England beat Pakistan in fourth one-dayer in Dubai

Posted on February 21, 2012 by adminsports

Pietersen the hero as England complete whitewash with four-wicket win over Pakistan

Kevin Pietersen's second successive one-day international hundred carried England to a four-wicket victory, and 4-0 series whitewash of Pakistan.

Pietersen (130), without an ODI century for more than three years before his unbeaten 111 three days ago, repeated the dose for a career-best in another run chase under lights.

The outcome was in doubt for much longer this time, after a rare failure from Alastair Cook immediately put England's pursuit of 237 all out on the back foot.

Big hitter: Pietersen scored another valuable ton for England

Pakistan v England

Click here for the full scorecard

But Pietersen appeared in control
throughout in a 153-ball innings, which contained 12 fours and two
sixes, as England got the job done with four balls to spare at the Dubai
International Cricket Stadium.

He established a scoring rate that
kept England ahead of the game, even from a precarious 68 for four after
16 overs, to the extent that Pietersen and Craig Kieswetter's
fifth-wicket stand of 109 did not have to feature undue risks against
Pakistan's spinners.

The whitewash, England's first against
Pakistan for 25 years, was compensation of sorts for the 3-0 Test
series drubbing these opponents inflicted on them here this winter.

It will not be enough for a rankings rise from fifth in the International Cricket Council table.

But there was still reason for
satisfaction, as Pietersen and Kieswetter kept England on track after
Jade Dernbach's four for 45 had helped to restrict Pakistan.

England lost captain Cook to the
second ball of the innings, lbw to Junaid Khan after DRS overturned an
initial not-out verdict to a quick and full ball.

Four of the best: Dernbach was England's top wicket taker

Cook, on the back of two hundreds and an 80 in his last three attempts, began with a square-cut for four first ball.

But with him gone, Pietersen soon lost
Jonathan Trott too, to an attempted paddle-pull at Abdur Rehman which
looped into the leg side for a simple catch.

Eoin Morgan was lbw sweeping at Saeed
Ajmal (three for 62), and debutant Jos Buttler fell to the off-spinner
for a second-ball duck – caught at short-leg off the shoulder of a
defensive bat.

Pietersen and Kieswetter kept their
nerve, though, and demonstrated plenty of skill too against a
spin-dominated attack on a used pitch.

Pietersen's one significant scrape
came when he had to resort to DRS to disprove another lbw verdict, this
time on the basis that – albeit playing a hapless and uncomfortable
sweep at Rehman – he had achieved the basic prerequisite of positioning
his front pad outside the line of off-stump on impact.

Little went right, in fact, for
Pakistan as their fielding let them down again – and England's two South
Africa-born batsmen swept and drove them to shreds.

After Kieswetter was run out,
scampering back in vain from a faulty attempt at a single, Pietersen
muscled some crucial pulls too in a stand of 59 with Samit Patel until
he was last out – chipping Ajmal to point with only two runs needed.

Cut down: Shafiq (65) top scored for Pakistan but his innings was ended by Bresnan (above)

Asad Shafiq (65) and Azhar Ali (58)
had earlier ensured Pakistan recovered from their own early setback, the
dismissal of opener Mohammad Hafeez with just one run on the board
after Misbah-ul-Haq had won the toss.

Dernbach struck with only his second
delivery, finding the edge to see off Hafeez caught behind, and took two
tail-end wickets in his last three balls as England bowled Pakistan out
for the fourth successive time.

Yet Shafiq and Azhar soon found boundaries, and strike rotation, easy in a partnership of 111.

The second-wicket pair shared 11 fours in a passage of play interrupted only when Shafiq chopped on, trying to cut Tim Bresnan.

That was the fit-again Yorkshire
seamer's first international wicket of 2012, and debutant Danny Briggs
had the first of his career when Umar Akmal mistimed straight to
long-off.

Dernbach was the catcher, and was soon
back in the last column too – with a good delivery which held its line
off the pitch and saw Azhar squirt a thick edge to the diving Morgan at
point.

Pakistan had to rebuild again, and in new batsmen Misbah and Shoaib Malik they had the wise heads to do just that.

Return: The two teams will now play a three-match Twenty20 series, starting in Dubai on Thursday

When Misbah clipped Patel past
midwicket, it was for Pakistan's first four in 50 balls. But he and
Shoaib still gathered a run-a-ball momentum, and Misbah went up the
wicket to hoist Patel over long-on for six to bring up the 200 in the
43rd over.

Briggs proved the merit of his tight
lines and full length when he had Shoaib lbw sweeping, to end a stand of
58, and England had the best of the last 10 overs – which included six
wickets and just 58 runs.

