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Former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards was reportedly involved in a horror car crash on Wednesday morning as his Ranger Rover flipped on its side.

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Edwards and driver unscathed in crash on outskirts of LisbonCar flipped onto its side in horror crashSporting CP take on Atalanta in Europa League on ThursdayWHAT HAPPENED?

The emergency services rushed to the scene of the accident in Atalaia, on the outskirts of Lisbon, where both Edwards and the driver of the other vehicle were found to be miraculously unharmed – as the reports. The Sporting CP winger is thought to have been on his way to join his team-mates, who are set to travel to Italy ahead of their Europa League clash against Atalanta. The former England U20 international is said to be shaky, but unhurt, and will be assessed by the club's medical staff.

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Despite losing a number of star players in the summer, Sporting have made a strong start to the season and know that if they secure victory in Italy, they will qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League. Edwards can be considered a key part of Sporting's success this season, having contributed seven goals and the same number of assists to the collective cause. The Lions will be hopeful that their number 10 will be able to make another contribution in their key game tomorrow evening.

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Edwards came through the Spurs academy before moving to Portugal on a free transfer in 2019. Edwards impressed at Vitoria Guimaraes, scoring 20 goals, before earning a €7.7 million move to the capital – becoming the first English player to play for Sporting since Spurs defender Eric Dier.

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WHAT NEXT FOR EDWARDS AND SPORTING?

Edwards will return his focus back on helping Sporting qualify for the Europa League knockouts and fight for the league title against Benfica. The English winger has long been touted with a return to the Premier League and may well be joined by his Sporting team-mate Ousmane Diomande, who has been the centre of wild transfer speculation.

Lionel Cann, one of the most experienced Bermuda players, has refused to travel to Uganda next month for the ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament over security concerns following news of a foiled terrorist plot on September 13 in Kampala

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-2014Lionel Cann, one of the most experienced Bermuda players, has refused to travel to Uganda next month for the ICC World Cricket League Division Three tournament over security concerns following news of a foiled terrorist plot on September 13 in Kampala.”I have already told the Bermuda Cricket Board that I will not be travelling if the tournament remains in Uganda,” Cann was quoted as saying in the . “It’s great to play for my country and I think it’s the biggest honour ever, and something I will never turn down. But, in these circumstances, there is no way that I can go to that country.”At least 11 USA players have already said they are likely to pull out of the tour to Uganda, even as the US Embassy in Kampala issued a 24-hour warning for all American citizens in the African country to stay at home or seek shelter in a safe place.A US Embassy spokesperson said the plot was organised by a terror cell from al-Shabaab, the Somalia-based group behind the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya last year. Nineteen people were arrested by Uganda police over the weekend in Kampala in connection with the terror plot, according to an Associated Press report. A police spokesperson stated that the suspects’ intentions “were very, very clear” in what was the planning of an “imminent” attack.”To see that terrorists have been arrested in the same city where we are going to be playing, obviously that is a major concern to me,” Cann said. “Being a family guy and having children, I will definitely not be travelling to that part of the world to play.”In a letter to all competing teams in the tournament, Tim Anderson, the ICC global development manager, said that the governing body was in touch with authorities in Uganda. “I wish to advise you that ICC’s security advisers are continuing to co-ordinate with various authorities on the ground in Kampala to understand the extent of this incident, and to ascertain the impact it may have on staging the event in Uganda.”

The forward's pending departure could lead to a rebirth for the Parisians, who have already hinted at a new team-building strategy

In a pre-season speech to the Paris Saint-Germain squad, club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi laid out his message for the new campaign. He spoke of the power of the manager, the pride of suiting up for the Parisians, and his desire for hard work in training. Notably, he also asserted: "The club is bigger than anyone here."

That was July 2023, and it seemed to be a shot at Kylian Mbappe – then in open warfare with the French champions regarding the status of his contract after infoming the club that he would not be picking up the extra year that had been placed into his deal a year earlier. Back then, it seemed unlikely that Mbappe, the last Parisian Galactico left, would be playing his football at Parc des Princes for the 2023-24 season.

