Roberto Mancini says he needs two more players to compete at top level

ROBERTO MANCINI is tipping Sergio Aguero to push Manchester City closer to the title but insists he still needs TWO more players to win it.

City's boss said: "Sergio is another striker, a young one. We need a player like him and he can make a difference.

"But if we want to compete with all the other top teams at home and in the Champions League, we will need other players.

"We are working on this. We need someone in the middle and the right wing. One midfielder and one winger."

Argentinian Aguero will cost the FA Cup winners around £38million.

But those new signings Mancini still wants could add another £40m to the bill, with £23m-rated Arsenal star Samir Nasri his next target to fill that midfield role.

If Inter Milan opt to swoop for City skipper Carlos Tevez at around £50m, Mancini could even consider a swap involving Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o if the cash adjustment was right.

With both City and Inter staying at the same Dublin hotel this weekend, a deal could be cooked up.

Mancini added: "Carlos will remain a full part of the squad. He comes back from holiday next week. I don't know about a deal with Inter."

Manchester City in talks to swap Carlos Tevez for Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o

Manchester City and Inter Milan will hold talks over a swap deal involving Carlos Tévez and Samuel Eto’o this weekend.

Both clubs are in Ireland for the Dublin Super Cup pre-season competition which also involves Celtic. Manchester City and Inter will meet on Sunday.

It is understood that the deal being proposed is a straight swap — valuing each player at around £40 million — with City keen to offload Tévez, who wants to leave, after signing Sergio Agüero for £38 million from Atlético Madrid as his replacement. Their wages are thought to be comparable.

Ironically City had hoped to pair Tévez and Eto’o as their strike-force two years ago. They signed Tévez but failed to land Eto’o after becoming frustrated with negotiations.

The club pulled out of talks with Barcelona, with chief executive Garry Cook making a public statement. The Cameroon striker then tried to resurrect the deal before he eventually moved to Inter, where he won the Champions League in his first season.

Eto’o, 30, is now believed to want to move to City and secure one final big contract before the end of his career. Preliminary talks have been held between the two clubs, over the phone, in the last few days and it is hoped they will be formalised in Dublin this weekend.

City held tentative discussions earlier this summer about the swap deal but that was abandoned again because of Eto’o’s demands. He has been trying to negotiate a new deal at Inter, without success, and is open to the move.

Despite a difficult campaign last season, Eto’o scored 21 goals while Tévez was the Premier League’s top scorer.

Tévez was close to securing a transfer back to South America, rejoining the Brazilian club Corinthians, but that collapsed. Corinthians ran out of time as the South American transfer window closed and there was dispute over the payments after a fee of £40 million was close to being agreed.

Inter have been one of three European clubs who have expressed an interest in Tévez, along with Juventus and Real Madrid, and it is thought that the player’s adviser, Kia Joorabchian, flew to Italy this week to see whether a deal was possible.

City had said they would not sell Tévez to a European club for less than £50  million but that is negotiable given the urgency for him to go and the possibility of Eto’o arriving.

Tévez, 27, cited a desire to be closer to his wife and two daughters — who struggled to settle in England — as the reason for wanting to quit City this summer, having already submitted a transfer request at the end of last year.

He had hoped that meant a move to Corinthians but it is believed that he would regard moving to Italy, and living in Milan, as a compromise that would persuade his wife, Vanessa, to spend more time in Europe.

Eto’o would expect to partner Agüero in a new-look City attack as they attempt to win the Premier League next season.

It means, however, that City also now have to concentrate their efforts on trying to off load Emmanuel Adebayor and Craig Bellamy.

Tottenham Hotspur want to sign Adebayor but also want City to heavily subsidise his wages.

Real have pulled out of any move, for now, having in principle agreed to sign Neymar — who was wanted by Chelsea – from the Brazilian club Santos in January. City have also yet to decide whether to sell, or possibly loan, winger Adam Johnson, who appears to have fallen out of favour with manager Roberto Mancini.

Chelsea made an inquiry over Johnson’s availability earlier this summer but that interest has been put on hold as new manager Andre Villas-Boas assesses his options, especially as he has little room for manoeuvre in his squad without moving on some senior players.

Villas-Boas said that he felt City’s transfer dealings meant it was “pretty clear” they were genuine title contenders.

“They are building a squad to threaten for the title,” he said. “They are making good signings and they can threaten for the league as well. Agüero will do well, I think.”

Trent Bridge: India finish Day 1 at 24 for 1

Trent Bridge (Nottingham): Indian pacers made strong statement on Day 1 of the second Test at Trent Bridge blowing away England top order in no time but a spirited fight back lead by Stuart Broad helped England put up a respectable total of 221 in their first innings.

Sreesanth After Trott Departure,
with an extremely stunning Delivery

Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar and S Sreesnath finished with three wickets a piece.

India closed the end of Day 1 with 24 runs for the loss of one wicket.

Abhinav Mukund got out for a first ball duck as Rahul Dravid (7*) and VVS Laxman (13*) held the fort for the Indians.

Earlier in the day, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss on a gloomy Nottingham morning and elected to bowl in the second Test of the npower series at Trent Bridge.

With S Sreesanth in for Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh in for Gautam Gambhir, India needed to utilize the conditions early on.


And as India would have expected, the morning session did belong to the visitors with S Sreesanth leading from the front at lunch.

Ishant Sharma was bowling in rhythm pitching the ball short at uncomfortable height whereas Praveen Kumar relied heavily on his banana swing to trouble the batsmen.

Ishant first took out Alastair Cook (2) leg before wicket as Sreesanth struck in his very first over to send the solid Jonathan Trott back to the pavilion for just 4 runs.

Kevin Pieteren looked ominous for a brief period, playing with authority as Sreesanth in his usual sense started to bowl waywardly. KP along with Struass who slugged it out in the middle had a little partnership going.

But unlike Lord’s, the Indian bowlers were able to put a break on the partnership. Comeback man Sreesanth took his revenge of being hit for two consecutive boundaries scalping the prized wicket KP.

Throughout the morning session, the swing was very much evident and it was well exploited by both Praveen and Sreesanth.


Ishant on the other hand admirably stuck to his task of hitting the deck hard, giving no room for the batsmen to work around thus keeping on the pressure.

After lunch, as Sree picked up KP, Praveen joined in with the wickets of Strauss and Eion Morgan. Both dismissals were classic swing bowlers’ wicket. Strauss poked into an out-swinging delivery only to edge it to Raina at third slip.

Two balls later, Kumar produced a gem of a delivery against Morgan which came back in just enough to convince Asad Rauf to raise his finger for LBW.

England seemed to fall apart at this moment as the pacers continued to make merry. Sreesanth came back to square up Matt Prior giving catching practice for Dravid at first slip, then Sharma finished off a little resistance of Bell.

When it looked like india would wrap up the England innings before tea, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann combined to put up a fight till tea.

But the fight turned into fight back a bit later and in no time counter attacking from both the gritty players took India by surprise.

In between all this, Harbhajan squeezed in three odd over only to be plundered around the park.

Broad and Swann clearly stuck it out and with most of the steam gone out of the pacers by tea, Harbhajan should have taken up the role of clearing out the tail but instead he became the victim of a ‘tailwind’ propelled by Swann and Broad.

Broad launched an all-out attack on India trying to clear the in-field on every occasion and he did that rather successfully.

PK did take the wicket of Swann but last man James Anderson hung around enough for Broad to get his fifty and in the process clear the 200-run mark for England as well.

The last two wickets of England totalled 97 runs whereas the first eight could only muster 124.

The Trent Bridge Test on Day 1 displayed the same character of Indian team which had helped them reach the numero uno status in Test whereas England showcased the fighting spirit that could take them all the way to the top of the tree in Tests.

A long Day 2 awaits the duo of Dravid and Laxman as the English bowling lead by Anderson and Broad would be looking to ruffle up some early feathers at Nottingham.

Tottenham Playmaker Luka Modric To Demand Chelsea Move In Next 48 Hours

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric will tell chairman Daniel Levy in the next 48 hours he still wants to move to Chelsea this summer.

The 25-year-old has been the subject of two bids from the Blues this summer but Spurs are adamant he is not for sale.

The Croatia international has five-years left on his contract and has attracted interest from Manchester United and Manchester City also.

Levy has claimed Modric will not leave “at any price” but the club have so far refused to say whether they will offer the player a pay rise to reflect their valuation of him.

Manager Harry Redknapp is desperate to keep hold of the playmaker as he bids to regain a place in the Champions League, according to The Times.

The Spurs boss labelled Chelsea’s original £22million as ‘ridiculous’ and stands by his chairman in refusing to sell one of his best assets.

Chelsea are expected to increase their offer in the coming weeks as they search for a playmaker to play behind Fernando Torres.

The Blues owner, Roman Abramovich, has been talking to Modric’s agent on his yacht in Dubrovnik.

Guus Hiddink in warning to Andre Villas-Boas

GUUS HIDDINK has warned Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas not to lose the respect of John Terry and Frank Lampard.

The former Blues chief admits Villas-Boas' relationship with the club's two key senior players is of paramount importance.

And Hiddink, in charge at Stamford Bridge two years ago, revealed Lamps and JT play the role of enforcers when it comes to discipline in the squad.

Hiddink, now Turkey manager, was George Best's room-mate as a player in America when he was the same age as Villas-Boas.

Asked whether Chelsea's ex-Porto boss will be able to enjoy a good relationship with his players at 33, Hiddink said: "It depends on the quality of the manager and also his human qualities.

"Age does not have to mean the players consider him as a brother. If they feel he is straightforward and has good integrity he will be fine.

"He has to win respect. But it does not always have to do with age. On top of that, English professional players like Terry and Lampard know what is demanded in England. They take the lead.

"At big clubs, some leading players - like JT and Lampard - have a kind of respect for the club as well.

"They know the standards and what is required at Chelsea.

"The Chelsea squad have been together a long time, with new additions coming in. They have their own pride as a group and Villas-Boas can manage them.

"It is a very young age to be at Chelsea but he has proved at Porto that he is good. The Premier League is different but young people must be given a chance.

"I started young - but not that young. I was responsible for PSV Eindhoven when I was 41. When I was 33, I was an over-the-hill player. I was playing with George Best at San Jose. He was my room-mate.

"When you are playing at that age, you think you are still managing but young players are running around you, kicking and elbowing you.

"That is the sign to say stop playing, you are getting old." Skipper Terry, 30, insists he wants to be Chelsea's next manager after Villas-Boas.

But Hiddink, 64, who won the FA Cup as Blues caretaker, warned: "Sometimes people underestimate managing a group of players.

"They are part of the group and then being the leader is different. If they are wise they get an experienced manager on board while doing their courses.

"If they can cope with that change in a different world where they are no longer the star player, they can make that transformation. But he has to be intelligent."

Arsene Wenger says Barcelona wrangle has ‘unsettled’ Cesc Fabregas

ARSENE WENGER says Cesc Fabregas' on-off move to Barcelona is messing with his skipper's head.

Fabregas has been left out of Arsenal's squad for this weekend's Emirates Cup as the £40million transfer wrangle takes its toll.

The Arsenal midfielder is also suffering from a hamstring injury.

And Wenger said: "He is coming back from an injury and is not settled with us.

"You know all the speculation which is around his position, that has to be sorted out soon.

"I'm just worried that the player has to be completely focused and committed to our club.

"At the moment he's coming back from an injury and we have to sort out that situation.

"He is the captain of our club and we have to make sure he is really focused on being with us."

Barca have been turning up the heat on the Gunners in their pursuit to land the former Nou Camp kid.

Yet Wenger is refusing to budge and insists he will not let Fabregas go just because of his emotional struggle.

He added: "It would mean that anybody who just wants to leave we will have to let him go, and for any price.

Arsenal agree fee for Mata - and set Fabregas deadline

Arsene Wenger is on the brink of breaking Arsenal’s transfer record to sign Juan Mata - and has got tough over Cesc Fabregas.

Wenger last night agreed a £17million deal with Valencia for Mata - and has also made an increased £13m bid for Everton defender Phil Jagielka.

But while Arsenal are finally set to start spending big this summer, they are also turning up the heat on Barcelona over the Fabregas transfer saga.

The Gunners' captain will not play in this weekend’s Emirates Cup - as revealed by the Mirror - and Arsenal have told Barca to make a deal at £40m or call it off.

Wenger is believed to have set a deadline of August 5 in an e-mail sent to Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, so the Frenchman can start planning for the coming season.

Arsenal are braced for Fabregas' exit, but are fed-up of being kept waiting by Barca.

Fabregas is equally frustrated and is desperate to force the deal through.

The Spanish midfielder has missed much of the pre-season because of a hamstring injury and has been training with the youth team this week.

He has told Wenger he wants to leave and may resort to a transfer request to get a deal done.

For their part, Arsenal are planning for life after Fabregas.

The deal for Mata, 23, represents a great coup, even though it easily tops the £12m paid for Andrey Arshavin in 2009.

Spain winger Mata is one of the most sought-after talents in Europe and is keen to join Arsenal following talks between the clubs.

Wenger went back with an improved offer for Jagielka after seeing a £10m bid for the centre-half knocked back two weeks ago, but Everton want at least £15m.

