Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan banned indefinitely by Pakistan

www.guardian.co.uk - Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan banned for a year Shahid Afridi and Akmal brothers fined and on probationPakistan's defence of the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean next month and their Test prospects against England later this year weretoday dealt a severe blow after four players were banished from the team and three others punished by a Pakistan Cricket Board inquiry into the calamitous recent tour of Australia.Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, the last two men to captain Pakistan in Tests, have been banned indefinitely for "infighting which … brought down the whole team". Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan have been banned for a year and fined. Shahid Afridi, the captain of the Twenty20 side, was fined and put on probation for six months over his "shameful act" of biting the ball in Perth. The Akmal brothers, Kamran and Umar, were treated similarly and told their conduct would be strictly monitored.The former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis, who will coach the team in the Twenty20 World Cup, told the website Cricinfo: "It's a huge shock for me, definitely. I want to speak to the board about it to get more details on it before saying more, but it is definitely a big step. It is a big step the board has taken and I hope they have solid evidence for taking the actions that they have taken. All evidence must be there and they must have spoken to a lot of people for this. Once a player is banned it is a label you have put on him so it is a big thing."A PCB committee led by Wasim Bari, a stalwart of Pakistan teams in the 1970s and 80s, interviewed 13 people, including eight players, over three days.In a convoluted statement, the PCB said: "Mohammed Yousuf and [Younus] Khan, keeping in view their infighting which resulted in bringing down the whole team, their attitude has a trickledown effect which is a bad influence for the whole team [and] should not be part of [the] national team in any format."The decision prompted protesters in Hyderabad to burn bats but later the PCB made clear its position: "PCB wishes to clarify that the recommendation of the committee is not a life ban on these cricketers. There is no specified term in the recommendation for these two players. As and when the PCB deems appropriate, these players will be considered for selection for the national team."Neither Yousuf nor Younis is likely to play for Pakistan while Ijaz Butt heads the board. Few know why Yousuf was targeted. In Younis's case, it is understood it was felt to be time to draw a line under his increasingly difficult behaviour. A source said: "I think the message to Younis is that they have had enough with his antics. Constantly resigning, not having the support of players, things like that."Malik's 2m rupee fine [£15,900] was imposed for allegedly undermining team morale. Sources told the Guardian that Rana was banned over an argument with Yousuf in Australia.The sanctions against Afridi - imposed, according to the PCB, "for the shameful act [of biting the ball] which has brought the game and country into disrepute" - Umar and Kamran were easier to rationalise. Kamran said publicly he would be selected for the third Test against Australia, after being dropped. Umar, his younger brother, was punished for allegedly feigning injury in support of Kamran, though he did later play in Hobart.With one of the five members of the inquiry committee being a lawyer, it seems the PCB believes itself to be on solid ground legally. But the long-term effect of such sanctions from an unpopular administration is uncertain.The board said "This will go a long way to arrest the decline of Pakistan cricket ." The PCB will hope that the squad sent to England this summer, in the absence of the banned players, will be sufficiently competitive not to affect ticket sales.Pakistan cricket teamCricketDileep Premachandranguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

Shooting accused appears in court

news.bbc.co.uk - A man appears in court in connection with an alleged shooting and stabbing at a pub in Edinburgh. More... (Scotland)

Contractors 'divert Somalia aid'

news.bbc.co.uk - Up to half the food aid in Somalia is routinely diverted to corrupt contractors and militants, a UN report says. More... (Africa)

EU set to ban bluefin tuna trade

news.bbc.co.uk - Reports indicate that the EU has decided to support a ban on international trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna. More... (Europe)

Cricket battle

news.bbc.co.uk - Why Pakistan bans may have come five years too late More... (Asia)

Are England right to drop Lewis Moody?

www.guardian.co.uk - The Leicester flanker started the Six Nations being billed as one of England's few world class players. Now he's not even one of England's starting XV. Is Martin Johnson right to ditch him for the Scotland match? More... (Rugby union)

Shed suicide man killed partner

news.bbc.co.uk - A man killed his partner with a hammer before burning himself to death in their garden shed in Berkshire, an inquest hears. More... (England)

