I won't change style: Warner

Determined ... Warner walks off after losing his wicket cheaply in the first Test. Source: Adam Head / News Limited

Australia opener David Warner has no intention of changing his boom-or-bust approach to Test cricket.

Warner says he will continue his aggressive method in the second Test against South Africa starting in Adelaide on Thursday despite a failure in the drawn series-opener.

Warner made just four in the first Test in Brisbane and has passed 30 runs just five times in 17 Test innings.

"The way I play, I'm going to be hit and miss here and there,'' Warner told reporters on Monday.

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"But I have got to try and learn to be a bit more consistent too. If I get myself in, I have to try and be there and get those big hundreds.

"But my job is to try and get us off to a good start.

"If I show intent and try and build pressure on them by getting a couple away, then I am winning the battle.''

The powerful left-hander said he was "raring to go'' on an Adelaide pitch expected to offer true batting conditions.

"Play hard, hit the ball into the gaps - that is my game and that is what I'm going to try and do,'' he said.

"My game is trying to hit the ball ... if the ball is there, I'm still going to hit it because that is my game - that is how I score my runs for the team.''

Warner expected South Africa's vaunted bowling attack to respond to their disappointing Brisbane Test where only five Australia batsman were dismissed - with one, Ed Cowan, run out.

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Pakistan players cleared for BBL

Relief ... Umar Akmal will now be able to take up his place with Sydney Sixers. Source: AAP

Pakistan will allow their players to compete in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League, following a request from Australian cricket authorities.

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Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Umar Akmal had all signed up to play in the league from next month, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) last week refused permission.

Afridi had been due to play with Sydney Thunder but ended his contract, saying he wanted to play in Pakistan's domestic competition.

"I have ended my contract in the Big Bash League, because I want to play in the national event to improve my form and justify my selection in the team," he said.

Ajmal signed for Adelaide Strikers and Umar for Sydney Sixers but the PCB ordered them to feature in a domestic Twenty20 event being used to test players ahead of the matches against arch-rivals India.

But on Monday, PCB spokesman Nadeem Sarwar said they would be allowed to play in the Big Bash following a request from Cricket Australia that said they had already signed their contracts.

"We will allow these players to go to Australia at the end of our Twenty20 tournament around December 8," Sarwar told AFP, adding that the players will have to return for the national camp for the Indian tour.

Pakistan will play India in two Twenty20 matches and three one-day internationals between December 25 and January 6 - the two countries' first series since 2007.

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Doping saga hits Aussie cycling

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Claims ... former cyclist Martin Vinnicombe says a current high-ranking official helped him dope. (Photo from 2006)

Controversial Australian former cyclist Martin Vinnicombe claims a current high-level figure in the sport once helped him with an injection.

Vinnicombe has spoken about the crisis that continues to rock cycling following Lance Armstrong's lifetime ban.

Vinnicombe, a 1988 Olympic silver medallist, tested positive to steroids in 1991, but made a successful legal challenge against the case.

"There are still people existing in cycling at the moment, in powerful positions, (who) at one point in their careers were exposed to doping and knew about doping methods," Vinnicombe told the ABC's 730 Report.

The ABC said the anonymous man that Vinnicombe specifically referred to is now "a senior Australian cycling figure".

It was known you'd have a sudden drop in blood pressure, therefore you needed someone there to assist you," Vinnicombe said.

"At that time ... was a person I trusted and thought he would assist me and he did so.

"He was present in the room."

While Vinnicombe said he sometimes did not know what he was taking, he added: "I don't think it was water".

Olympic cycling gold medallist Dean Woods said he competed clean throughout his career, but added some Australian cyclists should be nervous about their pasts.

"I would think if anyone was involved in road cycling from the late `90s right up until say 2005-06, certainly there are probably a few nervous guys around," Woods said.

"If they're implicated, they should be held accountable."

The federal government has announced an independent inquiry into Cycling Australia and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Agency are also looking into the sport.

"Today cycling above all else needs the truth," noted Australian anti-doping expert Michael Ashenden said.

"It needs accountability, for the people in charge of cycling to make sure that what they say is what they do.

"Every cyclist who comes forward and tells the truth is going to help us to get to that position."

Former Australian road professionals Matt White and Stephen Hodge have lost high-level roles in the sport after admitted they doped during their racing careers.

