TOP 100 SPORT SITES
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
|
| |||
| Collingwood set to play in third Test • Batsman takes part in full net session without discomfort• 'At this stage, everything looks fine ... We're very hopeful'Paul Collingwood appears to be winning his battle to be fit for tomorrow's third Test against South Africa, despite the England coach Andy Flower having previously rated his chances of playing as only "50-50".The Hampshire batsman Michael Carberry had looked set for an unexpected Test debut but the captain, Andrew Strauss, was optimistic this morning, having seen Collingwood join fielding drills and start a full net against bowlers of all paces at Newlands without experiencing significant pain from the left index finger he dislocated four days ago during the second Test."At this stage, everything looks fine. He was batting without any real discomfort," Strauss reported. "We're very hopeful, barring any last-minute incidents."England could therefore select an unchanged team for the second Test in succession, having taken a 1-0 lead in Durban. Collingwood's availability, Strauss confirmed, will be a major confidence boost for the tourists who could wrap up an early series victory if they can become only the second country to beat South Africa at this venue in the modern era."He's obviously contributed a huge amount, both this series and previously and is an experienced player as well – so it would have been a shame if he'd missed out," said Strauss.England Cricket TeamEngland in South Africa 2009-2010Andrew StraussSouth Africa cricket teamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Graham Onions sweats England's latest great escape •Andrew Strauss hails his 'legend' after nail-biting draw•Ball-tampering allegations malicious, says captainGraham Onions, the Durham fast bowler and England No11, was last night described as "a legend" by his captain, Andrew Strauss, after saving the third Test very much as he had done the first. History repeated itself with almost perfect symmetry when last man Onions came to the wicket with 17 deliveries remaining – it had been 19 when he was asked to save the series opener in Centurion last month.He faced 11 balls and all of the last over bowled by a hostile Morne Morkel as England drew the match to retain their 1-0 lead in the series. The fourth and final Test takes place in Johannesburg next week.Earlier in the day Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood had given England a fighting chance with a stand of 112 in 57 overs but another collapse again exposed the tail, including Onions, who after saving two Test matches must have a chance of being the player of the series."I was thinking 'We're in this situation again, and it's not often the end of the story is the same'," Strauss said. "I was feeling pretty comfortable until Graham went in there. But he did a great job again."I always feel that as batsmen we should apologise to Graham for having put him in that situation yet again – although I thought it was an unbelievable partnership between Collingwood and Bell."Onions, who was an opening batsman at club level before moving into first-class cricket as a bowler, said: "Belly and Colly got us into a fantastic position and with 10 overs to go I was thinking I was quite happy with just my training kit on and nothing to worry about. Then all of a sudden a few wickets fell and I was next in."It was a lot worse waiting to go into bat then actually being out there. I felt in control of the situation but it was harder than in Centurion, definitely tougher."A lot of credit has got to go to their bowlers. I'm a massive admirer of Dale Steyn. He ran in and bowled so many overs so hats off to him and Morne Morkel."Strauss was still smarting over South Africa's suggestions that his team had been involved in ball tampering earlier in the match. Strauss said last night: "I thought it was malicious for the South Africans to announce it to the media without being totally clear in their minds what they were going to do or whether they were going to put in a formal complaint."We're not particularly happy about it and I strongly refute those allegations. There was no concerted effort to alter the state of the ball. I appreciate some of the footage didn't look amazingly good but I don't think it was anything malicious. Ball tampering is a very sensitive subject and if you're going to make allegations you have to be very confident that that is exactly what the other team is doing."But Strauss said yesterday that it was cricket that was the main story. England started the day as very much second favourites, with three wickets down overnight, and with South Africa desperate to level the series.Strauss added: "Colly used his experience again and Belly has wanted to play an innings like that for a very long time and today he did it and he did it exceptionally well. He was fully in control of his game and his emotions until he got out right at the end. It's a shame we slipped off at the back end. But South Africa kept believing and that almost got them over the line."Now Strauss feels that England can finish the job in Johannesburg. "It's nice to know that they can't win it but ultimately we came here to win the series and we're in a great position to do that and we will step on that plane very unhappy with ourselves if we let them back in now. We have to be better at the Wanderers than we were here, to be honest, but we have a great opportunity to finish it off next week. There are a lot of characters in the side. We have a great willingness and ability to fight. If you stick together in times like that you believe that you can get out of some pretty serious scrapes."A disconsolate Graeme Smith, the captain of South Africa, said afterwards: "I think it will take me a day or two to work out how I feel about the result. It's hugely disappointing. We've been very positive throughout but we were just not good enough to throw the final punch and get over the line and credit to Collingwood and Bell for the way they fought."England in South Africa 2009-2010England Cricket TeamAndrew StraussSouth Africa 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 |
Gianfranco Zola defiant as West Ham takeover talks bring threat to his job The threat of a change in the dugout at West Ham United yesterday prompted an impassioned speech from Gianfranco Zola, the manager, and support from one of his leading players as talks about a takeover of the club edged towards conclusion. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
David Attoub handed 70-week ban for eye gouging Max Guazzini, the flamboyant president of Stade Français, has accused an English judge of anti-French bias after David Attoub, the prop forward, was banned for 70 weeks for gouging. feeds.timesonline.co.uk |
Kerrigan's dad dies; brother accused of assault WOBURN, Mass. (AP) -- The brother of figure skater Nancy Kerrigan pleaded not guilty Monday to assaulting their 70-year-old father, who died over the weekend after a disturbance at the family's Massachusetts home.... hosted.ap.org |