MSN Video takes on BBC iPlayer with ad-supported online TV offering

www.guardian.co.uk - Web TV service, with 1,000 hours of shows licensed from BBC Worldwide and production companies, launches on ThursdayMicrosoft's MSN Video is to launch a free catch-up TV service in the UK on Thursday to try to compete with the BBC's iPlayer - but including 30-second adverts before, during and after each programme.The iPlayer, which like the original BBC content has no ads, is one of the most popular websites in the UK, allowing people to view or listen to TV and radio programmes up to seven days after their transmission.Led by Ashley Highfield, formerly a key figure in the evolution of the BBC iPlayer, the Microsoft offering will have roughly 1,000 hours of programming - but will lack direct broadcaster deals. That means it will not be able to compete directly with the direct catch-up services offered by the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. Highfield is now the head of Microsoft's UK consumer and online business.Instead, last summer Microsoft acquired licenses for 300 hours of BBC Worldwide and All3Media shows for a trial service, getting access to BBC programmes such as Mock the Week, What Not To Wear and Hotel Babylon, and All3Media shows including Peep Show, Shameless and How To Look Good Naked, and series featuring the illusionist Derren Brown.From Thursday it will also add more shows from Endemol, maker of Big Brother, as well as RDF, Shed, Digital Rights Group, Raw Cut and Content Film, bringing the total available to more than 1,000 hours."The six-month pilot is going full commercial launch," MSN UK executive producer Peter Bale told paidContentUK, owned by the Guardian. "The pilot has worked. We've had a terrific response from our advertisers." He added that "We're having a very high number of people sit through the ads, because there aren't many."The move by MSN comes amid upheavals in the online video sector, where the BBC is still waiting for approval for Project Canvas, a planned joint venture with ITV, Channel 4, Channel Five, BT and Carphone Warehouse to provide on-demand video over the internet which could be played in internet-enabled TVs, rather than just computers - the present limitation of iPlayer. BSkyB and equipment makers have voiced objections to Canvas, suggesting that there is not proven consumer demand for it, and that it might not work with planned internet-enabled TVs.The iPlayer has enjoyed spectacular success since its launch at Christmas 2007, becoming an internet phenomenon that has provided the baseline for future broadband quality enshrined in the government's Digital Economy bill. The bill specifies a proposed minimum broadband connection for every household of 2 megabits per second - the minimum required for iPlayer viewing.Figures released last May showed that it was used to transfer 7 petabytes - 7m gigabytes - of data in a month. It has also recently added an "HD" option for higher-quality online viewing.But Highfield says that the MSN product is superior to the iPlayer. MSN's average viewer watched for 25 minutes, he said: "That is significantly higher than ITV and Channel 4's online TV services, which suggests we are hitting the mark with our choice of content for the service."The MSN system offers Microsoft's Silverlight technology to stream the video, automatically adjusting the screen quality to meet the speed of the connection. But it will be usable without Silverlight.However, without direct broadcaster deals, MSN's video offering won't necessarily pose a direct challenge to the likes of YouTube and SeeSaw, which have each won Channel 4 and Five shows by offering those broadcasters control of their own ad sales.Bale insisted that MSN is keen to sign such a deal. "We always talk to the broadcasters," he said. "It's publicly obvious that ITV and Channel 4 have made different decisions what their current video-on-demand strategy is."Online TVMicrosoftDigital mediaiPlayerTelevision industryBBCBBC WorldwideDigital videoCharles ArthurRobert AndrewsMark Sweneyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Film & TV)

Russian drivers 'used as human shield' to stop criminals

news.bbc.co.uk - Russia launches a criminal inquiry after claims that traffic police used civilian drivers as a "human shield" to stop criminals. More... (Europe)

Eliminate theatre critics at your peril | David Cote

arts.guardian.co.uk - Cost-saving US publishers are ditching seasoned reviewers - and pitching criticism into incoherent chaos in the processOn Monday, the iconic industry trade paper Variety sacked chief film critic Todd McCarthy and chief theatre critic David Rooney. Cost-cutting, explained Neil Stiles, president of the publication; reviews will henceforth be farmed out to freelancers. New York's critical community was left aghast. Variety has effectively told the world that it doesn't care about having an authoritative critical voice. The implications are grave.Anyone who read the writing on the wall wasn't terribly surprised. In recent years, New York theatre critics have been disappearing from the payrolls, replaced by a parade of jobbing freelancers with little experience and even littler clout. At the New York Observer, the respected John Heilpern retired, and the paper shows no signs of wanting to replace him with anyone of comparable talent. Two years ago, Jeremy McCarter left New York Magazine for Newsweek and his former employer seems content to use a rotating crew of interchangeable bylines. Termination, buyout, burnout: each year it seems that the number of seasoned, thoughtful critics is shrinking.In both the short and long term, the trend is disturbing. From a strictly corporate view, however, it's expedient. The brand remains prominent, but the particular voice of the critic becomes negligible. Cynics might say this allows the editor to soften a negative review, or bury it online, so as not to alienate or annoy advertisers. Using writers with less power and prestige also allows a publication to bend the copy to advertorial ends. You've seen the books speculating on what our cities would look like if humans vanished and nature were allowed to spread unchecked. Let's imagine a world without critics (please indulge my paranoid prognostication). In a few years, if this trend continues, only the stupidest among us will believe a critical rave. We'll know that reviews are just part of the marketing arm of a movie studio, theatre producer or TV programmer. So we'll turn to the blogosphere, or those we follow on Twitter and other social networking sites, to find a consensus. But there will be no consensus, just a pullulating buzz of artists promoting shows, audiences offering their opinion, badly written amateur reviews, friends promoting friends, and maybe - just maybe - a few informed theatregoing bloggers whom we trust. But guess what? Those citizen critics will be bought out by media companies, or they'll eventually quit, because they're not being paid to filter the culture. And then we're back to square one: emerging voices drowned out and the lowest common denominator triumphant. Money talks and quality walks.We critics, reviewers, consumer reporters - call us what you will - are the dung beetles of culture. We consume excrement, enriching the soil and protecting livestock from bacterial infection in the process. We are intrinsic to the theatre ecology. Eliminate us at your peril.TheatreDavid Coteguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Theatre)