Maeanwhile, Patel was playing his ninth
ODI of the winter, and therefore earned an England and Wales Cricket
Board increment contract.

KP-easy does it! Kevin Pietersen comes good with swashbuckling century as England set up whitewash in Dubai

Posted on February 18, 2012 by adminsports

KP-easy does it! Pietersen comes good with swashbuckling century as England set up whitewash in Dubai

England continued their remarkable one-day renaissance in Dubai with a crushing, nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third one-day international, as Kevin Pietersen hit back at his critics with an excellent century.

The victory, England's third in a row, means they take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the four game series.

The usual suspects were at the fore once again, with Steven Finn and Stuart Broad taking three wickets each as Pakistan were dismissed for 222, while captain Alastair Cook scored a classy 80 to add to centuries in both of his last two matches. But the real story was Pietersen's return to form.

More to follow…

Got it: Kevin Pietersen celebrates his century

Scorecard

Click here for the scorecard from Dubai

Back in business: England's Kevin Pietersen answered his critics in Dubai

Captain marvel: Alastair Cook scored a confident 80

On the money: Steven Finn celebrates the wicket of Imran Farhat

Golden by: Stuart Broad celebrates the wicket of Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq

Hunting in a pack: Steven Finn celebrates dismissing Mohammad Hafeez with James Anderson (left)

Boom Boom: Pakistan's Shahid Afridi offered strong resistance with a solid 51

Shot!: Kevin Pietersen hits a boundary

Kevin Pietersen confident of scoring more runs for England

Posted on February 17, 2012 by adminsports

KP hopes to follow captain Cook by getting in on the runs

Kevin Pietersen is confident he and others can take their lead from captain Alastair Cook's scintillating form, in the remainder of England's one-day international series against Pakistan.

Pietersen shared two half-century stands with Cook as England went 2-0 up in Abu Dhabi, with just two more matches to play in Dubai – starting on Saturday.

He has not, however, convinced on his return to the opener's role – contributing 14 and 26 to the two victories, in which Cook has made back-to-back hundreds.

Looking to improve: Kevin Pietersen has failed to impress as an opener

It is heartening for England to have taken control of the ODI series to date, following their unexpected 3-0 Test whitewash against Pakistan here.

'It's been a really good turnaround after the Test matches,' said Pietersen.
'The team have done really well.

'Cook and Ravi (Bopara) have done a brilliant job, and [fast bowler] Steven Finn has been remarkable.

'Cooky's such a good player, who is fulfilling his role in the team really, really well.

'You can't complain when you get two hundreds in successive games.'
England's initial practice plans were blown off course at the ICC's GCA ground today, by what some described as Dubai's worst sandstorm in at least six years.

In good form: Alastair Cook has been in the runs during the One Day series

But irrespective of available net time, Pietersen made it clear there are no doubts in the ranks that he and the rest of the batsmen are well capable of pulling their weight soon too.

It is part of coach Andy Flower's teaching that even the best players come in and out of form, and the key is that England have the talent to be sure that enough batsmen and bowlers are making runs and taking wickets all the time – even when some of their team-mates are not.

Frustration: Pietersen throws his bat in the air after being dismissed by Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal

'Andy's a great believer, and the team realise, that not every single person in the team is always going to be on form – and a few of us haven't been in the best of nick,” added Pietersen.

'But dovetailing is a word Andy has used a lot over the last few years, since he's come into the job – and you need that.

Practice makes perfect: Pietersen during an England nets session

'That's why we've done so well.

'We were fortunate to have a lot of players in a lot of good form over the last 18 months, and then quite a few who have struggled on this trip.

'But the dovetailing in the one-day team has certainly been there, and it's proven by the way we've played in the last couple of games.'

Alastair Cook targets England Twenty20 squad

Posted on February 17, 2012 by adminsports

Cook wants to try his recipe for success in the Twenty20s

Alastair Cook narrowed his eyes and
addressed the question of whether he was a throwback, an old-fashioned,
technically correct batsman almost too orthodox in an impatient,
innovative world.

'I will just have to learn some new
shots,' he said with the steely, almost suspicious glare he reserves for
inquisitors. 'If cricket changes and Twenty20 becomes the predominant
form of the game, I will react to that.'

In form: England captain Alastair Cook has scored back-to-back hundreds

That comment was made to me almost four years ago when Cook was struggling to come to terms with not just Twenty20 cricket but also the one-day format at the highest level.

Concerns over his ability to adapt led to his exile from international limited-overs matches once Andrew Strauss returned to become captain.

