England chase series win in final Test

SYDNEY: Buoyant England will go into the final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday intent on wrapping up their first series triumph in Australia for nearly quarter of a century.

As holders, Andrew Strauss's team are already guaranteed to keep hold of the Ashes after thumping Australia by an innings and 157 runs in the fourth Melbourne Test to take a 2-1 series lead with just one match to play.

But despite England's dominance throughout most of the series, the home side can still pull level at 2-2 under stand-in skipper Michael Clarke if they can turn around their miserable form and win in Sydney.

Strauss is aware that the tourists still have work to do as they seek to become the first English team since Mike Gatting's men in 1986/87 to win a series Down Under.

"Winning the Ashes in Australia has always been a bit of a Holy Grail for English sides," Strauss said. "Our objective was to come out here and win the series, so we haven't achieved that yet. "It's very reassuring to know that the Ashes are going to remain in England for the next couple of years, but it would leave a very sour taste if we weren't able to go on and convert our position into a series win in Sydney."

England outplayed Australia in all departments at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to highlight the sorry state of Australian cricket.

Clarke will replace the injured Ricky Ponting and lead Australia for the first time at Test level in Sydney.

X-rays revealed that Ponting had further damaged a fractured little left finger suffered earlier in the series while playing in the fourth Test. Ponting's absence in Sydney could dampen incessant speculation over his Test future.

"I'm honoured. It's for this Test match and hopefully we can get Punter (Ponting) right as soon as possible," Clarke said. "No doubt (England) are playing really good cricket but it's a great opportunity for us. It's a huge Test match."

Ponting's setback has also created an opportunity for Pakistan-born Usman Khawaja, 24, to become the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia and he is likely to bat at number three in the absence of Ponting.

"I'm not here to fill Ricky Ponting's shoes, I'm going to go out there and try and do the best I can," Khawaja said. "To replace 12,000 runs is a big feat and I still haven't scored any."

The Australian team also view the Sydney Test as their big chance to pay back their disillusioned fans after two heavy defeats in Adelaide and Melbourne. "We have to try and restore some pride. The Australian fans have come out to support us and we really haven't given them anything to support," opening batsman Shane Watson said.

"We really have to go out there in Sydney and try to keep some of our supporters and fans onside, because unfortunately the way we've played we might have turned a few people off, so we are going to have to restore that."

England's huge 225-run victory in 2003 is the only time Australia have lost at the SCG since 1995. The SCG pitch is renowned for taking spin, with Shane Warne taking 64 of his wickets there and fellow legspinner Stuart MacGill 53, and offers a chance for England offspinner Graeme Swann to play a prominent role in the final game of the series. But the weather may prove an obstacle with showers forecast for the first four days.

The first match of the series, in Brisbane, was drawn, with England winning the second Test in Adelaide by an innings before Australia hit back to take the third Test in Perth by 267 runs

Pakistan outclass New Zealand by 103 runs

 WELLINGTON: Abdul Razzaq produced a man-of-the-match performance with bat and ball to ensure Pakistan salvaged some credibility and embarrassed New Zealand by 103 runs in their third and final Twenty20 international in Christchurch on Thursday.

Razzaq, who was dropped by Nathan McCullum while on two in the 19th over, proceeded to smash three sixes and three fours and finish 34 not out off 11 balls and help his side to a credible 183 for six in their 20 overs.

The 31-year-old medium fast bowler then destroyed New Zealand's batting lineup taking three wickets as the hosts, who had already wrapped up the series after wins in Auckland 
and Hamilton, crashed to 11-5 before limping to 80 all out.

The hosts had lost four wickets for three runs in the first 17 balls with Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Dean Brownlie and captain Ross Taylor all failing to score.

Razzaq finished with figures of 3-13 off four overs, though the return was only inflated when Scott Styris hit successive boundaries off his final two balls.

Styris was the only New Zealand batsmen to emerge with any credibility, top scoring with 45 to ensure they avoided achieving the lowest international Twenty20 score of 67, held by Kenya. 

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi finished with 4-14 off 2.5 overs, including two wickets in two balls in his second over.

