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Pakistan batsman Younis Khan will bring the curtains down on his ODI career after the first match against England at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.Younis, 37, played 264 matches in an ODI career that spanned 15 years. With 7240 runs, Younis is currently sixth on the list of highest run-getters for Pakistan in ODIs. Earlier this month, he overtook Javed Miandad’s record to become Pakistan’s highest run-scorer in Tests.Overall, Younis scored seven hundreds and 48 fifties at an average of 31.34, but had been on the fringes of the limited-overs side in recent months; he managed just one century since 2008, against New Zealand last December.”I am really pleased to announce that today I am retiring from ODI cricket after deliberation with my family, wife, and close friends,” Younis said. “I feel satisfied and grateful to almighty for showering numerous blessings on me. It is one of the his great blessings that I, by my own will, have taken this decision to retire from ODI cricket after having retired from T20 cricket already.”Explaining his decision, Younis said that he had to be honest with himself while contemplating his ODI future. “During my 15-year long association with ODI cricket, I always tried my best to play positive cricket for my team both as captain and as a player. But now I feel that the time has come when I should call it a day from one-day cricket,” Younis, who captained Pakistan in two stints, first in 2005-06 and later in 2009, said. “I hope that our young players will exhibit the same passion with which I played my game with strict adherence to discipline and fitness.”I would like to thank the PCB, selection committee and my fellow players who always respected and encouraged me. It is difficult to bid adieu to one-day format, but I believe in being sincere and honest with myself as well as with my profession. Pakistan cricket has a bright future ahead. We have been the champions in this game once and I believe we have all necessary ingredients to become champions once again.”While Younis has been in fine form in Test cricket, scoring eight hundreds from his last 15 matches at an average of 68.68, his records in ODI were less impressive. Last year, after being dropped from the ODI squad for the home series against Australia, a hurt Younis lashed out at the PCB, challenging the board to build a team without him in the mix. Despite being out of favour in ODIs at the time, Younis eventually returned to the squad for the home series against New Zealand, and was also included in the team’s World Cup squad. He however had a tournament to forget, scoring just 43 runs from three matches and was eventually axed from the line-up.Younis’ ODI retirement leaves him as an active international cricketer in just Tests. He had retired from Twenty20 Internationals after leading Pakistan to the World T20 title in 2009 in England, their first trophy on the global stage since the 1992 World Cup win.

There is a good chance that Marcelo Bielsa will leave his role as Leeds United manager at the end of the season, according to journalist Michael Bridge.

The Lowdown: Bielsa’s future in doubt

The Argentine has been a great modern-day figure at Elland Road, excelling since taking charge in 2018 and guiding the Whites back into the Premier League, in which they finished ninth in their first season back at that level for 16 years.

However, Bielsa is having a much tougher campaign this time around, with Leeds sitting 15th in the table and a return to the Championship far from being out of the question.

The 66-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of this season, at which point a massive decision will have to be made regarding his future.

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The Latest: Journalist backs summer exit for Bielsa

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Bridge stated his belief that Bielsa could move on to pastures new this summer.

Addressing the possibility of the Leeds manager stepping down later this year, the journalist said: “It wouldn’t surprise me, he looks tired, but I’m sure they’ll assess it at the end of the season.”

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The Verdict: Feeling increasingly likely?

With each passing week, it feels increasingly as though Bielsa’s time at Leeds is slowly coming to an end, with all great managerial reigns having to reach a denouement at some point.

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As Bridge says, there is almost a tiredness about the Whites boss at the moment, with injuries certainly playing a part in the team’s struggles this season, and some freshening up this summer may not be a bad thing.

That being said, should Bielsa sign another one-year extension, it would likely be met with positivity from most Leeds fans, given his hero status at Elland Road.

In other news, a pundit has bemoaned a latest Leeds injury update. Read more here.

