Yorkshire announce losses before income taxes of over 2 m £

Where are you? Headingly staged poorly - attended the Australia and not Test match in July Pakistan last Photo: PA

Colin Graves, President of Yorkshire, marked as a "financial disaster" 2010 Club caused by the decision to allow the evil - attended the Australia and Pakistan neutral Test. The announcement of their losses before taxes follows a similar prediction of Lancashire and confirmation by Warwickshire £ 2 operating losses Thursday. 2 m.

Graves also criticised the decision to waive the England test accommodations and Bangladesh in favour of the correspondence of Pakistan as the reason for poor performance of the club.

Pakistan match lasted just three days and with less than 25% of seats sold club cost Yorkshire £ 1 m each day.

To compensate for the loss of planned revenue neutral Test, Yorkshire to negotiate with the England & Wales Cricket Board for an initial cash payment of approximately £ 3. 4 m last November in exchange for a number of advertising sites around the ground between 2011 and 2019, which has helped resolve all their current financial commitments.

"It is disappointing, number an and with a point of view financial, disastrous – but not so disastrous that we can't get out," said graves.

"It was a bad year considering where we thought we'd and all around the Australia to the Pakistan Test match, which struck at height of 1 m to £." We thought that it was the right decision to go to the Australia in Pakistan on everything you can watch - and it failed. Just because of the lack of support. Even if we had sold a day from England in Bangladesh, we would have been better. »

This year looks a little better in Yorkshire, as they are due to receive as a one-day international cricket but 2012 are guaranteed a Test match each year in 2019.

The BCE Board is meeting Friday to discuss the future structure of the domestic game and Test matches key allocation process.

Graves told the Yorkshire Post that the club won't be bidding to host ash Tests outside of their agreement of staging in the long term with the ECB, fearing that the cost would be prohibitive.

"From my perspective, 2012 seems very well." But this year will be put to the test, "said graves." "We have many things to get position to get the best from there where we are."

"We have a number of dismissals for six months and coming to an end and that there is no redundancies over." We've cut back as much as possible to the club. We do not reduce on everyone playing all the and from our perspective, we'll get in this year, but we will always show a slight loss in a cash flow perspective.

Yorkshire annual report revealed a turnover of £ 5. 6 m - a drop of £ 2. 8 figure of club-record of 2009 of £ 8 m. 4 Mr. international match revenues collapsed massively figure of £ 3,510,641 - 2009 when Headingley staged a Test of ash-£ 1,590,235, while commercial revenue declined sharply £ 2,232,156 in 2009 to £ 1,226,871.

A permanent replacement for the head of the Stewart Regan, Executive who left the club in October, will not be rendered at least by January 2012, with Graves continues to fulfil the role.

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Zulqarnain Haider of Pakistan had abandoned on the side of a day before he fled to England

"In our culture, when you're concerned about the safety of your family, running on his side," said Taffazul Rizvi, legal adviser to the PCB. "While it is running in a different country."

Rizvi is also asked why, if Haider was approached to lift the fourth and fifth day internationals as he claimed, should have waited almost four days to act .the ' alleged approach should come on the night of Thursday at the latest, while Haider did not flee the country until Monday morning.

In a twist more history, Telegraph Sport includes that Haider had not played Monday an international day in all cases.

When Umar Akmal took the gloves on Monday morning, it was generally accepted that the change has been imposed on Pakistan by absence of Haider.

Indeed, intent was the balance of the team always, with dual role for Mohammad Yousuf Akmal, who had just arrived in Dubai after recovery from a strain of the groin, to strengthen a top six missed.

Omission of Haider was decided upon a team meeting Sunday evening.The player himself, who had was painted as the saviour of Pakistan after a defeat 19 in the fourth international day, it must come from a shock.

The International Cricket Council confirmed Thursday that the officers of the fight against corruption and the security group visited Haider in her bedroom hotel Heathrow Tuesday night, even if it does not believe that the player could dramatically expand on the information he had provided for the man who asked him to Dubai TV networks.

I remember his face and he spoke Urdu, which was not the way in which we parlons.Je say I'm not sure of his nationality, "Haider said a Pakistani channel."

The ICC has received criticism for the treatment of the situation on Executive Thursday Tim may, Director of the Federation of International Cricketers associations. ""The past, the players went to the fight against corruption unit and details of their discussions somewhere reached media" may said.

