Surrey v Lancashire: Kevin Pietersen in sensational form

Kevin Pietersen hammered a sensational double hundred as Surrey replied to Lancashire's huge total in fine style.

The visitors, resuming on 425-7, added a further 60 runs before they declared on 485-7 with Steven Croft, 104 not out overnight, reaching an unbeaten 154.

Surrey, struggling at 49-2 when Pietersen arrived, ended the day on 430-5 with Pietersen unbeaten on 234.

He hit eight sixes and 30 fours in his 190-ball innings as a stunning 495 runs were scored on day three at Guildford.

Zander de Bruyn weighed in with 94 and Jason Roy scored 38 as Surrey, seventh in the Division One table, claimed maximum batting points for the first time this season.

The hosts needed to reach 336 to avoid the follow-on and they looked in trouble when Rory Burns was out first ball before Zafar Ansari (21) was also dismissed cheaply.

But Pietersen warmed up for next week's first Test against South Africa with the highest score by any batsman in the 2012 County Championship season.

His next target will be to pass the highest score of his career, the 254 not out he made for Nottinghamshire against Gloucestershire in August 2002

Source BBC

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

18th FINA Visa Diving World Cup : London Olympics 2012

Beach Volleyball to take centre stage at London 2012

Beach Volleyball to take centre stage at London 2012

Beach Volleyball to take centre stage at London 2012

Beach Volleyball to take centre stage at London 2012

Beach Volleyball to take centre stage at London 2012

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

London Olympics 2012 : Gymnastics

Mercedes results too up and down says Ross Brawn

Mercedes must achieve more consistent results, boss Ross Brawn has demanded ahead of the German Grand Prix.

He is unhappy at their inability to finish higher up the field in 2012, despite having a more competitive car than in the two previous seasons.
"Our performance has been up and down recently, ranging from podiums to lower points finishes," said Brawn.

"We need to work hard to improve our level of consistency and ability to challenge at the front."

Last time out Mercedes finished seventh with Michael Schumacher and 15th with Nico Rosberg in the British Grand Prix, helping confirm former Ferrari team principal Brawn's concerns about consistency - Schumacher had finished on the podium in third two weeks' previously in Valencia.

This season Brackley-based McLaren have, at times, been able to keep pace with front runners Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull, and they were dominant in China as Nico Rosberg
secured his first career victory.

But their F1 W03 car appears to be more sensitive than its competitors to the differences found among the circuits in the Formula 1 calendar.

"The Hockenheim layout [the venue for the German Grand Prix on 22 July] should be more suited to the F1 W03 than the high-speed Silverstone layout," Brawn added.
"We are bringing some further improvements to the car which should help our performance."

Mercedes, whose factory is based near Hockenheim, will want to put on a good show for the German public, especially the talismanic Schumacher, who has born the brunt of the team's reliability problems this season.

Source : BBC

Brett Lee: Australia fast bowler retires from international cricket

Australia fast bowler Brett Lee has retired from international cricket.

The 35-year-old returned home early from the recent one-day tour of England with a calf strain, the latest in a long line of injuries.

Lee quit Test cricket in February 2010 and exits the one-day arena with 380 wickets - one short of Glenn McGrath's record for an Australian - at an average of 23.36 from 221 matches.

"You get to the point in life where you say enough is enough," Lee said.
"The last two or three nights I thought about it a lot. I woke up this morning and just felt like I was ready."

He told Australia's Channel 9: "I think in a team environment you have to have 100% commitment, mentally and physically.

"I guess, looking at the next few months, I just didn't have that desire any more. It wouldn't be fair on me or my team if I went with that attitude."

At his peak, Lee was arguably the finest quick bowler in the world, and bowled the second-fastest recorded delivery of all time at 99.9mph in Napier, New Zealand, in 2005.

Born in New South Wales, Lee made his Test debut against India in 1999 and his one-day
bow the following year.

Only six players have bettered Lee's tally of 380 ODI wickets. He also took 310 wickets at an average of 30.81 in 76 Tests, and 28 wickets at 25.50 apiece in 25 Twenty20
internationals.

Source : BBC

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Usain Bolt could run 100m in 9.4 seconds, says Michael Johnson

Four-time Olympic champion Michael Johnson believes Usain Bolt can run 100m in 9.4 seconds - but only if the Jamaican refines his sprinting style.

The 25-year-old broke his own world record with a time of 9.58 secs at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.