Sports News And Others All NEWS: March 2013

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Mancini furious at Kompany start for Belgium

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has hit out at Belgium counterpart Marc Wilmots for selecting captain Vincent Kompany for international duty this week.

Thursday 28th March 2013

Kompany made his first competitive appearance in eight weeks when he featured in his country's World Cup qualifier against Macedonia on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old defender had been sidelined since suffering a calf injury in the FA Cup fourth-round win at Stoke on January 26 and had a potential comeback date put back several times.
That did not prevent him being called up by Belgium and although the national skipper did not play in last Friday's game in Macedonia, he played all 90 minutes of the return fixture in Brussels.
Mancini said: "He didn't play for us for 60 days and then he went to play for the Belgium team.
"I did not agree with this. I think sometimes some managers of national teams should understand the situation.
"This player plays for the club and the club, every month, pay his salary.
"I don't know if he is okay or not. One week before the international break he was not fit to play for us.
"I didn't see Vinny yesterday [Wednesday]. I will see him today [Thursday]."
Mancini hopes Kompany will be fit to return for his side in Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.
Mancini, speaking at a press conference to preview the game, added that striker Sergio Aguero is fit and could make his comeback.
The 24-year-old has missed City's last three games with a knee injury.
He returned to Argentina for treatment during his lay-off, and linked up with the national squad, but did not play and has been back training at Carrington for the past week.
Mancini said: "Sergio is okay. I think he could be ready for Saturday."
Mancini was also asked about the latest speculation concerning his own future and that of midfield talisman Yaya Toure.
The Italian has grown used to recurring stories linking him with other clubs or suggesting the City hierarchy could bring his tenure to a premature end.
A new report has claimed Monaco - who it was claimed made an approach last season - are again preparing to move for the 48-year-old as a potential replacement for Claudio Ranieri.
Mancini said: "No. Monaco, for me, are one of the best (teams) in France now. Now they are in the second division.
"They have a good manager and I stay here for a long time, like Yaya."
Speculation over Toure has arisen after his agent expressed frustration about what he sees as a delay to discussions over a new contract.
But 29-year-old Toure has more than two years left on his current contract and Mancini feels there is enough time to resolve the issue.
Mancini said: "Yaya will stay here for a long time. Yaya is one of the best players in the world and he will stay here for another three, four, five (years), I don't know. A long time."

Injury blow for Abou Diaby

Abou Diaby: Could be out for up to nine months

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The 26-year-old France international faces an operation on the injury, which he suffered in training on Wednesday.

Player Profile

2. Abou Diaby

Appearances	15 (1)
Goals	1
Assists	0
Yellows	2
Reds	0

*Current Season

A club statement confirmed: "Abou Diaby injured his left knee in training on Wednesday and subsequent scans have confirmed that he has torn his anterior cruciate ligament.
"Following consultations with specialists, Abou will undergo surgery to repair the injury in the near future. Abou is expected to be out for around eight to nine months.
"The thoughts and best wishes from everyone at Arsenal are with Abou, and we all wish him a successful recovery."
Even before this latest setback, Diaby's spell in north London had been blighted by injuries ever since he joined from Auxerre in 2006 as a 19-year-old.
The commanding midfielder suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in May of that year and recorded only 27 Barclays Premier League appearances over the next two seasons.
He eventually established himself as a regular presence in the Gunners' midfield, scoring seven times in 40 appearances in all competitions in 2010-11.
But he was restricted to only five appearances last season due to a string of injuries, including ankle and calf problems, and has played only 16 games in the current campaign.
The news on Diaby adds to manager Arsene Wenger's mounting injury problems. Jack Wilshere is currently recovering from an ankle problem which has ruled him out since the defeat at Tottenham on March 3, meaning he missed the Champions League win in Bayern Munich as well as England's games against San Marino and Montenegro during the international break.
Wenger must also do without forward Theo Walcott against Reading this weekend after he returned home early from international duty with a pelvic injury, while Kieran Gibbs is doubtful due to a virus.

Jones wants Liverpool to build, not buy

Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones believes building rather than buying success will provide be a source of greater pride at Anfield.

Football News: Stewart Downing, Liverpool

Thursday 28th March 2013

With owners Fenway Sports Group looking to run the club on a more sound footing with Financial Fair Play in mind, the Reds are never likely to be in a position to compete with Europe's biggest spenders.
While the Americans have provided funds for significant purchases in the past, there is still a desire to see more value for money attained in the transfer market.
So with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Andre Wisdom and Suso all making significant contributions to the first team this season, the intention is for the club's academy to play a bigger role in the future.
Jones believes this, added to the progress made under manager Brendan Rodgers, points to a brighter future as they look to regain Champions League status.
"It is difficult to say (how much ground we have to make up)," the Australian, speaking at an event for charity Anthony Nolan, told Press Association Sport.
"The likes of Chelsea and Manchester City have spent unbelievable amounts of money. Liverpool haven't necessarily done that.
"It was documented a couple of years ago when the new owners came in and spent a fair bit in one go but you have to remember £50million of that came in from Fernando Torres.
"If you ask the teams that have, shall we say, `bought' a winning team I don't think their fans will care because they have won something.
"But if you get to the top from building I think the fans grow with the team.
"When you get there there will be that extra bit of pride but for us we just have to keep building on what we have got and what the club have done."
Jones added: "The club aren't trying to go out and buy the league in one season.
"The owners are quite clever, they have seen it in other sports. For them it is a slow process, it is not going to happen overnight.
"I think they will be happy with what they have seen this season and obviously they will want it to move forward and make that next step and hopefully that will be next season.
"That is the direction we're going in and it is a good place to be."
Jones and his partner Dani Lawrence are prominent supporters of Anthony Nolan, the UK blood cancer charity, after the goalkeeper's six-year-old son Luca from a previous relationship died from leukaemia in November 2011.
They were present at an event at Anfield, also supported by the Liverpool FC Foundation, aimed at promoting the donor register.
"It was something that, after we lost Luca, we wanted to spread the word and get people on the list and have a legacy for him," explained Jones.
"When people hear bone marrow transplant they think 'pain' and it is really not like that, it is more like giving blood, and it is trying to get rid of those negative connotations.
"We are in a privileged position where I am at a massive club and people will follow what we do and listen to what we are saying.
"Obviously it is a positive to get people on the register and that means there is more chance of people getting a donor.
"We are trying to help others because it wasn't until we were there we realised just how hard it was."
Mark Haig, head of operations at the LFC Foundation, said the club occupied a unique position in being able to reach areas of the community others could not.
"The Foundation is quite broad but this initiative around Anthony Nolan we are very much supporting because we have a very close relationship with Liverpool NHS," he said.
"We can actually connect easier than agencies like the NHS because of the power of the LFC badge and the way people respond to it in different ways."

