Owen opens his account in the season ..

Injury-plagued Michael Owen celebrated his first start of the season with a goal as Newcastle beat Barnsley 2-0 to reach the English League Cup third round on Wednesday.

The England international striker scored 12 minutes after the interval to grab his first goal in 20 months.

Obafemi Martins wrapped up the victory three minutes from time.

Rolando Bianchi struck 10 minutes from time to give Manchester City a 2-1 win over Bristol City after Bradley Orr had levelled Emile Mpenza's first half opener.

"I am relieved to be through," said City's former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"We should have finished it much more easily. We had five or six good opportunities to score in the first half alone.

"But the rules of football are always the same. If you don't take your chances, eventually you will suffer."

Middlesbrough had to wait until the second half before they subdued League One Northampton 2-0 at the Riverside.

Fabio Rochemback opened the scoring with a 53rd-minute free-kick before South Korean international Lee Dong Gook grabbed his first goal for the club in the 66th minute.

Boro assistant manager Malcolm Crosby paid tribute to Lee.

"His goal is a long time coming and he deserves it. Hopefully it will give him a big lift. He has been looking very good in training recently," he added.

"Credit to Northampton because they played some good football and created some good openings but I think we started well and got the right result in the end."

England on top as Yuvraj holds India’s hopes..

Yuvraj holds India’s hopes as he battle it out at the Old Trafford in a good-looking pitch for the bowlers

India captain Rahul Dravid continued his winning streak with the toss as he opted to bat first in the fourth One-Dayer at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday.

Unfortunately India didn't have the kind of start they wanted. And although, Sourav Ganguly straight away got off the mark, hitting two boundaries to get into the rhythm quickly but in the 4th over itself, James Anderson gave England their first breakthrough by seeing off the Bengal southpaw for 9.

The former captain went for a pull but could only manage to top edge straight to Ian Bell at midwicket.

After that Dinesh Karthik adopted a cautious approach and hung around for 22 balls to score 4 runs but could not sustain it for long and fell to Chris Broad.

Soon after, even Skipper Dravid (1) followed in similar fashion from a Andrew Flintoff delivery.

However, Sachin Tendulkar kept one end intact as he executed his shots well and in the process reached his 81st half century.

He along with Yuvraj Singh tried to steady the boat but clearly struggled to play freely against the England bowlers, who in turn kept the run-rate under check with some fine bowling.

India managed reach the 100-run mark in 30 overs.

Then the part time spinner Kevin Pietersen was then introduced into the attack and he did the trick for the hosts, sending of Tendulkar for 55.

For this game, India had left out pacer Munaf Patel after his erratic showing in the third ODI, which England won by 42 runs on Monday.

England, on the other hand, were boosted by the return of Flintoff while captain Paul Collingwood remained in side despite a fitness scare. Chris Tremlett was replaced by the star England all-rounder.

Teams:

India: Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Dinesh Karthik, Rahul Dravid (captain), Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ramesh Powar, Ajit Agarkar, Piyush Chawla, R P Singh, Zaheer Khan.

England: Alistair Cook, Matthew Prior, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood (captain), Andrew Flintoff, Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Monty Panesar.

Ponting gets serious on 20Twenty ...

When an Australian says he is about to take a major sporting event seriously, you should always, I repeat always, sit up and take note.

Those sage-like words of advice, count double by the way when the man doing the talking happens to be Ricky Ponting, the antipodean outfit’s harder than nails cricket captain.

The right-hander’s assertions that the men in green and gold are about to wipe away their Twenty20 smiles and conquer all at next month’s inaugural World Cup get-together in South Africa, is however far from a surprise.

After all, were we really foolish enough to believe that Australia - reigning one day kings don’t forget - would be happy to just simply turn up, sign a few autographs and whack a few balls en route to an early flight home?

This is after all, a nation, never mind a collection of cricketers, that is conditioned to do their its utmost when playing for the flag, a country that thrives on challenges and which, more often than not, overcomes obstacles with a stunning regularity that leaves less partisan observers drooling with admiration.

Australia’s Twenty20 fling promises therefore to be a straight-laced affair, seam bowling with guts, batting with bravery, captaincy with concentration. It promises to be a demonstration of Australia doing what it does best – striving to reach the very top of the pile.

Australia, not taking the Twenty20 seriously? I never thought they would. Their promise to stretch every sinew in a version of the game alien to many of them, a credit to both Australian cricket and the huge levels of importance being attached to the event.

September’s Twenty20 meeting of minds and muscle, is clearly a must win for Australia as it will be for the other eleven hopefuls descending on South Africa’s splendid cricketing arenas.
Ponting though has spoken – the rest can consider themselves well and truly warned!

Don't forget, STAR CRICKET will show every game, every stage, every wicket LIVE on your telly. Or else you can stay right here on Sportsline on the latest

Just in case you missed them yesterday, here are all the fxtures you need. , Just Click on the ICC 20 Tewnty Logo on the Left hand side …

Solskjær signs off as a hero ...

Manchester United FC and Norway striker Ole Gunnar Solskjær has announced his retirement from football at the age of 34 due to a persistent knee injury.

The player said: "I would like to thank the manager, the coaching and medical staff and most of all the supporters, who have supported me through my career. They have been fantastic and were a real inspiration to me when I was out injured. The support the fans and the staff showed me during that time was the main motivation for me making my comeback. I feel proud to have represented Manchester United for eleven years and have some very special memories."

Solskjær joined United from Molde FK in 1996 and went on to win six Premier League titles and two FA Cups with the club, as well as scoring the winning goal in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final. In total, he notched up 91 goals in 235 league games for United, making his final appearance for the club as a substitute in last season's FA Cup final, which United lost 1-0 to Chelsea FC. He will remain at the club as a coach, much to Sir Alex Ferguson's delight.

"Ending your playing career is a sad day for anyone," said Sir Alex. "In the case of Ole, he has eleven fantastic years he can look back on. Ole has achieved everything a player could ever wish to achieve. He has been a great servant to the club and has always remained a model professional and his manners have always been exemplary. Ole will hopefully go on to be a good coach."

Solskjær also played 67 games for Norway, scoring 23 goals and representing his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000™. Egil Olsen coached him at his international peak summed up his talents, saying: "He isn't especially quick, strong or good in the air. What set him aside from others was his finishing. He almost always scored when he got a clear chance and he was always where the ball fell in the area."

Current Norway coach Åge Hareide, who was also Solskjær's boss at Molde, added: "He is one of the nicest men I have ever worked with. It is sad when such a career comes to an end, but Ole Gunnar has many happy memories to look back on. I never dreamed that he would score the winning goal in a UEFA Champions League final. He is a brilliant footballer, but I also appreciate him as a person. The way he behaves is an example to everybody."

