Alex Hales

Hales scored 80 off 42 balls, including four sixes and nine fours. 

Alex Hales produced a batting masterclass as England dominated New Zealand with both bat and ball to race to a 10-wicket win in the T20 series decider in Wellington on Friday.

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Shane Watson

Shane Watson.

Opener Shane Watson top-scored with 76 as Australia continued to dominate West Indies during a convincing five-wicket victory in the fourth one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

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Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard's flurry of goals for club and country since returning from injury in December have given the midfielder fresh hope of extending his Chelsea contract and prolonging his England career.

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Brett Lee

Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee insisted cricket Down Under was clean. 

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Michael Clarke wins fourth Allan Border Medal

Michael Clarke.

Australian captain Michael Clarke won his fourth Allan Border Medal as the nation's cricketer of the year at a gala ceremony in Melbourne.

Clarke, 31, and his predecessor as captain Ricky Ponting, are the only players to win the medal, considered Australian cricket's most prestigious individual prize, four times.

The Test and one-day skipper won for the second straight year with 198 votes, ahead of joint runners-up Mike Hussey and two-time winner Shane Watson, who each polled 165 votes.

Watson won the Twenty20 award and also polled well for the one-day honour, which was won by paceman Clint McKay.

Top-order batsman Phil Hughes, who moved from New South Wales to South Australia ahead of the season, was named the domestic player of the year, and Queensland batsman Joe Burns was voted the Bradman young cricketer of the year.

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Haris Sohail sent back from SA

Pakistan lost a second injured player on their tour of South Africa when uncapped batsman Haris Sohail was sent home on Tuesday without playing a match. 

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Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi.

"FICA must also co-operate. Pakistan needs support and if a player is willing to come and we are assuring him security, then they must not stop him. This is the time that world cricket must support

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Taufeeq Umar

Pakistan on Wednesday suffered a crucial blow when experienced opener Taufeeq Umar was ruled out of the tour of South Africa just two days before the first Test in Johannesburg.

Taufeeq Umar.

Stephen Fleming

Stephen Fleming.

Test great Shane Warne on Wednesday called on Australia coach Mickey Arthur to be replaced by former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming days after branding the nation's cricket chiefs "muppets".

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Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli and Roberto Mancini.

AC Milan announced on Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign Italy striker Mario Balotelli from the English champions.    

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Umer Gul- Embodiment of Pakistan Cricket

Umer Gul, perhaps, is the embodiment of Pakistan cricket. He can be two different bowlers within the space of a dozen deliveries. The challenge for him on SA tour is to rise and be counted.

Umer Gul.

David Beckham picture

Former England midfielder David Beckham has been training with Arsenal, the club's manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed, but rejected reports that could sign.

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Jayasuriya becomes chairman of selectors

Jayasuriya, 43, a destructive left-handed opener, Jayasuriya represented Sri Lanka in 110 Tests and 445 one-day internationals in a 22-year career before quitting in 2011 and taking to politics.

Jayasuriya becomes chairman of selectors.

Former Sri Lanka cricketer turned politician Sanath Jayasuriya was appointed chairman of selectors in a new-look five-member committee named by sports minister Mahindananda.

He is a Member of Parliament of the ruling party United People Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in his hometown Matara.

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Lionel Messi

Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi says he must improve on all fronts even as debate rages as to whether he is the best player ever.

Lionel Messi.

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Graeme Smith becomes the first player to captain in 100 Tests.

Graeme Smith becomes the first player to captain in 100 Teats.

South Africa's Graeme Smith is on course for a cricket landmark in the first Test against Pakistan next week when he'll become the first player to captain in 100 Tests.  

Smith is set to lead the Proteas in a Test for the 99th time in the series-opener at the Wanderers starting Friday. Having also led the World XI once against Australia, he will become the first skipper to reach the 100 mark.

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Amir khan engagement Pictures

Amir khan with his finance Faryal Makhdoom.

Dushm Dusham Dushum ... you might have always seen Amir khan hurling punches to his opponent in the boxing ring. But now, this 25 years old dangerous boxer is getting married soon with a 20 years old gorgeous girl  Faryal Makhdoom.

 British Pakistani boxing champion Amir Khan introduced his fiancee, Faryal Makhdoom of New York, to the world on their engagement day.

Khan, 25, and 20-year-old Faryal Makhdoom celebrated their $200,000 engagement bash at the Bolton Wanderers Reebok Stadium. The couple exchanged rings in front of 1000 guests at the silver and purple themed engagement party.

What an expensive wedding engagement. Wow ! 

Beautiful couple.

"I am your, your are mine" Amir khan and Faryal.

"This is not just hand it's my whole life" Amir and Faryal.

"Okay. Just for now, but I don't want to put by weight" Happy couple.

Couple with their families. 

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Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal celebrates his goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013.

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Is Roger Federer getting old ?

Roger Federer holds a record 17 Grand Slam titles.

Roger Federer dismissed suggestions he was slipping off the pace at the top of men's tennis after his five-set loss to Andy Murray in the Australian Open semi-finals on Friday.

Federer, at 31 the senior member of the 'Big Four', went down in a four-hour duel with third seed Murray as he suffered his third straight semi-final defeat in Melbourne.

But the world number two, who holds a record 17 Grand Slam titles, insisted "nothing has changed" in his match-ups against his younger rivals Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Murray.

"Well, nothing has changed. I've played these guys, what, 60 times, the three guys around me in the rankings," Federer said.

"So we know each other really well. We play each other very close very often. Keep on trading wins and losses."

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Finch back to Aussie squad

Aaron Finch.

Australia brought batsman Aaron Finch back into the one-day squad unveiled on Friday for the first two internationals against the West Indies next month.

David Hussey made way for Finch, paying the price for what the selectors said were "concerns" with the batting performance in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.

Australia levelled the series 2-2 in Hobart on Wednesday but struggled against Sri Lanka's swing bowlers and looked to have been saved by the rain in S

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Sri Lanka : Malinga back to the side, will play against Aussie on Friday

Lasith Malinga 

The explosive Malinga, whose unusual "slingshot" action makes him difficult to face, was keenly missed by Sri Lanka in their three-Test mauling by the Australians as he concentrated on the shorter forms of the game.

In missing the Tests, he became one of the standout bowlers in Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash League with the Melbourne Stars.

Sri Lanka go into the series opener reinvigorated by the addition of Akila Dananjaya, Upul Tharanga and Ajantha Mendis along with Jeevan Mendis and Thisara Perera, who have been playing in the Big Bash League.

"I think it's going to be a fresh start because there are a few guys who will be joining us as well," all-rounder Angelo Mathews said.

Sri Lanka are banking on the return of slinging paceman Lasith Malinga to give them a fresh start in the one-day series against Australia, starting in Melbourne on Friday.
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