They must win in Trinidad to square the series and could bring in two from Steve Harmison, Amjad Khan, Adil Rashid or Monty Panesar to boost their attack. If five bowlers are chosen, Matt Prior, back behind the stumps, could bat at six, meaning Owais Shah or Barbados centurion Ravi Bopara will make way. "We have a fairly good idea of our team," skipper Andrew Strauss said. Strauss, together with selector James Whitaker, assistant coach Andy Flower and bowling coach Ottis Gibson spent time assessing the surface ahead of the team's final net session. "We wanted to have another look at the wicket, because obviously they've been doing a lot of rolling of it," the captain said. "But we have a fairly good idea of our team. I suppose fundamental to all of it is what is the best way of winning this game.
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Thursday, March 5, 2009
England face selection quandaries
13 Marines Injured When Tour Buses Crash in North Carolina
13 Marines were injured after their three tour buses crashed near Camp Lejeune Thursday morning. Marine Corps Capt. Clark Carpenter said a bus driver was critically injured and air lifted to a hospital after the accident in Jones County, in eastern North Carolina. He said none of the Marines was seriously hurt. Jones County authorities said the wreck occurred about 7:45 a.m. on U.S. Highway 17 near Maysville, about 20 miles north of Camp Lejeune. Investigators believe the third bus failed to stop for traffic and collided with the bus it was following, according to Carpenter. Carpenter said 59 Marines and one sailor were on the buses traveling to Norfolk, Va. The troops are scheduled to begin training exercises March 10 in advance of their deployments. The Marines are all part of the 22nd Expeditionary Unit out of Camp Lejeune, who are to deploy as a reserve units to in the European and Middle East regions this spring. Marines on the scene described the injuries as "routine" and would not elaborate any further. The injured Marines were transferred to the Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital for treatment. The rest boarded new buses and were on their way to Norfolk.
Ronaldo struck by bizarre injury
Brazilian striker Ronaldo came through his first competitive game for 13 months in one piece, but was injured by a microphone as he left the pitch. The 32-year-old made his debut for Corinthians as a 68th-minute substitute in the 2-0 win over Itumbiara. But Ronaldo was left with a badly bruised and swollen right eye after being struck by a microphone when a post-match media scrum surrounded him. Ronaldo was making his return from a third career-threatening knee injury. The striker remains far from his best physical condition and he acknowledged that it will take time before he can perform as well as before the injury. "This is just the beginning," Ronaldo said. "It doesn't stop here, I'll try to play in more matches from now on.
Kyrgyzstan open to air base talks with US
Sri Lankans recover after attacks
Sri Lankan cricketers Thilan Samaraweera and Tharanga Paranavitana have undergone surgery after being hurt in the attacks in Pakistan. Samaraweera had shrapnel removed from his right leg, while Paranavitana had a bullet lodged in his chest. Seven players were injured in the ambush in Lahore and six police officers and two civilians were killed. Spinner Ajantha Mendis will remain in hospital after he had two operations to remove shrapnel from his back and head. He is not expected to play for between four-to-six weeks. "I am feeling better, and happy to be with my wife," Samaraweera said. The 32-year-old was among the most seriously wounded of the seven Sri Lanka players and has set his sights on a return to cricket in July. "Realistically, I will rest and recuperate for a few weeks and the surgeon says I should be able to resume training towards the end of April or early May," said Samaraweera, who on Monday became only the sixth batsman in history to score back-to-back double Test hundreds."The surgeon told us that it must have been a 'lucky bullet' because somehow it missed all the important bits of nerve tissue, tendons and ligaments," he added. Doctors removed shrapnel from the shoulder of vice-captain Kumar Sangakkara and from the arm of British assistant coach Paul Farbrace. "Sangakkara will be discharged Thursday and the others in due course. None of them had grave injuries," said Geethanjana Mendis, director general of the Sports Ministry medical unit. "They will be back in action in a few weeks time." Skipper Mahela Jayawardene was discharged from hospital after treatment for a minor leg injury, while Thilan Thushara and Sampath Lakmal also underwent hospital treatment. The entire 25-member squad was checked out by medical staff on their return to Sri Lanka and only six were kept in hospital. Police stepped up security at the Nawaloka hospital where the players were being treated with plain-clothed officers placed outside their hospital rooms along with regular police. No cricket fans were allowed to visit the players, with only immediate family members given access.
Beckham would cut salary to move
David Beckham has agreed to take a salary cut as negotiations over a move from Los Angeles Galaxy to AC Milan go to the wire, BBC Sport understands. Beckham, 33, is scheduled to return to Galaxy on 9 March, but the England midfielder wants to make permanent his loan move to Milan. The deadline has put the pressure on all sides to conclude negotiations. There is understood to be a significant sticking point, and Beckham's return to LA Galaxy remains a possibility. The Major League Soccer side are sticking to their line that they expect him back on 9 March. One possible resolution is for Milan to extend the loan until the end of the Italian season. Beckham would then return to the Galaxy for the remainder of the MLS season, before heading back to Milan in November. The Englishman, who signed a five-year deal with the Galaxy in January 2007, moved to Milan in January to stay fit during the Major League Soccer off-season and so maintain his bid for an England place. Milan have been impressed with the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star, however, and are keen to make the move permanent. Beckham has scored two goals in nine Serie A games during his time with Milan.
