South Africa penalised by umpires for ball tampering in Test against Pakistan

Pakistan have demanded an explanation from the International Cricket Council after South Africa’s Faf du Plessis escaped with a fine of 50 percent of his match fee for ball tampering in the second Test in Dubai.

Pakistan were on the receiving end following the only previous occasion in Test history when the umpires have changed a tampered ball and imposed a five-run penalty, at the Oval in 2006. They were widely accused of cheating and, when they refused to take the field, the was Test forfeited.

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, Najam Sethi, tweeted: “PCB is writing a letter to the ICC, seeking explanation of inconsistency by match referee in application of tampering rule.”

Du Plessis, who pleaded guilty to the charge, was not given any suspension by the ICC match referee David Boon, he was simply fined half his match fee.

While it is not surprising that former Pakistan players have waded into the debate, they have gained support from a more unexpected source, England’s captain Michael Vaughan, who tweeted: “Anyone caught ball tampering should be banned for at least ten matches.”

Du Plessis was caught in full view of the television cameras when South Africa were fielding during Pakistan’s second innings. He is seen vigorously polishing the ball, which would be tolerated in normal circumstances, only in this case it was on the zip of his trouser pocket, a somewhat more abrasive substance than synthetic fibres.

The television commentator, former South African captain Kepler Wessels, said while the camera was on du Plessis: “The issue there is that zip. That’s the problem.”

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif also thought it was a problem. “The punishment is very lenient. I think Faf should have been banned for six months,” Latif said, “plus the captain of the team should be held responsible and punished.”

Pakistan’s former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who was not only fined but suspended for ball tampering in 2003, told Geo Television in Pakistan: “[The] ICC can’t do justice on merit. It doesn’t have any guts to do so.”

As match referee, Boon offered the extenuating circumstance that du Plessis’s act was “not part of a deliberate and/or prolonged attempt to unfairly manipulate the condition of the ball.” Given the vigour with which du Plessis rubbed the ball on his trouser zip, this was an unusual use of the wording “not deliberate”.

Du Plessis was spotted by the TV umpire, Paul Reiffel of Australia, on Friday evening. The on-field umpires, Ian Gould and Rod Tucker, called over South Africa’s captain Graeme Smith, changed the ball and awarded Pakistan five penalty runs.

Given that the South African pace bowler Vernon Philander was also caught on camera in the act of apparently scratching the ball with his left finger, the statement released by AB de Villiers, South Africa’s vice-captain, rang rather hollow: “Honestly, we’re not the team that scratches the ball. We don’t cheat, it’s as simple as that. I know Faffy very well, he’s the last man to try anything like that.” Except that du Plessis has now pleaded guilty.

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UPDATE 1-Tennis-Azarenka sends final against Serena to third set

(Adds second set)

NEW YORK, Sept 8 (Reuters) - A battling Victoria Azarenka won a second-set tiebreaker 8-6 over Serena Williams to send the U.S. Open women's final to a third set.

After losing the first set 7-5 on a windblown Arthur Ashe Stadium court, Azarenka found herself down 4-1 with defending champion Williams serving.

The determined Belarussian, who had double-faulted three times in losing her serve in the fifth game, broke the big-serving American three times to take the set to a tiebreaker.

Williams, who twice served to win the match, double-faulted on the last point of the game that made it 6-6 and forced the tiebreaker.

World number one Williams rushed out to a 3-1 lead in the decider, but the second-seeded Azarenka won five of the next six points to take charge at 6-4 before taking the tiebreaker when Williams belted a backhand too long.

It was a title rematch between Williams and Azarenka, won last year by the American 7-5 in the third set. (Reporting by Larry Fine, Editing by Gene Cherry)

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Eoin Morgan calls on Kevin Pietersen to lead by example during England's ODI series against Australia

With Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann all rested after a successful Ashes campaign, Morgan will lead some unfamiliar faces into battle against the tourists.

Given the lack of experience in the England line-up, Morgan has urged Pietersen to lead the way.

"Kev offers a hell of a lot as a senior player and as a batsman," Morgan said. "As a senior player he leads by example with the confidence with which he goes about his business. People rub off on that and that's crucial.

"When I first came into the team, he was one of the more senior players and he was a guy you could turn to and ask difficult questions or have no hesitation in turning to him for a positive option.

"In that regard, I think he's fantastic to have in the squad and back in for the one-day series."

Morgan stopped short of guaranteeing Pietersen the chance to open the batting against Australia in the absence of Bell and Test captain Cook, with the 33-year-old Surrey batsman's firebrand style potentially better employed futher down the order.

"It's certainly an option,” Morgan said. “Kev's opened the batting for England before and done well. He also bats in the middle-order as a very explosive player. He's very versatile in that regard so we'll be looking at both options."

Morgan said that whoever was selected to open the batting would be "filling big shoes".

"Cooky and Belly have been very successful now for a couple of years and they've been a huge part of our success as a one-day team," said the Irishman, who hit a century against Ireland in Dublin on Tuesday.

"With the two new balls in one-day cricket it makes that role more difficult now, so it's an important role and one that we recognise needs filling."

Sussex bowler Chris Jordan could make his England debut on Friday and Morgan says working alongside budding debutants has been the highlight of his captaincy so far.

"Those games in particular I've really enjoyed. The things I've most enjoyed about them has been handing out caps to debutants,” he said.