Sky Sports' Baseball preview continues with a look at the line-up in the American League

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Sky Sports' Baseball preview continues with a look at the line-up in the American League

American League East: AKA The Money Division. It is no longer only the New York Yankees splashing the cash as they have a rival in the Toronto Blue Jays, who will expect to win this division in 2013 after slumping to fourth last season.
They spent big money to bring in shortstop Jose Reyes, outfielder Melky Cabrera and starting pitchers RA Dickey and Josh Johnson and will expect their investment to be realised quickly. The return of Jose Bautista is bound to help but this remains a tough division to win with the Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles performing well in 2012 and the Boston Red Sox keen to avoid the embarrassment of finishing bottom again.
Predictions: Blue Jays money shrewdly spent and 100 wins on the cards. Yankees to miss the play-offs with their veteran players starting to show their age
American League Central: This one looks like a two-horse race with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox vying for play-off berths. Detroit came out on top in 2012 and should do so again with the boost of Victor Martinez's return to their line-up.

Predictions:

NL division winners:
Atlanta
Cincinnati
LA Dodgers
Wildcards:
Washington
Colorado

With Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera still in town, and Justin Verlander anchoring a fine rotation, they should just have the measure of the solid White Sox.
Chicago's pitching is also excellent - look out for the continuing emergence of Chris Sale - but their batting line-up has a couple of significant holes and they will need plenty of home runs from Adam Dunn and Dayan Viciedo if they are to keep up.
Kansas City could emerge in third again, and they have bought wisely in adding pitchers James Shields and (to a lesser extent) Ervin Santana, but whether they can challenge the top two is doubtful. Despite a couple of interesting signings it could be a long season for Cleveland and Minnesota will struggle to finish anywhere but last.
Prediction: Tigers bare their teeth and go all the way to the World Series this time.
American League West: Now up to five teams, with the addition of the Houston Astros, this could be the best divisional race of the 2013 season. The Los Angeles Angels finished last season strongly and will look to build on that.
They have added Josh Hamilton to an already strong set of batters but their rotation is weaker without Dan Haren and Ervin Santana so they could need all the runs Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Hamilton will produce...and then some.
Hamilton's departure makes the Texas Rangers a little less potent but they still look solid, especially with their pitching, and last season's surprise packages Oakland are just as good....as well as young and hungry. Yoenis Cespedes could well emerge as one of the best hitters in the league.
Seattle face a tough task, but not as tough as the Astros, who weren't very good last season, are probably even weaker now and find themselves in a much tougher division.
Predictions: The powerful Angels win the division by a hair and Trout is named American League MVP. Houston are the first team to lose 100 games.

Afridi ready to retire if substitute is available

All rounder Shahid Afridi has claimed he doesn't think there is currently any player who is good enough to replace him in the Pakistan team, adding he is ready to retire if a suitable substitute for him is available.
Afridi stated that there was a dearth of talented all-rounders and the moment there was someone ready and able to take the responsibility, he would call time on his international career, the Dawn reports.
Afridi said he would quit as soon as a replacement for him surfaces, adding at present it seems there is no one who has the talent to play as an all-rounder and make a sustained impact at the international level.
The all rounder added he has said time and again he would not block anyone good enough for Pakistan.
Afridi, who is regarded as the most popular Pakistani cricketer of the present times, also thanked his supporters for renewing their trust in him.

Karnataka elections force rescheduling of 10 IPL matches

KKR vs RCB result: Gambhir misses century but stars in Kolkata's big win<br>

New Delhi: The match schedule of the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has undergone revision in view of the state assembly elections in Karnataka May 5.

In total, the timing and location of 10 matches have been changed. The following is the list of changes that have been made:

1. Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils - shifted from April 23 (8.00 pm, Mohali) to May 16 (8.00 pm, Dharamshala)

2. Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Daredevils - stays on May 4 - moves from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm - Hyderabad

3. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kings XI Punjab - shifted from May 4 (8.00 pm, Bangalore) to May 14 (4.00 pm, Bangalore)

4. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - shifted from May 6 (8.00 pm, Bangalore) to April 9 (4.00 pm, Bangalore)

5. Delhi Daredevils vs Kings XI Punjab - shifted from May 13 (4.00 pm, Delhi) to April 23 (8.00 pm, De

6. Kolkata Knight Riders vs Pune Warriors India - shifted from May 14 (8.00 pm, Ranchi) to May 15 (4.00 pm, Ranchi)

7. Kings XI Punjab vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - shifted from May 16 (4.00 pm, Dharamshala) to May 6 (8.00 pm, Mohali)

8. Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils - shifted from May 16 (8.00 pm, Dharamshala) to May 14 (8.00 pm, Dharamshala)

9. Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings - shifted from May 19 (4.00 pm, Bangalore) to May 18 (8.00 pm, Bangalore)

10. Pune Warriors India vs Delhi Daredevils - shifted from May 18 (8.00 pm, Pune) to May 19 (4.00 pm, Pune).

Sri Lanka Cricket allows players in IPL, but says no to Chennai matches

Sangakkara onslaught ensures 13-run win for Chargers

Colombo: Sri Lankan cricket Board on Thursday decided to allow its cricketers to take part in the IPL but directed them not to play in Chennai after the governing council of the high-profile Twenty20 league decided to withdraw them from the games to be held there.

"Discussions were held with Minister of Sports regarding the release of Sri Lanka players for IPL 2013. Based on a note sent by Minister of External Affairs regarding the safety of players, it was decided that No Objection Certificates issued to the players be restricted to exclude their appearance at any venue in Tamil Nadu and also to obtain the Players' personal opinion on their willingness to participate in the event," said a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket.