Pakistan's openers Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez had given their side a superb start, racing along at more than 10 runs an over as they exploited the superb batting surface, short boundaries and fielding restrictions.

James Franklin finally broke the opening stand with the score on 81 when Hafeez was caught one handed by a leaping Taylor for 34.

Shehzad was then trapped lbw by Franklin for 54 to reduce Pakistan to 90 for two in the 11th over and while their middle order struggled, Razzaq turned the game in the final two overs.

The teams now embark on a two-Test series, starting in Hamilton on Jan. 7, before playing six one-day internationals as they build-up to the 50-over World Cup, which starts on February 19.

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England move on Ashes after humiliating Australia

MELBOURNE: England were closing in on the Ashes after routing Australia for 98 and cruising to a 59-run first-innings lead on the opening day of the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. England skittled Australia for their lowest total in 133 years of Ashes Tests at the MCG and rubbed further salt into the wounds by skating to 157 without loss by stumps. Australian cricket's Boxing Day showpiece turned into a horror show before 84,345 fans as England's bowlers had the Australians all at sea on a seaming MCG drop-in wicket to bowl them out off just 42.5 overs. James Anderson (4-44) and Chris Tremlett (4-26) did the damage, while wicketkeeper Matt Prior took six catches as all the Australian wickets fell to catches off edges behind the wicket. Australia slumped to their lowest MCG total in 54 Ashes Tests since their 104 in the second innings of the very first Test at the famous ground in 1877. At stumps, England were taking it easy against a toothless Australian attack in easier pitch conditions with skipper Andrew Strauss unbeaten on 64 and Alastair Cook on 80. England capitalised on winning the pivotal toss to consign Australia to fend on a lively green-tinged pitch and leave Ricky Ponting's team in a shambles. Only five batsmen reached double-figures as the English pacemen revelled in the swinging conditions to destroy the Australian innings. Australia endured another one of their familiar top order batting collapses, succumbing to 77 for six in 34 overs, but this time there was no fighting rearguard as in the other Tests of the series. Australia were 143 for five in their first innings in Brisbane and went on to make 481; 156 for five before reaching 245 in the first innings in Adelaide and 69 for five on the way to 268 in the first innings in Perth. Ponting's wretched Ashes series continued with another cheap dismissal for 10, while Mike Hussey suffered his first batting failure of the series with eight. Australia were always on the backfoot from the loss of the toss as England picked up the wickets of both openers Shane Watson (5) and Phillip Hughes (16) along with Ponting and Hussey to seize the early advantage by lunch at 58 for four in the crucial match of the series locked at 1-1. England only need to win one of the remaining two Tests to retain the Ashes. Ponting has struggled for runs in the series with six modest scores and just one half-century in seven innings. The skipper, playing with a fractured left little finger, this time edged a Tremlett outswinger to Graeme Swann at second slip. England snared the big wicket of Hussey, caught behind off Anderson and the Australians crumbled after lunch, losing six wickets for 40 in 18.2 overs. Smith pushed at a swinging Anderson delivery to be snapped up by Prior for six to initiate a procession of batsmen back to the dressing room with Michael Clarke (20), Brad Haddin (5) and Mitchell Johnson (0). England last won a famous victory at the MCG in 1998 with Dean Headley taking 6-60 in the second innings as the tourists won by just 12 nail-biting runs. Australia's only loss at the MCG this decade was against South Africa two years ago as the Proteas went on to win their first-ever series in Australia.

Pak set NZ 144-run target to win 1st T20

AUCKLAND: Pace bowler Tim Southee ripped through Pakistan's batting order before opener Martin Guptill smashed a quick-fire half century to help New Zealand to a five-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Twenty20 international on Sunday.

Pakistan, sent into bat first, were confined to 143 for nine with New Zealand reaching 146 for five in the 18th over.

Southee took five wickets, including just the third hat-trick in international Twenty20 matches, while Guptill scored 54 in 29 balls as a new-look New Zealand side produced a morale-boosting win.

Guptill's 54 included four sixes, one of which almost went out of the ground, before he was run out when attempting a quick single but was sent back by stand in captain Ross Taylor, who finished on 39 not out and saw the home side to victory.