Norway goalkeeper Thomas Myhre was sure that history would remember Solskjær as one of his nation's all-time greats. "There is no doubt that Ole Gunnar Solskjær is Norwegian football's best known name ever," he said. "He is a very good player that has been unlucky with injuries. When his initial disappointment at having to retire dies down he will realise that he has had an extraordinary career."

Ian Bell again delivers for England …

Ian Bell continued his outstanding form, notching up 79 as England posted a competitive 281 in the third one-day international at Edgbaston. The innings never quite hit its threatened heights as India plugged away and a number of batsmen made starts before giving up their wickets. However, England have given their attack, missing Andrew Flintoff, a defendable target.

They lost wickets at regular intervals, which prevented a more noticeable charge, and Bell fell in the 48th over as he tried to marshall the tail. He followed his unbeaten 126 at the Rose Bowl and 64 at Bristol with another well-paced innings, constantly having to adjust his target with each wicket. There was another fascinating battle between England's batsmen and India's spinners, who sent down 26 overs. They were introduced well inside the Powerplay and continued as late as the 45th over.

Rahul Dravid had been tempted to bowl because of the 10.15 start but the sun was soon out and there wasn't much joy for the quick bowlers. Zaheer Khan and RP Singh were economical but didn't make the early breakthroughs to fully justify Dravid's decision. Alastair Cook played confidently but was offered a life on 15 when Singh put him down at long leg as India's fielding again proved a weakness.

Prior was less convincing, playing and missing at three balls in Singh's first over, and the edges of his bat found more use than the middle. He top-edged balls over mid-on twice, but on the rare occasion he did time a shot the ball raced away. Prior again gave his wicket away in the 30s when an ungainly heave went high to cover. Although Dravid opted to run his Powerplays together, he turned to his spinners well before the 20-over mark and the move paid off.

Cook, much less convincing against the spinners, got into a tangle trying to sweep and offered a simple catch to short fine-leg. It was reward for Ramesh Powar, who gave a superb display of attacking one-day spin bowling. He flighted the ball enticingly - some deliveries were as slow as 43mph - and the batsmen struggled to get him away.

Piyush Chawla, who took three wickets at Bristol, again troubled Pietersen with his googly and changes of pace. Pietersen, whose form appears to be going backwards with each one-day innings, was beautifully set-up before being stumped as he charged down the track and played all round another wrong 'un.

It was an enthralling duel with Bell and Paul Collingwood trying to stabilise the innings with a partnership. There was a hint of block-or-bash about the approach as both batsmen managed to clear long-on while struggling to milk the runs along the ground.

The game was moving at a tempo quite acceptable for India - Yuvraj Singh managed seven overs for 39 - and England reverted to sweep mode. Collingwood's ugly attempt at a reverse sweep found short third-man, ending a stand of 75, just at the time they were aiming to press the accelerator with Bell reaching fifty off 64 balls.

Owais Shah, after a late recall to replace the injured Dimitri Mascarenhas, offered a skittish 19 which included plenty of by-play with Yuvraj. A big full toss was slammed over deep midwicket, the next ball Shah was bowled by a flatter ball and Yuvraj didn't hide his delight.

Ravi Bopara came and went for 10 and England were hindered by the absence of Mascarenhas and Flintoff which meant the tail started at No. 8. But India's fielding continued to poor right till the end as Dinesh Karthik missed a run-out against Stuart Broad, then Singh messed up the simplest of chances to catch the same batsman short when he missed the stumps from a couple of yards. Chris Tremlett's late 19 of nine balls then provided a late bonus. Between two well-matched teams, those little moments can make the difference.

Nani romps Spurs with a stunning goal...

Manchester United scraped an unconvincing first win of the season as Nani's goal saw off a stubborn Tottenham Hotspur side at Old Trafford.

The summer signing from Sporting Lisbon proved the match-winner as his 30-yard shot brushed off Carlos Tevez en route to the goal midway through the second half.

But Spurs will feel aggrieved at the outcome, having come closest to scoring on numerous occasions, including in the opening 30 seconds when Robbie Keane clipped the bar.

Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown both cleared off the line in the second period, although both incidents had Spurs demanding a penalty.

The Premier League champions hung on for the points, while Martin Jol will hope the performance of his players is enough to keep the wolves from the door.

"It's the same all the time. Sometimes, especially at these grounds, you need a bit of luck and I felt we could then have come away with a win.

"In the first half we had a couple of opportunities and in the second I thought we played better and I felt Manchester United - even though they were at home - weren't the better team."

The Dutchman denied he was feeling the heat at White Hart Lane, saying: "I'm not under pressure and if the chairman says he is backing me then there is no problem."

Injuries and Suspensions wont bother Sir Alex Ferguson..

No win in their first three games, only one goal scored, Cristiano Ronaldo suspended and Wayne Rooney out for several weeks with another foot injury. Does this mean Manchester United are in crisis?

In terms of points gained, they are. But having seen their matches, the football that they are playing is just as scintillating as it was last year. The movement, passing and combination play is still the best in the Premier League. They have dominated all three of their matches with a mixture of possession and penetrative football but, for a variety of reasons, have not turned that dominance into goals. Reading hardly got out of their own half, Portsmouth should have been blown away in the first period and Manchester City couldn't get control of the ball.

The poor results have prompted pundits to suggest many different ways in which Sir Alex Ferguson could improve things. Playing a more direct style, buying another centre-forward, getting more players in the box and developing a Plan B have all been mentioned. It was also suggested that, like Arsenal last year, United wanted to walk the ball into the net rather than simply to score. With United being linked with Dimitar Berbatov once again, it would appear that Ferguson is of the same view.

I could agree with some of those observations if United were failing to create chances, but they have carved out enough opportunities to win each match twice over. Their problem at the moment is that they have lost that clinical edge in front of goal. Unfortunately when chances are continually missed or a goalkeeper saves brilliantly, confidence quickly erodes among the fans and players. This, in turn, puts the next player to receive a gilt-edged opportunity under immense pressure. But if they continue to create as many chances in today's game, Spurs could feel the backlash.

Fabregas ends City winning start ..

A goal 10 minutes from time from Cesc Fabregas was enough to give Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium.

Fabregas scored with an angled drive to end City's winning start under Sven Goran Eriksson and become the first player this season to beat rookie goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

The 20-year-old Dane had kept his side in the game moments earlier when he saved a penalty from Robin Van Persie after Micah Richards had fouled Alexander Hleb.

And Schmeichel was almost an unlikely hero at the other end, connecting with Martin Petrov's injury time corner and forcing a save from Manuel Almunia in the Arsenal goal.