"It's fantastic to see guys being rewarded for a lot of hard work over a number of years and being rewarded by pulling the England shirt on and that makes me smile every day."

Edited by Michael Beattie

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England's one-day team face a monumental task against Australia as Ashley Giles' men audition for World Cup

England will be without their regular one-day opening pair of batsmen, Alastair Cook and Ian Bell, and their regular opening pair of bowlers, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, and their first choice-spinner Graeme Swann, and their regular captain. Eoin Morgan has led England, in place of Cook, only against his native Ireland.

No Cook, no Bell, no Anderson, no Broad, no Swann, and if and when Kevin Pietersen plays it will be on only one sound knee. England’s second-choice pace attack looks particularly thin, as Steve Finn is not yet back to his best and the rest are raw recruits. Australia, with their heavyweight opening pair of David Warner and Aaron Finch, could inflict record-breaking damage, just as they did in the first T20 international.

So it will be a surprise if Australia do not win by a bigger margin than England’s 3-0 in the Tests. Six of Australia’s players, including Michael Clarke, will be extra-motivated by their memories of losing the Test series – not to mention their Champions Trophy match in June, the first in this series of interminable fixtures between the two countries.

All of England’s selections were voluntary in that the key players are being rested, and were not dictated by injury. The dialogue in the selection meeting between Andy Flower, who has overall charge as well as being the Test coach, and Ashley Giles, England’s coach for 50-over and T20 cricket, might therefore have been one of those occasions that Giles referred to back in April.

“There could well be a situation down the line where Andy says you can’t have him (ie, a certain player), and I say well, I want him,” Giles said then. “But ultimately Andy is in charge, he’s team director, and we’ll have those discussions if we have to have them behind closed doors and come out in agreement. Ultimately it’s the good of English cricket: it’s a cliché but that’s what we’re here for.”

This situation has subsequently become more delicate. Straight after the Ashes series, Flower said nothing to confirm or reject reports that he was going to stand down as England’s team director after the return series this winter. He has never stated in public that he wants the job long-term, and now he has not even said that he wants the job short-term, beyond January.

A daringly planned and executed one-day series in the next fortnight against Australia – a 3-2 victory against all the odds – would put Giles in better than pole position to succeed Flower as the coach in charge of all formats, if the job arises in January. Following this one-day series, England play no more limited-overs matches until after the Ashes.

A 5-0 defeat in the next fortnight, on the other hand, will look like a serious blot on Giles’s CV to the independent selection panel — which is not composed solely of former players who will understand the circumstances – that the England and Wales Cricket Board usually constitutes to make the appointment of team director.

Amid these politics, and confronted by Clarke’s highly motivated side, any England reserve who does put his hand up can expect to be drafted into World Cup considerations. The next instalment, in Australia and New Zealand, is less than a year and a half away, and given England’s unrelenting schedule it is inconceivable that all three of Anderson, Pietersen and Swann will still be going by then.

England’s first-choice one-day team were not good enough to beat India in the Champions Trophy final at Edgbaston, so several new faces will have to be introduced if they are going to challenge – without home advantage – India and the two host countries. And all the while these new faces have been growing up without ever playing 50-over county cricket, a brilliantly cunning plan to ensure that England never win their first global 50-over trophy.

An outbreak of common sense will occur next year when the ban on 50-over county cricket – in place since 2010 – is lifted. England’s cricketers will then be able to compete in this format without any hands tied behind their back.

Five England players hoping to make an impression ...

Michael Carberry: Brilliant strokeplayer underestimated by more than one county but not, at last, by England. Hit 146 off 132 balls for the Lions against Bangladesh A to gain promotion.

Chris Jordan: Now 24, has grown into his body and can sustain real pace. Can hit a long ball, too. Key challenge is to develop the variations and subtleties for limited-overs.

Jamie Overton: Tall, strong and quick for 19. Has a fine action, everything going in a straight line, with some outswing. Bowled well in Australia last winter for the Under-19s.

Boyd Rankin: The latest signing – or poaching – from Ireland has yet to play an ODI for England but at 6ft7in gets plenty of bounce to force the batsman back. Aged 29, he is, alas, no batsman.

Ben Stokes: Destined to be England’s No?6 in more than one format. Has speeded up as a bowler, gets more bounce than the injured Woakes, and has hit seven first-class centuries.

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England may risk giving one-day debuts to four players in international against Ireland

Jamie Overton could become the youngest England player since Brian Close in 1949 if he is chosen in a side which will almost certainly feature batsmen Michael Carberry and Gary Ballance and Irish fast bowler Boyd Rankin for the first time in one-day cricket.

Rankin has played Twenty20 for England this summer and Carberry has one Test cap from a 2010 tour to Bangladesh but this will be their first serious test as they begin challenges for berths on this winter’s Ashes tour.

They will meet an Ireland side full of experience with eight survivors from that win in Bangalore in 2011 plus Tim Murtagh, of Middlesex, one of the most consistent bowlers in county cricket who qualified for Ireland last year through his grandparents.

Overton is a physically strong 19-year-old quick bowler who looks like a rugby player in whites. Overton is also part of the squad to play Australia and when picked he will be the first teenager to play for England since Ben Hollioake in 1997.

“I wouldn’t ever take Ireland for granted and say a weakened side would make it any more level,” said Eoin Morgan, who will captain England for the rest of the summer.

“I think we’ve brought a strong side, a young and very talented side that given opportunities hopefully will show they are world beaters.

“It’s very exciting for us to come across here and give these guys opportunities to hopefully flourish, particularly in a game like this. But we’re certainly not taking Ireland for granted.”

The defeat in the World Cup, when Kevin O’Brien scored 113, reaching three figures off only 50 balls, changed the course of Irish cricket and they are now credible opponents. Ireland tied a match with Pakistan in Dublin in May and narrowly lost the second by two wickets.

“I think all teams in world cricket know that when they play us they are going to get a very tough game so gone are the days when teams turn up in Dublin or Belfast and are here for a jolly,” O’Brien said.

Life has changed for O’Brien, who 10 days ago was playing for Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel in the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20.

“On the field life has changed a lot but it [World Cup innings] was a long time ago now, it was 2½ years ago and I can’t really be living off it for the rest of my life, so I need to keep improving. If I can get another innings that is as half as good tomorrow then it will be very special.”

England (possible): M A Carberry, J W A Taylor, E J G Morgan (capt), G S Ballance, R S Bopara, B A Stokes, J C Buttler, J Overton, J C Tredwell, S T Finn, W B Rankin.

Ireland (possible): W T S Porterfield (capt), P R Stirling, E C Joyce, N? J ?O’Brien, G C Wilson, K??J O’Brien, A R White, M C Sorensen, D T Johnston, T J Murtagh, G H Dockrell.

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Rob Keogh's 158no inspires Northants comeback against Hampshire

Keogh’s previous top score in six first-class matches was 44, and his perfectly-paced innings came after Hampshire had dominated the first session.

Northants ended the first day on 323 for six with Keogh, called in at the last minute following injuries to David Willey and Graeme White, having faced 280 balls and struck 23 fours. Matt Spreigel was 61 not out.

Reece Topley and Greg Smith helped promotion hopefuls Essex took full control of their match against Worcestershire at Chelmsford.

After 19-year-old paceman Topley returned career-best figures of six for 29 as the visitors were routed for 102, Smith followed up his century against Gloucestershire in the previous match with 94 as the home side reached the close on 199 for four.

Home batsman Ben Wright was the only man to reach a landmark as 15 wickets fell on the first day of Glamorgan’s clash against Kent at the Swalec Stadium.

Wright claimed the lone half-century as Kent’s Darren Stevens took four for 34 in 15 overs including the first three wickets to fall.

He helped reduce Glamorgan, who won the toss, to 158 all out in 60 overs before Kent also struggled to reach 102 for five by the close, trailing by 56 runs.

All-rounder Will Gidman returned career-best bowling figures as Gloucestershire assumed the upper hand against Leicestershire at Bristol. Gidman claimed six for 15 as the visitors were shot out for 117 in 41.2 overs.

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Surrey's Gary Keedy takes key wickets against Middlesex after answering SOS call in style

Surrey arrived for this local derby in the relegation zone and with their recruitment policy having been questioned all year, but Gary Keedy – who symbolises that transfer strategy – played an important role for them. He took three wickets late in the day on a dry surface that looks tailor-made for spin bowling.

Left-arm spinner Keedy, one of the veterans recruited over the winter, was initially supposed to be playing for the second XI in Coventry. The 38-year-old had to travel down to the Oval when Zafar Ansari sustained a thumb injury in pre-match nets.

Alec Stewart, Surrey’s interim director of cricket, said: “It’s not ideal when you lose a player just as the toss is about to be made, but Gary is a very good and experienced replacement and he has bowled very nicely so far. We dragged it back very well and got it back to respectability.”

Middlesex’s batsmen had shown some fight as they recovered from 24 for two. Dawid Malan scored a fluent 61, Chris Rogers made a level-headed 55, then Neil Dexter patiently reached 77 not out. The visiting side were on 204 for four, but Keedy ran through the lower middle order.

Malan had not scored a fifty in championship cricket all season but, on his 26th birthday, he hit back at criticisms of Middlesex’s recently brittle batting. “You have freak games where everything goes against you,” he said.

“One or two of us haven’t scored as many as we’d like, but there hasn’t been a massive problem. It gets blown out of proportion.”

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Somerset crumble to 103 against Derbyshire as their season threatens to turn sour

As if this season had not been difficult enough to stomach for Somerset fans, in recent days the club announced the cancellation of their cider festival, citing poor ticket sales.

When the Taunton locals are off their apples, it must be serious. Monday’s batting performance once again gave them nothing to cheer, and only sorrows to drown.

After winning the toss and electing to bat in a crucial relegation battle, Somerset capitulated to 103 all out, their lowest total of the season.

There were neither demons in the pitch, nor the Derbyshire bowling line-up, which prospered quietly and simply with disciplined seam bowling.

Tony Palladino’s accuracy accounted for the hosts’ top order, before Tim Groenewald tore through the middle, with his third five-wicket haul of the season.

The Somerset innings was summed up by Craig Kieswetter, who attempted to smear consecutive deliveries from Groenewald. After a slice for four and a dropped return catch, Kieswetter finally holed out at mid-off. Three reckless strikes, and out.

That the hosts remain in the game at all owed everything to Piyush Chawla, their overseas import.

His cameo with the bat scored a quarter of Somerset’s runs, and the leg-spinner’s four for 87 took advantage of some unusually prodigious first-day spin, which also caught the attention of an England and Wales Cricket Board pitch inspector in attendance.

