Pietersen century helps England win ODI series
Pietersen century helps England win ODI series REUTERS – Kevin Pietersen hit his first ODI century for more than three years to steer England to a nine-wicket win over Pakistan on Saturday to help them secure an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series. Chasing 223 for victory, England eased home with 12.4 overs to spare after Pietersen (111 not out) and captain Alastair Cook (80) shared an opening partnership of 170. Cook continued his excellent run with the bat, having made centuries in each of the first two matches in the series. Pietersen’s last one-day international century came against India in Cuttack in November 2008. “It was a great start,” said Cook. “It was nice to put a match-winning partnership together at the top of the order. “Our bowlers were outstanding too. To keep them down to 222 on that wicket was a fantastic effort.” Earlier, Steve Finn took three [...]
Gooch gets permanent job as England batting coach
Gooch gets permanent job as England batting coach LONDON (Reuters) – Former test captain Graham Gooch was appointed England‘s full-time batting coach on Saturday. The 58-year-old, who scored 8,900 runs in 118 tests for his country at an average of 42.58, has been working as a consultant batting coach for England since November 2009. “I am delighted to be taking on the role on a full-time basis,” Gooch told the England and Wales Cricket Board‘s website (www.ecb.co.uk). “I will now have the opportunity to spend a lot more time with the players and other coaches both in the build-up to series and during the series themselves.” Hugh Morris, England cricket‘s managing director, said the former opening batsman had a “huge amount to offer”. “Graham is an outstanding coach and is held in the highest regard by all those who work alongside him,” added Morris. (Writing by Tony Jimenez, editing by [...]
Gooch handed role as England batting coach
Gooch handed role as England batting coach London: Graham Gooch has been appointed England batting coach on a full-time basis, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Saturday. Gooch, 58, had been a consultant batting coach with England since November 2009 and will start the permanent role on March 5 when his team begins their preparations for the Test series against Sri Lanka. “I am delighted to be taking on the role of England batting coach on a full-time basis,” former England batsman Gooch said. “I will now have the opportunity to spend a lot more time with the players and other coaches both in the build-up to series and during the series themselves. “I firmly believe that with the talent we have at the moment within the batting unit and those pressing for places, we can continue to develop and improve as a side, which is a very [...]
Gooch handed role as England batting coach
Gooch handed role as England batting coach London: Graham Gooch has been appointed England batting coach on a full-time basis, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Saturday. Gooch, 58, had been a consultant batting coach with England since November 2009 and will start the permanent role on March 5 when his team begin their preparations for the Test series against Sri Lanka. “I am delighted to be taking on the role of England batting coach on a full-time basis,” former England batsman Gooch said. “I will now have the opportunity to spend a lot more time with the players and other coaches both in the build-up to series and during the series themselves. “I firmly believe that with the talent we have at the moment within the batting unit and those pressing for places, we can continue to develop and improve as a side, which is a [...]
Fabio Capello quits as England coach
Fabio Capello quits as England coach LONDON – Fabio Capello quit as England’s national team coach on Wednesday just four months before the European Championship, angry the Football Association removed John Terry as captain. The Italian, whose contract was due to expire after Euro 2012, walked out on the job after four years during an hour-long meeting with FA chairman David Bernstein and general secretary Alex Horne at Wembley Stadium. Bernstein publicly undermined Capello last week by not consulting him before taking the captain’s armband from Terry, who is facing a racism trial. Capello criticized the move on Italian television, insisting it was “absolutely” the wrong decision. “We have accepted Fabio’s resignation, agreeing this is the right decision,” Bernstein said. “We would like to thank Fabio for his work with the England team and wish him every success in the future.” The former Real Madrid and Juventus coach replaced Steve [...]
