) and agreed to provide information for monetary benefit, the source said asking not to be named.
But, neither of them were in a position to provide any information because they were not involved in umpiring any of the first class matches at the time.
A third umpire, Gamini Dissanayake, was demoted to umpiring in a lower domestic league for a period of one year, the SLC said, after the television network said it had approached him to discuss matches.
Dissanayake, the most high-profile of the three umpires who declared his innocence when the programme was aired in October, has not been directly implicated in any bribery allegations, the source said.
However, he was faulted for engaging in conversation with the Indian party who had offered him money in exchange for information about teams and players.
From the tapes, it is clear that he did not agree to provide information, but he should have stopped the conversation with the Indian party, the source said.
Dissanayake officiated at two warm-up matches during the World Twenty20 last year and has also been a reserve umpire for international games when India, Pakistan and other nations have toured Sri Lanka.
There was no immediate comment from the three umpires.
The undercover investigation by the India TV channel allegedly found six umpires, including one on the international circuit, were willing to give biased decisions or provide inside information on teams in return for payments.
Three of the six named by the TV programme were from Sri Lanka, while two were from Pakistan. The sixth was Nadir Shah, a Bangladeshi member of the International Cricket Council's international panel which officiates in matches around the world.
Shah was banned for 10 years by Bangladesh authorities in March.
Grainy footage appeared to show Shah, who has stood in 40 one-day internationals and a number of Twenty20 internationals, saying he was willing to give decisions on demand.
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09-07-2013
Pakistan will put up a good show in the Caribbean: Misbah
KARACHI: Pakistan's one-day squad left for the Caribbean with captain Misbah-ul Haq hoping to reverse the team's dwindling fortunes in the limited over matches.
Pakistan will play five one-day and two Twenty20 matches on the tour, with the first match in Guyana on July 14.
Misbah-ul Haq will lead the one-day team while Mohammad Hafeez will captain the Twenty20 side.
Misbah said the tour was important as it would help the team regain their confidence after a humiliating Champions Trophy last month, in which Pakistan lost all three matches.
We will do our best to play hard and positive cricket and ensure that a poor show in the Champions Trophy is behind us, Misbah said before their departure late Sunday.
The squad is focused on putting up a good show which will help in ending the disappointment of our fans and bring the confidence back.
Misbah said they faced a challenging proposition playing the Windies on their home soil.
West Indies is a tough opposition and their batting strength is aggressive but I am sure that our team will do well in all three departments of the game, said Misbah.
Dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi was recalled in the 16-man squad after missing the Champions Trophy in England, while there were also recalls for Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shahzad.
Umar will also keep wicket in the absence of his elder brother Kamran, dropped for the series.
Also left out were Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat who both failed in the Champions Trophy.
Three players 150 Hamad Azam, Zulfiqar Baber and Sohail Tanveer 150 will leave for the Caribbean later to feature in the two Twenty20 matches.
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Sri Lanka hit 219-8 against Windies
PORT OF SPAIN: - Kumar Sangakkara crafted a superb, unbeaten 90 to lift Sri Lanka to a competitive 219 for eight batting first in the rain-affected fifth match of the Tri-Nation Series against the West Indies at Queen's Park Oval on Monday.
With the fixture continuously interrupted by inclement weather and forced into a reserve day following a heavy downpour on Sunday, the West Indies now face a challenging victory target of 230 based on the Duckworth/Lewis Scoring Method in a match reduced to 41 overs-per-side.
Sangakkara, who resumed on the additional day in partnership with fellow left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne, extended the fourth-wicket partnership to 69 when play eventually got under way 105 minutes late because of more rain, resulting in the match being reduced to 45 overs-per-side at that point.
Thirimanne was bowled by Marlon Samuels for 23, after which another light shower drove the players off the field briefly, necessitating a second reduction in the number of overs.
All the while, Sangakkara stayed focused on the task at hand, playing with his trademark fluency and growing in confidence and a sense of adventure, especially when joined by captain Angelo Mathews. The powerful all-rounder blazed 30 off 27 deliveries and gave the innings important impetus while also taking the pressure off the senior batsman.
When Mathews fell, caught by Devon Smith off Kemar Roach, Sangakkara stepped up a gear, taking considerably more risks and capitalising on more wayward and indisciplined West Indies bowling.
A total of 31 extras contributed generously towards the Sri Lankan effort, a tally that included 24 wides and three no-balls. Roach was the most successful of the bowlers with four for 27 although Darren Sammy's medium-pace was the most economical, his nine overs costing just 24 runs.
Sangakkara's 95-ball knock, his 76th half-century in one-day international cricket, included one six and six fours but was defined more by trademark timing, placement and a sensible appreciation of the circumstances than the hell-for-leather hitting usually associated with the final stages of a limited-over match. (AFP)
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08-07-2013
Murray beats Djokovic to end Britain's 77-year drought
LONDON: Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 6-4 on Sunday to become the first Briton to win the Wimbledon men's singles title since 1936.
Murray, the second seed, broke top seed Djokovic twice in the first set on a baking Centre Court and held serve to love to clinch it in exactly an hour.
Djokovic regrouped quickly, however, and led 4-1 in the second set before Murray roared back, breaking the rattled top seed twice to take it 7-5.
Murray broke again in the first game of the third set but Djokovic broke back and took the Briton's serve again to lead 4-2.
Murray broke back twice and served for the match at 5-4.
He led 40-0 but Djokovic saved all three championship points before Murray clinched victory at the fourth attempt after three hours nine minutes when the Serbian netted a backhand.
That was one of the toughest moments, today was unbelievably tough match, Murray said in a courtside interview after lifting the trophy.
I don't know how I came through the final three points, I'm so glad to do it. I have played Novak many times and when everyone finishes playing, he will go down as one of the fighters, the Scot added.
He did the same today and that is what made it tough. I understand how much everyone wanted to see British winner at Wimbledon and I hope everyone enjoyed it.Djokovic was gracious in defeat.
Congratulations to Andy you absolutely deserved it, you played incredibly, the six-times grand slam champion said.
I know what it means to you guys in the whole country so well done. It is a great achievement. I gave it my all and it was an honour to be in this match, in this final, he added.
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Pakistan thump South Africa to secure seventh spot
KARACHI: Pakistan trounced South Africa 6-2 in the 7-8 placement match of the World Hockey League on Sunday in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
Abdul Haseem Khan scored two while Mohammad Waqas, Mohammad Rizwan Sr, Aamir Shazad and Abbas Haider Bilgrami scored a goal each.
Waqas opened the scoring through a penalty corner in the 22nd minute and Pakistan were leading at half-time. Quick goals from Rizwan, Shazad, Haseem and Bilgrami in the opening minutes of the second half strengthened Pakistan's position.
South Africa fought back and scored two goals through Timothy Drummond and Lloyd Norris-Jones but it was not enough to break Pakistan's momentum, who scored their final goal four minutes before full time through Haseem.
Pakistan were knocked out by Korea in the quarterfinals while hosts Malaysia beat them to fifth place 3-1 on Saturday.
The Greeenshirts now have to win the Asia Cup to qualify for the World Cup.
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Vettel wins at home, Raikkonen finishes second
NUERBURGRING: World champion Sebastian Vettel finally tasted Formula One success on home soil after a composed victory in Sunday's German Grand Prix although safety worries again rocked the sport after a series of incidents.
A stray wheel from Mark Webber's Red Bull injured a cameraman in the pitlane, Jules Bianchi's car momentarily caught fire and rolled towards traffic after the driver had got out while Paul Di Resta almost hit Jean-Eric Vergne in the pits.
Kimi Raikkonen was second after a late tyre change failed to get him close enough to Vettel's Red Bull in an exciting finish while Lotus team mate Romain Grosjean was third.
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West Indies win toss, ask Sri Lanka to bat
PORT OF SPAIN: Stand-in West Indies captain Kieron Pollard won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat in the fifth match of the Tri-Nation Series at Queen's Park Oval on Sunday.
