Sacked Flower gets new cricket gig

Flower back in bloom ... Sacked England coach Andy Flower has been appointed technical director of elite coaching for the England and Wales Cricket Board. Source: FRANTZESCO KANGARIS / AFP

FORMER England cricket coach Andy Flower, who stepped down after their humiliating Ashes defeat, has been handed a new role.

Flower left his post as team director following a dreadful tour of Australia, where England suffered a 5-0 series defeat and proceeded to lose seven of the eight limited-overs contests which followed.

The tour also ended the international career of prolific batsman Kevin Pietersen, after concerns over team unity.

It was immediately indicated that Flower would still be a part of England's future plans and details of his role have now been provided.

The 45-year-old Zimbabwean will be working with the next generation of players and coaches and will be setting up a leadership program, an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement says.

Flower's achievements prior to his miserable Ashes farewell were impressive as England won three previous series against Australia under his tutelage, including the 2010-11 series Down Under.

They also claimed the World Twenty20 title in 2010 and reached number one in the world rankings in all three formats. Flower received an OBE in the Queen's 2011 Birthday Honours list.

Flower says he's delighted with the appointment.

"I see this as a great opportunity for me as I start a new phase of my career," he said on Tuesday.

"I am particularly excited about the chance to build and mould a leadership course which is not simply about captaincy but much more.

"This role offers me a chance to make a real contribution to the ability and character of England players and coaches in the years to come."

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Heart fairytale rivals Wanderers

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AS outrageous as it sounds, Melbourne Heart is now a ­contender for this season's A-League championship in what looms as a Steven Bradbury-style finish.

Heart is four points adrift of the top six, but if it makes April's finals series, a grand final appearance on the first weekend of May is a strong possibility.

While Heart has a decent run home that includes games against fellow top-six hopefuls Newcastle, Wellington and Central Coast, John van't Schip's side fears no one. And that's why Heart looms as the team nobody would want to meet in the finals.

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League leader Brisbane Roar succumbed 1-0 to the league's in-form side a fortnight ago at AAMI Park and I wouldn't be surprised if Heart wins again when the sides meet in Brisbane on March 28.

The only blemish during a super consistent seven-game streak that has yielded 19 of a possible 21 points was conceding a last-minute equaliser away to Adelaide United, the team looming as Brisbane's main threat.

With Asian Champions League trio Western Sydney, Melbourne Victory and the Mariners a worry on recent performances, Heart could enter the finals series as the genuine form team.

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Two wins would be enough to propel it to the grand final, a feat that would go close to matching the Wanderers' debut season fairytale.

The mere presence of marquee player Orlando Engelaar lifts his teammates and his quality has been on show. His goal against Victory on Saturday was effortless and one perfectly weighted 50m pass to Mate ­Dugandzic was a ball few A-League players can hit.

With Harry Kewell to give Heart another dimension in attack and youngsters Ben Garuccio and Stefan Mauk improving every week, anything is possible.

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Revealed: Buzz Rothfield’s top 50

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THE best new signings in rugby league in 2014 won't necessarily be Ben Barba at the Broncos, Sam Tomkins at the Warriors or Will Hopoate at Parramatta.

A player on just a third of their salaries might just prove to be the game's top recruit.

Tyrone Peachey, snapped up by the Panthers from the Sharks, has made The Daily's Telegraph's top 50 player list.

VIEW THE LIST NOW: HERE IS OUR SPECIAL TOP 50 INTERACTIVE!

The 22-year-old has the skill to play five-eighth or the strength and size to play back-row.

Despite only seven first grade appearances, plenty of good judges rate him a future State of Origin player.

The experience he gained in last year's finals series will be invaluable in his debut year at the Panthers.

He has been included at number 50.

Peachey is the only Penrith player to make the top 50. The players I had most trouble leaving out were centre Dean Whare and hooker James Segeyaro.

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Buzz's top 50 NRL players. Source: DailyTelegraph

Jamal Idris, Tim Grant and Jamie Soward didn't do enough last year to warrant inclusion.

It's very much a revamped top 50 from last year with nine newcomers in the list of players between 26 and 50.

Jake Friend, Josh Papalii, George Burgess, Boyd Cordner, Jorge Taufua are among the new players that demanded selection.

All four could have made the top 25 list in tomorrow's edition but have been beaten by more experienced players.

DO YOU AGREE? TELL US IN OUR SPECIAL TOP 50 INTERACTIVE!

Obviously there are casualties from last year's top 50.

The likes of Wade Graham, Michael Ennis, Dave Taylor, Sam Kasiano, Kurt Gidley, Dave Shillington and Tony Williams have missed out.