New York celebrates Super Bowl, New England suffers
New York celebrates Super Bowl, New England suffers Fans of the New York Giants celebrate their victory over the New England Patriots in Times Square following the Super Bowl XLVI football game in New York February 5, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Carlo Allegri By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK | Mon Feb 6, 2012 1:52pm EST NEW YORK (Reuters) – After a late night of Super Bowl celebrations, New Yorkers kept the party going on Monday following a Giants victory that fans said was made sweeter because it was over the exalted New England Patriots. Commemorative hats and T-shirts flew off the shelves at Modell’s Sporting Goods in Midtown Manhattan, while nearby a wax figure of Giants quarterback Eli Manning was a popular photo opportunity with fans outside Madame Tussauds. Thousands of fans were also expected to line the streets on Tuesday to welcome back the Giants with a ticker-tape parade through the [...]
New York celebrates Super Bowl, New England suffers
New York celebrates Super Bowl, New England suffers Fans of the New York Giants celebrate their victory over the New England Patriots in Times Square following the Super Bowl XLVI football game in New York February 5, 2012. Credit: Reuters/Carlo Allegri By Michelle Nichols NEW YORK | Mon Feb 6, 2012 1:52pm EST NEW YORK (Reuters) – After a late night of Super Bowl celebrations, New Yorkers kept the party going on Monday following a Giants victory that fans said was made sweeter because it was over the exalted New England Patriots. Commemorative hats and T-shirts flew off the shelves at Modell’s Sporting Goods in Midtown Manhattan, while nearby a wax figure of Giants quarterback Eli Manning was a popular photo opportunity with fans outside Madame Tussauds. Thousands of fans were also expected to line the streets on Tuesday to welcome back the Giants with a ticker-tape parade through the [...]
Monty blames himself for England defeat to Pak in Dubai
Monty blames himself for England defeat to Pak in Dubai Dubai, Jan.31 (ANI): Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar has balmed himself for England‘s second Test humbling by Pakistan. Panesar declared that people should “blame me” as the search for scapegoats continues after England was bowled out for 72 by Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. Panesar took 6-62 in Pakistan’s second dig. But he claimed he should have done better in the first innings after snaring one victim in 33 overs. The Sun quoted Panesar, as saying: “I was pleased with a solid performance in the second innings, but I would rather have taken no wickets and we’d won the match. “I want to contribute performances that help England win Tests. In the Pakistan first innings, Graeme Swann carried me,” Panesar added. “I should have taken wickets at a quicker rate. Thirty-three overs with one wicket possibly cost us the match and maybe [...]
Strauss admits England failings after Pakistan loss
Strauss admits England failings after Pakistan loss ABU DHABI (Reuters) – England captain Andrew Strauss admitted his team were not good enough after they were bowled out for 72 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday to give Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. England’s second innings total was their fifth-lowest of the past 50 years, and the world’s top-ranked test side were condemned to their first series defeat since 2009 having lost last week’s first test in Dubai by 10 wickets. “Individually, we haven’t been clear enough about our game plan against the spin, where are our scoring areas are and we’ve allowed pressure to build,” Strauss told reporters. “Each time a wicket falls it makes it harder for the next guy coming in. As a batting unit we have to hold our hands up and say we haven’t done well enough. No excuses, we need to be [...]
Live scores: England close in on victory against Pakistan
Live scores: England close in on victory against Pakistan Abu Dhabi: England were closing on a series-levelling win against Pakistan in the second Test after taking the stubborn wicket of Azhar Ali at Abu Dhabi Stadium in the morning session on Saturday. Scorecard: ENG Vs PAK » Ali hit a fighting 68 and added 88 for the fifth wicket with Asad Shafiq (43) before England took three wickets before lunch, leaving Pakistan under pressure at 198-7, a lead of 128 with only three wickets intact. Spin duo Abdul Rehman (10) and Saeed Ajmal (11) added an invaluable 26 runs for the unbroken eighth-wicket stand until the break. Pakistan lead the three-Test series 1-0 after winning last week`s first Test in Dubai by 10 wickets. The third and final Test starts in Dubai from February 3. Left-arm spinner and chief tormentor Monty Panesar got one to turn across Shafiq`s forward push [...]