However, Schmeichel's sensational start to his Premier League career came to an end, with Arsenal shading the match after making a slow start. It was particularly harsh on the imposing centre-back duo of Richard Dunne and Richards, whose only mistake was the foul which led to Arsenal's 68th minute penalty. And at the other end, Eriksson and his bench were up on their feet in the second half claiming a penalty when Kolo Toure flattened Michael Johnson, but Chris Foy waved play on, allowing Arsenal to take advantage. The game developed into a matter of Arsenal enjoying possession, with City looking to counter-attack and exploit Arsenal's makeshift defence. Most of the time they were faced with the solid partnership of Richards and Dunne, so Van Persie tried his luck from long range and cleared the crossbar.
City chances in the first half were more convincing. Johnson burst through the Arsenal defence to set up Martin Petrov for an effort that went wide.

Emile Mpenza, in for the injured Valeri Bojinov, had an even better chance after Stephen Ireland sent him through but the striker made poor contact on his effort. Elano had the best of the first-half chances for City but he barely tested Almunia with a shot from the edge of the area when he had team-mates waiting for a pass. The pressure from the home side built after the half-hour mark and they almost took the lead in the 36th minute, but Van Persie was inches away from Fabregas' cross.

Arsenal were frustrated further after the break, with Adebayor and Tomas Rosicky denied, before City began to come back into the game. First Petrov flashed a shot wide of the far post after cutting in from the left, but Toure collided with Johnson in the penalty area but got the benefit of the doubt from referee Foy. Then after 62 minutes Mpenza raced through onto Ireland's clever flick but Almunia spread himself to deny the striker. They were almost made to rue their misses when Richards brought down Hleb in the area and the assistant referee instructed Foy to point to the spot. However, Schmeichel saved with his legs as Van Persie blasted down the middle, and he denied the striker again two minutes later from a long-range effort. The City keeper then tipped Fabregas' powerful effort over the bar. But the Spaniard was not to be denied with 10 minutes remaining. The ball was fed to Hleb on the right before he slipped a pass Fabregas who smashed into the roof of the net at the near post.

Ganguly, Tendulkar lift tempo after solid start ..

India captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to have a bat in the second one-day international against England in Bristol on Friday.

Openers Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar started on a strong note after seeing off the initial overs without losing a wicket, bringing up their 100-run partnership in the 17th over.

Tendulkar was the more aggressive of the duo, bringing his half-century up from 56 balls. Ganguly picked up the tempo when he slammed a six and a four off consecutive balls off Chris Tremlett in the 17th over.

India lost the opening match of the seven-match series by 104 runs on Tuesday. Left-arm Indian pacer Zaheer Khan was left out of the side because of flu, while England retained side that beat the Indians at Southampton on Tuesday. India also replaced Gautam Gambhir with off-spinner Ramesh Powar, the fifth bowler for the visitors.

Teams:
India: Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Dinesh Karthik, Yuvraj Singh, Rahul Dravid (captain), Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Piyush Chawla, Ramesh Powar, Ajit Agarkar, Munaf Patel, R P Singh.

England: Alistair Cook, Matt Prior, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood (captain), Ravi Bopara, Dimitri Mascarenas, Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Chris Tremlett.

Spinners will suit more to T20

Spin bowlers will play a significant role in the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa next month.

That's the view of one of the world's top spinners, Daniel Vettori, who has been named captain of the New Zealand squad to play in the tournament. Speaking during a teleconference with South African journalists on Thursday, Vettori said recent results in England had shown that spinners could play a very important role in T20 cricket.

"I think it is important that the spin bowlers look to take wickets, and I think an aggressive approach will be successful," he said. Vettori said he was excited at the prospect of leading the Black Caps on an overseas tour for the first time. "I've captained the side before, but being announced as the captain to take the team overseas has a different feel. Regarding my style of captaincy, I'm a bowler and that brings a different dynamic to the team. I have a good understanding of what we need to do with the ball and in the field.

"I have only played one Twenty20 match, but many of the others in the team have a lot of experience. Even though the games are very short, we can have a formulated game plan, which we can adapt according to the situation. As far as the batting is concerned, we need the batsmen to be aggressive, but they also need to play themselves in before they start hitting out.

"I think it will be great fun. There's a good feel to Twenty20 cricket -there are usually good crowds, who have a more relaxed approach," said Vettori. He said he did not believe the absence of the longtime Black Cap captain, Stephen Fleming, would have much influence on the way New Zealand played. Fleming retired from one-day cricket after the World Cup in April, and was left out of the team for the tournament.

"Obviously, he has a huge presence, but most of the group had been prepared for him to be left out of the team for this tournament. Cricketers adapt pretty easily, and I don't think there will be too much problem."

Vettori said based on their performance in the World Cup in the Caribbean, Australia and England are seemed to be favourites to win the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship. However, he thought South Africa would be among the frontrunners. "I don't think they stand a chance without Jacques Kallis," he joked, but then added that there were some exciting new faces in the South African team.

"I haven't seen them myself, but our 'A' side ran into them at the Emerging Players tournament in Australia, and they were very impressed. So I think, taking into account the home ground advantage, South Africa have a very good chance. "We also have a few new faces, but the core of the New Zealand side has been settled for some time," said Vettori. "I expect us to do pretty well. We've had a good break since the World Cup, but our New Zealand weather means we haven't been able to practice outdoors, so we are looking forward to getting to South Africa and getting back onto the grass. Most of our players have been to South Africa before, so they won't have problems getting used to conditions there."

Teams start arriving in South Africa on September 3 to prepare for the tournament, which gets underway on September 11.

United face an uphill fight, admits Ferguson

Sir Alex Ferguson has promised there will be no knee-jerk reaction to Manchester United's early-season slump.

After opening the defence of their Barclays Premier League title with successive draws, United were defeated by local rivals Manchester City at Eastlands.

Although they dominated possession and territory, once again the Red Devils were unable to locate the target and were eventually unable to claw back Geovanni's first-half opener for the Blues.

It leaves Ferguson's side languishing in 16th spot, seven points behind Sven-Goran Eriksson's league leaders, with just a solitary Paul Scholes strike to show for their efforts. The situation could be even worse by the time they face Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday as two of the four sides currently below them, Derby and Birmingham, face each other 24 hours earlier at Pride Park.

It is the worst start United have endured to a league campaign since 1992. But Ferguson knows that season ended with championship glory and the Scot is not about to start making wholesale changes because a couple of results have gone against his team. "At this moment in time we have to rely on our experience and make sure we do not get carried away with a knee-jerk reaction to it all," he said. "I cannot fault the performance because it was outstanding. "We completely dominated the game but we have thrown it away because we didn't take our chances."

Ferguson, who suggested Owen Hargreaves would not play for England on Wednesday as he looks to rest his troublesome knee ahead of the Tottenham encounter, did admit his side now have it all to do if they are to force themselves into title contention. While City are unlikely to remain at the Premier League summit for too long, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal have all started the season brightly, leaving United playing an unwanted game of catch-up. "We have given ourselves an uphill fight, there is no doubt about that," he said. "We know the position we have put ourselves in. Over the years we have always been able to overcome these things. We will have to do so again. "But this is a league where if you make mistakes like this one, it punishes you.

"We have to get a win under our belts. We have Tottenham on Sunday and that has become a very important game for us."

Kapil sacked from NCA Chairman Post...

Kapil Dev has been sacked from the chairmanship of the Bangalore-based National Cricket Academy (NCA) by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The BCCI took this tough decision in its Special General Body Meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday and named Maharastra Cricket Association Chairman Ajay Shirke, who is also the Vice-Chairman of The NCA, as the acting Chairman of the Academy. The former India skipper, who led India to the 1983 World Cup title triumph, had joined the Essel Group-promoted Indian Cricket League's Executive Board and had been made its chairman.

Kapil's sacking was expected after almost all the BCCI top bosses had made it clear that no present or former player who aligned with the ICL would have nothing to do with the BCCI and will be banned.

Kapil's term as NCA Chairman was to end in September this year. According to BCCI sources Kapil's dismissal will come into effect immediately.

Announcing the decisions taken at Special General Body Meeting, BCCI Treasurer N Srinivasan said, "The player decides whether to quit or stay. It is the player's choice (whether he wants to play in the ICL)."

Srinivasan said that the match fee for Ranji Trophy has been raised to Rs 35,000 per day and the prize money for all domestic tournaments has been increased to Rs 4.2 crores.
The BCCI will also set up a state of the art museum at its headquarters in Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium at a cost of Rs 10 crore.

Taking an equally tough stance against other players who had joined the ICL, the BCCI has said that they will not be taken back. The players would not be selected to play for India international tournaments and cannot take part in any BCCI recognised domestic tournament. The decision to appoint a full-time chairman of the NCA will be taken at the Annual General Meeting of the BCCI on September 28.

On Monday, the ICL announced its list of players that included former West Indies skipper Brian Lara, former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Farhat and Abdul Razzaq. Two South African cricketers - Lance Klusener and Nicky Boje - have also signed up with the ICL.

The sources said the BCCI proposal to amend the constitution for appointing a President-elect has also been approved at the special meeting.
The sources also said that paid selectors would be appointed from September next year.

Sania to partner Bhupathi in US Open ...

Sania Mirza continued to move up in world rankings reaching a new career-high of 28th position in the latest WTA Tour chart released today.

The 20-year-old Indian, who was placed at 29 last week, gained one spot despite being off the courts.
Meanwhile, the Hyderabadi girl will partner multiple Grand Slam champion Mahesh Bhupathi in mixed doubles at the US Open starting on August 27 in New York.

The duo had come together on tennis biggest stage at Wimbledon - where they lost in the second round - earlier this year.

Sania has entered the $ 600,000 Pilot Pen championships in New Haven, Connecticut, this week. She was to play Anabel Medina Garrigues in the singles first round of the final tune-up event for the US Open.

Sania has paired with Mara Santangelo of Italy in doubles although she will partner Bethanie Mattek at Flushing Meadows. Sania and Mattek had a combined ranking of 83 which was too close to the cut-off mark of 85. But the cut-off at US Open would be much lower since the draw size is 32 whereas it is 16 in Connecticut.

In men's rankings, Rohan Bopanna (223) and Prakash Amritraj (270) held their positions to be the top Indian singles players while Karan Rastogi slipped one rung to 340. Bopanna, who triumphed with Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi in the $ 50,000 Challenger event in Bronx, New York, moved up five places to 84 in doubles rankings.

Leander Paes, who reached the semi-finals with Czech Republic's Martin Damm in Cincinnati last week, gained one spot to be eighth while Mahesh Bhupathi slid one place to 20th.

Sven gets the better of Sir Alex ...

Manchester City took the derby day spoils with a 1-0 victory over rivals Manchester United at Eastlands.

Geovanni's first-half strike against the run of play was the difference between the two sides as Sven Goran Eriksson got the better of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Brazilian scored just past the half-hour mark with only City's second shot of the game, as he fired past Edwin van der Sar from 25 yards.

United had the better of the possession throughout the match but were unable to convert their dominance into a goal past Kasper Schmeichel, who is still to concede this season
City sit top of the Premier League on maximum points after three games, but United remain winless with just two draws to start their title defence.

Geovanni was City's matchwinner, but the real hero of the day was Micah Richards, who barely put a foot wrong, in what was an immaculate display. There was no evidence of United's poor start having any effect on their confidence in the opening stages, as they proceeded to tear City apart.

With Owen Hargreaves back after injury and anchoring the visitors' midfield, Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick were given licence to roam and the amount of space they found was nearly to City's cost early on.

Nani twice tested the reflexes of Schmeichel, initially with a rasping near-post effort which he kept out with his legs, then with a first-time shot after Scholes flicked a pass into his path.

Twice Richards brushed Carlos Tevez aside in a one-on-one foot race for possession and it was his tackle which launched the move which eventually saw City seize the initiative. In the entire first 45 minutes there was virtually nothing to worry Ferguson but as the veteran Scot is only too aware, a failure to make superiority count can prove very costly indeed. And his heart must have sank as his defenders stood off Geovanni when the midfielder collected a short pass from fellow countryman Elano 30 yards out. Vidic made a belated attempt to close the midfielder down but turned his back on the shot, which flicked off his legs and flew past Van der Sar.

Portsmouth pile misery on point-less Bolton ...

Portsmouth came from a goal down to maintain their unbeaten start to the new season while Sammy Lee's Bolton remain without a point.

Bolton's Nicolas Anelka, the subject of a move away from the Reebok Stadium, opened the scoring in the 12th minute when he raced clear of Portsmouth's backline to slot the ball through the legs of David James.

It was a lead the visitors only held on to for four minutes as Nwankwo Kanu equalised from close range and owed much to fellow Nigerian John Utaka's clever knock down.

Kanu returned the favour on the half hour mark when he played Utaka down the line. The £7 million summer signing from Rennes sprinted clear of Bolton's rearguard to put the hosts level by the break.

Bolton failed to trouble Portsmouth after the break and their miserable day in the rain on the South Coast was compounded when Matt Taylor scored from the spot two minutes from time after Kanu was fouled.

Gerrard to play against Chelsea despite injury

Steven Gerrard is expected to play for Liverpool against Chelsea on Sunday despite a broken toe. It is a prospect that may cause Steve McClaren, the England head coach, more anxiety before the critical forthcoming European Championship qualifying matches than the Merseyside club’s unwillingness to release Gerrard for a friendly match against Germany three days later.

McClaren will announce his squad today to face Germany, with most interest centred on the expected inclusion of David Beckham and on whether David Bentley, the Blackburn Rovers winger, is called up after withdrawing from the squad for the European Under-21 Championship finals in June. But Gerrard will play no part at Wembley after an X-ray yesterday revealed that he had suffered a hairline fracture of a toe during Liverpool’s 1-0 Champions League victory in Toulouse on Wednesday.

