Miandad set to coach Pakistan again

Karachi: previous captain Javed Miandad on Monday spoken his desire to coach the Pakistan cricket team once again if the PCB decides to replace the accused players and the management in England in the wake of the match-fixing scandal. Miandad, a experienced person of 124 Tests, said that he was ready to step in and assist the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the midst of the biggest fixing scandal to have hit the world cricket.
"I can take charge and manage things but first the board has to recall the players accused of spot-fixing and the present organization from England. We need to ground a new look side and new organization for the One-Day series in England," Miandad told PTI. The previous batting great, who is now the director-general of cricket in PCB, said he had aired his mind and now the ball rests on the board's court.
"I am forever there for Pakistan cricket and these latest spot-fixing scandal has hurt me immensely. It is harmful for Pakistan cricket and the board needs to steps of its own to set things right," Miandad said. Miandad, who was coach of the nationwide team thrice in the past, said PCB should immediately recall those players from England who were under the scanner.
"I don't want to say much now but it is perceptible the management failed. We have enough talent in Pakistan to field a new look side in the ODI series. We should make a fresh start and try to clear this tainted image," Miandad said. Miandad, though, declined to make any comments when asked if he felt it was time for PCB chairman Ejaz Butt to resign.
"seem I don't want to go into that. The chairman has been appointed by the chief patron of the board and only he can decide who will run cricket affairs," he said. "I am a member of this board and I have the attention of Pakistan cricket at heart. That is why I am suggestive of these radical steps. The investigations will go on but we need to understand that we can't carry on playing like this in the ODIs with all this pressure on the team," the former captain added.

Dhoni missed his top spot, Sehwag rises in ICC ODI rankings

Dubai: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost his number one spot, but opening batsman Virender Sehwag gained eight places to go back to the top-10 at eighth in the ICC ODI rankings issued on Sunday. India held on to the second spot in the team rankings in spite of losing the tri-series final to Sri Lanka last night.
Sri Lanka, sixth before the series, are just at the back of India, and in front of South Africa, who drop to fourth, when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.
New Zealand drop to sixth from fourth as Australia, at the top, and England, in fifth spot, stay unchanged. In person rankings, Tillakaratne Dilshan broke into the top five of the batting chart. Dilshan's match-winning attempt of 110 in the final against India last night was sufficient to earn him a three-place boost in the rankings and he now sits in fourth position, level with Hashim Amla of South Africa.
Amla's team-mate AB de Villiers has benefited from Dhoni's slip with the 26-year-old from Pretoria taking over at the top of the rankings. The other main mover upwards in the top 10 is Sehwag, who was confirmed Man-of-the-Series in Sri Lanka.
The hard-hitting opener was the series' top-scorer with 268 at an average of 67 and that attempt has moved him up eight places on the rankings to eighth place. Sachin Tendulkar, who was rested as of the tri-series, lost four places and now sits in 10th position.
A player loses half a per cent of his ranking for every ODI he misses. In the list for bowlers, India pacer Praveen Kumar has gained five places to smash into the top 10 for the first time in his career.The 23-year-old took nine wickets in the Sri Lanka tri-series at an usual of 23.66 and now sits in 10th position in the ranking, level with Pakistan's Shahid Afridi.

Wests Tigers attendances rise by eight per cent

The SFS and SCG are proving to be very popular grounds for Wests Tigers fans with attendances increasing by eight per cent this season. Wests Tigers moved to play their blockbuster games at the SCG and the SFS in 2009 and averaged 20,796 fans per game in their debut home ground season.

This year, the average attendances increased to 22,479. SCG Trust Chief Executive Mr Jamie Barkley congratulated Wests Tigers fans. “This year, Wests Tigers fans have attended games in increasing numbers which is a credit to their loyal support base,” said Mr Barkley.

