SPORTS DIGEST:CRICKET: England succumbed to Umar Gul in last night's eight-run defeat, as Graeme Swann's career-best bowling again proved in vain against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Gul took three crucial wickets to undermine England's chase of 144 for six, to help his team go 1-0 up with two to play.
Swann’s eventful night began with a glaring drop to reprieve Asad Shafiq on nine. But he returned to first of all see off the same batsman, with a clumsy run-out, and then take three wickets for one run in eight balls. A double-wicket maiden featured in the off-spinner’s personal best; yet it was to be Gul (three for 18), who eventually had the most telling impact.
Kevin Pietersen and Craig Kieswetter got England’s chase off to a handy start of 48. Pietersen took 13 runs from Junaid Khan’s first over but was then responsible for five of the dots in the second, from Gul. He looked in the mood nonetheless with 33 from 21 balls – and had just clubbed Shahid Afridi over long-off for six when he did not get quite enough on the next ball and was very well held by Shafiq almost on the rope at midwicket.
Kieswetter was doubly culpable, getting out in the very next over – backing so far away to Mohammad Hafeez he could not reach a ball which bowled him leg-stump.
Much therefore depended on Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan, who had to begin with one run between them. Morgan missed a drive at Hafeez and lost his leg-stump but teamed up with Bopara, who top-scored with 39 and dominated another useful stand with Jonny Bairstow.
Bopara scampered four twos, and hit a straight six, in one over from Junaid. But just when it seemed he and Bairstow might finish the job, Bopara achieved a “Kieswetter” in reverse, going so far across outside off he did not cover leg-stump and duly lost it to Gul. Pakistan’s premier seamer then saw off Jos Buttler and had Samit Patel lbw to a yorker first ball. Swann stopped the hat-trick, but could not tilt the match back in England’s favour.
Clarke admits role in Ponting sacking
CRICKET:Australian captain Michael Clarke has said he was partly responsible for the sacking of former skipper Ricky Ponting from the one-day squad. Clarke wrote about how difficult the decision had been in a newspaper column yesterday, while adding that the 37-year-old Ponting remained a "huge part of our Test team".
"I'm 100 per cent part of the selection panel – that's part now of the captain's job," he wrote in a New Ltdcolumn. "We've made this decision as a panel. It is tough not having the great Ricky Ponting out there playing one-day cricket for us but that's the decision we've made."
Clarke replaced Ponting as captain after England’s 3-1 Ashes series win on Australian soil in January last year, becoming part of the national side’s selection panel. Ponting’s axing from the one-day side earlier this week triggered fierce debate in the country.
Ecclestone doubts over Hamilton
FORMULA ONE:Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone feels Lewis Hamilton may be on his way out of McLaren at the end of this season if he and the team fail to rediscover the winning title formula.
Asked initially if he could see the 27-year-old ending his career with McLaren, Ecclestone said: “I doubt that. I think if he doesn’t perform this year he’ll be looking maybe to move on, and the team may also be looking for him to move on.”
The 81-year-old has again cast doubt on the people behind Hamilton in XIX Entertainment, who earlier this month employed the services of Didier Coton, who once managed Mika Hakkinen, to guide the British driver.
“I spoke to him (Hamilton) the other day and I think he’s a bit more focused,” said Ecclestone.
“But I don’t agree with the people he’s got surrounding him and so-called managing him. I think he doesn’t need that sort of management.”
Stringer joins Newcastle Falcons until end of season
RUGBY:Munster's Peter Stringer will embark on a short-term loan deal with Newcastle Falcons once his current arrangement with Saracens expires at the start of next month.
The 34-year-old scrumhalf has impressed in nine appearances for the Premiership champions since moving there in December to offer cover for the injured duo of Neil de Kock and Richard Wigglesworth.
“Peter has been a brilliant addition to the squad, on and off the field, and we are sorry his three-month loan spell will come to an end after our match against Northampton on March 4th,” said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall yesterday.
Stringer will be available to the struggling Falcons for the first time when they face Harlequins on March 12th and will stay with them until the end of the season.
