Kevin Pietersen quits international limited-overs cricket

Thursday, May 31, 2012

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has announced his retirement from international limited-overs cricket.

 

The 31-year-old, who made his debut in 2004, played 127 one-day internationals and 36 Twenty20 internationals. "I think it is the right time to step aside and let the next generation of players come through to gain experience for the World Cup in 2015," he said. "I still wish to be considered for selection for England in Test cricket." Pietersen, who was player of the tournament in England's World Twenty20 triumph in the Caribbean in 2010, had been expected to be at the forefront of the side again during this year's competition, which takes place in Sri Lanka from 18 September to 7 October. But it has emerged that the ECB does not allow players to pick and choose between ODI and Twenty20 formats. Pietersen said: "For the record, were the selection criteria not in place, I would have readily played for England in the upcoming ICC World Twenty20." Hugh Morris, managing director of England Cricket, said the ECB was disappointed with the timing of Pietersen's decision, coming four months before the World T20. "As the programming and planning for ODI and T20 format cricket are very closely linked, we have a selection policy that means that any player making himself unavailable for either of the one-day formats, rules himself out of consideration for both formats," he said.

"The selectors will now replace Kevin in both the ODI and the T20 squads. "Kevin is a world-class player and I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his efforts and we look forward to his continued contributions to the Test match side." Andrew Strauss was the last senior player to retire from ODI cricket, although he was not part of the Twenty20 set-up. In an interview with BBC Sport late last year, England spinner Graeme Swann said the 50-over international format should be scrapped. Pietersen said he had considered the "intensity of the international schedule and the increasing demands on my body, approaching 32". South Africa-born Pietersen, who has an English mother, has been one of the most successful England batsmen of recent times since he qualified to play international cricket by serving four years in the county game. His 4,184 one-day international runs at an average of 48.14, puts him sixth in the all-time list of England batsmen, and he heads their T20 list with 1,176 runs at 37.93, the only England player to pass four figures in the shortest form of the game. Pietersen's relationship with the ECB, which came under scrutiny when he as England captain in January 2009 following a rift with then coach Peter Moores, was tested again this month after he was fined for criticising commentator Nick Knight on Twitter.














31 May 2012 Last updated at 11:46
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18280196

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London 2012: Chris Adcock & Imogen Bankier win GB place

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier will represent Great Britain in the badminton mixed doubles at London 2012.

 

Their selection means there is no Olympics place for 2004 silver winners Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork. England's Rajiv Ouseph will represent Team GB in the men's singles and Scotland's Susan Egelstaff is picked in the women's singles. Selection for Team GB was determined solely by players' positions in the world rankings. England's Adcock and Scotland's Bankier have already tasted success in the Olympic venue, having won their 2011 World Championships silver at Wembley Arena. Adcock said: "After a tremendously hard year of qualification, when I received my selection letter to say that I would become an Olympian at the London 2012 Games, I was over the moon. "I had achieved one of my lifelong goals and, now that I have been selected to represent Team GB, my focus is to put myself in the best position possible to perform at my optimum level." Bankier added:

"I am absolutely delighted to become a member of the Team GB badminton team and I'm really looking forward to competing in front of a home crowd at Wembley Arena with the potential to hopefully bring home a medal." The announcement came on the 35th birthday of Robertson, whose achievement eight years ago came in partnership with Gail Emms. Ouseph is five-time English National Champion in men's singles and a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist. He learnt to play the game at his local club in Hounslow, close to the Olympic venue in Wembley. He added: "The Olympics is a once in a lifetime experience and I'm honoured to be representing Team GB in my home city of London. "Having grown up here, it's even more exciting to be competing in front of a home crowd and knowing you have great support on the door step." Egelstaff was picked ahead of Jersey's Elizabeth Cann in the women's singles. She is the most experienced member of the squad and won bronze at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.














30 May 2012 Last updated at 11:13
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18254908

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Liverpool renew interest in Swansea's Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool have renewed attempts to discuss their vacant managerial post with Swansea's Brendan Rodgers.

 

Owner John W Henry arrived on Merseyside on Tuesday to personally oversee the recruitment process. Having spoken to Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, Liverpool have gone back to Rodgers to discuss the position. Rodgers, 39, met Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins on Tuesday morning but the Welsh club insist the manager's future was not discussed. Martinez has yet to hear back from Liverpool, but Henry is understood to have been impressed with him when the pair met in Miami last week and was keen to speak to him a second time. Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has given Liverpool until Thursday to decide whether they will offer the Spaniard a contract. Swans boss Rodgers is open to negotiations having been assured he is a genuine contender, though no deal has yet been agreed at this stage. Liverpool have, however, spoken with representatives of Rodgers, to impress on the Northern Irishman just how highly they rate him. Rodgers, who secured the £7m record signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson earlier this week, will not walk away from Swansea lightly. It is understood Swansea would be expecting £5m in compensation if Rodgers was to depart for Liverpool. His commitment to the club is genuine but having turned Liverpool down 10 days ago because he feared becoming involved in a race with multiple candidates, he is now understood to be taking Liverpool's interest more seriously. The Northern Irishman's meeting with Swansea on Tuesday comes after he returned from a trip to the United States, where he watched Wales lose 2-0 against Mexico in New Jersey on Sunday. A day earlier, Swansea said they had not received any further contact from Liverpool, who are looking for a new manager after sacking Kenny Dalglish at the end of the season.