How different things are now. Those determined words from Cook in 2008, which I worried he might not be able to back up, have been vindicated by two of the most significant innings of even his extraordinary career. Not only has he proved he can play one-day cricket but he can do it in conditions that far from suit him.

Back-to-back hundreds here, the first in one-day international cricket by an England captain, have removed any doubts over his ability.

'I think the change happened after I played my first 20 odd one-day games for England,' said Cook after inspiring his side to an unassailable 2-0 lead over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. 'I knew that if I wanted to play one-day cricket for England I would have to improve, I would quite simply have to score quicker.

Style guide: Orthodox Cook has vowed to expand his game

'That's what I went back to working on with Graham Gooch and the Essex boys and the experience I got at Essex was invaluable. Playing Twenty20 cricket forced me to expand and made me realise what I could do. Then I tried to take that to one-day cricket.'

Cook's next challenges are to develop as a captain – tactically, he is a work in progress but, crucially, the players are behind him – and perhaps to reach the goal that not too long ago seemed the most unlikely of all. A Twenty20 place.

'I'd love to be in the Twenty20 side but it's a totally different format,' said Cook. 'They've picked the squad for the games here and they've had a lot of success as a squad. I'm not in it at the moment but all I can do is try to score runs if I get a chance to play Twenty20.'

After all he has achieved, it would take a brave man to suggest Cook will not pull that one off as well in the not too distant future.

Rangers boss Ally McCoist: "We don"t do walking away"

Posted on February 17, 2012 by adminsports

McCoist rallying call! 'We don’t do walking away' as Rangers crisis grows

A defiant Ally McCoist issued a
rallying cry in the midst of the Ibrox insolvency crisis, quashing all
talk of quitting by declaring: 'This is my club, the same as it is for
thousands and thousands of Rangers supporters, and we don't do walking
away.'

But the manager will soon be forced
to push players out of Murray Park, with administrators Duff &
Phelps revealing that McCoist will be involved in deciding who gets axed
once the cost-cutting starts.

Defiant: Rangers boss Ally McCoist

McCoist's crowd-pleasing one-liner came at the end of a day when:

Strathclyde Police confirmed they had been asked to investigate the 'ongoing situation' at Rangers.

Former Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston asked the Crown Office to investigate Craig Whyte's acquisition of the club.

It was revealed that the 24million borrowed against future season-ticket revenue from Ticketus hadn't gone into the club's accounts.

It was confirmed that 9m in PAYE and VAT had been collected but not forwarded to HMRC during Whyte's nine months at the helm.

The administrators met with McCoist and his players to warn them that some will be ousted in the weeks ahead.

They warned that they can't guarantee Rangers will come out of administration in time to play in Europe next season.

Question time: Administrator Paul Clark faces the media at Ibrox

McCoist, who insisted he hadn't been asked to identify players to be ditched, said: 'We had a very constructive and positive meeting with Paul Clark from Duff & Phelps this morning, for well over an hour.

'He then spoke to the playing staff, medical staff and coaching staff. He then did his level best to answer questions put to him by players and some of the staff. So I would have to say it was a very constructive day.

'To be fair to Paul, he didn't say it (player redundancies) was inevitable, he said it was a possibility. So I am still a little bit in the dark.

'We have to keep going. We are in a position in this moment in time when it (Rangers) is as low as it has been – possibly ever.

'We have to put our trust and our faith in getting the club to a better place in the future.

Craig Whyte: Administrators are trying to 'understand' loan

'There is no doubt the club is at a low ebb, everyone can see that. 'We all have to believe and have faith and go forward. We will do that and the club will come out the other end. 'Without doubt, that is the most important thing.'

Clark said he wouldn't be looking to dictate which players have their contracts ripped up, insisting: 'We had a good, productive meeting with Ally this morning.

'It was apparent that we're able to work together to find the right solution.

'He and I have agreed that we'll speak on a regular basis and meet as regularly as we need to.

'So, from that, you can assume Ally will be involved and will be discussing any changes in the playing staff.

'This morning, I informed them of the process we are now engaged with.

'I told them that a review of staffing – including playing staff – would be necessary as part of the process and would inform them of developments as soon as possible. 'It will be next week, at least, before there are any decisions taken in this area.

'I am not going to speculate on what this review may entail and clearly it is right and proper that staff will be informed first.'

Alastair Cook provides a lesson for England"s batsmen – Nasser Hussain

Posted on February 14, 2012 by adminsports

Fast-learner Cook provides a lesson for England's batsmen

This was an impressive statement from Alastair Cook.

There are still those who question his place in the England one-day side, so to play the way he did to score the first hundred of this tour was exceptional.