"At initial stages, SLC liaised with BCCI and obtained Safety Guarantees for their participation and conveyed their assurances to each individual player. If and when the players express their intention to play in the IPL 2013, they would be permitted to proceed with the restriction indicated on playing in the state of Tamil Nadu," the statement said.

Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said Tuesday that no player would be allowed to proceed without the safety guarantees from the Indian government.

13 Sri Lankan players, including two captains of their respective teams, are in the squad of different franchises for the sixth edition of the IPL.

Bowing to intense political pressure, top Sri Lankan players were on Tuesday withdrawn from the Chennai matches of the IPL after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa refused to host them in view of the prevailing anti-Sinhalese sentiments in the state.

Why Test cricket is alive and kicking

Even someone like me who has been following the game for more than half a century on a personal and professional level felt the tension, the excitement. No, I didn't bite my nails but I couldn’t take my eyes off the TV screen as the pulsating drama unfolded.

The fortunes fluctuated, New Zealand was heading for victory, then England holding out for a draw looked eminently possible. A little later a Kiwis win looked highly probable and finally England gallantly and honourably drew the Test match at Auckland.

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The cynics say Test match cricket is on its last legs. Detractors of the traditional format of the game view it as a waste of time in these days of instant entertainment. First Fifty50 and then Twenty20 caught the imagination reducing Test cricket to a poor cousin whom no wanted to patronize. But a few more matches like the one at Eden Park and everyone will be back – the spectators, the TV viewers and the sponsors.

Whatever the doomsday prophets may say Test cricket is alive and kicking. It will never die and is the one format of the game which provides genuine thrills and excitement besides being cricket’s highest art form. It's not just the players who always maintain that Test cricket is the real thing, the game they would like to excel in.

The purist and the traditionalist and the connoisseur who have all grown up on a staple diet of five-day matches that sometimes do not produce a result even after 30 hours of play would certainly have enjoyed the events as they unfolded at Auckland.

Test cricket is like a long, well directed suspense film. Like an unputdownable whodunit one cannot really guess the denouement. As it is, what happened at Auckland was gripping. But the situation in the overall context of the series added spice to the flavour. The first two Tests were drawn and the result of the series hinged on events at Auckland. Moreover if England lost they would slip to No 3 in the ICC rankings with India taking over at No 2.

It certainly seemed a lost cause when England resumed on the final day at 90 for four chasing an unlikely victory target of 481. After all New Zealand is always a tough team to beat at home. But England’s cricketers have a history of playing the Horatio act when the chips are down.

The most famous is the Willie Watson - Trevor Bailey rearguard action against Australia at Lord’s in 1953 when the two were associated in a 163-run partnership that lasted over four hours on the final day to steer England to a draw from a losing position. Here it was the duo of Ian Bell and Matt Prior that were principally responsible for England staving off defeat.

But can one forget the role played by Stuart Broad. Normally an attacking batsman who loves to hit the ball, high, hard and handsomely the left hander scored his first runs off the 62nd ball he faced and after occupying the crease for over 100 minutes.

And when Kane Williamson threatened to stage a last minute coup for New Zealand with two wickets in an over it was left to "tough tyke" Prior and last man Monty Panesar to last out 19 balls to stage the great escape act and guide their team to a thrilling draw.

Cricket is not just about quick runs being scored or quick wickets being taken. Alistair Cook batted over three hours for 43, Bell’s 75 occupied almost six hours while Broad was ultimately out for six compiled off 77 balls and for which he batted 137 minutes. But all this made for a fascinating duel between bat and ball which is all what good cricket is all about.

Twenty20 and Fifty50 are enjoyable as entertainment, good for the game and its finances and certainly they have a place in cricket. I too watch these games regularly but at the risk of being called old fashioned, let me say it again – there is no substitute for Test cricket, the engrossing tussle between bat and ball and the elaborate strategic moves and tactical planning.

The leisurely proceedings, players in white, day cricket and the red ball have provided a refreshingly different scenario from the surfeit of slam bang cricket and taken me on a trip down memory lane. There is an undying charm about Test cricket that still makes it the highest art form associated with this great game.

The heightened suspense spread over five days, the fluctuating fortunes and the fact that bowlers are trying to take wickets and not restrict the runs are a few of the factors that one relishes. Ask any budding cricketer and with all the many attractions associated with the shorter versions of the game he will say his ultimate aim is to play Test cricket.

A cricketer who shines only in ODIs will still lament the fact that he didn’t excel in Test matches. Ultimately it is the Test record of a player that stands the test of time and is set as a yardstick not the figures in Fifty50 or Twenty20 however impressive the latter may be.

Some of the orthodox strokes and the prodigiously swinging or viciously spinning deliveries were the kind you would not see in the shorter version of the game. The text book is the very essence of Test cricket and an overdose of limited overs cricket can make one yearn for the longer version of the game.

Slam bang cricket is time pass. You see a game, enjoy it for what it is worth but hardly remember anything of it. It is like seeing a three-hour Bollywood formula film. But events of Test cricket stay in your memory for long. In this regard the Auckland match was the perfect advertisement for Test cricket.

Sri Lanka v Bangladesh ODI Series 2013 – 3rd ODI Sri Lanka v Bangladesh (live)

Over 17. 4 runs. Bowler: Ziaur Rahman. Sri Lanka: 96/0(rr 5.65)

Rahman to Perera. Length ball, off stump on the back foot pushing, to long off for 1 run, fielded by Hossain.

Rahman to Dilshan. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Hossain.

Rahman to Perera. Length ball, outside off stump no foot movement pushing, to deep extra cover for 1 run, fielded by Hossain.

Rahman to Perera. Length ball, to leg on the back foot pushing, to mid wicket for no runs, fielded by Hossain.

Rahman to Dilshan. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to deep extra cover for 1 run, fielded by Razzak.

Over 16. 7 runs. Bowler: Mahmudullah. Sri Lanka: 92/0(rr 5.75)

Mahmudullah to Dilshan. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the back foot working, to fine leg for 1 run, fielded by Razzak.

Mahmudullah to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to deep extra cover for 1 run, fielded by Gazi.