Chawla briefly threatened to undo the visitors’ solid opening platform, but an assured, unbeaten stand of 93 in the final session between Richard Johnson (55) and Tom Poynton (53) steered Derbyshire into the commanding position they deserved.

Eleven days cricket remain in this Division One county campaign. But the opening session yesterday could prove decisive for the fate of these two teams.

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David Warner and Mitchell Starc left out of Australia squad for ODI series against England

“Like all selection matters, it was a tough decision, but like all players he understands the situation and knows he needs to get back to playing Ryobi Cup and making a heap of runs that we can’t ignore,” Lehmann said.

“I spoke with David at length about what he needs to do and I’ve been impressed with his attitude since I’ve come into the Australian setup.”

Warner might have been overshadowed in the T20s by Aaron Finch, whose 156 off 63 balls at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday was the stuff of hitting fantasy, but England’s bowlers will be pleased to see the back of him as he is also a dangerous batsman.

Suddenly, the prospective debuts of Jamie Overton, Chris Jordan and Boyd Rankin, opening bowlers all, just got a smidgen easier and England’s experimental squad does not look quite as vulnerable as it did.

England’s batsmen, too, will be more optimistic after the return home of Mitchell Starc, said to be suffering from lower back pain.

Starc lacks consistency but he possesses true magic in his ability to swing both the new and old ball at pace, something only Mitchell Johnson can do among the current group and then only during the transit of Venus.

Starc, who recovered from ankle surgery to make the Ashes tour, is the latest casualty in a line of Australian pace bowlers to suffer injuries this past year.

Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and Ryan Harris are also recovering from various ailments and along with Starc could be doubts for the first Ashes Test which begins in Brisbane on November 21.

The nub of the forthcoming five-match NatWest Series are an England side with fresh faces against an Australian side with fresh legs.

There will be some old hands in Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan, England’s captain, and Jonathan Trott to guide the greenhorns, but it will be an interesting exercise to see whether the England Performance Programme and the Lions can adequately prepare players for the big time.

There is a big prize at stake, even for older players such as Luke Wright and Michael Carberry.

The 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand is just 18 months away and players excelling against Michael Clarke’s savvy and motivated side are likely to be looked upon favourably by selectors when they come to refine their choices over the coming year.

“It’s about taking your chance while some of the other players like Ian Bell, James Anderson and Stuart Broad are being rested,” said Wright, who last played international 50-over cricket in the 2011 World Cup.

“It’s a massive series for myself and Chris Jordan.

“It’s something we have worked towards for a long time. Since I got injured and lost my place I have been desperate to get back into it. It’s an opportunity to stake a claim.

“Ultimately, you want to be in that next squad when it comes to going to Australia and then each one going on to the World Cup. The only way to do that is to take your chance.”

Australia squad: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey, Fawad Ahmed, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade (wkt), Shane Watson.

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Somerset scramble to victory against Glucestershire at Bristol

Cricket’s perennial bridesmaids kept alive their hopes of ending an eight year wait to land one of cricket’s domestic trophies with a scrambled victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Somerset, who lifted the Twenty 20 trophy in 2005, have not only lost their last five one-day finals, but have finished as runners up in two of the last three County Championship seasons.

Still, despite their woeful form in four-day cricket this season, which has left them in a three-way fight with Surrey and Derbyshire to avoid the indignity of relegation, they booked a YB40 semi-final trip to Trent Bridge on the back of a 12-run victory over their neighbours.

It was seldom straightforward and at times, tinged with controversy as Gloucestershire’s Michael Klinger left the field shaking his head vigorously after being given out caught by Piyush Chawla at backward square.

The Australian stood his ground at first, convinced that Chawla had taken the ball on the half volley. Much to his annoyance, he was given out after a lengthy discussion between umpires Jeff Evans and Tim Robinson.

With respect to Gloucestershire, they might not have been in the contest by the time Klinger and Hamish Marshall took to the crease after tea.

Somerset, batting first on a wicket that was flat and free of demons, appeared hell bent on not only losing as many match balls as possible in the building works at the Ashley Down Road End of the ground, but establishing new 40-over records.

Captain Marcus Trescothick and Craig Kieswetter batted with ease and no little skill to pass 100 inside 13 overs.

Kieswetter, whose audacious front foot swipe over extra cover was arguably the shot of the season, was in imperious form on his way to 42 from just 38 balls.

He lost partner Trescothick at 105-1 when the skipper holed out to Alex Gidman off Craig Miles and saw Nick Compton disappear off the very next ball.

Twenty one runs later, the England one-day specialist became David Payne’s first victim and thereafter, Somerset relied on a subdued unbeaten 68 from Jos Buttler and 34 from James Hildreth.

A total that should have topped 300 at least, settled at 258-9, leaving Gloucestershire with a target that on recent form, was well within reach.

Klinger and Marshall put on 63 for the first wicket off a ball short of 10 overs with Klinger and Chris Dent adding 29 for the second wicket before Klinger’s departure.

Ian Cockbain and Alex Gidman batted sensibly to put Gloucestershire back on course, but when the pair were dismissed in quick succession, Gloucestershire’s hopes finally evaporated.

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Ollie Rayner urges fans to stick with Middlesex after collapse against Somerset

Middlesex’s Ollie Rayner urged the club’s followers not to give up on the side after a dreadful day, which appears to have ended their title challenge.

Middlesex suffered a painful defeat against Derbyshire in the previous match, leaving them damagingly adrift of leaders Yorkshire, and impressive Somerset made them endure a nightmare here.

