14 Saturday 25th September, 2010

tuart Broad believes England has found to be true it will not are well equipped to defend become the centre of ball- be the first time that the Sthe Ashes but he knows they tampering allegations after fast bowler has been will have to prove themselves all a British tabloid released involved in a ball-tamper- over again to achieve their winter Broad looking to prove pictures of the fast bowler ing incident. In 2005, also in objectives. appearing to pick at the England, television cam- England have not prevailed in seam of the ball and then eras showed Akhtar flick- Australia since the tour of 1986-87 stand on it. ing the seam of the ball led by , and they In a tour that has been with his thumb. While the slumped to a 5-0 series whitewash himself Down Under over shadowed by spot-fix- 35-year-old was cleared of under the captaincy of Andrew ing allegations, Pakistan’s any wrongdoing on that Flintoff on their last visit four on-field performances occasion he was warned by years ago. with as a young English boy and improved in the second half the ICC about his future But Broad insists the it’s something that is made bigger of the NatWest series, with conduct having faced simi- team will enter “We’ve got a fantastic by my dad [batsman ] ’s men claim- lar charges during a Test the winter opportunity going to playing in an Ashes series in ing victory in the third and match against Zimbabwe in contest Australia in 1986/87. fourth one-dayers. 2002. invigorat- Australia because we’ve “It’s certainly an amazing feel- However, it is controver- In 2006 Akhtar was played some great ing getting on the flight to sy that again has taken cen- banned for two ODIs and throughout the Australia but it means nothing tre stage, with photograph- fined 75 percent of his unless we put performances in on ic evidence suggesting that match fee after being found summer,” said Broad. the pitch.” Akhtar attempted to alter guilty of ball-tampering “Australia are great on Pace bowler James Anderson the condition of the ball by during a one-day match agrees with Broad that England illegal means. against New Zealand in Sri their own turf, we know have a magnificent opportunity to The allegations are Lanka. that, but we’ve built up end their long search for victory on based upon a A spokesman some great confidence Australian soil. series of pho- for the ICC “This is probably the best tos released declined to com- over the last 18 months. chance we’ve had for a few years. by the Daily ment on the like- “We’ve got the best We’ve had a really good summer Mail, which lihood of any leading up to it, actually a good sort are said to suspicion of ball- spinner in the world in of 12-18 months,” he said. have been tampering, and , we’ve “We’ve shown over the last few taken in the Akhtar usual protocol got seam bowlers who years that we’ve got the skills in 41st over of dictates that the team to be able to win down the game. some mention can take and there, so the major part of the tour The pictorial under will have to be batsmen who can score will be the mental side. evidence sug- made in the “We’ve got to be mentally strong, gests that suspicion, ’s runs.’’ not just when we’re playing the Akhtar ran report - which cricket, but also outside of cricket his thumb will be received because we’re not in our comfort along the again “in due course” - zone, we’re in another country.” seam of the for the ICC to duce the performances on the pitch played in ball before deem any action when we get there. every match when England dropping it necessary. “We must focus on what we’ve slumped Down Under last time, but on the (cricket365.com) done well in the last 18 months, not he is still elated at being given the ground and go there fearful of what’s happened chance to return. standing in the past. “It’s pretty much the pinnacle of on it. “We can learn from the past, but anybody’s career to be selected for If we need to go there with a fresh this tour,” said Collingwood. approach.” “To be selected for your country Broad will be playing in his sec- any time is a real honour, but to ond Ashes - he was England’s lead- know that you’re going to take the ing taker in the 2-1 series Aussies on in their own back yard ed by a successful summer consist- up some great confidence over the victory last year - and the 24-year- is something everybody wants to be ing of six successive series wins last 18 months. old is thrilled to be involved once involved in. across all formats of the game. “We’ve got the best spinner in again. “This is the ultimate challenge, “We’ve got a fantastic opportuni- the world in Graeme Swann, we’ve “As a cricketer you dream of it’s the most difficult place to win a ty going to Australia because we’ve got seam bowlers who can take going to Australia and playing in series and the satisfaction of win- Shoaib Akhtar played some great cricket through- wickets and batsmen who can score Boxing Day Tests in and ning down there would pretty much out the summer,” said Broad. runs. going on to Sydney and places like be the ultimate.” “Australia are great on their own “We’ve got all the attributes to that,” he said. turf, we know that, but we’ve built go and win, but it’s up to us to pro- “It’s something you grow up (cricket365.com) Jackson, Harrower Automobile All Island Snooker from today Under-19 Cricket Rain hampers lead Australia past Sri Lankan snooker play- ers will have an excellent opportunity to win cash second day’s play Canada 72-47 prizes when the first ever All Island Snooker Tournament The cricket fixture between conducted by the Automobile Holy Cross College, Kalutara and OSTRAVA, Czech Republic early in the fourth quarter, (AP) - Lauren Jackson and but Belarus turned up its Association of Ceylon gets Sri Sumangala College, Panadura Kristi Harrower each scored defense, going on a 14-2 run. underway today at the ended in a no decision as the entire 13 points as Australia made Natallia Anufryienka Automobile Association second day’s play was abandoned its first eight shots en route scored six straight points premises in Kollupitiya. due to wet weather conditions at to a 72-47 victory over during the spurt as China The winners of the tour- Kalutara yesterday. Canada on Thursday at the