Pakistan attack kills aid workers

news.bbc.co.uk - Militants attack the office of a Western aid agency, killing six people and wounding others, the agency and police say. More... (Asia)

Tram project 'could be delayed'

news.bbc.co.uk - Edinburgh's new tram line may not be operational until January 2014 - almost 2 years later than expected. More... (UK)

Nigeria charges over Jos killings

news.bbc.co.uk - Police say 49 people are to be charged with murder following communal violence that left scores of Nigerian villagers dead. More... (Africa)

Parents complain that buggies are seen as a nuisance

news.bbc.co.uk - Parents with buggies who take up wheelchair spaces on buses face a crackdown in a government campaign to improve passengers' experiences. More... (UK)

Pompey axe 85 jobs to cut costs

news.bbc.co.uk - Administrators at Portsmouth FC start to make employees redundant, with 85 people losing their jobs. More... (UK)

Spotlight on

news.bbc.co.uk - A big night for Manchester Utd on and off the pitch More... (UK)

Gang jailed for murdering cyclist

news.bbc.co.uk - Four men are jailed for life for the murder of a cyclist who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Liverpool. More... (England)

Keep 'distance' from US - Clegg

news.bbc.co.uk - Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg says the UK must not automatically follow the US on key foreign policy issues. More... (UK)

Kevin Pietersen should get back to basics, says Michael Vaughan

www.guardian.co.uk - England batsman told he is 'too good not to come through this' Former England captain backs him to hit big hundredThe former England captain Michael Vaughan has advised Kevin Pietersen that he needs to get back to basics, spending long periods at the crease, to rediscover his best form.Pietersen has made just 69 runs in seven innings on the current tour of Bangladesh, a worrying statistic with the first Test starting on Friday, but Vaughan is confident the flamboyant batsman will come good when it matters, as long as he can adopt the right mentality for Test cricket."It's the first time in his career that he's gone through this kind of patch so he's in new territory mentally," Vaughan said. "For those who have been in it and got out of it, they know it comes right just through hard work and a little bit of luck. You just have to get your basics right."The one thing about Kevin is that he will attack and that's great, but you still have to be able to defend against the spinners, particularly in Bangladesh."I think he has to work out a method of making sure he can stay at the crease, first and foremost. No batsman can get runs without being able to stay at the crease for long periods of time."He's a wonderfully gifted stroke player but his basics against left-arm spin - that's his real challenge, the mentality of batting against left-arm spin."Bangladesh have picked three and will probably [use] two as soon as he comes to the crease. One will be on at either end, men around the bat. No doubt he'll try to sweep and hit them over the top and they'll put men out and then how does he play? It's a technical thing as much as a mental thing."He'll come through it, there's no question, he's too good not to, but it's the first time that he's been tested. But for us to be really successful and have a really good team we need KP playing to his maximum, which he was a year or so ago."Pietersen has often been criticised for getting out to extravagant shots and Vaughan feels that could also be affecting the South Africa-born batsman's approach."In Twenty20 he has averaged 42 so maybe that's a process which he can look at," Vaughan added."Clearly he's just going for it and (in other games) maybe he's thinking too much, his mind is cluttered with 'Should he defend, should he attack', whereas in Twenty20 he just has to attack."In Twenty20 you have an excuse if you get out - you were meant to be playing the big shots. In Tests there is that mentality of 'If I get out playing a big shot, what will it look like?' That's when it comes down to just having really good basics."If he hammers home the basics well and just fights for a bit he will be fine. I believe he's been doing all the work in the nets and it wouldn't surprise me at all if he went and got a hundred this week - and if gets one he'll probably get a big one."Kevin PietersenMichael VaughanEngland in Bangladesh 2010England Cricket TeamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

Labour 'trusted more on education'

news.bbc.co.uk - A BBC Newsnight poll suggests that the Conservatives are failing to win over voters unsatisfied with Labour's record on education. More... (UK)

Labour edges ahead on education

news.bbc.co.uk - A BBC Newsnight poll suggests that the Conservatives are failing to win over voters unsatisfied with Labour's record on education. More... (UK)

Labour edge ahead on education

news.bbc.co.uk - A BBC Newsnight poll suggests that the Conservatives are failing to win over voters unsatisfied with Labour's record on education. More... (UK)

Human remains found in garden dig

news.bbc.co.uk - Human remains are found in a garden in south-west London after a tip-off about a body at the property, police confirm. More... (UK)

TV ratings - 9 March: Famous, Rich and Jobless sets out with 4m viewers

www.guardian.co.uk - BBC1's recession-themed life swap show wins 9pm slot on debut with a 16.9% shareThe latest celebrities-slumming-it life swap format, BBC1's Famous, Rich and Jobless, launched with just over 4 million viewers last night, Tuesday 9 March.The show, in which Larry Lamb, Diarmuid Gavin, Meg Mathews and Emma Parker Bowles sample life on the dole, was the most-watched show in the 9pm hour with 4.01 million viewers and a 16.9% share, according to unofficial overnights.Later in the evening on BBC1, Brian Woods's more conventional observational documentary, Jobless, following several families with both parents out of work, attracted 1.76 million (14.2%) over 60 minutes from 10.35pm.In the 9pm hour Channel 4's maternity ward documentary series, One Born Every Minute, drew 2.81 million (11.9%). Another 390,000 (2.2%) watched an hour later on Channel 4 +1.Channel Five's CSI: Miami had 2.44 million (10.3%), while a Law & Order: UK repeat on ITV1 attracted 2.35 million (9.9%).Also in the 9pm slot, BBC2's Horizon documentary Is Everything We Know about the Universe Wrong? drew 1.85 million (7.8%).Lambing Live continued on BBC2 in the 8pm hour with 2.55 million (10.6%), against ITV1's Cops with Cameras, which attracted 2.64 million (10.9%), and Five's Ice Road Truckers, with 1.31 million (5.4%).Holby City won the 8pm hour, as usual, with 5.74 million (23.8%), while on Channel 4 Jo Frost: Extreme Parental Guidance had 1.99 million (8.2%). A further 209,000 (0.9%) watched Frost's show on Channel 4 +1. To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".TV ratingsTelevision industryJason Deansguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Film & TV)

Andy Flower the pressure valve as Alastair Cook prepares to step up

www.guardian.co.uk - Cook will have support in and around the dressing room as he becomes England's fifth youngest Test captain in ChittagongAlastair Cook is that rare thing, an England captain taking charge for the first time in a Test match in an atmosphere of peace and contentment. There is no divided or downcast dressing room to concern him, and nobody is condemning his appointment from the rooftops, or indeed the Red Tops.It makes it easier for Cook that he is only in temporary charge, as Andrew Strauss sits out the tour, and it helps, too, that Bangladesh are a Test side that England are confident of beating, even an England side that must field a bowling attack of shreds and patches. But as introductions go it is genial and gentle, much like Cook himself. Messages of goodwill abound. He is a lucky lad.Cook will become England's 79th Test captain at the ZA Chowdhury Stadium on Friday. If you want a favourable omen, 79 is the atomic number of gold in the periodic table, so we can all just sit back and watch the trophies pile high. For a side still only fifth in the Test rankings that would be a turn-up, but if you cannot be optimistic at the start of an England captain's career then you never will because it will get harder.He will become the fifth youngest Test captain for England — at 25 years and 77 days - and the youngest since Ian Botham in 1980. As Cook sat good humouredly on the boundary edge on another sunny day, one of those present was Michael Atherton, who was a few months older than Cook when he took charge of England for the first time, also at 25. Those were harsher times. The Ashes had been lost and Graham Gooch, now Cook's batting mentor, had resigned, demoralised.Atherton, who went on to lead England in a record 54 Tests, has often observed that he got the job too early, even if it did sharpen his batting form initially. But these days the job is not so lonely - indeed, it is difficult to move in the dressing room without bumping into psychologists, nutritionists and masseurs all offering support - and for Cook the experience has come at a good time.It was observed in this newspaper a few months ago that Cook seemed to be sleepwalking into the captaincy, and so he was. The selectors had identified something revealed to few. He had shown no great desire for leadership, and there was little evidence that he was an astute tactician. His England batting career, too, was also in the doldrums as technical flaws, most clinically exposed by Australia, left him increasingly uncertain.Duncan Fletcher, his first England coach, also in these pages, suggested his appointment was a mistake. He needed to be concentrating on his own game, Fletcher said. If he had the aptitude for captaincy then this would develop of its own accord. Cook, though, has had a good few weeks. He was in prime form as England won the one-day series 3-0 and he has taken on the captaincy with a striking serenity.He does not seem overexerted and much of the reason for that rests with Andy Flower, England's coach, who has taken on a more dominant role than he has when working alongside Strauss, a much more rounded leader.Most of the recent England captains have been immensely strong-willed - not just Atherton but Nasser Hussain, a streetfighter by nature, and Michael Vaughan, another shrewd cookie as well as quite a politician. At the heart of Kevin Pietersen's reign was a more flamboyant egotism.Cook lacks the same edge, but there are signs that a temporary stint as captain will be good for him,kicking him on, forcing him to assume cricketing adulthood. Rather than plan for authority, he needs authority to be thrust upon him. Popular with his team-mates, he is sensitive enough to be aware of their concerns. Who knows, he might return to the back of the bus after this tour, never to return, because the world is full of heirs apparent who never make it, but he would return to the back of the bus older and more battle-hardened."You find yourself thinking about different things, such as the make-up of the side and who I want to go into the Test with," he said. "I have enjoyed the extra responsibility. The night before the first warm-up game I didn't sleep at all. I kept thinking, 'Who is going to bowl here and field there?' I thought that if it was going to be like this it was going to be a long tour. But apart from that I have slept really well."I'm genuinely excited and proud to know that not many people have done what I am going to do now. I feel ready. I feel as though I have done the job well. You are judged on results and it has gone well. Andy Flower has been exceptional, trying to take as much pressure off me as possible, especially with decisions away from the cricket itself."When he was appointed, Cook admitted that he was a conservative leader. As Stuart Broad went through a second day of fitness Tests today, and another fast bowler, Graham Onions, was ruled out because of a back injury, Cook seemed to be tilting towards playing six batsmen, certainly more so than Flower had been 24 hours earlier. Publication of the latest ICC Test rankings, which showed not a single England batsman in the top 20, would add ammunition to such a case.Some of the reasoning for that lies with Pietersen's troubled form. Jamie Siddons, Bangladesh's Australian coach, is certainly heartened by Pietersen's travails against spin on this tour. "If he struggles against slow left-armers then he's got two bloody good ones against him [here]," he said. "He's a great player, there's no doubt about it, and at some point in the next four innings he'll have a performance, but it's difficult when you are a right-hander out of form in these conditions. Very difficult."England in Bangladesh 2010England Cricket TeamCricketAndy FlowerDavid Hoppsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

