Bailey to make Test debut against Eng
Sydney: George Bailey will make his Test debut in the opening Ashes clash against England next week while Mitchell Johnson returns to Australia’s pace attack, selectors said on Tuesday. Bailey got the nod in a 12-man squad on the back of his remarkable one-day international form including the recent tour to India where he amassed 478 runs at 95.60 while also serving as captain. “We have included George Bailey in this line-up and are excited by what he can offer at Test level,” national selector John Inverarity said of the 31-year-old, ahead of the first Test in Brisbane, starting on November 21. Johnson returns to the attack alongside Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle in the absence of the injured Mitchell Starc, with the 32-year-old left-armer set for his first Test since Australia’s loss to India in March. Squad: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon, James Faulkner. (AFP)
Nathan McCullum fires Kiwis to victory
HAMBANTOTA: Nathan McCullum smashed 22 runs off the final four balls to lift New Zealand to a thrilling four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the rain-hit second one-day international in Hambantota on Tuesday. The Black Caps, set a revised Duckworth-Lewis target of 198 in 23 overs, replied with 203-6 as McCullum hit spinner Rangana Herath for three sixes and a four to seal a last-ball win. The victory was set up by a superb 86 off 68 balls from opener Tom Latham and a quickfire 49 by Luke Ronchi. McCullum then steered the Black Caps home with an unbeaten 32 off nine balls. Latham’s knock contained 12 boundaries and a six, while Ronchi hit seven fours and a six. Earlier, Sri Lanka made 138-1 from 23 overs in between a rain interruption of more than four hours. Latham was declared the Man-of-the-Match (AFP)
Rookie set to replace Perez at McLaren
LONDON: McLaren are set to replace Mexican Sergio Perez with Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen for next season, media reports said on Monday. Sources close to the Formula One team indicated the reports were accurate. A McLaren spokesman said no deal had been signed with any driver for 2014, other than 2009 world champion Jenson Button. Magnussen, 21, is the son of former McLaren and Stewart grand prix driver Jan Magnussen and won the Formula Renault 3.5 series this year. The BBC and autosport.com websites both reported McLaren had decided to give Magnussen the drive. Team principal Martin Whitmarsh earlier told reporters that talks were still ongoing for the second seat at the former championship-winning team. If Magnussen is confirmed in the seat, he will be McLaren’s first rookie driver since Britain’s Lewis Hamilton made a sensational debut in 2007. He won the title the following season. Perez joined McLaren from Sauber at the end of last season after Hamilton left for Mercedes and has struggled with an uncompetitive car. (Reuters)
Anand ‘scares’ Carlsen in 3rd drawn game
Chennai: Defending champion Viswanathan Anand gave his Norwegian challenger Magnus Carlsen a scare on Tuesday despite playing with black pieces even though the third game of the World Chess Championship clash ended in a long-grinding draw here. The third game turned out to be a hard fought affair lasting 51 moves after a rather sedate start that had seen the first two games ending in draws without any real excitement. Midway into the third game, Anand appeared to have seized the initiative with some ‘spot on’ manoeuvres, but world number one Carlsen saved the situation with his counter play. Later at the post-game conference, Carlsen conceded that he felt “scary” though he averted the danger. “I was worse, and then I probably made it more worse. I missed some simple things in the middle game, may be I had enough play and it was not a disaster but it was scary,” Carlsen said. The scores stand at 1.5 points for both players and the five-time champion Anand will have the advantage of playing with white pieces in the fourth game on Wednesday. (PTI)