"We would like to confirm that there has been no contact from Liverpool and nothing has changed since our previous statement on the issue," said Swansea in a statement on their official website on Monday. Rodgers signed a new three-and-a-half-year contract with Swansea in February. It is understood that one of the clauses in that deal was a guarantee the Swans would recieve a compensation payment of between £4m and £5m should Rodgers leave for another club. Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez held talks with Liverpool's American owners in Miami last Thursday - although the suggestion from his chairman Dave Whelan that he had been offered a deal at Anfield appears to have been premature. Whelan revealed that further discussions would be held on Tuesday as Liverpool continue to examine all of their options as they move to replace sacked Kenny Dalglish. The Wigan chairman admits he would be happier if Rodgers was installed at the expense of Martinez and criticised Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for their handling of the recruitment process. "If it is true that Liverpool want to speak with Brendan Rodgers it proves they don't know who they want as manager," Whelan told ESPN. "I hope they choose Brendan Rodgers. "Roberto has told me he is speaking with Liverpool again on Tuesday. "I have now made it clear that I want this sorted out by Thursday at the latest as we have to get on preparing for next season." Former Ajax, Barcelona and Holland coach Louis van Gaal has emerged as a leading contender to fulfil a sporting director role at Liverpool as the club reshapes its management structure.











29 May 2012 Last updated at 19:58
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18235961

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RFL will hand out right punishment after brawl - Shaun Wane

Monday, May 28, 2012

Wigan coach Shaun Wane believes the Rugby Football League will hand out suitable punishments after a mass brawl marred their victory over St Helens.

 

Warriors' Gareth Hock and Chris Tuson, plus Saints' Shaun Magennis, were all shown red cards in Wigan's 42-16 win. "Whatever happens, we'll deal with it," Wane told BBC Sport. "The RFL will do the right thing and we'll deal with it. "We've got a lot of kids coming through that are chomping at the bit to get a game and this might be their chance." A disciplinary hearing on Tuesday is likely to determine any retrospective punishments for all three players, who were dismissed by on-field referee Ben Thaler after consultation with his two assistants. Forward Hock, who missed the final five matches of last season after being found guilty of gouging, could face a lengthy suspension if he is deemed to have been the main perpitrator. "If he's made a mistake, I'll be into him," added Wane. "I don't want to lose Gareth Hock. "He needs to be better and he has been better while he's been under me. He's no angel, but neither are St Helens and neither are we." Meanwhile, St Helens captain Paul Wellens has apologised to supporters after the club succumbed to defeat at the Etihad Stadium, their third loss to Wigan this season. Saints were blown away by five tries in a stunning opening 25 minutes from the Warriors, a start from which they never recovered. Wellens, who had the minor satisfaction of scoring his 200th try for the club in the closing stages, told BBC Radio Merseyside: "It's hugely disappointing. "Our supporters came here expecting a much better performance than what we've shown and we have to apologise to them. "We played well below what we're capable of and it's hard to take. We know that we have to improve."












28 May 2012 Last updated at 12:17
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/18235546

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World Cup Rowing: Three GB golds disappointing - Redgrave

Great Britain's rowers topped the medals table for the second successive World Cup meeting - but they could do better, according to Sir Steve Redgrave.

 

The five-time Olympic champion watched GB win three golds in Lucerne on Sunday, after taking four at the opening regatta in Belgrade. "Overall I'm slightly disappointed in the British team so far this year but my target is four gold medals this summer, and that is still possible," Redgrave told BBC Sport. "The women's pair and double scull look well on their game, the men's four are favourites with the Aussies snapping at their heels, and the men's lightweight double and lightweight coxless four still have great chances. All five of those boats could take gold on their day. "There are big questions around the men's sculling and the selection for the Games will be done before the next race, but I can't see a lot of changes being made. If I was going to criticise anything, it would be that the men's sculling group should have been sorted out earlier. "I know they had illnesses at key times and trials through the winter, but in Olympic year everything comes around very quickly, everyone's on their game, and you can't afford to be behind the game. We've let everyone have a little headstart. "Still, we've got spares who have won silver medals at the World Championships for the last two years. There are 14 categories of boats and they're not on the team; that shows you just how strong the squad is. "Three golds, one silver and one bronze is a great performance, the best of any nation in Lucerne - and yet I'm disappointed because our standards are so high. But I'd rather have that disappointment now than in the first four days of August."












