TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013 SPORTS Messi, Ronaldo, Ribery Waqar, Gilchrist inducted Capello happy with to contest Ballon d’Or into the ICC Hall of Fame Russia WCup draw LONDON: World governing body FIFA named Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Franck NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s pace bowling great Waqar Younis and former MOSCOW: Russia manager Fabio Capello said yesterday that he considered his team to be the favorites of the 2014 World Cup Group H ahead of Belgium, South Ribery as the three nominations from a 10-player shortlist for the Ballon d’Or award yes- Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist were yesterday inducted into terday. Barcelona and Argentina forward Messi has won the prestigious award, formerly Korea and Algeria. “Everybody is saying that Belgium are the favorites in our called FIFA World Player of the Year, for the past four years, while Real Madrid’s Ronaldo cricket’s Hall of Fame, the International Cricket Council said. Waqar group, but I feel that it’s Russia who are the true favorites,” Capello was quoted as topped the poll in 2008. Despite not winning any silverware last season Portuguese joins Hanif Mohammad and former team-mates Imran Khan, Javed saying by Sport Express daily. “I’m pleased with the draw. Ronaldo is favorite to end Messi’s reign as officially the world’s best player when the Miandad and Wasim Akram as the Pakistanis in the exclusive club. But I’m pleased even more with the fact that we will results are announced on Jan 13. The 28-year-old has 25 goals for Gilchrist will be the 19th Australian male inductee, the ICC said. Waqar play in Cuiaba, Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro,” Capello Madrid this season and bagged a stunning hat-trick as Portugal will be honored by the governing body during the Twenty20 interna- said. “We were lucky from the logistics point of view beat Sweden in a World Cup qualifying playoff to reach next tional between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dubai on Wednesday, while as we have avoided playing in the northeast of year’s finals in Brazil. Messi scored 56 times for Barcelona last Gilchrist will be feted during the third Ashes Test in Perth on Friday. Brazil where the weather is so hot and humid in summer.” The 67-year-old Italian coach added season, helping the Catalans win the Spanish title while Ribery Waqar claimed 373 wickets in 87 Tests and 416 wickets in 262 one-day helped Bayern Munich win the Bundesliga and the Champions that he would like to chose town of Campinas, League. Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, internationals before retiring after the 2003 World Cup. He now works which is situated not far from Sao Paulo, as his Bayern Munich’s Jupp Heynkes and Borussia Dortmund’s Juergen as a television commentator. “It’s a huge honor for me,” said the 42- team’s base for next summer’s competition. Capello Klopp form the shortlist for the Coach of the Year award. Paris St year-old Waqar. “I’m truly grateful to the people who’ve considered me said that Group H contained four strong teams and Germain’s Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic failed to make the worthy of such an honor.” Gilchrist, also a prolific batsman, was a three- that he would not under-estimate them. “Belgium final Ballon d’Or shortlist although he is in contention for the time World Cup winner in 1999, 2003 and 2007. He played 96 Tests dur- are an excellent team consisting of young and Puskas Award for the “most beautiful goal of the year” for his ing a 12-year career that ended in 2008, making 5,570 runs and claim- skilled players,” he said. “We will need to find the long-range overhead volley against England. —Reuters ing 416 dismissals behind the stumps. —AFP means to cope with them.” —AFP Big win puts Aussies on brink of Ashes victory ADELAIDE: Australia wrapped up a comprehen- sive 218-run victory over England yesterday to take a 2-0 series lead, leaving them on the brink of reclaiming the Ashes. The home team cap- tured the four remaining wickets in just under an hour on the final morning in Adelaide and are now just one victory away from winning back the famous urn after three consecutive series defeats. It was a second emphatic reverse for England after they lost in Brisbane by 381 runs and the tourists must regroup before the third Test, which starts in Perth on Friday. England have only won once in 12 Tests on the tradition- ally pacy WACA pitch. “I think that something that is most pleasing is we are finally getting some results,” said Australian skipper Michael