Phil Jaques scored 150, but still wasn’t happy. He wants more (file photo) © Getty Images

Test batting looks too easy when Michael Hussey is doing it. While Phil Jaques set the base on another rampaging day for Australia, Hussey constructed the walls during a thrilling race to his century, which he achieved with four balls remaining in the day.As the Sri Lanka attack tired, Hussey took charge and smacked 81 in the final session as Australia finished at 3 for 329. He started to sprint once Jaques fell for 150, but it was only with four overs to go that reaching three figures became a possibility.”I didn’t think I was going to get there,” he said. “I was 82 and didn’t think I was a chance. When I hit two fours off Lasith Malinga I thought maybe I’m a silly chance. It was probably only in the last two overs I thought about it.”A couple of boundaries from Farveez Maharoof moved him to 96 and meant he could reach the target as long as he remained in control and was given the strike by Michael Clarke. There were a couple of nervous moments as he tried to force the pace, but he eased the stress of a night in the nineties with a crisp pull and finished on 101 not out.”I’d be lying if I said it didn’t worry me,” Hussey said. “The crowd was geeing me up and clapping each ball. I was trying to put it out of my mind, but was keen to get there. The pitch was so good, I was in and I felt pretty good. Maybe I took a couple of unnecessary risks at the end, but I was delighted to get through.”A pull was a suitable shot for the milestone as he had taken advantage of the short bowling throughout the innings. He struck 15 fours, including a string of crisp cover drives, during his 173-ball stay and it was his seventh century in 18 matches. The incredible record includes a live average of 87.19.”I’ve convinced myself it’s going to come down at some stage, but I’m happy to keep it like this for as long as possible,” he said. “I just want to enjoy it while it’s lasting and keep a level keel, not get too excited when things are going well, or too low when they’re not going well.”Hussey’s back-to-back centuries were matched by Phil Jaques and his former mentor Trevor Bayliss is finding him impossible to tame. “As his coach over the past ten years, especially the last three in first-class cricket, he gave me a few heart flutters and the opposition a few chances,” Bayliss said. “In the last two innings he’s still giving me heart flutters even though he’s in the opposition.”He’s been a lot more selective in the way he’s played in the last two matches, cutting out the riskier shots and making it a difficult package to get out. He fully deserves his success.”Jaques felt more relaxed after getting through a tough first hour, when the Sri Lankans “bowled a couple of balls that I wouldn’t have hit in a hundred years”. “I wanted to back myself and show a bit more intent,” he said. “I could express myself better and it worked out pretty good.”After posting 100 in Brisbane, he continued his liking for neat scores. “I really wanted to make a big hundred today and really cash in,” he said. Was 150 enough? “It’s never enough. I have to learn from it and cash in next time.”

Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath would be choosing the right moment to leave if the Sydney Test was their last, according to Ian Chappell © Getty Images

Reports that Shane Warne will announce his retirement on Thursday have caught the cricket world off guard. While there has been no official confirmation that Warne will step down, Australia is buzzing with the news that Warne, and maybe Glenn McGrath, will make the Sydney Test their last.”I haven’t heard anything official yet from Cricket Australia and people have been ringing me non-stop,” David Boon, an Australia selector, told . “I don’t know when he’s proposing to do it officially or whether it’s just rumour. I don’t know.”John Buchanan, the Australia coach, said he was not commenting “at this stage”. Ian Healy said he would not say anything until the announcement was official, but he said it was hard to believe that Warne could be so close to leaving the game.Allan Border, who captained Warne for several years, said on that Warne was in superb form and did not need to retire. “It’s just caught everyone by surprise,” Border said. “I just got the inkling that he was even considering one more tilt at England in England and that would see him out. I suppose there’s a lot of innuendo about what the reasons are … I’m in a bit of a state of shock.”Border said Warne would be remembered as one of the all-time greats. “Bradman – it’s hard to make comparison with that guy’s record, but on the next level of cricketers, Warne is right there,” Border said. “He’s been a breath of fresh air, what he’s brought to the game is immeasurable.”Ian Chappell said both Warne and McGrath would be choosing the ideal moment to retire if the Sydney Test was their last. “I’m delighted for both of them that they are calling it a day at the end of this series,” Chappell said. “I think it’s perfect timing for a champion player … if you make a mistake it’s best to get out a little early than a little late.”