Lendl Simmons, who was drafted into the hosts' squad on Saturday following the suspension of regular captain Dwayne Bravo for the match, comes into the final XI as one of three changes from the team that lost by 102 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis Method to India on Friday.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin is omitted along with spinner Sunil Narine, who sustained a finger injury during that match.Their places are taken by batsman Devon Smith and fast-medium bowler Jason Holder with Johnson Charles to do duty behind the stumps.
Brimming with confidence following a 161-thrashing of India in their last match in Kingston five days earlier, a well-rested Sri Lanka have made two changes from the victorious XI at Sabina Park, all-rounder Jeevan Mendis and seamer Shaminda Eranga replacing Kusal Perera and Rangana Herath.
West Indies lead the standings with nine points ahead of their final match, followed by Sri Lanka and India on five points each. The sub-continental neighbours meet in the final preliminary match on Tuesday ahead of the final on July 11.
Teams:
West Indies - K. Pollard (captain), C. Gayle, J. Charles, L. Simmons, D. Bravo, D. Smith, M. Samuels, D. Sammy, J. Holder, K. Roach, T. Best.
Sri Lanka - A. Mathews (captain), U. Tharanga, M. Jayawardene, J. Mendis, K. Sangakkara, D. Chandimal, L. Thirimanne, H. Kulasekara, S. Senanayake, S. Eranga, L. Malinga
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07-07-2013
Bartoli routs Lisicki to win first Wimbledon title
LONDON: Marion Bartoli romped to her first Grand Slam title as the French 15th seed thrashed Germany's Sabine Lisicki 6-1, 6-4 in the Wimbledon final on Saturday.
Bartoli, 28, is the fifth oldest woman to become a first-time Grand Slam winner in the Open Era.
Six years after losing to Venus Williams in the Wimbledon final, Bartoli returned to Centre Court and finally ended her long wait for a major crown with a supreme display of power hitting.
She took just 81 minutes to rout 23rd seed Lisicki, who broke down in tears as the match slipped away in the second set.
By finally winning her maiden major title in the 47th Grand Slam appearance of her career, Bartoli surpassed the previous record set by Jana Novotna, who won Wimbledon in 1998 after 45 appearances at the majors.
Bartoli didn't drop a single set in her seven matches and is the first Frenchwoman to win a Grand Slam singles title since Amelie Mauresmo at Wimbledon in 2006.
Bartoli was broken in the first game, but Lisicki then surrendered her own serve in error-strewn fashion.
Lisicki, 23, was a shadow of the bold stroke-maker who stunned defending champion Serena Williams in the fourth round.
But Bartoli had shaken off her early anxiety and took advantage of
Lisicki's nerves to break again for a 3-1 lead.
Lisicki had every reason to hang her head as she trudged off court to gather her thoughts during a bathroom break before the start of the second set.
The German finally held serve for the first time in the match when she returned to start the second set.
She then mounted her only serious threat to Bartoli's dominance, earning four break points in the second game, only to see the Frenchwoman come up with a series of blistering winners.
Bartoli had scented Lisicki's discomfort and landed the decisive blow with a break to move 2-1 ahead.
Lisicki's beaming smile and all-action style had made her the darling of the Centre Court crowd this year, but this was a miserable end to her fairytale run and she was in tears when she served at 3-1 down.
Bartoli showed no mercy, breaking again as she took a 5-1 lead.
With the title within touching distance, tension crept into Bartoli's game and Lisicki was able to prolong the battle longer than expected.
But Bartoli eventually settled back down and sealed the biggest win of her life with an ace before climbing into stands to share a joyous embrace with Mauresmo and her father. (AFP)
England recall Onions for Ashes opener
LONDON: Graham Onions was recalled by England on Saturday as they boosted their bowling options by naming five seamers in a 13-man squad for the first Test of the Ashes series against Australia at Trent Bridge next week.
Durham paceman Onions, who won the last of his nine Test caps against the West Indies at Edgbaston last year, was joined in the squad by Yorkshire seam-bowling all-rounder Tim Bresnan, who missed the recent home series win over New Zealand while he recovered from elbow surgery.
Also in the squad were pace trio James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn.
Broad missed England's warm-up win over Essex with a shoulder injury, a match where key off-spinner Graeme Swann was struck a painful blow on the right arm, having had surgery on his right elbow earlier this year. But both bowlers were passed fit.
England national selector Geoff Miller stressed the 30-year-old Onions, whose 32 Test wickets have come at a shade under 30 runs apiece, was more than just injury cover.
As expected, Nick Compton was left out of the squad after Miller had said Joe Root would be promoted to open the innings, something the 22-year-old does for Yorkshire but has yet to do at Test level, alongside captain Alastair Cook.
Somerset opener Compton, grandson of England great Denis, scored back-to-back hundreds in New Zealand earlier this year but was omitted after a poor return series against the Kiwis that saw him manage just 39 runs in four innings.
England will be bidding to win their third straight series against
Australia -- something they last managed in the 1950s -- when the first Test of a five-match campaign starts in Nottingham on Wednesday.
With the British and Irish Lions rugby union team beating Australia in Sydney earlier Saturday to complete a 2-1 series win, and Andy Murray bidding to becoming the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win the Wimbledon men's singles title in Sunday's final against Novak Djokovic, Miller said he hoped the cricket side could tap into an upbeat national mood. (AFP)
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Pakistan slump to another WHL defeat
After losing their quarterfinal match against Korea, Pakistan slumped to another defeat, this time at the hands of hosts Malaysia and in the process were also ousted from the race for a fifth place finish in the World Hockey League (WHL) in Johor Bahru.
The 3-1 loss meant that Pakistan would now take on South Africa for the 7-8 playoff game while hosts Malaysia will battle Japan in the 5-6 placement match.
Pakistan, who have always been guilty of being inconsistent, had been surprisingly solid in the WHL but the quarterfinal loss to Korea seemed to have taken the wind out of their sails and it was quite evident against Malaysia today.
They never looked in control of the match and conceded a goal in the 14th minute off a Muhammad Razie Adbul Rahim drag-flick. Even though the Greenshirts hit back just two minutes later through a stunning buildup and finish by Shafqat Rasool, they were chasing the game once again after an own-goal from goalkeeper Imran Butt in the 19th minute.
Tengku Ahmad Tajudin extended the lead for Malaysia just three minutes into the second half and effectively shut the door for Pakistan.
It was once again a case of lackadaisical defending and poor finishing for Muhammad Imrans men who now face the daunting task of winning the upcoming Asia Cup to qualify for the World Cup.
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Emotional Lisicki weeps after Wimbledon choke
LONDON: Sabine Lisicki broke down in floods of tears after crippling stagefright condemned her to a 6-1, 6-4 defeat to Marion Bartoli in Saturday's Wimbledon final.
The German 23rd seed, who had beamed her way into a maiden Grand Slam final, struggled to keep her emotions in check as the match slipped away from her in the second set.
She then completely lost her composure as she addressed the Centre Court crowd after her 81-minute choke.
"I was just overwhelmed by the whole situation, but credit to Marion. She handled it perfectly, she's been on the tour for a long time and deserves this. I just hope I get another chance as well," said the 23-year-old Lisicki, who had knocked out five-time champion Serena Williams in the fourth round.
"I still love this tournament. I love the crowd, you helped me try and get over my nerves but Marion was just too good."
Lisicki, bidding to be the first German winner at Wimbledon since Steffi Graf in 1996, sobbed openly as she turned to her father and mother, Richard and Elisabeth, watching from the players' box.
"I want to thank my team, they have always been there for me....we have been through so much together, there have been so many ups and downs," she said.
"I wish I had won but I hope to get the chance one more time." (AFP)
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06-07-2013
Kashmir's Rasool makes India's squad
NEW DELHI: Parvez Rasool on Friday became the first Kashmiri cricketer to be selected for India after he was named for a limited-overs series against Zimbabwe later this month.