Their form last year wasn't good enough to warrant inclusion, especially big T Rex.

Others have slipped out of the top 25 but still made the top 50.

Ben Barba, on the back of his Dally M year, was rated the fifth best player in rugby league this time last year.

He's slipped 22 spots to 27 this year.

Manly's Anthony Watmough (19 to 30), the Gold Coast's Nate Myles and Greg Bird have also tumbled.

DON'T MISS: PART TWO, 25-1 WILL BE REVEALED ON WEDNESDAY!

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Eriksson rejects racism claim

Sol Campbell claims the governing FA did not want a black player heading the England team. Source: PAUL BARKER / AFP

FORMER England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has denied Sol Campbell's claim he would have been captain of the national side "for more than 10 years" had he been white.

Campbell, one of the leading black English footballers of his generation, made the controversial allegations in a new biography, extracts of which were serialised in Britain's Sunday Times last weekend.

The 39-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal defender said: "I believe if I was white, I would have been England captain for more than 10 years — it's as simple as that.

"I think the FA (England's governing Football Association) wished I was white. I had the credibility, performance-wise to be captain," added Campbell, who led his country on three occasions.

But Eriksson told Britain's Daily Telegraph that David Beckham had always been his first choice as skipper.

"Not a chance — during my years, not a chance," the Swede said of Campbell's claim of captaincy.

"As you know, from my first to my last game, I had David Beckham (as captain) and there were never, ever any discussions at all in the team or in the FA about the captain."

Sven Goran-Eriksson said Campbell had no chance at the captaincy while David Beckham was around. Source: AFP

Former England striker Ian Wright, like Campbell a prominent black English footballer, also contested his former international teammate's assertion, insisting there were better candidates to lead the national side at the time.

"I think he's got the credentials to be captain, but to be captain for 10 years? I'm not sure when you see some of the players that were around then," Arsenal great Wright, who played alongside Campbell for England in the late 1990s, told BBC Radio Five.

"I want a captain that goes in and gets you going. Sol has never had the demeanour where he is aggressive on the pitch and put people in their place.

"People say David Beckham wasn't like that, but he only had to raise his eyebrows to put someone in their place. Maybe Sol could have grown into it but it's down to the manager who he wants.

"Sol was more than good enough to be a captain but I personally believe there were better candidates at the time."

So far the current FA hierarchy have made no public response to Campbell's remarks and British media reports said it was understood they had no plans to comment.

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Pacemen put Australia in charge

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MICHAEL Clarke will be looking to declare for the second time in two days as Australia presses for a series victory in the third and final Test at Newlands.

With the series tied at one-all Australia will resume on Tuesday on 0-27, a lead of 234 with two days to play.

Australia's cause has been helped by a hamstring strain to the world's best fast bowler, Dale Steyn, but he bowled a few warm-up deliveries before Australia's second innings and then joined his teammates during the 20 minutes South Africa was in the field on Monday evening with the hope of bowling on day four.

MATCH CENTRE: VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS, LIVE STATS AND COMMENTARY

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Clarke continued his tradition of refusing to enforce the follow-on despite bowling South Africa out for 287, giving Australia a lead of 207. At the beginning of the day Clarke declared on Australia's overnight score of 7-494, leaving him on 161 not out.

At 6-146 it appeared South Africa would be bowled out cheaply but a fighting 67 from Faf du Plessis and some rearguard batting from Vernon Philander (37 not out) and Steyn (28) boosted the score.

Du Plessis had plenty of good fortune, including being missed twice in one over off spinner Nathan Lyon when wicketkeeper Brad Haddin fumbled a stumping chance and Alex Doolan missed a difficult catch at short leg.

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The South African batsman also received a collective gob full from the Australians after picking the ball up and tossing it back to bowler Mitchell Johnson.

Johnson enhanced his standing as the leading bowler in the series, finishing with 4-42 from 19 overs to continue a long, golden summer. He has 19 wickets for the series at an average of 15 after claiming 37 wickets at 14 in the Ashes.

His new ball partner, Ryan Harris, was also vastly improved after a slow start to the tour, claiming 3-63 from 22 overs.

The veteran paceman conjured the ball of the match with late reverse swing to bowl the dangerous Hashim Amla for 38 as South Africa's batsmen crumbled.

Harris claimed three of the first six wickets to fall, removing Amla and JP Duminy during a wonderful exhibition of reverse swing bowling.

Australia's pace bowling was a welcome change from the second Test in Port Elizabeth, where they were impotent while South Africa was devastating with reverse swing.