But things changed. Mbappe came to an agreement with the club hierarchy, pledged his loyalty for the upcoming season, and re-joined the squad after a month in exile. Now, though, his departure is confirmed. He told the club last week that he wishes to leave Paris at the end of the season, while talk has accelerated about his desire to join Real Madrid – with a massive contract all-but agreed with Los Blancos.

Things, then, look bleak for PSG. Mbappe is a generational talent, one of the best in the world, and the face of French football. You'd struggle to spin this in an overwhelmingly positive light, and yet it does present an opportunity.

For years, the Qatar Sports Investment-run club have sought out the biggest stars in world football: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Beckham, Neymar, Lionel Messi and Mbappe himself. All of those intergalactic names were brought in not only as shirt-sellers, but also to form the foundation of a side that demanded Champions League success.

Now that they have gone, with Mbappe serving as the final departure, PSG can refocus. The Champions League can be worked towards, and approached organically. For the first time in recent memory, the Parisians finally have the chance to develop Galacticos of their own, rather than buying ready-made superstars in search of instant European glory.

GettySaga to end all sagas

Eighteen months ago, Mbappe leaving so soon seemed unlikely. At the very end of the 2021-22 campaign, he shocked the world by turning down Real Madrid's massive offer before he was paraded around Parc des Princes while holding aloft an 'Mbappe 2025' shirt to mark him becoming the best-paid footballer in the world.

Any hope of him joining Madrid over the course of the next three years was seemingly gone. Yes, Mbappe would have another chance to leave in 2025, but Madrid's ego had been bruised, and Mbappe's new salary presumably put him out of reach for any interested parties.

Things change quickly when it comes to Mbappe, though. He never stopped flirting with Madrid, keeping the possibility of a move open. and last summer, Mbappe went about sealing the deal. Refusing to pick up the extra option was the first step; announcing it to the world – or ensuring it was leaked – was the second; and declining a move to the Saudi Pro League was the third. It was all tied up – albeit six months later than he might have hoped – last week, when he officially communicated his decision to leave Paris.

Somehow, a season-and-a-half after signing the kind of deal that had the potential to keep Mbappe in Paris for life, he has now engineered an amicable exit.

AdvertisementGettyChampions League misery

Mbappe's pending departure brings the curtain down on a PSG era that promised so much, but instead saw them become an almost-annual punchline in the Champions League. Since Al-Khelaifi took charge in 2012, the club has acquired superstar after superstar, all in the hope that spending vast sums of money could bring the European Cup to Paris. It hasn't worked.

The Parisians' European failures have come in all shapes and sizes, from blowing massive leads to lifeless showings, penalty heartbreak, and an unfortunate final loss in 2020. From La Remontada to Marcus Rashford's VAR-assisted spot-kick, PSG just haven't been able to get it right on European nights.

The weight of expectation has certainly played a role. Big names are supposed to win big trophies – especially when they're coached by marketable man-managers or tactful tacticians. Parisian failures look worse because of the individuals in the line-up.

Getty ImagesSuperstars fall short

None of PSG's failures felt as catastrophic as those in 2022 and 2023. Messi has since revealed that he never really wanted to be a PSG player, but his reluctance does little to explain the fact that a team containing the Argentine maestro, Neymar and Mbappe never managed to make it past the last 16 of the competition.

There were admittedly failures around them, as first Mauricio Pochettino and then Christophe Galtier could do little to wrangle a turbulent squad into something coherent. While Messi, Neymar and Mbappe all had their moments in PSG shirts, focusing the bulk of club's finances on the forward line meant that the rest of the team wasn't up to the required standard, and thus the much-vaunted trio largely became little more than merchandise-moving commodities and sources of YouTube highlights.

A superstar-first approach seldom works; the presence of Neymar, Messi and Mbappe in Paris proved that.

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PSG.frChange of strategy

While the Mbappe saga grabbed most of the headlines around PSG last summer, the club hierarchy were simultaneously overseeing a much-needed change in strategy. Their transfer activity was lavish – the Parisians spent nearly €400 million (£340m/$430m) – but they focused on young players.