Clarke, who never- theless cautioned that his side still had work to do in their quest to return to the top of the world rankings. “I think we have to be realistic,” said Clarke. “That’s our second Test win in the past 12 months-certainly not a record we’re proud of. There’s a lot of work for us to do to get back to being the number one team in the world ADELAIDE: The Australian team celebrates after dismissing England batsman Graeme TORONTO: Jake Gardiner #51 of the Toronto Maple Leafs gets hit by Brad Marchand #63 of and that’s our goal.” the Boston Bruins during NHL action at the Air Canada Centre on December 8, 2013. —AFP Australia’s victory in Brisbane was their first Swann (right) on the final day of the second Ashes cricket Test match yesterday. —AFP Test win since they beat Sri Lanka in January. Under overcast skies yesterday, wicketkeeper reprise his fighting unbeaten century to force a They lost 3-0 to England in July-August. England Matt Prior showed defiance for the tourists, draw against New Zealand in March. The wicket- Capitals trounce Rangers captain Alastair Cook admitted his side lost the reaching 69 off 102 balls, before he became the keeper reached his 27th Test half-century off 88 game on the first day when they were guilty of ninth batsman to go. Stuart Broad fell to the fifth balls. Graeme Swann (six) was caught at second several dropped catches, allowing Australia to ball of the final day, caught in the deep by slip off Ryan Harris and Prior’s resistance ended NEW YORK: Jason Chimera, Steve Oleksy and with 1:41 left for San Jose, which went 1-3 on a pile up an imposing 570 for nine declared, with Mikhail Grabovski scored second-period goals four-game trip. The Sharks, who have lost three Nathan Lyon for 29 off Siddle after pulling the when he fell hooking Siddle to Harris on the Clarke making 148. “On that first day we had an previous ball for six. England’s Barmy Army sup- boundary rope. Siddle was the pick of the to power the Washington Capitals to a 4-1 win in a row in regulation for the first time this sea- opportunity to a put a bit of pressure on over the New York Rangers on Sunday night. son, are 0-5-1 in their last six games in porters attempted to get under Johnson’s skin, Australian bowlers with figures of 4-57. Monty Australia. We let a few chances go, and they real- but the paceman retorted by peppering Prior Panesar was the final England wicket to fall, hit- Washington defenseman Nate Schmidt added Minnesota. Antti Niemi made 10 saves. Parise ly made us pay for that,” he said. a goal in the third for the Capitals, who beat and Koivu scored second-period goals to give with a couple of short-pitched deliveries. ting to Chris Rogers at short extra cover to give Cook said England’s first innings total of 172 Prior saw off Johnson and was looking to Harris his third scalp of the innings.—AFP Nashville at home on Saturday. Schmidt, a 22- Minnesota a 2-0 lead. Parise pushed the Wild’s was not good enough. “You don’t get too many year-old rookie, scored his first NHL goal in that edge back to two goals when he scored at chances on good wickets and we had the oppor- game. Grabovski’s goal came on a penalty shot. 19:54. Harding, who improved to 13-1 at home, tunity then and we didn’t take it. I thought that SCOREBOARD In his fourth NHL game, Philipp Grubauer made is 16-4-3 overall. was the main difference. Australia took their 30 saves for Washington (16-12-2) to earn his chances very well,” he said. “The only guys who first career win. The Capitals have won four of BRUINS 5, MAPLE LEAFS 2 ADELAIDE, Australia: Scoreboard on the final day of the second Ashes Test between Australia and can change it are the guys in the dressing room. England at the Adelaide Oval yesterday: five. New York (15-15-1), beaten at home in Carl Soderberg and Torey Krug scored sec- No one else can change it for us. We can’t sit overtime by New Jersey on Saturday, has lost ond-period power-play goals as Boston defeat- there moping about it. It’s hurting us like hell Australia 1st innings 570 for 9 declared (M. Matt Prior c Harris b Siddle 69 three of five. Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves, ed Toronto. The Bruins were coming off a but we’re the only guys who can change it.” Clarke 148, B. Haddin 118; S. Stuart Broad c Lyon B Siddle 29 and Benoit Pouliot scored the Rangers’ lone Saturday night win over Pittsburgh in which Demon paceman Mitchell Johnson was named Broad 3-98) Graeme Swann c Clarke b Harris 6 goal with 1:53 left to spoil Grubauer’s shutout Shawn Thornton had a takedown of Brooks man-of-the-match for the second consecutive England 1st innings 172 (I.