Cricket: Mohammad Amir released from prison

Amir, who was convicted last November for his involvement in the spot-fixing scandal, was freed from Portland Young Offenders Institution in Dorset after completing half of his six-month sentence. Amir, along with team-mates Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt, was banned for a minimum of five years by the International Cricket Council in February last year. Asif and Butt, serving one year and two and a half years respectively, both remain behind bars. The 19-year-old will spend three weeks in London before returning to Pakistan. He will hold a series of meetings with his lawyers to finalise an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the five-year ban imposed on him by the International Cricket Council. The talented left-arm bowler had taken 51 wickets in 14 Tests before his career was brought to an abrupt halt, but Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf has left the door open for him to eventually return to international cricket. "Whenever he is cleared by the International Cricket Council and serves his punishment, we think he needs intense counselling and then the selectors can decide about him," Ashraf said last month. "As far as his playing again is concerned that is for the selectors to decide because there is no doubt about his immense talent and he is still very young." Pakistan s Test team has fared well in Amir s absence, with Misbah Ul-Haq leading the squad to a series victory over England in the United Arab Emirates.

Man Utd level on points with Man City as they beat Stoke and leaders lose at Everton

Manchester United 2-0 Stoke City

Champions Manchester United moved level on points with leaders Manchester City at the top of the Barclays Premier League as they beat Stoke City at Old Trafford.

United, without several players due to injury, went ahead in the first half when Ji-Sung Park was brought down by Jermaine Pennant and Javier Hernandez fired in the resulting penalty.

Another spot-kick wrapped it up for the hosts, Jonathan Walters fouling Antonio Valencia and Dimitar Berbatov scoring their second penalty of the match.

Everton 1-0 Manchester City

Everton stunned leaders Man City with victory at Goodison Park to move into the top half of the Barclays Premier League table.

City went perilously close in the first half when Samir Nasri's 30-yard screamer crashed against the underside of the bar, and Sergio Aguero also fired wide.

Everton scored the winner in the second half, midfielder Darron Gibson seeing his powerful drive take a slight deflection before flying past Joe Hart into the net.

Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Wigan Athletic

Spurs kept up their challenge at the top of the division courtesy of a fine performance at home against Wigan, who remain bottom.

Spurs went ahead when Gareth Bale superbly volleyed in from Luka Modric's cross, and Modric doubled the lead with a powerful 18-yard shot.

Bale hammered in a third after the break with his left foot, before James McArthur's deflected effort looped in as Wigan grabbed a consolation.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-3 Liverpool

Liverpool continued their excellent recent form with an impressive victory at Molineux to see off Wolves.

The Reds took the lead after the break when Andy Carroll side-footed home, before Craig Bellamy's low shot crept past Wayne Hennessey to make it 0-2.

Dirk Kuyt scored his first Barclays Premier League goal of the season as Liverpool secured the three points.

Swansea City 1-1 Chelsea

Chelsea left it until stoppage time to earn a draw at Swansea and deny the hosts another victory in front of their own supporters.

The Welsh side took the lead in the first half when ex-Blues midfielder Scott Sinclair wonderfully hooked a volley into the net with his left foot.

Daniel Sturridge fired wide for Chelsea and they had Ashley Cole sent off in the closing stages, before Jose Bosingwa's cross was deflected in off Neil Taylor to hand the visitors a last-gasp point.

Australia drop Marsh, rest Haddin for Tri-series

Australia have dropped struggling top order batsman Shaun Marsh and rested wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for the first three matches of the one-day Tri-series against India and Sri Lanka, which starts next week. Marsh, a regular in the one-day team since his debut in 2008, paid the price for a disappointing start to his test career when he was omitted from the 14-man squad for the tournament, which was announced on Monday. The 28-year-old, batting at number three, scored just 17 runs in six innings in the test series against India, which concluded on Saturday with an emphatic 4-0 sweep for the Australians. “Shaun Marsh is obviously disappointed with his own form in recent weeks and is out of the side but remains in our thinking for the future while he works at state level,” chief selector John Inverarity said in a news release. “As they say, class is permanent but form can be temporary,” Haddin, who is acting vice captain in the continued absence of injured all rounder Shane Watson, also came in for some criticism during the India series and is replaced by uncapped 24-year-old Matthew Wade. “Brad Haddin has come off a heavy programme of test cricket and resting him for the start of the series will refresh him for coming international commitments while also giving us a chance to look at Matt Wade at this level,” Inverarity added. All rounder Dan Christian is joined by batsmen Peter Forrest and Mitchell Marsh as the other uncapped players in the squad. There is plenty of experience through fast bowler Brett Lee as well as batsmen Ricky Ponting and the Hussey brothers Mike and David, who are all in their mid-30s. “We want a flying start to the series against India and Sri Lanka and, as always, have selected a group we are confident can win while also keeping an eye on development for the future,” Inverarity said. A decision on who will replace Haddin as vice-captain will be made when the squad gathers in Melbourne on Friday, Inverarity said. Australia’s first three matches in the series are against India in Melbourne on February 5, Sri Lanka in Perth five days later and the world champions again in Adelaide on February 12.

Squad

Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Ricky Ponting, Peter Forrest, Dan Christian, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Matthew Wade, Brett Lee, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty, Clint McKay, Mitch Marsh.