"It gives players the question whether they can rely on anti-corruption unit of the Court criminal internationale.La cricket culture must change from top to bottom, administrators at the roots of graminées.Cette culture be a tolerance of corruption."

May suggested that trade unions players themselves should be the first port of call for players needing to report corruption cases.

But the International Criminal Court is unlikely to buy in this idea, especially that there are no active trade unions operating in the India or Pakistan - two countries where illegal bookmaking appears to be most influential.

In the meantime, the Misbah-ul-Haq is becoming due fourth test Captain Pakistan year-round on Friday morning, as his team prepares to take on the previous three Dubaï.Les South Africa Yousuf is out of favor, Shahid Afridi has retired and Salman Butt is suspended pending investigation place attachment.

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Twenty20 cricket has had a damaging effect on Australia

The show moves on and the Australian team will see it as an opportunity to save face and get the public back on side.

Success will get everyone salivating over next year’s domestic T20 tournament, called the KFC Big Bash and featuring eight city-based teams. That is the theory anyway.

In fact T20 is the source of Australia’s problems. For a start the two most potent bowlers in Australia, Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes, only play T20 cricket having declared themselves unavailable for Test cricket. In Tait’s case he has cited injury problems as his reason.

Either would have given England’s batsmen something completely different to think about in the Ashes, but they are content to earn their corn from a couple of two-over spells on a balmy evening in front of packed stand of revellers eating fast food.

That is their prerogative and, as a former bowler, I can sympathise to some extent. But I do query whether that approach is ultimately satisfying.

Perhaps worse than that though is the influence of T20 cricket on Australia’s batsmen. There are technical flaws in several of their players, preyed on by England’s highly disciplined bowlers, which stem from the shortest form of the game.

Top-order Test match batting requires patience and precision and adaptable footwork. Ideally, the front foot should go towards the line of the ball if it is fullish.

By definition T20 demands that batsmen be freer, and to that end they tend to clear their front leg out of the way to make room to hit straight deliveries.

Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes and even Michael Clarke have got into the habit of planting their front leg down the line of leg stump.

This is fine if the ball is straight, and Watson, in particular, is adept at driving past the bowler or through mid-on. Problems occur if the ball is a few inches outside off stump.

Their weight is moving in the wrong direction and they end up reaching for it slightly. If the ball moves at all they are done for. England knew this and concentrated on exploiting it. All three batsmen have been consistently caught behind the wicket.

There is more. Coaches around Australia are becoming increasingly exasperated at the approach of young players, who seem interested only in evolving their unorthodox hitting methods for T20 rather than developing a proper technique.

Whatever his mindset might be, Steve Smith’s technique is not suited to Test cricket. Great eye. Walking wicket if there’s anything happening off the pitch.

There is an increasing dearth of young batsmen who just want to stay in. It explains why Hughes and Watson are the current Test openers despite neither being ideally equipped for the job.

It is probably significant that some of the best batsmen looking for longevity in the Test format – Ponting, Tendulkar, Strauss and now Clarke among others – opt out of T20 internationals.

The KFC Big Bash will undoubtedly be good fun and augment Cricket Australia’s coffer’s, like this week’s internationals, but it won’t get the Ashes back, and that’s what the Australian public really care about.

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Zaheer Abbas attacks Pakistan board as a nation's sport hits a new low over corruption charges

Suffering: Mohammad Amir (right), one of Pakistan cricket's brightest bowling prospects, leaves after the anti-corruption hearing in Doha Photo: REUTERS

Zaheer Abbas, a former captain and manager of the Pakistan team, said the country’s cricket board had let down the players and a nation of fans by not working to stamp out corruption earlier, despite years of allegations.

He said ordinary people would be shocked at the length of the bans.

“The thing is, for us Pakistanis, cricket is something we love. Now after these bans – 10 years, seven years, five years – people will stop loving it so much. And for what? Just two no-balls,” he said. “It seems very harsh.”

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram admitted that the lengthy bans handed out to Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir represented a new low for the sport in the country.

“I feel sad for all three of these kids, two just over 20 and one just 18,” Wasim said. “I feel for their families because they are key players. This is a low for Pakistan cricket.