In came forwards Goncalo Ramos (22), Randal Kolo Muani (24) and Bradley Barcola (20), as well as midfielders Lee Kang-in (22) and Manuel Ugarte (22). Even their more experienced new arrivals, Ousmane Dembele (26) and Lucas Hernandez (27), were far from being over the hill, even if they both have patchy injury histories.

The managerial appointment sent a similar message. Luis Enrique is not the kind of manager a club hires in order to maintain dressing-room harmony and pander to stars. This was the coach who forced Xavi out and willingly dropped Neymar on a number of occasions at Barcelona, and he immediately told Marco Verratti that his services were no longer needed upon his arrival in France.

The potential in PSG's new-look squad couldn't be denied, but the plan seemed to be more aligned with the club's status as just below the true elite, and with one eye on the future.

Sri Lanka secured a place in the tri-series finals with a tense victory over Australia

The Report by Brydon Coverdale at the MCG02-Mar-2012
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDaniel Christian picked up a hat-trick, but it was Sri Lanka who finished on top•Getty ImagesSri Lanka entered this match with their fate in their own hands. It turns out those are pretty safe hands. Not even a hat-trick from Daniel Christian, a four-wicket comeback from James Pattinson, a captain’s half-century from Shane Watson or a remarkable, late, fighting fifty from David Hussey could prevent Sri Lanka from winning the last qualifying match at the MCG. Lasith Malinga led a strong bowling performance to complete Sri Lanka’s nine-run victory, which propelled them into the tri-series finals.No doubt Australia were disappointed, for they must now enter the best-of-three deciders knowing they have lost their previous three games to their Sri Lankan opponents. But India would have been even more gutted. An Australia win would have sent Sri Lanka packing and secured India a place in the finals. Instead, MS Dhoni’s men will now fly home at the weekend, ending a disheartening three-month tour.Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have a chance to win a tri-series in Australia for the first time at their ninth attempt. Their total of 238 at the MCG, set up by half-centuries from Dinesh Chandimal, Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne, seemed a fraction skinny on what looked like a reasonable batting surface. But despite losing Thisara Perera to injury during his first over, Sri Lanka’s total proved defendable with Malinga in their attack.Not that it was straightforward. Hussey’s run-a-ball 74 nearly snatched victory for Australia. They needed 10 runs from the final over, bowled by Kulasekara, but Hussey holed out to long-off from the first ball of it and Sri Lanka celebrated. They had been on top early, when Australia were 3 for 26 after Malinga and Kulasekara troubled the top order, but then Australia fought back.Batting at first drop, the stand-in captain Watson – Michael Clarke was not risked ahead of the finals – led Australia’s fightback with a solid, composed 65 and he had good support from Michael Hussey (29). But once their 87-run stand was broken, Australia struggled again.Michael Hussey has proven a handy partnership breaker with his slow-medium bowling recently and this time he was on the receiving end of a similar ploy, as Thirimanne drew an edge behind that was well taken by Sangakkara. It was Thirimanne’s first international wicket and his second in all List A cricket, and importantly for Sri Lanka it was followed a few overs later by the departure of Watson.Watson had brought up his half-century from his 61st delivery with a straight drive off Thirimanne and he had been strong when the bowlers had strayed too straight, but he was in no particular hurry. His innings, an encouraging one in his second match back from a long injury lay-off, ended when he played all around a fast, straight Malinga ball that knocked middle stump out of the ground.David Hussey kept Australia afloat and did a fine job but his partners gradually dwindled. His fifth half-century of the series shot him to the top of the tournament runs tally but it wasn’t quite enough for Australia, whose innings started with the loss of both David Warner and Matthew Wade, who had been reunited as the opening pair. Warner (6) slapped Malinga to short cover, a strange shot to a ball that sat up on him, and Wade was lbw for 9 to Kulasekara, before Peter Forrest tickled a catch behind for 2 when he tried to cut Malinga.Smart stats

Sri Lanka beat Australia for the third time in the series. This is the first ever series in which Sri Lanka have managed three wins over Australia.

Daniel Christian became the fourth Australia bowler overall and the first since Brett Lee (2003 World Cup) to pick up an ODI hat-trick. He became only the fourth bowler after Shahadat Hossain, Shane Bond and Lasith Malinga to pick up a hat-trick in a defeat.

