Tendulkar draws stumps on ODI career

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Sachin Tendulkar ... brings curtain down on great ODI career. Source: Rafiq Maqbool / AP

India batting legend Sachin Tendulkar has reportedly announced his retirement from one-day internationals, although he still plans to play Test matches.

"I have decided to retire from the one-day format of the game,'' said Tendulkar, who will also continue to play in the Indian Premier League for Mumbai Indians.

"I feel blessed to have fulfilled the dream of being part of a World Cup-winning Indian team. The preparatory process to defend the World Cup in 2015 should begin early and in right earnest.

"I would like to wish the team all the very best for the future. I am eternally grateful to all my well-wishers for their unconditional support and love over the years.''

Tendulkar, the most-capped player in one-day internationals with 463 games and also the batsman with most runs (18,426) and centuries (49), made the announcement as national selectors were in the process of announcing the team for a limited-overs home series against Pakistan.

Former chief selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth said he was shocked at the timing.

"Sachin's announcement has come as a big surprise,'' said Srikkanth.

"I thought he would play in the one-day series against Pakistan.''

Tendulkar had been selective in playing one-day games over the past two years but completed an unprecedented 100 international centuries earlier this year during the Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

The Mumbai batsman had the knack of being among the runs in big international tournaments like the World Cup and his retirement brings an end to a golden generation of cricketers in the one-day format that included former captain Sourav Ganguly, Dravid and Anil Kumble.

Tendulkar scored the maximum runs in two editions of the World Cup - 673 to ensure India made the final in 2003 and 523 when India made the semi-finals in 1996. In 2011, he was the second top run-scorer (482) behind Sri Lanka's Tillekaratne Dilshan (500) but winning the tournament more than made up.

His absence had also been felt in the 1999 World Cup when India failed to advance from the Super Eights, losing a crucial game to Zimbabwe when Tendulkar had to go home due to his father's death. He returned to England and made a century against Kenya but India could not reach the knockouts.

"Winning the World Cup (in 2011) is the proudest moment of my life ... I couldn't control my tears of joy,'' Tendulkar said after attaining a long-time dream at his home ground Wankhede Stadium on April 2 last year.

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Lehmann charged for outburst

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Trouble ... Lehmann's comments about Samuels landed him in hot water. Source: Mark Calleja / News Limited

Cricket Australia has charged Brisbane Heat coach Darren Lehmann with breaching its code of behaviour following his criticism of the bowling action of Melbourne Renegades import Marlon Samuels.

In a post-match interview, Lehmann queried how an offspin bowler with a short run-up could legally produce faster balls of about 120km/h following the Renegades' victory over his side.

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"I just want something done," Lehmann said. "He (Samuels) couldn't bowl in the IPL last year, yet he can bowl in the BBL. We've got to seriously look at what we're doing."

According to the code of behaviour, players and officials must not "denigrate or criticise another player or denigrate or criticise an official, umpire, referee or team against which they have played or will play ... by inappropriately commenting on any aspect of his or her performance, abilities or characteristics."

CA said it would not make any comment on the charge. The date and time of the hearing is yet to be determined.

In January 2008, Samuels was reported for a suspect bowling action while playing a Test match for the West Indies against South Africa. He was subsequently banned from bowling in international matches, a suspension lifted in 2011 after Samuels underwent biomechanical testing in Perth.

But in April this year, Samuels again was reported for a suspect action while bowling for the Pune Warriors. He was banned from the IPL.

CA has a Doubtful Bowling Action Procedure through which any bowler mentioned by three different umpires in the same season is reported. Umpires also have the option to lodge a report directly if they feel it is warranted.

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Clarke no certainty for Boxing Day

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Race against time ... Clarke has three days to prove his fitness for the Boxing Day Test. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Australia Chairman of selectors John Inverarity has declared Michael Clarke just a "50-50 chance" of being fit for the Boxing Day Test as the skipper hit the MCG in a bid to prove his fitness.

Australia captain Michael Clarke is no certainty to play in the Boxing Day Test, with chairman of selectors John Inverarity rating him just a "50-50 chance" of being fit.

