Martin burst turns first day New Zealand's way

Hashim Amla scored 62 before his dismissal in the final session confirmed New Zealand's dominant position 

South Africa 191 for 7 (Amla 62, Smith 53, Martin 3-34) v New Zealand

A Chris Martin triple-strike just after tea justified Ross Taylor's decision to bowl first on a placid Dunedin surface, as New Zealand first toppled South Africa's top order giants, then made headway into the tail, to leave the visitors on 191 for 7 at stumps on the first day. Heavy clouds failed to deliver the swing Taylor had banked on, but Martin's stunning spell against his favourite opponent among the top-eight nations, turned the innings, and drew first blood in the series.The drama of Martin's surge was heightened by its abruptness. Following a sleepy first session that offered so little for the pacemen that South Africa seemed destined for a mammoth total, Martin snaffled Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers in four balls to tear the guts out of the opposition top order.The rush of intensity was immediately apparent in Martin's first few balls after tea. Twice he beat Smith's outside edge, before hitting the batsman on the midriff with a straighter one. Having finished the previous session somewhat deflated, New Zealand suddenly sensed change. When Smith scooped the next one to short cover, they were positively buzzing.The first ball of Martin's next over was sharp, short and angled. Too good for Kallis who could only manage an edge, which Taylor flew to his left to intercept. AB de Villiers was trapped by an indipper first ball. His review interrupted New Zealand's celebrations momentarily, before replays confirmed the shout was as plumb as they come. From a comfortable 86 for 1, South Africa had slipped to 90 for 4.The recovery from South Africa, though somewhat short-lived, was swift and pleasing to the eye. Hashim Amla unfurled the offside strokes that bore him fruit in the ODI series, as he nullified a reinvigorated New Zealand pace attack that were once again searching for scalps. Purring cover drives and crisp square cuts found the ropes, and in 80 balls, he and Jacques Rudolph had scored 66.But having crossed 50, Amla fell to his nemesis from earlier in the innings. His tussle with Daniel Vettori had been the most engrossing battle of the earlier session, when the spinner's turn beat his outside edge in his attempts to defend, and Vettori's flight outdid enterprising scurries down the pitch. That time, the release had come for Amla when he finally connected to launch Vettori into the stands. But in his first over after tea, Vettori landed the knockout punch when he got one to kick, taking Amla's edge.Mark Boucher was then the victim of the run-out South Africa looked like offering thoughout the day. Smith and Amla had survived one chance each, when fielders failed to hit the stumps. But this time, no direct hit was necessary. Boucher bounded from the non-striker's end when Rudolph worked Vettori to point, and Bracewell swooped and found Kruger van Wyk's gloves with his throw, to leave the visitors at 161 for 6. Dale Steyn succumbed soon after, with Taylor snaffling a rebound from Martin Guptill in the slips to leave his side much the happier of the two at stumps.The day had begun so promisingly for South Africa after almost four hours were lost to rain, when Graeme Smith progressed untroubled to a 31st Test half-century. New Zealand's decision to insert the opposition on a slow, batsmen's track seemed like folly when hopeful, full lengths from Martin, Trent Boult and Tim Southee were punched through the line by Smith in particular.Misjudgment on line, rather than significant movement removed Alviro Petersen for 11, but with Amla and Smith progressing smoothly, and the cloud cover expected to clear for the evening session, a large total beckoned. Smith was punishing on the leg side, when New Zealand's pacemen abandoned their hopes for swing and muscled it in short, and his flick off middle stump for four just prior to tea epitomised his command of conditions. But things were about to change, and quickly.

ICC frames plan for 'unsafe' series

The special dispensation will allow umpires from either or both the participating teams to officiate, though only in exceptional circumstances