Somerset’s Piyush Chawla hit a century as the relegation-threatened visiting team launched an extraordinary recovery from 211 for seven to finish on 449. Middlesex looked like a demoralised side, and they responded torridly with the bat, slumping to 55 for seven at one stage before being bowled out for 106. Following on, they lost two early wickets.

Spin bowler Rayner, who carried on his much-improved form with the bat by scoring a gritty 34 not out, urged supporters to see the bigger picture. “Keep with us, stay with us,” Rayner said. “There have been much darker times for Middlesex. Over the last few years, I’d like to think we’ve given them something they can be proud of.

“We’ve had one bad day and we haven’t had many. No one tries to do it. It happens sometimes, that’s how sport works. We’ve had one real stinking session, which we’ve done to other sides throughout the year. The boys are absolutely gutted. We can’t do that ever again.”

At the start of the day, there was already a sense that Middlesex were going to fall short in their title challenge after a frustrating first day. Chawla carried on where he left off, resuming on 58 not out, and reached his century by hitting Ravi Patel into the Mound Stand for six. Alfonso Thomas supported him well, finishing on 54 not out.

Jamie Overton, recently called up to the England one-day squad, made an early impact by removing Australia opener Chris Rogers for just eight with a ball that angled across him, which he drove to third slip. “I didn’t really expect to get in the Lions team so I’m surprised at getting in the England squad,” the 19-year-old said. “I’m very excited. After the Ashes, it’s a good time.”

Lewis Gregory took two wickets and Craig Meschede picked up three as Middlesex’s batsmen imploded. Rayner showed fight, but Chawla took the final three wickets in quick succession to wrap up the first innings and finish with three for eight from 4.5 overs.

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Michael Richardson's century helps put Durham into impregnable position against Yorkshire

For the second time in his fledgling first-class career, Michael Richardson demonstrated a liking for the Yorkshire bowling attack, in the process steering Durham into an apparently impregnable position in this collision of the County Championship’s top two sides.

The South African-born wicketkeeper-batsman made his championship debut against the White Rose at Headingley two years ago, scoring 140 runs in the match, including an unbeaten 73 that, until Thursday, represented his highest first-class score.

Since then Richardson has been something of a bit player, his 17 first-class appearances yielding 568 runs at an average of 22.72. But once again the whiff of battle against the Yorkies brought out the best in him.

He started the day with just three to his name and probably expecting to play second fiddle to his captain Paul Collingwood who, 74 not out overnight, looked well placed to become the third Durham batsman to reach three figures. Instead, Collingwood fell early, judged leg before as he shaped to turn a short delivery from Ryan Sidebottom to leg after adding only seven.

That nevertheless left Durham on a healthy 414 for seven and any hopes of Yorkshire wrapping up the innings in short order were dashed by Richardson, aided and abetted on an easy-paced surface by Mark Wood and Jamie Harrison.

After surviving a confident lbw shout against Adil Rashid on 29, Richardson reached his fifty from 80 balls with seven fours, on the way losing Wood, caught at cover after an eighth-wicket stand of 49 in 31 overs.

There was to be no let-up for Yorkshire, however. Once again, Sidebottom apart, their bowlers struggled for consistency and Richardson and Harrison were in no mood to let them go unpunished. They had added 84 in 22 overs when, with Yorkshire looking increasingly impotent, Harrison was run out at the bowler’s end for a career-best 35 by a direct hit from wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

Richardson was 77 at that stage but soon moved into the nineties with a six over long on off Kane Williamson and repeated the stroke to reach his century from 141 balls with 11 fours and two sixes. He fell three balls later, well caught by Gary Ballance at deep mid-on as he went for a third big hit.

A Durham total of 573 was, however, not what the majority of another 5,500-plus crowd would have had in mind at the start of the match and their mood was not improved by the early loss of Adam Lyth, superbly caught at third slip by Ben Stokes as he aimed an extravagant drive at Chris Rushworth.

Yorkshire were still 555 in arrears at that stage but Phil Jaques and Willamson began the long haul to safety confidently enough, adding 54 in 13 overs before Scott Borthwick’s leg-spin deceived Jaques by some extra bounce and he was caught at short leg off bat-pad.

When Andrew Gale was trapped leg before by Harrison nine overs later, Yorkshire were 107 for three and on the back foot. Steady nerves were required and they were provided by Williamson and Bairstow.

New Zealand all-rounder Williamson, a late overseas recruit as cover for the possible absence of Bairstow and Ballance on international duty, had been dismissed for a golden duck in his only previous championship innings. However, once that ignominy had been avoided, he slipped into the groove, reaching a chanceless half-century from 81 balls with nine fours and by the close he and Bairstow had added 75 in 45 overs. Yorkshire are still the little matter of 242 away from avoiding the follow-on.

“The call from Colly was to push the follow-on target as high as possible,” said Richardson. “It’s going to be hard work to bowl pressure because the pitch is flat and the outfield fast. But things would change very quickly if we could get rid of Williamson and Bairstow early.”

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Bowlers give Surrey the edge against Derbyshire

Surrey have edged ahead in their relegation battle with Derbyshire after their bowlers, led by Tim Linley and George Edwards, exerted admirable control.

There were runs to be had on this lush-looking track which was presumably what Wayne Madsen thought when he chose to bat but as soon as a partnership started to ooze runs, Surrey yanked things back smartly to stop the flow.

Without a championship win all season, Surrey had their serious hats on so if there was a funny side to England’s sprinkler celebrations on Sunday night, there was certainly no evidence of it in the players' demeanour and the solemn business of accumulating points started right away.

On paper, Derbyshire were slightly ahead in this relegation dogfight, having earned two excellent victories against Middlesex last week and Sussex at the start of the month. It is rather late in the season to show their mettle but in a head-to-head against the floundering wooden spoon contenders, they must have fancied their chances of a third consecutive strike.

Chris Tremlett’s fourth delivery of the morning might have dented that ambition when opener Ben Slater was caught at first slip. It created instant pressure though the arrival of the division’s highest run maker Madsen to the crease took the sting out of Tremlett’s menace.

There was no Jade Dernbach, on England duty, and no Stuart Meaker who is recovering from injury, so George Edwards, a 21-year-old who last played a first-class match for Surrey over a year ago, took on the challenge of first-change bowler.

It took a while for him to work up some pace and aggression but when the button was pushed, it caught a few unawares, starting with Madsen who, wrong-footed, drove loosely to point. Paul Borrington also came a cropper with a quicker ball that he cut to slip and Shivnarine Chanderpaul was worn down by a ball that struck his helmet followed by one that hammered into his pads.

Edwards finished with three for 29 and although Linley went one better with four for 59, the youngster claimed the bigger scalps.

The highest partnership of the innings was the first one but no one thereafter was given a chance to open the floodgates and Derbyshire were all out for 219, leaving Surrey with four uneventful overs to bat out.

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England apologise for urinating on Oval pitch after celebrating Ashes series victory against Australia

Some of England's players are alleged to have urinated on the pitch hours after the series ended on Sunday night.

And in a statement released on the England and Wales Cricket Board's website, the team have now apologised if any of their actions may have caused offence.

"The England cricket team would like to state that during our celebrations after winning the Ashes at no time was there any intention to disrespect Surrey CCC, the Oval or anyone else involved in the game we love," the statement on read.

"As a team we pride ourselves on respecting all things cricket including the opposition and the grounds we play at. We got carried away amongst the euphoria of winning such a prestigious series and accept that some of our behaviour was inappropriate.

"If that has caused any offence to anyone we apologise for that and want to reassure people that it was a simple error of judgement more than anything else."

The allegations arose following eye-witness accounts from Australian journalists, who were still in the ground while England celebrated their 3-0 series win in the middle.

Reports have since indicated the ECB has launched an investigation into the matter after being contacted by Surrey chief executive Richard Gould.

Sports minister Hugh Robertson was even drawn into making a comment, telling the Daily Telegraph: "If it happened, it's not good behaviour."

Off-spinner Graeme Swann appeared to confirm the story when writing in Tuesday's Sun newspaper, but attempted to play it down.

"We did go out to the middle of the pitch, all the lads, drinking beers, singing a few songs and enjoying each other's company," he wrote.

"I think the call of nature might have come once or twice but it was nothing untoward.

"It was midnight, a private celebration in the middle of the pitch and the ground was dark."

The furore is the latest incident involving England and the Australians this summer to have cast a shadow over the tourists' visit.

In June, England opening batsman Joe Root was punched by Australian counterpart David Warner in the Walkabout bar in Birmingham, with the latter being suspended by the Baggy Green.

The Australia batsman made a public apology to Root and was sent to tour with Australia 'A' before returning to the fold for the third Test.

And earlier this month Sussex launched an investigation after England spinner Monty Panesar was given a fixed penalty notice for being "drunk and disorderly" following an incident at a Brighton nightclub.

The 31-year-old was ejected from the Shooshh club in Brighton, East Sussex and then urinated in public.

He had been part of the England squad that drew the third Test at Old Trafford to retain the urn, although he did not play, and has since left Sussex to join Essex on loan.

(Edited by Giles Mole)

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England's Ashes winners rested for one-day series against Australia as five uncapped players named in squad

Before his back problems, Jordan looked as if he might become the next Andrew Flintoff – his bowling being both quick and aggressive and his batting delightfully uncomplicated.

If that ambition has been tempered he certainly has it in him to be the next Tim Bresnan, if not a cricketer of his own design.

He qualifies for England through a grandmother and for West Indies through birth.

Indeed, West Indies had been interested in securing his services but perhaps forgot to make another approach once it became likely that his back problem would not compromise him.

Given the same choice back in the early 1970s, Gordon Greenidge chose (wisely as it happened) to play for West Indies and became one of the greats.

But if Jordan delivers on his early promise it will be a coup for England.

Jordan is one of 10 players in England’s one-day squad who represented England Lions against Bangladesh recently, registering two wins and a loss.

With the selectors deciding to rest Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad (though he will captain England’s T20 side this week), Graeme Swann and James Anderson after the Ashes, it always made sense to blood talented youngsters in the hope they might be fully formed by the next World Cup in 2015.

That learning process is why Kevin Pietersen has been retained and not rested alongside his Ashes team mates despite having a sore knee.

As he showed on the final day at the Kia Oval, few can match his batting versatility when the mood takes him and tyros such as Ben Stokes will assimilate a lot about one-day batting just by watching him and Eoin Morgan, England’s acting captain in Cook’s absence.

Pietersen is rested from the T20s and the squad to play Ireland, for which his place has been taken by Yorkshire’s Gary Ballance.

“Following a very intense period of cricket this summer we have decided to rest a number of senior players,” Geoff Miller, the national selector, said.