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Clarke, who suffered a hamstring strain during the dramatic first Test win over Sri Lanka in Hobart last weekend, only trained for the first time on Sunday in a bid to prove his fitness.

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Just three days out from the big match, Clarke trained separately from the main group, giving his hamstring a short workout with some light running before engaging in conversation with Inverarity.

Usman Khawaja is on stand-by should Clarke be ruled out, but with the skipper clearly Australia's most in-form batsman; the side's new-look top order will need to step up if their captain is absent.

"Look, he's travelling optimistically and well, but he's 50-50 as to whether he'll be fit enough to play on Boxing Day," Inverarity said.

Inverarity and vice-captain Shane Watson both expect the world's No.1-ranked batsman to do everything possible to prove his fitness over the next couple of days.

"He's a very precious asset and I would go low risk," Inverarity said.

"He's always upbeat, he desperately wants to play, but we certainly don't want to push him especially hard in a Test and for him to break down."

Watson said if Clarke isn't fit, he will be ready to take on the captaincy, although he isn't thinking about it just yet.

The all-rounder has never led Australia in a Test, although he did the job with some distinction in the limited-overs series in the West Indies earlier in the year.

"It's just about as big as it gets for an Australian cricketer," said Watson of the prospect of leading Australia in a Boxing Day Test.

"There's no doubt if that opportunity arises it certainly will be like it was when I had the opportunity to be captain in the one-dayers; it's an amazing opportunity to think that something like that has come along in your life.

"But as I said, I'm trying not to get too far in front of myself at the moment.

"In the end I know Michael will be doing everything he possibly can to be able to get right for this Test match and everyone's got their fingers crossed that he'll be right but if the opportunity does arise then I'll re-focus then."

Watson said recently-retired former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting had taught him a lot about leadership and captaincy with Watson ready to trust his instincts if he is called on to lead the team.

"Ricky has always been an amazing influence on my career and there's no doubt he's taught me a lot of very good lessons about the game of cricket, but also leadership as well," Watson said.

"There's no doubt a lot of those things he's always talked to me about, when I did lead the team last summer, about just not thinking about things too much and just letting your gut instinct make the decisions for you.

"I'll make sure I'm nice and planned if that opportunity does come around but as I said, Ricky Ponting has given me a lot of very good advice in the past so I'm sure that will come out if the opportunity arises."

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Ponting leads Hurricanes to victory

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Winding back the clock ... Ponting posted a half-century at Blundstone Arena. Source: Nikki Davis-Jones / News Limited

Ricky Ponting's highest KFC T20 Big Bash League score and a hat-trick from Xavier Doherty led Hobart Hurricanes to a 30-run victory over Sydney Thunder at Blundstone Arena on Sunday.

T20 - Blundstone Arena

23 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Thunder 1st Innings

S. Abbott	9	8	1	0	112.5
D. Nannes	3	2	0	0	150
B. Laughlin	4	0	23	2	5.75

Ponting, who turned 38 last week, hit 63 from 45 balls, putting on an opening stand of 111 with Tim Paine (40 from 34) in the Hurricanes' 4-177 after they lost the toss.

Spinner Doherty (3-32) grabbed a 17th-over hat-trick when he snared Simon Keen (24 from 12), Ryan Carters (10 from 10) and Cameron Borgas (0).

Doherty had Keen caught at mid-on by sub Jason Krejza and Carters stumped by Paine before Borgas appeared unlucky to be judged lbw.

That reduced the Thunder to 7-122 before they finished on 9-147 for their fourth loss in as many starts.Earlier, Ponting reached his 50 from 36 balls with a huge six over midwicket off the bowling of Azhar Mahmood (0-44), the shot coming after consecutive fours.

With superb placement rather than brute power, the former Australia captain hit seven fours and two sixes in making his highest BBL score in his first Hurricanes match at Bellerive.

And to the delight of the crowd of 12,209, Ponting chipped in with the late wicket of Scott Coyte (10 from five).

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Click on the video at the bottom of the page to see all the sixes from Punter's innings!