Ryan Harris celebrates after dismissing Graeme Smith. Source: AFP

Harris claimed his first wicket in just the third over of the day when he had South African captain Graeme Smith caught behind for 5, continuing his poor series with the bat.

Smith has scored just 42 runs at an average of eight with a top score of 14.

After exceptional back to back Ashes campaigns Harris has struggled to get going in this series, looking for all the world like a 34-year-old fast bowler with a long injury history.

He had been down on pace and often began spells with juicy short balls outside off stump which were easily dispatched. This explained series figures of just three wickets at an average of 74 going into this match.

But from the outset of South Africa's innings Harris's pace was up and his accuracy was impeccable, constantly asking questions of the batsmen.

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S Africa team 'a bunch of losers'

'They are a bunch of losers' ... South Africa's sports minister Fikile Mbalula (right) has launched a stinging attack against the nation's football team after their loss to Nigeria on Sunday. Source: Gallo Images / Getty Images

SOUTH Africa's players are "a bunch of losers" and the former World Cup host's national team is in a state of crisis, according to the country's outspoken sports minister.

Fikile Mbalula, often a vocal supporter of South African sports teams, launched his stinging and surprising criticism of Bafana Bafana a day after they lost 3-1 to Nigeria and were eliminated at home in the group stage of the lower-level African Nations Championship.

"What I saw was not a problem of coaching, it was a bunch of losers," Mbalula said. "Their performance was not even lacklustre, it was useless. The mediocrity that was displayed yesterday ... we must never wake up to that again."

Mbalula said he felt like "just standing up and walking out" of Sunday's loss to Nigeria at Cape Town Stadium.

"We indeed have a crisis of monumental proportions," he said, describing the players as "unbearable, useless individuals."

Mbalula's assessment - sitting alongside South African Football Association President Danny Jordaan - came amid deepening gloom for South Africa's football followers, whose team appears to be regressing after being the first African host of a World Cup.

Playing at home again, South Africa only beat Mozambique in Group A at the African Nations Championship, the continental tournament for home-based players. It drew with Mali and was outplayed by Nigeria and only scored through a late penalty after Stephen Keshi's young Super Eagles team - missing all its Europe-based stars - had put the result beyond doubt.

The early exit from a tournament South Africa backed itself to win is a new low for Bafana Bafana, which hasn't qualified for a major competition it hasn't hosted since 2008. Africa's richest country and with the continent's best football facilities, South Africa missed the World Cup in 2006 and also failed to make the tournament in Brazil this year, and wasn't even among the final 10 teams in African qualifying.

South Africa also failed to qualify for the 2010 and 2012 African Cups, only appearing in last year's continental championship as host.

South Africa coach Gordon Igesund said the team wasn't good enough. Midfielder Siphiwe Tshabalala also made a public apology.

"It is honestly hurting," said Tshabalala, the man who scored the opening goal at the 2010 World Cup. "We are hurting and we know the nation is also hurting, and we are not proud of not doing well."

Jordaan said there would be a major review of the national setup and SAFA would consider a new nickname and new colours for Bafana Bafana.

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Vidic concedes title, Moyes vows to fight

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MANCHESTER United captain Nemanja Vidic contradicted manager David Moyes by saying the reigning champions could no longer win the Premier League title this season following their defeat by Chelsea.

Sunday's 3-1 loss at Stamford Bridge left United a huge 14 points behind leaders Arsenal with just 16 games of the season remaining.

Chelsea striker Samuel Eto'o scored a hat-trick to exposed United's defensive frailties and the defeat was compounded for the visitors when Vidic was sent off late on for a rash challenge on Eden Hazard.

Asked if United were now too far adrift of Arsenal to retain their title, centre-back Vidic told Sky Sports: "Yes, I think so now we are too far behind. We have to focus now to get in the top three, top four. We have to be positive."

Of more immediate concern for United is that they are six points adrift of the top four, with the once unthinkable prospect of failing to qualify for the Champions League now a possibility.

"It's not going to be easy but we have to now fight for different things," said Vidic.

"We have to focus on the (League) Cup and the Champions League. It's never easy but we have to stay positive, we have to stick together, we have to work hard to change the things around.

"Hopefully we can play better football and with a bit of luck I think we can achieve that."

By contrast, a defiant Moyes - in his first season as United manager since succeeding the retired Alex Ferguson - insisted after Sunday's match that he would not "throw the towel in".

"What we won't do is throw the towel in until we can't get there," said Moyes, whose side replied through Javier Hernandez.

"The job's to try and finish first and we'll keep trying to do that. There's no clever answers except, 'Try and win the next game.'

"I think before today (Sunday), we came into it and we'd lost one game in the league in six - not a bad run.