Bloomfield 225 for 6 (Dilshan 107*, Dissanayake 46) beat Nondescripts 221 (Pushpakumara 47, Wijesiriwardene 4-25) by four wickets
ScorecardTillakaratne Dilshan celebrated his selection for Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand with a sparkling unbeaten 107 to guide Bloomfield to a four-wicket win over Nondescripts in the final of the Premier Limited Over Tournament at the Sinhalese Sports Club.Bloomfield had been in trouble on 16 for 3 – the recalled Sanath Jayasuriya making only 5 – before Dilshan and Shanuka Dissanayake (46) consolidated with a fourth-wicket stand of 108. Dilshan struck ten fours in a perfectly-paced innings to secure the win with five balls remaining.Nondescripts, who were put in, struggled to build on a good start, losing their last eight wickets for 107 runs, including their last four for one run as Omesh Wijesiriwardene polished off the tail with 4 for 25.

South Africa 270 for 7 (Smith 105, Gibbs 50) beat England 267 for 8 (Solanki 66, Nel 3-49, Ntini 3-58) by three wickets – series level at 1-1
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Graeme Smith: leading from the front © Getty Images

Click on the underlined links in the text for more pictures South Africa levelled the series at one match apiece, after another tense and enthralling affair at Port Elizabeth. Following their last-ditch failure at Bloemfontein on Wednesday, when they needed three runs from six balls and failed, this time the requirement came down to a similarly enticing requirement – two from six, with three wickets in hand. But at the second time of asking, South Africa held their nerve. Ashwell Prince hoisted Darren Gough over the top for four, and the crowd celebrated their first victory against senior opposition for 14 matches.It could so easily have gone the other way, however. This was another nervy performance from a side that has forgotten how to win, and South Africa owed their victory to a selection of very untimely English errors with both bat and ball. The linchpin of their performance was the captain, Graeme Smith, who recorded his maiden one-day century, 105 from 131 balls, and in doing so laid the ghost of his run-out on 99 against Sri Lanka two years ago. But he was badly dropped on 53 by Marcus Trescothick, and then reprieved by a fumbled run-out one over later. Had either chance been taken, England would surely have won.South Africa’s innings was yet another roller-coaster affair. Chasing 268 for victory after Trescothick had won the toss, Smith stood firm as the top-order wobbled, moving along to his first one-day half-century for exactly 12 months. On a slow and low pitch, England thrived through their lack of extreme pace, and the first of several turning-points came when a subdued Jacques Kallis carved Paul Collingwood’s medium-pacers to point. At that point, South Africa had slipped to 89 for 3 in the 20th over, and were in serious danger of losing their way.Within five overs, however, South Africa had been given renewed focus, as England this time fluffed their lines. Collingwood, whose full-length dobblers were proving remarkably tricky to get off the square, tempted Smith to heave across the line, and a swirling chance looped up to Trescothick, running round from mid-on. Inexplicably, he muffed the chance, and England were still ruing that reprieve when Geraint Jones behind the stumps failed to gather a shy from the covers, with Smith floundering a yard short of his ground.

Vikram Solanki sweeps as Mark Boucher looks on © Getty Images

With his old opening partner, Herschelle Gibbs, for company, however, Smith began to steady South Africa’s nerves, and while they were adding 107 for the fourth wicket, it was England who began to search for inspiration. He has not enjoyed many moments to crow about in his tussles with Matthew Hoggard in this series, but by taking 15 runs off his seventh over of the innings, Smith shifted the momentum squarely in South Africa’s direction.But this is South Africa v England 2004-05, and no match is complete without at least a dozen twists and turns. No sooner had Gibbs reached his second fifty of the series than he was gone, trapped lbw by the returning Darren Gough. It was the first of three wickets in 21 balls that culminated in the big scalp itself, as Ashley Giles turned one into Smith’s pads, and from 196 for 3, South Africa were again floundering at 214 for 6 as the required rate rocketed to more than eight an over.However, with Mark Boucher in residence, the tail retained sufficient chutzpah to overcome their anxieties, and when Hoggard was again the victim of a brutal onslaught – disappearing to all parts for another 14 in an over – the momentum shifted decisively back to South Africa. Gough did his best to salvage the situation, removing Boucher lbw for 33, but Prince had enough mental strength to put Wednesday’s indignities out of his head.England’s innings had earlier been anchored by a timely 66 from Vikram Solanki, who made the most of Vaughan’s absence to leave the selectors with a headache ahead of the fourth match at Cape Town on Sunday. But that total might have been even better but for a typically wholehearted effort from Andre Nel, who dismissed the dangerous Kevin Pietersen for just the second time in his one-day career (and in the process reduced his average to a mere 133.50) en route to the impressive figures of 3 for 49.England’s effort was built on solid contributions all the way down the order, with Solanki the only man to reach a half-century. He made an even 100 in his last one-day innings, against Zimbabwe earlier on the tour, but would not have been playing in this game had it not been for Michael Vaughan’s absence with a stomach bug, an ailment that had kept him off the field for the second half at Bloemfontein.With more than 10 overs remaining, England might have expected a total in excess of 280, but the innings failed to ignite, as Makhaya Ntini, whose sharp opening burst had gone unrewarded, struck back violently with three late wickets in six deliveries. In a series as evenly matched as this, it proved to be a vital intervention.Andrew Miller is assistant editor of Cricinfo.