Southee had ripped through Pakistan's order by taking five wickets in nine balls, including a hat-trick, that reduced Pakistan from 58 for one to 68 for six within the space of 10 minutes.

Pakistan had begun strongly, rolling along to 58 for one, with the only dismissal that of captain Shahid Afridi (20), before Southee began his purple patch, dismissing Ahmed 
Shehzad for 14 on the final ball of his first over. 

He then dismissed Younis Khan (two), Hafeez (24) and Umar Akmal (0) on successive deliveries in his second over before he completed his demolition with Abdul Razzaq becoming his fifth victim on the second ball of his third over when he feathered a catch through to wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan for one.

Southee finished with figures of five for 18 from his four overs, though Pakistan's bowlers provided some late resistance with Umar Gul (30) and Wahab Riaz (30 not out) helping their side through to 143 for nine off their 20 overs.

Pak to face NZ in 1st T20 tomorrow

AUCKLAND: The first T20 match between Pakistan and New Zealand will be played on Sunday in Aukland, Geo News reported.

Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand has started in the worst possible fashion as they were humiliated by Auckland in the opening Twenty20 tour match on Thursday.

Geo Super will telecast the matches.

Amazing run out by Jonty Rhodes

Federer beats Nadal in charity 'Match for Africa'

ZURICH: Roger Federer took the upper hand against Rafael Nadal on Tuesday with a two set to one win in a charity exhibition match in the Swiss city of Zurich.

After losing the first set 4-6, Federer broke back against the world number one early in the second set to take a 6-3, 6-3 lead, watched by a capacity home crowd including Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel, ski-ing champions Lindsey Vonn and Didier Cuche.

The 10,500 tickets for the "Match for Africa" were sold out within a few minutes when they went on sale on September 1.

The world's top two in tennis this year move on to Madrid for another exhibtion match on Wednesday, this time to raise money for the Spaniard's charity.

"Both of us realise we are in a very privileged position, where we have everything in life, the least we can do is to help people who are in difficulty," said Nadal.

Federer has been hoping to raise around one million dollars from the event for his foundation to support projects for African children in education and sport.

"You have to look at the long term," said Federer.

"When you can help 1,500 children to go to school, it's great but you need a lot around it: how do the children get to school, what do they eat at school, do they have toilets... and that's where we come in," he added on Swiss television TSR.

The 29 year-old Swiss player remains on the wrong end of an 8-14 career record on the professional circuit against Nadal, breaking a six match losing streak against the Spaniard this year.

Pakistan, S Korea added to Champions Trophy teams

NEW DELHI: South Korea and Pakistan were on Friday handed wildcard entries for field hockey's Champions Trophy in India next year that will feature eight teams instead of six.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) said the two Asian nations will join world champions Australia, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and hosts India in the annual tournament.

South Korea are ranked sixth in the world, while Pakistan were rewarded for winning the Asian Games gold medal in Guangzhou, China last month, which earned them a direct entry to the 2012 London Olympics.

The dates and host city for the tournament, to be held in November-December next year, will be announced later, the world governing body said in a statement.

The Champions Trophy has been a six-nation event since its inception in 1978 but the FIH decided to add two more teams from next year.

The women's Champions Trophy will also feature eight teams with China and New Zealand joining Argentina, Germany, England, Australia, South Korea and host nation Netherlands, the FIH said.

New Zealand preliminary World Cup squad announced

WELLINGTON: New Zealand included seven uncapped players Wednesday in a 30-man squad for next year's World Cup, as the Black Caps struggle to end a run of 11 straight defeats in one-day internationals.

The injection of fresh blood comes after former Test captain John Wright was appointed head coach this week in a bid to turn around the team's dismal recent form, which included series whitewashes against Bangladesh and India.

Chief selector Mark Greatbatch said the squad, which will be cut to 15 in January, had the potential to be competitive at the World Cup, which begins on February 19 and takes place in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

"A number of uncapped guys who have excelled domestically made the squad. We believe it represents the best one-day cricketers we have in New Zealand," said Greatbatch, who was dumped as coach to make way for Wright.

"There is genuine competition for places as we look to select final 15 for the World Cup and that's exciting."