“Not only for cricketers in Pakistan, but also for the players of the world, this should be a lesson, and I sincerely hope that the ICC has set an example with this verdict and this will serve as a clean-up, not only in Pakistan cricket, but in world cricket.”

Wasim admitted the ban would hit Amir, who had been considered one of the world game’s brightest bowling prospects, particularly hard.

“I was very happy to see Amir’s progress, but with this punishment his career will suffer. I hope he comes back strongly,” he added.

Former Pakistan spinner Iqbal Qasim termed the decision “upsetting”. “All three players were the future of Pakistan cricket, so it’s a very upsetting day,” said Iqbal, who is also the head of the National Bank team for which all three players featured in domestic matches.

“All three had promising careers but it’s sad that they fell into a trap and couldn’t recover. They could have earned more through playing international cricket.

“I hope these punishments will help future cricketers be more responsible. I think it should also serve as a jolt for the PCB who should have curbed this before it happened.”

Supporters of the players in their home city of Lahore expressed shock at the bans and insisted the players were innocent.

Zulfiqar Butt, father of Salman, said: “I am very disappointed. My son has done nothing. He is innocent of these charges.”

An official at the Pakistan Cricket Board said there would be no public comment until the ICC decision had been studied.

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World Cup 2011: Ajmal Shahzad wants a chance to prove himself with England

Success: Ajmal Shahzad celebrates the wicket of Steve Smith in a performance he hopes will gain him World Cup selection Photo: AFP

Shahzad, 25, is on the fringes of selection having played just five one-day internationals, but his inclusion in the tour of Australia indicates the England selectors are assessing his worth.

He did himself no harm in Sunday’s six-wicket defeat to Australia in Melbourne when he was the best performing seamer on a slow wicket, similar to those expected on the subcontinent.

With Stuart Broad and James Anderson, who were absent in Melbourne, almost certainly England’s first-choice quicks at the World Cup, Shahzad outperformed his immediate rivals at the MCG to give him hope his call will come.

“I’d love to be in there and keep learning and keep progressing. I think I would bring a little bit of everything,” he said. “With regards to the ball I can control the reverse-swing in the subcontinent, that will be a key factor for us. It’s about me just keeping it tight and bowling at the death. I think I’ve shown what I can do opening the bowling and coming on at the end. I’ve also been working hard on my fielding and my all-round game. I bring a lot of energy.”

Shahzad also showed he is capable with the bat in the latter overs at the MCG when he drove Brett Lee for a straight six.

“It was nice hitting one of the best quick bowlers in the world over his head for six. It showed I can come in late on and hit a few balls out of the ground,” he said.

Shahzad has spent long periods of the tour on the sidelines after he was unused during the Ashes success.

Sunday’s match was his fourth in a row since the tour entered the limited-overs phase – a run he admits has fuelled his confidence.

But with limited international experience the Yorkshireman admits he needs more games before he will be producing what he feels he is capable of.

“It’s a confident feeling to get a few under the belt back-to-back rather than just getting called in now and again,’’ he said. ‘‘I want to get a run and make the most of it. I’m starting to feel as though I’m getting into a better rhythm now in regards to everything. It’s been frustrating and difficult just to bowl at batsmen in the nets. There’s only so much you can do.”

Australia’s Mike Hussey is in doubt for the rest of the one-day international series after sustaining a “significant” hamstring injury, Cricket Australia said yesterday.

Hussey, 35, injured his left hamstring while taking a second run in Melbourne on Sunday.

Australia's physiotherapist, Alex Kountouris, said: “The course of management for this injury will be determined in the next 24 hours.”

Meanwhile England’s women made it four wins out of four in the five-match Twenty20 series against Australia after a 13-run victory in Canberra yesterday.

The tourists were all out for 144 with one ball of their innings left, Laura Marsh picking up her second consecutive match award after hitting five fours in making 43 from 28 balls. Laura Greenway added 28.

Disciplined bowling from all five of England’s attack and spinner Holly Colvin’s two for 25 kept the Australians out of reach of the run-rate and restricted them to 131 for six.

The final match of the series, also in Canberra, takes place on Tuesday (start 4am UK). The sides then play a one-off Ashes Test in Sydney from Saturday.