Pakistan team’s tour of Bangladesh postponed
U.S. calls for conference on Afghanistan
Putin threatens new Europe gas stoppage
N Korea threatens civilian planes
North Korea has said it cannot ensure the safety of South Korean civilian flights passing near its airspace over the Sea of Japan (East Sea). The comment comes ahead of a joint South Korean-US military exercise, which Pyongyang says is preparation for an invasion of the communist state. Washington and Seoul say the annual drill is for purely defence purposes. Tensions are high in the region amid speculation that the North is planning to test-fire a long-range missile. In the latest of a series of bellicose statements, a North Korean committee warned that "security cannot be guaranteed for South Korean civil airplanes... in particular while the military exercises are under way". It said no one knows what "military conflicts will be touched off by the reckless war exercises".
'Final curtain call' for Jackson
Govt accepts BLUF demands for Solecki’s release
Zardari consulted me on Taseer’s appointment: Musharraf
Newcastle 1-2 Manchester United
Manchester United survived the shock of conceding an early goal at Newcastle to come from behind and secure a win that tightens their grip on the Premier League title race. A rare blunder from keeper Edwin van der Sar gave Peter Lovenkrands the opportunity to give Newcastle the lead after nine minutes when he dropped a tame shot from Jonas Gutierrez. But Wayne Rooney equalised on the turn 11 minutes later and Ryan Taylor's mistake allowed Ji-Sung Park to set up Dimitar Berbatov for a simple strike in the 56th minute that leaves United seven points clear of Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand. Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will acknowledge that this was not a performance from the top drawer and there were moments when Newcastle - particularly Obafemi Martins - rattled his side's normally composed rearguard. But with Rooney leading from the front, scoring the equaliser and helping to set up Berbatov's winner with a typical piece of quick thinking, Manchester United once again proved they have the players to grind out victories even when they are not at their best. And if victories for Chelsea and Liverpool on Tuesday briefly rekindled their hopes of overhauling Manchester United, this victory once again underlined that Ferguson's side are now overwhelming favourites to retain their crown. The defeat leaves Newcastle hovering just above the bottom three with a tough sequence of fixtures to come, but they will take heart from their first-half display in particular, when they gave Manchester United real moments of concern.
Pakistan criticised for 'lapses'
Saudi apex court starts hearing of Sharia cases
Israeli airstrike targets militants in Gaza
GAZA CITY, Gaza An Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Wednesday targeted Islamic Jihad militants, including a senior commander, following an attack on the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon, the Israel Defense Forces said. The airstrike near Jabalya gravely injured seven Palestinian militants, including two from the Islamic Jihad who suffered life-threatening injuries, according to Palestinian security and medical sources. They did not say if the senior commander, Khaled Shalan, was one of those wounded. According to the Israeli military, more than 100 rockets, mortar shells and missiles have been fired at Israel by Palestinian militants in Gaza since Hamas leaders announced a cease-fire on January 18. Israel also announced a cease-fire and pulled its troops out of Gaza in January, ending a three-week military campaign that the Israeli military said was aimed at halting the rocket fire. Egypt has been trying to broker a broader cease-fire agreement between Hamas and Israel. Israel is demanding that Hamas release kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit before it fully reopens the border crossings with Gaza. Hamas has rejected discussing Shalit’s release as part of any cease-fire negotiation with Israel.
Clinton warns of Iranian threat to Europe, Russia
China 'faces most difficult year'
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has said the current year will be the most difficult the country has faced this century because of the global economic crisis. Addressing parliament, Mr Wen reiterated that there would be a $585bn (£413bn) investment programme to stimulate the Chinese economy. He also declared an annual growth target of 8% and goals to boost consumption and raise consumer demand. His address opens the annual session of the National People's Congress. The premier said he hoped to create nine million new jobs in the cities and increase local government spending budgets by almost 25%."In China, a developing country with a population of 1.3 billion, maintaining a certain growth rate for the economy is essential for expanding employment for urban and rural residents, increasing people's incomes and ensuring social stability," he said. Mr Wen was frank that China was suffering from the global financial crisis, and acknowledged the country lacked adequate social security provisions and health care. Beijing says that as more people lose their jobs in China, the lack of a social safety net is becoming a glaring problem.
Blasts destroyed Mardan’s CD market
Car bomb hits busy Iraqi market
At least 10 people have been killed and dozens wounded in a bomb blast near a livestock market in Iraq. A car bomb exploded as people were buying and selling cattle in the busy market near the city of Hilla in Babil province, police said. At least 32 people were reported to have been injured. Babil province, south of Baghdad, has been the scene of attacks in the past but has been relatively peaceful for many months. The attack happened at around 0900 local time (0600 GMT) as traders gathered at the al-Medhatiaya animal market, some 120km (75 miles) south of Baghdad, the AFP news agency reports. Medical officials in the region confirmed there had been casualties, but the number of injured ranged from 32 to 56. Babil province has a mixed population of Shia and Sunni Muslims and has seen much sectarian violence as well as attacks on US forces. But violence abated in part because former Sunni rebels joined so-called Awakening Councils and turned against al-Qaeda militants. The US military handed over control of security in Babil to Iraqi forces last October.