The new faces in the squad are Brent Arnel, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Adam Milne, Rob Nicol, Luke Woodcock and Reece Young.

Wicketkeeper Young was also named Wednesday in a 13-man Test squad for the two-Test home series against Pakistan in January, displacing Gareth Hopkins.

New Zealand's recent one-day form has been hard to take for a nation used to punching above its weight in the 50-over game -- reaching the World Cup semi-finals five times, most recently in 2007.

New Zealand's 30-man squad for the World Cup beginning February 19:

Brent Arnel

Hamish Bennett

Doug Bracewell

Dean Brownlie

Ian Butler

Grant Elliott

Daniel Flynn

Martin Guptill

Jamie How

James Franklin

Kyle Mills

Adam Milne

Brendon McCullum

Nathan McCullum

Peter McGlashan

Andy McKay

Rob Nicol

Jacob Oram

Jeetan Patel

Jesse Ryder

Tim Southee

Shanan Stewart

Scott Styris

Ross Taylor

Daryl Tuffey

Daniel Vettori

Bradley-John Watling

Kane Williamson

Luke Woodcock

Reece Young.

 

Pakistan lost T-20 practice match against Auckland Aces

aUCKLAND : Pakistan lost the practice match against Auckland Aces. Auckland Aces won the toss and put Pak to bat first. 

The team could make only 91 runs. Auckland team achieve this target in 14th over easily with 5 wickets left.

Umer Gul remained top scorer with 19 runs while Younis Khan scored 18.

Year ends with cricket still in a fix

 LONDON: There were few more thrilling sights in world cricket in 2010 than Mohammad Aamer bowling and there were few more controversial too.

The teenage Pakistan left-arm quick's entrancing spell of swing bowling saw Australia dismissed for just 88 at Headingley in July.

But Aamer and new-ball partner Mohammad Asif, together with Pakistan captain Salman Butt, soon found themselves facing 'spot-fixing' allegations.

Butt was accused by British tabloid The News of the World of orchestrating a betting scam that saw Aamer and Asif bowl deliberate no-balls to effect a 'spot-fixing' coup.

The trio's future is set to be decided by an International Cricket Council (ICC) tribunal hearing in the Qatari capital of Doha in January.

Earlier in the year, Pakistan had banned three former captains -- Younus Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik -- after a wretched tour of Australia where they failed to win a single match and Shahid Afridi was fined for an incredible ball-biting incident in Perth.

And in November wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider fled Dubai, where Pakistan were playing South Africa, for London saying his life was under threat from 'fixers'.

On the field. England won a first major one-day title by beating Australia in the final of the World Twenty20 tournament in the Caribbean.

Hopes of an Ashes series win in Australia looked realistic after England's innings and 71-run victory in the second Test in Adelaide.

That followed a draw in the series opener in Brisbane marked by a hat-trick from Australia paceman Peter Siddle. 

But Australia levelled with a 267-run win in the fourth Test at Perth.

Nevertheless Australia, so recently the kings of Test cricket, had dropped to fourth in the ICC rankings as 2010 drew to a close.

The year ended with South Africa pressing hard to replace India as the world's leading Test side with an innings and 25 run victory in the first Test at Centurion.

The Proteas' Dale Steyn looked the one genuine fast bowler in the modern game whose record that would not look out of place alongside those of some all-time great fast bowlers while Jacques Kallis cemented his position as the world's leading all-rounder.

India's Sachin Tendulkar set yet more batting records by becoming the first man to score 200 in a one-day international and the first to 50 Test centuries.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, whose unorthodox action remained controversial even when 'cleared' by the ICC, bowed out with a record 800 Test wickets before retiring from the five-day game.

Chris Gayle became only the fourth batsman in history to make two Test scores of over 300 with an innings of 333 against Sri Lanka in Galle last month but this was a rare highlight for the West Indies in another struggling year.

New Zealand's 2010 was exemplified by an embarrassing 4-0 one-day series loss to minnows Bangladesh in October.

England's Ashes-winning all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond finally gave up their struggles with injury by retiring from all cricket while Australia quick Brett Lee quit Tests.