Christian’s 5 for 31 is the third-best bowling performance for an Australia bowler in ODIs against Sri Lanka. Mitchell Johnson holds the record with 6 for 31 in Pallekele in 2011.

For the fourth time against Sri Lanka and the 11th time overall, two Australia bowlers picked up four or more wickets in an innings. The last time this happened was in Colombo in 2011.

David Hussey scored his fifth half-century of the series. He became the ninth Australia batsman to score five or more fifty-plus scores in the Australian tri-series. Mark Waugh and Dean Jones have achieved the feat twice.

The 123-run stand between Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal is the third-highest third-wicket stand for Sri Lanka in ODIs against Australia.

The target of 239 is the third-lowest that Australia have failed to chase down against Sri Lanka and the second-lowest in Melbourne after the 222 in 2008.

Shane Watson improved on his tremendous record in ODI chases. In chases, he now averages 59.10 with five centuries and 12 fifties.

It was just the start Sri Lanka needed in the field after posting 238. Their three half-centuries at the top of the order made for a lopsided scorecard as the lower order struggled, especially against Christian, who collected a career-best 5 for 31 and wrote himself into the record books as the first player from Australia since Brett Lee in 2003 to take an ODI hat-trick, and the fourth overall alongside Lee, Bruce Reid and Anthony Stuart.Christian was mobbed by his team-mates after completing the feat, which began when Thisara Perera skied a ball and was taken at deep midwicket by Michael Hussey, who caught the ball inside play, tossed it up before he fell over the rope and completed the catch after stepping back in. The ball had gone so high that the batsmen had crossed twice, leaving the new man Sachithra Senanayake on strike instead of the established Thirimanne.Senanayake was lbw first ball and replays indicated the ball would have gone on to hit leg stump. The same could not have been said for the next delivery. Rod Tucker raised his finger to give Kulasekara lbw but the ball appeared to be sliding down leg side and replays confirmed it was a poor decision. Christian didn’t care. It was a hat-trick, and they are rare.Thirimanne (51) was good enough to help Sri Lanka survive their quota of overs, falling only in the penultimate over when he played on while trying to paddle sweep Pattinson. Rangana Herath remained 14 not out and Malinga was bowled off the last ball of the innings to give Christian his fifth wicket.By batting out their time Sri Lanka ensured that the efforts of Sangakkara and Chandimal were not wasted. They had put on 123 for the third wicket and Chandimal was the more aggressive partner. He continued his good series and brought up his fifty off his 47th delivery with a glanced single off Clint McKay, before Sangakkara registered his in the same over from his 79th ball. Throughout his innings, Sangakkara had been in no hurry and didn’t score a boundary until his 55th delivery, when he punched Ben Hilfenhaus forward of point.His runs came largely through ones and twos and it was an important stabilising performance after Sri Lanka were 2 for 17. Sangakkara fell for 64 when he top-edged a pull off Pattinson, and his departure slowed Chandimal down. Chandimal was out for 75 from 84 when he too was beaten by the pace of Pattinson, lobbing a ball to mid-off.Chandimal had been willing to play his strokes and he brought the crowd to life with a muscular hit that sailed straight over the head of the bowler Christian and crashed into the sightscreen. Another followed off the spin of Xavier Doherty, over long-on this time, and Chandimal spent most of his time hovering around the run-a-ball mark.As it turned out, the Chandimal-Sangakkara combination was just what Sri Lanka needed after Mahela Jayawardene was run out early thanks to a poor call by Tillakaratne Dilshan, who followed by edging Pattinson behind. At that point, Sri Lanka were wobbling. But they will enter the finals with stability, and form against Australia, on their side.Edited by Nikita Bastian

New Zealand will follow the England blue-print for defeating Australia in the two Test matches to be played in December, the coach John Wright has said