If they can’t wrap up Jagielka, Arsenal may go back for Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill.

Mata’s arrival may mean Arshavin is allowed to go, with Galatasaray keen, while Sporting Lisbon have made a bid for unsettled striker Nicklas Bendtner, however it falls well short of Arsenal’s £12m valuation and the Portuguese outfit would also struggle to meet his £52,000-a-week wages.

Meanwhile, winger Theo Walcott has been given the all-clear after an MRI scan on his nagging ankle injury.

He does not need an operation, just a few days of rehabilitation.

Aim to starve Tendulkar for runs throughout the series: Swann

London: Having beaten India comprehensively in the first Test, England offie Graeme Swann feels that their primary aim would be to starve senior batsman Sachin Tednulkar for runs during the next three Test matches.

"We stopped the Little Master, Sachin Tendulkar, from making a big score at Lord`s and our aim is to starve him of runs all series," Swann wrote in his column for The Sun.

"It can`t be easy for Sachin because he carries the expectation of the entire Indian nation on his shoulders every time he goes out to bat. And now it is even more intense because he is just one away from a century of centuries."

He was full praise for his teammates Jimmy Anderson, Chris Tremlett and Stuart Broad.

"Our quick bowlers were absolutely superb as we completed a memorable 196-run win over India," Swann wrote in his column for The Sun.

"Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Tremlett were as good in the First Test as they were in Australia last winter. And that`s saying something," he wrote.

"Much of the talk going into the match was about how taking 20 wickets on a flat pitch would be impossible - especially against India`s lineup of batting superstars. Well, the three big lads made that theory look daft with their aggression, accuracy, patience and skill," he further stated.

"During the Test series against Sri Lanka, we didn`t quite match up to the standards we demand of ourselves. I`m not sure if that was because we were ring-rusty or due to the wet and cold weather. But our bowling was back to its best against India."

"We maintained pressure at both ends even though the ball wasn`t doing much and made sure each new batsman felt uncomfortable when he came in - which was our game plan all winter too."

Swann feels that if they can maintain the same intensity level then being No.1 is not so far away.

"If we can maintain that same level of performance over the series, we`ll really fancy our chances of winning - and maybe even reaching No 1 in the world rankings."

Zaheer out of second Test at Trent Bridge

Nottingham: India were left grappling with injury worries ahead of the crucial second cricket Test against England with pace spearhead Zaheer Khan being ruled out and opener Gautam Gambhir being rendered a doubtful starter.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said Zaheer will have to sit out of the game though he has shown huge improvement in his right hamstring strain and was expected to be fit for the third Test.

"As of now Gambhir is doubtful. We will give him some more time. It depends on amount of pain he can go through and still perform," said Dhoni on the eve of the second Test starting on Friday.

Gambhir was hit on his right elbow by a swept shot from Matt Prior in the first Test at Lord`s on Sunday and even though he came on to bat, it is believed that his elbow is still stiff and not 100 per cent fit.

Gambhir, however, did come out to bat in the nets today after missing out completely on it yesterday.

If Gambhir sits out, it would mean an opportunity for Yuvraj Singh to feature in the playing eleven. It would still be a tough call for India to decide on who will partner Abhinav Mukund to open the innings.

Injuries have been an issue for India for sometime and Dhoni rued the fact that it`s been rare when he has been able to field a full-strength team in Test arena.

"As a side, we have constantly faced this problem. Whenever we play, we are not at full strength. It has happened constantly."

India`s batters scored under 300 runs in both innings at Lord`s and Dhoni expected them to show a huge improvement in the second Test.

"It not just an individual. What we need is stands. Partnerships of 50-100 runs really help the innings go along," Dhoni said.

"It`s also important that batsmen convert their starts but it`s not that they don`t try it. Lower half must put a price on their wickets and even 40-60 runs from them is very helpful.

"We have done so in the past and we will come back to give our best," he added.

The 30-year-old cricketer stressed that India needs to do well in the first innings to make a match of it.

"It`s important we do well in first innings. It`s been shown that once a team takes 100-120 runs lead, it becomes a very difficult situation to make a comeback in the match," he said.

India is in danger of losing the status of being world`s number one Test side but Dhoni said he couldn`t be overtly concerned with it.

"If you enjoy the sport, the ratings take care of itself. It`s a constant process, nobody owns number one rankings. How you get there is important and once there, it`s difficult to maintain."

Dhoni acknowledged that his team gets better as a series progresses and are never really at their best at the start of it.

"We have seen our batsmen, bowlers, fielders improve as they get used to conditions," he said.

Arsenal land Juan Mata – Phil Jagielka is next

ARSENAL hope to seal a stunning £34million double swoop for Juan Mata and Phil Jagielka.

Valencia winger Mata has told friends he is joining the Gunners in a £19m deal.

And boss Arsene Wenger, rapped for not being more active in the transfer market, hopes to snap up Everton defender Jagielka with a £15m offer.

Arsenal's £13m bid for Jagielka is set to be turned down - but they will make another immediate attempt to land the England centre-back.

Both buys will smash the club's £12m record fee paid to Zenit in 2009 for Andrey Arshavin.

The arrival of Mata, 23, would be seen as a coup as Spurs have also launched a last-ditch bid.

Jagielka, 28, is expected to demand a four-year contract and wages of up to £100,000 a week.

Gunners striker Nicklas Bendtner is set to finalise a £9m move to Sporting Lisbon this weekend.

Paul Scholes: Manchester United Should Sign Luka Modric As My Replacement

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes insists Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric would be his perfect replacement.
The 25-year-old has been attracting strong interest from Chelsea as well as United, but Scholes thinks the Old Trafford management should snap him up.

Chief executive David Gill revealed the Red Devils want one more new face this summer, with a creative midfielder strongly rumoured to be on their wishlist.

Inter Milan ace Wesley Sneijder was the favourite but the Serie A club are demanding £40million, plus the Dutch international would want at least £200,000-a-week in wages.

Arsenal playmaker Samir Nasri is also said to be on the radar but even manager Sir Alex Ferguson has said that move looks unlikely.

But Scholes admits Modric has particularly caught his eye but the 36-year-old says replacing him is not a necessity for United.

“The three linked the most with United are all great top players. Of the three Modric, when we’ve played against him, has been the one I have been most impressed with.

“Whenever we played Tottenham, he was the one who stood out.

“But there are no guarantees. You could sign Sneijder for £35-40m and it might not work out.

“He went to Real Madrid and it didn’t quite work out for him there, so you just don’t know.

“I don’t think it is a big deal really replacing me because I haven’t been the type of player people are talking about for the last four or five years,” he added.

“I haven’t been scoring goals or been the main playmaker in the team for a while. I don’t think I actually need replacing in that way at all.