That is alarming enough for McClaren as he prepares for next month’s Euro 2008 qualifying matches at home to Israel and Russia — fixtures that Wayne Rooney is certain to miss with a hairline fracture of the foot — but it is perhaps more worrying that Rafael BenÍtez, the Liverpool manager, plans to use Gerrard against Chelsea at Anfield this weekend. The Liverpool captain will require a painkilling injection beforehand and, according to BenÍtez, seven to ten days’ rest afterwards, the manager acknowledging the “small risk” of a longer layoff if the 27-year-old plays on Sunday.

Steve has a hairline fracture at the tip of the big toe on his right foot,” BenÍtez said at Liverpool’s training ground yesterday. “We have confidence he will be available for the weekend and then he must rest. He wants to play [against Chelsea] and the doctor thinks that we can manage the situation. It is a small risk. We need to manage the risk.

“The problem with an injury of this kind is that if the player carries on training and playing games, then it will be more of a risk.”

Beckham fires for Galaxy …

David Beckham enjoyed a dream first start for the Los Angeles Galaxy with a trademark free-kick goal and an assist to send his new team on the way to the inaugural SuperLiga final with a victory over DC United at the Home Depot Center on Wednesday.

Beckham was a surprise starter given the ankle problems that had restricted him to just two brief substitute's appearances in his first month in America.

He played 63 minutes against DC United, scoring one goal and making another before being subbed midway through the second half and immediately having his troublesome left ankle wrapped in ice as he watched the rest of the game from the Galaxy bench.

Beckham was also handed the captaincy at Landon Donovan's expense by Galaxy head coach Frank Yallop and rose to the occasion with a bending 28th-minute free-kick that left DC United keeper Troy Perkins helpless as it crashed into the net. Beckham, who had been booked in the first half for a reckless tackle on DC captain Jaime Moreno, followed his goal with a perfect pass out of midfield two minutes after the restart which Donovan took to the edge of the area before slotting home to double the Galaxy lead as the LA side closed in on the August 29 final against Mexican champions CF Pachuca.

The Galaxy had once again been slow starters as they played their first home game since beating Pachuca in the SuperLiga group stages on July 24. The Home Depot Center pitch had been turned into a Motocross arena for the X Games in the meantime and a newly-laid pitch did not look ideal for Beckham's suspect ankle. At least it was a real grass surface and the England midfielder looked perfectly at ease as the game got under way with his wife Victoria watching from the stands with their youngest son Cruz. Galaxy's Joe Cannon was by far the busiest of the two goalkeepers, tipping over a long-range Moreno shot after 11 minutes and making a flying save from Josh Gros four minutes later. Beckham showed no signs of tentativeness as he got stuck into with some strong challenges, although his two-footed tackle on Moreno in the 18th minute rightly earned him a yellow card from referee Alex Prus.
More positive was his partnership with Donovan, who in the 20th minute broke out of the Galaxy half, beating two United players before sending the ball down the right wing to an overlapping Beckham. The Englishman chased the pass 30-yards before putting in a low cross low which was cut out by defender Devon McTavish at the near post.

Beckham was given a taste of retribution for his earlier lunge on Moreno midway through the first half when his legs were whipped from under him by Ben Olsen. He jumped straight up with a grin and was soon rewarded for his composure when McTavish fouled Carlos Pavon just outside the DC area. As excitement rose sharply in the crowd, Beckham was finally able to live up to his star billing, standing poised at right angles to the goal as the DC defence organised its wall. Their efforts were futile as Beckham lifted the ball over the left edge and watched as the ball curled with a dip past a static Perkins into the keeper's bottom left hand corner. It was the perfect way for Beckham to open his account and it was good enough to give the Galaxy the first-half lead.

Galaxy raced out of the gates at the restart as Beckham slid the ball form inside the centre circle to a fast-running Donovan and the USA international advancing to the edge of the United area before slotting home right-footed to give the Galaxy a 2-0 lead. Cannon had plenty more to do, turning an Emilio shot round the post in the 50th minute and saving from the same player from point-blank range three minutes later. Beckham had an opportunity to add a second goal when Ben Olsen fouled Kyle Martino 30-yards out from goal three minutes before the hour mark but Perkins was equal to the task, saving at full stretch to his right.
It was Beckham's last contribution as he was subbed six minutes later to a standing ovation from the crowd and the congratulations of a grateful Yallop and the rest of the Galaxy bench.

Real wants Robben to play in Madrid …

Real Madrid reportedly want Arjen Robben to make a public declaration about wanting to move to Spain.

Spanish newspaper says that Real want Robben to put in a transfer request and start agitating for a move as the likes of Ronaldo and Robinho have in the past.

They even suggest that Real are encouraging Robben to skip training like his fellow countrymen Wesley Sneijder and Royston Drenthe to push through a move.

But Robben has apparently refused to upset Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in the belief that a £20.3million move is in the pipeline regardless.

Benitez says no to rotation policy …

Rafael Benitez is determined there will be no compromise in Liverpool's squad rotation policy - irrespective of how many complaints he receives from big-name players.

As the Spaniard prepared for Wednesday's Champions League third qualifying round first leg away to Toulouse, he was making no apologies for his selection tactics.

Peter Crouch, left out of the squad for Saturday's Barclays Premier League win over Aston Villa, has already discussed the situation with his manager. But that did not stop Benitez leaving Jermaine Pennant behind on Merseyside this week - and he confirmed he will be saying the same things to all those involved, or left out. "I have prepared the same speech for all the players," he said. "I realise that I will hear this same question regularly - because we have a good squad, and I have to decide." Until there is a fundamental change in the rules, he joked, he will be sticking to his guns.

"Sadly, I have been unable to persuade FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League to allow me to use 12 players in every game!" he said. "I can only use 11 - and I cannot have more than 18 players in a squad for a European match, unfortunately. "Every player knows they have team-mates to consider. They are professionals and they need to be ready for each game. I will always have the same answer." Benitez denied his policy has caused any significant unrest to date. "I have heard that there are some problems with Crouch - that is not the case," he said."The same applies to Pennant, and for the likes of Javier Mascherano and the rest. "It is the same answer for everyone. I now hope I do not have to repeat this to the media every week. The players know they are professionals, and this is football.

"We may be in a very good rugby town here in Toulouse. But this is not rugby - I cannot use 15 players." Crouch, Yossi Benayoun, Mascherano and Harry Kewell - carrying a thigh strain - did not even get on the coach for the trip to Birmingham. The manager added: "The only problem we have is too many players, which is the situation we wanted. "It is never easy to decide which players to change. But it is good for the club and for me - because I can see players working so hard in training and telling me 'Don't forget - I'm here'. "Each week it may only be a small detail which determines who starts the game, because a player might show his quality in a training session or a practice match. This is the competition we have wanted."

Declining to name Crouch or anyone else specifically, Benitez did say: "On Sunday, I spoke to one player about the situation - and I was really pleased with his response. "He said he would be ready when he was needed and accepted the position like a professional. That's the mentality we need. "I say to all the players 'be ready' - because they will all be needed. "We have two good players now for every position - players will not always be involved. That is the situation when you play for a very big club."

India end 21 year draught at Oval …

India completed a 1-0 series win against England after the third and final Test at The Oval was drawn here on Monday.

England, set 500 to win, a target way in excess of the Test record fourth innings winning score of 418 for seven made by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003, finished on 369 for six.Matt Prior was 12 not out and Ryan Sidebottom three not out.Kevin Pietersen top-scored with 101.

Rahul Dravid's men, ahead after a seven-wicket win at Trent Bridge followed a gutsy draw at Lord's, became only the third India side, after the 1971 and 1986 teams, to win a series in England in 15 tours dating back 75 years.For England the draw meant the end of a six-year unbeaten run in home Test series, encompassing eight wins and three draws in 11 campaigns, since they lost the 2001 Ashes.England, at tea, were 232 for three, needing an improbable further 268 for victory. Pietersen was 71 not out and Paul Collingwood 23 not out.But the first ball with the new ball saw Collingwood lbw for 40 to fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth after a stand of 114 with Pietersen.Pietersen went on to complete a 10th hundred in 30 Tests, his second this series after he made 134 in the drawn opener at Lord's, and fourth of the season after twice reaching three figures against the West Indies.

South Africa-born Pietersen's drive through mid-wicket off Sreesanth saw him to a 155-ball century with his 18th four.But four balls later Pietersen's loose drive off the paceman was caught at first slip by Dinesh Karthik.England, who'd been easing their way towards a draw, were 289 for five with only the tail to come after Ian Bell and Prior.It looked as if England's last two specialist batsmen would bat out the day but Bell, after a run-a-ball fifty, was lbw for 67 on the sweep to leg-spinner Anil Kumble, a thorn in his opponents' side throughout this match.England now had to survive at least 28 balls with just four wickets standing but Sidebottom held firm.Sreesanth had earlier dismissed England captain Michael Vaughan for 42.Vaughan, dropped on 18 by Dravid, was caught behind by wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni after flashing outside off-stump.Pietersen, before tea, exchanged angry words with Kumble after the bowlier believed the non-striker had impeded him as he tried to field.England resumed Monday on 56 without loss. Andrew Strauss was 23 not out and fellow -handed opener Alastair Cook 27 not out. -arm quick Rudra Pratap Singh struck with his fourth ball Monday when Strauss, without a Test hundred for over a year, edged to second slip on 32.

Kumble then removed Cook on 43, when a genuine glance well caught low down by VVS Laxman at short backward square-leg.India had all but ensured against defeat with a first innings 664 - their record Test total against England - which included Kumble's unbeaten 110, his maiden century in his 118 Tests and the only three-figure score by an India batsman this series.

Kumble then became Test cricket's third most successful bowler outright, overtaking retired Australia quick Glenn McGrath's mark of 563 wickets, when he had Monty Panesar lbw to end England's first innings on 345 all out.Dravid, who opted not to enforce the follow-on, declared India's second innings on 180 for six after former captain Sourav Ganguly had made 57.England and India meet again in the first of seven one-day internationals, at the Rose Bowl, on August 21.

Tatenda Taibu raises new hope for Zimbabwe Cricket

Former Zimbabwe cricket captain Tatenda Taibu has decided to again play for the national side two years after he quit in protest against the country's cricket officials.

The former captain said he could not ignore his desire to play international cricket again, and that his wife had played a big part in persuading him to change his mind. Taibu had been playing overseas during his self-imposed exile, but his wife, Loveness, had suggested the couple to return to Africa. "My wife was tired of travelling and asked if we could come back home and I agreed," he was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph.

"She was against the idea of me leaving in the first place. All the time we were away she was always asking me when we were going back home." Taibu, the youngest captain in international when he was chosen to lead Zimbabwe at the age of 18, walked out of the national squad at the age of 22 in November 2005. Taibu spent a month playing club cricket in Bangladesh in January last year before coming to England to join Pyrford in Surrey. He then signed a six-month deal with Namibia, who play in South Africa's domestic first-class set-up, but did not renew that contract and returned home in May. "I am back to score hundreds, double hundreds and take more catches.

Cricket fans will see more of me," he said. Taibu told the paper that his return had nothing to do with financial gain because he had earned enough money to care for himself and his family. "It is now a matter of playing for my country, I have made enough money in my life and I still have other things that bring me money," he said. Zimbabwe has also been boosted by the return of opening batsman Brendan Taylor, who had refused to play for his Northern province in Zimbabwe's first-class competition, the Logan Cup, soon after his return from the 2007 World Cup and then defied Zimbabwe cricket boss Ovias Bvute's order not to accept contracts with clubs abroad in the off-season by taking up a club deal in Holland. Taylor joined the Zimbabwean squad for training on Friday, ahead of two four-day games against South Africa A that starts on Thursday.

Gerrard’s late strike gives Liverpool a good start …

Steven Gerrard's superb free-kick enabled Liverpool to win on the opening day of the Premier League campaign for the first time during the Rafael Benitez era.

Villa looked to have rescued a point when captain Gareth Barry cancelled out Martin Laursen's first-half own goal with an 85th-minute penalty.

However, Gerrard then curled a long-range free-kick past the dive of Stuart Taylor barely 60 seconds later after he had been brought down by Stiliyan Petrov.

Gerrard said: "Over the last few seasons we have been frustrated with the start we've made, we've lost silly points and been playing catch-up, the idea this time is to come out of the blocks quickly and stay in the title race.

"We were pleased with the first 60 minutes, I thought we controlled the game. Villa came back into the game but we managed to pull it out of the bag late doors."

Asked about his free-kick, Gerrard said: "It's about time the lads let me take one, I managed to catch one right today, but the most important thing was three points.

"It was a great three points and nice to go into the Chelsea game with three points on the board."

Kumble’s century make India feel comfortable in Oval …

Anil Kumble scored a maiden Test century on Friday to spur India to 664 all out on the second day of the third and final Test and put his side within sight of their first series victory in England for 21 years here at the Oval today.

England, trailing 1-0, were 24 for one at the close and now look certain to end an unbeaten home record stretching back to 2002. Andrew Strauss was the man to fall, caught at fine leg after top-edging a pull shot off Zaheer Khan for six.

Number eight batsman Kumble cracked an unbeaten 110 after wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had flayed the England bowlers for 92 from 81 balls. Sachin Tendulkar chipped in with 82 until he departed 10 minutes before lunch. Kumble came in at the fall of Tendulkar's wicket and batted throughout the afternoon session and for most of the third session. His previous Test best was 88.

