Strauss's England is a large hit in an unbelievable time for cricket

It has been an unbelievable time for cricket and England will begin 2012 on pinnacle of the world in the Test and Twenty20 formats.We asked our board of experts, past England captain, Sportsmail writer and Sky Sports critic Nasser Hussain, past England coach,Sportsmail columnist and Sky pundit David Lloyd and Wisden editor Lawrence Booth. Cricket Correspondent Paul Newman was in the chair...

Paul Newman: Gentlemen, there have been very little improved days than 2011 for the England team. What are your highlights?

David Lloyd: Let's go correct reverse to the begin and the fifth take a look at in Sydney. Jimmy Anderson and Tim Bresnan's magnificent bowling and the power of England with lots of form Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Matt earlier. They fully overwhelmed Australia.

Nasser Hussain: We've knotted up at Sydney with the Ashes extended left down the times and to learn the SCG twisted into little Britain on the last day, with hardly an Australian follower within the place, was extraordinarily pleasing for all people. it absolutely was huge to find out England shut them off in such approach.

Lawrence Booth: It has been a fantastic day for England at check level throughout. India here within the summer because the world's No one and England simply blew them away with a restricted name of cricket that Andy Flower has them enjoying. The fineness of  England completes up for the disappointment India’s performances.

Newman: Let's converse about the one spot on England's scenery. Why have they not been clever to break in excess of cricket? It's secrecy.

Hussain: A set of England's victory has return from grinding down the resistance and staying within the game. They never enable up and in more than 5 days have proved themselves the highest about. However it's all about vogue in fifty over’s and perhaps they solely need to keep in mind to envision ball, hit ball. Check up on Virender Sehwag drumming a twice hundred against West Indies. He did not seem as if he'd make two hundred runs if he had batted all year in England, however place him on a level taking part in field in India in a very 50-over game and watch him go. Suresh Raina is that the same.

Newman: On that memo let's finish by hopeful that the very busy cricketing year of 2012 is a very happy one!

F1 gone cricket at the back in fame stakes

The year 2011 saw extra and extra Indian sports education rising out of the shade of cricket. Method one and pro boxing were the first offs the chunk to bend a lot of eyeballs and the multimillion-dollar planet sequence Hockey looks high-quality for snatching its split.

It is cricket that showed them the technique to imprison the marketplace split by productively piloting the Indian Premier League (IPL) and worldwide games administrators are looking at India as a chief target to marketplace their game. A rationally optimistic wealth and a billion people are heartening enough for them to imagine that they can advertise their activity here.

Formula One grabbed the primary chance and its opening Grand Prix at Buddh International Circuit (BIC) at superior Noida was a large strike, erasing the tart reminiscences of a tainted Commonwealth Games a year ago.

Fascinatingly, earlier that week there were a few takers for India's ODI cricket series. The contest was one of the most watched fair actions in the world.Accolades poured in for contest promoters Jaypee Sports International which pulled off the show without a main disagreement over that weekend.

Boxing, too, complete a wet in a big way. For long, the world body was preparation an IPL-style event in the circle and it led to the birth of the World Series Boxing (WSB). India is represented in the global city-based association by Mumbai Fighters, owned by TransStadia, a games and activity corporation.

The start of the World Series Hockey (WSH) ran into disagreement as it clashed with the training of the state team for the Olympic requirement contest. After weeks of haggling, it is put off to February. The promised cost to group of actors was so beautiful that even those who have retired are rear on the grass.

Cricket must admiration fans: Dravid

Cricket risks killing the goose that lays the fair-haired egg if it disrespect fans by forecast too several worthless worldwide matches, ex India Captain Rahul Dravid has said.

Dravid, the primary Indian to offer the annual Sir Donald Bradman Oration, said the game required to search out a balance between the three formats of the sport and should think about taking part in check matches, the “gold standard” of the sport, at night.“It should level down this mad merry-go-round that groups and players realize themselves in: keeping off for two-test tours and seven-match ODI series with a couple of Twenty20s thrown in,” the 38-year-old said in his speech late on Wednesday.