“I wasn’t the pulling the strings anymore, definitely in the last two years and probably even since I was 31-32.

“I haven’t been as prominent in the side. I wasn’t scoring the goals and I wasn’t making the goals.”

Gerard Pique plays it cool over Cesc Fabregas

GERARD PIQUE has admitted Barcelona must be patient in their pursuit of Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal do not want to lose the 24-year-old skipper and refuse to accept any offer below £40million for him.

Fabregas is desperate to return to his boyhood club.

But Barca defender Pique, 24, insisted: "All signings have their due process.

"Some are easy, some are more complicated. He is an important player for Arsenal so it is sensible they are trying to keep him.

"There has been a lot of talk about this, which is normal."

"It is best to let the negotiations take their due course and see what happens."

Barcelona beat Bayern Munich 2-0 on Wednesday and flew straight from Germany to Washington ahead of their clash with Manchester United tomorrow night.

The sides only met in May in the Champions League final - a game Barca won 3-1.

Xavi said: "We were better. A lot better.

"We dominated and kept the ball, which is part of our philosophy at Barcelona."

Manchester United Suffer Injury Blow Ahead Of New Season

Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez will be out for two weeks after suffering concussion in training.

The 23-year-old did not watch his side’s 4-0 win over the MLS All-Stars, spending the evening in his hotel room after being released from hospital.

Medical staff found no major damage, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed the Mexico international will not play for a couple of weeks, although he will continue to train and remain on tour.

“He got concussion in training and we dealt with that,” said Ferguson. ”We took him to hospital, he had a scan, it was all clear.

“He is back in the hotel. He is in his room and will be out for a couple of weeks.

“He would never have been available for Barcelona anyway because he has just come back from his break after the Gold Cup.

“He will travel with us though. He is okay for that.”

In Hernandez’s absence, Dimitar Berbatov took the opportunity to shine, helping create United’s opener before smashing home the third right after half-time.

In between, Park Ji-sung scored a fine goal to maintain his impressive recent form.

United’s fourth straight victory on their five-match tour was completed by Danny Welbeck.

Xavi urges Cesc move again

Barcelona midfielder Xavi has again weighed into the debate over the future of Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas, saying he wants to play alongside his Spain team-mate at club level before he retires.

Xavi angered Gunners manager Arsene Wenger with similar comments recently, when he stated Fabregas was "suffering" because he wanted to join Barcelona.

"I hope the saga ends," he told German newspaper Suddeutschzeitung.

Arsenal value captain Fabregas at £40 million with Wenger is also keen to keep the midfielder, but Barcelona have not met the asking price. Fabregas departed the Camp Nou as a teenager to join Arsenal, and has been linked with a move back to his former club in each of the past three summers. Xavi believes it is now time for the protracted move to come to a conclusion.

Describing Fabregas as "a piece of the puzzle", Xavi sees Fabregas as his natural successor at Barcelona, saying: "Cesc is only 24 and his arrival would ensure the current cycle of Barca continues to work.

"I'm 31 and will retire in two, three or four years. I hope he comes."

However, Arsenal midfielder Denilson - who has joined Sao Paulo on a season-long loan - expects Fabregas to stay.

"I think it's very important because the fans, the staff at Arsenal, everyone loves Cesc and I think he's going to stay," he told Sky Sports News.

On his own future, he added: "I miss London, I miss Arsenal. I lived there for five years, it's a long time for me, but I think next season I'll be back.

"Everyone knows Arsene Wenger is a top man and a top manager. He's not just a coach - he's like a dad. It's brilliant for me and for the players because he's helped the players."

AC Milan Make Stunning £45m Player Plus Cash Offer for Arsenal Star

Ac Milan have made a £45million offer for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Ac Milan have reportedly offered £30m plus player deal in a bid to snatch Cesc Fabregas from under Barcelona’s noses.

Fabregas remained in London last week to work on match fitness following a hamstring problem which also prevented him from heading out on the Asia tour earlier this month.

Barcelona however, are still confident the Gunners will accept the improved offer, with Fabregas set on a move to his boy-hood club.

Missing glory at Lord’s: Sachin not the only legend

London: Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has joined a list of cricketers who have never scored a hundred or taken five wickets in a Lord’s Test, but he is not the only ‘modern legend’ to have missed out on the honours board at the “home of cricket”.

According to the Daily Mirror, former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne never made it on to the visitors’ dressing room wall in gold leaf paint, nor did West Indians Brian Lara and Curtly Ambrose, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting or former Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

Tendulkar, who has 99 international centuries to his name, has a top score of 37 at Lord’s. He scored 195 runs in five Tests at an average of 21.66.

Surely he won’t come back at the age of 40, if India qualify for the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2013.

Manchester City agree club record £35 million fee for Atlético Madrid forward Sergio Aguero

Sergio Aguero flew out of Buenos Aires last night bound for the Premier League after Manchester City agreed a club record £35 million fee with Atlético Madrid for the forward. 

The player is expected to hold talks with Manchester City today over a five-year contract, thought to be worth around £150,000-a-week, before completing his move.


The 23-year-old’s imminent arrival brings to a close one of the most laborious sagas of the summer and represents a major victory for the Etihad Stadium side and City’s manager, Roberto Mancini, in his attempts to build a team capable of winning the Premier League .

Aguero, son-in-law to Diego Maradona, widely hailed as a key figure for the future of the Argentine national side and one of Spain’s most prolific forwards over the last five years, had been coveted by both Juventus and Real Madrid.

That City have been able to see off such illustrious competition will be seen as undeniable proof of their altered status on the world stage.

The player is thought to have indicated his willingness to move to the Premier League after discussing City’s offer with his wife, Maradona’s daughter Giannina, in his homeland over the weekend.

Newcastle want Spurs’ Jermain Defoe if bid for Mevlut Erdinc fails

ALAN PARDEW is preparing a dramatic swoop for Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe.
The Newcastle boss will target the England hitman if he fails to land his top Turkish target Mevlut Erdinc.

Pards hopes to seal a £7million switch for PSG ace Erdinc, 24, when the Geordies return from the USA tomorrow.

But if the Turkey forward's representatives continue to play hardball, the Toon will instead move for the out-of-sorts Spurs star.

Defoe, 28, is rated at around £10m by boss Harry Redknapp, who wants to rejig his strike options.

And Pardew said here in Ohio: "I'm not going to use the word 'promise', it is a dangerous word. However, I am confident we will get a striker in.

"Plenty of fans have come out to see us and mentioned on more than one occasion to me, 'Where's the striker?' It is not something that is far from my mind."

Peter Crouch, as revealed by SunSport, was on Newcastle's radar but the £9m price tag cooled their interest as Pards believed it was too much to pay for a 30-year-old.

Pardew has money to spend following the £35m sale of Andy Carroll to Liverpool in January.

But he knows Defoe would take some convincing to quit London for the North East.

Aston Villa left-back Stephen Warnock also remains on the Toon wishlist to bolster ranks if and when Jose Enrique moves on.

Hayden set to return to competitive cricket in Big Bash

Melbourne: Former Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden is set to return to competitive cricket at 39 as a player for Brisbane Heat T20 side in the expanded Big Bash League Twenty20 next season.
Hayden is set to sign a deal with Brisbane Heat to be part of the eight-team, city-based Twenty20 competition and the partnership could stretch even further because he is considering purchasing a share of the franchise, according to a report in a daily.

If Hayden decides to play, he would be forced to relinquish his directorships of Queensland Cricket and Cricket Australia boards because current players are not allowed to be directors of either body.

He last played competitive cricket for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League last year.

Since retirement, Hayden has established The Hayden Way, a company which promotes leisure, lifestyle and the benefits of active living. Executive director Geoffrey Schukraft said Hayden`s possible comeback fitted neatly with the virtues promoted by the company.

"Matthew has said for some time that he sees Twenty20 and franchise cricket as the future of the game. This project promotes a lot of things that The Hayden Way is all about, such as healthy lifestyles and families getting outside and having fun. If we can clinch a deal he would be a terrific ambassador for the competition. The fans would love it," Schukraft was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Brisbane Heat general manager Andrew Blucher said Hayden`s signing would be a watershed moment for the team and the competition, giving both injections of credibility important for new projects.

The Heats, under coach Darren Lehmann, have signed a balanced squad consisting primarily of Queensland-based talent but bolstered by strong recruits such as New Zealand`s Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum.

Sachin planning to build cricket simulator theme parks in India

London: Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar is reportedly involved in ambitious plans to build cricket simulator theme parks in major Indian cities.
According to the Daily Mail, a prototype of the attraction that will give cricket fans a virtual reality opportunity to bowl at Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag is being assembled using Hawk-Eye ball-tracking technology in an industrial unit near Winchester, England.

The emergence of Tendulkar’s strong links with the project comes just after he is said to have softened his stance about the use of Hawk-Eye to judge lbw decisions in Test matches.

Hawk-Eye inventor Paul Hawkins, who met Tendulkar before the Lord’s Test, claims to have ended the 38-year-old’s doubts about the system, after explaining how it was operated automatically rather than manually.

“Once we had set the record straight he left saying he would tell the BCCI and recommend Hawk-Eye was used. I don’t think it will take long for the BCCI to act on advice from Tendulkar,” Hawkins said.

Dhoni blames bouncy Lord’s for humiliating loss

London: Regretting the loss of key players to injuries midway through the match, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni criticised the "variable bounce" at the Lord`s pitch after his team`s defeat in the first Test against England.

"What we saw different from the 2007 series this time was the variable bounce. It became tough. In 2007, there was much more bounce but it was even too. It was interesting to see where I was standing as a keeper then. Zaheer bowls his overs from where I stand, and I used to do so by being 2-3 yards behind in 2007. Here I was standing 2-3 yards in front," Dhoni said.

"It had an impact. In 2007 you could leave the deliveries. Here the bounce was very uneven. You couldn`t leave each delivery because a few balls really kept low and never really carried. You had to look to play each delivery and when it bounced it was difficult."

What also prevented India from playing to their full potential were injuries to key players.

"Everything (that) could have gone wrong, went wrong. It was tough for batsmen to bat at different slots, it was tough for bowlers with only three left (in Zaheer Khan`s absence)," said Dhoni.

"Zaheer`s absence made it tough to manage bowlers. With just three bowlers left and the ball not turning that much, we didn`t have too many options... our resources were limited.

"As for batters, it was difficult for them to bat at different slots they are not used to. Dravid, Gambhir and Sachin all had added pressure of not batting at their usual slots."

Due to Gambhir`s injury, Dravid came out as an opener in the second innings. Tendulkar, because of his viral infection, could only bat at number five.
Dhoni blames bouncy Lord’s for humiliating loss

Talking about Zaheer, who left the field on the first morning itself due to a hamstring strain, Dhoni said the seamer`s absence was felt.

"In Zaheer`s absence, it became tough to manager three bowlers. We didn`t have too many options. If we had one extra bowler, things could have been different.”

"We have three days (before the second Test). I am not 100 per cent sure if he would play. We don`t want to risk an individual. There is a lot of cricket we are playing and there is no point in risking a guy for just a game."

Asked to explain why Zaheer`s fitness was not checked in time, Dhoni said: "Hamstring injury is a difficult one. A fast bowler doesn`t have to bowl to get such an injury. He could be running after the ball and still get injured."

Most of India`s top order batsmen seemed to have got out playing rash shots, but Dhoni didn`t think so.

"You have your own game plan. When you play a shot, if it doesn`t succeed, it might appear a rash stroke. But every batsman has his own game plan."

Asked about Sachin Tendulkar and his recovery from viral infection, the skipper said: "He was much better but not 100 per cent. He felt it in both innings. After his first knock, he was feeling quite weak. I haven`t asked him but he must have been disappointed. He always gets disappointed when he doesn`t score."

Dhoni, who is yet to lose a series, was upbeat about his team`s performance in the forthcoming Tests.

"There is a lot of Test cricket left in the series. Batters and bowlers will improve as the series progresses."

The skipper was all praise for England pacer Stuart Broad and wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior.

"He bowled the right length and up to the batsmen and made them to drive. His knock was also a great help and just shows what a good performer he is. As for Prior, he had a good partnership going and it changed the complexion of the game."

Humiliation at Lord's; India's Lordship questioned

London: The 2000th Test match of the cricketing history went England way at Lord’s as the No. 1 Test team’s battered and bruised batting line-up made a meek surrender to an impressive English bowling performance.

Lord’s was packed to the hilt on Monday in a hope to see an enthralling day’s play and also a chance at witnessing a certain milestone related to centuries.

With a target of 458 and starting the day with nine wickets remaining, India were in for a battle of survival but the English pounced on every opportunity which came in their way hunting down India on Day 5 to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series bundling out India for 261 in the second innings.

The statistics read India lost to England by 196 runs on the final day but the encounter was over for India in the first day itself when Zaheer Khan hobbled back to the pavilion with a hamstring injury.

On the final day, Suresh Raina came up with some resistance only to prolong the inevitable English victory before James Anderson had woken up from his four day slumber to rattle the Indian top-order with some quality swing bowling.

Laxman and Dravid had given some hopes of revival early on Day 5 but a lapse in concentration sent the first innings centurion back to the pavilion much before lunch.