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Zulqarnain Haider said that he will not play in Pakistan

Ramiz Raja, Pakistani commentator who used to run the PCBs, gave a clear picture of the prospect of the Board on Tuesday. "Advice from Headquarters are played his last game for Pakistan", Raja said Telegraph Sport. "The BCS does encourage him to come back and play again, because this is a total embarrassment".

Haider was briefly reported on Tuesday to have retired from international cricket only for comments no later than to cast the issue in the same confusion surrounding a large part of this histoire.Mais, even though he made himself available, it is likely to face disciplinary action for walk team.

"It was a flagrant and bold team protocols, breach" said legal counsel the PCB, Taffazul Rizvi, "especially after players were heard a recent presentation by combating corruption and explaining how they needed to react in case of an approach to the security group."If Haider knows any type of wrongdoing, it is time to present.

"I think that he is an informateur.Il spoke to various new channels in Pakistan, constantly withdrawal and amendment of its history."

Haider arrived in London on Monday afternoon, after secretly released team Pakistan hotel in Dubai they were preparing to play an international day against the same jour.Dans South Africa a series of interviews by a Pakistani television, he said that Scotland Yard, immigration officials and members of the ACSU all had visited him visit Tuesday in her bedroom hotel Heathrow.

It was strange then that sources in the International Cricket Council refused the ACSU had been in contact with him at all.

The International Criminal Court is obliged to listen to the expenses advanced by Haider, but it is clearly concerned about the irregularity of its response."I do think that it was wise to have made him what he was doing," said Chief Executive Court criminal international Haroon Lorgat Tuesday, "because it does solve problems for him even and good thing could go to the ACSU."

Haider claims he was so concerned about the threat posed by the alleged bookmaker that he felt that he needed to let his brother Raza both Dubaï.Et he defended Tuesday, claiming that his actions were born of despair and the feeling that he could not rely on any member of PCBs.

"I had a conversation with Zulqarnain hour ago", explained Raza, and he said that he could not trust anyone.They are all the mêmes.Il said that all saints - was down in Dubai. Now it will write a letter to the PCB and the International Cricket Council tell them what happened.»

Raza has also admitted that the head of the family had called his brother to come, but home. " "My father asked to Zulqarnain return to Pakistan or Dubai and dispel all this waste.

While Haider had no visa for its entry in London, he received temporary admission by immigration officials.This option is typically used for people that seem unlikely to escape and hide - a category that Haider, with ever increasing public profile must surely come in.

If it wants to seek asylum, he must show that he is persecuted and the Pakistan Government refuses or is unable to protect lui.Cela, in turn, may depend on its being able to provide more detail than it offered so far about attempts to blackmail against him.

Haider gave a description of the approach yesterday on Pakistan TV, saying: "when I went to eat once Hotel dinner, he [blackmailer] venu.Il was the only one, but I felt that there were two or three people behind lui.Il said: ' will you lot of money if join you us and aider.Si not, then stay in the team might be difficult, and we can make it difficult for you.»

While Haider was not specified for the approach was made, should no doubt had place before the fourth and fifth International Day against South Africa - both matches which he apparently was under pressure to jeter.Mais Dubai reports suggested he showed no signs of malaise practical Pakistan session Sunday, despite having won the fourth game almost only with a defeat 19 death.

Haider expressed his frustration Tuesday to suggestions of PCBs officials that he made the story because he wanted to seek asylum in Britain. "I was at United Kingdom several times before, but I never thought to rest here.»

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World Cup 2011: Ajmal Shahzad wants a chance to prove itself with England

Success: Ajmal Shahzad celebrates Steve Smith window in a performance he hopes will win him Worldcup selection Photo: AFP

Shahzad, 25, is the selection margin after playing only five international for a day, but its inclusion in the Tower of the Australia indicates the England selectors assess its value.

He pointed himself no evil to defeat six-wicket Australia Sunday in Melbourne when it was the best execution seamer on a one-stop slow, similar to those expected in the subcontinent.

With Stuart Broad and James Anderson, which were absent in Melbourne, almost certainly fast England of first choice for the World Cup Shahzad has outperformed its rivals immediate at the CWM him give hope will come from its appeal.

"I would love to be there and to keep learning and keep progressing." I think that I would bring a little of everything, "he says. "What is the bullet I control reverse-swing in the subcontinent, which will be a key factor for us." It's me just keep tight and bowling at death. I think I have shown what can I do open the bowling and coming to the end I have also worked hard on my fielding and my complete set. I bring lot of energy. »

Shahzad also showed that it is capable with the stick in the last overs at the CWM when he led six right Brett Lee.

