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Strauss: Time to Move on from Spot-Fixing Scandal

Strauss: Time to Move on from Spot-Fixing Scandal

Thursday 5th January, 2012 15 Clarke, Ponting centuries lead BY KEIRAN SMITH first innings lead. he attempted a quick single to mid-on, where Clarke is unbeaten on 251, his best test score cleanly gathered and threw at the (AP) — Michael Clarke’s unbeaten and the highest by an Australian at the SCG, stumps, only to just miss with a diving Ponting double and ’s first hun- with Mike Hussey on 55 at stumps. well short of his ground. dred in nearly two years placed Australia in Skipper Clarke looked at ease against the The former ’s relief was clear as he total command on the second day of the second blunt Indian attack and during the evening ses- dusted himself off, before raising his arms in test against at the Sydney Ground. sion reached his double century off 284 balls, triumph and saluting his family in the crowd in Clarke and Ponting shared a record 288-run with 24 fours and a six. recognition of his 150 ball century,including 11 as Australia flayed India’s attack to Clarke celebrated his milestone by raising fours. be 482-4 at stumps on Wednesday for a 291-run his bat and helmet in the air toward his home- eventually broke the 288-run town crowd of 30,071, before embracing partnership — a record for Australia against partner Hussey. India — in the second over of the new ball, At stumps, Clarke’s 251 was the high- tempting Ponting into a square drive straight to est score by an Australian at the SCG —surpass- at gully. ing ’ 242 in 1969 — and the second Hussey’s 55 from 97 balls was also a welcome highest by an Australian against India. His part- boost for the West Australian, who has over- ner for most of those runs today,Ricky Ponting, come a form dip to bat strongly in successive holds the top Australian score against India of innings. 257. Like Ponting, his position in the batting line- Should Australia continue to bat on day up has been under mounting pressure in recent three, Reginald Foster’s SCG test record score of times, but from the time he hit his first ball 287 made in 1903, looks well within Clarke’s assuredly for a boundary,his restored confi- reach. dence was evident as he shared an unbeaten 157- Ponting’s 134 ended a century drought that run partnership with Clarke. stretched back to January 2010 when he scored India’s bowlers started the day hoping to 209 against Pakistan in . Since then, build on Zaheer Khan’s three the previ- Australia’s greatest test run scorer had gone 34 ous evening, when he removed the left-handed innings without reaching the milestone. trio of Dave Warner (8), Shaun Marsh (0) and Ed Recently,pressure had been growing on the Cowan (16) to have Australia reeling at 37-3, but Australian selectors to replace Ponting as the the attack looked bereft of ideas throughout day team’s form slid along with that of the former two. skipper, despite recent scores of 62 and 60 in The dominance of the bat on day two was in Australia’s 122-run win in the first test at sharp contrast to the opening day when Melbourne. Australia’s pace attack ripped through India’s Ponting’s eagerness to post his 40th test cen- highly-rated batting lineup, with 21-year-old tury very nearly turned into disaster when on 99 taking four wickets.

SCOREBOARD

India 1st Innings: 191 Still to bat: , , James Australia, 1st Innings Pattinson, , . (Overnight: 116-3) : Zaheer Khan 26-4-106-3, Umesh Ricky Ponting c Tendulkar b Khan 8 Yadav 18-2-94-0 (2w), Ishant Sharma 22-0-106- Ed Cowan lbw b Khan 16 1 (1nb), 28-4-103-0 (1w), Shaun Marsh c Laxman b Khan 0 14-1-38-0 (2nb), 8- Ricky Ponting c Tendulkar b Sharma 134 0-23-0. Michael Clarke not out 251 Umpires: Marias Erasmus, , and Mike Hussey not out 55 Ian Gould, England. Australia’s cricket captain Michael Clarke cele- Extras: (12lb, 3w, 3nb) 18 TV Umpire: Bruce Oxenford, Australia. Match brates hitting 200 runs on day 2 of the second TOTAL: (for four wickets) 482 Referee: Ranjan Madugalle, . Test match against India at the SCG in Sydney, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. (AP Overs: 116. Batting time: 480 minutes Toss: won by India. Photo/Rob Griffith) Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-8, 3-37, 4-325. Series: Australia leads 1-0 Ponting scores first century Strauss: Time to move on from spot-fixing scandal in nearly two years DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — United Arab Emirates for three tests, four conceptions that this should be a difficult hopes his England side and one-day internationals and three series,” Strauss said. “Let’s go out there and SYDNEY (AP) — Australia’s where he made 209. Since then, Pakistan produce cricket good enough to from Jan. 17 to the end of February. enjoy our cricket, play some really entertain- Ricky Ponting made his first Australia’s greatest test run take people’s minds off the spot-fixing scan- On arriving in Dubai on Tuesday, ing cricket; it’s bound to be highly competi- test century in close to two scorer went 34 innings without dal. England captain Strauss said it was time to tive. years Wednesday in the second reaching the milestone. With Pakistan players Salman Butt, move on from one of the worst scandals in “We don’t want to see any flare-ups, we test against India at the Sydney Recently, pressure had been Mohammad Asif and in a cricket history. don’t want to see any off-field stuff happen. Cricket Ground. growing on team British prison for conspiring to cheat for “I think its important that both England We want everyone’s attention to be on the The former captain’s last selectors to replace Ponting as money during a London test against England and Pakistan players put what’s happened field and if we’re able to do that then the century came against Pakistan the team’s form slid along with in mid-2010, the teams meet in the neutral before behind them and don’t have any pre- game’s better for it.” in Hobart in January 2010 that of the former skipper.