“This creates an excellent opportunity for players who have impressed in county cricket and for England Lions recently to test themselves at international level as we continue to build a squad ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup, which is less than 18 months away.”

After his surprise selection in the final Test, the absence of Chris Woakes from the one-day squad seems something of a puzzle, as does, given the experimental nature of the squad, the absence of Jonny Bairstow.

According to Miller, both have been given ample opportunity in England’s one-day sides before and the pair have been returned to their counties, Woakes to rediscover his swing and Bairstow to do some wicketkeeping.

“Players just don’t get given caps, they have to earn the opportunity through good performances with their counties,” Miller said.

“Once they have done that they will be considered for the next step, which is to introduce them to the international environment to see how they fare.”

One player eager to prove himself after a small taste of Test cricket three years ago is Michael Carberry.

Picked for a Test tour of Bangladesh, on the back of being an organised opening batsman, Carberry has revealed his inner animal for Hampshire this season to gain selection to both England’s T20 and one-day squads.

Like Jordan, he has endured a period out of the game, following complications from blood clots, but seems at the peak of his form now, ready to target Australia and the World Cup there in 18 months’ time.

England ODI squad v Ireland: E Morgan (Middlesex, capt), G Ballance (Yorkshire), R Bopara (Essex), D Briggs (Hampshire), J Buttler (Somerset), M Carberry (Hampshire), S Finn (Middlesex), C Jordan (Sussex), J Overton (Somerset), B Rankin (Warwickshire), B Stokes (Durham), J Taylor (Nottinghamshire), J Tredwell (Kent), L Wright (Sussex).

England ODI squad v Australia: E Morgan (Middlesex, capt), R Bopara (Essex), J Buttler (Somerset), M Carberry (Hampshire), S Finn (Middlesex), C Jordan (Sussex), J Overton (Somerset), K Pietersen (Surrey), B Rankin (Warwickshire), J Root (Yorkshire), B Stokes (Durham), J Tredwell (Kent), J Trott (Warwickshire), L Wright (Sussex).

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Michael Carberry set to be called up by England for one-day series against Australia

Carberry has not played for England since his solitary Test against Bangladesh in 2010. Since then ill health has set back his career but this season he has been in good form for Hampshire and the England Lions.

Carberry, who has suffered a blood clot on his lung since his one England appearance, has been enjoying a prolific season in limited-overs cricket. He made 146 for the Lions against Bangladesh A last week and topped 500 runs in the Friends Life Twenty20 competition at a strike rate of 142.

The pinnacle of his T20 season came with a hundred in the quarter-final against Lancashire helping to earn him a place in the England Twenty20 squad, which was announced earlier this month.

England play two Twenty20s against Australia starting at the Rose Bowl on Thursday and Durham on Saturday.

It is likely that Alastair Cook, who does not play in the T20 side, will be rested from the 50-over side, leaving Eoin Morgan to captain the 50-over team. Stuart Broad will lead the Twenty20 side but is likely to miss some, if not all, of the 50-over series.

Kevin Pietersen, James Anderson and Graeme Swann are also set to be rested although they could be added to the squad at a later stage. The five-match one-day series begins on Sept 6, three days after a one-off game against Ireland in Dublin.

Morgan has struck form just at the right time, hitting a season’s-best 90 to inspire his Middlesex side to a four-wicket Yorkshire Bank 40 win over Leicestershire at Lord’s on Monday.

National selector Geoff Miller was there to see Morgan hit eight fours and four sixes in a match-defining innings as Middlesex reached their target with 10 balls to spare.

Morgan reached a 43-ball fifty – his first in all forms of cricket in a hugely disappointing domestic season – by chipping six into the Tavern Stand against Josh Cobb. He was just 10 short of his century when a mistimed slog sweep against Shiv Thakor flew to Greg Smith at long on.

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Durham thrash Surrey to set up potential County Championship title decider against Yorkshire

Paul Collingwood’s side leapfrogged Middlesex and Sussex into second with their haul of 23 points as Mark Wood’s five for 44 wrapped up victory on the final day at Chester-le-Street.

Table-toppers Yorkshire now lie only 25.5 points ahead of Durham and have played a game more. The two sides face off at Scarborough on Wednesday in an encounter that could go a long way to deciding the destination of this year’s trophy.

Surrey, meanwhile, are rooted to the bottom of the table and now seem certain to suffer relegation after a season where the acquisition of several high-profile overseas players has failed to transform their fortunes.

The latest recruit, Hashim Amla, did his best to hold up Durham with a superb innings of 89 on debut, but his dismissal shortly before lunch by Mark Rushworth hammered the final nail into Surrey’s coffin.

Seamer Wood returned career-best figures as he dismantled Surrey’s lower order, including three in four balls either side of the interval. Keeper Phil Mustard was also in the thick of the action with six catches, including a spectacular diving effort to remove Chris Tremlett.

The title picture also moved into sharper focus in Division Two, as leaders Lancashire secured a nine-wicket win over Worcestershire. Glen Chapple’s side are now 34 points clear of second-placed Northamptonshire, who were frustrated by the weather in their draw with Essex earlier in the week.

Lancashire’s push for victory at Worcester hinged on removing the in-form Moeen Ali (109), who on Saturday had completed his second century of the match, and his sixth score of over 50 in his last six home innings. It was veteran Chapple who made the crucial breakthrough, finding Moeen’s edge to give keeper Gareth Cross one of his five catches.