“Test cricket deserves to be protected; it is what the world best recognizes they're going to be judged by. Where I come back from, nation versus nation is what got people fascinated by cricket within the   first place.

“When I hear the news that a rustic is enjoying without a number of its best players, I perpetually surprise, what do their fans think?“We should actively fight to induce as several (fans) as we can, to form a test match setting that the players and the fans feed off. Something however the sight of tests played on empty grounds.

Fans merit respect

Dravid said that might have an effect on the worth of TV rights.“If that happens, it is laborious to find out rights around cricket being as asked for as they need perpetually been within the last fifteen years. “Everything that has given cricket its power and influence within the world of sports has started from that fan within the stadium,” he added.

“They deserve our respect and allow us to not take them without any consideration. Disrespecting fans is disrespecting the sport.”Dravid said the largest dangers facing the game were spot-fixing and players being tempted to get involved with the betting business. Players ought to be ready to offer up a “little bit of freedom of movement and privacy” to battle those scourges and endure lie detector tests if necessary, he said.

Excerpts from Dravid’s words at the Bradman address

Thank you for inviting me to deliver the Bradman Oration; the respect and therefore the regard that came with the invite to talk tonight, is deeply appreciated.

I realize a really distinguished list of gentlemen have preceded me within the 10 years that the Bradman Oration has been held.  I do know that this Oration is held each year to understand the life and career of Sir Don Bradman, an excellent Australian and an excellent cricketer. I perceive that I am alleged to talk about cricket and problems within the game — and I will.

The individuals of each our countries are usually told that cricket is that the one issue that brings Indians and Australians along. That cricket is our single common denominator.

India’s first test series as a free country was played against Australia in November 1947, 3 months once our independence. it is however, incongruous, that I, an Indian, happen to be the primary cricketer from outside Australia, invited to deliver the Bradman Oration. I don’t say that solely as a result of Sir Don once scored 100 before lunch at Lord’s and my a hundred at Lord’s this year took virtually a whole day.

What we have to do is use the simplest way to confirm that test matches work into twenty-first century life, through timing, environments and the held in. there's a proposal doing the rounds on scrapping the 50-over game fully. I am undecided I trust that —actually recognize that the 50-over game helped us innovate strokes in our batting that we tend to were then able to take into test matches. The future lie in taking part in one-day internationals targeted around ICC events, like the Champions Trophy and the World Cups.

Rooney ban provides Fabio Capello worry

Capello's worst fears were realized when UEFA handed Wayne Rooney a three match prohibit that will see him miss all of England's Euro 2012 group games.

Rooney's kick at Montenegro's Miodrag Dzudovoic last Friday was judged "an assault" by UEFA's control and disciplinary board, who stuck to the letter of the rule in handing out the punishment in spite of a plea for leniency from the FA.

It means Fabio Capello now has to judge whether to take Rooney as part of his squad to Poland and Ukraine, and trust that he can make an impact if England makes it through to the quarter finals.

The Football Association will wait for the full reasons behind the conclusion before deciding whether to appeal. The ban could even be increased by an appeal panel, but that would be doubtful and it looks odds on that the FA will attempt to have the suspension reduced.

The Manchester United striker is understood to be very disappointed in the result but will follow the FA's recommendation about any appeal.

Former England striker Alan Shearer described the ban as "a vast blow" to England's opportunities in the European Championships, and called the kick "a silly mistake".

Shearer told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's a vast blow. It's not only a enormous blow to the team, to the fans and to football followers but to Wayne himself because he realizes he's made a stupid fault.

"I still think whoever replaces Rooney in the team, England still should have plenty to get through the three games without him."

Phil Neville, Rooney's former team mate for United and England, labeled the decision "a joke".

The Everton midfielder said on Twitter: "Rooney prohibited for three games what a joke but it was a Dutch Italian German Spanish player they wouldn't even get 1 game #fact."

Rooney was shown a straight red by German referee Wolfgang Stark for kicking Dzudovoic England boss Capello confessed it was a "silly error" by the 25-year old, who instantly put himself in danger of receiving the 3 match ban.