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Reds striker Suarez going nowhere

Staying put ... Superstar striker Luis Suarez is set to stay at Anfield. Source: AFP

Pepe Reina has praised Luis Suarez while Liverpool chairman Tom Werner insists the Uruguayan forward will not be sold.

Suarez scored two more goals in the weekend win over Wigan and is reportedly a target for Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City.

Reds goalkeeper Reina acknowledged that interest in the 25-year-old is inevitable but stressed that Suarez is happy at Anfield.

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"Luis is on fire," said the Spaniard. "He is in really good form and he looks like he can score every game and for us that is very important because we need to profit from that.

"He will attract the interest of many clubs, it is only normal, but he is quite happy at Liverpool and that is the important thing for us and the supporters.

"Jamie Carragher said even if he is not the best player then he is the player in better form than anyone in the league right now.

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"He is certainly a world-class striker and that is a good thing he is playing for Liverpool."

Liverpool chairman Werner was in attendance for the 3-0 EPL triumph over the Latics and is adamant Suarez is staying at the club.

Asked if there was any chance of the player being sold, Werner was quoted in the Telegraph as saying: "Absolutely not. He's a beautiful player to watch and, as a Liverpool fan, I hope I'm watching him for many years to come.

"We made a long-term contract with him in the summer and we are going to see a lot of his play at Liverpool."

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11669/8259189/Pepe-Reina-and-Tom-Werner-expect-Luis-Suarez-to-stay-at-Liverpool

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Scans confirm worst for Marsh

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Mitchell Marsh ... young all-rounder set to miss entire Twenty20 series. Source:News Limited

Mitch Marsh's hopes of playing in the Twenty20 Big Bash League appear over after the star all-rounder severely tore his hamstring in Western Australia's 14-run one-day loss to South Australia.

Marsh suffered the injury while diving to make his ground late in Western Australia's doomed run chase in the Ryobi Cup. The 21-year-old will undergo scans to determine the extent of the damage, but a best-case scenario would likely see him miss between four to six weeks.

Even that would leave his participation in Australia's domestic T20 competition highly unlikely, especially given the frantic nature of the format.

New Warriors and Perth Scorchers coach Justin Langer was disappointed to see Marsh suffer the injury, but urged the powerful right-hander to focus all of his energies on healing as quickly as possible.

"It's a huge blow for lots of reasons," Langer said of the injury to Marsh, who has endured a turbulent summer after being caught up in the Perth Scorchers' boozy night out in South Africa last month.

"We've got a Shield game and a one-dayer in Tassie next week which he won't be available for.

"Then it's unlikely he'll be available for the Scorchers. He's pushing hard to play Australian one-day and Twenty20 cricket, so it's going to be hard (to push up for selection) if he's not playing."

Langer's coaching debut was an interesting one, with the former Test opener caught somewhat by surprise when Redbacks coach Darren Berry paid him a visit early in WA's run chase.

An animated Berry went to Langer to voice his confusion over the third umpire decision review system currently used in domestic one-day cricket.

Under the current system, the third umpire can review a decision if they see a replay in time and view it as a controversial call.

However, this has created a situation where some batsmen hang around once they've been given out - or trudge off the field extremely slowly - in the hope the third umpire will see a replay in time and then decide to review the dismissal.

"Coaches, players and umpires alike are all pretty confused and frustrated by this system, which was clearly evident on several occasions tonight," Berry said after his team's third one-day win of the season.

"I'm confused. I'm confused. I'm confused."

Berry isn't the only one to express his displeasure.

Tasmania skipper George Bailey described the system as "shocking" and "embarrassing", while Queensland coach Darren Lehmann brandished the competition's rule book at a television camera during the same game after a decision was reversed on review.

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Judd, Malthouse slam salary cap ruling

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Third party ... Chris Judd and Mick Malthouse aren't happy with the AFL's cap ruling. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

Carlton captain Chris Judd and his new coach Mick Malthouse have blasted the AFL decision that puts the star player's third-party deal under the club salary cap.

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Judd's management have said they will fight the league announcement on Friday that his long-time agreement with recycling giant Visy could no longer exist outside club total player payments.

The lucrative ambassador role is understood to be worth about $200,000 a season.

"It's certainly very disappointing from our point of view and makes it very difficult to cultivate a career post-footy and explore work opportunities while you are playing," Judd told Channel Seven.

He added the "goal posts are constantly being moved".

The AFL say they flagged two years ago that the rules surrounding third-party deals would be tightened with the advent of free agency.