But the most notable retirement in 2010 was of South Africa's Makhaya Ntini, the first black African to represent his country, whose 13-year international career saw a fast bowler blessed with exceptional stamina more than justify his place on cricket grounds alone.

Split-innings matches were trialled in Australia, the ICC announced plans for a new Test championship and MCC experimented with a pink ball in a bid to probe the viability of day/night Tests.

It's a fair bet the pink ball would not have impressed Sir Alec Bedser, who died aged 91 in April.

Bedser, an outstanding fast-medium bowler who held the England attack together in the years after the Second World War, was credited by Don Bradman, widely regarded as cricket's greatest batsman, with bowling the best ball the Australian ever received.

Bedser also gave much to cricket after retirement, serving as a tour manager and as chairman of England's selectors from 1969 to 1981

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Lights turned on at London's 2012 Olympic Stadium

 LONDON: The lights have been formally switched on at London 2012's Olympic Stadium.

Prime Minister David Cameron pressed the switch on the 14 light towers, which rise more than 70 metres above the stadium and include a total of 532 individual lights.

The Prime Minister, flanked by London Mayor Boris Johnson and Games organising chief Lord Coe, pushed the button to switch on the floodlights during a special ceremony at the snow-covered stadium.

Dozens of local schoolchildren and stadium construction workers watched the switch on

South Africa wrap up victory over India in 1st Test

 CENTURION: Fast bowlers Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn took a wicket apiece as South Africa completed victory by an innings and 25 runs on the fifth day of the first Test against India at SuperSport Park on Monday.

Sachin Tendulkar was left stranded on 111 not out as India were bowled out for 459, losing their last two wickets for five runs in 26 minutes and 35 balls.

Morkel had Sree Sreesanth caught at third slip before Steyn had last man Jaidev Unadkat caught at gully to give South Africa a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against the team ranked number one in Test cricket.

South Africa were always in control after winning the toss and sending India in to bat after rain delayed the start on the first day.

Morkel and Steyn had ripped through India's batting on a lively pitch, dismissing the world's number one ranked Test team for 136 in their first innings.

Taking full advantage of improved batting conditions, South Africa piled up 620 for four declared, with Jacques Kallis hitting a maiden Test double century and AB de Villiers racing to South Africa's fastest Test century.

Faced with a first innings deficit of 484, India put up a much-improved performance in the second innings to give them heart going into the remaining two matches of the series, in Durban and Cape Town. 

Openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag both made half-centuries before Tendulkar and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni put on 172 for the seventh wicket to 
ensure that the match would extend into a fifth day.

Tendulkar went on to record his 50th test century.

India resumed at 454 for eight, still trailing by 30 runs.

Morkel struck with the 21st ball of the day when Sreesanth edged a lifting delivery to AB de Villiers at third slip.

Unadkat could only fend a lifting ball from Steyn to gully where Ashwell Prince completed a simple catch.

The second Test starts in Durban on Sunday

Spot fixing case should be decided early: Aamer

KARACHI: Pakistan's suspended former captain Salman Butt wants hearing of the spot fixing case to be postponed while fast bowler Mohammad Aamer desires it should be decided early.

The chief of the ICC tribunal, in this regard, will address a teleconference tomorrow. 

The 26-year-old, along with pacemen Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer, was 
provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on charges of spot-fixing during Pakistan's Lord's Test against England in August.

The trio face an ICC tribunal in Doha from January 6-11, which will decide whether the suspension turns into a ban or they are absolved of the charges.

Salman Butt said Tuesday he asked an anti-corruption tribunal to put off a hearing next month so he can deal with any possible criminal proceedings in London.

"I have requested the hearing to be put off so that I can settle the possible case in London and the ICC tribunal will hold a tele-conference on Wednesday to take a decision on my request," Salman said.

The trio face a potential criminal case from Britain's Crown Prosecution Service, which received two reports from Scotland Yard police who raided the Pakistani team's hotel in London.

British newspaper the News of the World claimed several Pakistani players took money to obey orders from an alleged book-maker Mazhar Majeed at Lord's.

Salman said British-based lawyer Yasin Patel will fight his case in Doha and other lawyers helped him send a reply to the ICC.