UEFA's disciplinary rules state that a player will receive a "suspension for three competition matches or for a particular period for assaulting another player or other person there at the match".

A UEFA report said: "Today's decision was taken in relation to the red card shown to Rooney for assault after 74 minutes of England's final Group G game, the 2-2 draw with Montenegro in Podgorica.

"The striker will at the present be suspended from playing in his country's next three UEFA national competition matches for which he would be entitled."

The FA have three days to make a decision whether to appeal, and they said in a declaration: "Further to UEFA's decision to enforce a three-match suspension on Wayne Rooney following his sending-off against Montenegro, the FA wait for the full reasons from the disciplinary committee, and will give full consideration to the decision internally, before deciding on any response to UEFA or making any further public remark."

The FA had taken some expect from a previous case involving Andrey Arshavin, who was given a two match ban and missed Russia's first two games of Euro 2008 after being sent-off against Andorra. But in that case television proof was less clear cut than in Rooney's.

In 2004, Chelsea's Marcel Desailly was initially gave a three-match ban for elbowing Monaco's Fernando Morientes but that was reduced on plea to two games after UEFA said the act was not purposeful.

World Anti-Doping Agency drops case against FIFA

The World Anti-Doping Agency dropped its dispute to FIFA's decision not to permit five Mexican footballers who tested positive for clenbuterol.

Mexico suspended five players of their Gold Cup squad Edgar Duenas, Christian Bermudez, Francisco Javier Rodriguez, Antonio Naelson and Guillermo Ochoa after they all failed a test at a pre-Gold Cup training camp in May.

An inquiry by the Mexican Football Association's disciplinary committee found the positive outcome were a consequence of eating impure meat and their choice to hand out no further punishments was backed by FIFA.

WADA dispute the decision, lodging a plea to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but withdrew their objection after reviewing proof gathered by FIFA.

A WADA report read: WADA has subsequently received convincing evidence from a FIFA study at the U17 World Cup in Mexico that point a serious health problem in Mexico with regards to meat polluted with clenbuterol.

This is a public health matter that is now being addressed immediately by the Mexican Government.

The government of Mexico which has legislation forbidding the use of steroids with livestock accepts that it has a consequence with infected meat and is actively looking to resolve the problem state by state.

Already several arrests have been made pursuant to these laws and huge amounts of clenbuterol seized. Investigations are to go on.

"WADA acclaim FIFA for the more research it has initiated, while WADA, the Mexican Football Federation and the Mexican Govt have decided to help with the study which will continue as a joint project."

FIFA welcomed WADA's decision in a declaration, which read: "This statement by WADA confirms the initial verdict taken by the Mexican Football Association's disciplinary committee to apparent the players of any wrongdoing, which FIFA entirely agreed with and supported after carefully looking at the case.

FIFA would also like to thank WADA for positively considering the studies and research conducted by FIFA in this issue, including compelling proof from a FIFA study at the U-17 World Cup in Mexico that shows a serious health problem in Mexico with regard to meat contaminated with clenbuterol.

FIFA is pleased that these studies have served not only to solve this case, but also to help the Mexican authorities in their fight to tackle this public health matter, which is now being desperately addressed by the Mexican government.

FIFA will continue to play a foremost role in this issue and will work together with the various authorities, including WADA, the Mexican Football Association and the Mexican government on this study, which in future will be carry on as a joint project.

WADA added that clenbuterol remains on their list of prohibited substances, and that they would judge further positive tests on a case by case source.

Andy Roddick survives frighten in Shanghai

Andy Roddick

Roddick survived a second set wobble against qualifier Yen-Hsun Lu to move ahead to the second round of the Shanghai Masters on Monday.

The American, seeded 10th, lost his way midway through an enjoyable clash but recovered to register a 6-2 3-6 6-2 triumph in one hour and 52 minutes.

"He plays so high risk," said Roddick. "You know, In general I thought it was pretty good, save four games perhaps."

Andy Roddick will meet Grigor Dimitrov next after the Bulgarian saw off Turkish qualifier Marsel Ilhan 2-6 6-1 6-4.