"" It was nice to fastest bowlers worldwide typing overhead for six. ""It shows I can come late and hit a few balls of Earth, he said.

Shahzad spent long periods of tour away after being unused during the success from the ashes.

Sunday game was its fourth in a row since tour has entered the phase of limited-overs - a race he admits fueled his confidence.

But with limited international experience, the Yorkshireman admits that he needs more games before it will produce what he feels, that he is capable of.

"Is a feeling of confident to get some beneath the belt back to back instead of just get called now and again," he said. "I want to get a run and make it the most. I'm starting to feel as if I get a better rate now regards everything. It was frustrating and difficult to Bowl mixers in nets. It is only until you can do. »

Australia Mike Hussey is in doubt, for the rest of the series of international one day after suffering a "significant", thigh injury yesterday said Australia of Cricket.

Hussey, 35, injured his left thigh while taking a second run in Melbourne on Sunday.

Physiotherapist Australia, Alex Kountouris said: "this wound management course will be determined within the next 24 hours."

Meanwhile women in England has four wins from four in the series of ttwweennttyy five-match against the Australia after a 13 - run victory in Canberra yesterday.

Tourists have been implemented for 144 with a bullet in their sleeves left, Laura Marsh pick up his second consecutive game prize after having struck five furnaces by 43 28 balls. Laura added Greenway 28.

Two for 25 kept the Australian disciplined bowling attack and spinner Holly Colvin England five achieve the rate of implementation and their restricted to 131 for six.

The last game of the series, also in Canberra, will take place on Tuesday (start am 4 UK). Sides then play a single Test of ashes in Sydney, Saturday.

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Alan Hansford is finally able to pass the baton on to 'brave' Steven Davies after England cricketer announces he is gay

His words, delivered in a gentle voice that belies his bruiser-like physique, make uncomfortable reading for cricket. The sport is fond of styling itself as tolerant – at least in comparison to English football, whose abortive anti-homophobia initiative last year drew not a single player’s voice in support – and yet Hansford’s tale serves up compelling evidence to the contrary.

James Anderson, emblem of England’s triumphant Ashes bowling attack, appeared stripped to the waist last September on the front cover of Attitude, the gay lifestyle magazine. The MCC blazers may have spluttered into their breakfast coffee but here, ostensibly, was the assertion of the modern metrosexual man in a game often hidebound by tradition.

Only Hansford is dismissive. “I heard it claimed that Anderson was brave, but I fundamentally disagree. It was a vanity trip. Both his agent and his wife are referred to in the article. It would have had much more impact if he had said, ‘Let’s give the gay community some support’.”

Hansford, working nine to five as financial controller of an office suppliers company in mid-Sussex, analogises his experience as that of a first-leg relay runner. After more than a decade ‘out’ he is finally handing over the baton to Davies. But he does not downplay the claustrophobia of cricket, or the ordeal of being gay in a straight man’s world.

“Freddie Flintoff has made quite a few comments on Twitter that are not homophobic exactly, but clearly designed to produce a cheap laugh. When England were in Australia this winter, he joked about Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard sharing accommodation. So there’s always this dig about being gay. Maybe I’m more sensitive, but I don’t like it.

“Cricket is a special case if you’re gay, because the game can go on for four or five days together and to this day, junior county players share rooms. I still maintain as a young gay guy playing cricket, room-sharing with fit young men on a regular basis is tricky. You’re showering together on a regular basis, travelling around the country with each other.

“If you’re gay and you find others in your sport attractive, you have to be pretty bloody strong to keep your hands to yourself, particularly if you have a few beers inside you.”

Hansford reached his apogee as part of a Combined Universities side captained by Mike Atherton, advancing to the quarter-finals of the Benson & Hedges Cup in 1989, and later claimed the wicket of the former England captain while playing for Sussex. In a recent letter to Atherton, he wrote: “There can’t be too many gay accountants who dismissed you twice in a first-class match”. But to be content in his own skin, Hansford needed to move beyond cricket’s culture of off-the-field bravado.

