(CRICKET) Hughes replaces retired Ponting

Australia cricket: Phillip Hughes replaces retired Ricky Ponting

 

Phillip Hughes has been recalled to the Australia squad to replace the retired Ricky Ponting for the start of the three-Test series against Sri Lanka. 

Hughes, 24, was preferred to Usman Khawaja, Rob Quiney and Alex Doolan in the 12-man squad for the first Test, starting in Hobart on 14 December.

Ponting retired after the 309-run loss to South Africa in Perth on Monday.
Hughes, who has a Test average of 34.58, last played in the defeat by New Zealand at Hobart in December 2011.

The left-handed batsman has twice been dropped from the Australian team after a promising start to his international career in 2009.

He scored 75 on his Test debut against South Africa and followed that up with hundreds in each innings of his second - becoming the youngest batsmen to post two centuries in a Test match. 

Selection chairman John Inverarity said Hughes' relatively young age was a factor in the selection.
"The national selection panel holds the view that he, having just turned 24, is a very significant part of the future," Inverarity said. "It was considered to be the right time and circumstances for him to re-establish himself."

Inverarity said the batting order for the Test would be decided by captain Michael Clarke, with Hughes likely to slot in at number three in a reshuffle of the top order.

Ponting batted at four in the South Africa series, but it is likely all-rounder Shane Watson will move back down the order after batting at three in Perth.

In other changes, pace bowlers Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus, who led the attack in the first two drawn Tests against South Africa, return after being rested for the third Test against South Africa.

Australia will also face Sri Lanka in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne and the New Year's Test in Sydney.

Australia squad: Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Lyon.



SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/20621696

 

(FOOTBALL) Beckham weighs up ownership role

David Beckham approached by two MLS clubs over ownership role

 

David Beckham is weighing up two offers that could see him become the owner of an emerging Major League Soccer club.

Franchises in Miami and New York have approached the 37-year-old, who asked for the option to own an MLS club when he joined Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.

Both clubs are hopeful they will become MLS members before 2016, and both are keen for Beckham to play a major role. 

But the former England captain intends to play on for at least one more season with a number of clubs in the running.

Beckham played his final game in the MLS on Saturday, leading Galaxy to a second successive Cup final victory .

Paris St Germain and AS Monaco are understood to be among the clubs battling for his services, with Beckham keen for one final challenge before ending his illustrious playing career.

The prospect of an ownership role is something Beckham has been keen to explore since moving to the US and while taking up a stake in the Galaxy remains an option, it is two other offers that are understood to be more attractive to Beckham.

A number of investment groups in the Middle East have expressed an interest in backing Beckham's potential ownership of an MLS franchise, as the likes of Qatar and Abu Dhabi explore the possibility of extending their global reach in football to the United States. 

All parties can see the prospect of harnessing the marketing phenomenon that is Beckham , in one of the most lucrative and high-profile developing markets in world football, as an opportunity not to be missed.

MLS sees Florida is a key untapped market, with no team in the south-east of America and a large following already in place. Given the area's high Latin population, Miami is viewed as an ideal city in which to expand the MLS. The city had a MLS outfit, the Miami Fusion, but the club was removed from the league in 2001.

Another option is New York, with MLS commissioner Don Garber wanting a rival in the city to the Red Bulls.

SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20614496

(HORSE RACING) Banned Dettori 'aims to regain title'

Frankie Dettori wants to be champion jockey again after ban

 

Frankie Dettori wants to become champion jockey again when he returns from a six-month drugs ban, his solicitor has told BBC Sport.

"He is hoping to use this new start to his career as a point from which he can win the jockeys' championship," said Christopher Stewart-Moore.
The three-time champion is suspended until May after testing positive for a banned substance in France.

Dettori, 41, will miss the first eight weeks of the 2013 Flat racing season.

But the British-based Italian rider will be eligible to return from 20 May, in time for the Epsom Derby and Royal Ascot meetings in June, after French racing authority France Galop backdated the ban to his first hearing on 20 November.

It means he will miss the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race, and also sit out the opening Classics at Newmarket's Guineas meeting in May. The season ends on 9 November.

Dettori won the jockeys' championship - decided by total number of wins in a season - in 1994, 1995 and 2004, but had largely concentrated on bigger races in recent years.

In a statement after the ban was announced, father-of-five Dettori said he had "let down the sport he loves" and, most of all, "his wife and children".

But he wants to bounce back in 2013 when he will ride as a freelance, his 18-year association with Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin team having ended in October.

"He is determined to come back and get into the rhythm of riding on a more regular basis than he has been recently," said his solicitor, who has spoken regularly with the jockey in recent weeks.

"I think it was his intention, prior to all these recent events, to come back and win the jockeys' championship when he knew he was going to be leaving Godolphin.
 

"He will be riding for many owners and trainers, hopefully, when he gets back. Most trainers would want Frankie Dettori riding their horses. He's as good as ever." 

After the ban was imposed on Tuesday, Dettori was rated a 100-1 chance with bookmakers to win the championship next year, but the current champion Richard Hughes triumphed despite a suspension earlier in the season.

