Younis dwells on positives

Sunday, July 26, 2009
COLOMBO: Despite being denied a win at the SSC, Pakistan captain Younis Khan believes there are positives his team can carry forward into the rest of the Sri Lanka tour.

"It would have been nice for Pakistan, if we had won," Younis said. "We can draw some positives from this match, especially in the second innings where we scored 400. There were special innings from Misbah [ul-Haq], Kamran [Akmal] and [Shoaib] Malik, and their hitting form is crucial for us. With the ODIs and the Twenty20 approaching, I'm relieved that they got runs."

Play was called off on the final day at the SSC with the 15 mandatory overs to be bowled, and Sri Lanka 101 short of the 492-run target. Younis Khan though, was surprised that Sri Lanka did not press for a win.

"In the subcontinent you expect a wicket like this to get slower and slower. I'm surprised why Sri Lanka didn't go after the target. You can't blame them because they had already won the series. Everybody knew if we could have grabbed one or two wickets, we could have put them under pressure."

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Langer says is ready to play for Australia if asked

SYDNEY: Former Test opener Justin Langer said he was prepared to play for Australia in the third Ashes Test if asked.

Langer, who this week became Australia's highest first class runs record holder, has admitted to missing the thrill of Test cricket.

The 105-Test veteran is currently playing for English county side Somerset.

"One of the boys in the Somerset changing room asked me 'if they asked you to play tomorrow, how much would it take?' and I said I would play the third Test for Australia next week for nothing," he said.

Langer's comments came as current opener Phillip Hughes's form slump deepened on Friday, he made just ten in the first innings of Australia's tour match against Northamptonshire.

"When you have played that much, you miss the big Tests," Langer said.

"I miss the hype of the Ashes series.

"I also miss the challenge of playing against Andrew Flintoff. That is what it is all about.

"That is the great test for batsmen. I really miss being in those sort of battles. I miss Test cricket.

"There is a lot I don't miss about it but these big series, I'd play tomorrow if I was asked.''

Langer retired from Test cricket at the end of Australia's 5-0 demolition of England in the 2006-07 Ashes series.

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Indianapolis Tennis: Aisam-Querrey beaten in doubles semifinals

INDIANAPOLIS: The pair of Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq and America’s Sam Querrey after a sensational contest lost the men’s doubles semifinals in the Indianapolis Tennis Championship being held here in the United States.

They were defeated by the pair of Litovia’s Gulbis and Russia’s Tursunov.

Aisam and Querrey displaying brilliant game in the first set succeeded by 6-1 but they lost the second set by 2-6.

However, both teams performed well in the third and decisive set but the Pak-US pair lost the match after being defeated by 8-10 in the final set.

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Fleming downgraded role of coach - Hadlee

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Andrew McDonald celebrates Ben Howgego's wicket

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Shane Watson struck after scoring a fifty

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