“It took quite a few years for that to happen. I would go out with the boys after matches, drinking, clubbing, picking up the girls. Peer pressure is quite a suffocating and powerful influence. You have to fit in. It wouldn’t make so much of a difference on the field of play. It’s how you conduct yourself off it. If you’re lecherous towards team-mates in the showers, there’s potential for issues.”

Hansford’s private turmoil displays parallels with that of John Amaechi, the gay British veteran of American basketball, who insists it would be easier for any homosexual Premier League footballers to stay silent. Those who did come out would, he warns, find themselves “burned at the stake” in dressing rooms.

Amaechi knows what he is talking about: in Florida, Utah and Texas, three of the states he worked in, he could have been fired for being gay.

Of Amaechi, Hansford and Gareth Thomas, the former British and Irish Lion who in 2009 was the first active male sportsman to out himself, only Hansford has been a trailblazer for contemporaries to follow suit. In the amateur sphere, acceptance is broader, as illustrated by the creation of Stonewall football club, Kings Cross Steelers rugby club and Grace’s cricket club, all based in London and all with exclusively gay membership. But the end of the gay man’s pariah status in elite sport rests, Hansford contends, with the footballers.

“My view on footballers’ reluctance to come out has to do with the effect on their income streams. If you play professional football to a high level, it’s probably quite tough to decide. Even the fans are not as much of a problem as your income. Look at Hollywood: there are still relatively few gay actors. But I believe, if you’re sufficiently good at your sport, you have respect for that on its own, and that this should carry through.

“It’s when a young professional team sportsman comes out that there will be a trigger. You won’t get an avalanche of others doing the same, but you will get some. From a PR point of view, they could it turn it the other way around. It’s quite a pleasant niche, I would have thought, to be the first league footballer to be out. Plus, the older you get, the thicker-skinned you are.”

But the cause is hardly helped when Sepp Blatter, president of Fifa, jests that any gay visitors to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – where homosexuality is illegal – should refrain from having sex. “He’s an old man,” Hansford says of the 74 year-old. “It’s a different generation. It’s the cricketers who are older than me who perhaps have turned their heads occasionally or avoided eye contact.”

Hansford has also endured traumas closer to home on the subject, not least in the break-up of his three-year marriage to Tina. He is hesitant about discussing this, but mentions that they have since been reconciled and meet regularly for lunch. But in his lifestyle he is, belatedly, liberated.

“After my wife and I separated, I moved to London. And I didn’t merely come out of the closet, I broke the ------- door down. I did all the pubs and clubs, fuelled by booze, although I have never taken a drug in my life. But later I went back to be with my parents, where I still am. I’m very happy.”

Life in Ladbroke Grove, close to a thriving Nineties gay scene in Earls Court, was, Hansford says, chaotic. “I’ve got quite an obsessive-compulsive personality, so I left there to discipline myself a bit better. There are a lot of chances to enjoy yourself in London as a young gay man.

“I’ve got a good balance now, where I live in Sussex, but can nip into London or Brighton. That’s the way the gay scene is going. You don’t need to have your separate pockets any more, your secret underworld existence. The daytime scene has gone to Soho, and the clubs to Vauxhall. I don’t go clubbing any longer. Instead it’s a drink on a Saturday afternoon.”

But does cricket, harbouring as it does so many torturous memories for Hansford, find a place? “Only the social side of it. I haven’t played any cricket at all since 1998.” He pauses. “That coincides with me coming out, strangely enough.”

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Australia v England, third one-day international report

Is Tim Bresnan the lucky one? England’s steadiest all-rounder may have been forced home with a torn calf, but at least he will miss out on the final stages of this tour, as the Commonwealth Bank series limps around the country for another 14 days.

Talk about anti-climaxes. Defeat at the SCG leaves England 3-0 down and effectively out of the running. In a chess match, you would probably knock your king over at this point, shake hands, and go for a pizza. But the schedule demands another four one-day internationals in four different cities before Andrew Strauss’s men are finally allowed to head home.

It is not even as if the cricket is much cop. Yes, we saw two fine individual innings in the first two matches, one from Shane Watson and the other from Shaun Marsh. But Australia have been erratic, saddled as they are with a non-batting captain in Michael Clarke. England, meanwhile, seem weary and distracted - as well as being increasingly depleted in their numbers.