Laxman stayed on to complete his career’s 52nd fifty along with a heavily bruised Gautam Gambhir.

An uncharacteristic reckless shot lead to Laxman’s demise as Greame Swann trapped Gauti LBW.

Chirs Tremlett had bent his back throughout the match, and even on the final day, he maintained the pressure ably supported by the ‘Enforcer’ Stuart Broad. The reward of this bowling pressure was well reaped by James Anderson who picked up big wickets at crucial junctures of the final day ending up with a five-for.

England kept on chipping away at the wickets as Indian batsmen kept on nicking even as Strauss kept on dropping dollies at slip.

By tea, it seemed like Dhoni and Raina could salvage a draw but as has been the case with Dhoni who somehow shifts to neutral gear in Tests failed yet again to put up something substantial in his Test resume.

Only Raina stuck it out and for his own good he showed a certain temperament that could cement him a place at number 6.

India depended on its famed batting order, and it failed to deliver on both the occasions while the rather directionless Indian bowling attack was made to toil by Pietersen and Co in the first innings before being clinically dispatched by Prior and none other than Broad in the second.


The complete three prone seam attack coupled with the No.1 Test bowler, Swann was too hot for India’s liking as the visitors did not even manage a single century partnership in both the innings.

It was a picture perfect match for England, for Stuart Broad, for Matt Prior, for Kevin Pieterson, for James Anderson, all performing on each of the five days of the Test match.

For India, Praveen Kumar lead the way in the absence of Zak with a five wicket haul in the first innings, though he was a shadow of himself in the second. Ishant looked lackluster in the first, came back to life for a brief period in the second. Harbhajan disappointed in the first, continued to do so in the second in the same manner as he had done in the Carribean.
Humiliation at Lord`s; India`s Lordship questioned

Abhinav Mukund got a start in the first but failed to rectify his mistake in the second whih culminated to his demise.


The buzz of the town was Sachin Tendulkar and his centuries but only anguish was what Lord’s could provide, both to the spectators and to the Master himself.


England were the superior side on the 100th Test match between the two countries on all the five days, barring the morning session on Day 4. There was no weak link on display from the English as India kept on dealing with theirs for four days.

It was a team performance by England as Indian team disintegrated into patches at Lord’s.

For Trent Bridge, Zaheer is doubtful and also the form of half of its players whereas England have every right to be arrogant going into Nottingham.

Copa America Team Of The Tournament - Forlan & Suarez Lead Uruguay To Glory

The thrills and spills in Argentina are all done and now Goal.com bring you the best XI from the Copa America. As you may guess, Uruguay's stars feature heavily

The 2011 Copa America provided many twists and turns, resulting in an enthralling few weeks that did not turn out as many would have expected.

Hosts Argentina, along with Brazil, crashed out at the quarter-final stage, leaving Uruguay to emerge victorious and claim a record 15th Copa America title. It is no surprise that five members of coach Oscar Tabarez's squad make it into our Team of the Tournament.

Losing finalists Paraguay held their own for much of the competition, supported by some incredible goalkeeping, but in the end were no match for the winners as they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat.

Peru and Venezuela defied the odds in finishing third and fourth respectively, despite being considered two of the weaker teams at the start of play.

1) Goalkeeper - Justo Villar (Paraguay)
Appearances: 6
Clean Sheets: 3

Without actually winning a game in regular or extra-time throughout the tournament, Gerardo Martino's side were inspired by the Estudiantes custodian all the way to the final, where despite making further incredible stops, he could not stop his side from losing to Uruguay.



2) Right-back - Juan Zuniga (Colombia)
Appearances: 4
Goals/Assists: 0/1

Along with Pablo Armero on the opposite flank, Zuniga was a livewire throughout the tournament - defending well and creating havoc every time he came forward. The Napoli wing-back showcased all his tricks, flicks, stepovers and creativity as Colombia stormed through the groups.


3) Centre-back - Diego Lugano (Uruguay)
Appearances: 6
Goals/Assists: 0/0

The captain was like a brick wall at the back: dominant in the area and utilising a no non-sense approach. He displayed a true leadership spirit in taking his team to their 15th Copa America title and was only robbed of a deserved goal in the final by some great goalkeeping and then a handball.



4) Centre-back - Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (Venezuela)
Appearances: 6
Goals/Assists: 1/0

Described as one of the revelations of the 2011 Copa America, relatively few had heard of the 27-year-old before his exploits this summer in Argentina. In addition to excelling in defence, the towering player also scored one of the best goals of the campaign with a powerful header to help upset Chile.



5) Left-back - Alvaro Pereira (Uruguay)
Appearances: 5
Goals/Assists: 2/1

The versatile Porto man built on his success at club level by becoming a key piece of the puzzle for Uruguay. Scored two goals, including a winner over Mexico, and constantly pushed down the left side to pressure the opposition from the first minute of the opener versus Chile to the final minute against Paraguay.



 6) Centre-midfield - Cristian Riveros (Paraguay)
Appearances: 6
Goals/Assists: 1/0

More solid than spectacular, the player now on loan at Kayserispor from Sunderland was always industrious at the heart of Martino's midfield set-up. He may not technically be the best, but his ability to press and switch the ball were utilised superbly.



7) Centre-midfield - Egidio Arevalo (Uruguay)
Appearances: 6
Goals/Assists: 0/1

Interestingly, Uruguay are a side that shine without the ball as well as when in possession, and the ex-Penarol man was a large part of their success. Put in a dazzling shift when his side were down to 10 men versus Argentina and also set up Forlan for the second goal in the final.

8) Centre-midfield - Juan Arango (Venezuela)
Appearances: 5
Goals/Assists: 1/1

The veteran, widely regarded as one of the country's best all-time players, was not always a starter but was an influential and creative force whenever on the pitch. Assisted his country in reaching fourth place - their highest ever showing at the Copa America - also earning his 100th cap in the process.


9) Support striker - Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Appearances: 6
Goals/Assists: 2/0

Crowned the best player at last year's World Cup, Forlan once again was a decisive factor despite not scoring until the final, emulating his father and grandfather in winning the trophy. Dropping between the lines of midfield and attack, the Atletico Madrid star was the offensive architect of his team's victorious campaign.


10) Centre-forward - Paolo Guerrero (Peru)
Appearances: 5
Goals/Assists: 5/2

After grabbing a couple of crucial goals in the group stage, the Hamburg striker ensured Peru finished in an impressive third place by exploding in the play-off against Venezuela with a hat-trick in a 4-1 win, becoming the tournament's top-scorer with five goals to his name.