Mahmudullah to Dilshan. Off break length ball, middle stump on the front foot working, to deep square leg for 1 run, fielded by Rahman.

Mahmudullah to Perera. Off break full toss, off stump on the front foot pushing, to long on for 1 run, fielded by Bijoy.

Mahmudullah to Dilshan. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot cutting, well timed to deep backward point for 1 run, fielded by Haque.

Mahmudullah to Dilshan. Off break length ball, outside off stump backing away cutting, well timed to third man for 2 runs, fielded by Ashraful.

Over 15. 4 runs. Bowler: Ziaur Rahman. Sri Lanka: 85/0(rr 5.67)

Rahman to Dilshan. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Gazi.

Rahman to Perera. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot driving, to long off for 1 run, fielded by Gazi.

Rahman to Perera. Slower length ball, off stump on the front foot defending, to short extra cover for no runs, fielded by Islam.

Rahman to Dilshan. Back of a length, outside off stump on the front foot driving, to deep cover for 1 run, fielded by Haque.

Rahman to Dilshan. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, back to bowler for no runs, fielded by Rahman.

Rahman to Perera. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to long off for 1 run, fielded by Gazi.

Over 14. 4 runs. Bowler: Mahmudullah. Sri Lanka: 81/0(rr 5.79)

Mahmudullah to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, to long on for 1 run, fielded by Bijoy.

Mahmudullah to Dilshan. Off break length ball, off stump on the back foot glancing, to deep backward square leg for 1 run, fielded by Bijoy.

Mahmudullah to Perera. Off break length ball, off stump on the front foot working, hit pad to wicketkeeper for no runs, fielded by Rahim.

Mahmudullah to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump backing away defending, to cover for no runs, fielded by Islam.

Mahmudullah to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to cover for no runs, fielded by Hossain.

Mahmudullah to Dilshan. Off break length ball, outside off stump backing away cutting, well timed to deep cover for 1 run, fielded by Ashraful.

Over 13. 4 runs. Bowler: Abdur Razzak. Sri Lanka: 76/0(rr 5.85)

Razzak to Dilshan. Stock length ball, off stump on the front foot defending, to short leg for 1 run, fielded by Mahmudullah.

Razzak to Dilshan. Stock length ball, to leg on the front foot flick, hit pad to point for no runs, fielded by Islam.

Razzak to Perera. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot working, to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Islam.

Razzak to Dilshan. Stock length ball, middle stump on the back foot pushing, to cover for 1 run, fielded by Hossain.

Razzak to Dilshan. Stock length ball, middle stump on the front foot defending, back to bowler for no runs, fielded by Razzak.

Razzak to Dilshan. Stock length ball, off stump on the back foot pushing, to cover for no runs, fielded by Gazi.

Wide Razzak to Dilshan. Stock length ball, wide down leg side on the front foot slog sweeping, missed to wicketkeeper for no runs, fielded by Rahim.

Over 12. 5 runs. Bowler: Mahmudullah. Sri Lanka: 73/0(rr 6.08)

Mahmudullah to Dilshan. Off break length ball, off stump no foot movement cutting, to deep backward point for 1 run, fielded by Ashraful.

Mahmudullah to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Bijoy.

Mahmudullah to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump down the track defending, back to bowler for no runs, fielded by Mahmudullah.

Mahmudullah to Dilshan. Off break back of a length, down leg side on the back foot pulling, well timed to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Rahman.

Mahmudullah to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump backing away cutting, well timed to deep cover for 1 run, fielded by Islam.

Mahmudullah to Dilshan. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to long on for 1 run, fielded by Gazi.

Over 11. 5 runs. Bowler: Abdur Razzak. Sri Lanka: 68/0(rr 6.18)

Razzak to Perera. Stock length ball, off stump backing away cutting, to third man for 2 runs, fielded by Haque.

Razzak to Dilshan. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, to long off for 1 run, fielded by Ashraful.

Razzak to Perera. Stock ball back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to long on for 1 run, fielded by Haque.

Razzak to Perera. Stock length ball, outside off stump down the track flick, bat-pad back to bowler for no runs, fielded by Razzak.

Razzak to Dilshan. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot cutting, to point for 1 run, run save by Hossain, fielded by Gazi.

Razzak to Dilshan. Stock length ball, off stump on the front foot defending, bat-pad to short extra cover for no runs, fielded by Bijoy.

Over 10. Power Play Fielding. 3 runs. Bowler: Sohag Gazi. Sri Lanka: 63/0(rr 6.30)

Gazi to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, to point for no runs, fielded by Bijoy.

Gazi to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, to cover for no runs, fielded by Islam.

Gazi to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump down the track pushing, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to slips for no runs, fielded by Mahmudullah.

Gazi to Dilshan. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, to long on for 1 run, fielded by Rahman.

Gazi to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to long off for 1 run, fielded by Rahman.

Gazi to Dilshan. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to long on for 1 run, fielded by Hossain.

Over 9. Power Play Fielding. 5 runs. Bowler: Abdur Razzak. Sri Lanka: 60/0(rr 6.67)

Razzak to Perera. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, to cover for no runs, fielded by Islam.

Razzak to Perera. Stock ball half volley, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, back to bowler for no runs, fielded by Razzak.

Razzak to Perera. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, back to bowler for no runs, fielded by Razzak.

FOUR! Razzak to Perera. Stock ball back of a length, outside off stump backing away cutting, well timed in the air under control past deep extra cover for 4 runs, mis-fielded by Hossain.

Razzak to Dilshan. Stock length ball, to leg on the front foot sweeping, to leg slip for 1 run, fielded by Ashraful.

Razzak to Dilshan. Stock length ball, off stump on the front foot defending, back to bowler for no runs, fielded by Razzak.

Over 8. Power Play Fielding. 1 run. Bowler: Sohag Gazi. Sri Lanka: 55/0(rr 6.88)

Gazi to Perera. Off break back of a length, outside off stump on the front foot cutting, to cover for no runs, fielded by Hossain.

Gazi to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, to wicketkeeper for no runs, fielded by Rahim.

Gazi to Perera. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, to short extra cover for no runs, fielded by Mahmudullah.

Gazi to Dilshan. Off break length ball, outside off stump backing away pushing, to extra cover for 1 run, fielded by Hossain.

Gazi to Dilshan. Off break length ball, outside off stump backing away cutting, missed to wicketkeeper for no runs, fielded by Rahim.

Gazi to Dilshan. Off break length ball, off stump on the front foot pushing, to mid wicket for no runs, fielded by Mahmudullah.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

FS FS Rugby Page Nav Rugby Holder Rugby Super Rugby Wallabies The Rugby Championship Video Sharpe Focus: Stephen Larkham's influence on Brumbies inside backs obvious, Nathan Sharpe writes

Learning from the best ... Stephen Larkham is working wonders with Lealiifano (pictured). Source: FOX SPORTS

Fox Sports rugby commentator and former Wallabies captain Nathan Sharpe takes a look at the Brumbies' clash with the Stormers in Cape Town, as they look to start the season with five straight wins.

I haven’t played a lot of football with either Christian Lealiifano or Matt Toomua but watching from a far you can see the influence Stephen Larkham is having. "Bernie" was the best player I ever played with and you can see how he’s moulding the young Brumbies halves into fine ball-players.
The way they’re controlling the game reminds me a lot of how Bernie used to run things and his mentoring is really paying dividends for both those boys at the Brumbies.
From my experience with the Brumbies’ Wallabies last year, I can tell you that they all talk glowingly of what Jake White's put in place in Canberra. Jake’s a guy who has a tremendous amount of respect for his players – the way he manages men is second to none.
He understands the respect that players earn when they earn their stripes and he sets up a team culture that you can see is really blossoming down there at the Brumbies.
There’s been a lot of talk about Ben Mowen and his Wallabies claims, and the balance between picking a team on form and history. Super Rugby and Test rugby are two different games but on form you’d definitely have to consider the Brumbies captain.

I don’t think you can pick a team purely based on form, but there’s no doubt Mowen will come under heavy consideration for the Lions series.
Looking ahead to this weekend and, as usual, the Stormers’ defence will be pretty tough to crack in Cape Town. They've been the best defensive outfit over the last two seasons but I don’t think they can rely on that solely this weekend.
The Brumbies are starting to score a lot of points in games, you’ve seen them put a lot of points on the Reds and not concede many either. And similarly against the Rebels and then last weekend against the Sharks, they’re putting points on the board and their defence has been very strong.
So the Stormers will have to show a little more in attack – something they managed to do against the Chiefs two weeks ago - if they're to make it back-to-back wins.
Five straight wins to start the season would be an amazing effort but this clash in Cape Town will be the Brumbies’ biggest test to date. I’m not prepared to say they’ll be home and hosed in the Aussie conference if they pick up a win because there’s still a long way to go in the season.
However, there’s no doubting they’re the form Australian side by quite some distance. A clean sweep of their South African tour will send a message to their Australian rivals and prove to any remaining doubters that they’re a genuine force in 2013.

Fox Sports' Matty Johns laments falling standards at Canberra Raiders in wake of Josh Dugan affair

Downward spiral ... Johns says Raiders' reputation is taking a hit. Source:Fox Sports

Early this week when news filtered through that Josh Dugan would sign with the Dragons, the Raiders administration contacted the NRL in the hope of them imposing a sanction that would prevent Dugan from lining up against them on Sunday.

CEO Don Furner should've wandered down to the training ground to ask the opinion of his Raiders players. Most of them have been openly wishing to line up against their old buddy all week.

There's no bigger slur. Josh, where did it all go wrong?

If a football club was a classroom, then Dugan was the dux of the class of young men who were about to lead the Raiders into another golden age, just as Ricky, Laurie and Brad Clyde had done 20 years previous.

In his rookie year of 2009, Dugan was voted the Raiders' player of the year. In 2010 he made his representative debut for Country Origin, he was man of the match and his established teammates raved about him. "Tough", "Great kid", "As good as Mullins", "Should be picked for Origin".

In 2011 he was, as well as earning selection for the NRL Allstars, and again he impressed greatly.

Fast forward to round one, 2013. Josh Dugan is expected to be ruled out of the clash with the Panthers, with an infected lip. Yes, an infected lip ... anyway.

The Panthers players are getting stripped and prepared for warm up when, as it happens one hour before kick off, the Raiders' team sheet comes through. In the Panthers' dressing room someone announces Dugan is playing and a cheer goes up from some of the Penrith players.

Penrith you see, had been wishing he'd play all week, in the hope of targeting him. Target him they did, and won comfortably.

The next 24 hours has been well documented. Sitting on a roof top drinking Bacardi Breezers (do they sell them in Queanbeyan?), giving all and sundry the bird on Instagram, not bothering to turn up to training and having words with the coach.

How did things get so bad Josh?

For the club this was the final straw. They were tired of Dugan's behaviour and knew Dugan's teammates felt the same way.

They cut him loose. Maybe that's what Josh Dugan wanted all along.

But the Raiders shouldn't believe that the removal of Dugan will instantly solve some serious problems which have developed in the playing ranks of this club.

Take last week. I fully expected after the week the club had just endured, that the Raiders players would come out blazing with energy, aggression and enthusiasm. Instead they were appalling. Down 30-0 at half-time to the Titans and it could've been much worse, considering the Gold Coast had two tries denied by the video referee and had blown another.

Up in the coaching box the pain on David Furner's face said it all.

How a side reacts during times of adversity signals the character and desire of the individuals within it.

Take Cronulla's round one victory over the Titans after what that club was, and is, experiencing, and compare it to what the Raiders served up against the exact same opposition. Raiders coach Furner would be right to take last Sunday's performance personally.

Cutting ties with Dugan was a correct decision made by coach and board, in consultation with the senior players.

Last Sunday the players had to deliver. They didn't.

David Furner knows better than anyone about the standards which are expected at this club. He was brought up on them and lived up to them when it was his turn to pull on the green jersey.

Canberra were once the benchmark for rugby league professionalism. They trained harder, trained smarter and they won often.

The club that the likes of Don Furner, Mal Meninga and Tim Sheens built stood for excellence.

Sadly now, the club has become an example of players getting ahead of themselves.

Was Dugan the ringleader? Or just someone who got caught up in a playing group who have developed a poor culture?

