Symonds back in Test side

Calcutta: Andrew Symonds got his place in the Australian Test side back on Thursday when Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel announced a 13-man squad for the first Test against New Zealand starting at the Gabba in Brisbane on November 20, says A Staff Reporter.

The squad

Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson.

Yuvi lacks focus: Dilip

New Delhi: Former chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar on Thursday said lack of focus has been the main reason for Yuvraj Singh not being able to live up to his potential despite being given several opportunities.

“Yuvraj has been given too many opportunities but he has failed to translate his talent into performance consistently in international cricket,” Vengsarkar said.

Rankings

Calcutta: India’s Mithali Raj and captain Jhulan Goswami hung on to the third position in the batsmen’s and bowlers’ charts respectively in the ICC women’s ODI rankings released on Thursday, says A Staff Reporter.

Rankings

Batswomen: 1. Claire Taylor (Eng), 2. Lisa Sthalekar (Aus), 3. Mithali Raj (Ind), 4. Sarah Taylor (Eng), 5. Alex Blackwell (Aus), 6. Charlotte Edwards (Eng), 7. Nicola Browne (NZ), 8. Karen Rolton (Aus), 9. Shelley Nitschke (Aus), 10. Sara McGlashen (NZ)

Bowlers: 1. Isa Guha (Eng), 2. Shelley Nitschke (Aus), 3. Jhulan Goswami (Ind), 4. Emma Sampson (Aus), 5. Lisa Sthalekar (Aus), 6. Holly Colvin (Eng), 7. Jenny Gunn (Eng), 8. Rumeli Dhar (Ind), 9. Aimee Mason (NZ), 10= Nicola Browne (NZ), Kirsten Pike (Aus)

Allrounders: 1. Lisa Sthalekar (Aus), 2. Shelley Nitschke (Aus), 3. Nicola Browne (NZ), 4. Aimee Mason (NZ), 5. Jenny Gunn (Eng)

Clarke out

Calcutta: Michael Clarke will miss the Emirates All Star Twenty20 match on Friday at the Gabba through illness. Xavier Doherty has been selected to replace Clarke in the 12-man squad, says A Staff Reporter.

Badshahs win

Ahmedabad: Imran Farhat slammed a 38-ball 65 as Lahore Badshahs survived a scare before scraping through a four-wicket victory over Hyderabad Heroes in the first final of ICL T20 championship here on Thursday.

Brief scores: Heroes 170 (A. Razzaq 69) vs Badshahs 171/6 (I. Farhat 65.) Badshahs won by 4 wkts.

Digvijay shines

Sentosa: On a rain-truncated day, Digvijay Singh was left stranded with seven holes to go in the joint second spot in the Singapore Open here on Thursday. Among the Indians, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Arjun Singh returned identical two-over 73. Arjun Atwal carded five-over 76 while Jeev Milkha Singh was at two-over.

Prakash up

New Delhi: Prakash Amritraj beat qualifier Izak Van Der Merwe to advance to the second round of the $50,000 ATP Challenger series event in Champaign, USA. Prakash won 6-7 (4/7) 6-4, 7-6 (7/4). In doubles, Somdev Dev Varman and Izak beat Gd. Jones and Connor Roth 6-1, 3-6, 10-8.