missed nine of its 10 shots. nament will receive a cash In reply to Sri Sumangala women’s basketball world Miao Lijie finally ended award worth Rs. 100,000 College’s 232 runs, Holy Cross were championship. the drought, hitting a layup which will be one of the 24 for one at the end of the first day. While the Australians with 58 seconds left. highest cash prizes awarded Off-spinners Sahan Vass and Kalpa couldn’t miss early,Canada Chen, Liu Dan and Miao to snooker players this sea- Shashika shared seven wickets between them for Holy Cross. couldn’t make a shot. The each scored 13 points to lead son. Canadians missed their first China. The tournament will com- nine attempts before Teresa China eliminated prise over 100 players includ- Scores: Sri Sumangala 232 all out (T. Gabriele hit a driving layup Belarus from the 2008 ing 24 national players. The at the end of the first quarter Dilanka 44, R. Savanau 45 n.o., S. Olympics in the quarterfi- first stage of the tournament Ceylon Automobile Association announced the first ever All Island Snooker that made it 20-12. nals. Sachintha 34, N. Sakuranga 37, R. will be between the amateur championship at a media briefing held recently. The picture shows Dhammika She followed it up with a Group B United States Sanujaya 28; Sahan Vass 4/45, players while the national Attygalle, President of AAC, second from right posing for photographs with the 3-pointer to start the second 99, Greece 73 Kalpa Shashika 3/30) players will get involved trophies to be presented for winners. Also in the picture are Anton Kandiah quarter and got Canada with- At Ostrava, Czech Holy Cross 24 for 1 from the second stage of the (Secretary, AAC and AAC Billiards Secretary), Sarath de Alwis (Chairman, in five. Jackson hit three free Republic, Angel McCoughtry competition onwards. organising committee) and N. P. Siripala. (Pic by Siripala Halwala) throws to restore the eight- and Swin Cash each scored Bad light and rain point lead. 16 points to lead a balanced dominate at Ratgama too Australia, in Group A, United States offense in a led by 11 at the half before win over Greece. The Inter-School Under-19 two- Webber fastest in Kimberley Smith’s three- Evanthia Maltsi scored Ballack may return in two months day match between Revata College, point play made it 41-35 mid- 29 points for Greece, which first Singapore Balapitiya and St. Aloysius’ way through the third quar- was making its first appear- BERLIN (AP) - Bayer College, Galle was called off early ter. That’s as close as Canada ance at the worlds. practice Leverkusen’s sports direc- on the second day due to bad light would get as the Aussies The U.S. entered the tour- tor says injured Germany and rain at Ratgama yesterday. closed the period with a 11-3 nament in an unfamiliar SINGAPORE (AP) - Formula midfielder Michael After a disastrous start, Revata run. position of having finished One championship leader Mark Ballack should be back in were 80 for nine wickets when rain The Aussies extended third in 2006. The Americans Webber of Red Bull set the training in two months, started on the first day. their lead to 24 midway haven’t gone consecutive fastest lap in Friday’s opening but will only play again Scores: through the fourth quarter, worlds without winning a practice for the Singapore Grand when he is fully fit. Revata 80 for 9 wickets holding Canada without a gold medal since 1971-75. Prix. Ballack suffered a leg (Lakshan Mendis 3/19, Thilina point for the first 4 1/2 min- France 83, Senegal 45 Webber recorded a time of 1 injury on Sept. 11 - his lat- Madushan 3/15, Chathura utes. At Ostrava, Czech minute, 54.589 seconds around est setback after missing Madusanka 2/11) Smith led Canada with 11 Republic, Clemence Beikes a drying Marina Bay circuit to the World Cup with an (RF) points. and Celine Dumerc each had outpace Mercedes’ Michael ankle injury. Australia will face 12 points to help France to an Schumacher - in his first ever Leverkusen sports Belarus on Friday,while easy win over Senegal. trip around the track - and Force director Rudi Voeller told Canada will play China. France had an 18-13 India’s Adrian Sutil. Friday’s edition of the Group A Belarus 68, advantage with 2:57 left in Most of the session was run daily Die Welt: “We hope Austrian swimmer China 57 the first quarter before hold- on intermediate tires due to that Michael can resume At Ostrava, Czech ing Senegal scoreless over damp patches left on the track training in about mid- Mirna Jukic retires Republic, Yelena Leuchanka the next 9 minutes to take a by afternoon rain, with drivers November.” scored 20 points as Belarus 20-point lead on Nwal- only trying slicks in the final 20 But he added that he VIENNA (AP) - Former held China to just one field Endene Miyem’s free throw minutes, when all of the fastest will “only play again Beijing Olympic bronze medalist goal for 8 1/2 minutes in the with 4:04 left in the half. Diop times were set. Webber com- when he really feels 100 Mirna Jukic has announced her fourth quarter to win the finally ended the scoreless pleted his fastest lap after the percent fit - because one retirement from swimming. opening game of the group. drought, hitting one of two checkered flag. thing is clear to him after The 24-year-old Jukic won Leuchanka, who plays free throws 14 seconds later. Webber’s Red Bull team- recent experiences: he more than 20 major medals over for the Atlanta Dream in the Senegal made its first mate Sebastien Vettel was will again be watched the course of her career, including WNBA, added 12 rebounds basket of the period with 1:17 fourth fastest. with eagle eyes.” bronze in the 100-metre breast- for Belarus. The team held a left when Marie Sy scored on Of the other championship Ballack officially Injured Leverkusen’s Michael Ballack uses crutch- stroke at the 2008 Beijing Games. 52-48 lead after the third a jumper to lead 39-16. contenders, the McLarens of remains Germany cap- quarter when Tatyana France led by 28 at the half. es as he walks on the tribune to watch the German A teary-eyed Jukic said late Jenson Button and Lewis tain but national team Troina hit a 3-pointer at the Aya Traore scored 10 to H ilt i th d 18th first division Bundesliga soccer match between Thursday that it wasn’t easy for