Australia's Ricky Ponting said he is determined to continue as captain despite his team's defeat in the Ashes.
Ponting is the first Australia captain in more than a century to lose two Ashes series in England after the hosts wrapped up a 2-1 win last Sunday.
"I still think I've got a lot to offer the team, as a batsman and as a captain and as a leader," said the 34-year-old.
"If it gets to the point I'm not the captain, my hunger and determination to keep playing are as good as ever."
Ponting's worth as a batsman is unquestionable, with a Test batting average of 55.88 and more than 11,000 runs to his name.
But his captaincy skills have come in for criticism, with a perceived lack of imagination in his field placings and bowling changes sometimes cited as a weakness in his leadership.
Ponting has an impressive record in his 61 Tests in charge, including winning 16 straight Tests from January 2006 until January 2008, but the two Ashes series defeats have cast a long shadow over the rest of his time in charge.
Vice-captain Michael Clarke would appear to be the most likely replacement for Ponting as captain, should the selectors decide that a fresh approach is needed, while Simon Katich has also been mentioned as a possible contender.
But Ponting has no intentions of standing down to allow the 28-year-old Clarke to ascend to the captaincy, and has set his sights on regaining the Ashes in Australia - and even a possible return to the UK in 2013.
"I've got to worry about the next 12 or 18 months and see if all that hunger or commitment is still there," added Ponting.
"Right at the moment it most definitely is. It's probably higher right now than ever before.
"I would love to go back and give it the Ashes in England one more crack. Who knows, 2013 might be something achievable."
Nehru Cup: India beat Sri Lanka 3-1
NEW DELHI: India beat Sri Lanka 3-1 in the third group match of the Nehru Cup tournament on Wednesday.
Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia, Gourmangi Singh and Steven Dias scored for India and the defending champions are now in a better position to qualify for the final of the five-nation tournament at the Ambedkar Stadium.
Bob Houghton's boys now may just need a draw in their last round-robin fixture against a formidable Syria on August 29.
Had India drawn against Sri Lanka on Wednesday, they would have to beat Syria to play in the August 31 final.
Vettori reaches Test double mark
First Test, Colombo, day one:New Zealand's Daniel Vettori became only the eighth player to achieve the 300 wickets-3000 runs double on day one of the second Test against Sri Lanka.
Kumar Sangakkara was the left-armer's 300th victim on a day which ended with Sri Lanka on 263-3.
They were 75-2 earlier in the day put an unbroken stand of 147 between Mahela Jayawardene (79) and Thilan Samaraweera (78) put them in a strong position.
"I still see myself as a bowler, rather than an all-rounder," said Vettori.
"As a spin bowler, I did not think a feat like this would happen, so it's a very special feeling."
The left-arm spinner is the second player from New Zealand after Sir Richard Hadlee to achieve the double and joins a list that also includes the likes of England's Sir Ian Botham, India's Kapil Dev and Australia's Shane Warne.
But the Kiwis still face a tough task in trying to level the series after losing by 202 runs at Galle.
Vettori used himself as first-change and the move paid off when opener Tharanga Paranavitana, who failed twice in the first Test, pushed forward and edged to Ross Taylor at slip, departing for 19.
Seam accounted for Tillakaratne Dilshan in the third over after lunch when he lobbed a return catch back to Iain O'Brien after making 29.
But home skipper Kumar Sangakkara looked in good touch as he struck nine boundaries, only to sweep Vettori to Jacob Oram at mid-wicket just after reaching 50.
It proved to be New Zealand's final success of the day, however, and although the pitch was "extremely flat", according to Vettori, he professed himself slightly disappointed by the match situation.
"We were ideally looking at five wickets, but Mahela and Thilan are seasoned players and are at the top of their game," he said.
"I hope our batsmen will take a leaf out of their book and put up a big score too."
Hope my suggestions are implemented: Sehwag
Bangalore, Aug 26 (PTI): A day after meeting DDCA president Arun Jaitley, Indian opener Virender Sehwag today said that there are discrepencies in the selection process at the lower level and hoped that his suggestions to the Delhi administrators would be implemented soon.
"If you look at Indian team, I don't think there is any need to give any suggestions because it's the merit that matters. Whoever performs gets picked. There is never an instance where somebody has not performed and got picked," Sehwag said on the sidelines of a Birla Sun Life programme.
"It (unfair selections) happens at lower levels and I have given some suggestions to DDCA and I hope that my suggestions would be implemented soon and the results would be seen in near future," he added.