Cook is not a natural one-day player but that is partly because he has been centrally contracted to England for the bulk of his career and has not played much one-day cricket for Essex.

Leading from the front: England captain Alastair Cook hit 137 in Abu Dhabi

Rangers head towards administration

Posted on February 13, 2012 by adminsports

Meltdown: Rangers crisis deepens as SPL champions edge closer to dreaded administration

SPL giants Rangers have lodged administration notice at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

It is believed the Ibrox club now has five days in which to declare formally that administrators have taken over the running of the club.

The firm prospect of administration, which would bring a 10-point penalty from the Scottish Premier League, will come as no surprise to Rangers fans or the rest of Scottish football.

Troubled times: Rangers have had a miserable start to 2012

The Ibrox club are awaiting the verdict of a tax tribunal which could cost club around 49million.

The HMRC case centres around the use of employee benefits trusts (EBTs) which were in place before Craig Whyte took over from Sir David Murray last May.

The tribunal verdict is imminent but it looks like the Ibrox club have pre-empted any decision.

Whyte, who bought Murray's shares for 1 and pledged to pay off 18million of debt to Lloyds Banking Group, has seen his short tenure shrouded in controversy.

Last week former Rangers chairman Alastair Johnston revealed he had asked the Government's Insolvency Service to clarify 'certain financial arrangements' relating to the takeover of the club.

Whyte had earlier admitted securing funds from loan company Ticketus in lieu of future season ticket sales.

Johnston told the BBC: 'Rangers' stakeholders are now demanding full transparency.

'I have had numerous approaches following the recent revelations in the press about the acquisition of Rangers Football Club and the use of future season ticket money.

Up against it: Gers boss Ally McCoist has watched Celtic take over in the title race

'I am not in a position to answer all the questions put to me, but I do recognise the issue is causing much concern.

'I believe this is a prevalent view amongst Rangers' stakeholders who are now demanding full transparency about the funding of the acquisition of the club, its current financial status, and most importantly, the way forward.'

A Scottish Premier League spokesman
confirmed that a 10-point deduction and a transfer embargo would only be
put in place when administration was confirmed.

The spokesman said: 'At this point in time Rangers are not in administration and we await developments.

'The
instant that they are technically in administration there will be an
automatic 10-point deduction and, perhaps of less relevance, an embargo
on player registrations.

At the helm: Rangers chairman Craig Whyte took over from David Murray in May last year

'If administration is confirmed, as we have done previously, we would be looking to work with the administrators and would be looking for a very early meeting.'

Rangers announced they had agreed a deal to sign Gabon striker Daniel Cousin just as news emerged from the court.

The court confirmed that solicitors lodged the papers on behalf of the club's directors today.

The paperwork officially confirms the club's 'intention to appoint an administrator'.

Rangers last month saw trading in their shares suspended by the PLUS Stock Exchange over their failure to submit independently audited accounts by the end of last year.

The club have also yet to hold an AGM as required by the end of December.

Whyte told fans the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the tax case was the reason for the delay.

The stock exchange and Scottish Football Association also asked for clarity over Whyte's admission that he had been disqualified as a director for seven years from 2000.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell claims the rest of Scottish football could also survive without the Ibrox club.

Fighting talk: Celtic chief has said the SPL would survive without Rangers

'The way we would look at is we don't need Rangers,' he said. 'We have a strategy that we have embarked on, that's independent of Rangers or any other club in Scotland.

'We have a vision, horizons and aspirations which are in Scotland and beyond that, in terms of European progression. So that's what we are focusing on.

'In terms of Rangers' situation at the moment, nobody really knows what the facts are. I think it is inappropriate for us to comment on it. We are getting on with it, we are independent in terms of where we want to take the club and that's what we will continue to do.

'These are challenging times at the moment and we have to face them. There is a lot of big thinking to go on. In term of ourselves, we have set out a strategy which is now beginning to produce for us.

'Five years ago we said that we could no longer compete at the highest level, we could no longer attract the Premier League players that we had done, so we invested a lot of money in our recruitment and academy and creating, hopefully, a centre of excellence with the tentacles going far and wide.

'Identifying uncut diamonds, bringing them here, developing them and putting them in the team. We are beginning to see that with the strength and the value of the squad and the academy kids who are pushing to come through. So that is satisfying.'

Asked if Scottish football could survive and thrive without Rangers, Lawwell replied: 'If people take some clues from what we are doing, then why not Again, I think it needs big thinkers. It needs people to think outside the box.

Rangers later released a lengthy statement revealing it could be 10 working days before a decision is made whether to proceed with the appointment of administrators.