The 24-year-old off-spinner and a useful lower order batsman was picked in a new-look 15-man squad for five one-day internationals in Zimbabwe from July 24 to August 3.
Rasool, who hails from Bij Behara town in Indian Kashmir's Anantnag district, rose to fame in February when he grabbed 7-45 against the touring Australians in a warm-up match in Chennai ahead of the Test series.
Former India spinner Bishan Bedi, who coached the Jammu and Kashmir first-class team, rated Rasool highly.He is an orthodox off-spinner, is a brilliant all-round cricketer and a very good athlete, said Bedi.
Virat Kohli will lead the side in place of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was rested after suffering a hamstring injury in the first match of the ongoing tri-series in the West Indies.
The World Cup holders will be without seven players who were part of the recent Champions Trophy-winning campaign in the United Kingdom.
India's squad: Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, Cheteshwar Pujara, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Parvez Rasool, Mohammad Shami, Vinay Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat, Mohit Sharma.
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05-07-2013
Korea comeback dents Pakistan's World Cup hopes
Pakistans hopes of qualifying for the 2014 Hockey World Cup suffered a major blow after the Greenshirts were edged out 4-3 by an electrifying Korean side in the quarterfinal of the World Hockey League (WHL).
Muhammad Imrans side, who needed to finish in the top three in the WHL to qualify for the World Cup next year, must now win the upcoming Asia Cup to make the trip to the Netherlands, where hockey146s biggest event will be staged.
The quarterfinal started in great fashion for Imrans side as they dominated possession and managed to get on the board as early as the fifth minute through a magical field goal by Muhammad Waqas. Muhammad Tousiq doubled Pakistans lead in the 16th minute to leave the Koreans gasping for air. And it wasnt until the closing minutes of the first-half that they hit back through Kang Moon Kweons low penalty corner.
Inspired by Kang again, the Koreans turned it around right away in the second-half to make it 2-2 but a sloppy effort in their own D gave Pakistan a penalty stroke and an easy chance to get back into the lead. Shakeel Abbasi held his nerve to complete an easy goal, fired in the top right.
From there onwards it was all Korea and it seemed their belligerent offensive left Imrans side well and truly baffled. First, Nam Hyun Woo scored off a penalty corner in the 43rd minute before Kim Young Jin scored a field goal five minutes later. Losing the advantage after being two goals up clearly seemed to shake the spirit of the Pakistanis and it must have been playing on the mind of Abbasi. The veteran striker fired in his penalty to the left of Korean Lee Myung Ho but the alert keeper was in a good position to stop the shot.
While that passage of play in the 53rd minute was probably the decisive moment of the match, Pakistan had several penalty corner opportunities after it which they failed to make use of.
Although the defeat will leave Pakistan dejected, their performance in the WHL was a marked improvement from their showing at this years Azlan Shah Cup where they finished 5th. They tied with Malaysia and England and thumped lowly South Africa 6-2 but were often found wanting in front of goal which proved to be their undoing in against Korea.
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Pakistan chief selector walks away, denies rift with captain
Pakistan's chief cricket selector Iqbal Qasim stepped down from his post on Thursday, denying any rift with the national team's captain and coach.
I have told the top officials of the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) that I have completed my tenure so they should appoint a new panel for future selection, Qasim told AFP.
The acting PCB chairman, Najam Sethi, accepted Qasim's resignation and lauded his services to the sport in an official press release issued shortly after Qasim's statement.
"Iqbal Qasim has done a great service to the country. He has given a fitting farewell to the team by presiding over its selection committee prior to the West Indies tour starting soon. He said his term was up (in April, 2013, extended to July by suspended chairman Zaka Ashraf) and asked to be relieved after concluding his professional duties. I wish him well and shall continue to seek his advice and guidance on cricketing matters in the future," Sethi said.
Local media had regularly speculated about differences between Qasim, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq, coach Dav Whatmore, and Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez over selection, but Qasim denied any rift.
1I had no differences with anyone, said Qasim, a former left arm spinner who played 50 Tests and 15 one-days for Pakistan.
I completed my tenure in April but then PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf requested me to continue until (July and) the West Indies tour, which I did, said Qasim.
Qasim's committee came under criticism after the team crashed out of the Champions Trophy in England last month.
He has served repeated tenures as chief selector. In 2010, he resigned after the team's 3-0 rout in Australia in 2010.
The team wins and the team loses, which is part of the game so there should be no differences, said Qasim.
I thank Misbah, Whatmore and Hafeez for their cooperation.
The PCB will consider the formation of a new selection committee and chairman in the days to come, the press release added.
Pakistan will play five one-day and two Twenty20 matches in the Caribbean.
They will tour Zimbabwe in August for two Tests, three one-day and two Twenty20 matches
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Murray stages comeback to advance into Wimbledon semis
LONDON:Andy Murray pulled off a dramatic comeback from two sets down to beat Fernando Verdasco in the Wimbledon quarter-finals and keep up home hopes of a first British champion since 1936.
The second seed defeated the 54th-ranked Spaniard 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 in a thrilling match on Centre Court.
The winner faces Polish 24th seed Jerzy Janowicz in Friday's semi-finals after he beat compatriot Lukasz Kubot in straight sets in their quarter-final.
Results from the Wimbledon Men's Singles Quarterfinal matches on Wednesday 2-Andy Murray (Britain) beat Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 4-6 3-6 6-1 6-4 7-5
24-Jerzy Janowicz (Poland) beat Lukasz Kubot (Poland) 7-5 6-4 6-4
1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia) beat 7-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 7-6(5) 6-4 6-3
8-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) beat 4-David Ferrer (Spain) 6-2 6-4 7-6(5).
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Lisicki into final after Radwanska thriller
LONDON: Sabine Lisicki became the first German woman since 1999 to reach a Grand Slam final when she defeated Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 2-6, 9-7 on Thursday in a thrilling Wimbledon semi-final.
The 24th seed Lisicki will face France's 15th-seeded Marion Bartoli, the 2007 runner-up, in Saturday's title match looking to become Germany's first champion at a major since Steffi Graf beat Martina Hingis to claim the 1999 French Open.
Graf was also the last German to reach a final at a major when she was runner-up to Lindsay Davenport at Wimbledon that same year.
But 23-year-old Lisicki, the smiling darling of the All England club crowd, did it the hard way.
She was a set and a break ahead before an astonishing collapse put her 0-3 down in the decider with errors flying off both sides.
But Lisicki, who put out five-time champion Serena Williams in the fourth round, mounted an astonishing and memorable fightback against a player who made the semi-final having spent three hours more on court.
She finished with nine aces and 60 winners which compensated for the 46 unforced errors she sent down, a worthwhile price for her all-out assault.
Lisicki, who was a semi-finalist in 2011, grabbed the first break to lead 4-3 when a groundstroke clipped the top of the net just enough to throw Radwanska off balance whose hesitant forehand dropped wide.
The 23-year-old German fired down a 119mph ace to hold for 5-3 but Radwanska, with both thighs heavily strapped, put the onus onto her opponent to serve out the set with a solid hold in the ninth game.
Lisicki saved a break point before taking the opener when Radwanska pushed a backhand service return wide.
The German was a break to the good in the first game of the second set but Radwanska, the runner-up to Serena last year, hit back for 1-1.
Suddenly, Lisicki, the girl who has smiled her way through the tournament, was looking decidedly grim as Radwanska broke again to lead 3-1.
In a roller-coaster of a set, the German re-gathered her composure to come back at 2-3 before a fifth break in the sixth game handed the initiative back to Radwanska for a 4-2 lead.
The fourth-seeded Radwanska held for a crucial 5-2 advantage and levelled the semi-final when Lisicki fired her 17th error of the second set.
Radwanska was quickly 3-0 up in the decider thanks to having bagged nine games in 10 and breaking the Lisicki serve five times in succession.