The leg-spinner from Bangalore, India's most successful Test bowler, put on 91 with Dhoni, 62 with Zaheer Khan (11) and a record 10th-wicket stand of 73 from 80 balls with last man Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, who joined in the fun with a Test best 35.

India's previous highest score against England was their 628 for eight at Headingley in 2002. The total at one stage was the highest in Test history without a century. Kumble's innings, which took 193 balls and included 11 fours and a straight six, upstaged his more illustrious batting team mates Tendulkar and skipper Rahul Dravid. Dhoni, whose stubborn 76 not out helped India save the Lord's Test, went to 92 in just 16 balls after reaching his half-century. He ended with nine boundaries and four sixes.

Last man Sreesanth rubbed salt into England's wounds by plundering three consecutive boundaries off James Anderson and ensured India became the first test side in three years where all 11 batsman reached double figures. It was India's fourth-highest total in Tests, short of their record 705 for seven against Australia three years ago.

England's problems deepened when their reliable -arm swing bowler Ryan Sidebottom had to go to hospital for a scan on a sore leg.

Karthik misses century as India close on a good note ..

Sachin Tendulkar was threatening to make England pay for dropping himon 20 as India finished the first day of the third and final Test on316 for four at The Oval here Thursday.

Tendulkar was 48 not out and VVS Laxman 20 not out following an impressive 91 from opener Dinesh Karthik.India,1-0 up, had merely to avoid defeat in this match to win only their third series in England in 15 campaigns dating back to 1932.England, by contrast, had to win to maintain their six-year unbeaten run in home Test series.It seemed as if India, whose captain Rahul Dravid won the toss on a belting batting pitch, were threatening to put the game beyond England’s reach before the first day ended when they were 189 for one.But England, with James Anderson taking two wickets, fought back to haveIndia 211 for three at tea. Tendulkar was two not out and SouravGanguly eight not out in what could be both players last Test inEngland.

India resumed after lunch on 117 for one with opener Karthik 50 not out and Rahul Dravid, who'd won the toss and chosen to bat on a good pitch, unbeaten on 25.In the second over after the break Karthik, on 58, gave a sharp chance when he was dropped at short extra-cover by Andrew Strauss following a powerfully-struck drive off -arm spinner Monty Panesar.

Dravid then responded to England captain Michael Vaughan's decision to post two fielders close in at short extra-cover by stylishly driving Panesar between the pair of them for four.

Karthik then used his feet well to go down the pitch to drive Panesar for six over extra-cover.Dravid, who in India's last Test at The Oval five years ago scored 217, went on to complete an 82-ball fifty with eight fours. But a stand of 127 was ended when Dravid, on 55, was bowled by Anderson's yorker.

Karthik misses century as India close on a good note ..

Sachin Tendulkar was threatening to make England pay for dropping himon 20 as India finished the first day of the third and final Test on316 for four at The Oval here Thursday.

Tendulkar was 48 not out and VVS Laxman 20 not out following an impressive 91 from opener Dinesh Karthik.India,1-0 up, had merely to avoid defeat in this match to win only their third series in England in 15 campaigns dating back to 1932.England, by contrast, had to win to maintain their six-year unbeaten run in home Test series.It seemed as if India, whose captain Rahul Dravid won the toss on a belting batting pitch, were threatening to put the game beyond England’s reach before the first day ended when they were 189 for one.But England, with James Anderson taking two wickets, fought back to haveIndia 211 for three at tea. Tendulkar was two not out and SouravGanguly eight not out in what could be both players last Test inEngland.

India resumed after lunch on 117 for one with opener Karthik 50 not out and Rahul Dravid, who'd won the toss and chosen to bat on a good pitch, unbeaten on 25.In the second over after the break Karthik, on 58, gave a sharp chance when he was dropped at short extra-cover by Andrew Strauss following a powerfully-struck drive off -arm spinner Monty Panesar.

Dravid then responded to England captain Michael Vaughan's decision to post two fielders close in at short extra-cover by stylishly driving Panesar between the pair of them for four. Karthik then used his feet well to go down the pitch to drive Panesar for six over extra-cover.Dravid, who in India's last Test at The Oval five years ago scored 217, went on to complete an 82-ball fifty with eight fours. But a stand of 127 was ended when Dravid, on 55, was bowled by Anderson's yorker.

Dravid expects a result in the Oval …

Skipper Rahul Dravid has backed the Indian team to reproduce their winning form in the third and final Test at the Oval which he expects to produce a "decisive result".India are on the cusp of their first series win in England in 21 years after taking a 1-0 lead, and Dravid firmly believes the team could go all the way to repeat their 1986 feat.With the Oval pitch expected to offer good bounce, and the weather too looking great, Dravid acknowledged that there would be a result in the match."We have not thought of anything else other than a decisive result," Dravid told reporters on the eve of the series decider.

"In the last two Tests, there were about 340 overs played and there was a result at Trent Bridge and nearly a result at Lord's."In this one there will be about 450 overs of cricket and we believe there will be a result and hopefully we will play some good tough cricket and finish on the right side of the result." The Indian captain, however, made it clear that he was not trying to put the cart before the horse and thinking about how it would feel to win a series in England."It hasn't crossed my mind. I am not thinking about it. I am just focused on playing a good Test. We are very happy with the way we played at Trent Bridge."We did a lot of our basics right there. And we would like to replicate some of that in this game.

"England will come hard at us. But we just want to be ready and be focused on what we want to achieve." As for the extra bounce that the wicket is likely to offer, Dravid felt that his batsmen would have to make some adjustments. "We have played well in these conditions and done well in these conditions before. Just a question of adapting and adjusting a bit to the extra bounce," he said.

He also had an encouraging word for Anil Kumble saying that the Oval pitch might have something in it for him. There will be a bit of bounce for him. If there is anything in the wicket for the spinners, Anil is the best person to utilise it." Dravid wasn't overly concerned about his own batting form. On the contrary, he said that he would seek some inspiration from his innings of 217 that he scored here in 2002."I have some good memories of Oval and probably I would jog my memory and seek some inspiration from that knock," he said.

"It has been four years and tomorrow is a new day and a new game. But I am hitting the ball well and am confident of doing well." Asked about pacer Sreesanth's frame of mind going into the crucial Test after being left out of the following one-day series, Dravid said he was fine.

Alonso to leave by the end of the season ...

FERNANDO ALONSO has been informed by Ron Dennis, the McLaren Mercedes principal, that he can leave the team at the end of the season.
The Formula One rumour mill is in full flow over the future of Alonso, after his role in the vain attempt to prevent Lewis Hamilton, his team-mate, from taking pole position during qualifying for last Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
A source said yesterday: "My understanding is that he's been told he can go because they're so fed up with him. Ron is just very pissed off with both of them (Alonso and Hamilton)."