But Malthouse, who is with Judd and his teammates at a pre-season camp in Arizona, was also unimpressed.

"When you start changing the rules halfway through, I'm just astounded," Malthouse said.

"I don't think it's fair on either (Judd or Carlton) or any other player in the competition.

"The league may be painting themselves into a very, very dark corner."

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Cook, Prior lead England fightback

Unbeaten ... Cook will return to the crease on day five on 168. Source: AFP

Alastair Cook batted throughout day four to give England renewed hope of saving the first Test against India.

1st Test - Sardar Patel Stadium

15 November 2012 - Day 4, Session 3

England 2nd Innings

A. Cook	168	341	20	0	49.27
M. Prior	84	190	10	0	44.21
P. Ojha	44	13	102	2	2.32

England closed on 5-340 in their second innings, a lead of 10 runs, after Cook and Matt Prior shared an unbroken partnership of 141 in 51 overs.

The sixth-wicket pair had come together with the tourists, who had been asked to follow-on the previous day, in deep trouble at 5-199.

Cook, in his first match since succeeding Andrew Strauss as England's Test captain, closed on 168 not out and has spent more than eight hours at the crease, facing 341 balls and hitting 20 fours so far. Prior found the boundary 10 times in an increasingly fluent 84 not out.

England's prospects of even taking their fight into the final day looked bleak when Nick Compton, Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen all departed during the morning session after they resumed on 111-0.

Compton added three runs to his overnight 34 before being trapped lbw by left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan (1-38) with a delivery that held its line.

Trott made a start, reaching 17 off 43 balls, but edged behind off India left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (2-102), Mahendra Singh Dhoni holding a smart catch.

Ojha bowled Pietersen (2) for the second time in the match in his next over, Pietersen missing with a premeditated sweep.

England went to lunch on 3-182 but suffered a double blow in early afternoon when seam bowler Umesh Yadav (2-60) pinned Ian Bell (22) and Samit Patel (0) lbw with successive deliveries.

Cook, who became the first person in Test history to make centuries in each of his first three matches as captain, finally found a long-term ally in Prior and, as the day wore on, India began to run out of ideas on a pitch holding together better than anticipated.

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Adebayor sorry for derby madness

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Sorry ... Emmanuel Adebayor insists he meant no malice in his challenge on Santi Cazorla. Source: Sang Tan / AP

Tottenham Hotspur striker Emmanuel Adebayor has apologised for his red card against former club Arsenal and insists there was no malice in his challenge on Santi Cazorla.

Adebayor had given Spurs a dream start at Emirates Stadium by scoring the opening goal after 10 minutes, but he was sent off just eight minutes later for a lunging tackle on Cazorla.

Spurs went on to lose the North London derby 5-2 and Adebayor has accepted he let everyone down by being dismissed in the Barclays Premier League blockbuster.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Man City	12	8	4	0	15	28
2	Man United	12	9	0	3	12	27
3	Chelsea	12	7	3	2	11	24
4	West Brom	12	7	2	3	6	23
5	Everton	12	5	5	2	6	20
6	Arsenal	12	5	4	3	10	19
7	West Ham	11	5	3	3	3	18
8	Tottenham	12	5	2	5	-1	17
9	Fulham	11	4	4	3	5	16
10	Swansea	12	4	4	4	2	16
11	Liverpool	12	3	6	3	1	15
12	Newcastle	12	3	5	4	-4	14
13	Norwich	12	3	5	4	-9	14
14	Stoke	11	2	6	3	-1	12
15	Wigan	12	3	2	7	-9	11
16	Sunderland	10	1	6	3	-4	9
17	Reading	11	1	6	4	-5	9
18	Aston Villa	12	2	3	7	-12	9
19	Southampton	12	2	2	8	-12	8
20	QPR	12	0	4	8	-14	4

"I completely understand my sending off changed the entire outcome of the game and I whole-heartedly apologise to my team-mates, the manager and all the Tottenham fans for letting them down," Adebayor told English newspaper The Sun.

"But I must stress that my challenge was not malicious in any way whatsoever.

"I was genuinely trying to win the ball and probably stretched my foot out a bit too far in the heat of the moment.

"Nobody could have felt more devastated than me as I walked off the pitch.

"I so much wanted to help Tottenham win and thought for a moment that I'd actually set that win up when I scored, but football changes so quickly.

"One minute a hero, the next a villain."