But Lisicki broke for 5-4 before Radwanska repaid the favour for 5-5.
It was the German who held her nerve when it mattered, taking the match after two hours and 18 minutes with a booming forehand winner. (AFP)
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04-07-2013
Afridi, Umar Akmal back as Pakistan announce squad for West Indies
LAHORE: Pakistan Wednesday axed former captain Shoaib Malik, wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal and opener Imran Farhat for this month's limited-overs series in the West Indies, but dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi was back in the team.
Selectors made four changes in the one-day team which crashed out of last month's eight-nation Champions Trophy in England, losing all three games due to sloppy batting.
Malik managed just 25 runs in three matches, Kamran scored 23 in the same number and Farhat scored four in two. Pakistan failed to cross the 170-mark in any of their games.
They will play five one-day and two Twenty20 internationals in the Caribbean, with the first one-day match in Guyana on July 14.
Misbah-ul Haq will lead the one-day team while Mohammad Hafeez will skipper the Twenty20 side.
Chief selector Iqbal Qasim said the 16-man one-day and 15-member T20 squads were selected after discussion with the team management.
We have selected separate squads after consultation with Misbah and coach Dav Whatmore and we hope that it will do well, said Qasim.
Afridi was dropped from the one-day squad twice in the last six months after he failed to impress with both bat and ball, but Qasim said the all-rounder had been given one more chance.
He was first discarded for the one-day leg of the India tour in January before making a comeback on the South Africa tour, but was left out again for the Trophy.
We have selected Afridi as per the requirement for the West Indies tour where we need a leg-spinner and he is one of the physically fittest players, said Qasim of the 33-year-old.
Misbah accepted responsibility for the failure in the Champions Trophy.
I have accepted defeats before and I take responsibility for defeat now, he said.
We have selected a blend of youth and experience with a few players in mind for the 2015 World Cup.
Afridi has not taken a single wicket in his last six one-day matches.
Also back in the one-day team is Kamran's younger brother Umar who will also keep wicket. Uncapped Mohammad Rizwan, 21, is the other keeper in the team.
Opener Ahmed Shahzad also staged a comeback after being left out two years ago.
Paceman Umar Gul remains sidelined after undergoing knee surgery in May.
Squad (one-day): Misbah-ul Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shahzad, Asad Shafiq, Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Irfan, Asad Ali, Junaid Khan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Rehman
Squad (Twenty20): Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Ahmed Shahzad, Nasir Jamshed, Shahid Afridi, Umar Akmal, Haris Sohail, Hammad Azam, Sohail Tanveer, Wahab Riaz, Asad Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan, Umar Amin, Saeed Ajmal and Zulfiqar Babar.
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03-07-2013Lisicki dismantles Kanepi to reach semi-finals
LONDON: German Sabine Lisicki lived up to her status as the new Wimbledon favourite with a clinical 6-3 6-3 demolition of Kaia Kanepi in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
Lisicki, who knocked out defending champion and top seed Serena Williams in the fourth round, broke Kanepi's serve in the opening game of the match on Court One and wrapped up the first set in 33 minutes.
Estonian Kanepi took advantage of three Lisicki double faults to break serve for a 2-1 lead in the second set but the German 23rd seed reeled off four games in a row to stand on the brink of the last four.
Kanepi held serve to stop the rot but Lisicki sealed victory in just 65 minutes with a forehand volley on her third match point.
Lisicki will play fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska or sixth seed Li Na in her second Wimbledon semi-final
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Pakistan turn on the style with 6-2 win over South Africa
Pakistan turned on the style in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, handing South Africa a 6-2 master class courtesy a superb hat-trick by talented forward Abdul Haseem Khan and a great display of goal-tending by Imran Butt in the last group match of the World Hockey League (WHL) on Tuesday.
The match, after which the quarter-final lineup of the WHL was confirmed, saw Pakistan in an electrifying mood, and while number 12th ranked South Africa were lighter opponents, Muhammad Imrans side finally delivered a performance worthy of the praise they have been receiving from the experts present in Malaysia.
Muhammad Zubair set things into motion, netting the first goal in the 13th minute before forward Shafqat Rasool pounced on a saved penalty corner to make it 2-0 in the 17th minute. It was a great display of skill from the Greenshirts, as Pakistan are famously known as, and a throwback to the days when they ruled the field of hockey.
South Africa mounted a comeback of sorts by grabbing a goal in the 25th minute but Haseem Khan then got into the act and gave Pakistan a two-goal lead once again before half-time.
If mounting a comeback for Austin Smith146s men seemed a tall order at half-time, Pakistan made sure there was no hope left with a second half-blitzkrieg. They scored their fourth through Haseem Khan who linked up nonchalantly with Muhammad Waqas.
The rising star of Pakistan hockey, Haseem Khan, then completed his hat-trick in the 60th minute and the brilliant Shakeel Abbasi added the sixth goal for good measure to cap a clinical match for his side.
South Africa, in between, mounted several attacks and even managed to pull one back in the final minutes of the game through Craigh Haley. But while the 6-2 scoreline was a testament of Pakistans dominance in the field, it was also a reflection of the incredible outing Imran Butt had in goal.
In Butt, who was also injured mid-way through the match, Pakistan have found a solid replacement for Salman Akbar and is living up to the legacy his brother Rehan Butt has left in the team.
The result means Pakistan topped Group B and will now face Korea in the quarterfinal stage on July 4 (16:15 PST), their first real test of the tournament.
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India win toss, put Sri Lanka in to bat
KINGSTON: Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat in the third match of the Celkon Mobile Cup Tri-Nation One-Day International Series at Sabina Park on Tuesday.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni is ruled out of the rest of the tournament because of a hamstring strain sustained while batting against the West Indies on Sunday.
Kohli leads a team with Murali Vijay replacing Dhoni in the final XI, while seamer Shami Ahmed comes in for Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the other change from the side that lost its opening match by one wicket to the hosts.
Sri Lanka are also seeking their first points before the competition shifts to the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.
The team led by all-rounder Angelo Mathews has two changes from the opening loss to the West Indies on Friday. Batsman Kusal Perera and off-spinning all-rounder Sachithra Senanayake replace Jeevan Mendis and Ajantha Mendis.
Teams:
India - V. Kohli (captain), S. Dhawan, M. Vijay, R. Sharma, D. Karthik, S. Raina, R. Jadeja, R. Ashwin, S. Ahmed, I. Sharma, U. Yadav.
Sri Lanka - A. Mathews (captain), U. Tharanga, M. Jayawardene, K. Sangakkara, D. Chandimal, L. Thirimanne, N. Kulasekara, K. Perera, S. Senanayake, R. Herath, L. Malinga.
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02-07-2013
Lisicki stuns Serena in another Wimbledon shock
LONDON: Defending champion Serena Williams was eliminated in the fourth round of Wimbledon on Monday, failing to close out a see-saw third set before losing 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 to Sabine Lisicki of Germany.
The loss ends Williams' career-best 34-match winning streak and her attempt to win a sixth title at the All England Club.
Williams was up a break twice in the third set but Lisicki fought back both times and broke again to go up 5-4. She converted her second match point with a forehand winner.
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India captain Dhoni out of tri-nation series
KINGSTON: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been ruled out of the remainder of the Tri-Nation Series with a right hamstring strain sustained while batting against the West Indies in his team's first match of the tournament on Sunday at Sabina Park.
His place in the 15-man squad is to be taken by the uncapped 27-year-old batsman Ambati Rayudu.
Vice-captain Virat Kohli, who led the team on the field in Dhoni's absence against the West Indies, takes over as captain for the remainder of the series.
India face Sri Lanka on Tuesday in Kingston with both teams looking for their first points after each lost to the hosts in their respective opening fixtures.Following that encounter, the tournament shifts to the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, for the remaining three preliminary matches at the final, starting with India against the West Indies on Friday.
His place in the 15-man squad is to be taken by the uncapped 27-year-old batsman Ambati Rayudu.
Vice-captain Virat Kohli, who led the team on the field in Dhoni's absence against the West Indies, takes over as captain for the remainder of the series.
India face Sri Lanka on Tuesday in Kingston with both teams looking for their first points after each lost to the hosts in their respective opening fixtures.Following that encounter, the tournament shifts to the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, for the remaining three preliminary matches at the final, starting with India against the West Indies on Friday.
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Aisam, Rojer knocked out after five-set thriller
KARACHI: Pakistan's tennis ace Aisam ul Haq Qureshi and his Dutch partner Jean Julien Rojer crashed out at Wimbledon after losing to Julien Benneteau and Nenad Zimonjic 3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 in a five-set thriller on Monday in the last 16 of the men's doubles event.
The Pak-Dutch duo started off well in a match which lasted almost four hours, winning the first two sets 6-3, 6-4. However, France146s Benneteau and Serbia146s Zimonjic fought back and took the match to the final set and sealed their spot in the quarter finals.
In the mixed doubles, Aisam progressed through to the third round with his partner Cara Black after Mark Knowles and his partner Germany's Sabine Lisicki withdrew.
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Nepal to organise South Asian football tournament
Nepal is to stage South Asia's biggest football tournament in September that will see eight nations from the region competing, organisers said on Monday.
This is the biggest (football) tournament we have organised in Nepal,said Indra Man Tuladhar from the All Nepal Football Association.
The competition will kick off on September 1 in the 18,000-capacity Dasharath Rangashala stadium in Kathmandu, which is being specially renovated.
The winning team will take home $50,000 while the runners up will receive $25,000.
Cricket-mad South Asia countries are mostly international minnows, with Afghanistan the highest ranked nation at 140 and India even lower at 147, according to FIFA.
Last year's South Asia Championship was organised in the Indian capital with the hosts emerging with the trophy. Nepal held the first Championship in 1997.
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Murray, Jokovich into last-eight as Poles double up
LONDON: Andy Murray took another step closer to ending Britain's agonising 77-year wait for a men's Wimbledon champion on Monday as Jerzy Janowicz and Lukasz Kubot guaranteed Poland a semi-final place.
British second seed Murray survived a second set wobble to carve out a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 win over Russian 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny to reach the quarter-finals.
Murray, the runner-up to Roger Federer in 2012, will face Spain's Fernando Verdasco for a place in the semi-finals.
The Scot has an 8-1 winning record over unseeded Verdasco, a former top-10 player.
Murray had to battle back from 2-5 down in the second set to quell the threat posed by Youzhny, who needed treatment on a shoulder injury after one game of the third set.
Murray put in an impressive serving performance, firing 15 aces and hitting 45 winners past the experienced Russian.
It was a tough match, the first couple of sets especially. He also had a few chances at the beginning of the third set as well but once I got ahead in the third I concentrated very hard not to let him back in like I did in the second set, said Murray.
The Scot said he wasn't getting carried away by the national hysteria as he tries to become Britain's first champion since Fred Perry in 1936.
He is wary of becoming another shock Wimbledon victim, like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Roger's lost and Rafa's lost. All these guys are better players than me and have achieved a lot more than me and so if they can lose so can I. I just concentrate on the next one and try and get through it.Verdasco, a former world number nine who now stands at 54 in the world and is playing his 41st successive major, reached his first Wimbledon quarter-final with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over unseeded Frenchman Kenny De Schepper.
Davis Cup teammates Janowicz and Kubot set-up the first ever all-Polish quarter-final.
Janowicz, the 24th seed, defeated Austria's Jurgen Melzer, 3-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on the back of 16 aces and 34 winners as he reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final.
The 22-year-old was joined in the last eight just moments later by 31-year-old Kubot, the lowest-ranked player left at 130 in the world, who defeated France's 111th-ranked Adrian Mannarino, 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The last Pole to reach the last-eight at Wimbledon was Wojtek Fibak in 1980.
It's unbelievable what is going on right now. We have two players in the quarter-finals and a woman in the quarter-finals. I think this is by far the best what possibly could happen to Polish tennis, said Janowicz.
Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer reached the quarter-finals for the second successive year by firing 53 winners in his 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-1 win over Croatia's unseeded Ivan Dodig.
He goes on to tackle Argentine eighth seed Juan Martin del Potro who reached his first Wimbledon quarter-final with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 win over Andreas Seppi, the 23rd seeded Italian.
However, Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, admitted that he is still being bothered by knee trouble.
It bothers me a lot. I couldn't extend 100 percent the knee. The tapes for today helped me to be careful in some movements. But it is not enough, said Del Potro.
The 31-year-old Ferrer, who was defeated in the French Open final by Nadal last month, will be laying in his seventh consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final.
Ferrer insists that the ankle injury which he has carried into Wimbledon will not be a problem.
There is a little bit of pain, but it's normal. It's impossible to play without any pain,148 he said.
Later Monday, top seed Novak Djokovic, the 2011 champion,beat 2009 semi-finalist Tommy Haas, the 35-year-old German 13th seed who was bidding to become the oldest Wimbledon quarter-finalist since Tom Okker in 1979.
Novak Djokovic continued his stroll through the top half of the Wimbledon draw with a 6-1 6-4 7-6(4) victory over Tommy Haas to reach the quarter-finals on Monday.
The Serb, bidding for a second title at the All England Club, is yet to drop a set, although he did have a hiccup when he trailed in the second against 35-year-old German Haas.
Haas, blown off court in a 25-minute opening set, raised his game to break in the fifth game of the second set but Djokovic hit back to level at 4-4 with a crosscourt backhand winner.
Normal service was soon resumed as Djokovic took the second set and moved 5-2 ahead in the third but Haas managed one last counter-attack to stretch the contest into a tiebreak.With the light fading Djokovic slammed the door shut to roll on.
The victory gave Djokovic, who has yet to drop his serve in three rounds so far, a 17th successive place in a Grand Slam quarter-final.
Haas was playing in his 53rd Grand Slam, just four behind the record of 57 for active players held by Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt.
The shock defeats suffered by Federer and Nadal in the first week had helped throw the tournament wide open with only five of the men's top 10 seeds, Djokovic, Murray, Ferrer, Tomas Berdych and Del Potro, reaching the fourth round.
We can rebuild the team for the World Cup: Misbah
LAHORE: Skipper Misbah-ul Haq put a brave face Monday on Pakistan's miserable collapse at the Champions Trophy, believing the team can overcome serious weaknesses to rebuild for the 2015 World Cup.
Pakistan crashed out of the eight-team Champions Trophy last month, losing all three matches as their batsmen flopped once again.
But 39-year-old Misbah, who top-scored in the Trophy with 173, was confident the team can bounce back.
Losing is not the end, we can rebuild the team in the next two years for the World Cup by working on good players, Misbah told reporters on his return from England.
Apart from Misbah, all other top order batsmen flopped with opener Mohammad Hafeez scoring 38 runs in three matches, Asad Shafiq 41, Shoaib Malik 25 and Kamran Akmal 23 at the Trophy held in England.
Misbah conceded changes in the team ahead of their five-match, one-day and two Twenty20 international series in the West Indies later this month.
We have to sit down and discuss, make changes where necessary and plan who are the players to be groomed for the future, said Misbah, who will retain his position as captain for the one-day series staring in Guyana from July 14.
Misbah denied there was any rift in the team following the poor performances.
Whenever the team loses such negative things come up but there are no differences because these are the same players who did well recently,8 said Misbah.
Pakistan have now lost four of their last five one-day series under Misbah.
Misbah said as captain and as a Pakistan cricketer he was 147deeply disappointed148 with his team's showing in the Champions Trophy.
7We are playing all our cricket outside Pakistan and that is also one of the reasons we are suffering, said Misbah of the lack of home series due to the security situation.
Pakistan has been forced to play at neutral venues since militants attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009, ending all foreign tours to the country.
Misbah said batsmen needed to lift their standards.
Conditions in England were tough and our batsmen couldn't handle that, but we have to address that problem sooner rather than later,8 said Misbah.
Pakistan is expected to appoint former captain Inzamam-ul Haq as batting consultant after their experiment with Australian coach Trent Woodhill in the Trophy failed to produce desired results.
Misbah said he will sit with selectors to finalise a team for the West Indies tour. The team is due to be announced on Wednesday.
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01-07-2013West Indies limits India to 229-7
Sharma struck four boundaries and one six but West Indies bowlers produced a disciplined performance to limit the world's top ranked team.
Kemar Roach and Darren Sammy both enjoyed figures of 2-41, while Tino Best recovered from a wayward start to grab 2-52.
India, sent in to bat by stand-in West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard, was quickly derailed by Roach and Sammy. Shikhar Dhawan, the left-hander fresh off the Player of the Tournament award in the ICC Champions Trophy, fell for 11, driving a return catch to Roach, who held it at the second attempt at 25-1.
It was 39-2 in the 10th over when Virat Kohli edged Sammy to first slip where Chris Gayle dived to his right to pluck a one-handed catch.
Sharma and Dinesh Karthik, the Mumbai Indians pair, revived the innings in a measured third wicket stand of 59. But Marlon Samuels struck when the stand was emerging, grabbing a return catch to send Karthik packing for 23 off 56 balls. Sammy completed a fine spell with the wicket of Sharma, who lofted down long-off at 124-4.
Captain MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina ensured India got to a respectable total through a fifth wicket stand of 58 off 75 balls. But West Indies cut both short before they could engineer a final surge. Raina chased a wide ball from Roach to be caught behind for 44. The left-hander faced 55 balls and hit four fours.
Dhoni, who seemed to badly injure his right leg while running a single, batted on but fell soon afterwards as he missed a swing at Best and had his leg stump rocked.
The innings got a late boost from Bhivneshwar Kumar, who hit a six and a four in Sunil Narine's final over that cost 17.
Pakistan keep England at bay to record 2-2 draw
their second match of the World Hockey League on Sunday in Johor, Malaysia.
Pakistan, who were 2-1 down at half-time, had the upper hand in the second half but could only manage a draw.
Oliver Willars put England ahead in the 12th minute, scoring from a deflection off Pakistan's goalkeeper Imran Shah. However, just a few minutes later, Pakistan captain Mohammad Imran scored the equaliser through a penalty corner.
Adam Dixon put England in the lead again with a penalty corner and the Greenshirts went into the second half with the score line not in their favour, despite an attempt from Mohammad Zubair to equalise minutes before the break.
In the early minutes of the second half, Abdul Haseem Khan scored the equaliser through a penalty corner and Pakistan kept up their momentum, constantly threatening England.
Imran Butt replaced Shah eight minutes before full-time and the difference was obvious as he kept England at bay with some brilliant saves, particulary one in the dying minutes of the match against Ashley Jackson, to keep the score tied.
Pakistan's second half performance should have seen them score the winner but England goalkeeper George Pinner did well to deny the Greenshirts.
The result leaves Pakistan with two points in Group B in the eight-nation tournament, after recording a 4-4 draw against hosts Malaysia in the opener on Saturday.
Pakistan will now play South Africa on July 2.
The day's other matches saw Argentina beat Japan 7-1 and Germany ease past Korea 5-0.
Rosberg wins British Grand Prix
SILVERSTONE: Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg won an eventful British Grand Prix on Sunday, after four drivers including early race leader Lewis Hamilton were hit by tire blowouts and Sebastian Vettel retired while leading with 10 laps remaining due to mechanical problems.With Vettel's Red Bull teammate Mark Webber closing fast, Rosberg managed to win his second race of the year and third of his career by 0.7 seconds in a nail-biting finish - though he then had to survive a stewards inquiry.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who started ninth, made a late charge up the grid and got past Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen with two laps remaining to claim third. Hamilton also recovered to finish fourth, after his blown tire sent him to the back of the grid in the eighth lap.
Soon after celebrating, Rosberg risked seeing his victory slip away when he was referred to the stewards for not slowing down for yellow flags in turns 3 and 5. The stewards ruled that Rosberg “did not make a significant reduction in speed” but would only receive a reprimand, or warning. After three reprimands during a season, drivers are given a 10-place grid penalty. This was Rosberg's first.
“Fantastic, it's very special,” said Rosberg, who also won in Monaco and in China last year. “Our team has done such a fantastic job. We have such momentum at the moment, progressing all the time.”
It seemed like Hamilton might have won his first British Grand Prix since 2008 after getting a great start and leading three-time world champion Vettel. But on the eighth lap, Hamilton's left rear tire exploded and he was forced to pit.
Two laps later, Ferrari's Felipe Massa lost his left rear tire and spun out. Five laps later, Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne also lost his rear tire, with the rubber exploding across the track. That brought out the safety car until lap 22 when normal racing resumed. It also prompted several drivers after the race to warn of the dangers of exploding tires - which affected McLaren driver Sergio Perez on both Saturday and Sunday - while the sport's ruling FIA ordered tire supplier Pirelli to attend a meeting on the issue on Wednesday.
Tire troubles have been a running theme all season, with several teams led by Red Bull claiming the Pirelli tires wear out too quickly and force drivers to pit more often than in previous seasons. Pirelli and Mercedes were reprimanded earlier this month by the sport's governing body after being found guilty of conducting an in-season test on the tires.
Following Sunday's events, the ruling International Automobile Federation (FIA) has ordered Pirelli to attend a meeting in Germany on the issue on Wednesday. Pirelli, for its part, acknowledged there have “been some issues” with the left rear tires. Pirelli's Paul Hembery said it was “taking the situation very seriously” and “currently investigating all tires to determine the cause as soon as possible ahead of the next grand prix in Germany.”
Hembery could not say what caused the tires to explode but has ruled out a new bonding process which was introduced for this race. He also said “some aspects” of the circuit could be to blame without elaborating.
Hamilton was still clearly angry after the race. “The safety is the biggest issue, it's unacceptable,” Hamilton told the BBC. “Four blowouts is unacceptable. It's only when someone gets hurt that someone will be doing something about it. I think it's a waste of time talking to the FIA, and if they don't do anything that says a lot about them.”
Vergne said: “It's just a shame that this sort of problem can waste a whole weekend's work for the team. I am very upset about it and something needs to be done about it soon.”
TV pictures of Turn 4 on the Silverstone circuit, where some of the incidents took place, indicated the sidewall of the tires could have been punctured by a sharp part of the kerb.
After the restart, Vettel began extending his lead over Rosberg and appeared set for a fourth win. But on the 42nd lap, Vettel's car came to a stop after his fifth gear broke and Rosberg took the lead. That brought out the safety car for a second time for three laps.
When it went off with seven laps to go, it triggered some of the best racing all day. Alonso was among the most aggressive, passing McLaren's Jenson Button, Force India's Adrian Sutil and eventually Raikkonen for third. Webber also charged pass Raikkonen into second with four laps remaining. Hamilton also benefited from the safety car going out twice, rising from last on the grid to ninth by lap 45 and then got past Sutil for fourth with a lap remaining.
“There are massive positives to take out the team this weekend,” Hamilton said. “Nico won and we got some good points and we are second in the constructors' championship. I'm grateful the car was strong I was able to come through the field and the right things happened. It was bad luck when the tire goes and you are in the lead. I was grateful that I had achieved things that helped me along the way.”
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30-06-2013
Perfect seven as Seppi downs Nishikori
LONDON: Andreas Seppi extended his remarkable run of five set victories as the Italian 23rd seed defeated Japan's Kei Nishikori 3-6, 6-2 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-4 in the third round at Wimbledon on Saturday.