RANGERS STATEMENT:

The Rangers Football Club plc has today announced it has filed a notice of intention to the Court of Session in Edinburgh to appoint administrators.

The Club will conduct its business as usual and will not be in administration until it decides whether to formally proceed with an application to appoint administrators.

Until such time, the Club will not face any sanction from the football authorities in terms of points deduction within the Scottish Premier League.

Sanctions such as a 10-point deduction will only apply if the Club proceeds with the appointment of administrators. It is expected to be 10 working days before a decision is made whether to appoint administrators.

Suppliers to Rangers Football Club and the Club's business partners and sponsors are currently being informed of today's announcement and arrangements between the Club, suppliers and creditors will continue as normal.

There will be no impact on season ticket holders and shareholders. Season tickets will continue to be valid for this season and any commitment to a season ticket for next season is secure.

The Club is continuing to have dialogue with HMRC in the hope that a formal insolvency procedure can be averted and has put forward pragmatic proposals.

The Club's owners believe there is no 'realistic or practical' alternative to this course of action in order to secure the long-term future of the Club.

Should administration take effect, the Club is proposing a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA). The Club wishes to seek the protection of a moratorium from HMRC action whilst a CVA proposal is made to creditors. The Club has put forward a CVA proposal to HMRC in which creditors would be paid and provision made for the legacy HMRC case, commonly known as the 'big tax' case.

This, if approved by creditors within a month, would minimise any points deduction and enable the club to participate in European football next season.

The Club has engaged Duff and Phelps, a specialist restructuring practice, to assist in finding a solution to the present position.

Should the Club proceed into administration, the appointed administrators will in all likelihood implement a cost-cutting programme and staffing levels will be reviewed across all departments of the Club's business.

Rangers chairman Craig Whyte said there is no 'realistic or practical' alternative to this course of action due to a combination of the Club's ongoing financial situation and the impending result of the HMRC first tier tax tribunal. The tribunal relates to a claim by HMRC for unpaid taxes over a period of several years dating back to 2001, which, if decided in favour of HMRC, could result in liabilities and penalties substantially more than the 50 million reported which the Club would be unable to pay.

Further investment in the Club from any source would be impossible as the threat of winding up by HMRC cannot be removed. The Rangers FC Group, the majority shareholder in the Club, is prepared to provide further funding for the Club on the basis the funding is ring-fenced from the legacy HMRC issue.

Mr Whyte said: 'It is extremely disappointing the Club's finds itself in this position but decisions have to be taken to safeguard the long-term survival and prosperity of the Club both on and off the field. The harsh reality is that this moment has been a long time coming for Rangers and its roots lie in decisions taken many years ago. If we do not take action now the consequences and the risks to the Club are too great.

'In addition to the HMRC issues, it has been abundantly clear to me the Club faces serious structural and financial issues which will continue unless they are addressed.

'There is no realistic or practical alternative to our approach as HMRC has made it plain to the Club that should we be successful in the forthcoming tax tribunal decision, they will 'appeal, appeal and appeal again' the decision. This would leave the Club facing years of uncertainty and also having to pay immediately a range of liabilities to HMRC. Even if the Club were to succeed in the tax tribunal, it would still face substantial liabilities. Zero liability will not happen.

'Whilst it appears that a consensual restructuring looks unlikely outside of a formal insolvency procedure, the above steps, if agreement cannot be reached with HMRC, will bring an end to the legacy threat of closure and will provide stability required to enable the required investment to be made into the future of the Club.

'I can, however, reassure Rangers supporters that the Club will continue and can emerge as a stronger and financially fitter organisation that will compete at the levels of competition our fans have come to expect.

'At this point I would ask all Rangers supporters to continue to show the tremendous support they have shown to the Club, Ally McCoist, his management team and the players.'

England beat Pakistan in first ODI

Posted on February 13, 2012 by adminsports

Cook crushes Pakistan as England win ODI series opener in Abu Dhabi

England have beaten Pakistan by 130 runs in the first ODI.

Alastair Cook smashed a career-best 137 and Ravi Bopara hit 50 as England set Pakistan a target of 261 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Steven Finn took four wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for 130 to give England the early advantage in the four-match series.

Full report to follow….

On fire: Alastair Cook celebrates reaching three figures in Abu Dhabi

All smiles: Steven Finn is congratulated by Kevin Pietersen after taking the wicket of Asad Shafiq

Pakistan v England

Click here for the full scorecard

Rangers go into administration

Posted on February 13, 2012 by adminsports

Rangers crisis deepens as SPL champions make move towards administration