The ICC has introduced a "special dispensation" to be made only in "exceptional circumstances" in order to ensure that bilateral series take place even if the ruling body has determined it "unsafe" to appoint its officials for such series. This would allow such series to be manned by "non-neutral match officials", a departure from the ICC's Standard Playing Conditions, pending permission from the ICC's Executive Board.The dispensation, announced at the end of the ICC's Chief Executive Committee (CEC)'s two-day meeting in Dubai, will have special significance for the proposed tour of Pakistan by Bangladesh, the planning for which is at an advanced stage.The CEC stated that it had limited powers to take a decision over safety issues as to whether tours should take place or not. It reiterated that the ICC's role in bilateral series was "limited to considering the safety and security of the match officials after a tour had been confirmed and a security plan produced." The decision as to whether a particular tour should take place or not was, the CEC stated, "one for the participating countries."The CEC statement has ensured that the ICC's own officials need not be appointed for Bangladesh's tour of Pakistan. That could be seen by Pakistan as a stumbling block towards hosting top-level international cricket; other nations would be wary of touring if the ICC deemed the situation was not safe for their officials.For Bangladesh, the seal of ICC's approval would have ensured greater vigilance around security issues. Last week, a nine-member Bangladesh delegation, led by their cricket board president Mustafa Kamal, gave a nod to the security arrangements at various venues after a two-day visit. Both Kamal, and Zaka Ashraf, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, had said that they would approach the ICC to approve the tour.It is understood that the ICC dispatched individual letters to both the PCB and BCB on Monday, saying that it could not give the tour a go-ahead. The CEC's introduction of this special dispensation around "non-neutral match officials" did not make a specific reference to the ICC's disapproval of the series or that the tour had been deemed "unsafe" for its match officials to stand in. The dispensation however, creates the opportunity for the series to go ahead with Pakistan or Bangladesh umpires and match-referees.There had been two itineraries proposed for the tour, one of which includes a three-match ODI series, and the other a series of two ODIs and one Twenty20 international, to be completed in one week in April. Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi's National Stadium are the venues expected to host the matches understands that Bangladesh's security team had expressed its reservations in playing in Karachi, and instead hope to play all the proposed matches in Lahore. Earlier, Rawalpindi was dropped as a venue from the plan."It is important the tour goes ahead for Pakistan cricket to show the country can host games again," Subhan Ahmad, the PCB's chief operating officer, told Reuters. "We will have the highest level of security possible."Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, pointed out that special dispensations however should not become a norm. "Bearing in mind that safety and security is the sole responsibility of individual member boards for bilateral matches, the CEC regarded this as an exceptional circumstance in which the appointment of non-neutral match officials could be justified but stated clearly that it should not to be regarded as a preferred option or precedent if the dispensation were to be granted," Lorgat said.There has been no international cricket in Pakistan for exactly three years now after masked terroristsattacked the Sri Lankan team bus and the van carrying ICC match officials, who were on their way to theGaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 3, 2009, on what was the third day of the second Test.

Chelsea players must do their duty: Di Matteo

The Chelsea players may have seen the back of Andre Villas-Boas but his replacement as manager – albeit in a caretaker capacity – Roberto Di Matteo told them on Monday they owed it to the club fans and themselves to rescue their season. The 41-year-old Swiss-born former Italian international – a former Chelsea player who scored for them in their 1997 FA Cup win – faces his first challenge in Tuesday’s FA Cup fifth round replay against second tier side Birmingham. “We have to focus on the next game, which is against Birmingham,” he told the club’s TV channel. “We have to try to win the next game, which is how we are going to be from now until the end of the season – we are going to focus on game by game. “Our duty now is to look forward and to try to get the results that we need in the league (they are three ponts adrift of Arsenal who occupy the final Champions League place), the Champions League (they trail Napoli 3-1 with their Last 16 second leg match at home next week) and in the FA Cup to have a good season.”However, Di Matteo – who enjoyed some success when he managed West Brom guiding them back to the Premier League only to be sacked last season when they hit a poor run of form – admitted that not all the measures introduced by Villas-Boas would be dispensed with. “It has been a very difficult 24 hours for a lot of people at the football club,” said Di Matteo, who added Eddie Newton, a former Chelsea team-mate and his assistant at MK Dons and West Brom, to the backroom staff on Monday. “Andre has brought some very good, positive ideas and changes to this football club and we will benefit from his changes. “I enjoyed very much working with him and we will remain friends for the rest of our lives, but I will have to move on for this club and try my best with the players we have here.”Di Matteo – who it is also reported is scarcely better liked by the older players than Villas-Boas was – is thought to be low on the list to become the eighth full-time manager of owner Roman Abramovich’s increasingly turbulent reign at the club. Former Liverpool and Inter Milan handler Rafael Benitez has said he would love the chance to manage them highlighting his experience in winning the Champions League, which would strike a chord with Abramovich as that is the trophy he has never captured. Other names mentioned include former manager Jose Mourinho – who went on to win the Champions League with Inter Milan after leaving Chelsea under acrimonious circumstances – and outside bets former England coach Fabio Capello and the favourite to replace him in the national hotseat present Spurs manager Harry Redknapp. Another former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said on Monday he would love the job but he is damaged goods after several high profile failures since leaving the England job in 2006.