“Wests Tigers fans come from far and wide across the Sydney metropolitan area and they enjoy the comfort, great viewing and intense atmosphere generated at the SFS and SCG. “Wests Tigers play an attacking brand of rugby league and are one of the most appealing teams in the NRL competition,” said Mr Barkley.  “Playmakers such as Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah offer great flair and players such as Lote Tuqiri, Beau Ryan and Gareth Ellis are crowd favourites,” he added.

Wests Tigers biggest attendance this season was 30,685 for the clash with South Sydney at the SCG in May.
Playing home games at the SFS and SCG has allowed thousands of more fans to attend NRL games and catapulted Wests Tigers to record attendances. As a result, Wests Tigers has one of the NRL’s highest average attendances.

Gold medallist Mo Farah named in English Commonwealth Games team

Farah, who won the 5,000m and 10,000m in Barcelona in July, is fixed by reigning European and Commonwealth triple jump champion Phillips Idowu.
Christine Ohuruogu, who won Olympic 400m gold in Beijing in 2008, will also protect her Commonwealth title. Lisa Dobriskey will look to duplicate her 1500m win from Melbourne in 2006.
The 26-year-old from Kent, who won her first major medal at the Commonwealths four years ago and added a silver at the World Championships in Berlin last year, will also fight in the 800m. But she missed out on a medal at the European Championships in Barcelona.
"To preserve my title would mean a lot to me and the more racing experience I can get in championship events the better," she said. "Other than next year's World Championships, there are extremely few such opportunities between now and London 2012."
Craig Hunter, chef de assignment for England in Delhi, added: "I'm delighted to welcome such a strong group of track and field athletes into the England team for Delhi and look forward to their performances there - especially after such a dramatic European Championships."
"After an wonderful season, two gold medals in the European Championships and a new British 5,000m record, I hope to finish a fantastic summer season with one more good performance in India," he said. He said: "It's been a great season so far and I look to go to India and win another gold medal."
England won six gold, four silver and eight bronze athletics medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The 2010 Games run from 3-14 October and feature 17 sports.

Peru and USA top teams at Youth Olympic Games

Singapore, Aug. 23 (ANDINA): In girls' play in Youth Olympic Games, Peru used their altitude advantage to beat Japan 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 25-18).
Japan had to rely on chips and soft returns to land the ball in the resistance court. Soon, Peru became aware of the plan and took the scheme.

Japan's coach, Uehara Norihito, was far from satisfied with his girls, but also sharp out "this is a young side and it is the first time they are challenging in an international tournament of an Olympic standard."

In the late game, the USA overcame a late surge from Egypt to win 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-23).
Egypt made a reappear in the last set and were leading at one stage, but a smash by Samantha Cash (USA) tied the game and soon her team had the lead to stay.
"We got a small piece lax in the last set and that's where Egypt took an advantage," said Cash.

Peru meet up Belgium and the USA take on Japan on Tuesday in the girls' semifinals.
Egypt and Singapore will play for fifth and sixth place on Wednesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo gives Pau Gasol some pointers facing the USA vs Spain game

Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo spoke to NBA player Pau Gasol prior to the USA Senior Men's National Team against the Spain Senior Men's National Team game yesterday at La Caja Magica in Madrid, Spain.

USA won the warm-up game for the 2010 FIBA World Championships which begin in Turkey on August 28.

Gasol, who stands at 7ft tall, is the starting power ahead for back-to-back NBA champions the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers journey to London to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 4 as part of NBA Europe Live.

Credible Upholstery

England Beat Hungary 2-1

Steven Gerrard scored twice in four second-half minutes as England came from at the back to defeat Hungary in their first outing since their dreadful World Cup campaign.