Bernard Tomic move on courtesy of a 7-6 (7/5) 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 win against Kevin Anderson and will now meet fifth seed Mardy Fish.

"I'm happy I won against a player like Anderson since he can beat so many world class players on his day," said Australian Tomic.

"I'm happy I won that third set because his serve was too good the entire game. To enter tournaments like this, play main draws, is a way to make your ranking up even faster. It's actually tough to get there. I'm lucky I did it at a young age.

"I've acquire a long way to go, and a lot of things in front of me."

Spaniard Fernando Verdasco was also strong for Chinese wild card Zhe Li, winning 6-2 6-2, Nalbandian beat Ernests Gulbis 7-5 6-4 and former world no.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero edged out Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (7/4) 6-2.

“Marsh aim for Lanka's 1st win”

Geoff Marsh

Sri Lanka coach Geoff Marsh is aiming for first Test victory in the post Muralitharan era when they face Pakistan in a Test series next month.

"I am aiming to take Sri Lanka to a new level," Marsh, the former Australian opening batsman, told reporters.

"Evidently, looking for the Test victory against Pakistan is the propose."

Sri Lanka travels to United Arab Emirates, Pakistan's offshore place, in October, to play a three match Test series.

Sri Lanka has gone during a phase of nine Test matches without a win since Muralitharan retired following the first Test against India at Galle in 2010.

Marsh said Tom Moody, the fellow Australian and a former Sri Lanka coach, and Marsh's two sons, Shaun and Mitchell, pressed him to take up the obligation.

"My boys said go along there and take up the job (coaching Sri Lanka)," Marsh, who witnessed Shaun scoring his debut Test century in Sri Lanka early on this month, said.

"Sri Lanka is in just the same position as Australia," Marsh said, adding that both nations are going through transition phase.

He said he was expecting to the challenge of "coming up against my own boys," referring to the view of Shaun and Mitchell Marsh playing for Australia when Sri Lanka tours there next year.

He said that even though his current contract was limited to two years, he would like to coach Sri Lanka to the next World Cup to be played in Australia in 2015.

Kingfisher East Bengal face Salgaocar SC in the Final

Khan Thang Paita's 82nd minute hit helped Kingfisher East Bengal beat Prayag United SC 2-1 in the second semifinal of the Federation Cup in Kolkata.

It was Red and Gold brigade’s third consecutive entry in the Federation Cup Final. Alan Gow in the 37th minute and Paita in 82nd minute scored for the East Bengal while Snehasish Datta scored for Prayag in 16TH minute.

The high voltage match between the two Kolkata sides saw attacking postures by both the sides since the very first minute. Prayag’s Joshimar Dasilva Martins pierced through the Red and Gold defense giving the initial jim-jams; in return East Bengal retaliated furiously within seconds when Tolgay Ozbey missed the net by whiskers.

But eventually it was Prayag who took the early lead in the 16th minute when Snehasish Datta buldged the net to put his team in the lead. Just minutes after going one down, East Bengal made a counter attack but Alan Gow waste a chance to slot the ball into the open nets.

Though determined attack gave them result in 37th minute when Alan Gow equalised through a penalty when he was let down in the penalty area by Prayag’s Bello Razzaq.

The second half got off to a slow start with both the team on defensive approach, in the 67th minute, Tolgay Ozbey and was replaced by Orji Pennn Ikechukwu.

Prayag received a jolt in quick succession when Joshimar Dasilva Martins in 77th and Deepak Mondal in 81st minute were shown red cards dropping Prayag to just nine men.

Taking advantage, East Bengal started placing more pressure through the flanks which ultimately gave them result in 82nd minute when Khan Thang Paite on a cross from Orgi Penn slot in second goal to give his team critical lead.

Prayag failed to find a reaction till the final whistle as East Bengal held on to reaches the final of the Federation Cup.

Kingfisher East Bengal will now face Salgaocar SC in the final which was plan on September 29th.

The kickoff is schedule for 6pm and the match would be telecast live on DD Sports and News Time.

Maria Kirilenko makes semifinals in Guangzhou

Maria Kirilenko

Top seed Maria eased into the semifinals of the Guangzhou International Open in China with straight-sets win over Tetiana Luzhanska.

The 6-1 7-5 triumph took Kirilenko, the world number 28 from Russia, one step nearer to her sixth WTA title and fourth on Asian soil.

China's Zheng Jie defeated Croatia's Petra Martic in three sets as she fought back to beat the fourth-seed 1-6 6-4 6-3.

South Africa's Chanelle Scheepers also took three sets to defeat Poland's Urszula Radwanska, finally winning 4-6 7-6 (8/6) 6-3 in a tough match.

In the final match, second seeded Australian Jarmila Gajdosova was beaten 6-4 6-3 by Slovakia's Magdalena Rybarikova.

Kirilenko will currently play Scheepers as Zheng will face Rybarikova.

"Woods won't succeed another major"

Tiger Woods

Greg Norman conceives Tiger Woods no longer has the focusing needed to win another major championship.

Norman said in an interview that will be published in the November subject of Golf Magazine that Woods has too much distraction now and lacks the "street smarts" needed to add to his 14 majors.

His previous major win came at the 2008 US Open and he has not won a tournament since the full gory facts of his sex scandal broke in November 2009.

"Woods, when he dominated, had a single shot approach," Norman said.

"It was merely about the golf.

"Now there are so a lot of distractions and people are looking things that are wrong with Tiger now, so he's got to deal with that on a day-to-day basis, like every other mortal has to do, right?

Greg Norman

"In our lives, in our business, we all have to be answerable for our actions. It's very hard for him to have that focusing. And the more he shuts people off, the worse it gets."

"He feels everything's OK because his world is so cocooned," he said.

Norman added: "Well, merely look at [Woods'] body language."

"He doesn't hold his head up anymore, he's got his eyes down, and he’s trying to keep his eyes away from the camera, right?"

Norman, a former world no.1 and holder of two major titles, will captain the international team at the Presidents Cup in Australia this November.

Hard times for Somdev in Davis Cup

Somdev has a heavy workload to shoulder as India take on hosts Japan in their bid to re-enter the elite Davis Cup World Group, beginning Friday.

India had lost 1-4 to top seeded Serbia in the first round to once again face the play offs, while Japan scored a influential 4-1 win over Uzbekistan to give themselves a opportunity to make the 16-nation World Group for the first time since 1985.

Back spasms have forced Paes to miss the flight to Tokyo and in his absence, the doubles rubber on the second day of the tie has now turn into a complicated issue.

Surprisingly, India has decided to field Somdev, or else of Rohan Bopanna, along with Mahesh Bhupathi in the doubles rubber against the home pair of Kei Nishikori and Go Soeda.

It means that 64th ranked Somdev will have to play on all three days, beginning with the opening singles of the tie against 174th ranked Yuichi Sugita on Friday and then the reverse singles against Nishikori on Sunday.

Seemingly, India's non-playing captain S P Misra wants Bopanna, another enormous doubles player, to concentrate on just singles.

Bopanna has done tremendously well in the singles in the Davis Cup and his real challenge will be against world number 55 Nishikori.

Somdev will start as favorite against Sugita and if Bopanna can turn the tables on Nishikori, India's job would turn easy.

Nishikori is coming into the tie following a hip and back injury, which he endured at the US Open.

Lewis Hamilton turns attention to 2012

Lewis Hamilton says he has already set out to turn his concentration towards next year's Formula One campaign.

The McLaren driver ended fourth in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix after starting second on the grid behind eventual winner Sebastian Vettel, and as a result finds himself 126 points adrift of the defending world champion with six races left to run.

With only 150 points available, it was a downbeat Hamilton that measured the glaring realization this year's championship is, to all intents and purposes, over.

Asked for his aim for the rest of the season, Hamilton said: "To finish the rest of the races, and also work hard on trying to make a point next year's car is quick.

"We're still approaching for this year, but it would be sensible to focus on making sure next year's car is faster than this year's car."

Hamilton seemed to take satisfaction only from the fact he had taken the chequered flag at Monza and said he hoped to do the same at each of the remaining races.

That is an insight into his approach given the fierce criticism that followed his crash in Belgium a fortnight ago.

After a 24-lap duel with Michael Schumacher throughout which Hamilton complained to his team about the German's excessive weaving to defend his place, he finally got past.

"I'm glad I finished the race," added Hamilton.

"I showed people I can drive cleanly and not get into problem even if the guy in front makes it very hard for me.

"I got by finally and made it stick, so it was good."

Asked about Hamilton's desire to only finish races and whether he had been mentally affected by the criticism that followed his Spa shunt, McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: "I don't think so.

"He is a tough cookie who only wants to win. He will very shortly bang in that win and look fantastic.

"It's a shame it wasn't at this time, so we'll see if he can do it in two weeks' time.

"Here there was a fair amount of aggravation and defeat in the race. I think someone (Schumacher) drove him off the circuit pretty sharply at one point.

"At the first corner he could have stuck in for second and lost a wing. He was less agitated than I was at that stage, so congratulations to him on that.

"He is growing and rising, and I'm sure he's going to win more races this year and put some of the other issues further behind him."

For Hamilton, there also remains the honor of finish ahead of team-mate Jenson Button, who now stands nine points ahead of him in the drivers championship.

Since making his F1 debut in 2007, the 26-year-old has up till now to be beaten by any of his team-mates Fernando Alonso, Heikki Kovalainen or Button.

"Where I end in the championship does matter to me, but it is the way it is. There's not much I can do about it at the moment," said Hamilton.

After at first stating second in the championship was now another target, Hamilton then quickly changed his mind.

“We must be discover to win in India”

Graeme Swann believes England must beat India at home and off if they are to accomplish their aim to be one of the best ODI nations in the world.

Team director Andy Flower has pointed betterment in the 50 over game. England is at present ranked fifth after guiding his team to the top of the Test standings.

England are favorites to win the present series against a injury depleted India, who are without most of the team that won the World Cup in April, as the hosts go ahead 1-0 heading into tomorrow's third game at The Oval.

Whereas Swann is concentrated on securing the series success he believes any longer-term ambitions will only be realized if England also win in the return series on the sub-continent next month.

"Our official ranking is five and I don't think we can disagree with that," he said in an interview shown on Sky Sports News.

"We have to beat teams like India, not just in this series, but when we be off to play them as well."

Swann believes one-day skipper Alastair Cook is hushing his doubters after his match-winning innings in the rain shortened win at the Rose Bowl on Tuesday.

Cook's suitableness for the shorter formats had been questioned when he was installed as skipper earlier this summer, but he replied with an unbeaten 80 off 63 balls in Southampton.

"He's just let his bat do the talking," Swann added.

"It is very good for Cooky. He works very tough on his game, no-one works harder on his game while Kevin Pietersen might tell you in a different way.

"It is magnificent that it is paying off for him.

"He was written off; he's still hitting sixes these days. So you never know hell may freeze over."

Alex Ferguson and Edin Dzeko receive BPL acclaim

Both the Barclays Manager and Player of the Month of August awards will be heading to Manchester.

Man City striker Dzeko received praise for his four goals in their 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, and was given the award for the first time, after his excellent start to the season.

Dzeko was also on the score sheet as the Citizens frisked over Swansea 4-0, and Bolton Wanderers also suffered a 3-2 loss at the hands of Roberto Mancini's men.

While Dzeko had a lackluster unveiling season at Eastland after completing a move from Wolfsburg for a reported £27 million, he has now won the worship of the fans in Eastlands, with the Citizens currently in second spot on the Premier League table behind Manchester United on goal difference.

There was also acclaim reserved for Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who won the Barclays Manager of the Month for the 26th time in his career after his squad maintain a 100% record this season by beating Arsenal 8-2 last weekend.

The Red Devils beat West Brom 2-1 in their opening weekend, and then hit Tottenham for a 3-0 victory, earlier racing to the top of the table with their beating of Arsenal.

The wily Scot has acquainted new signings such as Phil Jones and Ashley Young who have contributed strongly, together with young players including Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley who apparently have made the transition effortlessly to the first team.

The choice was made by the Barclays Awards Panel that includes representatives from football's governing bodies, the media and fans.

Zico

Brazil great Zico has been appointed as the coach of Iraq on a one year contract, the nation's football federation has confirmed.

The 58-year-old, who has earlier coached Japan, Fenerbahce and CSKA Moscow, replaces Wolfgang Sidka, who was not offered a new agreement.

Zico will take charge of the side with instant effect as the Iraqis get ready for the next stage of their World Cup qualifying campaign.

Iraq has been drawn along China, Jordan and Singapore in Group A in the third round of qualifying, and will face the Jordanians on September 2.

Fenerbahce banned from Europe

Fenerbahce logo

Fenerbahce will not play in the Champions League this season because of an ongoing investigation, the Turkish Football Federation has confirmed.

The declaration comes on the eve of Champions League group stage draw in Monaco.

Turkish Football Federation logo

According to a declaration on the TFF website, UEFA wrote to the federation to demand Fenerbahce's withdrawal, threatening wider disciplinary act against the TFF should they fail to do so.

The letter was sent on to Fenerbahce, who declined to withdraw.

"In the face of this development, on August 24 an extraordinary meeting of the board of directors was held to talk about the threat of the Turkish Football Federation being exposed to severe disciplinary endorsements if Fenerbahce took part in the UEFA Champions League this season, and it was decided to bar them from participating," the announcement said.

Fenerbahce were crown league champions last term, pipping Trabzonspor to the Super Lig title with a dramatic 4-3 win at Sivasspor on the final day.

The final standings stay official, but Fenerbahce president Aziz Yildirim is one of more than 30 people confined custody pending trial on the matter.

UEFA Champions League logo

UEFA are expected to make an proclamation later this evening.

A head of the expected UEFA announcement, there was confusion over who would take Fenerbahce's spot in the contest.

The left second legs of the play-offs were because of take place tonight, and there was speculation that one of the beaten teams from this round would be reinstated.

If UEFA were to go by coefficients, Arsenal would be sure a place in the group stage, in spite of of the outcome of their tie against Udinese.

There was also the chance the TFF could be invite to enter another team in Fenerbahce's place.

Ronaldinho Called back to the Brazil Squad

Ronaldinho

Flamengo forward Ronaldinho has been called back to the Brazil squad for following month's friendly against Ghana at Craven Cottage after a nine-month absence.

Ronaldinho in action

The 31-year-old has not featured for his country since 1-0 defeat to Argentina last November, his only appearance in Mano Menezes prevails as Selecao coach.

Porto forward Hulk

Other noteworthy inclusions in the 24-man group for the September 5 come across were Real Madrid left back Marcelo, Cruzeiro goalkeeper Fabio, Porto forward Hulk and Internacional striker Leandro Damiao.

Leandro Damiao

There was no place for Chelsea midfielder Ramires, however there was room for Santos versatile Brazil Under-20 international Danilo.

Brazil team: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Jefferson (Botafogo), Fabio (Cruzeiro); Lucio (Inter Milan), Thiago Silva (AC Milan), Dede (Vasco), D Luiz (Chelsea), D Alves (Barcelona), Danilo (Santos), Marcelo (Real Madrid); Adriano (Barcelona), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), L Gustavo (Bayern Munich), Ralf (Corinthians), Elias (Atletico Madrid), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk), PH Ganso (Santos), Lucas (Sao Paulo); Ronaldinho (Flamengo), Robinho (AC Milan), A Pato (AC Milan), Hulk (Porto), L Damiao (Internacional), Neymar (Santos).

Silverstone expects to the future

Silverstone has submitted plans to additional secure their futurity that has been described as the most significant in the circuit's 60-year history.

Aylesbury Vale District Council and South Northants District Council last week received a comprehensive outline planning application that will transform the Northamptonshire estate if given the green light.

Silverstone has already experiment a track revamp, and this year the fresh £27million pit-and-paddock complex was unveiled.

Even so, in a bid to get one of the leading venues in the UK, the plan now is for a business park, Technology Park, education campus, three hotels, ancillary retail and spectator facilities that include a Welcome Centre and Museum of Motor Sport, also as a kart track and outdoor stage.

Silverstone Holdings Ltd managing director Richard Phillips said: "This is the most important initiative that Silverstone has taken in its 60-year history.

"Approval of this planning application will help maintain Silverstone's position as a leading global centre for sport, leisure, education and technology, and support its vision of becoming a world-leading motor sport destination."

British Racing Drivers Club (BRDC)

Chairman of the British Racing Drivers Club, Stuart Rolt say: "The submission of this planning application is a big step forward in releasing the commercial potential of Silverstone and its 760-acre estate.

"The timing of this planning application is closely linked into the process we are currently undergoing to seek potential investment from third parties that will enable us to move forward with our plans more rapidly."

Rolt and Phillips both confirmed at last month's British Grand Prix that for the development to succeed, outside investment was needed as they could not support such an important financial undertaking.

It is estimated the development will make around 8,400 permanent jobs in the firms and activities pulled to the site, plus an average of around 550 construction jobs per annum throughout the development phase.

India Sorted with West Indies for Under-19 World Cup

India clubbed with West Indies, Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea for the preliminary phase of the ICC Under-19 World Cup to be held in Australia next year.

The occasion will get happening in Queensland exactly one year from now and Scotland will be there as the leading Associate after winning eight of their nine matches during the qualifiers, which happened in Dublin and Derry.

Defending champions and hosts, Australia, will head Group A have been drawn alongside 1998 winner England, Nepal and Ireland, the ICC said in a declaration.

Group B is made up of the last event's runner-up and two-time winner Pakistan, New Zealand, Scotland and Afghanistan while 2000

2008 champion India have been concerned Group C along with West Indies, Zimbabwe and PNG. Sri Lanka, South Africa, Bangladesh and Namibia make up Group D.

Haroon Lorgat

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said, "The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup is a very important tournament for us and I want to congratulate those six teams who have qualified to take part in Queensland next year."

"This tournament has proved to be an important stepping stone for elite young cricketers aspiring to play international cricket. It's an opportunity for them to develop and test their skills in a high-pressure situation against the world's best at this level," he added.

Shane Long Wait for West Brom Finally Over

Shane Long

West Bromwich have at last signed Reading striker Long for an unrevealed fee, the club have confirmed.

Shane has put pen to paper on an initial three-year agreement with the option for an added twelve months.

Roy Hodgson

Long becomes Baggies head coach Roy Hodgson's sixth signing of the summer with the fee understood to be an initial £4.5million, rising to a promising £6.5 million with add-ons.

He is presently on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, preparing for clash with Croatia in Dublin.

Barclays Premier League

But Long will be in contention to make his West Brom debut in Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United at the Hawthorns.

West Brom

Albion declared the deal after the results of Long's medical proved positive. He becomes their sixth signing of the close season but the first for whom they have paid a transfer fee.

Billy Jones, Gareth McAuley, Zoltan Gera and Marton Fulop were Bosman transfers while Ben Foster signed on a season-long loan from Birmingham.

Shane Long celebrating

Long has been Baggies head coach Roy Hodgson's number one striker target across the summer to provide support for last season's top scorer, Peter Odemwingie.

He scored 25 goals for the Royals previous season and was joined with a move to West Ham.

John Madejski

Reading also confirm Long's move in an announcement with Chairman Sir John Madejski saying: "Shane has been a conscientious and loyal servant for Reading.

"Water will always find its own level, and nobody can deny a talented young player the opportunity to play at the highest level when they have the ability to do so.

"Had we won (the play-off final) at Wembley, I have no doubt that Shane would still be playing for Reading, but we wish him great luck at West Brom."

Brian McDermott

Reading manager Brian McDermott said: "West Bromwich Albion and Roy Hodgson are very lucky to get Shane and I'm sure their fans will see what a great talent he is and how hard he'll work for the team."