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"I'm a pretty experienced player and this was pretty much a must-win game for us,'' Ponting said.

"It's important that we did stand up."

But Ponting admitted he was still adjusting to Twenty20 cricket. 

"It does take a little bit of getting used to," he said.

"I haven't played one-day cricket for a while either so the shorter forms of the game are a little bit foreign to me at the moment." 

Thunder captain Chris Rogers conceded his side's finals chances were all but gone. 

"There's always a mathematical chance but at the moment it's hard to see," he said. 

"We're just not playing well enough."

The Thunder never recovered from losing openers Chris Gayle (13 from 14) and Mark Cosgrove (19 from 16 early) to be 2-36 in the sixth over.

They were 4-91 in the 14th when Mahmood (23 from 20) and skipper Chris Rogers' (24 from 28) rescue mission was ended.

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Earlier, Hobart's bright start looked like it could be squandered when Paine and Travis Birt (0 from 4) were both out with the score 111 in the 14th over, delivered by young legspinner Adam Zampa (3-26).

But Englishman Owais Shah (26 from 16) and skipper George Bailey (30 from 13) salvaged the situation for the Hurricanes with a stand of 54.

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The Hurricanes' victory took them to 2-2 at the halfway point of their campaign.Englishman Owais Shah (26 from 16) and skipper George Bailey (30 from 13) salvaged the situation for the Hurricanes with a stand of 54.

Showman Chris Gayle earned the ire of a big Hobart crowd when he half-threatened a Mankad runout, then stood with arms extended gesturing to the grandstand.

The match looms as a season-definer for both sides, with Hobart 1-2 and the Thunder yet to notch a BBL victory this season.

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New coach puts Roar on notice

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On notice ... Roar coach says he will be "active" in next month's transfer window. Source: Adam Armstrong / News Limited

Mike Mulvey has put his struggling Brisbane Roar squad on notice, saying he will be "active" in next month's transfer window after a 1-0 home loss to Perth Glory.

Having last week inherited a squad put together by master mentor Ange Postecoglou and failed successor Rado Vidosic, the new Roar coach has acknowledged the need for some fresh faces in all positions.

"I've got some phone calls to make overseas," Mulvey said yesterday less than 24 hours after his first game in charge of the Roar ended in a 1-0 home loss to Perth Glory.

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"We know we need some additions to the squad, and at the same time the players need a bit of a boost.

"We're certainly going to be active in the January transfer window.''

And that potentially means buying and selling players.

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Mulvey had a lengthy discussion at yesterday's recovery session with midfielder Erik Paartalu, who has made no secret of his desire to leave the champions.

Another player likely to be headed for the exit door, either next month or at the end of the season, is disgruntled defender Matt Jurman.

The former Sydney FC centre-back has fallen even further down the Roar pecking order, with Mulvey saying he was going to persevere with youngster James Donachie as skipper Matt Smith's central defensive partner.

Jurman will play in today's National Youth League clash between the Roar and the Glory at Goodwin Park.

"I expect him to be disappointed that he's not in the first team,'' Mulvey said of Jurman.

"It's now up to Matt to put pressure on those guys (Smith and Donachie).''

Certain to miss Brisbane's clash against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Wednesday is fullback Jack Hingert, who suffered a serious hip injury just minutes after coming on as a substitute against the Glory.

Mulvey said he was yet to decide whether Ben Halloran would again be left out of the starting side after he surprisingly watched most of the Perth loss from the bench.

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Ronaldo to United; it could happen

Switch hint ... Cristiano Ronaldo is open to a move back to Manchester United. Source: Andres Kudacki / AP

A move back to Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo may not be as far-fetched as first thought.

But it would require paying an incredible €1 billion ($1.27 billion) get-out clause on top of a huge transfer fee.

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The 27-year-old told friends and former teammates he wants to "come home", according to The Sun newspaper.

Ronaldo, who will head to Manchester to face United in the next round of the UEFA Champions League early next year with his Real Madrid teammates, reportedly wants to work with Sir Alex Ferguson again.

The United manager earlier this week spoke of how he would love to have the Portuguese international back at the club. The pair are still on good terms despite the forward's departure from the club three years ago.