"And I didn't think there was a big difference in the teams today, I didn't at all. The difference was two set-pieces and nothing else."

United have now been beaten seven times in the league, having lost five games or fewer in each of the past three seasons, but Moyes said that he did not feel under any added pressure.

Asked how his confidence was holding up, the former Everton manager replied: "Fine. It's a difficult task, but perseverance, keep doing what's right - I thought we did a lot of good things today.

"We've got players to come back and this is a project where I know I'm going to improve as it goes along. There will be changes as we go along on the journey and I'm looking forward to it.

"It's a massive challenge. I hoped I would be in a far better position than this, but I'm not, so the challenge is there for me. I think if you're a football person, it's a great one to have."

Moyes was once again without injured first-choice strike pair Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, and when asked if they would return to training on Monday, he would only reply: "I hope so."

United finished the game with 10 men after Vidic was sent off for chopping Hazard, while Rafael da Silva was booked for a wild foul on Gary Cahill.

Vidic, reflecting on his red card, said: "I think it was a bit harsh because I went for the ball. Hazard is a sharp player, he just pushed the ball."

Moyes added: "I think when players are frustrated, and it happens also to my players, things like this can happen."

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Nadal prevails in straight-sets slog

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RAFAEL Nadal has vowed to take less time between points after being irked by umpire Eva Asderaki's strict enforcement of the rules during a torrid fourth-round Australian Open win over Kei Nishikori at Melbourne Park yesterday.

Nadal was pushed to the limit by Nishikori in a 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 7-6 (7-3) arm wrestle, and annoyed by two separate warnings from Asderaki for taking longer than the allowed 20secs between points.

The reigning French and US Open champion also was warned for receiving coaching as he battled to subdue Nishikori in 3hrs,15mins.

The Spaniard spoke briefly with Asderaki at the end of a gruelling contest, clearly irritated by her interpretation of the timing issue.

GALLERY - BEST PICS FROM DAY 8

While peeved by the timing of Asderaki's second warning at 4-all (deuce) in the second set, Nadal admits he needs to take less time.

"I accept the rules, Sometimes I am wrong," he said.

"Sometimes I am too slow and I accept that.

"I respect the decision of the referee even if I am not happy for that, because (it) was not the right moment to do it, in my opinion, before an advise. But she did.

"I going to try to go quicker for the future.

"But is important to have people on the chair that really understand the game and people who manage this sport who understand the game, and that's it.

Rafael Nadal in action against Kei Nishikori. Source: Getty Images

"The negative thing in my opinion is not the warning. The negative thing is the moment - 4-all, deuce.

"You can choose another moment to do it (issue a warning), not that one.

"Another thing is she didn't advise me before the second warning that I was still going slow.

"The normal thing is (to) say 'Rafa, you are going too slow.'

"So I try to go quicker, before the second warning.

"But she didn't make it...in my opinion, that goes against the show."

Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Kei Nishikori. Source: AFP

The dispute prompted coach and commentator Brad Gilbert to call for the installation of clocks on court to alert players to potential time violations.

Nadal is renowned as a player who takes the maximum allowed time between points, but generally responds well to pressure from umpires to speed up.

Nadal was relieved to earn a tilt at 22nd seed Grigor Dimitrov, the first Bulgarian male to reach a grand slam quarter-final after a dogged 6-3 3-6 6-2 6-4 triumph over Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.

"It was a very difficult match," Nadal said, referring to Nishikori's challenge.

"I was close to lose (ok) very set. Kei played very well. He hits the ball very early, which is very difficult, and he does it very easy.

"The ball was coming back fast."

Rafael Nadal celebrates winning the second set against Kei Nishikori. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Limited

Chasing a second Australian Open crown, Nadal endured a rollercoaster afternoon.

Flamboyant Dimitrov follows the famed Maleeva sisters - Manuela, Katerina and Magdaleeva - and Sesil Karatantcheva and Tsvetana Pironkova - as Bulgarian members of the grand slam's last eight club.

Now coached by Australian Roger Rasheed, former prodigy Dimitrov is delivering on undisputed talent.

A Wimbledon and US Open junior champion, Dimitrov last year hooked up with Rasheed, a no-nonsense figure renowned for demanding physical and mental toughness from his charges.

Dimitrov, 22, was elated to reach the quarters, but has designs on going even deeper.

"First of all, I'm really happy to be out there in the quarter-final," he said. "(But) I'm not even close to satisfaction.

"I've been working really hard in the past year, especially in the off-season.

"Whether I like it or not, the patience is one of the main ingredients to become good."