11) Centre-forward - Luis Suarez (Uruguay)
Appearances: 6
Goals/Assists: 4/2

With pace, surprising strength, and precision - as infuriating as Luis Suarez's constant complaining can be - there is no doubt he is one of the most talented strikers in world football at the moment. Bagged four goals altogether, including a brace in the semis against Peru and the opener in the final.

Comment: 2014 World Cup Already Looks Beyond India But The Fighting Spirit Of Armando Colaco’s Side Has Made The Nation Proud

3-0 might already be beyond Team India, but Goal.com's Amoy Ghoshal believes the fighting spirit of Armando Colaco's side has made the whole nation proud.

Qatar referee Banjar Al Dosari made all the headlines in India’s much awaited first leg of the 2014 World Cup qualifier against UAE in Al Ain City on Saturday evening.
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The Qatari’s controversial decision to send off India’s number one both killed the game as a contest and also denied Indian football fans the opportunity to find out how much the Indian national team has improved under coach Armando Colaco.

Going by the rules, Dosari had every right to show Debabrata Roy the red card and award UAE a penalty when the Indian left back fouled Al Wehaibi inside the box.

But to give Paul the marching orders for having minimum contact with UAE’s left winger Ishmail Al Hammadi didn’t really make much sense and the fact that he awarded a penalty for an off-the ball incident, made the whole situation even more dubious.

UAE might have won even if India had eleven men but the two sending offs, especially the controversial second one ensured a comfortable evening for the home side.

However the West Asian nation could only score once from open play against nine-man India and the reason for that was the fighting display put up by Armando Colaco’s players as they battled hard with two less men for nearly 70 minutes.

The early stages of the game gave some indications of the fact that Armando’s India don’t play the long-ball football, which one could associate with the South Asians during the Bob Houghton era.

India looked to the pass the ball meaningfully but more importantly tried to have a perfect mix of short passing and direct football, which did saw them win two corners and cause UAE keeper Ali Khaseif some problems.

The opening penalty goal from Hamdan Al Kamali and Debarata’s red card did deflate the Indians to an extent but Paul’s sending off broke their hearts. The Indian camp contemplated walking off from the match but instructed to carry on by their influential coach, the side ranked 37 places below hosts UAE fought bravely and avoided a humiliation.

Goalkeeper Karanjit Singh, who incidentally made his senior India debut in this game, had a nervous start but slowly started inspiring the eight players in front of him with some crucial punches from crosses and fine reflex saves.

The Salgaocar custodian proved to be India’s best player on the night in the end but he wouldn’t have kept out UAE for so long without the efforts of his teammates as everybody including star striker Sunil Chhetri chipped in to stop the ‘Whites’ from scoring.

Center backs Gouramangi Moirangthem and Raju Gaekwad deserve special praise for their dogged defending and the calmness the two showed in difficult situations. While India’s Mr.Versatile Syed Rahim Nabi once again showed what an asset he is for the team as he slotted in flawlessly at left back.

Sunil Chhetri fought a lonely battle upfront but still managed to have a couple of decent attempts on goal.

Climax Lawrence and company saw very little of the ball in the middle of the park, in fact India couldn’t really afford to have a midfield as the majority of the play was in their half. But the Indian captain for the night and the rest of the players ran and ran as much as they could to somehow ensure a respectable scoreline.

India had lost 5-0 to the Srecko Katanec’s UAE back in November 2010 and a repeat of that score was on the cards when referee Dosari reduced the Men in Blue to nine. But Colaco’s players didn’t accept a hammering so easily and proved that this is a totally different Indian side, which is on the rise.

The expectations were high after the historic win over Qatar last Sunday so the result will disappoint the Indian football faithful but the team effort and fighting spirit should inspire the fans to remain optimistic about the return leg in New Delhi.


3-0 might be beyond India’s reach so the World Cup 2014 dream might be over very quickly but Armando Colaco’s players have certainly made the nation proud by not giving up and fighting till the end despite the numerical disadvantage.

Transfer fees make Wenger 'dizzy'

Wenger - amazed at staggering transfer fees.

Arsenal reportedly had a £10million bid for Everton defender Phil Jagielka rejected in recent days, while Gary Cahill would cost in the region of £17million.

Wenger is also expected to further strengthen his defence before the transfer window closes, but Arsenal will have to significantly improve their offer to land centre-back Jagielka.

The Gunners continued their pre-season build-up with a 2-1 win over Cologne in Germany, where new forward Gervinho netted a quickfire brace in his first appearance since an £11million move from Lille.

"When you see all the fees around you become dizzy. We do what we want and we look first at the quality of the player and after if we have the money we spend it," Wenger told www.arsenal.com.

"In Gervinho's case, he wanted to join us. He had only one year on his contract so it was a good opportunity for us."

Gervinho should feature again in the Emirates Cup this weekend.

Theo Walcott feels the Ivory Coast forward can add a new dimension to Arsenal's frontline.

He said: "Gervinho will be a breath of fresh air. He looks a great talent.

"You can tell he can bring goals, he has got plenty of pace about him and he is very comfortable on the ball."

Arsenal kick off the new Barclays Premier League season at Newcastle, where on their last visit Wenger's men blew a 4-0 lead.

Walcott accepts after the frustrating end to the previous campaign, the Gunners have to last the distance in 2011/2012.

"As players we are disappointed in ourselves, but that is in the past now. This year is a massive one for everyone, for the club itself," he said.

Arsenal want Cesc Fabregas transfer situation resolved with Barcelona before the week is out

Barcelona are approaching D-Day in this summer’s pursuit of Cesc Fabregas, with Arsenal adamant that the situation must be resolved within a timescale that would allow them to replace their captain.

Come and get me: Arsenal have put a deadline on
Cesc Fabregas's potential move to Barcelona

Arsène Wenger would like the saga settled before Arsenal host the Emirates Cup this weekend and officials from the European champions are expected to remain in London over the coming days.




Although Barcelona have been relentless in their public pursuit of Fabregas, the only actual offer this summer of £27 million fell well short of Arsenal’s valuation of around £40 million.

 Since then, there has been contact about different ways of structuring a deal, including a failed attempt to factor in enhanced compensation for two of Barcelona’s former academy players who have now joined Arsenal.

 Thiago, a Spain Under-21 international midfielder, is the latest player to have been mentioned as a potential makeweight. Arsenal, though, would prefer a straight cash deal that would provide Wenger with funds in other areas.

 He still wants to add another defender and is considering a new bid for Phil Jagielka, the Everton and England centre-back. Chris Samba and Gary Cahill are other options.

Dravid, Laxman stay firm in pursuit of 458

London: In pursuit of an improbable target of 458, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman played out the final session of Day 4 without any further hiccups after India lost opener Abhinav Mukund early in the second innings on Day 4 of the first Test between India and England.