Rory McIlroy wins PGA golf tournament

Northern Ireland's McIlroy carded a one-under par 69 for 12-under 268, keeping his nerve after Woods who started the day nine adrift -- surged to the clubhouse lead with an eight-under par 62 that eventually left the 14-time major champion tied for second place with Tom Gillis on 10-under 270. Woods, the former world number one who hasn t won a tour level event in more than two years, delivered the lowest final round of his career, firing two eagles and four birdies without a bogey to put the heat on McIlroy. His birdie-eagle finish briefly moved him within one shot of McIlroy, who promptly responded with the second of his two birdies by sinking an eight-footer at the 13th hole. McIlroy made a series of clutch par saves, and with a two-shot lead at the 18th tee laid up for a textbook par at the par-five finishing hole. Woods was in sole possession of second place until Gillis, a journeyman who began the round tied for second two shots back, birdied the final hole to join him on 270. McIlroy earned the fifth official victory of his career. Three of those are US PGA Tour victories, including his record-setting US Open triumph at Congressional last year. Two others came on the European Tour. Woods, chasing Jack Nicklaus s record of 18 major titles, could well be among those contenders also if he maintains the form he showed Sunday. After an eagle and two birdies on the front nine, Woods birdied the par-four 11th. He rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt at 17 then belted his tee shot at 18 to leave himself a five-iron into the green. He stuck it eight feet from the pin and made it, drawing a roar from the gallery. Woods s total of 270 was his lowest 72-hole total since a 265 at the 2009 BMW Championship -- his last US PGA Tour victory. England s Lee Westwood also came up big on Sunday, shooting a 63 to finish alone in fourth on 272.

FIFA's apologizes to Brazilian government

Her did so after the country s government officially informed FIFA that it would no longer deal with him because of his remarks about its preparations for the 2014 World Cup. In a statement addressed to Brazil s sports minister, Valcke said his comments translated from French to Portuguese last week came out much stronger than they were supposed to. The apology came after Brazil delivered a letter signed by Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo to FIFA President Sepp Blatter officially announcing the country s position not to welcome Valcke. Urging Brazil to speed up its World Cup preparations, Valcke was quoted on Friday saying: "You have to push yourself, kick your (backside)." Valcke was quoted in English too, but in his apology he said that his words "in French" meant only that Brazil needed to "pick up the pace" in its preparations. He said the expression he used "was translated to Portuguese using words a lot stronger." "I lament profoundly that the incorrect interpretation of my words caused so much worry," he said in his statement released by the Brazilian government, in Portuguese. "I would like to apologize to (Rebelo) and any other person who might have been offended with my words." The sports ministry said it would not immediately comment on Valcke s apology because it was received after Rebelo s letter was delivered to FIFA. The press office said it didn t yet know whether the government would accept the apology or whether it would change its position regarding Valcke. The ministry said that it was aware that Valcke s comments were made in English too. Valcke also said in his letter that "certainly" there is a sense "of concern within FIFA" regarding the World Cup. "As the person ultimately responsible for this World Cup, I m under a lot of pressure," Valcke said. "The World Cup is key to our entire system." He also said that the problems with Brazil s preparations can be solved and reiterated that Brazil "is and will always be the only option to host" the World Cup. "I m confident that there isn t a problem which can t be overcome with efforts by FIFA, the local organizing committee and the Brazilian authorities," he said. Rebelo had announced the government s plan to cut ties with Valcke on Saturday, but the official letter to Blatter was delivered via fax and email on Monday. "The Brazilian government will not continue to accept Mr. Jerome Valcke as the FIFA representative during the preparations of this World Cup," the letter said. Rebelo wrote that Brazil has always behaved properly in its partnership with football s governing body and was surprised by the comments made by Valcke. "In the last few years, especially with FIFA s 2014 World Cup in Brazil approaching, the relationship between the Brazilian government and FIFA has been marked by the highest level of respect, cordiality and reciprocity. Brazil has always behaved in a correct manner, conscious of its capacity of organizing the 20th football World Cup," the letter said. "Therefore, we were shocked with the inappropriate comments made by Mr. Jerome Valcke in the last few days to the international media." The document said Valcke s words went against the "acceptable standards" of a relationship between a "sovereign country such as Brazil and a centenary international organization such as FIFA." The trade of accusations began with Valcke s comments on Friday, when he also said that "things are not working in Brazil" and that "not a lot is moving" with just two years left before the World Cup and barely a year before the Confederations Cup. Rebelo responded the next day, saying Valcke s statements were "offensive, inappropriate and unacceptable," and Valcke came back by saying the Brazilian government s reaction was "puerile." The dispute added to the uncertainty over the country s preparations, as there are key matters yet to be solved. The local World Cup organizing committee was forced to step in to try to keep the dispute from escalating in a year it considers key for the country s preparations. Valcke s apology may have come just at the right time, the day before a congressional commission is expected to vote on a key bill regulating the World Cup. FIFA needs the proposed law to be approved because it gives football s governing body the legal guarantees to organize the World Cup, but Valcke s comments on Friday could ve increased resistance from opposition lawmakers. Among the issues which will go under consideration by congressmen on Tuesday is the sale of alcoholic beverages inside stadiums, something that currently is against the law in Brazil but which FIFA supports because Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor. FIFA says Brazil accepted such changes in the law when it was picked to host the tournament in 2007. Voting on the bill was delayed several times because the government has been under criticism for giving FIFA too much power in Brazil. The government believes it has enough votes to have the proposed law approved.