Rohan Sirisena wins Upcountry Lions Sports Club launched triple crown at TT

Rohan Sirisena (Men) and beat Umaya Tharakie of Ishara Madurangi (women) Dharmasoka College stole the honours at the Ambalangoda 11/06, 11/05, recent Ashok Mottoomull 11/09, 11/05 Melvani Memorial Open All- Men’s Doubles: Rohan island challenge Table Sirisena/Milinda Lakshitha Tennis Tournament held at of Sri Lanka Air Force beat the Jagath Rajapakshe Dinesh Deshappriya/G.P.H. International Stadium, in Sajith of Sri Lanka Navy Rohan Sirisena Peradeniya. 09/11/, 11/09, 11/08, 11/03 According to a release issued by Women’s Doubles: Kasuni the organizers of the tournament, Pitigala/Naduni Surasinghe of Sirisena won a triple crown and was Southlands College, Galle beat Erandi adjudged as the Most Outstanding Warusavithana/ Thedini Thushara of Player of the Tournament. Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda Results: 11/08, 11/07, 11/05 Men’s Singles: Rohan Sirisena of Mixed Doubles: Rohan Sri Lanka Air Force beat Buddika Sirisena/IsharaMadurangi of Sri Walagampala of Sri Lanka Air Force Lanka Air Force beat Nuwani 10/12, 11/04, 10/12, 11/04, 11/05, 11/05 Navodya/PubuduChannaka of ‘Upcountry Lions Sports Club’ was launched recently with the aim of developing rugby in Central Province. Minister of Sports, Mahindananda Women’s Singles: Ishara Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda Aluthgamage, the chief guest at the launch, which was held at Galle Face Hotel, , is seen with the Upcountry Lions Sports Club players. Madurangi of Sri Lanka Air Force 11/08, 11/08, 11/05. (RN) (Pic courtesy Palitha Gunasena)

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has the construction of new stadiums in Dharmadasa pointed out that the flight BCCI president N Srinivasan, after being whenever possible [we would like them to approached the BCCI about the possibility Pallekele and Hambantota and the renova- from to Colombo was only an appointed interim SLC president earlier tour].” of hosting IPL matches, the new SLC pres- tion of the Premadasa Stadium for the 2011 hour long and the flight from was this year, and convinced him that holding The SLPL, in July 2011, had been post- ident, Upali Dharmadasa, has said. The World Cup. only slightly longer than a Mumbai to limited-overs games would be more benefi- poned to August 2012, after facing a series idea has been proposed as a way for SLC to “I feel it [a T20 league] is a needed flight. “Make it a venture,” he cial financially to Sri Lanka. of problems, including the unexpected raise additional revenue because the Sri thing,” Dharmadasa was quoted as having said. “On the whole, they [the BCCI] will “I am talking to the TV rights owners, withdrawal of Indian players from the Lanka Premier League (SLPL) failed to get tournament. The BCCI had withheld per- off the ground last year, after the BCCI’s mission for its players to participate on refusal to allow Indian players to take part the grounds that Somerset Entertainment in the tournament, writes Tariq Engineer SLC eager to host IPL matches Ventures, which owned the commercial in a rport filed from Colombo on January rights, would be handling the contracts for 4, 2012. told ESPNcricinfo. “But I don’t think it is help Sri Lanka as a tourist attraction and Ten Sports,” Dharmadasa said. “I am international players and that could lead It is for the same reason - an increase the right time with India having the IPL. see that Sri Lanka Cricket comes up.” hopeful of raising almost US$12.5 million.” to complications should disputes arise in revenue - that India’s tour of Sri Lanka With most of our players going and play- India were supposed to play a full tour - He also said he was trying to arrange a over payments. There were also sugges- in July 2012 will comprise three one-dayers ing there and the countries being so close, three Tests, five ODIs and a fourth ODI as well. “From a revenue point tions that former IPL chairman Lalit and three Twenty20 games, and no Tests as I would request the Indian board, and we game - in Sri Lanka but it was cut down to of view, I would love India to tour Sri Modi had a hand in the event, but SLC and had been earlier planned. SLC is presently have already started talking, why not play just three Tests in the new Futures Tour Lanka three times a year,” Dharmadasa Somerset repeatedly denied those allega- facing a severe shortage of funds following a couple of matches in Sri Lanka?” Programme. Dharmadasa then met with said. “Unfortunately,it is not possible. But tions, as did Modi.

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