Seppi, who went the distance to beat Denis Istomin in the previous round, has now won all seven of the five-set matches in 2013 dating back to the Australian Open in January.
The 29-year-old will play former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro or Slovenia's Grega Zemlja for a place in the quarter-finals.
Seppi, who had never been past the third round at Wimbledon in eight previous attempts, showed impressive stamina as he recovered from two sets to one down to see off the Japanese 12th seed.
Nishikori needed treatment on his back after breaking early in the third set and couldn't maintain his momentum despite winning the tie-break in that set.
Seppi raced away with the fourth set and Nishikori called for a medical time-out to have more treatment on his back before the decider.
The Italian kept the pressure on and landed the killer break before serving out his latest lengthy win. (AFP)
England to stage inaugural Test Championship
LONDON: England and Wales will stage the inaugural World Test Championship in June and July of 2017, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Saturday following the conclusion of its annual conference in London.
The World Test Championship will replace the Champions Trophy, recently won by India this month after they beat hosts England by five runs in the final at Birmingham's Edgbaston ground.
India will stage the second edition of the Test Championship in February/March 2021.
We are delighted to confirm the exciting schedule of events through to 2023, ICC chief executive David Richardson said in the statement.
The ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales was highly acclaimed and appreciated by all.
However, the principle of one pinnacle global event for each of the three formats (Test, One-Day and Twenty20) over a four-year cycle is a good one and, as such, the ICC board has agreed to replace the Champions Trophy with the ICC World Test Championship,8 the former South Africa wicketkeeper added.
Now that the ICC World Test Championship has been confirmed, we'll work on the playing conditions and qualification criteria, and will submit these to the ICC board for approval in due course.
The ICC had planned to stage the first Test Championship in England this year but existing commercial agreements meant it had to stage a one-day international tournament instead, hence the last edition of the Champions Trophy.
Saturday's announcement regarding the World Test Championship was part of a package of global events due to take place between 2015-2023.
However, the ICC raised doubts about Bangladesh's suitability to stage next year's World Twenty20.
The IDI (ICC Development International) board reviewed an inspection report by the ICC venue consultant on the venues for the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 and expressed its concern regarding the progress of construction and improvements to playing facilities in Cox's Bazar and Sylhet.
The board noted that a further inspection and report is scheduled for August, after which a final decision will be taken on the venues for the event.Among the changes to playing conditions agreed this week was a revised policy on when umpires need to change the ball in an international match.
The issue became a hot topic during the Champions Trophy after England were accused by former captain Bob Willis of ball-tampering after the ball was changed by umpires Aleem Dar and Billy Bowden when the hosts were in the field against Sri Lanka at The Oval.
Afterwards England one-day coach Ashley Giles insisted the side's behaviour had been above board while the ICC said nothing in the umpires' match report warranted further action on their part.
Under the new condition there will be a 147formal introduction of a two-step process when the umpire believes the condition of the ball has been changed but there is no eye witness to identify which player changed the condition of the ball: i) Replace the ball and give the captain a first and final warning. ii) award a five-run penalty to the batting team, replace the ball (with the batsman to choose) and report the captain under the ICC code of conduct.148 The ruling will take effect at the start of October.
Meanwhile the ICC also promised to enhance its much criticised anti-corruption and security unit.
The subject of corruption in cricket has been back in the headlines following several arrests made during this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) and, more recently, former Pakistan captain Salman Butt's belated admission of spot-fixing in England in 2010 -- an offence for which he remains banned from cricket.
In the wake of recent events, the ICC and its member boards will further strengthen and tighten our anti-corruption codes and other integrity regulations, pertaining to international and domestic events and develop methods for better information sharing across jurisdictions, Richardson said.
In a bid to maintain the primacy of Test cricket, the ICC agreed that all 10 full members play a minimum of 16 Tests in each four-year cycle.
The rapid rise of Afghanistan, who've starred on the World Twenty20 stage, continued Saturday as they became the ICC's 37th Associate Member nation, joining the ranks of those countries immediately below Test level.
The ICC also announced that a player wishing to revert back from eligibility for a Test nation to his original associate, for example from England to Ireland, will have his re-qualification period cut from four years to two
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29-06-2013
West Indies bowl out Sri Lanka for 208 in tri-series
KINGSTON: Ace spinner Sunil Narine grabbed 4-40 and Ravi Rampaul took 3-38, Friday, June 28, as West Indies bowled out Sri Lanka for 208 off 48.3 overs in the opening one-day international in the tri-nation Celkon Mobile Cup at Sabina Park.
Captain Angelo Mathews top-scored with an unbeaten 55 for the visitors, while veteran Mahela Jayawardene chipped in with 52.
West Indies, which won the toss, fought back well after an opening stand of 62 in 13 overs between Jayawardene and left-hander Upul Tharanga. Captain Dwayne Bravo made the initial breakthrough by claiming Tharanga for 25 to an edge through to wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin.
West Indies stifled the Sri Lankans after that through Narine, the miserly Darren Sammy (10-0-34-0) and Rampaul. The long-serving pair of Jayawardene and Sangakkara were both prized out by Narine, the world's No. 1-ranked bowler. Jayawardene struck seven fours in a run-a-ball 52 before he tried to tuck to leg and spooned a catch off bat and pad for Ramdin to collect in the leg side.
Sangakkara (17) followed at 104-3, the left-hander lofting a drive straight to Kieron Pollard at extra cover. When part-time off-spinner Marlon Samuels grabbed the scalp of vice-captain Dinesh Chandimal (21), who chipped to midwicket, the visitors were 140-4 in the 32nd over and never fully recovered.
Mathews fought a lone hand as no other batsman reached double figures.
Fast bowler Rampaul ripped through the late middle order in the batting powerplay, removing Lahiru Thirimanne and Nuwan Kulasekara cheaply. Thirimanne lofted a slower ball to long-off while Kulasekara top-edged to deep backward square leg.
Narine claimed Jeevan Mendis and Rampaul added the wicket of Rangana Herath before the Sri Lankans limped past 200. Narine claimed his fourth wicket with a doosra to have Lasith Malinga lbw and Bravo wrapped up the innings by having last man Ajantha Mendis caught at slip.Mathews remained not out after hitting five fours off 77 balls.
West Indies skipper Bravo finished with 2-37.
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Murray cruises, Stakhovsky crashes at Wimbledon
LONDON: Andy Murray kept his campaign to become Britain's first Wimbledon champion since 1936 comfortably on course Friday but Sergiy Stakhovsky, the shock conqueror of Roger Federer, crashed out.
Murray, the second seed, breezed past Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo, the 32nd seed, 6-2, 6-4, 7-5.
The US Open champion goes on to tackle either Russian 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny, now the highest-ranked player left in his half of the draw, or Serbia's Viktor Troicki for a place in the quarter-finals.
Murray, playing beneath the comfort of the Centre Court roof, fired 40 winners and nine aces past the 31-year-old Robredo.
147Upsets are never far away and you have to be very focused on your game to avoid that,148 said Murray, who has seen Federer, Rafael Nadal, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marin Cilic all removed from his path to the final.
Stakhovsky, the world number 116, who sent seven-time champion Federer crashing out in the second round, went down 6-2, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 to experienced Austrian Jurgen Melzer.
Instead of the Centre Court, where he had ended Federer's run of 36 successive quarter-final appearances at the majors, Stakhovsky was exiled to Court Three where his challenge wasn't helped by falling heavily on the slippery surface.
That required his ankle to be strapped and his challenge petered out as 32-year-old Melzer reached the fourth round for the second time where he will meet dangerous Pole, Jerzy Janowicz.
I was possibly not prepared mentally because everybody expects you to play better after you beat Roger, said Stakhovsky.
The 24th-seeded Janowicz made the fourth round for the first time by beating Spanish 15th seed Nicolas Almagro, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-4.
Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer reached the third round with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 win over compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut in match held over from Thursday because of rain.