If by chance Dugan ended up signing at the Bulldogs or the Storm, we would be certain that he would quickly return to his best.

Which makes you question what was it that stopped him from achieving all he can be at his hometown club, which has given him so much?

Catch Monday Night with Matty Johns at 8.50pm (EDT) on Fox Sports 1HD - straight after Monday Night Footy.

Melbourne Storm rookie Slade Griffin, who as they do in Melbourne has slipped seamlessly into the top side, was asked leading into his debut against the Dragons: "How does it feel to be part of the first-grade team at the Melbourne Storm?"

Griffin replied: "I haven't thought too much about it. All I can focus on is not wanting to let Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Cam Smith down."

Compare that to the recent actions of Blake Ferguson and Dugan. Since this playing squad was slowly assembled from 2009, big things have been expected of them.

In 2010 they finished with a rush to reach the second week of the finals, then they disappeared for 18 months. They once again finished with a rush in 2012 to prove their talents and suggest 2013 will be the year they finally reach their potential.

They may do, but the start has been disastrous.

This week they take on St George Illawarra, a team with little of Canberra's attacking talent but a side which fights hard every week.

This will be a test for the Raiders because when the Dragons sit and watch the video of last Sunday's outing, they will no doubt fancy their chances.

The Sydney Swans' contentious $900,000 cost-of-living allowanc

The Sydney Swans' contentious $900,000 salary cap allowance is being paid by the AFL.

The Swans yesterday confirmed it was the league - and the not the club - which paid out the 9.8 per cent bonus.
Rival clubs expressed dismay, saying it meant the AFL had effectively paid for Kurt Tippett to become a Sydney Swan.

"It's a joke," one senior club figure said.
The Swans added Tippett to their premiership list in last year's pre-season draft.
But AFL boss Andrew Demetriou told the Herald Sun all clubs had signed off on the allowance about five years ago.

"It's not a secret. We went to the clubs and asked them as part of a unique cost - and the clubs all agreed," Demetriou said last night.
"It's a cost that other clubs don't incur."Clubs are also frustrated that the Swans are saving another $672,000 this season by listing six players as veterans - Adam Goodes, Jude Bolton, Ryan O'Keefe, Jarrad McVeigh, Nick Malceski and Lewis Roberts-Thompson.

Changes to veterans list rules mean all clubs receive $112,000 relief in the salary cap for eligible players.
"It's the perfect storm up there," the club figure said, pointing out that the Swans have featured in the finals in 12 of the past 15 seasons.
The AFL is reviewing the cost of living allowance and is under pressure to scrap it to equalise the game.
But the Swans have indicated they will fight to keep the bonus - also afforded to Greater Western Sydney.
"That it is significantly more expensive to live in Sydney than in any other city in Australia is indisputable," Swans chief executive Andrew Ireland said in a statement.
"Our estimates suggest the true cost of living disparity is closer to 15 per cent and there is no shortage of evidence to support this.
"A major point of contention is the suggestion that we have stored the allowance and used it to recruit players, such as Kurt Tippett. That is simply incorrect.
"Every player contract at the Sydney Swans stipulates that the allowance must be paid in addition to the agreed contract figure.
"Every player has a manager, and every one of those managers is aware the club has the allowance. The allowance is also added to the standard contracts of rookie listed players.
"Like all clubs, each contract that is signed is reviewed by the AFL."
He said the Swans delisted or traded six senior players at the end of last year - Matt Spangher, Trent
Dennis-Lane, Mark Seaby, Jarred Moore, Brett Meredith and Nathan Gordon.
"This player movement opened up approximately $1 million in the club's salary cap," he said.
"Those players were replaced with draftees and, of course, Kurt Tippett."

Malaysian GP: Mark Webber fastest in first practice

Red Bull's Mark Webber set the pace from Lotus's Kimi Raikkonen in first practice at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The Australian was 0.068 seconds faster than Raikkonen, who won the first race of the season in Australia on Sunday.
Webber's team-mate Sebastian Vettel was third, ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Mercedes' Nico Rosberg.
The leading runners appeared closely matched, with only 0.384secs separating Webber from Alonso. McLaren continued to struggle, with Jenson Button 11th.
Run in hot, humid conditions, the best part of half of the 90-minute session had passed before the drivers started to run seriously.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was the first big name to set a time, which was supplanted by Lotus's Romain Grosjean and Rosberg before Webber emerged to set the benchmark.
Webber, who was sixth in Australia after losing a front-row starting position following an electronics failure, was out at the same time as Vettel, and was slightly quicker.
Webber initially set a one minute 37.588, which Vettel followed with a 1:37.354, before Webber set his fastest lap of 1:36.395 and Vettel then a 1:37.104.
Impressively, Raikkonen set his best time on his first flying lap out of the pits after a delay while the team fixed a problem on the car.
Alonso, second in Australia, was one of the last to emerge from the pits for proper running but went fourth straight away.
The Spaniard's team-mate Felipe Massa was seventh fastest, 0.452secs off Alonso.
Massa was sandwiched by the Force Indias, Adrian Sutil sixth and Paul di Resta eighth.
Hamilton ended the session ninth after spending much of his time doing a race-simulation run on a heavy fuel load.
Grosjean rounded out the top 10 as Williams's Pastor Maldonado took 12th, ahead of the second McLaren of Sergio Perez.
Williams development driver Susie Wolff, in a role as BBC summariser, said: "The thing that stands out is that it is very similar to Melbourne. The Force India is fast and the Lotus, too. It wasn't a one-off that they were quick there."
It was immediately clear that tyre usage could be a decisive factor in Malaysia, as it was in Australia.
All the teams struggled to one degree or another with 'graining', where the surface of the tyre overheats and shreds.
BBC F1 analyst Gary Anderson said: "The two Mercedes cars were definitely using the rear tyre - there was a lot of graining on the rear tyre which is a tell-tale sign of a lot of wheelspin. That was one of their problems last year.
"Button's seemed to have cleaned up a little bit. Perhaps McLaren have now got a set-up on the car that does not deteriorate the tyres, which means they can work on the car a bit more."
First practice results:
1. Mark Webber (Aus), Red Bull - 1min 36.935secs
2. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin), Lotus - 1:37.003
3. Sebastian Vettel (Ger), Red Bull - 1:37.104
4. Fernando Alonso (Spa), Ferrari - 1:37.319
5. Nico Rosberg (Ger), Mercedes - 1:37.588
6. Adrian Sutil (Ger), Force India - 1:37.769
7. Felipe Massa (Brz), Ferrari - 1:37.771
8. Paul Di Resta (GB), Force India - 1:37.773
9. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes 1:37.840
10. Romain Grosjean (Fra), Lotus - 1:37.915
11. Jenson Button (GB), McLaren - 1:38.173
12. Pastor Maldonado (Ven), Williams - 1:38.673
13. Sergio Perez (Mex), McLaren - 1:38.830
14. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger), Sauber - 1:39.054
15. Esteban Gutierrez (Mex), Sauber - 1:39.204
16. Valtteri Bottas (Fin), Williams - 1:39.208
17. Jean-Eric Vergne (Fra), Toro Rosso - 1:39.284
18. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus), Toro Rosso - 1:39.567
19. Giedo van der Garde (Ned), Caterham - 1:40.728
20. Jules Bianchi (Fra), Marussia - 1:40.996
21. Charles Pic (Fra), Caterham - 1:41.163
22. Max Chilton (GB), Marussia - 1:41.513

