A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Pietersen added to tour squad for India

Kevin Pietersen has been added to England’s Test squad for next month’s tour to India after being dropped over a controversial text-message row.

The decision to recall the South African-born batsman was made after he met up with coach Andy Flower, captain Alastair Cook and other senior players and members of England’s management team earlier this week.

“We were keen Kevin should hold a series of face-to-face meetings with team management and senior players before the Test squad departs for the UAE and India next week,” England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Hugh Morris said in a statement yesterday.

“The meetings were constructive and cordial and all outstanding issues have been resolved,” the statement read.

“All the England players and management are now keen to draw a line under this matter and fully focus on the cricketing challenge that lies ahead in India.”

Owen leads way in McGladrey Classic

England’s Greg Owen held the clubhouse lead during the first round of The McGladrey Classic in Georgia following a six-under-par 64.

Owen shot a flawless round, with birdies at the 11th, 15th, first, second, fourth and seventh after starting on the back nine, to get off to an ideal start on the Seaside Course at Sea Island.

New Zealand’s Danny Lee was keeping pace with the 40-year-old as he was also six under through 15 holes. Lee had also yet to drop a shot, with four birdies and an eagle at the par-five seventh taking him joint top of the leaderboard.

The two leaders were one shot ahead of United States trio Zach Johnson, David Toms and Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III. Johnson had five birdies and the other two six birdies and a bogey.

Jim Furyk, was in the clubhouse on four under, while England’s Gary Christian was one of six players already round in 67 to lie a shot further back, three off the early pace.

Cavendish switches to Belgian team to fulfill Tour ambitions

Sprint ace Mark Cavendish is to leave Team Sky in order to fulfil his Tour de France ambitions after spending this year’s race serving as a domestique for Bradley Wiggins, the British team said yesterday.

Briton Cavendish, the 2011 world champion who has 23 Tour de France stage wins to his name, will join Belgian team Omega Pharma-Quick Step.

The move was barely a secret but Team Sky spelled it out clearly yesterday, saying in a statement: “The 2011 world champion had been expected to leave at the end of his first season with the team over a clash of priorities, having seen his winning opportunities in Grand Tour stages limited”.

Wiggins was Team Sky’s only priority on the Tour this year as he became the first Briton to win the world’s greatest cycling race.

The 27-year-old Cavendish, who had benefited from his team mates’ help the previous year to win stages, was no more than a domestique in 2012. He still claimed three stages victories.

Ulster Under-18s going for their fifth interpros in a row

Grange Road hosts the under-16 and under-18 interprovincial tournaments this weekend, Ulster are aiming for a five-in-a-row in the senior event and Leinster look to retain the under-16 crown they won in Belfast last year.

Ulster’s record of success in the under-18 tournament is remarkable, the province winning 11 of the last 12 titles, their run only interrupted by Leinster in 2007.

There's a reduced Leinster First Division programme this weekend, two of the clubs – Pembroke Wanderers and Railway Union – meeting each other in the first round of the Jacqui Potter Cup on Sunday. – MARY HANNIGAN

Cody and McGuinness receive joint monthly awards

Kilkenny hurling manager Brian Cody and Donegal football manager Jim McGuinness have been named as the joint Philips Sports Managers of the month for September after leading their counties to All-Ireland senior titles last month.

Having drawn the All-Ireland hurling final on September 9th Cody’s all-conquering Kilkenny team went on to beat Galway by 3-22 to 3-11 in the much-anticipated replay on the last Sunday in September.

This was their second title in a row and sixth title in seven years. In all, Cody has led Kilkenny to nine All-Ireland titles since taking charge of the county in 1998.

The previous week Jim McGuinness had led his Donegal team to an emotional All-Ireland football final victory over Mayo. The four-point winning margin secured Donegal’s second All-Ireland title 20 years after their first victory.

In McGuinness’ two seasons in charge he has led Donegal to two Ulster titles.