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Radwanska to meet Azarenka

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THE consistency of Agnieszka Radwanska has extinguished the hot streak of rising Spanish star Garbine Muguruza.

Muguruza has been one of the finds of the Australian summer after winning the title in Hobart as as qualifier but the experience of Poland's No.5 seed was too much, with Radwanska progressing 6-1 6-3.

She now plays defending champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-finals.

HOTTEST PICTURES: DAY 8 AT THE OPEN

Radwanska, a semi-finalist in Wimbledon in 2012, took a long time to break down Muguruza in the opening set with the first five games taking almost half-an-hour.

But once she gained the crucial break, the inexperience of Muguruza, who has risen to No.38 in the world, was exposed and she meekly surrended the set with a spate of unforced errors.

Radwanska, who will be making her fifth appearance in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park, quickly got an early break in the second set and then comfortably held the advantage.

SEE HOW OUR LIVE COVERAGE OF DAY 8 UNFOLDED BELOW

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Ali helps Pakistan to series-leveller

Pakistani batsman Azhar Ali (left) celebrates after scoring a century (100 runs) as Pakistan's cricket team captain Misbah-ul-Haq looks on during the final day of their third and final cricket Test match against Sri Lanka. Source: Ishara S.KODIKARA / AFP

AZHAR Ali hit a brilliant hundred as Pakistan pulled off a thrilling win in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Sharjah on Monday, levelling the series 1-1.

Set a daunting 302 to win in a possible 59 overs, Pakistan owed their successful chase to Ali's fifth Test century (103) as he and Misbah-ul-Haq shared a 109-run stand for the fifth wicket.

Misbah, who finished with 68 not out, hit the winning single with nine balls to spare in fading light.

Ali, ironically dropped for the first two Tests, hit paceman Suranga Lakmal for a boundary, then twice took two to reach his hundred off 133 balls.

He hit six boundaries before falling caught behind with just seven still needed to win.

Pakistan's chances seemed to have faded away at 107-3 at tea, as they needed 195 in the last 35 overs. But Ali upped the tempo during a rapid 89-run partnership in 14.5 overs with Sarfraz Ahmed (48) which left Sri Lanka on the defensive.

Even when Sarfraz was out, caught behind off paceman Shaminda Eranga, Pakistan needed 116. Sarfraz hit four boundaries and a six off 46 balls.

But Misbah supported Ali as Pakistan achieved their second best chase in all Test cricket, behind the 314 they chased against Australia in Karachi in 1994.

Sri Lanka had won the second Test in Dubai by nine wickets while the first Test ended in a draw in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan had lost Ahmed Shehzad (21), Khurram Manzoor (21) and Younis Khan (29) as they were derailed in their chase.

Needing to score at a rate of more than five an over to win, Pakistan were given a rapid 35-run start by the sixth over but paceman Suranga Lakmal (3-79) halted that progress by dismissing openers Shehzad and Manzoor within 13 runs.

Younis Khan tried to increase the pace before being caught off Angelo Mathews two overs before tea, but the scenario changed in the last session.

With the series tied, Pakistan also remained unbeaten in five series in the United Arab Emirates, which has become their home since security fears - sparked in the wake of attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009 - forced them to play at neutral venues.

They twice drew series with South Africa (2010 and 2013) and beat Sri Lanka (2011) and England (2012).

Misbah said Pakistan desperately wanted the win.

"That was really a much wanted win. We wanted the win it for our coach Dav Whatmore and wanted to give him a winning farewell,'' said Misbah of the team coach who ends his two-year tenure with this match.

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews regretted batting failure.

"We dominated for three-and-a-half days but unfortunately could not score big in the second innings and lost,'' said Mathews, declared man-of-the-series for his 412 runs in three Tests.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 214 in their second innings, with left-arm spinner Abdul Rehman finishing with 4-56 and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal taking 3-53, but not before their batsmen had kept Pakistan at bay on the morning of the fifth and final day.

On an exciting day when both teams had a chance of victory, Mathews (31) and Prasanna Jayawardene (49) shared a 62-run stand for the sixth wicket and batted positively to add 56 in the first hour after the tourists resumed at 133-5.

But Mohammad Talha gave Pakistan their much-needed breakthrough when he had Mathews caught off a miscued hook.

Rehman then grabbed two quick wickets to put the brakes on Sri Lanka, having Dilruwan Perera caught at short-leg for eight before removing Rangana Herath for a first-ball duck.

Herath recorded a golden pair in the match as he was also dismissed first ball in the first innings.

Prasanna hit six boundaries in his 88-ball knock before he was dismissed by Ajmal, who also removed Shaminda Eranga to wrap up the innings.

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