Prison care standard 'fell short'

news.bbc.co.uk - An investigation into the death of a prisoner in Maghaberry Prison has found that the standard of his care fell short of expectations. More... (Northern Ireland)

Just what caused 75 starlings to 'fall from the sky'?

news.bbc.co.uk - Mystery surrounds the deaths of 75 starlings which fell from the sky on to the driveway of a Somerset house. More... (UK)

China to build Sri Lanka airport

news.bbc.co.uk - China is to lend Sri Lanka just under $200m to build a second international airport in the south of the island. More... (Asia)

CCTV shows 'terrifying' robbery

news.bbc.co.uk - CCTV footage of a drug addict as she terrorised a frail great-grandmother in a knifepoint robbery is released by Hampshire police. More... (England)

Teacher's bin death 'accidental'

news.bbc.co.uk - A jury agrees the death of a teacher who was crushed after climbing into a wheelie bin was accidental. More... (England)

Bird eggs auctioneer faces fine

news.bbc.co.uk - A Northumberland auctioneer faces a hefty fine for trying to sell a cabinet containing bird eggs. More... (England)

Birds eggs auctioneer faces fine

news.bbc.co.uk - A Northumberland auctioneer faces a hefty fine for trying to sell a cabinet containing birds eggs. More... (England)

Fears over schools terror watch

news.bbc.co.uk - Civil rights group Liberty questions the value of an anti-terrorism initiative in Cornwall schools. More... (England)

Jonny Wilkinson says he and England learned from last Scotland defeat

www.guardian.co.uk - Fly-half says 2008 loss was 'massive learning curve' Says England will need 'inner strength' on SaturdayJonny Wilkinson has said that England's defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield two years ago was one of the most painful experiences of his career. The England fly-half broke the world record for Test points that afternoon but England, who had been World Cup finalists five months before, were poor. They were beaten 15-9 and Wilkinson was replaced with 11 minutes to go.Wilkinson was then dropped for only the second time in his Test career, as the then England coach, Brian Ashton, turned to Danny Cipriani for a home victory over Ireland. Cipriani is now bound for Melbourne's new Super rugby franchise and Wilkinson is heading back to Murrayfield."The most painful lessons are often the most powerful and for me that is definitely the case," said Wilkinson. "That was a big experience and it has done the world of good for me. I have spent much of the time since then injured on the sidelines but that doesn't change the fact that you have to take heed of those lessons."The game a couple of years ago was a massive learning curve and it taught us that you need to go out there to play. You can't expect to just build a game solely from what you have planned on paper."We tried that against Scotland with the conditions and the weather and they did a great job of smothering us. We didn't push the situation hard enough to earn the right to win that game. We played a game that was stifled and we ended up losing the game and quite rightly so."I have learned it is all very well to know it on paper but I have got to put it into practice on the field."Many would argue England have not moved on from the one-dimensional game they played at Murrayfield that day. Wilkinson has seen former team-mates claim he is not a natural playmaker and decision-maker and question whether he is the man to release England's backs.Matt Dawson, Wilkinson's scrum-half in the World Cup-winning side of 2003, said: "He can play in the way that has been planned on a flip chart in team meetings but if it comes down to him to work out on the hoof what options to take, more often than not he will kick, and miss opportunities to attack."Wilkinson does not dismiss criticism - "They must see it to say it, or have a reason for saying it," he said - but he is confident that his relationship with Riki Flutey, England's inside-centre, is developing well."One of the big things for us is communicating what we see of the whole field," he said. "We missed some chances against Ireland, which we didn't realise until we watched the video."The structure is still a bit new to myself as well and maybe I am a bit tied in to seeing what I am doing and likewise for him [Flutey] so we are trying to make sure we see more of the field. But he knows what I am looking for now and I am trying to understand every day what he is looking for. We have had a couple of good chats this week."England travel to Murrayfield with their Six Nations title hopes alive. Scotland have suffered three defeats.Wilkinson knows what to expect from a Scotland side coached by the former England coach Andy Robinson, and it is not all fire and brimstone."He played the way he coaches. There is no facade," said Wilkinson. "He was physical, he was intense, he was skilful and he mixed it every time he went out there. As a coach he does exactly the same thing but this time he is able to impart a huge amount of that rugby brain and experience over many years and that is why he is a good man for the job."We need to go in with a level of inner strength that is capable of dealing with everything on the field - and off the field."Jonny WilkinsonEngland rugby union teamSix Nations rugbyRugby unionguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby union)

Supermarket plan for shop centre

news.bbc.co.uk - Plans to re-open a supermarket on the site of a former shopping centre which had been earmarked for regeneration. More... (Wales)

Getting clean

news.bbc.co.uk - Recovering drug addicts share their experiences More... (Scotland)

Body found in missing mother hunt

news.bbc.co.uk - Police searching for a Dundee mother who went missing two weeks ago say they have found a body. More... (Scotland)

Elephant birth shocks Sydney zoo

news.bbc.co.uk - An elephant in a Sydney zoo gives birth to a live calf, shocking vets who thought the baby had died in the womb. More... (Asia)

Legal aid for all 7/7 survivors

news.bbc.co.uk - All survivors of the 7 July bombings in London have been granted legal aid for the inquests, the government says. More... (England)

Politicians run Sport Relief mile

news.bbc.co.uk - Tory MP for Monmouth David Davies was first of 40 MPs and peers to cross the line in the Sport Relief Westminster Mile. More... (Wales)

Trio remanded over attack charges

news.bbc.co.uk - Three men are charged with UVF membership and being involved in a pipe bomb attack on a house in Larne seven years ago. More... (Northern Ireland)

Kidnapped boy's father back in UK

news.bbc.co.uk - The father of a British boy kidnapped in Pakistan is returning to the UK, against the wishes of the police, the BBC learns. More... (Asia)

Starling flock 'falls from sky'

news.bbc.co.uk - Mystery surrounds the deaths of 75 starlings which fell from the sky on to the driveway of a Somerset house. More... (England)

Just what caused 75 starlings to 'fall from the sky'

news.bbc.co.uk - Mystery surrounds the deaths of 75 starlings which fell from the sky on to the driveway of a Somerset house. More... (UK)

Formula 1 2010: the teams

www.guardian.co.uk - Identify who's driving which car ahead of the season's 19 racesPaddy Allen More... (Motor sport)

7/7 survivors will get legal aid

news.bbc.co.uk - Legal aid will be given to survivors of the July 7 London bombings for representation at the inquests of the victims. More... (UK)

Man charged over money laundering

news.bbc.co.uk - A 42-year-old man is arrested and charged following a crackdown on money laundering and fraud in Edinburgh and East Lothian. More... (Scotland)

Beckham plots Old Trafford upset

news.bbc.co.uk - David Beckham believes his AC Milan side can overturn a 3-2 deficit and send his former club Manchester United crashing out of the Champions League. More... (Europe)

Hotel chain starts Christmas ads

news.bbc.co.uk - Radio listeners in central Scotland can expect to hear the first Christmas adverts of the year in the next few days. More... (Scotland)

EU rule change 'may cut red tape'

news.bbc.co.uk - Small firms may be exempted from having to draw up and lodge annual accounts, after MEPs approve changes to European Union rules. More... (Europe)

Firm denies Fifa sweatshop claims

news.bbc.co.uk - A Shanghai company denies it used sweatshop labour to produce World Cup mascots, as Fifa suspends its contract. More... (Asia)

