Sports digest

Today's other stories in brief

Today's other stories in brief

F1 talks address rising costs issue

MOTOR SPORT:Formula One teams and the sport's governing body said yesterday a meeting between the two sides in Geneva had produced "significant" cost savings for 2009 and 2010.

A joint statement by the FIA and Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) said the 10 teams were also "working urgently on further proposals for 2010 and thereafter". No details were given, however. FIA president Max Mosley has said even without the global credit crunch, the sport had become unsustainable at current spending levels.

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MacLeod fails drugs test and is omitted by Scotland

RUGBY:Suspended forward Scott MacLeod was an expected omission from the Scotland squad announced yesterday for the November internationals against New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.

The Llanelli lock (29) has failed a drugs test and has been banned from competitive rugby pending an investigation.

MacLeod, who has 21 caps, was one of 16 players axed from the 50-man training party called up last month, which has also lost four players to injury. The only new name in the 31-man squad selected by head coach Frank Hadden was Northampton flanker Scott Gray, who has done enough in the last month to earn a recall four years after his only other cap.

SCOTLAND SQUAD: Backs: M Blair (capt), B Cairns, C Cusiter, N De Luca, M Evans, T Evans, P Godman, R Lamont, S Lamont, R Lawson, G Morrison, D Parks, C Paterson, H Southwell, S Webster. Forwards: J Barclay, K Brown, G Cross, A Dickinson, R Ford, S Gray, D Hall, J Hamilton, N Hines, A Hogg, A Jacobsen, E Murray, M Mustchin, A Strokosch, S Taylor, J White.

Ireland face must-win clash

CRICKET: A washout in yesterday's fixture against Zimbabwe means Ireland will need to beat Kenya in their final group game today to clinch a place in Saturday's Tri-Series final in Nairobi, writes Emmet Riordan.

Heavy overnight rain in the Kenyan capital left the Gymkhana Club outfield sodden and the umpires deemed it unplayable and abandoned the game with both sides gaining two points.

Ireland recorded a comprehensive 86-run victory over Kenya in their first clash on Saturday, with Kevin O'Brien continuing his brilliant form with 83 in his side's total of 285.

Ireland will be going for a fifth straight victory over Kenya in all competitions, with the toss likely to prove vital after all three games played to date went to the side batting first. Andre Botha is in line to become just the eighth player to record 100 caps while Trent Johnston is likely to return to the side after a stomach muscle injury.

REMAINING GROUP GAMES: Today: Kenya v Ireland. Tomorrow: Kenya v Zimbabwe.

Gatland considering his position

RUGBY:Warren Gatland has revealed he is considering his position as national team coach to Wales. Gatland still does not know when he can assemble his players ahead of facing world champions South Africa on November 8th as the four Welsh regions lock horns with the Welsh RFU over player availability.

The regions are adamant the players will not be released for the autumn opener until November 2nd. "It has taken the gloss off my position. You just feel frustrated that the two sides can't get together and thrash it out. I might have to look at it if this carries on," said Gatland. "I have already questioned my position. It's no good for anyone if you send out a team that gets well beaten because it is not prepared. There is pressure on performances and results."

WALES SQUAD: Backs: M Stoddart, L Byrne, L Halfpenny, M Jones , S Williams, G Henson, T Shanklin, A Bishop, G Roberts, D Biggar, J Hook, S Jones, M Roberts, D Peel, G Cooper. Forwards: G Jenkins, D Jones, A Jones, E Roberts, R Thomas, H Bennett, M Rees, R Hibbard, A-W Jones, I Gough, I Evans, L Charteris, D Jones, A Powell, M Williams, R Sowden-Taylor, R Jones (capt).

ENGLAND SQUAD: Backs: O Barkley, D Care, H Ellis, T Flood, R Flutey, S Geraghty, D Hipkiss, J Lewsey, J Noon, P Richards, P Sackey, J Simpson-Daniel, M Tait, N Abendanon, D Cipriani. Forwards: S Borthwick, G Chuter, J Crane, T Croft, D Hartley, J Haskell, N Kennedy, L Mears, M Lipman, L Narraway, T Palmer, T Payne, T Rees, S Shaw, A Sheridan, M Stevens, P Vickery.

Khan fined  for misconduct

CRICKET: India paceman Zaheer Khan was fined 80 per cent of his match fee after being found guilty of a code of conduct breach following the second Test win over Australia yesterday.

Khan, summoned for a disciplinary hearing by International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Chris Broad after the game, pleaded guilty to a level two charge under the code of conduct rules, a statement from the governing body said.

Khan appeared to say something to opener Matthew Hayden following the batsman's dismissal before tea on Monday's fourth day. India won by 320 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series. "Clearly, this sort of behaviour is not acceptable at any level of cricket - it showed a lack of respect for the player who had been dismissed," said Broad.