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/8256731/Tottenham-striker-Emmanuel-Adebayor-sorry-for-red-card-against-Arsenal

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'Beast' recovering after heart scare

The Beast ... Mtawarira was forced home after experiencing the heart palpatations in Dublin. Source: AP

Springboks prop Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira is recovering from the heart scare that forced him to pull out of South Africa's European tour and intends to be back in action next year.

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Mtawarira returned home to South Africa after he had a recurrence of mild heart palpitations shortly before the South Africans' tour opener against Ireland in Dublin on November 10.

He subsequently underwent "a minor medical procedure to correct an intermittent irregular heart rhythm" in Cape Town and was released from hospital on Friday, a South Africa Rugby Union press release said.

"I am well, so there is really no need to worry," said Mtawarira.

"The procedure went well. It's only a minor procedure and sometimes it needs to be done more than once to clear the palpitations.

"This is something that has happened to me before and that can be treated. Also, it's not career-threatening.

"Sometimes I get quite excited before a game and that is probably what triggered it.

"It's sad to miss out on the last two Tests of the season, but I've enjoyed a good year and am looking forward to 2013 very much."

The 27-year-old Mtawarira has been capped 41 times for South Africa. He was replaced at prop in Dublin by CJ van der Linde as the Springboks went on to win 16-12.

Toulouse prop Gurthro Steenkamp takes over from van der Linde for the second tour game against Scotland at Murrayfield.

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Marsh injured as Redbacks win thriller

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Fast finish ... The Redbacks cleaned up the Warriors' tail in quick succession. Source:News Limited

Western Australia all-rounder Mitch Marsh was left a despondent figure after injuring his left hamstring in Saturday's 14-run Ryobi Cup loss to South Australia at the WACA Ground.

ODD - WACA Ground

17 November 2012 - Day 1, Session 2

Western Australia 1st Innings

J. Behrendorf...	0	1	0	0	0
M. Beer	1	1	0	0	100
G. Putland	5.5	0	39	2	6.69

Marsh, who hit the headlines last month following the Perth Scorchers' boozy night out in South Africa, suffered the injury while diving to make his ground late in WA's run chase.

The 21-year-old banged the ground in frustration several times after realising the extent of the injury, before limping off the ground.

WA were 5-183 at the time of Marsh's injury, needing 37 runs for victory off 40 balls to chase down South Australia's 9-219.

Marsh (21 off 21 balls) was looking in ominous touch, but his departure sparked a collapse of 4-22 as Travis Birt, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Hilton Cartwright and Jason Behrendorff all fell in quick succession.

And with Marsh unable to return to the crease, WA had no choice but to call their innings closed at 9-205, giving South Australia their third win from four games in the one-day competition this year.

Marsh's injury capped a turbulent match which featured several momentum swings and a dummy spit from Redbacks coach Darren Berry.

Berry made his way over to WA's dressing room early in the Warriors' run chase before unleashing an animated rant towards new WA coach Justin Langer.

Langer appeared unfazed by Berry's tirade, which was believed to be based around Berry's dislike of the current decision review system being used.

Berry's antics made for an interesting coaching debut for Langer, who would have experienced a wide range of emotions in the topsy-turvy match.

South Australia were in all sorts of bother after crashing to 5-61, before a maiden half-century to 20-year-old Alex Ross (62) and a handy 46 from Johan Botha lifted the Redbacks to their competitive total of 9-219.

In reply, WA were cruising at 1-76 before it all went horribly wrong, despite a career-best 74 from Warriors opener Sam Whiteman.

Redbacks all-rounder Dan Christian (3-62) played a crucial role for the visitors, claiming the key scalps of Whiteman, Marcus North (18) and Adam Voges (15).

Warriors paceman Mitchell Johnson continued his solid start to the summer with figures of 3-47 from 13 overs.

Langer said the initial prognosis on Marsh was that he'd torn his hamstring and would spend around four-to-six weeks on the sidelines.

"It's a huge blow for lots of reasons," Langer said. "We've got a Shield game and one-dayer in Tassie next week which he won't be available for.

"Then it's unlikely he'll be available for the Scorchers. He's pushing hard to play Australian one-day and Twenty20 cricket, so it's going to be hard (to push up for selection) if he's not playing."

Berry confirmed his animated conversation with Langer was about their confusion over the decision review system.

"At the lunch break, JL and I were having a chat about where we were going to go for dinner tonight, and we were chatting about the confusion around the DRS system," Berry said.

"We are all very confused by it."

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