It was not just Bresnan who missed Sunday's game. Kevin Pietersen reported tightness in his groin and opted to take a rest. Without him, England put together their second woeful batting effort in a row, posting just 214 in an innings studded with embarrassing dismissals.

This was a waste, because they had the advantage of setting a target. The chasing team only wins 38 per cent of matches at the SCG.

There were some ugly moments in England’s innings. Matt Prior completed a one-day “pair”, falling to Brett Lee for his second duck in as many matches since his surprise recall. Then Strauss and Jonathan Trott were involved in one of those comedic run-outs where both batsmen end up at the same end of the pitch, glaring at each other.

The most remarkable dismissal, though, belonged to Paul Collingwood. He faced two balls. The first generated a fortunate single, as he chopped a ball from David Hussey past his leg-stump. He missed his second, from Xavier Doherty, by at least three inches as it turned gently to strike his off-stump.

Collingwood stood stock-still for a good couple of seconds, apparently confused about what had happened. The scene was reminiscent of Mike Gatting, all those years ago, when he was bamboozled by Shane Warne. And when you make Doherty look like Warne, you know you really must be out of form.

Trott provided England’s one innings of substance, battling through 46 overs to finish on 84 not out. But this was not an assertive knock, at least not once the familiar middle-order collapse set in with Eoin Morgan’s wasteful pull to midwicket in the 25th over.

Perhaps feeling that England needed stabilising, Trott now turned his risk setting down to “minimum”. He was content to poke the ball softly into the gaps while leaving it to the all-rounders and tailenders to flay the odd boundary at the other end. Once Morgan had gone, he collected just 34 runs from 57 balls. Because 33 of those were singles, he took less than half the strike.

England were already eight down when the Powerplay was triggered, in the 46th over. Trott celebrated with a rare two, swishing a drive down the ground, but the innings came to a suitably gormless and amateurish end when Chris Tremlett failed to ground his bat and was run out.

At his height, Tremlett only needs to take a couple of steps and then stretch for the crease, but even this basic piece of technique proved beyond him. It is amazing how the focus and discipline that characterised England’s Ashes win has evaporated over the past two weeks. Now it is Australia who are cashing in on the freebies.

For all his doziness with the bat, Tremlett has probably been England’s best player of the series, closely followed by his new-ball partner Ajmal Shahzad. Once again, both the quicks got off to a strong start, taking a wicket each in their opening burst. Then Clarke flicked a catch to midwicket off Chris Woakes – the Warwickshire man on his 50-over debut – and Australia were 59 for three.

They tried their best to keep things interesting, even though the required run-rate never climbed above 4.3 per over. After stroking an attractive 54 – the most fluent innings of a scratchy match - Brad Haddin bunted Collingwood inexplicably to long-on. Steve Smith, too, will not want to look too hard at his horrible heave at Tremlett, which flew straight up in the air.

But England never had enough runs to apply much pressure, and in the end it was Hussey who steered them home with an unbeaten 68. Neither team has looked convincing in any of the first three games, and the South Africans, Indians and Sri Lankans will probably be rubbing their hands with World Cup anticipation. But at least the Aussies keep finding one batsman to see their innings through. England, by contrast, are stalling on the runway, their engines conking out every time they strain for lift-off.

Clarke’s men are now 33-1 on to win the one-day series with some bookmakers, which shows what a daunting prospect England face. From Strauss’s perspective it’s a shame they can’t reprise their late run from four years ago – when they lay doggo for three weeks before turning it on in the final week and lifting the trophy.

Australia’s old tri-nations tournament, with its round robins and finals, may not be much missed. But at least it maintained some small element of suspense. If the home side win on Wednesday – and you would have to fancy them at this rate – we will be left with a zombie series.

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Ajmal Shahzad confident England will return to form against Australia

''If we had taken our chances it could have been a different story.

''It gives us a little bit more energy to take into the next few games.

''It is a long series.''

Shahzad admitted that finding a way to remove Watson early would be crucial to his side's fortunes following the opener's dominant display last night.

''He's been one of their best players. He's been batting superbly,'' he added.

''If we can plug him down or get him early doors it would be a big setback for them.

''I haven't really bowled at him that much but he's a superb player.

''He's not got many areas of weakness. On a wicket such as that, which was very flat and slow, we didn't have many options.