England, by and great, received warm backing from the 72,024 inside Wembley, with clapping comfortably outweighing booing after a performance during which Fabio Capello's team produced some eye-catching attacking moves.
But the crowd voiced their disappointment when Phil Jagielka unfortunately guided a low cross into his own net after 62 minutes.
In truth, England had grounds for criticism that are sure to once again raise the subject of goal-line technology.
A Frank Lampard strike that clearly crossed the line was not awarded during England's humiliating 4-1 beat against Germany at the World Cup.
And at Wembley on Wednesday replays optional substitute Michael Dawson had cleared the ball before it had crossed the line.
The coach had moved away from the much-maligned 4-4-2 formation, opting in its place to play Barry, Gerrard and Lampard in a central midfield area, with Adam Johnson and Theo Walcott, who were both left out of the World Cup squad, providing the width as Rooney operated as a lone striker.

New Zealand squash India by 200 runs

Against New Zealand with a feeble bowling and batting display on Tuesday. After the Kiwis put up a competitive 288 on the plank, riding on captain Ross Taylor (95) and Scott Styris (89), India suffer an mysterious batting collapse to bundle out for a paltry 88 in just 29.3 overs. In what twisted out to be a totally lop-sided contest, only three Indian batsmen could score double figures as the Kiwis ripped through the young batting lineup to open their campaign on a high. It was a powerful show by the New Zealanders who relied on a 190-run stand for the fourth wicket between Taylor and Styris before Daryl Tuffey (3/34) and Kyle Mills (2/26) and Jacob Oram (2/15) shot out India to complete a persuasive win.

Chasing 289 to win, openers Dinesh Karthik (14) and Virender Sehwag (19) made a alert start but New Zealand struck two times in as many deliveries to get rid of the openers and reduce India to 39 for two in 7.1 overs. Sehwag was the first to go when he botched to discuss a short ball aimed at his body by Mills as the ball kissed his glove and landed safely at wicketkeeper Gerath Hopkins' hands. Karthik then followed suit when he played Tuffey's delivery down the wrong line and missed the ball, which struck on his pads in front of the wicket.

Ishant to ignore tri-series opener against Kiwis

Dambulla: India suffered a shake ahead of their tri-series opener against New Zealand as paceman Ishant Sharma was on Monday ruled out of the match due to an ankle injury.

The lanky Delhi bowler was to do the accountability with new ball along with state-mate Ashish Nehra.  "Ishant is not obtainable for tomorrow's match because of an ankle problem," India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said at the pre-match press conference.

India are previously without experienced pacer Zaheer Khan, senior spinner Harbhajan Singh and opener Gautam Gambhir. Zaheer had missed the just finished Test series against Sri Lanka due to a shoulder problem and flew to South Africa for treatment.

Harbhajan and Gambhir were rested all along with Sachin Tendulkar for the tri-series. Both Harbhajan and Gambhir had missed India's third Test against Sri Lanka due to injuries.

Bubba Watson shines in Ohio

World Golf Championship, Akron, Ohio : Woods is battling tough to avoid losing his world number one status.
Bubba Watson fired up a first-round 64 to lead the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational by two shots as Tiger Woods looked set to lose his world number one ranking.
Watson carded seven birdies with Phil Mickelson, Graeme McDowell, Kenny Perry and Adam Scott two behind, while Woods struggled with a four-over-par 74.
Mickelson force top the rankings with a win or a top-four finish in Ohio if Woods finishes outside the top 37.
Lee Westwood can also become number one but finished the day with a one-over 71.

FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD: -6 B Watson (US) -4 P Mickelson (US), A Scott (Aus), G McDowell (NI) -3 C Campbell (US), R Goosen (SA), S O'Hair (US), J Overton (US), B Van Pelt (US) Selected others: -2 R Mcllroy (NI), P Casey (Eng) -1 P Harrington (Ire), E Els (SA), E R Fisher (Eng), L Glover (Eng), L Donald (Eng) +1 J Rose (Eng), L Westwood (Eng), R McGowan (Eng), +4 T Woods

Jessica Ennis Calls Time on 2010 season

UKA today set that Britain’s reigning World and European Heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis has called time on her 2010 season in order to exploit her recovery time ahead of 2011.
The 24 year old, who came to close breaking the UK heptathlon record in winning her European Championship gold last week, made the decision beside her coach Toni Minichiello to ensure the long term plan including reaching 2012 in best possible shape was always the main priority.
At the same time as there are several high profile events remaining in the 2010 summer season, Ennis has reiterated that maintaining her fitness and giving herself the best possible approach to 2012, is the ‘right decision’. Ennis said,“I have had an wonderful season and to win the European Championships was just incredible, it was such a close competition but there was no way I was not going to win!

Sehwag takes solution Sri Lanka scalps

Third Test, Colombo (P Sara Oval):Virender Sehwag took two wickets early to put Sri Lanka under force in their second innings as India look for level the series in the third Test.
After India were dismissed for 436, Sri Lankan opener Tharanga Paranavitana could only make 16 before stitching Sehwag to wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni. Murali Vijay snared a catch from Tillakaratne Dilshan (13) off Sehwag (109), who had top-scored for India.
The tests have a 1-0 series lead after a 10-wicket win in the first Test.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA 425 & 45-2 

INDIA          436

Australia eligible for ABN AMRO FIH Champions Trophy final

Monchengladbach,Day 4 : Australia have qualified for Sunday’s final after beating Germany 3-1. All remaining five teams have still chances to grab the second spot. Spain drew with New Zealand 4-4 and England defeated the Netherlands 4-3.
On Saturday England face New Zealand, Netherlands play Germany and Australia compete with Spain.
Last minute goal secures Spain one point against the Black Sticks
New Zealand squandered a 4-2 lead. Miquel DELAS secured the draw when he converted Spain’s last penalty corner.

Germany v Australia 1-3 (1-1)
1-0 23’ Martin HÄNER (PC)
1-1 30’ Desmond ABBOTT (FG)
1-2 47’ Desmond ABBOTT (FG)
1-3 57’ Jamie DWYER (FG)

Dream Players Plans to play Together

The world’s No. 1 and No. 2 players, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, are plan to play doubles together in Toronto, according to the event's Facebook page. The Toronto sports radio station Fan 590, tournament director Karl Hale, who established the matchup, said that Djokovic arrived in Toronto yesterday and Nadal arrived today. It is the first U.S. Open warm-up for both players, so it makes intellect that they might want to get double the matches by adding doubles. Plus, the two of them split the same manager in Benito Perez-Barbadillo. Now if only Roger Federer and Andy Murray would team up.

Kaka set for surgical treatment

Real Madrid forward Kaka has left the club's training camp in the USA and flown to Antwerp, where he will feel arthroscopic surgery to repair a meniscus wound. Kaka complained of distress in his knee during a routine medical check-up after connecting up with the Spanish club following his participation in this summer's FIFA World Cup. Additional tests exposed the new injury.
"It is supposed that there may be an injury to the meniscus, which could need arthroscopic surgery," Madrid said on their website this morning. "Kaka has travelled to Belgium accompanied by club doctor Carlos Diez and will be examined by a expert in Antwerp."
The Brazil international struggled all previous season with injury after moving to Madrid from AC Milan, and could be set to miss around two months this term next his latest setback. Nevertheless, coach Jose Mourinho insists the club will be able to manage without the 28-year-old.
"If we have to lose him for a while, it won't be a drama - we have additional players," he said. "But we want him to be at 100 per cent so he is joyful. He is a player who is much loved by his team-mates - he is one of the best players in the globe. Kaka missed Madrid's 3-2 win over Mexican side America on Wednesday night.

Jonny Wilkinson missed England training for Toulon game

Jonny Wilkinson will not be released to join up with England's elite squad when they assemble on 8 August, the fly-half's French club Toulon have confirmed

 

Toulon said Wilkinson "will respect his agreement and be available for the first game of the Top 14 on 13 August".
England boss Martin Johnson is consideration to be happy for Wilkinson to stay in France with Toulon. Johnson also said there had been "close and friendly consultation" with all clubs over player attendance.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has an agreement with English clubs over player let go outside the official international windows, but has to discuss individually with French sides. Back row James Haskell and lock Tom Palmer, who play for French team Stade Francais, have also been called up for the week-long England training campsite by Johnson.