Tom Smith and the in-form Kyle Hogg polished off the tail, and despite some useful resistance from Jack Shantry (31) and Joe Leach (20), Worcestershire’s total of 241 left Lancashire only 88 to chase for victory.

That meagre target was achieved in some style, with young opener Luis Reece continuing his fine introduction to Championship cricket with 56 not out off 51 balls. He and Ashwell Prince steered Lancashire home for the loss of only one wicket to record a fifth win in the last six games.

Lancashire’s haul of 24 points leaves them in pole position in Division Two, and if Yorkshire can see off Durham this week in the top flight, there will be short odds indeed on a good year for the Roses in the County Championship.

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PCB mulls day-night Tests against Sri Lanka

'I wasted the first four years of my career'

The New Zealand great recalls his tours to India, his battle with depression, and speaks of the challenges facing modern-day allrounders

India A look to make recce lessons count for bigger test

While the A tour has helped India's young cricketers, it's unlikely it will give the senior side any advantage when they tour South Africa later in the year

How to handle Pietersen

Give genius players like him the freedom and appreciation they desire and they'll win matches for you more often than not

Why Ryan Harris should play at The Oval

He and Chris Rogers have been Australia's sole positives in the latter half of this Ashes series

Azharullah brings romance to Finals Day

Having thrown in his lot for a career in county cricket, Azharullah can complete the fairytale by helping unfancied Northants to glory

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Wimbledon - Murray goes two sets up against Djokovic in final

Follow the match HERE!

Murray, who took the first set 6-4, came from a break down to clinch the second, breaking Djokovic's serve again at 5-5 before holding to love.

The world number two would be the first British male to win the Wimbledon title in 77 years.

Murray won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open last year.

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Ashes 2013: Alastair Cook's England still to reach their full potential against Australia

England do not play South Africa, the No1 Test team, again until 2015, but even a whitewash over Australia in this series, while allowing them to leapfrog India into second place, would only take them within hailing distance of Graeme Smith’s team. As such, any notion that Cook’s side are the best in recent times does not yet hold up, though it has the potential.

Most dominant teams have five or six pillars that maintain their excellence, players on whom they can depend to perform more times than not. Before this Ashes series, they were James Anderson and Graeme Swann with the ball and Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior with the bat. But while Anderson and Swann have played their parts in England’s two wins against Australia, the other pillars have not, with Ian Bell and Joe Root instead playing the telling innings. Happy situation though that is for the two leading run-scorers, it means this England team have consigned Australia to two defeats without ever firing fully.

With hundreds in each match, Bell is making up for when he was Shane Warne’s meek figure of fun in 2005. The “Sherminator”though has since sprouted pecs and discovered a self-belief that comes from within rather than from a pep talk with the psychologist.

Warne has a theory that players such as Bell do better when they have Pietersen alongside, something that will be tested should the latter not recover from his calf strain before the third Test at Old Trafford in nine days.

Root’s continued rise to prominence has not been a revelation for everyone. For those who have been involved in his recent development, his ability to cope with the pressure, expectation and extra quality of international cricket and treat it like a fun game in the park, has not come as a huge surprise. Yet, still only 22, his record at under-19 level is not sparkling so those who have known him longer reckon something crucial has clicked in the past few years for him to rival Cook’s impressive start to Test cricket seven years ago.

“Well, they are both mature for young men and Alastair had a similar mentality when he was Joe’s age,” said Graham Gooch, England’s batting coach yesterday. “He was mature in the mind, he knew exactly how he could score runs and I think anyone who saw Joe in the winter saw that too.

“When he was suddenly promoted to the one-day side in India last winter, he walked straight in and you’d have thought he’d been playing this sort of game the whole time. He has a confidence about him.”

Australian supporters at Lord’s were certainly lusting over his calm authority. While their young batsmen were careless, uncertain and impatient at Lord’s, Root exuded control that sets up winning scores in Test matches, at least until he was caught playing a ramp shot for 180. Yet even that was an attempt to reach his 200 with the minimum of hold-up after Michael Clarke put most of his fielders on the boundary.

Australia felt they had a good plan for Root, to pitch it up and swing it, given his preference for playing off the back foot until well set. But plans are all very well if you have the bowlers to activate them, which Australia do not seem overly blessed with at present.

Normally, injury to Pietersen would be a concern for England but apart from a handy 64 in the second innings at Trent Bridge, his lack of runs (21 in the other three innings this series) has not been much missed.

Last time Australia were here England managed to win the Ashes without him playing the last three Tests after he damaged his Achilles tendon, which could be repeated unless he recovers fully from his calf strain.

Who would come in for Pietersen is not clear, as England do not have great strength in depth apart from in the pace bowling department. Ben Stokes and Eoin Morgan both trained with England in the build up to the Lord’s match while Ravi Bopara has been happily restored to the England one-day team where he once more shone, with ball as well as bat. But while occupation of the crease retains its appeal for sides 2-0 up in a five-match series, you cannot rule out Nick Compton.

While England’s batting has discovered new pillars, the bowling has been reliant, as ever, on Swann and Anderson, which is perhaps how it should be in a four-man attack. Although not quite Warne and Glenn McGrath, they are nevertheless a potent combination on the dry, bare pitches ordered by England, though their best performance has yet to coincide in the same match this series.

When it does, and when Cook, Trott and Prior find their appetite, Australia could need trauma counsellors.

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