''To his credit he played very well. Hopefully we can learn from it and move on.''

The match was Shahzad's fourth consecutive game on a tour that he has spent sat mostly on the sidelines after not being called upon during the Ashes series.

After returning for last week's warm-up game in Canberra, before the two Twenty20s and Sunday night's game the 25-year-old said he was starting to feel back to full match sharpness.

He was England's best pace bowler on a slow MCG wicket that favoured the spinner last night, and he added: ''It's been frustrating and difficult just to bowl at batsmen in the nets for so long. There's only so much you can do.

''I feel as though I'm getting into a better rhythm now in regards to everything.

''My batting, my bowling and my fielding. I feel like I belong on the pitch now.

''Personally last night I thought I did okay. I wish I could have changed it a little bit more our way and got a few wickets in the middle period.

''Hopefully I can get a decent run and show what I have got to offer.''

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ICC confirms suspension of Pakistan Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir pair

Rejected: From Pakistan Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir had recourse against suspension rejected photo: REUTERS

Test Captain Butt and seamer Amir was suspended by the International Criminal Court with Mohammad Asif pending the results of a survey on place-fixing allegations.

Claims against the trio - initially raised by Pakistan's tour of England was Sunday newspaper - related bowling alleged balls without agenda under the leadership of the thigh.

Asif had originally joined his teammates to confirm his intention to appeal suspension, but withdrew from the process earlier this month.

A spokesman for the ICC was confirmed to the Association de la presse that the code of conduct independent Commission chaired by Michael Beloff QC dismissed the appeals of Butt and Amir.

There are nearly two months spectrum revisited corruption Pakistan cricket news reports world surfacing for the review of the fourth leading to an investigation of Scotland Yard.

Police confiscated mobile phones of all three players in their own investigations.

At a meeting with the trio on September 2, Pakistan High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan has announced that they have declared their innocence, but after refusal of the Commission Cricket Pakistan to transmit their own sanctions the ICC quickly moved to impose their own provisional suspension.

Butt, Asif and Amir must now wait for the results of any investigation CHF and if convicted, would be doing at the prospect of life bans.

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Australia suffer seven - wicket ttwweennttyy defeat in Sri Lanka, on home soil

All smiles: Sri Lanka Captain Kumar Sangakkara and Thisara Perera celebrate victory over Australia Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Bad form Australia of all forms of gaming in advance of the ashes series continued their ttwweennttyy 10-game home streak took fin.Ils lost four straight ttwweennttyy matches as well as three consecutive tests and their last completed an international day.

Visitors restricted Australia-133 for eight of their sleeves and had hunting fair 6.70 runs more win.

Sri Lanka crossed their small target to ensure their first victory in any form of gambling in Perth with Tillakaratne Dilshan (41 34 offshore) and starring Kumar Sangakkara (44 not released off the coast of 43).The pair veteran on 71 for the third scheme to lead the side to victory.

Dirk Nannes, Peter Siddle and Steve Smith were licensees the Australia window after a total that they would always fight defending their FRY.

Australia made a terrible start with bat, falling to 43 for five in the 11th above, but Brad Haddin (35) and Smith (34) consolidated sleeves .they team put on 66 43 balls to give the hosts some hope.

Suraj Randiv (3 to 25) and Thisara Perera, (two for 22) led an impressive performance of Bowling for tourists.

Sri Lanka were always in control during their continuing execution after 27 off the coast of their first three overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene established 35 balls only 22 for the first scheme before that this last one line delivering Siddle by Haddin then as 24.

Nannes then encapsulated Dinesh Chandimal on pads and gave lbw for two by the umpire Bruce Oxenford, despite the ball seem to be placed well outside of the leg strain.

Redundancies do not slow run-rate of Sri Lanka, which was still nine on after 5 overs, pushing the following six required rate.

Dilshan and Sangakkara considered comfortable against all launchers Australia gradually towards their target without the traits of a skin rash.

After a brief period of consolidation of the channel, they attacked bowling devoid of life by the home side to accelerate the inevitable.

But Dilshan was blocked by Haddin to 41 at the coast of Smith bowling when the 34 year old attempted to advance, but cannot connect.

Sangakkara and Perera saw Sri Lanka to their target, with the last 16 scoring off the coast of three deliveries Smith at the end of the game.

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