"Patel will be my lawyer but we want to settle the Crown Prosecution case first, if it is initiated, and then fight the ICC charges," said Salman.

Aamer and Asif do not intend to seek to delay the ICC case.

West Indies preliminary World Cup squad

 ST JOHN'S, Antigua and Barbuda: West Indies on Tuesday named their 30-man preliminary squad for the 2011 World Cup which takes place in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from February 19-April 2.















West Indies squad:

• Lionel Baker
• Adrian Barath
• Carlton Baugh Jr 
• Sulieman Benn
• Dave Bernard Jr
• Tino Best
• Devendra Bishoo 
• Darren Bravo 
• Dwayne Bravo 
• Jonathan Carter
• Shivnarine Chanderpaul
• Kirk Edwards
• Chris Gayle
• yan Hinds
• Jason Holder
• Anthony Martin
• Nikita Miller
• Nelon Pascal
• Kieron Pollard
• Kieran Powell
• Denesh Ramdin
• Ravi Rampaul
• Kemar Roach
• Andre Russell
• Darren Sammy
• Ramnaresh Sarwan
• Shane Shillingford
• Devon Smith
• Gavin Tonge
• Devon Thomas

India name preliminary World Cup squad

 MUMBAI: Middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane was the lone uncapped cricketer in India's 30-member preliminary squad for next year's World Cup, the Indian cricket
board announced on Saturday.

The squad contains four wicketkeepers including captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Right-hander Rahane, 22, was rewarded for scoring consistently in the domestic season.

Selecton committee chairman Kris Srikkanth said the squad was devoid of any surprise inclusion or omission.

"This is a probables team and everyone selects himself," he told reporters. "The World Cup is happening in the subcontinent and I am confident that the team will do well."

India squad

• Mahendra Singh Dhoni
• Virender Sehwag 
• Sachin Tendulkar
• Gautam Gambhir
• Virat Kohli
• Yuvraj Singh
• Suresh Raina
• Harbhajan Singh
• Zaheer Khan
• Ashish Nehra
• Shanthakumaran Sreesanth
• Munaf Patel
• Ishant Sharma 
• Vinay Kumar 
• Murali Vijay
• Rohit Sharma
• Ravindra Jadeja
• Ajinkya Rahane 
• Saurabh Tiwary 
• Yusuf Pathan
• Parthiv Patel
• Ravichandran Ashwin 
• Wriddhiman Saha 
• Dinesh Karthik
• Shikhar Dhawan
• Amit Mishra
• Piyush Chawla
• Cheteshwar Pujara
• Pragyan Ojha 
• Praveen Kumar

England annonce provisional World Cup squad

LONDON: Injured pace bowler Stuart Broad has been named in England's preliminary 30-man squad for next year's World Cup in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.

The squad, which will be halved by Jan. 19, includes all of those named in the one-day international squad for the series against Australia as well as eight members of the England Lions squad set to tour the West Indies next year.

Broad, who has been ruled out of the current Ashes tour in Australia with an abdominal injury, is joined by pacemen Steven Finn and Chris Tremlett in the squad. Broad is expected to regain fitness in time for the tournament.

Twenty20 world champions England have been drawn in a group alongside Bangladesh, India, Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa and West Indies.

"We have selected a squad of players with a strong track record in limited overs cricket either for England or in the domestic game," England national selector Geoff Miller said in a statement.

"Recent series have shown we have made progress in one-day cricket and we will be looking to continue this form during next year's World Cup and challenge for another global title."

The World Cup runs from Feb. 19 to April 2.

England squad:

• Andrew Strauss (captain)
• Jimmy Adams
• James Anderson
• Ian Bell
• Ravi Bopara
• Tim Bresnan
• Stuart Broad
• Paul Collingwood
• Alastair Cook
• Steven Davies
• Jade Dernbach
• Steven Finn
• James Hildreth
• Craig Kieswetter
• Michael Lumb
• Eoin Morgan
• Samit Patel
• Kevin Pietersen
• Liam Plunkett
• Matt Prior
• Adil Rashid
• Ajmal Shahzad
• Darren Stevens
• Graeme Swann
• James Tredwell
• Chris Tremlett
• Jonathan Trott
• Chris Woakes
• Luke Wright
• Michael Yardy

Australia level Ashes series

 PERTH: A resurgent Australia levelled the Ashes with a comprehensive 267-run victory on the fourth day of the third Test against England at the WACA Ground on Sunday.