Malaysian Grand Prix, day one

Friday 22 March: Second practice: 06:00, 05:55 GMT on 5 live sports extra and live text commentary online.

Malaysian Grand Prix, day two

Saturday 23 March: Third practice: 05:00 GMT, on 5 live sports extra and live text commentary online. Qualifying: 08:00, 07:55 GMT on 5 live sports extra and live text commentary online. Highlights 13:00 on BBC One

Malaysian Grand Prix, day three

Sunday 24 March: Race: 08:00, 07:55 GMT on 5 live and live text commentary online. Highlights 14:00 BBC One

I won't stand unless my legacy is threatened: Blatter

Madrid: FIFA president Sepp Blatter has said he will not stand for a fifth term when his current mandate ends in 2015 as long as there is a candidate to replace him who he believes will continue his work to "globalise" soccer.

Swiss Blatter, who turned 77 this month, was elected president of soccer's world governing body in 1998 and has consistently refused to rule out standing again in two years as long as his health permits.

"I will not carry on as long as there is at least one candidate prepared to continue my work," Blatter said in an interview with Spanish sports daily As published on Thursday.

"The most important thing for me is that the person who takes over FIFA does so with the spirit of globalisation of soccer that we have developed in recent years," he added.

Blatter named two possible successors: former France international Michel Platini, who is the president of European governing body UEFA, and Angel Maria Villar, the president of the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) and a vice president of both UEFA and FIFA.

"Michel Platini could be a possible successor as we started together in 1998," Blatter said.

"On the other side is Angel Villar who has had a long career and has good contacts in America and Africa and who would also be a good candidate.

"I don't know if there is a deal between Villar and Platini on these UEFA and FIFA issues but in any case the elections for the FIFA presidency in 2015 will be open and democratic."

Narain Karthikeyan to drive in Auto GP opener

New Delhi: India's first Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan will take part in the opening two races of the Auto GP World Series single-seater racing for the 2013 season.

Karthikeyan, who was in F1 for the last two seasons with the now defunct HRT team, will drive for Zele Racing in the first of the eight-round championships beginning in Monza, Italy, Saturday.

His teammate at Zele Racing will be 2012 Formula 2 Champion Luciano Bacheta.

Karthikeyan, 36, secured the last minute drive after not being able to find an F1 seat in 2013. He is now looking to make the most of his Auto GP stint.

"I was looking forward to continuing my F1 career in 2013 with HRT. Unfortunately circumstances within the team led to the operations shutting down. I have decided to accept the invitation from Michael Zele (team owner), as it keeps me driving a high powered single-seater," said Karthikeyan.

"I've worked with Zele Racing before, and have known Michael for a long time. I'm looking forward to the first race in Monza, as it's a track I know well," he added.
Zele Racing, which made their Auto GP last year, finished eighth and last in the team standings scoring 56 points.

Auto GP was called Euroseries 3000 until 2009. The cars used in the championships are powered by Zytek engines and Lola chassis.

The series is promoted by Coloni Motorsport and will be running eight rounds, featuring two races every race weekend. Past champions include current Lotus F1 driver Romain Grosjean.

Liverpool certain Luis Suarez will stay

London: Liverpool striker Luis Suarez will remain at Anfield next season, according to the club's managing director Ian Ayre, who has dismissed quotes from the Uruguayan saying he would consider offers from Champions League clubs.

According to British media reports, the 26-year-old, who is currently on international duty, said he was very happy at Anfield but if a club "with more prospects of competing in international club competition games" approached him, "they are very welcome".

His comments are likely to interest Europe's elite clubs and could spark a bidding war for the player who currently tops the Premier League scoring charts with 22 goals this season in an under-performing Liverpool team.

Ayre, however, said the Uruguayan's comments "may have been a bit lost in translation" and when asked by the BBC if he was 100 percent confident of keeping hold of Suarez, replied: "Yes, absolutely."

He added: "We love Luis being at Liverpool, he loves being at Liverpool and we fully expect him to be at Liverpool next season."

Suarez, who moved to Anfield for 22.7 million pounds ($34.35 million) from Ajax Amsterdam in 2011, signed a new long-term deal with Liverpool last year and would likely command a fee that would scare off all but Europe's biggest spenders.

Suarez's agent is Pere Guardiola, the brother of soon-to-be installed Bayern Munich coach Pep, which has led to inevitable media speculation that the player could be tempted to quit England for Germany.

Liverpool's prolonged absence from Europe's money-spinning Champions League, which will almost certainly stretch to four years after the current campaign, is likely to leave them vulnerable to a close-season approach.

Suarez, however, has never expressed a desire to leave the club who stood by him when he became embroiled in an ugly racism scandal that resulted in an eight-match ban after he was found guilty of abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra last season.

"I am very happy at Liverpool but you never know in football," Suarez was quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo ahead of Uruguay's World Cup qualifier with Paraguay on Friday.