28 May 2012 Last updated at 06:25
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18228655

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Rowing World Cup: GB men's four set world-best time

Friday, May 25, 2012

Great Britain's men's four made a powerful statement on day one of the World Cup event in Lucerne by setting a world-best time in qualifying.

 

Pete Reed, Andrew Triggs-Hodge, Tom James and Alex Gregory won their heat in five minutes 37.86 seconds. The GB four won the opening World Cup in Belgrade but face tougher opposition in Lucerne, with Australia also qualifying well on their 2012 debut. "We didn't set out to get the world record," James told GB Rowing. "The time is nice but it's about finding consistency." Lucerne is the last competition before GB's Olympic rowing squad is named on 6 June, and fast conditons led to a number of record marks being set on Friday. Crews from New Zealand, Australia, the USA and elsewhere are making their season's debuts in Switzerland after skipping Belgrade earlier this month, where Britain won four golds. Leading London hopes Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins won their heat in the women's double scull, while Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter made it through in second place in the lightweight men's double. Helen Glover and Heather Stanning followed up their victory in Belgrade by winning their heat of the women's pair by clear water to qualify for Saturday's semi-finals.

25 May 2012 Last updated at 12:19
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18151932

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Kevin Pietersen: Andrew Strauss calms Twitter row

England captain Andrew Strauss has tried to calm the Twitter row involving Kevin Pietersen.

 

Batsman Pietersen was fined an undisclosed sum by the England and Wales Cricket Board following criticism of commentator Nick Knight on Twitter. But Strauss hopes the fine has resolved the matter. "The Twitter thing is a difficult issue and there's a line to tread. As players there are certain things we can't comment on," Strauss said. "Sometimes we've got to be a bit economical with what we say." Strauss explained that the players' contracts restrict what they are allowed to say in public. "We have conditions of employment that don't allow us to talk about everything and anything," he explained. "We can't criticise the ICC, we can't criticise umpires and in this case the board wasn't happy with Kevin's comments with regard to our broadcaster. "That's their right as a board, so Kevin has obviously received a fine because of that. "You can understand that the board is concerned with making sure their sponsors and broadcasters are looked after. "That's the way of the world. If you sign an England contract you can have opinions on certain things but can't say them publicly.

That's the way it is and there are good reasons for that." England head into Friday's second Test at Trent Bridge hoping to build on their fine victory in the series opener at Lord's. They overcame West Indies by five wickets in an impressive start to the summer. But Strauss feels that the first Test showed that the visitors pose a signficant threat. "It's so easy to get carried away after winning a game," he said. "If Lord's taught us anything, it's that the West Indies are a side very much to be respected. If we do win, we'll deserve it because we'll have had to play some pretty good cricket. "No-one has a God-given right to win a Test match. It's about hard work and West Indies showed glimpses of being quite obdurate and difficult to dislodge at times. "We've just got another five days of very hard work ahead." England paceman Stuart Broad took 11 wickets in the first Test and is hoping conditions at Trent Bridge will give him even more help. "It's an exciting cricket wicket," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "If you bat well you can score 100, if you bowl well you can take wickets. It's a good battle between bat and ball. The outfield is so fast here you get great value for runs and you have to play great cricket to win Test matches here. "Lord's was particularly slow and was very hard to drag anyone into a false shot if they play disciplined. Trent Bridge plays a little quicker and tends to be a pretty true so I'm hoping for a bit of pace and bounce."













 24 May 2012 Last updated at 20:49
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18198258

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Heather Watson within one match of French Open main draw

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Heather Watson is one match away from the French Open main draw after beating Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in the second round of qualifying.

 

The British number three was 5-1 down in the tie-break, but swept through the next six points as Jabeur faltered. Watson won three games in a row from 3-3 in the second set and faces Italy's Anna Floris on Friday, aiming to qualify for the second straight year. Compatriot Laura Robson plays France's Laura Thorpe later on Thursday. Watson beat Frenchwoman Stephanie Foretz Gacon in the first round of the main draw last year, before slipping to defeat against Kaia Kanepi, the then-world number 16. The 20-year-old from Guernsey, currently ranked 109, will hope to at least match that run to protect her ranking position and hopes of qualifying directly for the Olympics. The world's top 56 players will make London's 2012 main draw automatically, but with a previso that there can be no more than four from one nation, it is expected that the cut-off will fall around the 70th ranking slot.










24 May 2012 Last updated at 13:13
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/18192457

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Roberto Martinez given Liverpool deadline by Wigan

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan is planning to set a deadline for Roberto Martinez to decide whether he will stay as boss.

 

Martinez has been given permission to speak with Liverpool about the vacant managerial position at Anfield. The Spaniard has also been linked with taking over at Aston Villa, the club he turned down last year. "Roberto will be in Barbados until next Tuesday, and I will then set a seven-day deadline by which time I will expect a decision," said Whelan. "I appreciate everyone is in limbo at the moment and there will come a time soon when we'll need an answer one way or the other. "It is dragging on a bit but I only care about one thing - that is the future of Wigan Athletic. Nothing else matters. "It's important we sort this out properly, one way or the other, so we can move forward in preparation for the new season." Liverpool are yet to formally begin the interview process for their managerial vacancy, created when Kenny Dalglish was sacked on 16 May. Whelan remains hopeful that Martinez will stay with the Latics, adding in the Wigan Evening Post: "I must stress that I am by no means resigned to losing Roberto to Liverpool or any other club. "It is not a foregone conclusion. Not at all. Hand on heart, I still believe Roberto will be here next season."









24 May 2012 Last updated at 12:43
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18191006

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Alec Stewart column: West Indies may struggle at Trent Bridge

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

England made a good start to their international summer with a pretty convincing win over West Indies at Lord's, but there were a couple of hiccups along the way that they will want to rectify, starting at Trent Bridge on Friday.

 

In the first innings, they had an opportunity to bat West Indies out of the game by posting a score in excess of 450. However, they failed to fully build on the platform laid down by Andrew Strauss's fine century and if West Indies had batted in their first innings anything like they did in their second, the game could have been even closer than it was. You can forgive both teams a little ring-rustiness with the bat, given the amount of rain we have had in the early part of the season, but too many players on both sides got starts and then failed to turn them into the big scores that really influence Test matches. Having said that, I expect England to be stronger at Trent Bridge, where they have won their last three Test matches - against India, Pakistan and New Zealand - by massive margins. The West Indies will find the going in Nottingham even tougher than they did at Lord's because the ground is renowned as a swing bowler's paradise and in James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan, England have three of the best in the business. Since the new Radcliffe Road Stand went up, it seems to swing more than it ever did and the lush outfield at the ground means the ball stays in a better condition to swing for longer.

 The Windies attack has plenty of pace but you wouldn't call them big swing bowlers, so conditions are likely to favour England heavily. The key to the match could be how the inexperienced West Indies batsmen handle the moving ball. We saw glimpses that both Adrian Barath and Darren Bravo are talented cricketers, and if they can learn from their Lord's examination it will stand them in good stead for the rest of their careers. Shivnarine Chanderpaul showed the rest of his team that if you occupy the crease and put a high price on your wicket it is possible to score big runs, and I thought Marlon Samuels supported him well in the second innings. They will need a few more to follow their lead if they are to get back into the series. England have announced the same squad for Trent Bridge and I don't expect a change to the final XI either. Bresnan may only have taken one wicket in the match but he bowled well enough and, with his ability to swing the ball, will have a big part to play in Nottingham. He has also now played 12 Test matches and won them all so I wouldn't even contemplate leaving the lucky mascot out. The Windies, on the other hand, have plenty of selection issues to consider. Ravi Rampaul should have recovered from his injury setback and is likely to replace Shannon Gabriel, who is flying home with a back injury after an impressive debut at Lord's, while the off-spinner Shane Shillingford would provide variety. The age-old issue of getting the right balance is the biggest problem any team faces when they don't possess a genuine all-rounder. I expect them to stick with four frontline bowlers.

The question is, which four? With Chris Gayle's Indian Premier League commitments now over, it will be interesting to see whether the selectors rush him straight into the team. He has had well-documented issues with West Indies cricket but has now resolved his differences and is available. Another player currently out of favour, and plying his trade with Leicestershire, is Ramnaresh Sarwan and after his excellent interview on Test Match Special it was obvious he still has a real desire to represent the Caribbean. On talent alone they would both strengthen the side but the West Indies Cricket Board has some big decisions to make. England's biggest dilemma is probably finding a way to dismiss the brilliant Chanderpaul and they will be studying plenty of footage of him between now and Friday. He has a very open, unorthodox stance, which has served him well over the years, but I still believe the best bet is to bowl full and straight at him. He is a prime candidate for leg-before as he hangs back and plays from the crease line. It does mean potentially giving away a few runs through mid-wicket or square leg but as he batted for more than 10 hours at Lord's for just once out, I would suggest it's worth a go. England need to come up with strategies for Chanderpaul and if Plan A doesn't work, try Plan B. If they end up at Plan Z, that's the time to panic!











 23 May 2012 Last updated at 06:57
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/18153830

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