Davies fades missing in 10km event

Olympic silver medallist David Davies washed out after a strong start and came 30th in the 10km open water event at the European Swimming Championships.

European Swimming Championships 2010
Venue: Budapest Dates: 4-15 August

The Welshman led for most of the race on day one of the Hungary championships but fell back behind on and was last of the three British swimmers to finish. Daniel Fogg came 11th in one hour 54 minutes and 40.2 seconds even as Richard Charlesworth was 27th at Lake Balaton.
He looked on course for a medal after top for much of the race but could not maintain the lick over the last 2km and finally finished in the pack in a time of 1:58.21.4.
"For Dave to go back to action and lead for 8km is very positive. though he hit a wall, we know where he is now and where he needs to be to gain victory." The women's 5km race was won by Ekaterina Seliverstova of Russia in 1:02:34.7.
Pool swimming events start in Budapest on Monday.

Lewis Hamilton thrilled by five-way battle for F1 title

 

Lewis Hamilton says he is keyed up by the intense competition for the Formula 1 drivers' championship - with five men in conflict to win the title.

The top five drivers are divided by 20 points going into the summer break with Red Bull's Mark Webber in top spot after he won the Hungarian Grand Prix.
McLaren's Hamilton told his website: "We'll take up again as if it's the start of the year, with everything to play for.
"None of the top three teams are really behind on points. That's thrilling!"
With seven races to go, Hamilton has 157 points, four points behind Webber, even as Webber's team-mate Sebastein Vettel is third on 151 points, McLaren's Jenson Button is fourth on 147 and Ferrari's fifth-placed driver Fernando Alonso is on 141 points.

shining Sehwag leads Indian response

Third Test,P Sara Oval: Virender Sehwag led an violent Indian response to Sri Lanka's demanding score on a competitive pitch on the second day at the P Sara Oval. Thilan Samaraweera let down India's quest for early wickets with an certain century amid testing spells from Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha, but Sehwag's counter-attack, with some luck, helped the visitors even things out. The signs were encouraging for Sri Lanka at the start of the Indian innings with the seamers finding sway while their opponents had produced virtually none. Lasith Malinga targeted the blockhole and hurled a couple of sharp bouncers, while Chanaka Welegedara got the ball to flit in. But the helpful conditions did not produce the restlessness Sri Lanka would have hoped from the Indian openers, as Sehwag settled in with three consecutive boundaries - through point, mid-on and over midwicket - off Welegedera, who had dismissed him twice in the Galle Test.

First Innings:

Sri Lanka 425 (Samaraweera 137, Sangakkara 75)

India 180 for 2 (Sehwag 97*, Tendulkar 40*)

Gareth Thomas caps rugby club move with call-up to Wales squad

Gareth Thomas is rest to win his first rugby league cap after being named in Wales's training squad for the Alitalia European Cup.
Thomas, 36, a former British and Irish Lions captain, who won the last of his 100 caps in rugby union at the 2007 World Cup, in his first season of league with Crusaders.
He said,‘It is a great feeling,' 'To be able to stand for Wales in a different sport, in such a short space of time, is a massive, massive honour and achievement for me.'

Cricket: Tendulkar rest to break record

Sachin Tendulkar is set to become the most capped test cricketer while India plays Sri Lanka in the third and final match.
The 37-year-old batting huge, who is the most creative run getter in both tests and one-day internationals and who has the most number of centuries in both versions, will exceed former Australia captain Steve Waugh when he plays his 169th test.
"It has been a very long journey. The 169th test. I still remember the first test match that I played against Pakistan," Tendulkar said today. "Very happy that I have had the freedom of such a long journey at international level and this was my dream. To play for India was my dream and getting to play 169 test matches is unbelievable."