Daniel Brettig16-Nov-2011New Zealand will follow the England blue-print for defeating Australia in the two Test matches to be played in December, the coach John Wright has said.As he named the 13-man squad to play Tests in Brisbane and Hobart, Wright also said the visitors expected to be challenged by pace, and forsaw the 18-year-old fast bowler Pat Cummins playing a significant role in the Australian attack.While New Zealand have not won a Test match in Australia since 1985, Wright felt the combination of England’s example last summer, and the traumatic events of the Cape Town Test when Michael Clarke’s team was splintered for 47 to surrender a commanding position, gave the tourists a chance.New Zealand’s last Test resulted in a narrow win over lowly Zimbabwe, but the team will be bolstered by the return of the swing bowler Tim Southee and the aggressive batsman Jesse Ryder from knee and calf injuries, respectively.”We’ve got a fair idea [of how to beat Australia], England provided a really good example of how to bowl at them particularly last year, and the batting of Alastair Cook was exemplary at the top of the order, he was very patient, played very straight,” Wright said. “So England did provide in some ways a template of how to play best against Australia.”You look at that and then you look at your own side. To be honest, game-plans at this level aren’t that complicated, we know we have to bat four sessions, and we’ve got to find a way of taking 20 wickets. We’d like to keep as settled a line-up as we can. I think we’ve got the basis there, we have to be patient, but there’s some very talented young players who look like they might have an opportunity to succeed at the next level.”You can only go there in good form and with belief, it is a big step up from Zimbabwe. Australia have got a good record in Brisbane, but that’s what we’re hoping to create, that belief that if we apply ourselves and work really hard, and win our sessions, that we’ll be very competitive.”Cummins may yet debut for Australia against South Africa in Johannesburg, and Wright reckoned he would play a part in Brisbane or Hobart. New Zealand’s batsmen have been ratcheting up their bowling machines to maximum velocity in preparation.”I’ve heard he’s pretty quick, and that will be interesting because we have a feeling they might look to expose us to a lot of pace, and we’re going to have to stand up and be brave,” Wright said. “But having said that, those types of bowlers can provide you with scoring opportunities.”That [speed] is one adjustment we’ll have to make, because we don’t have too many bowlers in this country running around bowling 145kph plus. The boys are aware of that and have been doing some work on bowling machines etc. to simulate those conditions.”The new face in the New Zealand squad is the left-armer Trent Boult, who has turned heads in domestic cricket and will provide another swing bowling option to support Southee and Chris Martin at the Gabba if conditions are suitable.”[Trent is] the player who’s really stood out in the last two games, so his efforts in the first two games have earned him the opportunity,” Wright said. “I think a left-armer’s always handy, but he does swing the ball, and possibly that’s an area we’d like to exploit. The conditions in Brisbane sometimes suit swing bowling, but it does give you a different balance.”

Nawroz Mangal will lead Afghanistan against Australia in their one-off ODI in Sharjah on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Aug-2012Nawroz Mangal will lead Afghanistan against Australia in their one-off ODI in Sharjah on Saturday. Mangal, Afghanistan’s regular captain, had missed their previous international assignment – the Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League Championship matches against Ireland in July.Afghanistan squad for one-off ODI v Australia

Nawroz Mangal (capt), Mohammad Nabi (vice-capt), Mohammad Shahzad, Karim Sadiq, Javed Ahmadi, Asghar Stanikzai, Najibullah Zadran, Samiullah Shenwari, Gulbodin Naib, Dawlat Zadran, Shapoor Zadran, Noor Ali Zadran, Izatullah Dawlatzai, Rahmat Shah, Mohammad Sami

Mohammad Nabi has been named vice-captain, ahead of Karim Sadiq who stood in for Mangal in the Ireland games. The squad includes batsman Javed Ahmadi, who had captained Afghanistan Under-19s at the ongoing World Cup in Australia.The only player to miss out from the XI that played the World Cricket League Championship (the ICC’s 50-overs competition for Associates) game against Ireland, is left-arm spinner Hamza Hotak.The ODI against Australia will be Afghanistan’s second against a Full Member, following the game against Pakistan, also in Sharjah, in February. Australia are in the UAE for a limited-overs series against Pakistan, and Cricket Australia said that they had agreed to play the match against Afghanistan in an effort to assist with their cricketing development.

Jade Dernbach took 3 for 33 as Middlesex struggled to 225 for 9 on the opening day against Surrey

Alex Winter at Lord's12-Apr-2012
ScorecardJade Dernbach took three wickets as Middlesex’s batsmen struggled on a rain-affected day•PA PhotosAll seemed ordinary for the first day of a new season at Lord’s. The media centre was getting a lick of paint but, save the scaffolding, the ground was just how everyone had left it last September. Then the scorecards arrived.Lord’s had always produced top-pocket fitting scorecards, vaguely A5 size, for all matches until advertising demands saw the version for international matches increased to A4. But now, for the first time, the larger size is in place for Middlesex matches too, and the price increased by 30p.It was a top-level decision, inspired by demand from spectators for more space to write in the particulars of each innings. And despite more than an hour’s break for rain after lunch, scorecard-holders were busily scribbling as Surrey took control of the day’s play with five wickets for 43 during the middle session.Jade Dernbach took two of them. He is the marquee name of the attack but Rory Hamilton-Brown waited until his third change to introduce him. He was sporting a sleeve on his left forearm to protect his latest tattoo – a cherub playing a guitar – and bowled with pace and an immaculate line to get through six overs for 10 runs before lunch, trapping Chris Rogers lbw as he fell over a full inswinger.Following the extended lunch break, he sent down seven further overs before tea and conceded only 10 more. He produced an error from Neil Dexter who, in deciding to shoulder arms, got a bottom edge on to leg stump. Next ball another teasing delivery forced John Simpson to play and he edged to Gareth Batty at first slip.The double strike followed a wicket for Tim Linley, slightly unexpectedly playing in place of Stuart Meaker, who was looking forward to a Lord’s debut earlier in the week. Linley’s natural swing bowled Sam Robson driving across the line.It was a shame for Robson, who made impressive runs at Taunton last week and showed good temperament here to leave well – an important facet against an attack that was very consistent and produced movement throughout the day.Robson drove with measure, including the shot of the day down the ground off Chris Jordan, and also showed ability off the back foot – striking two boundaries off Linley’s first over into the grandstand fence. But a change to the Nursery end gave Linley his wicket and without Robson’s control, Middlesex were exposed in the afternoon, slumping to 129 for 7.They might have been shot out but for Dawid Malan, an attractive left-hander who cut well, was strong off his legs and showed the necessary patience. His 143-ball half-century gave Middlesex a batting point as he finally found a partner in Tim Murtagh. The pair batted carefully, enjoyed moments of fortune – being beaten outside off on several occasions – and added 53 in 18 overs before Murtagh missed a slog-sweep off Batty. There was also a Toby Roland-Jones cameo before he fell to Jordan with an over left in the day.But there was little else. Gareth Berg flashed across the line of a wickedly swinging full ball and lost his off stump to give Linley his other success, while Ollie Rayner became the fourth man on the card to be bowled. He fell to one that beat his bat off the pitch from Jon Lewis, who also wobbled the new ball via Joe Denly’s outside edge to Steve Davies for the first wicket of the day.

Ben Brown’s unbeaten 78 held up Yorkshire after the visiting seam attack had made good use of winning the tossing and bowling first