India’s former Test wicketkeeper, Syed Kirmani, has taken over from Brijesh Patel as the head of the national selection committee.Kirmani, 53, claimed 198 victims in an 88-Test career that also included victory in the 1983 World Cup, and is arguably the finest wicketkeeper ever to play for India. He will bring strong views to the selectors’ table, and was particularly outspoken over the decision to play Rahul Dravid as a makeshift keeper in the recent World Cup.His appointment was announced on the final day of the BCCI’s annual general meeting in Kolkata. Patel, Kirmani’s predecessor, stepped down after one year after undergoing a heart bypass this month.

Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas claimed it was the best performance ofhis career whilst Zimbabwe captain Stuart Carlisle hoped it was just a”freak day” as the tourists were bowled for 38, the lowest ever One-DayInternational (ODI) total, at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Saturday.Sri Lanka won the game, which was completed in 108 minutes and just 20overs, also making it the shortest ever ODI in history, by nine wickets asVaas claimed a hat-trick and became the first bowler to take more than sevenwickets in one-day cricket.Speaking afterwards, Vaas was modesty personified, even if the long queue ofchildren scrambling for autographs begged to differ.”It was a good toss to win and I just looked to put the ball in the rightareas,” he said. “The white ball swings more than the red ball and I bowleda good line and was rewarded.He was though delighted to have claimed the hat-trick: “Yes, I am very happyto get hat-trick. I think it was the best achievement of my career.”He was unconcerned by Muttiah Muralitharan taking the last two, whichprevented him from taking all ten: “I am not worried about records, I justwant to do well for my country and team.”Coach Dav Whatmore called it an “out-of-the-world” performance but wasn’tsurprised by Vaas’s recent success, which included career best bowlingfigures in the last Test against the West Indies.”These sort of performances don’t happen by accident, he has been workingreally hard in the gym, the running track and the nets,” said Whatmore.”Mentally, he has adjusted to being the top pace bowler in the side and nolonger puts himself under too much pressure. He is relaxed and bowlingbetter for it,” he added.”We felt there was some moisture there early and to extract an advantagefrom that we had to bowl first. Chaminda (Vaas) then put it in the rightarea, swung it around and was very hard to play.”

Chaminda Vaas Photo AFP

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya, though delighted with Vaas and his side’s start,warned afterwards against over-complacency: “We can’t things lightly andneed to be alert in the next few games. I will warn the players against overconfidence. Nevertheless, we have been playing well and we want to continuethat good form.”Zimbabwean captain Stuart Carlisle put a brave face on events and hoped itwas a one-off event, even though it now means that, other than Bangladesh,Zimbabwe have lost their last 22 ODIs.”This was basically a freak game, things just didn’t go right for us and nota great start to the tournament,” he said”Vaas did bowl well in favourable conditions and maybe the guys were a bittentative and got caught in two minds. Having just come from Sharjah andBangladesh though, where the ball hardly swung, it has been difficult toadjust to conditions here where the ball has swung early on.”But Carlisle was not humourless, pointing out wryly, that: “Some of theyounger guys will have learnt a little bit about the inswinger.” He nowwants the team to quickly move on.”We have got to get some smiles back in the camp because it is not very nicein the changing room at the moment. It’s up to us guys in the top order toput our hands up and lead from the front.”Zimbabwe play their next game against West Indies on Sunday.