Going into the fifth day, India would be eying to survive three sessions rather than chasing down the record target. Sachin Tendulkar would only be able to bat after the fall of five Indian wickets or after 2pm on Day 5 as he had opted to rest in the first session of Day 4.


In Gautam Gambhir’s absence, Dravid had accompanied Abhinav Mukund in the middle as Gambhir had a freak injury on his left elbow while fielding at silly point; subsequently going out of the field for treatment. Laxman had then joined Dravid after Broad picked up Mukund.

England had finally declared their innings with a mammoth lead of 457 setting India a target of 458 late on Day 4 as Matt Prior reached his century. Stuart Broad remained unbeaten on 74.

The timely declaration gave the chance for England bowlers to have go at India for about two hours till the end of play.

Prior to the declaration, the final session of the first Test at Lord’s on Day 4 seemed like a practice session as both Matt Prior and Broad toyed with India’s limited bowling attack at will.

Neither of the batsmen had any trouble in the middle as they put on 162-run partnership with the strike rate of 5.85.

The Indian bowling attack of Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma evidently ran out of steam after bowling their heart out in the previous two sessions. India clearly missed the services of their bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan as senior bowler Harbhajan Singh also failed to deliver in Zak`s absence.

Matt Prior’s innings was reminiscent of the many knocks from the best number seven batsman in Test, Adam Gilchrist. Prior’s innings consisted of everything his team would have asked from him. Along with Broad, he in a way made light work of the Indian attack who failed to capitalize on a brilliant spell bowled by Ishant Sharma earlier in the day.

Matt Prior proved his worth for England as both Broad and Prior scored at a rapid pace to help amass a massive lead.

Prior and Broad had stretched the England lead past 350 in brisk time at tea.

Earlier in the day, Ishant Sharma had enjoyed a purple patch as his persistent short pitch bowling reaped reward in the form of wickets of Eion Morgan, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen.

After three quick blows, Eion Morgan and Matt Prior had gone about rebuilding the England innings after lunch.

England went into lunch on a rather precarious situation of 72 for 5 as the first session honours went to India. Ishant lead the resurgent fight back to setup an enthralling passage of play on the 2000th Test match.

Ishant produced a fierce spell of fast bowling to send Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell and Pietersen back to the pavilion in quick succession ably supported by Praveen Kumar.

England seemed to be in a spot of bother in the morning as Indian bowlers came out all guns blazing on Day 4.

Right from the word go, Praveen and Ishant bend their back on a sunny day at Lord’s. PK edged out Alastair Cook to give India its first breakthrough of the day.

Even Harbhajan Singh who was looking off colour for last two days bowled with intent, tossing the ball regularly picking up the crucial wicket of Andrew Strauss which started a little middle-order collapse for England.

Pietersen, with a double ton in the first innings seemed to carry forward the confidence as he started coming down the wicket from the very first ball itself. But a rising delivery from Ishant caught the flamboyant batsmen off-guard as he edged one to Dhoni.

Sharma followed KP’s wicket with Ian Bell’s in the same over, again off a rising delivery. Sharma, then came back to produce a peach of a delivery, fuller length seaming away from Jonathan Trott to shatter the top of off, to get rid of Trott for 22.

At the start of the Day, England had resumed play with the overnight score of 5/0 as Cook clearly struggled to get going. Andrew Strauss did the bulk of the scoring in the opening overs.

Previously on Day 3, India were bundled out for 286 by England as Rahul Dravid remained unbeaten on 103.

Uruguay claim Copa America crown

Diego Forlan scored twice as Uruguay clinched a record 15th Copa America title with a comfortable 3-0 win over Paraguay in Buenos Aires.

The Paraguayans reached the final without winning a single match in normal time but their fortune ran out against a Uruguay side who were vastly superior.

Luis Suarez put la celeste ahead after 12 minutes and Forlan doubled the lead 30 minutes later. Atletico Madrid striker Forlan then added a late third to tie Hector Scarone as Uruguay's leading goalscorer with 31.

Uruguay bossed the first half with the pace and movement of Forlan and Suarez proving particularly troublesome for Paraguay's overworked defence.

Oscar Tabarez's men bristled with intent from the off and could have gone ahead inside two minutes.

Suarez battled his way past two defenders and his scuffed shot was goalbound before Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar managed to smother it behind.

From the resulting Forlan corner, Diego Lugano powered a header on goal which was superbly parried by Villar, with the follow-up from Lugano blocked by the arm of Nestor Ortigoza on the line.

Paraguay's defence had been the foundation for their run to the final but it was breached for the first time in six hours after 12 minutes.

The ball fell fortuitously to Suarez in the area and the Liverpool striker turned smartly before clipping in a shot which beat Villar via Dario Veron's leg and the left-hand post.


Paraguay almost conceded again shortly after the half-hour mark when Suarez put Forlan through but Villar made an important block with his legs.

Suarez then turned the hapless Veron and lashed a shot into the side-netting before picking out strike partner Forlan, whose volley was easy for Villar.

Uruguay were dominating all over the field and they got the second goal their opening-half display deserved three minutes before the break when Egidio Arevalo dispossessed Ortigoza before playing in Forlan and his powerful drive easily beat Villar for his first goal in 13 internationals.

Ortigoza almost redeemed himself nine minutes into the second period when his scooped pass found Nelson Haedo Valdez and his volley produced a wonderful save from Fernando Muslera, the keeper tipping the ball onto the bar.

Paraguay wasted another route back into the contest after 62 minutes when midfielder Cristian Riveros failed to connect with Ivan Piris' cross at the near post after attempting an unnecessary back-heel.

The Paraguay rally eventually petered out and Uruguay could have added a third with 16 minutes to go, Edinson Cavani picking out fellow substitute Sebastian Eguren, whose deflected effort was superbly saved by Villar.

But Tabarez's men did have the final say with a wonderful third in the final minute. Cavani swept a cross-field pass to Suarez, whose cushioned header was perfect for Forlan to run on to and slot past the advancing Villar.

Uruguay:
Néstor Fernando Muslera, Diego Lugano, Victor Maximiliano Pereira, José Martín Caceres (Diego Godín 88'), Sebastian Coates, Diego Pérez (Sebastián Eguren Vazquez 69'), Álvaro Pereira (Edinson Cavani 63'), Alvaro González, Egidio Arévalo, Diego Martín Forlán (Goal 41', 89'), Luis Suárez (Goal 11').

Paraguay:
Justo Villar, Dario Verón, Elvis Marecos, Iván Piris, Paulo Da Silva, Néstor Ortigoza, Cristian Riveros (Víctor Cáceres 64'), Hernán Pérez (Enrique Vera 64'), Pablo Zeballos, Nélson Haedo Váldez.