TEST APPEARANCES - ALL TIME LEADERS

168 - Sachin Tendulkar (India)
168 - Steve Waugh (Australia)
156 - Allan Border (Australia)
146 - Ricky Ponting (Australia)
145 - Shane Warne (Australia)
141 - Rahul Dravid (India)
140 - Jacques Kallis (South Africa)
134 - Mark Boucher (South Africa)

Death a twice loss for rugby and cricket

Eric Tindill, the only man to play tests for New Zealand in both cricket and rugby, and preside in a test in both, has died in Nelson. He was 99 years old.
At the same time as others have become known as double rugby-cricket internationals though appearing only in tour games as different from tests in one or the other sport, Tindill was single in his four-strong achievements.
A halfback or first five-eighths for Wellington, Tindill played 16 matches for the All Blacks, include one test, a 13-0 loss to England at Twickenham in 1936.
Fourteen years later he was refereed three tests, two between the All Blacks and the British Lions, and then one against Australia in 1955. Tindill played five cricket tests as a wicketkeeper-batsman between 1937 and 1947, his first appearance against England at Lord's. His first-class career spanned 18 seasons.

Andrew Flintoff lined out for rest of the spell by Lancashire

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff leftovers hopeful of making his long-awaited comeback from injury but has not set himself a timescale after his domestic season was ended in advance without him playing a match.
The 32-year-old has not played since the the final Ashes Test nearly a year ago, after which he underwent two operations on his right knee and his comeback for Lancashire 2nd XI this week was aborted as a defensive measure.
His province have ruled him out for the remainder of the domestic season - which in reality is only six weeks - in order for him to continue treatment work.This latest delay also rules him out of next month's Twenty20 Champions Trophy in South Africa where he was due to play for Chennai Super Kings.

£9k for shaming the World Cup FIFA 2010 fine Holland paltry sum after 'anti-football' in final against Spain

Holland's violent feat in the World Cup final has landed the Dutch FA a paltry fine of £9,244.

Eight Holland players were revealed yellow cards and one - John Heitinga - was sent off by English referee Howard Webb through the most ill-disciplined World Cup final in history. FIFA yesterday responded with a nominal fine, a sum which looks even lesser set against the £15m awarded to the Dutch for dying runners-up.

Champions Spain were themselves fined £6,162 for individual shown five yellow cards, but it is the punishment of Holland, whose plans were condemned as 'anti-football' by Johan Cruyff, which will dismay the football world. The Dutch FA also face a recompense claim from Bayern Munich, who have reacted angrily to news that Arjen Robben will be sidelined for eight weeks as a result of his early return from a hamstring wound sustained in a warm-up game to play five matches at the World Cup.

Tests have since found that a constrain tear was not properly diagnosed earlier.

Is new coach the answer for Murray?

Would Miles Maclagan, who was sacked as Andy Murray’s coach the earlier week, have been able to do anything for the Scot as he missed match point and slumped to a 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-2 defeat at the hands of Sam Querrey in the final of the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles on Sunday?
possibly not. You can’t coach during a match, and Murray’s plans would have been worked out beforehand. But it is ironical that Murray’s defeat could be partially attributed to his failure to ram home the advantage he had established against a man he had beaten in all four previous meetings. The walk that Murray has to take to become a Grand Slam winner (so far he has lost in two finals) and reach No. 1 in the world is not a massive one, and the locker room is deeply populated with peers who believe he can do it. This time last year he was in No. 2 in the world and he is still ranked No. 4.
So Murray has to work out precisely what he expects from a coach and just how much he will accept from him. There has to be deference and trust on both sides, and that needs time. As Murray searches for someone to take him the next rung up the stepladder, Roger Federer, who knows what it takes to get there, has employed Paul Annacone, who has worked for the British Lawn Tennis Association as a short-term coach in an attempt to regain the magic touch since his last charge, Pete Sampras, retired.