"A player's ambition is always there, the ambition of wanting to play in elite teams is always there. I'm in a world-class team, an elite team like Liverpool. We have to realise we have a new manager who is imposing a philosophy and a way of playing that the players are adapting to as best we can. We hope it will bear fruit next year."

Liverpool, seventh in the standings, have slipped out of the running for the Champions League spots, trailing fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur by nine points with eight games to play, but still have a slim chance of qualifying for the Europa League.

Italian football team's plane hit by lightning

Rome: Italy's national football team survived a scare when its plane was hit by lightning on Thursday.

A bolt of lightning struck the plane when it was landing at Geneva airport. Fortunately there were no injuries nor serious damage to the plane, which was able to land safely, but the passengers were clearly shaken by the incident, reports Xinhua.

Italy will take on Brazil in a friendly in Geneva on Thursday night.

We will look to sign off with a win: Clarke

New Delhi: The prospect of suffering a rare series whitewash is looming large but Australia skipper Michael Clarke on Thursday said they would do everything to sign off what has so far been a disastrous tour, with a win in the fourth and final Test against India, starting on Friday.

"We will look to sign off with a win. If we play to our potential, if we play our best cricket, I have no doubt that we can win this Test match. We will look to get a result in our favour," Clarke told reporters at the pre-match press conference.

"We know the conditions well, we know the opposition and we know the areas where we need to improve. So, we would like to leave home winning the last Test," he added.

Having already lost the four-match series 0-3, Aussies have a last chance to salvage some pride, and Clarke said it's time that his players show some stomach for fight.

"Every single player has learnt from this tour. It's been a learning curve for all our players who haven't toured India (before). It's been a challenging tour.

"Guys are trying their best to get results. Efforts have been there but things are not turning up in our favour. We need to play some good cricket to get the result in our favour. It would be about scoring as many runs as we can," insisted Clarke.

Meanwhile, the skipper preferred to keep the cards close to his chest, refusing to disclose the playing XI.

Vice-captain Shane Watson, pacers James Pattinson and Mitchell Johnson, and batsman Usman Khawaja, who were sacked from the team ahead of third Test in Mohali for not complying with team orders, are now available for selection.

"We would announce the playing XI tomorrow," said Clarke.

"Shane is a good player. He is someone we always love to have in our team. So, hopefully he can perform well and help us win the last Test. Johnson is bowling well in the nets, he is bowling really fast. I know how much he loves the opportunity to bowl in the Test," Clarke said.

"It all depends on what is best for the team. We need to get the combination right. It's about winning the Test here and heading back home with a win under our belt," he added.

Australia had earlier faced 0-4 whitewash against South Africa in 1969-70 and 0-3 versus Pakistan in 1984.

If the hosts manage to emerge victorious in the fourth match here, it will be the first time India would win four consecutive Tests in a series.

Asked about the Kotla strip, which has the distinction of assisting the slow bowlers, Clarke said he needs to look at the wicket first.

"I haven't seen the wicket today. I need to look at it first. We need to check what it has to offer. Conditions have been quite conducive to spin bowling here in India. Our spin bowlers continue to get better with every passing Test."

The 31-year-old Clarke said injured Matthew Wade will remain his preferred choice as wicketkeeper if he makes himself available for selection.

Wade had sprained his right ankle while playing basketball before the third Test and Brad Haddin had to be called in as his replacement.

"We play only one wicketkeeper in the team. Obviously, they both can bat well. If Wade is fit, I am pretty sure he will be our preferred choice for this Test. We will see how he shapes up in today's practice session and then we will take a call on him," said Clarke.

Warne blames defensive captains for leg-spin decline

New Delhi: Six years since he quit international cricket with 1,000 wickets to his name and a reputation for reviving a moribund craft, Shane Warne is concerned about the current lack of high-class leg-spinner in cricket.

Five slow bowlers feature in the top 10 test bowlers' list but none are leg-spinners, who seem to be being overshadowed by their left-arm and off-spinning cousins.

Warne blamed the defensive mindset of captains as the primary reason for the decline of the craft he mastered and glamorised in his illustrious 15-year-old career.

"Without trying to be arrogant about it, it's hard," the 43-year-old Australian told reporters on Thursday.

"That's why we are not seeing a lot of leg-spinners around the world. It's difficult in this age of cricket. So much Twenty20 and so much relying on economy rate."

Warne said what made it tough was the attitude of the captains even at junior level, which is in stark contrast with the skippers he and his contemporary Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble bowled under.
"If they (young leg-spinners) get hit for too many sixes, the captain takes them off and goes back to the medium pace bowler with a ring field to get the economy rate down and these guys lose interest," he said.

"We are going for left-arm spinners and off-spinners, who bowl accurate and (maintain) good economy rate."

A prodigious turner of the ball, Warne is not a great fan of the line-and-length bowler.

"If I want a fast bowler playing in my team, I would want him to bowl fast. If I want a swing bowler in my team, I want him to swing the ball. If I want a spin bowler in my team, what do I want him to do? I want him to spin the ball.

"I want to see the ball spin ... They are great to have in the team as another option, but the main spinner, I want him to spin the ball."

Pakistan win to level series

Durban: Pakistan won the fourth one-day international against South Africa by three wickets to take the series to a 2-2 draw on Thursday.

The visitors were given a target of 235 following a fightback from the Proteas, who lost two wickets from the opening two balls.

Pakistan also suffered an early wobble when Mohammed Hafeez was dismissed in controversial circumstances when the batsman was taken out for obstructing the field.

Scorecard
Hafeez ran for a quick single when a throw to the stumps from the wicketkeeper hit the batsman's legs. Following plenty of deliberation, field umpire Billy Bowden sent Hafeez off the field.

Despite the blow, Imran Farhat managed to remain in control by surpassing a half century to rack up 93 before getting dismissed by Dale Steyn.

Misbah-ul-Haq pushed up Pakistan's runs by scoring 80 until Robin Petersen claimed the wicket with a throw, which forced the batsman to hit towards the hands of Farhaan Behardien.

Shoaib Malik (19) and Saeed Ajmal (5) finished the innings unbeaten.

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Thursday, March 28, 2013

2. Abou Diaby

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Thursday, March 21, 2013

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