I had a little pain in my ankle but it's not a problem,said Ferrer, who made the last-eight in 2012. Heavy rain delayed play on the outside courts with Bulgarian 29th seed Grigor Dimitrov staging a temporary sit-down protest to register his anger at conditions on Court Three before he lost a five-set, second round thriller.
Dimitrov, watched by superstar girlfriend Maria Sharapova, who was knocked out on Wednesday, went out 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 to Slovenia's Grega Zemlja.
When the tie resumed following Thursday's suspension, 22-year-old Dimitrov slipped and fell in his service action at 8-9 in the final set to give up the third match point of the tie.
He then stomped off to the sidelines and sat in his courtside chair for 10 minutes waiting for the conditions to improve.
But it didn't change Dimitrov's luck as Zemlja took victory on a sixth match point.
When I slipped, I fell down, I hurt my hip. I told the umpire, I'm not serving, said Dimitrov.
Zemlja, the first Slovenian to make the third round at Wimbledon, goes on to face Argentina's eighth seed Juan Martin del Potro for a place in the last 16.
Britain's Laura Robson reached the third round of the women's singles with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Colombian qualifier Mariana Duque-Marino and goes on to face Marina Erakovic of New Zealand.
I've lost to her on grass before. She's got a big game, a huge serve, a good slice as well. Pretty much a perfect game for grass, Robson said.
Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, a quarter-finalist in 2010, knocked out German seventh seed, Angelique Kerber, who made the semi-finals last year, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.
I had my chances in the second set but I didn't take them, said Kerber, who was 5/1 up in the tiebreaker.
In the third she was playing unbelievable and I couldn't do nothing. The bottom half of the women's draw has also been thrown open after world number two Victoria Azerenka withdrew with a knee injury and world number three, Sharapova, slumped to a shock defeat against Portuguese qualifier Michelle Larcher De Brito.
The highest-ranked player left in that section is the 2011 champion Petra Kvitova, seeded eighth, who faces Ekaterina Makarova, the Russian 25th seed, for a place in the last 16.
Larcher De Brito was unable to capitalise on her win over Sharapova as she lost 7-5, 6-2 to Italy's world number 104 Karin Knapp.
The Italian will face France's 2007 runner-up Marion Bartoli who put out Italy's Camila Giorgi, 6-4, 7-5
Nerveless Navas sends Spain into final
FORTALEZA: Jesus Navas settled a nail-biting penalty shoot-out 7-6 for Spain as the world and European champions edged Italy on a sultry evening in Fortaleza on Thursday to set up a Confederations Cup final meeting with Brazil.
After the semi-final finished goalless following extra time, Leonardo Bonucci proved the fall guy for the Italians, blazing the 13th kick of the shoot-out over the bar before Manchester City new boy Navas calmly tucked his penalty home.
Spain will now seek to complete their set of senior international titles, having also won Olympic gold in Barcelona in 1992, but hosts Brazil were spared a 120-minute semi-final and will have had 24 extra hours to recover.
It was a very difficult match for us and we'll have to think about what we have to do in the next three days to recover, said Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.
We will definitely stand up to Brazil in the Maracana and I hope the players will feel as happy as kids about playing there.
Italy were left to curse their luck after initially shackling Spain in the first half, and coach Cesare Prandelli must now galvanise minds and bodies for Sunday's meeting with Uruguay in the third-place play-off.
He nonetheless drew solace from the way his side matched Spain, having seen Italy crushed 4-0 when the sides last met in last year's one-sided Euro 2012 final in Kiev.
The lads played a great match, from the first minute to the last, and we created plenty of situations that could have won us the game, Prandelli said.
But once it goes to penalties, anything can happen, he added.
Spain are currently ahead of us because they've been following the same ideology for years, whereas we're still forging our own path.
Chastened by the memory of the Euro 2012 final, Prandelli reverted to the formula he had successfully used in the 1-1 draw between the sides earlier in that tournament.
Italy lined up with a three-man defence and no fewer than six midfielders at Estadio Castelao, Claudio Marchisio and Antonio Candreva providing support for lone striker Alberto Gilardino.
As a result, Spain's intricate passing exchanges foundered far from the Italian goal, and Prandelli's men were bold in their exploitation of the space behind the Spanish defence.
Right wing-back Christian Maggio was particularly prominent, heading over from a corner and then drawing a fine save from Iker Casillas with a header after Andrea Pirlo picked him out with a raking 60-yard pass.
The Napoli man seemed destined to break the deadlock in the 36th minute when Emanuele Giaccherini's inviting cross found him steaming in on Casillas' goal, but his header was straight at the goalkeeper.
Within seconds, Fernando Torres almost punished Italy, but after neatly outfoxing Andrea Barzagli, he drilled his left-foot shot across goal and wide.
Amid cloying humidity, the intensity dropped in the second half, and Spain occasionally found themselves in the unfamiliar position of hearing their opponents' passing combinations celebrated with chants of 'Ole!'
Spain centre-back Gerard Pique, watched by celebrity girlfriend Shakira, could have settled the tie in the 85th minute, but he blazed over from Navas' low pass and the game went to extra time.
Italy almost broke through in the third minute of the extra period when Giaccherini rattled the post with a rising left-foot drive.
Del Bosque elected to swap Torres for holding midfielder Javi Martinez, but it gave Spain momentum, with Pique and Jordi Alba both going close.
Substitute Juan Mata also curled wide, before Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon unconvincingly palmed a shot from Xavi onto the post and Martinez's follow-up effort evaded Mata's toes by inches.
Buffon then had to touch away a low effort from Navas as Spain threatened to snatch victory at the death, but thanks to Bonucci's misfortune, the Spain substitute would still have the final say.
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28-06-2013
New Zealand win toss, put England into bat
LONDON: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum won the toss and elected to field against England in the second Twenty20 international at an overcast Oval on Thursday.
England made two changes from the side that lost the first of this
two-match series by five runs at the same ground on Tuesday.
Star batsman Kevin Pietersen returned to England duty following a knee injury that forced his early exit from the tour of New Zealand in March.
Former captain Pietersen was sidelined from all cricket until making a superb unbeaten 177 for Surrey in a County Championship match last weekend.
South Africa-born Pietersen, 33 on Thursday, replaced stand-in captain Eoin Morgan, who led England on Tuesday in the absence of the rested Stuart Broad, after the former Ireland international was ruled out with a right hand injury.
Kent off-spinner Jame Tredwell captained England for the first time with left-arm spinner Danny Briggs, a key member of English domestic Twenty20 champions Hampshire's side, replacing seamer Chris Woakes, whose one over on Tuesday cost 19 runs.
New Zealand were unchanged from Tuesday's victorious team.
Teams
England: Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Luke Wright, Kevin Pietersen, Ravi Bopara, Jos Buttler (wkt), Ben Stokes, James Tredwell (capt), Jade Dernbach, Boyd Rankin, Danny Briggs
New Zealand: Hamish Rutherford, James Franklin, Brendon McCullum (capt), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wkt), Colin Munro, Nathan McCullum, Corey Anderson, Ian Butler, Roneel Hira, Mitchell McClenaghan
Umpires: Tim Robinson (ENG) and Richard Illingworth (ENG)
TV umpire: Michael Gough (ENG)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
Aisam and Rojer through to second round of Men's Doubles
LONDON: The Pak-Dutch duo of Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and Jean-Julien Rojer defeated Dustin Brown of Germany and Rameez Junaid of Australia, 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4, during their first round men's doubles match on day four of the 2013 Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Club in Wimbledon, June 27.
Initially, the duo faced stiff resistance from their rivals and after trying for 46 minutes they won the first set at tie break.
In the second set, Aisam and Rojer brought together their experience to beat the German-Australian duo in 26 minutes.
Once again, during the third set, the Pak-Dutch duo faced a solid struggle by their opponents, but were successful in defeating them after 1 hour and 47 minutes, to reach the second round
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