A move to No. 3 may help end Lahiru Thirimanne’s lean trot, Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews has said ahead of the first Test against West Indies in Galle. Thirimanne has been groomed for that role over the past two years and is now free to come in at first drop, following the axing of Upul Tharanga from the Test squad, as well as the retirements of high-profile batsmen.He has continued to be effective in the limited-overs formats despite his Test-match woes. Thirimanne averages 47.81 at No. 3 in ODIs, and Mathews said the team trusts his Test returns will begin to improve as well.”Because of Kumar Sangakkara batting at No. 3 we couldn’t really accommodate Lahiru in the top three,” Mathews said. “Your best batter always has to bat at No. 3. Now that Sangakkara has gone, Lahiru is pretty much the candidate to bat at No. 3.”Thirimanne’s poor Test form has been particularly apparent in Sri Lanka’s recent home Tests. He averaged 21.09 across the six Tests against Pakistan and India, hitting only one fifty in that period.”Lahiru’s form was a bit of a concern in the recent past, but we continue to have faith in him,” Mathews said. “We know he’s a very good player. He’s played the game for quite a long time, so we’re pretty much sure he’ll come good and deliver for us in this series.”Thirimanne’s form had been only one of the several top-order problems Sri Lanka faced, against India in August. The hosts failed to cross 210 in half of their innings that tour, and found themselves battling a first-innings deficit in each of the three games. Mathews suggested a more positive approach with the bat could see his side to bigger totals.”We need to adjust the mindset with our batting,” Mathews said. “It’s all about trying to score runs – and that’s been the talking point for our batters over the last two months. It’s just that any given day you get a good ball and you tend to get out, and that’s the fate of the batsman. But I think you need to just try and score runs all the time and grab opportunities that the bowlers give you – try and score off the loose balls. Hopefully we can get everything right this series.”Sri Lanka’s bowlers have largely done well in the home series this year, but they have also been occasionally guilty of letting the opposition tail score cheap runs. In the most recent Test at the SSC, Amit Mishra and R Ashwin both hit fifties from No. 9. In the previous series, Zulfiqar Babar had hit a fifty in Galle from No. 10.”We’ve talked about getting lower-order wickets a lot in our meetings,” Mathews said. “It’s just that we have to bowl at them thinking they are batters. The batters play a lot different than the bowlers – the bowlers throw their bats around and get a few runs, and a few nicks. When that happens, in the next minute the whole scenario changes. Hopefully we can rectify that this series.”Mathews also all but confirmed that Tharindu Kaushal will play in Galle, ahead of Dilruwan Perera, despite Kaushal’s doosra having been recently banned by the ICC. “We trust that PHT Kaushal will be someone who serves Sri Lanka for a long time, given the way he’s bowled in the past. As a team, and as a captain, I can give him that trust and play him. I have no issues with playing him in this match.”

Ric Charlesworth has quit as New Zealand Cricket’s high performance manager after two years in the job. Charlesworth, who played 47 first-class matches for his native Western Australia, has decided to pursue other opportunities outside of New Zealand.”This has been a difficult decision because I have greatly enjoyed living in New Zealand and working with NZC,” he said. “I am optimistic that NZC has the people and structure in place in high performance to challenge the world’s best during the next decade.”Justin Vaughan, the chief executive of NZC said Charlesworth had been a vital member of the team’s off-field staff since his arrival in August 2005. “I am certain that many of Ric’s changes will be long-lasting both from a structural aspect but also, and more importantly, from a cultural perspective,” Vaughan said.”He has impressed upon the organisation that we must aspire to be truly world-class in all that we do. We cannot attempt to consistently win on the international stage without the highest standards and frameworks underpinning our premier teams.”Charlesworth has had a wide and varied career, nearly earning a Test call-up for Australia as an opening batsman, appearing in four Olympics as a hockey player, coaching the Australian women’s hockey team to two Olympic gold medals, working as a doctor and serving as an MP for nearly a decade. In April he turned down overtures from the South Australia cricket team, who were looking for a coach, but said he did not know what his future held.