Paul Edwards at Hove11-Sep-2013
ScorecardBen Brown’s innings saved Sussex from complete disaster•Getty ImagesThere was a curious atmosphere of immediacy and timelessness at Hove on the first day of this game: immediacy because Yorkshire now lie second in the Division One table and clearly need a win this week; timelessness because this is the penultimate first-class match of the season at this ground and the pull of Hove’s rich history and famously varied architecture is made even more powerful by the arrival of autumn.The contrast remained in one’s mind throughout the day. Yorkshire’s attack mastered the conditions in the late morning and one was reminded that a brisk, skittish breeze and the ground’s slope to the sea were problems over which bowlers like Maurice Tate and Tony Buss also triumphed. Their successes, though, did not take Sussex to the title; that moment in time did not arrive until 2003. Yorkshire, meanwhile, had won their first County Championship in 1893 and hope to celebrate their sesquicentennial anniversary with their 31st outright crown.By close of play, Andrew Gale’s men had made good progress towards winning this game. An attack which, in professional parlance, is “always at you” had limited Sussex to 276 for 9, a very decent effort on a flat pitch. Weather permitting, Yorkshire’s powerful batting line-up will hope to build a significant first-innings lead on the next two days of this game.The main obstacle towards Yorkshire claiming an even more decisive advantage came in the shape of Ben Brown, whose sparkling 93 had been a highlight of his side’s innings win at Headingley back in April. Here, Brown combined with Steve Magoffin to add 74 runs for the eighth wicket, as Adam Lyth’s failure to take a straightforward slip catch off Steve Patterson’s bowling when the Sussex wicketkeeper-batsman had 14 to his name assumed greater importance with every over that passed.After a first hour of play in which the conditions had caused Gale’s attack to struggle, Yorkshire ended the morning session in a dominant position with Sussex on 117 for 5. That was remarkable given that the home side were 58 for 1 after 14.3 overs with both Chris Nash and Michael Yardy going well. But Liam Plunkett, the third bowler to be tried from the troublesome Sea End in the first hour, produced the ball of the day to account for Nash, who could be forgiven for not being able to cope with the movement and lift the former Durham seamer generated.From that point on Sussex’s batsmen contributed a little to their side’s demise, Yardy chopping a ball from Plunkett on to the stumps and Ed Joyce being bowled behind his legs by Sidebottom for just 3. Rory Hamilton-Brown, his attacking shots invariably more impressive than his defensive efforts, then whacked Kane Williamson’s gentle and deceptive offspin for two leg-side sixes before the last ball of the same over defeated him with oh-so-gentle turn.Conditions eased a little for bowling in the afternoon. The wind dropped, the atmosphere became a little heavier and the Yorkshire attack bowled rather straighter. Patterson tore out Matt Prior’s off pole two overs after the resumption, with a ball that defeated what looked a copybook forward defensive shot. Sussex debutant Ashar Zaidi, a well-travelled league professional who scored 192 not out and took six wickets for Sussex’s second team against Durham just last week, batted coolly, albeit for just 17, before being pinned on the crease by Sidebottom.That left the home side on 164 for 7 but Lyth’s lapse at slip and the good sense shown by Brown and Magoffin shifted the balance of the day quite markedly, as the weather closed in and September’s less-benevolent aspect enveloped the ground. Brown looked a good player in making 78 not out while Magoffin exhibited admirable good sense: if the ball was pitched up, he drove it; if it was short, he kept it out.Only when the Australian seamer chased a wide-ish one from Sidebottom two overs after tea did his technique let him down. By then, though, he had made 25 and helped to change the complexion of the day’s cricket. The last significant action took place in gathering gloom, when James Anyon was bowled by Williamson. Mark Benson and Steve O’Shaughnessy took the players off soon afterwards. We shall see how good Sussex’s eventual total is over the next couple of days, hoping the forecast rain escapes this tiny portion of the coast. For it can be on such matters of meteorology that titles are decided.

Shikhar Dhawan stroked his way to a breathtaking century, its 85-ball duration the swiftest ever by a Test debutant