Somdev clears first hurdle at US Open qualifier
August 26, 2009:Somdev Devvarman kept himself in contention for a berth in the singles main draw of the US Open by advancing to the second round even as it was curtains for compatriot Prakash Amritraj.
Somdev, India's top singles player, scored a facile 6-3, 6-3 win over 16th seed and local lad Alex Bogomolov Jr in the first round of the qualifying event on Tuesday night.
Prakash, on the other hand, had a tough day in office as he played his heart out against 31st seed Alejandro Falla of Colombia, only to lose his opening round qualifying encounter 6-7(5), 6-4, 3-6.
Somdev, meanwhile, was quick in grabbing his chances as he converted all the breakpoints that came his way. He broke the Russian-born American twice in each set to script a convincing win, in one hour and 15 minutes.
"I played a solid match right from the start. I am feeling good going into the US Open Qualifiers as I have prepared well and I hope I will be able to qualify for the main draw," he said after the match.
Somdev will next lock horns with Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands.
If Somdev beats Sijsling, ranked 305th, he will then take on the winner of the match between Jerzy Janowic of Poland and 26th seed Alexandre of France
Pakistan can win Champions Trophy if they play as team: Miandad
KARACHI: Pakistan is capable of winning the ICC Champions Trophy next month in South Africa but they would have to play as a team rather than individuals, feels former skipper Javed Miandad.
"The problem with the Pakistan team has always been that they tend to play as individuals but whenever they combine and play as a team they can beat any side in the world or win any major event in the world," Miandad said in an interview on Wednesday.
The former national team coach said the Twenty20 World Cup triumph this year showed that Pakistan is capable of beating anyone when they played as a unit.
"If we can play with the same spirit and coordination that we showed in the T20 World Cup there is no reason why we can't repeat the same success in the Champions Trophy," said Miandad, who is now director cricket in the Pakistan cricket board.
Miandad, who is also batting consultant for the national and junior teams, said that he always rated Pakistan among the top three teams of the world in any era.
"We have god gifted talent in the country and we have some immensely talented performers. The only thing is that they click when they play as a team and not as individuals," he added.
Miandad said the Champions Trophy is a tough competition since only the top eight teams take part in it.
"But we have an excellent pace attack and some good spinners and if the batsmen back them we can win this Champions Trophy," he said.
Miandad, who was a member of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup winning team, said if the board asked him to accompany the team to South Africa for the Champions Trophy as batting consultant he would definitely go.
"But it is the decision of the board what they decide. If my task is to work with the players only in the training camp at home then I will do my best to help the players and pass on my experience to them," he added.
Miandad said that he was working hard on introducing a more competitive and solid domestic structure in the country.
"Because once your basic is strong and competitive you will always produce players with the capability of performing at the international level. We need to improve our domestic structure," he said.
Miandad felt it would be an open tournament as teams like Pakistan, India, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka were all good One-day outfits and capable of defeating each other.
"I don't think any one team has a big edge over other sides in this Champions Trophy. Specially after India's poor show in the T20 World Cup and Australia's recent Ashes series loss. It is going to be a very open tournament," he said.
Cyclist Di Luca cries foul over positive dope tests
ROME — Italian cyclist Danilo Di Luca on Wednesday claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy after twice testing positive for banned blood booster EPO (erythropoietin) during May's Tour of Italy.
Di Luca finished second in the event he previously won in 2007 but returned positive tests for the new-generation EPO called Cera on both May 22 and 28.
He won two stages during the Giro and held the leader's pink jersey for eight days before eventually losing to Russian Denis Menchov by just 41 seconds.
"I just can't explain the two positive tests at the Giro. I'm not ruling out a conspiracy but before I can confirm it I have to be sure," he said during his meeting with the Italian Olympic Committee's (Coni) anti-doping prosecutor.
The 33-year-old was given a one month extension to his hearing after arguing that he didn't have all the information he needed to supply a proper defence.
He was temporarily suspended on July 22 after the results of his tests were published.
"I said previously that if my B samples confirmed the positive tests I would retire from cycling but now I've changed my mind and I am certain I will ride again in the Tour of Italy," added Di Luca.
"My lawyers and I have some serious doubts about the method used in the doping tests which have produced positive results.
"These methods have already given false positives and I think that's the case with me.
"I would have to be a man without a brain to have used Cera, which stays in the blood and urine for a month, especially during the Giro."
This was not the first doping controversy Di Luca has found himself involved in.
During his Tour of Italy victory in 2007 he produced an abnormal dope test and anti-doping prosecutors here requested a two-year ban but he was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
He did, however, serve a three month ban last year for his involvement in the 'Oil for drugs' scandal of 2004.
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