Thursday 20th August, 2009 13 Venus loses Flintoff the key as England early again at Rogers Cup seek Ashes triumph Tuesday. Williams, ranked third, what would be a special farewell for him, regain the Ashes. Flintoff missed that game by Richard Sydenham lost to an opponent ranked captain Andrew Strauss said Wednesday. because of a knee injury but he is expected 64th. Williams was playing at LONDON (AP) - Andrew Flintoff can England were thrashed by an innings to return for a swansong before retiring help inspire England to Ashes glory in the and 80 runs in the fourth test at Headingley from tests at the end of this series. this tournament for the first deciding fifth test at The Oval this week in as Australia levelled the series at 1-1, forc- “He’s looking very promising,” Strauss time since 1997 when she ing host England to win the final match to told reporters. “The swelling on his knee was 17. She has lost all three has gone right down. He bowled well yester- of her matches at the Rogers day (in practice) and with decent pace. Cup. Ukraine’s Kateryna “He is particularly motivated to play in Bondarenko hadn’t taken this test match and I’m very excited to have Bondarenko him back as he is determined to do well for a set off the American in two the team.” TORONTO (AP) - Venus previous matches. Strauss labelled all-rounder Flintoff one Williams’ tune-up for the U.S. “I was playing really of the best players of his generation Open hit a surprising road- good,” Bondarenko said. “The because of his inspirational impact on the block in a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 loss to first set, I didn’t know what to game and results, as opposed to his statis- Ukraine’s Kateryna do with her power. The rest of tics. After 78 matches he has scored 3,816 Bondarenko in the second the game, I just tried to keep runs at an average of 32.06, and taken 225 round of the Rogers Cup on the ball in play.” wickets at 32.59 with his often hostile fast bowling. Flintoff was man of the match at Lord’s when England won the second test in July and was the man of the series when England won the Ashes in 2005 for the first time in 18 years. “For a big game like this it’s a massive boost to have him in the side,” Strauss added. “It’s the perfect story. It’s his last game so he can be completely motivated, the script is written perfectly and that is really exciting. “He can lift the crowd and other players in the dressing room with his performances but we won’t win the game without all the guys standing up to be counted as well.” While England must take a positive approach into the game, as Australia would retain the Ashes with a drawn series, Strauss was mindful that the team remain focused on the game rather than the out- come and the emotion of the occasion. “I’m absolutely certain that we are going to play well this week,” said Strauss, after England was beaten within three days at Headingley. “I’ve got no doubt about it. The Oval wicket is a great cricket wicket that rewards positive batting, positive bowling and it brings the spinners into the game as well. “The crowd will get behind us and the guys will go out with the right frame of mind and enjoy their cricket. Pressure is only something you put on yourself, so that is not something that is going to be preoccu- pying us.” South African-born debutant Jonathan Trott, selected in place of the underper- forming Ravi Bopara, will bat at five with Paul Collingwood moving to four, Strauss said. Teams: England (from): Andrew Strauss (cap- tain), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Jonathan Trott, Matt Prior, Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Steve Harmison, Graham Onions, Ryan Sidebottom, Monty Panesar. Australia (from): Ricky Ponting (cap- tain), Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, England’s Andrew Flintoff, right, speaks to coach Andy Flower during their cricket practice session Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan at the Oval, London, Wednesday Aug. 19, 2009. England will play Australia in the final and deciding Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Ashes Test match at the Oval starting today. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi) Stuart Clark, Brett Lee. Devnaka Porage wins gold at Colombo Shotokan Karate tournament by Delgoda, W. D. Vithana In the yellow belt Kata event held at the Colombo Shotokan Karate Tournament 2009, Grade Seven stu- dent, Devnaka Porage (11), of ELIC International School, Mabima won a gold medal. Devnaka is already a recognized performer and has won the 7th Que Blue Belt in Oyama Karate and is a recognized member of the world Oyama Karate Organisation, USA and a member of its Sri Lanka branch. Devnaka has mas- tered a large number of Kata methods of Oyama karate and practices all positions and stances. Oyama Karate mas- ter, Kancho Soshu Shiseru Oyama had seen a video that shows the positions and stances of Devnaka and had been impressed by what he had seen. Devnaka Porage’s instructor is Rohan de Silva, who is a well Devnaka Porage know Black Belt..