Set 391 to win, England resumed at 81-5 and offered little resistance, lasting just 10 overs and less than hour in the opening session, as bustling seamer Ryan Harris ran through the tail to finish with a career-best 6-47 in his fourth Test, dismissing the tourists for 123.

Such a result seemed unfathomable when Australia made just 268 on the first day after being sent in to bat, and even less so when England cruised to 78-0 early on the second day.

However, recalled fast bowler Mitchell Johnson's stunning four wickets in 27 balls on day two as part of his first innings haul of 6-38 turned the series on its head and another century from the rejuvenated Mike Hussey (116) in Australia's second innings sealed England's fate.

Having been beaten by an innings in Adelaide in the second Test, it was Australia's first win in six Tests, when an England victory would have guaranteed the tourists retained the Ashes.

If England did harbour any hope of a record fourth-innings chase it was quickly erased late on day three, when their top five batsmen all went cheaply, including Paul Collingwood falling for 11 on the final ball of the day.

It was just a matter of time on Sunday for the Australians, who were led by Michael Clarke, with captain Ricky Ponting watching from the pavilion with a fractured little finger on his left hand.

Despite the injury, the out-of-form Ponting said he was confident of being fit for what now shapes up as a blockbuster Boxing Day Test at the MCG in Melbourne starting on December 26.

The skipper had no cause for concern as he watched from off the field, with Harris starting the rout by clean bowling night-watchman James Anderson for three, with England losing its last seven wickets for only 39 runs.

Man-of-the-match Johnson picked up 3-44, he and Harris both claiming nine 
wickets for the Test.

Ponting lauded Australia's first-day batting on a lively wicket, and the performance of Johnson.

"To get 270 on that wicket on the day one was the difference," he said.

"We set the game up on day one and Johnson's spell on day two was probably one of the all-time great Ashes bowling performances.

"You could just see Mitch had that glint in his eye this week."

England captain Andrew Strauss digested his team's first loss of the tour and said it was not time to panic.

"We've got a few things to look at and work on," he said.

"But you need to put it in perspective and we've played a lot of good cricket on this tour so far.

"We have to learn lessons from this and retain the buoyancy and positivity in the dressing room and I am sure we can win in Melbourne if we do that.

"Now is not the time to panic."


Scoreboard at the conclusion of the third Ashes Test:

Australia 1st innings 268 (M. Johnson 62, M. Hussey 61, B. Haddin 53; J. Anderson 3-61, C. Tremlett 3-63)

England 1st innings 187 (I. Bell 53, A. Strauss 52; M. Johnson 6-38, R. Harris 3-59)

Australia 2nd innings 309 (M. Hussey 116, S. Watson 95; C. Tremlett 5-87, S. Finn 3-97

England 2nd innings (resumed at 81-5):
A. Strauss c Ponting b Johnson 15
A. Cook lbw Harris 13
J. Trott c Haddin b Johnson 31
K. Pietersen c Watson b Hilfenhaus 3
P. Collingwood c Smith b Harris 11
J. Anderson b Harris 3
I. Bell lbw Harris 16
M. Prior c Hussey b Harris 10
G. Swann b Johnson 9
C. Tremlett not out 1
S. Finn c Smith b Harris 2
Extras (8lb 1nb) 9
Total (all out, 37 overs) 123
Fall of wickets: 1-23 (Cook), 2-37 (Strauss), 3-55 (Pietersen), 4-81 (Trott), 5-81 (Collingwood), 6-94 (Anderson), 7-111 (Bell), 8-114 (Prior), 9-120 (Swann), 10-123 (Finn).

Bowling: B. Hilfenhaus 10-4-16-1, R. Harris 11-1-47-6, M. Johnson 12-3-44-3, P. Siddle 4-1-8-0 (1nb).

Australia won by 267 runs
Series level 1-1
Man of the match: M. Johnson
Toss: England
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Billy Doctrove (WIS)
TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)