Beckham debuts for Milan in win over Hamburg

DUBAI - David Beckham made a quiet debut for AC Milan as the Italians defeated German Bundesliga side SV Hamburg 4-3 via penalties in a friendly match here.

ECB plays down Pietersen-Moores rift

LONDON - England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has dismissed the rift between captain Kevin Pietersen and coach Peter Moores as ’speculation’.

Gerrard charged with assault

LONDON - The Liverpool and England midfielder ­Steven Gerrard was charged Tuesday with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray following an incident at a Southport bar which left a man needing hospital treatment for facial injuries.

Tottenham has to spend big to escape relegation: Woodgate

LONDON - The Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate feels that the club has to spend big way in the January transfer window to find a way out of trouble.

England to play four Tests, five ODIs and a T20 game in West Indies

LONDON - England begin their tour of the West Indies with two three-day warm-up games at St Kitts before playing the first Test at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica, Feb 4-8.

Gambhir jumps to 10th spot in ICC rankings

DUBAI - Opening batsman Gautam Gambhir jumped 10 places to the 10th spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings to become the highest ranked Indian.

India reclaim second spot from South Africa in Test rankings

DUBAI - India reclaimed the second position from South Africa in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Championship after their 1-0 win in the two-match series against England in Mohali Tuesday.

Tea scoreboard: India vs. England, Second Test, Day Five

MOHALI - The following is the scoreboard at tea on the fifth and the last day of the second cricket Test between India and England at Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here Tuesday.

Final scoreboard: India vs. England, Second Test, Day Five

MOHALI - The following is the final scoreboard on the fifth and the last day of the second cricket Test between India and England at Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here Tuesday.

Panesar’s grandfather delighted to see the spinner in action

MOHALI - England spinner Monty Panesar’s grandfather was delighted to see the left-arm spinner in action during the second cricket Test against India at Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here Tuesday.

India draw with England in Mohali Test to win series 1-0

MOHALI - India drew the second cricket Test against England here Tuesday and won the two-match RBS Cup 1-0.

Cricket Australia extends Nielsen’s contract till 2011 World Cup

MELBOURNE - As Australia struggle to retain the No.1 spot, coach Tim Nielsen’s contract has been extended by Cricket Australia (CA) till the 2011 World Cup.

Bank of England says economic crisis was underestimated

LONDON - The Bank of England (BoE) failed to understand the seriousness of the looming economic crisis despite rocketing house prices and credit levels, its deputy chief has said.