Hughes was given a 50-day ban by stewards in India after being found not to have followed a trainer's instructions.

He was unable to ride in Britain until 30 April, but claimed his first championship with 171 winners, 40 ahead of nearest rival Silvestre de Sousa.

Stewart-Moore said the jockey would still be able to ride out for trainers on the gallops during his ban.
"I'm sure he will use the opportunity of riding work to keep himself fit," he said.
Dettori will be 42 when his suspension ends, not something his solicitor believes will be an issue.
"It is relatively young for a jockey to be coming back and he should have a good few more years left in his career," he said.

"He has no problems with his weight, which is a great plus for him."

Dettori has won 110 races at the top Group or Grade One level, including 14 British Classics, and is also a three-time winner of France's prestigious Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, on Lammtarra in 1995, Sakhee in 2001 and Marienbard the following year. 

Several top trainers, including Mark Johnston, have indicated they would be willing to use him again after he has served his ban.

"It's obviously all very sad and I feel very sorry for Frankie, who has taken it on the chin," he said.
"I'm sure he is enduring a considerable amount of shame and personal embarrassment, but at the same time I'm sure he will bounce back."

The substance for which he has incurred the ban, discovered after a test at Longchamp racecourse, has not been disclosed, although Dettori's solicitor said it was not a performance-enhancing drug.
Dettori, who made history by riding all seven winners on one card at Ascot in 1996, has acknowledged responsibility for his failed test.

The jockey, who was given a police caution in 1993 for the possession of a small amount of cocaine in London, is not the first rider to breach the French rules.

Six-time champion jockey Kieren Fallon was banned for six months by France Galop in 2006 and then suspended for a further 18 months after a second positive drugs test in August 2007. 
Dettori will have to provide fresh samples to a doctor authorised by the French medical commission next April before his suspension can be lifted.


SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/horse-racing/20616435

 

(FOOTBALL) Messi injured in Barcelona draw

Champions League: Lionel Messi injured in Barca-Benfica draw

Lionel Messi missed out on a chance to match Gerd Mueller's record of 85 goals in a calendar year as he was injured during Barcelona's draw with Benfica. 

Messi, who hurt his left knee in a collision with Benfica keeper Artur, was taken off 30 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.

Benfica knew a win would see them finish second behind Barca in Group G.
But the Portuguese side missed several early chances and the 0-0 draw meant Celtic qualified instead.
Messi, who has scored 84 goals so far in 2012, had been left on the bench by Barca, who were already guaranteed to go through as group winners.

The 25-year-old Argentina international has four matches left this year to overhaul Mueller's tally - La Liga games against Real Betis, Atletico Madrid and Real Valladolid, and a Copa del Rey tie with Cordoba.

FC Barcelona's official Twitter account tweeted after the Benfica game:  "Messi has a bruise on the outside of his left knee. He'll undergo further tests to determine the exact extent of the injury."
Elsewhere, Galatasaray pipped CFR Cluj to second place behind Manchester United in Group H after a dramatic late win over Braga.

The Turkish side, who trailed to Mossoro's first-half goal, levelled through Burak Yilmaz's header and triumphed when Aydin Yilmaz tapped home after Quim failed to hold on to a shot.
That meant they finished above Cluj on the head-to-head rule, leaving the Romanian side to settle for a Europa League spot.

Juventus edged a tight game against Shakhtar Donetsk to join the Ukrainians in qualifying from Group E. 
 
The Italian side, who needed a point to finish above Chelsea, scored the only goal of the game when Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross went in off Shakhtar defender Olexander Kucher.

Juventus go through as group winners, while Donetsk finish second above the Blues because of their head-to-head record - they scored more goals at Stamford Bridge than the London club managed at the Donbass Arena.

Bayern Munich and Valencia were already sure of their progress from Group F before the final round of matches and both teams rounded off their group campaign with wins.

The German side thrashed BATE Borisov 4-1 to ensure they went through as group winners, while Valencia beat Lille 1-0 in France. BATE already knew they would finish third.

SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20616568

(FOOTBALL) Manchester United beaten by Cluj

Manchester United suffered their first home defeat in the Champions League for three years on a night of frustration for manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

It is the first time United have failed to score at Old Trafford since being held by Rangers in September 2010.
Luis Alberto's goal early in the second half proved the difference, the Spaniard beating United goalkeeper David de Gea with a 25-yard strike.
United had already qualified for the last 16 as winners of Group H.

United's defensive worries

• This was the 15th time in 23 matches this season that United have fallen behind in a match. They have come back to win 10 times, but this proved a match too far
• Between them, keepers Anders Lindegaard and David de Gea have been beaten 33 times in all competitions. Last season at this stage it was 23
• This was United's only second home defeat in a Champions League group game. Deportivo La Coruna won 3-2 at Old Trafford in October 2001.
• This was only United's second defeat at home in the Champions League in 37 games and their first since a 1-0 defeat to Besiktas in November 2009.
• This was the first time in 66 matches United had failed to score at home.

This was an evening to forget for United, despite fielding a weakened side. With qualification assured, it was clear many at Old Trafford had already turned their thoughts to Sunday's top-of-the-table clash at Manchester City. But this was not the kind of preparation Ferguson would have wanted.

Only Wayne Rooney remained from Sunday's 4-3 win over Reading as Ferguson sought to hone his striker's sharpness, but it was at the other end of the field that United failed to convince once again.
This was the 15th time in 23 matches this season that United have fallen behind in a match. They have come back to win on 10 occasions but this proved a match too far.
Coming into this game, Ferguson warned his players to expect a repeat of last season's 6-1 humbling at the hands of City if they do not show a marked improvement from the "cartoon cavalcade" defending that has undermined their fine attacking play.
It took Cluj less than 10 minutes to find the chink in United's armour, as first Ryan Giggs and then Chris Smalling ceded possession in their own penalty area to allow Rafael Bastos to test De Gea, only for the Spaniard to scramble the deflected shot to safety.
With captain Nemanja Vidic missing - and far from certain to be involved at Etihad Stadium - United looked vulnerable.

Twice in the space of 10 minutes Cluj striker Modou Sougou had opportunities, with Scott Wootton twice on hand to block the Senegal striker's shot at the crucial moment. Rooney scrambled another effort away. 

And yet United, as they have done all season, seemed poised to overcome the generosity of their defending as half-time approached. In the five minutes before the interval their forays grew in focus and three moves, more co-ordinated than anything they had managed until then, almost produced goals.

First, Cluj goalkeeper Mario Felgueiras clawed Rooney's delightful chip out from under the bar, then he produced an instinctive save to keep Danny Welbeck's header out from the resulting corner.
Arguably the best opportunity fell to Chris Smalling but he could only head wide from two yards after Paul Scholes's pin-point pass.

And yet the errors continued to creep in to United's game and, more often than not, they were self-inflicted. De Gea gave the ball away five minutes into the second half, allowing Cluj to create space for Sougou, who stuttered at the key moment. More accomplished teams may not have been as wasteful. As it happened neither were Cluj.

When the ball fell to Alberto just inside the United half, the hosts failed to spot the danger. The Spaniard ambled towards goal and, with no United defender prepared to challenge him, he steadied himself and unleashed a wicked, curling shot that fizzed beyond De Gea, flicking the right-hand upright on its way into the net.

Rooney, in response, continued to push and probe, creating a half-chance for Phil Jones that was snuffed out by the excellent Felgueiras. Ferguson introduced Federico Macheda for Nick Powell but Cluj stood firm as Giggs tested their goalkeeper from a free-kick and Rooney shot straight at the keeper from distance.

The expected United cavalry charge failed to materialise on a night when United simply failed to click. It was a famous night for Cluj but Galatasaray's victory over FC Braga meant it was not enough to take the Romanians into the knockout stages.

Who has qualified?

• Group A: PSG, Porto
• Group B: Schalke, Arsenal
• Group C: Malaga, AC Milan
• Group D: Dortmund, Real Madrid
• Group E: Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk
• Group F: Bayern Munich, Valencia
• Group G: Barcelona, Celtic
• Group H: Manchester United, Galatasaray 

SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20522181

(FOOTBALL)Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina not for sale, says Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has rejected suggestions he is looking to sell goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Reports linked Rodgers with a January move for Birmingham's Jack Butland or Hannover's Ron-Robert Zieler.
"I don't like to talk about speculation as I know in my time at Liverpool the names we have been linked with has been incredible," Rodgers said.

“Pepe Reina is clearly our number one goalkeeper, one of the best goalkeepers in the league”

Brendan Rodgers Liverpool manager

Backing Reina, 30, he added: "But what is worth putting on record is that I'm not looking for another goalkeeper."

He added: "We have been linked with lots of goalkeepers. I have two very good goalkeepers - Pepe Reina and Brad Jones, who is a very loyal and capable number two.
"Any areas we look to improve will be elsewhere."
Rodgers acknowledged that Reina has had a "difficult couple of years" as he has struggled for form.
The keeper suffered a hamstring injury in October that kept him out for a month, but regained his place from Jones went he returned to fitness.
"Pepe Reina is clearly our number one goalkeeper, one of the best goalkeepers in the league," Rodgers said.
"He had a difficult couple of years but for me his best years are ahead of him and his commitment to the cause and what we are trying to achieve is 150%.
"Pepe has taken on board himself to do a lot of work to get in the best possible state he can be in physically and mentally and I am so happy with him.
"He is a great man and has been a wonderful player for me in this short period of time, on and off the field.
"I can see him starting to get back to the level he set here, which was a really high standard, and hopefully that continues."
Reina is expected to start in Liverpool's final Europa League Group A match against already-eliminated Udinese at the Stadio Friuli on Thursday.
Liverpool will reach the knockout stages with a win, and will be eliminated with a defeat.
But they will go through with a draw if Swiss side Young Boys fail to beat Russian opponents Anzhi Makhachkala.
"It is a competition we all want to do well in and we've never felt at any moment that we want to be out of it," said Rodgers.



SOURCE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20618197

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