But even if Real were willing to let their biggest star leave, United would face a huge financial hurdle to seal the deal. His get-out clause at the Bernabeu is reported to be €1 billion and his current contract has two-and-a-half years to run.

Since his move to Spain in 2009, Ronaldo has bagged 170 goals in 169 games and his performances have seen him shortlisted for this year's Ballon d'Or.

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Strikers demolish Sixers in Adelaide

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Smashing ... Tim Ludeman hit three sixes on his way to 71 not out. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Sydney Sixers' title defence is in tatters after a humiliating nine-wicket loss to the Adelaide Strikers in Sunday night's KFC T20 Big Bash League match in Adelaide.

T20 - Adelaide Oval

23 December 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Strikers 1st Innings

T. Ludeman	71	43	7	3	165.12
M. Johnston	3	1	0	0	300
S. O'Keefe	2.5	0	24	1	8.47

Chasing 136 to win, the Strikers reached 1-136 with 25 balls remaining, opening batsman Tim Ludeman top-scoring with an unbeaten 71 from just 43 balls.

The Sixers won the inaugural BBL crown last summer and also claimed the worldwide Champions League trophy in October.

But Brad Haddin's outfit have now lost three games in a row and languish in seventh spot at the halfway mark of the tournament.

Adelaide's third win in four matches was built on a miserly bowling performance which restricted the Sixers to 6-135 on the batter-friendly Adelaide Oval.

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Adelaide's opening batsmen Ludeman and Michael Klinger (53) then ensured victory with a brutal 125-run partnership in just 15.2 overs.

Ludeman posted his half-century from just 31 deliveries which featured six fours and two sixes as the Strikers streeted to 0-92 after 11 overs.

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The in-form wicketkeeper-batsman finished with seven fours and three sixes while Klinger was more circumspect but still reached his half-century from only 49 balls before falling soon after.

Earlier, Sydney's batsmen laboured and never recovered despite the best efforts of Steven Smith (58 from 43 balls) and Moises Henriques (32 from 26 balls).

Skipper Haddin (22 from 30 balls) was the only other batsman to pass five runs.

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Strikers paceman Shaun Tait claimed 2-13 from three overs and left-arm spinner Brad Young, making his BBL debut after retiring from first-class cricket in 2003, took 1-11 from three overs - his wicket coming from his second ball.

Adelaide rose to second on the ladder by thumping the Sixers.

"It was a pretty good night. We bowled well and fielded really well to set it up," Adelaide's man-of-the-match Ludeman said.

"And then me and Maxy (Klinger) got off us to a good start which set the tone.

"We're in a good position at the halfway stage but have got a big game coming up against the Melbourne Stars (on December 27).

Sydney's Smith said posting 135 ``wasn't anywhere near enough".

"We were under a bit of pressure early. A couple of early wickets always hurts in this format.

"We had to rebuild a little bit and couldn't really execute at the end."

But Smith said the Sixers won't concede their title defence has ended.

"It is obviously going to be hard work from here on in. We are going to have to play some good cricket and turn it around," he said.

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Lobe blow for Wigan star

Thick ear ... Wigan Athletic striker Franco Di Santo was sent off the pitch for wearing an earring. Source: AAP

Wigan Athletic striker Franco Di Santo was left red-faced, and red-eared, after being sent off the pitch during the club's match against Arsenal - for wearing an earring.

Wearing jewellery during a match is against FA rules, but referee Jonathan Moss only spotted Di Santo's offending earpiece during an argument with the Argentine over a free-kick in the second half.

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Di Santo was immediately sent to the sidelines to have it removed by the club's physio and Arsenal piled on the pressure as Wigan were temporarily reduced to ten men.

Even after having the earring removed, Di Santo had to wait several minutes for the ball to go out of play before he could rejoin his teammates on the pitch, with the Wigan fans loudly booing their displeasure.

With Wigan in the midst of a relegation scrap, manager Roberto Martinez was reportedly fuming at Di Santo and is rumoured to have had a word with the striker after the match.

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