Alonso, who is contracted to McLaren until the end of 2009 on a salary of about pound stg. 10million ($23.6m) a year, has indicated in remarks to the Spanish media that his future at McLaren is in doubt, as have key advisers in his entourage.

Even before the row over the attempt to delay Hamilton, sources close to the Spanish driver were making it clear that he was unhappy at the team and was dismayed at what he regards as McLaren reneging on their initial deal to make him the lead driver. The prospect of Alonso leaving McLaren has encouraged speculation in the paddock about where the double world champion may go.

Among the possibilities are a move to Ferrari, at the expense of Felipe Massa; a return to Renault, where he would probably replace Giancarlo Fisichella, his former team-mate; or a switch to BMW Sauber or even Toyota. Dennis acknowledged in Budapest on Sunday that Alonso's future was the subject of serious discussion in rival teams. "There is an inevitability that these things are rumoured and discussed," Dennis said. But the embattled McLaren principal was, at that stage, hoping that Alonso would fulfil his contract. "We have two drivers who are contracted for several years into the future," he said. "We will respect our part of the bargain - we hope that the drivers respect theirs, because that's what a contract is about." The long-held McLaren tradition of allowing its two drivers to fight it out for supremacy on the track, which Alonso dislikes, is not going to change, Dennis said.

"We will continue to function as a grand prix team with specific values and if anybody does not want to be part of those values - irrespective of where they sit in the organisation - ultimately they will have a choice," he said. "But we will not deviate away from our values."

McLaren has yet to decide whether to pursue its appeal against the decision by the stewards to withdraw constructors' points in Hungary as part of the punishment handed to the team over the infamous orchestrated pit stop during qualifying although indications are that it probably will not.

The penalty handed to Alonso over the affair that demoted him from pole position to sixth on the grid was met with outrage by the popular Asturian driver's fans in Spain, who have the support of the RFEA, the Spanish motorsport federation.

"We want to publicly show our support and absolute trust in Fernando Alonso, who has shown his professionalism and honesty during his successful sporting career," the organisation said.

Sreesanth not included in One – Dayers …

India on Tuesday left out fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth for the seven-match, one-day series against hosts England starting later this month.

Sreesanth was replaced by seamer Munaf Patel in the only change to the 15-man squad that defeated South Africa 2-1 in the Future Cup series in Ireland in June.

Sreesanth, 24, was fined 50 percent of his match fees by referee Ranjan Madugalle after shoulder-butting England captain Michael Vaughan during the second Test at Trent Bridge last week.

Sreesanth also hurled a head-high beamer at Kevin Pietersen and later overstepped the crease by several feet while bowling a bouncer to Paul Collingwood in the hotly-contested match which India won by seven wickets.

It is unclear if the Kerala fast bowler will be picked for the third and final Test starting at the Oval in London on Thursday which England must win to draw the series. The first one-dayer will be played in Southampton on August 21.

India's one-day squad:
Rahul Dravid (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthick, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ramesh Powar, Piyush Chawla, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel.

Ballack not willing to leave Chelsea ..

The Chelsea midfielder has rubbished speculation linking him with a move away from Stamford Bridge in a statement which reads: "I am totally committed to Chelsea. I am very happy in London professionally and for my family.

The speculation about me leaving is not true. I have no interest in leaving Chelsea and I have had no contact with Real Madrid whatsoever."

Michael Ballack's agent has admitted that he is in contact with Real Madrid about a move from Chelsea. Michael Becker told Kicker magazine that there was "indirect contact" with the Spanish side, although he said he had advised Real to contact Chelsea to continue negotiations.

Ballack played no part in yesterday's defeat on penalties against Manchester United in the Community Shield where Chelsea lost to Manchester United by 3 goals in the penalties . At Full time both the teams were levelled at one goal each with Malouda equalling after Ryan Giggs opened the account for Manchester United .

Catch us live for the new season which starts on Saturday ( 11th August )

Kapil cut loose on the Indian Cricket League : presumes Pawar

Indian cricket chief Sharad Pawar’s comment that Kapil Dev was not sparing enough time for the National Cricket Academy and seemed interested in other activities is like realising the monsoon’s arrival well after it has crippled life in many parts of the country.

Or may be, the reaction is yet another attempt at putting up a cool exterior under mounting pressure because Kapil has been the driving force for the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and has also challenged cricket officials umpteen number of times to sack him as the NCA chief.

The Board certainly needed to act more swiftly if it was so intent on nipping the ICL in the bud, and the messages it sent through former chief I.S. Bindra for Kapil was but a hopeless attempt to bring back into the fold, a player who brought glory to the country and ironically heads the premier coaching wing of the Board when he is a supposed rebel.

That the Indian cricket officials are not in sync has been evident time and again over the past few months, the most glaring example being of secretary Niranjan Shah announcing that Dav Whatmore was the front-runner for the Indian coach’s job but the Aussie was not even short-listed by the panel nominated to pick the official.

The grapevine has it that the officials are already pulling in different directions and that may not be easy for Pawar to handle because neither does he have the time to spare, nor the expertise that a certain Jagmohan Dalmiya had, because of working his way up through the system.

Pawar’s comment on Kapil came at a media interaction in Bangalore on Friday, where he also slipped on other occasions. By saying that Greg Chappell was never considered in a consultant’s capacity contradicted his very own words after the World Cup debacle, that “he (Chappell) could definitely be associated with Indian cricket and help in implementing long-term plans.” That previous statement of his followed the characteristic ‘leak’ to the press, which the media attributed to “Board sources” in their story of Chappell being sounded for a post in the NCA and on other select panels.

Pawar has also said that the Board is not worried about the ICL and that organising events will be a problem for them, but at the same time, Shah has announced that those associated with the ICL will face life bans. So, is the BCCI really worried about the ICL or not? One will probably have to wait till the BCCI’s August 21 meeting in Mumbai to know what the administrative body’s stance really is.

In the meantime, expect the ICL to come up with more announcements about those joining what is definitely a parallel body, now that Kapil has said that they will not restrict themselves to just Twenty20 cricket.

Brief introduction on Manchester United ..

Manchester United are the most successful Premier League club having won the title nine times. It all began in 1993 when manager Sir Alex Ferguson ended a 26-year wait to lift the Premier League crown.

The signing of Eric Cantona for £1.2million from Leeds proved a masterstroke as the Frenchman was instrumental in the title victory, along with the likes of Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin, Ryan Giggs and Paul Ince.

United retained the trophy in the following campaign and romped to further titles in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. More silverware was added to the Red Devils' burgeoning trophy cabinet with FA Cup success in 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2004, plus League Cup victories in 1992 and 2006.

Perhaps the most memorable time in the club's history was the treble-winning season of 1999 when they added the European Champions League trophy to the league title and FA Cup.

Chelsea briefly broke their league dominance with title wins in 2005 and 2006. But last season, the Red Devils roared back to regain the Barclays Premiership and won't give it up without a fight.