The Report by Daniel Brettig16-Mar-2013
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsShikhar Dhawan’s century was the fastest by a Test debutant•BCCIShikhar Dhawan could possibly have been out before he had faced a ball in Test matches. The first delivery of the innings slipped out of Mitchell Starc’s hand and landed on the stumps with the debutant out of his ground at the non-striker’s end. There was no appeal, but if made it would have sent many running for the law book and coming back with varying interpretations of two laws: mankading and dead ball.Dhawan, though, felt he was out, and took full advantage of what he felt was Australian generosity with a breathtaking century, its 85-ball duration the swiftest ever by a Test debutant. By the close he was still there on a commanding 185, looking utterly impassable while gathering runs with the kind of rare ease that invoked memories of Mark Waugh’s debut against England at Adelaide Oval in 1991.*Australia’s tally of 408 had been swelled by Mitchell Starc’s 99, but it was made to look laughably puny by how Dhawan set about his task in the company of the neat and tidy M Vijay. They formed a beautifully balanced union that did not take long to become plainly disdainful of the visiting bowlers, and by the close it was comfortably India’s best opening stand against Australia.On the way to what was also the highest total by an Indian debutant, Dhawan’s stroke range was awe-inspiring, no fewer than 33 fours and two sixes streaming from his bat to all parts of the PCA ground. He was most savage through cover, piercing gaps no matter how many fielders Michael Clarke employed to patrol the region.In doing so, Dhawan laid waste to a touring attack that should have been feeling quite haughty about prolonging Australia’s innings on the third morning. The worst punishment was saved for Moises Henriques, Nathan Lyon and most of all Xavier Doherty, who in one over conceded an eye-popping 18, all to Dhawan’s impudent blade.Among the liberties taken in that over was a reverse sweep, conveying just how little Dhawan thought of the visiting spin bowlers. At the age of 27, Dhawan had been made to wait 81 first-class matches, 5679 runs and 16 centuries for this chance, coming in at the expense of Virender Sehwag. The flourish with which Dhawan took it was supreme, and indicated that India have not given up hope of forcing a victory over the remaining two days.Vijay meanwhile constructed another innings entirely suitable to the occasion, settling in quietly and safely in Dhawan’s slipstream but never becoming so tied down as to suggest the Australians had him covered. He too attacked the slow bowlers for a pair of sixes, and it was possible to imagine India have found an opening partnership to last for some time.Clarke exhausted all of the bowling options except his own, though this is at least partly to spare his problematic back. At no point were his bowlers able to deliver spells consistent enough to create pressure, despite the fact that both Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc extracted reverse swing and there was enough bounce and spin for Lyon, Doherty and Steven Smith.Most of all Australia missed James Pattinson, their most dangerous bowler in the first two Tests and an absentee here for punitive disciplinary reasons. Mitchell Johnson, another suspended bowler, has enjoyed success on this ground in the past, and it is difficult to imagine Clarke not wondering who else he might have called upon had team management not chosen to rule out four players for failing to follow the instructions of management.Only once did Dhawan give the ghost of a chance, a thick edge on 94 flying through the hands of Phillip Hughes in the gully from Peter Siddle’s bowling.The Australians might have had some inkling of how swiftly the runs might flow when India batted after watching their own tail wag furiously. Starc assembled a brave 99, Smith managed 92, and in all 157 runs were added for the final three wickets.For most of his innings Starc played nervelessly, hitting with power and pushing through gaps with finesse, while also defending when necessary. But he tightened up noticeably with one run to get for a hundred, beaten twice outside off stump by Ishant Sharma then edging an attempted drive behind after MS Dhoni brought the field in.In that moment Australia were denied their first centurion at No. 9 since Ray Lindwall in 1946-47, and a rare chance to feel a rush of shared jubilation on this tour. So even during a session in which India were dominated, the hosts still managed to deny the tourists a feeling of achievement.Smith’s innings reached a similarly flat conclusion after he had also played with great assurance at No. 5, demonstrating a steadier approach and straighter bat than he had shown in his earlier Test match appearances in 2010 and 2011. It was a chanceless innings, and took a practically perfect ball from Pragyan Ojha to dislodge him.*07.00pm GMT, March 16: The copy has been updated after reviewing the laws of the game.

Glenn McGrath, the former Australia fast bowler, will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on January 4, during the New Year’s Test between Australia and Sri Lanka in Sydney

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Dec-2012Glenn McGrath, the former Australia fast bowler, will be inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame on January 4, during the New Year’s Test between Australia and Sri Lanka in Sydney.McGrath is the 68th male cricketer to make it to the hall of fame, with Brian Lara, who was inducted in September 2012, being the last before him. Enid Bakewell, the former England Women’s allrounder, was also inducted this year. The ICC will announce a final inductee for 2012-13 next summer.”I am honoured that the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame voting academy, which includes all the current living Hall of Famers, have nominated and voted me to be inducted,” McGrath said. “I am very much looking forward to celebrating the occasion on January 4 at the SCG, which is of course is like a second home to me.”Glenn McGrath played 124 Tests, claiming 563 wickets at 21.64. That puts him second on Australia’s list of wicket-takers, behind Shane Warne, and fourth on the overall list – he has the biggest tally among all fast bowlers though. He also took 380 ODI wickets (plus one for the ICC World XI) in 249 games, the joint-highest for Australia alongside Brett Lee. He was part of Australia’s World Cup-winning teams in 1999, 2003 and 2007.