Daryl Harper omitted from umpiring duties for World Twenty20

www.guardian.co.uk - ICC dissatisfied with Australian's 'general performances' Insists decision not based on Graeme Smith not-out blunderThe elite umpire Daryl Harper will take no part in the ICC World Twenty20 after an International Cricket Council panel concluded his "general performances" did not merit selection.The ICC, nonetheless, insisted in a statement this afternoon that Harper's absence is not a consequence of the Australian's part in the controversy over the decision review system which beset this year's Johannesburg Test between England and South Africa.An inquiry remains ongoing following the decision not to give Graeme Smith out caught behind on review in an innings which saw the home captain go on to make a century and lead South Africa to a series-levelling victory.The ICC's chief executives' committee is also to receive a report in Dubai on the "successful implementation of DRS in 13 Test matches in the last four months".On Harper's failure to make the cut for the showpiece Twenty20 event, which starts in the Caribbean next month, today's ICC statement said: "This decision was taken by the selection panel for a number of general performance reasons. It must be categorically stated, however, that none of these reasons is related to his role as third umpire in the fourth Test between South Africa and England in Johannesburg earlier this year."Those who are on the 13-strong list include all 10 of Harper's colleagues on the ICC's elite panel - joined by South Africa's Marais Erasmus, the Australian Rod Tucker and India's Shavir Tarapore.England's Ian Gould is also among those who will be umpiring in the West Indies.Full umpires list Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Billy Doctrove, Ian Gould, Tony Hill, Rudi Koertzen, Asoka de Silva, Simon Taufel, Asad Rauf, Marais Erasmus, Shavir Tarapore and Rod Tucker.World Twenty20Cricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

Hurt marines saddle up for rehab

news.bbc.co.uk - An Aberdeenshire charity which uses horse riding to rehabilitate injured soldiers welcomes its largest group of commandoes. More... (Scotland)

Firm admits fish-death pollution

news.bbc.co.uk - A Devon toiletries company has admitted polluting a river in an incident which killed about 1,000 salmon and trout. More... (England)

ANC seeks Winnie Mandela answers

news.bbc.co.uk - South Africa's ANC asks Winnie Mandela to clarify a media report in which she apparently fiercely criticised ex-husband Nelson. More... (Africa)

Mother 'stood by' murder accused

news.bbc.co.uk - A woman tells a court how she "stood by" her former partner after he was charged with murdering their daughter. More... (Scotland)

Harrabin's Notes

news.bbc.co.uk - Environmentalists and the EU lock horns over biofuels More... (Europe)

Body recovered in student search

news.bbc.co.uk - Police searching for a teenager who went missing nearly two weeks ago during a night out in York recover a body from a river. More... (England)

Man 'attacked with baseball bat'

news.bbc.co.uk - A 34-year-old man is left severely traumatised after being attacked with a baseball bat in an attempted robbery. More... (Wales)

Armed robbery at estate agents

news.bbc.co.uk - Police appeal for information after an armed robbery at a travel agents in which staff were threatened with a knife. More... (Wales)

Armed robbery at travel agents

news.bbc.co.uk - Police appeal for information after an armed robbery at a travel agents in which staff were threatened with a knife. More... (Wales)

Tough task

news.bbc.co.uk - Challenges ahead for new president in quake-hit Chile More... (Americas)

Apology for women raped by father

news.bbc.co.uk - Two women raped by their father over 25 years- bearing seven of his children - are given an apology by authorities. More... (UK)

Ivory Coast court Troussier

news.bbc.co.uk - Ivory Coast talk to the 'White Witch Doctor' about taking the Elephants to the World Cup. More... (Africa)

Should Africa ban second-hand goods?

news.bbc.co.uk - Every year tonnes of electrical goods and used clothing from the West find their way to Africa. Is this killing the continent? More... (Africa)

Ambulance service chief to quit

news.bbc.co.uk - The chief executive of the Welsh ambulance service is to stand down at the end of March. More... (Wales)

Pair admit digger joyride rampage

news.bbc.co.uk - Two men admit stealing diggers from a building site and causing damage as they raced them through Glasgow. More... (Scotland)

Kennel Club 'fails pedigree dogs'

news.bbc.co.uk - The producer of a BBC documentary about poor health in pedigree dogs accuses the Kennel Club of not doing enough to improve matters since its broadcast in 2008. More... (UK)

Man guilty of murdering daughter

news.bbc.co.uk - A man is found guilty of the murdering his 17-year-old daughter, whose body was found when police stopped his car. More... (Wales)

Gangland murder hunt van appeal

news.bbc.co.uk - Police investigating a gangland murder in Glasgow want to trace the driver of a van seen near the burned out getaway car. More... (Scotland)

'Berserk' son stabbed his father

news.bbc.co.uk - A man who stabbed his 84-year-old father in London after going "berserk" is given an indefinite sentence. More... (England)

Appeal to restore Dickens' chalet

news.bbc.co.uk - A £100,000 appeal is launched to save the wooden chalet in Kent in which Charles Dickens wrote Great Expectations. More... (England)

Lost Boys actor Haim dies aged 38

news.bbc.co.uk - Lost Boys actor Corey Haim dies at the age of 38, the Los Angeles coroner's office confirms. More... (Americas)

Chubby Brown denies hitting woman

news.bbc.co.uk - Comedian Chubby Brown denies assaulting a 21-year-old woman during an argument in a Teesside car park. More... (UK)

UK global clout 'waning' - Hague

news.bbc.co.uk - The Conservatives pledge to reverse what they say is the UK's "shrinking" influence in the world if they win power. More... (Europe)

Liberal or stooge?

news.bbc.co.uk - Sheikh Tantawi never shied away from controversy More... (Middle East)

New rugby stadium approved

news.bbc.co.uk - A £26m sports complex, which will be home to rugby league club Salford City Reds, is approved by councillors. More... (England)

King's Cross body accused held

news.bbc.co.uk - A 19-year-old man is to remain in custody charged with the murder of a 16-year-old girl in north London. More... (England)

Owner fined for 23 barking dogs

news.bbc.co.uk - A man who kept 23 dogs at his home in Witney, Oxfordshire is prosecuted for failing to stop them barking. More... (England)

Jones calls for Wales to be smart

news.bbc.co.uk - Fly-half Stephen Jones insists Wales have to be smart, clinical and efficient if they are to beat Ireland at Croke Park on Saturday. More... (Wales)

Health survey needs city support

news.bbc.co.uk - A project aiming to test 500,000 people in the UK to improve the prevention of serious illnesses rolls into Swansea. More... (Wales)

Casteford's Super League match against Catalans in doubt after heavy snowfall

www.guardian.co.uk - Catalans have advised Castleford and fans to delay travel Volunteers working to clear 40cm of snow from pitchHeavy snowfall in the south of France has put Castleford Tigers' Super League match against Catalans Dragons on Saturday in doubt.The Perpignan club have advised Castleford and their supporters not to travel until attempts to clear around 40cm of snow from the pitch at the Gilbert Brutus stadium have been completed."It's crazy," said the Catalans general manager, Christophe Levy. "It snowed for the whole day and everything is closed."The players and volunteers are trying to clear the pitch but it's going really slowly. The snow is not melting because it's only one degree."We will see at the end of the day how far we get but we probably won't make a decision until tomorrow."The clubs considered reversing the fixture but time is against them and the Dragons are keen to play a second home match of the season, having arranged to play four of their opening five games away from home because of refurbishment to their ground."It's making it a bit difficult," said the Catalans coach, Kevin Walters, who was forced to cancel training yesterday due to the conditions. "We haven't been able to do a field session yet but we're hoping to get a pitch this afternoon."Castleford, who held their pre-season training camp in Perpignan, are due to fly out on Friday, and have signed Mike Cooper, a 21-year-old prop who was a Challenge Cup winner with Warrington at Wembley last August, on a month's loan after losing Brett Ferres, Paul Jackson, Richie Owen and Dean Widders to injury. Cooper has yet to play for the Wolves first team this season.The BBC has confirmed that it will show Hull's Challenge Cup tie against Leeds on 17 April (kick-off 2.30pm), and Huddersfield v Hull KR (kick-off 1.45pm) the following day.Salford have claimed that a local government decision yesterday to form a joint venture company with Peel Holdings is final confirmation that their £26m, 15,000-capacity stadium will finally be built. "Other clubs may have stadium plans on paper, but we will have building work as proof of our intention," said their chief executive, Dave Tarry. "We're expecting a minimum 12-month build, with everything completed by the end of 2011."Catalans DragonsCastlefordSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Heavy snow puts Castleford's Super League game against Catalans in doubt

www.guardian.co.uk - Catalans have advised Castleford and fans to delay travel Volunteers working to clear 40cm of snow from pitchHeavy snowfall in the south of France has put Castleford Tigers' Super League match against Catalans Dragons on Saturday in doubt.The Perpignan club have advised Castleford and their supporters not to travel until attempts to clear around 40cm of snow from the pitch at the Gilbert Brutus stadium have been completed."It's crazy," said the Catalans general manager, Christophe Levy. "It snowed for the whole day and everything is closed."The players and volunteers are trying to clear the pitch but it's going really slowly. The snow is not melting because it's only one degree."We will see at the end of the day how far we get but we probably won't make a decision until tomorrow."The clubs considered reversing the fixture but time is against them and the Dragons are keen to play a second home match of the season, having arranged to play four of their opening five games away from home because of refurbishment to their ground."It's making it a bit difficult," said the Catalans coach, Kevin Walters, who was forced to cancel training yesterday due to the conditions. "We haven't been able to do a field session yet but we're hoping to get a pitch this afternoon."Castleford, who held their pre-season training camp in Perpignan, are due to fly out, and have signed Mike Cooper, a 21-year-old prop who was a Challenge Cup winner with Warrington at Wembley last August, on a month's loan after losing Brett Ferres, Paul Jackson, