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| Chelsea footballer Ashley Cole guilty of driving at 104mph The England footballer Ashley Cole was found guilty yesterday of driving at more than 100mph in a 50mph zone. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Craig Kieswetter called up despite worries over South African presence • Craig Kieswetter earns Lions place for Middle East tour• Geoff Miller admits number of South African players a concernGeoff Miller, the national selector, today registered his concern about the number of South African cricketers getting into the England side immediately after naming yet another, Craig Kieswetter, in the Lions squad to tour Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai next month.Kieswetter is the talented Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman who is expected to challenge Matt Prior for a place in the one-day team this year. England already have two South Africans in the team, Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott, and the captain, Andrew Strauss, and Prior were both born in the country.Miller said yesterday: "We have got to get to the stage where we are very careful on that [the number of South Africans in the England team], and we will be. I wouldn't say he's the last but we will monitor it. But Craig has passed all the criteria required to be an English cricketer. He has proved his worth, that's why he's there. He has developed his game, he's a strong character so he fits all the bills from an England point of view. South Africa talked to him and he said 'I'm English, I want to play for England'."When Kieswetter was fast-tracked into England's performance squad earlier in the winter Danny Garcia, the agent for the former England wicketkeeper Phil Mustard, said: "Soon there will be a danger of more South African accents in the England dressing room than English ones."Despite Miller's cautious words it is difficult to see the trend not continuing. Another South African, Stephen Moore, has been in South Africa with England's performance squad this winter and was a contender for the Lions squad, though he is better suited to the longer form of the game. So is the very English Ian Bell, who has been included in the Lions party in the hope that he can translate his recent Test form into one-day cricket.Miller said: "This is an opportunity for him. He has been out of the one-day squad. This is an opportunity for him. He has shown in the last couple of Test matches what he is capable of doing. Now this is a chance to actually prove himself back in the one-dayers because he's a talented player."Meanwhile, the captain of the England Lions is a man who could one day replace Strauss and lead the full side, according to Miller, despite the fact that he has never scored 1,000 runs in a season and has a first-class average of only 32. The rise and rise of Andrew Gale, 26, continues, for he was also recently named as Yorkshire's captain, replacing Anthony McGrath. When asked whether Gale could go all the way and become captain of the full England side, Miller replied: "Exactly, together with one or two others. There are a few others.Miller was impressed by Yorkshire's decision to promote him. "He's got decent qualities from Yorkshire's point of view. We have taken that into consideration. We saw him at Loughborough [the National Academy] where we had long discussions with him. We have seen him perform at Loughborough and in the Performance Squad out here in South Africa and he showed a lot of qualities. We're interested in seeing how he develops as a player and a captain." He's good at man management and knowledge of the game, all the things that go with captaincy. What is difficult for him is that he is trying to prove himself as a player and is it going to detract from doing that with the captaincy as well? It's a difficult task."England Lions squad to tour Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai next month Andrew Gale (capt, Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Michael Carberry, Michael Lumb (both Hampshire), James Taylor (Leicestershire), Craig Kieswetter (Somerset), Steven Davies (Surrey), Peter Trego (Somerset), James Tredwell (Kent), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Sajid Mahmood (Lancashire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Steve Kirby (Gloucestershire), David Wainwright (Yorkshire).Itinerary Feb 10 UAE (T20), Sharjah; Feb 12 Pakistan A, T20 match, Sharjah; Feb 14 Pakistan A, (T20), Sharjah; Feb 16 Pakistan A (T20), Abu Dhabi; Feb 17 England (T20), Abu Dhabi; Feb 22 Pakistan A, (50 overs), DSC Stadium, Dubai; Feb 24 Pakistan A, (50 overs), DSC Stadium, Dubai; Feb 26 Pakistan A, (50 overs), DSC Stadium, Dubai.England Cricket TeamCricketPaul Weaverguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Roger Federer overcomes early wobble to progress in Australian Open • Federer unsettled by shot-making Russian Igor Andreev• World No1 admits he was 'lucky' to take third setThe world No1 Roger Federer survived an uncharacteristically sloppy display to edge past a battling Igor Andreev in four sets as he began his quest for a fourth Australian Open title.The Swiss player recovered from losing the opening set and, while not completely convincing, wrapped up the match 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2), 6-0 in two hours and 44 minutes.It was the first time in Federer's past 25 first-round grand slam matches that he had been taken past three sets.That was testament to some big shot-making from Andreev, the world No37, whose aggressive style forced the top seed into some unlikely unforced errors.After a closely-fought battle the turning point of the match came at the end of the third set when Andreev failed to take three set points on his serve, before losing the tie-break.The Russian, who had taken Federer to five sets in their previous meeting at the 2008 US Open, then meekly conceded the fourth set and the match in quick time."It was a tough third set, I definitely got lucky to get out of that one," Federer said afterwards. "It was a fortunate third set but that's the way it goes sometimes. I prefer easier matches, but this worked."Federer uncharacteristically conceded the first set after having claimed the opening break. He then immediately handed the advantage back following some loose shot making, before Andreev gave himself a chance to serve for the set when he fired back-to-back winners.The 26-year-old made no mistake to take the opener in 41 minutes on the back of 10 winners.Federer had looked lethargic in the face of Andreev's free swinging, but recovered at the start of the second set to race into a 3-0 lead. The world number one did not let his advantage slip this time and with his usual focus returning the momentum was shifting his way.Andreev, however, continued his shot-making and his enterprise again unsettled Federer in a pulsating third set. After trading early breaks of serve the pair both failed to serve out for the set.Andreev had his chance at 6-5, but passed up three set points as it went to a tie-break, where the Russian was made to pay for his earlier profligacy.After Andreev won the opening point of the tie-break Federer reeled off the next five and put his serving woes behind him to sew it up with an ace that Andreev could only fend off on set point.That capitulation was the beginning of the end for Andreev, who for the first time looked tired as he was immediately broken in the opening game and failed to trouble the scoreboard in the fourth.Roger FedererAustralian OpenTennisguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Williamses, Federer cruise into Australian Open fourth round Serena Williams moved a step closer to successfully defending her Australian Open title and extracted some family revenge Saturday with a 6-0, ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
South Carolina's Downey pours in 30 to surprise No. 1 Kentucky Top-ranked Kentucky found out it's got some growing up to do. And college basketball will most likely find a new No. 1. Devan Downey scored 30 ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |