Navy SC leads the points table earning 32.885 in the ongoing cricket Major League Tier B wile Pamadura SC (28.955) and Police SC (28.870) standing at second and third place respectively. 

Sydney: Pace spearhead Mitchell Starc is in line to return to Australia’s bowling line-up with second spinner Ashton Agar unlikely to play in Thursday’s final Ashes Test against England.

Captain Steve Smith said Starc was “ready to go” after bowling this week in the nets after missing the drawn fourth Melbourne Test with a bruised heel.

“Starcy has pulled up pretty well this morning and he says he’s ready to go. I guess that’s a good indication,” Smith told reporters on Wednesday.

Agar’s chances of playing in his fifth Test, bowling in spin tandem with Nathan Lyon, have also been downgraded with extra grass on the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch.

“The wicket’s got a fair bit of grass and looks to be a pretty good wicket,” Smith said.

“I’d say we’ll probably opt for just the one spinner. Nathan’s done a terrific job throughout this series and I’d say we’ll go down that route.”

Australia have already clinched the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series ahead of the Sydney finale.

Left-armer Starc is the leading wicket-taker in the series with 19 despite only playing three Tests and will boost Australia’s pace attack after he missed out in Melbourne, giving way to Jackson Bird who went wicketless.

Smith, who has dominated the series with three centuries in his tally of 604 runs in six innings at an astonishing average of 151, has been troubled this week by a sore back, but said he will play.

“A little bit stiff but nothing I haven’t dealt with before,” Smith said.

“I’ll have a good hit today, a catch, and I’ll be fine tomorrow.”

Smith has spent more than 31 hours at the batting crease against England in this series, becoming Australia’s first captain to score 600 or more runs in an Ashes campaign since Don Bradman. The 604 runs Smith has scored is the fourth-most by a captain in an Ashes series, with the 810 Bradman scored in 1936-37 the high mark.

Another century in Sydney will see him join Bradman, Herbert Sutcliffe and Wally Hammond as the only men to score four hundreds in the same Ashes series. The Australia skipper averages 63.55 in his 60 Tests which places him only behind Bradman’s pinnacle of 99.94. AFP

Teams (probable):

Australia - David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.

England - Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (capt), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Mason Crane, James Anderson. 

The International Cricket Council yesterday announced the umpire and match referee appointments for theICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2018, which will be staged in New Zealand from 13 January to 3 February.

The Windies will be looking to defend their title and emulate Pakistan, who won consecutive titles in 2004 and 2006. Australia and India have won the title three times each while England and South Africa are the other teams to have won the tournament, which replicates a major tournament experience in terms of organization and playing facilities.

The other teams participating in the 16-team tournament are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ireland, Kenya, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

The team have been divided in groups of four each. The top two sides from each group will advance to the Super League while the remaining eight teams will figure in the Plate Championship. The preliminary round matches will be followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, plus the play-offs.

The 12th edition of the tournament will see 14 members of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires officiating in the tournament - Robert Bailey, Gregory Brathwaite, Anil Chaudhary, Nigel Duguid, Shaun George, Shaun Haig, Mark Hawthorne, Ranmore Martinesz, C.K. Nandan, Ahsan Raza, Shozab Raza, Timothy Robert Robinson, Langton Rusere and Paul Wilson.

Apart from them, David Odhiambo, Buddhi Pradhan and Ian Ramage from the ICC Development Panel will also be officiating in the tournament.

Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees, and Devdas Govindjee and David Jukes of the International Panel of ICC Match Referees, will also be officiating in the tournament.

Shaun George and Ahsan Raza will be the on-field umpires for the match between defending champions the Windies and hosts New Zealand on the opening day at the Bay Oval in Tauranga while Robert Bailey will be the TV umpire and Timothy Robinson the fourth umpire. David Jukes has been appointed as the match referee for this match.

Umpire and match referee appointments for the knockout stages will be announced after the teams have been confirmed.

SYDNEY: England leg spinner Mason Crane will make his debut in the fifth and final Ashes test against Australia this week after all-rounder Chris Woakes was ruled out of the match by injury, captain Joe Root said on Wednesday.

Woakes missed a significant part of England’s home season after straining his side in the opening match of last year’s Champions Trophy and pulled up sore after the fourth test in Melbourne last week.

The 27-year-old’s enforced absence will be the only change to Root’s side for the test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), which starts on Thursday.

“He’s obviously an integral significant member of both the white ball and test team and it’s important he’s not out for a long time like he was last summer,” Root told reporters.

“He’s going to miss this week and it’s a great opportunity for Mason to come in and make his debut.”

Woakes’s injury has probably resulted in a reprieve for out-of-form all-rounder Moeen Ali, who had been expected to make way for 20-year-old Crane.

England have already handed back the Ashes after losing the first three tests of the series but Root has made it clear the tourists would not be handing out test caps in Sydney willy nilly, as they did at the end of the 2013-14 whitewash.

Crane, who played at the SCG for New South Wales last year during a highly successful stint with the Gordon club, will become the youngest England spinner to make his test debut for 90 years.

“He’s been outstanding. For a young man to apply himself and absorb himself in the environment as he has, is exactly what you want,” Root said.

”You can see a big progression in his game since he’s been involved in this tour. He’s right up for international cricket and he’s not someone who’s going to back down.

“On this surface, he’s going to be a really good option. It looks like it’s going to give a bit of turn throughout.” - Agencies 

Fifteen-year-old Nimnaka Jayathilake of St. Anthony’s Katugastota took 7 wickets for 62 runs to dismiss Royal College for 170 on the first day of the ‘Singer Cup’ Under 19 inter-schools cricket match played at Reid Avenue yesterday.

By the close the Antonians had batted themselves into a strong position replying with 151-2.

St. Anthony’s College Wattala beat Isipathana College by six wickets in their match played at Wattala.

Debarawewa National School was also victorious beating St. Mary’s College Chilaw by an innings and 57 runs at Chilaw while Siri Piyaratana MMV Padukka beat President’s College Maharagama by 492 runs at Padukka.

Dimuth Sampath of Siri Piyaratana MMV Padukka took a match bag of 11 wickets for 71.

Ravindu Sanjana came up with a fine all round performance scoring 92 and capturing six wickets for 27 to put St Aloysius on a firm footing against Mahanama in their match played at Moratuwa.

Twenty-four wickets fell on the opening day of the match between S. de S. Jayasinghe Central College and St. Peter’s College Negombo at Dehiwala.

RESULTS

n At Wattala: St. Anthony’s Wattala won by 6 wickets.

Isipathana: 86 and 130 (80/7 o/n) in 50.2 overs (Anupama Herath 36, Eshan Fernando 23, Sanjula Abeysinghe 23, Ashen Malith 3/38, Sanil Nidusha 3/60)

St. Anthony’s Wattala: 99 and 120/4 in 30 overs (Harinda Chathuranga 27, Avishka Tharindu 26 n.o., Anupama Herath 2/21)

n At Chilaw: Debarawewa NS won by inns & 57 runs.

Debarawewa NS: 315/7 decl;

St. Mary’s Chilaw: 152 (46/2 o/n) in 65.3 overs (Charuka Tharindu 56, Yowel Kriston 23, Keshan Tharuka 20, Kavindu Pramod 5/47, Chanuka Ashinshana 4/41) and 106 in 40.1 overs (Charuka Tharindu 37, Roshen Madhawa 28, Thisal Damsara 4/33)

n At Padukka: Sri Piyaratana Padukka won by 492 runs.

Sri Piyaratana: 406/9 decl. and 269 (9/0 o/n) in 40 overs (Rajitha Ashan 81, Sandaru Shamilka 54, Dimuth Sampath 34, Pasindu Lochana 4/73, Supun Deshantha 3/99)

President’s Maharagama: 89 and 94 in 30 overs (Sajana Udayanga 31, Pasindu Lochana 23 n.o., Thilan Sasindu 21, Dimuth Sampath 8/48)

n At Darley Road: Match drawn.

St. Sebastian’s: 334/7 decl. and 121/5 in 28 overs (Nisitha Abilash 37, Malintha Peiris 34 n.o., Tharusha Fernando 21, Dineth Jayakody 2/33, Dunith Wellalage 2/36)

St.Joseph’s: 416 (110/2 o/n) in 101.1 overs (Dilesh Perera 87, Dunith Wellalage 85, Johanne de Silva 63, Nipun Sumanasinghe 50, Shevon Rasool 48, Revan Kelly 29, Tharusha Fernando 5/94, Praveen Cooray 2/42, Nadeera Fernando 2/85)

DAY ONE SORES

Matches will be continue today on day two.

n At Reid Avenue: Royal: 170 in 60.4 overs (Bhagya Dissanayake 41, Pasindu Sooriyabandara 33, Kaushan Kulasooriya 32, Kavindu Pathiratne 30, Nimnaka Jayathilake 7/62)

St. Anthony’s: 151/2 at close in 34 overs (Deon Stouter 59, Sunera Jayasinghe 53 n.o.)

n At Moratuwa: St. Aloysius Galle: 139 in 45.1 overs (Ravindu Sanajana 92, Niluksha Dulmina 24, Lahiru Vithana 3/33, Hashan Sandeepa 3/38, Pethum Boteju 2/4) and 4/0 at close in 2 overs

Mahanama: 107 in 42.3 overs (Pethum Boteju 35, Vinuka Rubasinghe 25, Pawan Rathnayake 15, Lahiru Vithana 15, Ravindu Sanjana 6/27, Dinuka Lakmal 3/21)

n At Mt. Lavinia: Nalanda: 151 in 65.1 overs (Suhanga Wijewardhane 57, Raveen De Silva 22 n.o., Dilhara Polgampola 20, Chamindu Wijesinghe 20, Shannon Fernando 3/37, Dellon Peiris 2/51, Kishan Munasinghe 2/4)

S. Thomas’: 93/2 at close in 32 overs (Dulith Gunarathne 47, Kishan Munasinghe 23 n.o., Shalin De Mel 17, Maheema Weerakoon 2/18)

n At Negombo: Maris Stella: 332/9 decl. in 52.1 overs (Roshen Fernando 71, Chathura Anuradha 53, Kevin Perera 45, Ashan Fernando 36, Janindu Wathsala 4/70)

Bandaranayake Gampaha: 125 in 25.4 overs (Gayashan Dulanjana 30, Sisitha Madanayake 26, Naveen Fernando 3/31, Kevin Perera 2/19, Aveesha Keshan 2/33) and 23/2 at close in 5 overs

n At Kurunegala: Mahinda: 235 in 49.2 overs (Navod Paranawithana 71, K. K. Kevin 43, Vinura Dulsara 41, Hansika Welihinda 25, Dulaj Ranatunge 4/78, Vishwa Dissanayake 2/20, Sanjeewan Priyadarshana 2/36)

Maliyadeva: 131 in 44.3 overs (Supun Sumanarathne 53, Muditha Premadasa 37, Navod Paranawithana 5/31, Subhanu Rajapakshe 2/11, Pasan Pethangoda 2/18)

n At Dehiwala: S. de S. Jayasinghe Central: 142 in 35.1 overs (Sahan Santhush 40, Dilshan Dias 25, Nigul Dulnath 22, Isuru Uthpala 3/16, Sheron Avishka 2/18, Dineth Sathsaara 2/59) and and 41/6 at close in 16 overs (Sasindu Madusanka 4/30, Isuru Uthpala 2/11)

St. Peter’s Negombo: 119 in 23.1 overs (Sasindu Navod 36, Umesh Lakshan 20, Chamindu Silva 5/58, Krishan Santhush 2/33)

n At Railway grounds: Lyceum Nugegoda: 295 in 63.2 overs (Hansaja Bandara 91, Pasindu Rajapaksha 54, Chalindu Sasimal 36, Damitha Pawan 34, Amith Madushan 6/66) and 20/1 at close in 8 overs

Sri Siddartha Wellampitiya: 56 in 23.4 overs (Amith Madushan 32 n.o., Lakindu Rajarathne 6/18, Ravindu Rajarathne 2/24)

n At Veyangoda: Bandaranayake Central Veyangoda: 165 in 40.1 overs (Sajith Madusanka 97, Malinda Perera 4/30, Nisal Malinga 3/51)

Christ King Ja-Ela: 191/7 at close in 52.1 overs (Lahiru Silva 97*, Malith Nawanjana 40, Nipun Santhush 3/29, Chathushka Kalunayaka 2/32) - YK

Chilaw Marians CC and Colts CC took first innings leads against Baduraliya SC and SSC respectively in their SLC Premier League Inter-Club cricket match continued on day two yesterday.

Matches will continue on the third and final day today.

n At FTZ Katunayake: Chilaw Marians CC: 371 (356/9 o/n) in 85.2 overs (Sachithra Serasinghe 103, Pulina Tharanga 70, Isuru Udana 41, Malinda Pushpakumara 31, Kasun Vidura 23, Alankara Asanka 5/74, Dilesh Gunaratne 3/91, Duvindu Tillakaratne 2/80) and 163/2 at close in 36 overs (Kasun Vidura 78, Oshada Fernando 58 n.o.)

Badureliya SC: 162 in 47.3 overs (Pethum Nissanka 42, Sanjaya Chathuranga 39, Nadeera Nawela 22, Malinda Pushpakumara 5/40)

n At Havelock Park: Colts CC: 267 and 80/5 at close in 34 overs (Sangeeth Cooray 23, Akthab Cader 2/13, Sachithra Senanayake 2/22)

SSC: 200 (23/0 o/n) in 59.1 overs (Chamara Kapugedera 61, Kaushal Silva 43, Akash Senaratne 28, Sachithra Senanayake 27, Prabath Jayasuriya 4/63, Dilruwan Perera 3/55, Kavishka Anjula 2/31) - YK

India will maintain their numero uno status in the ICC Test Rankings irrespective of how the series against South Africa pans out, but the Proteas will join the visitors at the top if they win all the three matches.

Faf du Plessis’s side is presently 13 points behind Virat Kohli’s team, which is sitting on top of the table on 124 points. However, both the sides will finish on 118 points if the South Africa side makes a clean sweep of the series which starts in Cape Town on January 5, the International Cricket Council said in a statement.

Even in that scenario, India will be ranked above South Africa when the points are calculated beyond the decimal point. In such a situation, India will be on 118.47 points, while South Africa will be on 117.53.

On the other side of the coin, if India win all the three Tests of the series, then they will move to 128 points while South Africa will slip to 107 points.

Meanwhile, Australia have been guaranteed third place in after leading the series 3-0 with the fifth and final Test to begin in Sydney on Thursday. However, England will have to win the Test to avoid finishing in fifth place. If Australia win the series 4-0, then they will finish third on 104 points and England will end on fifth with 99 points, while a 3-1 series win for Australia will mean they will finish third on 102 points and England in fourth on 101 points.

In the rankings for Test batsmen, second-ranked India captain Virat will aim to break the 900-point mark for the first time in his career. The in-form right-hander is presently on 893 points and a solid performance will potentially see him join the select group of players with a rating of 900 or more, which in ranking terms is an indication of a player’s quality, as to achieve it a player has to be among the very best over a protracted period.

Cheteshwar Pujara is 20 points behind Kohli in third place, while Hashim Amla of South Africa is the other player who features in the top 10, in seventh position.

Among the bowlers, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada is breathing down number-one ranked James Anderson’s neck. Second-ranked Rabada is nine points behind Anderson and depending on how the two bowlers perform in the coming days, there could potentially be a change at the top of the order. – PTI

New Zealand regained the top rank in the ICC rankings for teams in T20Is after beating West Indies in the two-match T20I series.

The Black Caps completed a 2-0 series win over West Indies as they won the second match of the series by 119 runs in Mount Maunganui. After the series win, New Zealand gained two places and jumped to top spot from third position.

Pakistan were the number one ranked team in the world before this series followed by India. Pakistan had 124 points and India had 121 points. New Zealand, before this series, had 120 points.

New Zealand moved to second spot in the rankings when they won the first T20I by 47 runs. They would have moved to top rank by winning the second match by it was abandoned after rain. They finally moved ahead of Pakistan by clinching the final T20I.

The loss has affected West Indies severly and they have dropped to number five position with 115 points. They earlier had 120 points. New Zealand now have 126 points at the top.

This is not the first time that New Zealand are at the top of the rankings. In October 2017, they were number one but lost that spot after losing the T20I series against India 2-1 in November.

Mount Maunganui: Colin Munro smashed his way into the record books as New Zealand crushed the West Indies by 119 runs in the final Twenty20 at Mount Maunganui on Wednesday to sweep the series.

Munro, with a rollicking 104 off 53 deliveries, became the first player to hit three centuries in international Twenty20 cricket as New Zealand posted an imposing 243 for five, their highest Twenty20 total.

The West Indies reply began disastrously with openers Chadwick Walton and Chris Gayle out without scoring in Tim Southee's opening over.

Their innings folded at 124 for nine in 16.3 overs with Shai Hope unable to bat after being injured while fielding.

It ended a disappointing tour for the West Indies with New Zealand winning both Tests, the three one-day internationals and two Twenty20s with one match washed out.

With the West Indies two down for one run after five balls, Andre Fletcher did his best to rebuild the innings and ensured the tourists kept up with New Zealand's run rate for the first eight overs.

But the introduction of spin saw Fletcher's innings come to an end. He was bowled by Ish Sodhi for 46, and the momentum fizzled.

From 80 for four after eight overs, the last five West Indies wickets fell for 44 runs in 51 balls.

Munro was in majestic form as he blasted away at the top of the New Zealand innings.

He faced 53 balls, smacking 10 sixes and three fours.

With previous centuries against India and Bangladesh, he moved ahead of a group of four players, including Gayle, who have two international T20 centuries.

Munro and Martin Guptill gave New Zealand a flying start to their innings with a century partnership.

It was a timely return to form for Guptill with 63 off 38 balls after struggling against the West Indies earlier in the series.

Rayad Emrit, selected to make his T20 debut two months short of his 37th birthday, celebrated by breaking the New Zealand opening stand when he had Guptill caught behind.

Munro lasted until the first ball of the last over when he drove a Carlos Brathwaite full toss straight to Shimron Hetmyer at long on. AFP

Sydney: Regulars Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade were axed from Australia's squad on Wednesday for this month's one-day international series against England.

Chief selector Trevor Hohns said ODI specialist Maxwell was omitted over consistency concerns, while Tim Paine takes the wicketkeeping gloves from Wade following his outstanding form in the Ashes Test series.

Selectors also named Australia's Test pace trio -- Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins -- and prodigious Twenty20 batsman Chris Lynn for the five-match series, starting in Melbourne on January 14.

Hohns said the selection panel wanted to have another look at Lynn, while seeking more consistency from Maxwell.

"No one is in any doubt about Glenn's ability or his potential to produce match-winning contributions with the bat," Hohns said.

"What we have wanted from him is more consistency but in his past 20 matches in this format he has averaged 22 and we need more than that from a player in the side’s batting engine room."He added that Maxwell was "still absolutely in our thoughts" but they opted for Lynn who is now back playing after a shoulder injury hampered him when he was picked against Pakistan 12 months ago.

"Chris has been one of the most feared players at domestic level in limited-overs cricket in the past couple of years and we want to see if he can convert that domestic form to the international stage," said Hohns.

Hohns said Paine had seized his opportunity behind the stumps during the Ashes after being preferred to Wade.

"Tim forced his way into the Twenty20 International squad last summer, and after coming back into the Test squad at the beginning of the Ashes series he has made a terrific contribution with bat and gloves," he said.

"He deserves his opportunity in this form of the game and the challenge for Matthew is to return to the type of form that saw him score an ODI hundred against Pakistan last summer."Hohns said selectors wanted the firepower of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins in the one-day series and had added extra pacemen Jhye Richardson and Andrew Tye in the squad to share the workload.

"With our defence of the ICC Cricket World Cup just 17 months away, we are seeking to get a squad in place that can form the basis of the line-up for that campaign," Hohns said.

"At the same time we want to regain ground in the ODI rankings, given we have slipped from the number one position over the past 12 months.

"There will still be further opportunities for players to force their way into the reckoning for the squad to go to England and Wales in 2019.

"But the sooner we can settle on our best combination and get them playing together and in form on a regular basis then the better our chances will be of retaining the trophy." AFP

Australia’s ODI squad: Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Patrick Cummins, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

Paris: Whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov, who says he has information on doping in Russian football, is now free from legal restraints and can give evidence to FIFA, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) told AFP on Tuesday.

“The fact is that Dr. Rodchenkov has only recently become available to testify in legal proceedings being undertaken by IFs (international federations), which he was unable to do previously due to restrictions put in place by US law enforcement as a result of an ongoing investigation in the United States,” a WADA spokeswoman explained. Rodchenkov was the head of the Moscow anti-doping lab for 10 years until 2015 when he fled to the United States and exposed the Russian system of institutionalised doping. His revelations unleashed a scandal which resulted in many Russian athletes being banned from the Rio Olympics in 2016 and the exclusion of the Russian team from the Winter Games in Pyeongchang in February.

Rodchenkov’s lawyer had reproached football’s governing body FIFA for not getting in touch with his client, telling the Associated Press that Rodchenkov had “information on Russian footballers protected by the system of state doping.” FIFA said it had attempted to contact Rodchenkov through WADA in November but had been told he could not talk.

AFP

Paris: Whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov, who says he has information on doping in Russian football, is now free from legal restraints and can give evidence to FIFA, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) told AFP on Tuesday.

“The fact is that Dr. Rodchenkov has only recently become available to testify in legal proceedings being undertaken by IFs (international federations), which he was unable to do previously due to restrictions put in place by US law enforcement as a result of an ongoing investigation in the United States,” a WADA spokeswoman explained. Rodchenkov was the head of the Moscow anti-doping lab for 10 years until 2015 when he fled to the United States and exposed the Russian system of institutionalised doping. His revelations unleashed a scandal which resulted in many Russian athletes being banned from the Rio Olympics in 2016 and the exclusion of the Russian team from the Winter Games in Pyeongchang in February.

Rodchenkov’s lawyer had reproached football’s governing body FIFA for not getting in touch with his client, telling the Associated Press that Rodchenkov had “information on Russian footballers protected by the system of state doping.” FIFA said it had attempted to contact Rodchenkov through WADA in November but had been told he could not talk.

AFP

 London Raheem Sterling scored the fastest goal of the Premier League season as leaders Manchester City got back on track with a 3-1 win against Watford on Tuesday, while Fernando Llorente put Tottenham on course for a 2-0 victory at his former club Swansea.

Sterling struck after just 38 seconds before Christian Kabasele’s first-half own goal put Pep Guardiola’s side in control at Eastlands.

Sergio Aguero made it three as City gave the perfect response after their 18-game winning run was ended in a goalless draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Unbeaten City are 15 points clear of second-placed Manchester United as they continue to turn the title race into a lengthy coronation party.

Guardiola had complained that the hectic festive fixture schedule was a “disaster” after City striker Gabriel Jesus suffered a knee ligament injury at Palace.

But Guardiola was able to replace the Brazilian with Sergio Aguero, while David Silva returned from a two-game absence.

City, playing their fourth match in 11 days, were ahead inside a minute as Sterling met Leroy Sane’s cross with a near-post finish for his 18th goal this season.

Having won 6-0 at Watford in September, City looked on course for another rout in the 13th minute when Watford’s Kabasele sliced an attempted clearance into his own net from Kevin De Bruyne’s cross.

Yet they had to wait 50 minutes to score again as Argentine forward Aguero netted from close-range for his 16th goal of the season. Andre Gray’s 82nd minute goal for Watford came way too late to avoid a sixth defeat in their last seven league matches.

“We played really well. After dropping two points, we spoke about our reaction because big teams drop points but not too much,” Guardiola said.

With Harry Kane only fit enough for a place on the bench after illness, former Swansea striker Llorente made his first league start for Tottenham at the rain-lashed Liberty Stadium. Llorente marked the occasion with a 12th minute goal, the Spaniard powering home a header from Christian Eriksen’s free-kick despite Swansea’s appeals for offside. Puddles all over the pitch made it hard for Tottenham to establish their smooth-passing game and Kane, who finished 2017 with consecutive hat-tricks, was sent on for Llorente after 68 minutes.

Dramatic winner

Kane made his presence felt with a perfect pass to Dele Alli and the Tottenham midfielder finished at the second attempt to wrap up the points in the 89th minute.

Tottenham move above Arsenal into fifth place and sit four points behind fourth placed Liverpool with a game in hand.

“The weather was horrible but we dominated and tried to play football. Overall I think we were better and deserved the three points,” Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino said.

Swansea remain bottom of the table as new boss Carlos Carvalhal was beaten for the first time in his second match since replacing the sacked Paul Clement.

Andy Carroll’s stoppage-time strike sealed a vital 2-1 win for West Ham against second bottom West Bromwich Albion at the London Stadium. James McClean’s deflected shot from the edge of the area put Albion in front in the 30th minute. But Carroll equalised with a bullet header in the 59th minute, his first goal since April.

Carroll followed up his opener with a dramatic winner from close-range, lifting David Moyes’ side out of the bottom three.

West Brom are winless in 20 top-flight fixtures -- only three clubs have endured longer runs without a victory in the Premier League: Derby with 32, Sunderland with 26 and Norwich with 21.

Crystal Palace came from behind to win 2-1 at Southampton thanks to Luka Milivojevic’s late goal.

Palace fell behind in the 17th minute as Saints striker Shane Long scored for the first time since February last year.

Long’s fine finish raced into the top corner from Jeremy Pied’s cross.

But Palace equalised in the 69th minute when Scotland midfielder James McArthur volleyed home from Christian Benteke’s header.

And Serbia midfielder Milivojevic redeemed himself for missing a last-minute penalty against Manchester City at the weekend as his long-range curler in the 80th minute lifted Palace away from the relegation zone.

AFP 

Sydney: Two-time Olympian and world champion cyclist Caroline Buchanan has been seriously injured in a car crash, with the Australian detailing her horrific injuries in a social media post Wednesday.Buchanan, a five-time mountain bike world champion who has also won the BMX world title three times, said her lungs had collapsed and she had broken her sternum and nose."I wouldn't say 2017 ended quite as planned," she said on Facebook, alongside pictures of herself in a hospital bed in a neck brace and with a bloodied nose.

"It's been a rough couple of days in ICU after a vehicle roll.

AFP

The Sri Lanka Motor Car Racing Calendar – 2018 was launched by the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS) recently.

Twenty one meets will be held this year namely, seven Supercross races, a road race, three hill climb races, three motor rallies, five circuit meets and a day night race.

The Commando Challenge meet which was held last year is not included in the calendar.

The first meet for the year is ‘X 30’ Karting Championship which will be held on January 12 and the calendar will end on November 18 whcih the Katukurunda Circuit meet.

Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR), Sri Lanka Auto Sports Drivers Association (SLADA), Sri Lanka Motor Cycle Club (SLMCC), Southern Motor Sports Club (SMSC), Motor Racing Association (MRA), Asian Motor Racing Club (AMRC) and Colombo Motor Sports Club (ColMSC) will organize the meets for the year.

(Translated by Chamari Kaunathilake)

Month Club Event

January

12th, 13th and 14th CMSC X 30 Karting Championship

27th and 28th MRA Palwatte Speed Rally

February

24th and 25th SMSC Eliyakanda speed Hill Climb

March

17th and 18th SLARDAR Colombo Supercross

24th and 25th SMSC Southern Rally

April

07th and 08th CMSC Mahagastota Hill Climb

20th and 21st Fox Hill Supercross

21st and 22nd SLMCC Nuwara Eliya Road Race

May

12th and 13th SLMCC Walawe Supercross

26th and 27th SLADA Sigiriya Rally Cross

June

16th and 17th AMRC Lions Top Speed @ Katukurunda

July

07th and 08th SLARDAR Cavalry Supercross

28th and 29th SLADA Gunners Suprcross

August

18th and 19th SLADA Gajaba Supercross

September

30th, 01st and 02nd SMSC Rally Sri Lanka

07th, 08th and 09th Col MSC Pannala Night Race (7th and 8th)

22nd and 23rd SLARDAR National Speed Rally

October

06th and 07th SLADA Rotherham Katukurunda Circuit Meet

27th and 28th NMSC Pannala Circuit Meet

November

03rd and 04th MRA Speed Rally

17th and 18th SLMCC Katukurunda Circuit Meet

Sri Lanka cricket in future will have only two captains for the three formats – Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal.

In recent times Sri Lanka appointed three different captains for Tests, ODIs and T20Is, but that decision didn’t work out well with the country going through one of their worst years in one-day cricket in 2017 losing 23 of 29 ODIs and 15 of 20 T20Is.

To add more salt to the wound Sri Lanka went through 2017 with as many as six captains in the two formats ODIs and T20Is at different times.

Sri Lanka Cricket yesterday made a statement to the effect that they would announce its limited overs captain on January 9 following a discussion held on Wednesday by SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala, SLC vice president in charge of international cricket K Mathivanan, SLC CEO Ashley de Silva, chief selector Graeme Labrooy, Sri Lanka cricket manager and selector Asanka Gurusinha and head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.

“During the discussion the chairman of selectors informed me that they are considering appointing either Angelo Mathews or Dinesh Chandimal to fill the role,” Sumthipala was quoted in the press statement.

Labrooy told the Daily News yesterday that they were looking at appointing only two captains for the three formats and it would be between Mathews and Chandimal. Both players have captained their country on different occasions across all three formats.

“We want to appoint a captain long term who can take us through till the 2019 World Cup. It could be a captain who will lead in the Tests as well as the ODI side or a captain who will captain the ODI and T20 sides. We have pushed back in taking this decision until January 8 as there are a few things we need to discuss before making the final choice,” said Labrooy.

At present Chandimal is the Test captain and considering Mathews’ history with injuries, Chandimal may even be handed the ODI captaincy as well, with Mathews asked to lead the T20 side. Mathews who pulled a hamstring during the third T20I against India last month is expected to undergo a fitness test on January 7.

In the event, the selectors who were to pick the ODI squad for Bangladesh today have postponed it till January 8 when they would name the ODI captain who will then sit with them to select the ODI team.

All-rounder Thisara Perera led Sri Lanka in the recently concluded ODI and T20I series in India that Sri Lanka lost by 2-1 and 3-0 margins respectively.

Sri Lanka are due to leave for Bangladesh on January 13 to participate in a tri-nation one-day series with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

A permanent employment program for all national level players in all sports will be the top priority of the Ministry of Sports for the year 2018, stated Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera at a press conference yesterday.

“A large number of national players are going through a variety of economic difficulties mainly because of such a situation, the players find themselves not dedicating 100% to the respective sports they have associated with,” the Minister stated.

Minister Jayasekera added that taking into consideration all this negative points, the Ministry has decided to embark on a project to provide employment to national sportsmen and women.

From this year, the Sports Ministry will prepare a program and implement to provide permanent employment in State institutions or private institutions for all sportspersons, who are currently unemployed but are in national squads.

The Minister pointed out that they have received the approval from the Cabinet to go ahead on this project at a press conference held to inform the media about the progress and the steps that will be taken to improve sports in Sri Lanka.

Apart from that, the Sports Ministry has already planned to launch several sports development projects in the coming months.

The Minister revealed that the provincial level 'Mini National Sports Festivals' are some of the major development projects that they are planning to hold at Divisional Secretariat level and Grama Niladari Divisions.

The Minister also mentioned future plans to develop 100 sports grounds in the 100 selected Divisional Secretariats. The proposed two main sports complexes will be set up in Hambantota and Monaragala districts and two new indoor stadiums will come up in Nuwara Eliya and Kalmunai.

Apart from these projects, High Altitude Sports Training Complex will also be set up in Nuwara Eliya and an entertainment centre at the Waters’ Edge premises.

Three artificial tracks will also be built in Ratnapura, Matale and Homagama during the year 2018.

Minister Jayasekera stated that Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency continues to hold special education programs that will be implemented at village level. Projects to identify, evaluate the skills of players, development of national sports associations and sports tourism development programs will also be implemented, the Minister said.

The Sports Minister also pointed out that to suit the present day games the country’s first sports museum will be opened shortly.

The Sports Ministry Secretary Jayantha Wijeratne, Director General of the Ministry of Sports Saman Bandara, Director General of the Institute of Sports Medicine, Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe, Chairman of National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, Prof. Arjuna de Silva were also present.

The National Weightlifting Championship 2017 was held at the headquarters of the Iron sport at Torrington Square on 28 and 29 December where Air Force emerged champions in both men and women categories. Picture shows the donor of all the trophies from Kandy WA Sampath Perera, a great iron sportsman and promoter with the best lifters award winners D.K.I.W.K. Palagasinghe (men’s) and B.D.H. Gomes (women’s). 

SYDNEY: England skipper Joe Root again missed out on an elusive first century in the series as Australia fought back with two late wickets on the opening day of the fifth Test on Thursday.

Root was out to a superb diving catch by Mitchell Marsh at square leg for 83 in the day's penultimate over before Jonny Bairstow was caught behind in the final over.

Root slumped to his haunches in dismay after missing out on a hundred following his fourth half-century of the series.

Root and Malan recovered England's first innings with a 133-run stand after the tourists had slumped to 95 for three following the loss of Melbourne double-centurion Alastair Cook.

Malan lived a charmed life in his half-century, surviving a run out attempt and a dropped Steve Smith catch to provide stoic support for his skipper.

At the close, England were 233 for five with Malan left unbeaten on 55 off 160 balls when Bairstow was caught behind off Josh Hazlewood for five.

Root reached his half-century off 82 balls cover driving Mitchell Marsh for four, but Malan was fortunate not to be run out two balls later.

Malan, on 28, cut towards backward point and there was confusion over the run with Root steaming down the pitch and Malan stuttering and then setting off for the non-striker's end.

But the throw from wicketkeeper Tim Paine was off target and bowler Nathan Lyon was unable to effect the run out with Malan well out of his ground.

Malan had another life on 34 when Smith dropped a sharp ankle-high chance at slip off Lyon.

Only last week in Melbourne Smith put down two catches in Alastair Cook's unbeaten double century.

Cook, who carried his bat through the England first innings in the fourth Test for an unbeaten 244, looked on his way to another big score until Josh Hazlewood struck in the 33rd over.

Hazlewood's leg before wicket appeal was turned down on-field, but on review the ball was found to be just pitching in line with the left-hander's leg stump and hitting middle and Cook was given out for 39 off 104 balls.

It was the third time in the series Cook has fallen lbw and it left him just five runs short of 12,000 career Test runs in his 152nd Test match. Fellow opener Mark Stoneman earlier hit some nice drives among his four fours before he nicked a rising Pat Cummins delivery to Tim Paine for 24 off 24 balls in the 10th over. James Vince looked set after 82 minutes at the crease before he shaped for a square cut at a wide Cummins delivery only to be caught behind for 25 in the 29th over.

Usman Khawaja jarred his left knee as he carved out a large chunk of topsoil in sliding to prevent a boundary off Malan in the 56th over but returned to the field later. Australia have already clinched the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series. England are bidding to break through in Sydney, where they have won twice in the last four Ashes Tests. After a rain delay and an early lunch, play finally got under way at 12.40pm (0140 GMT).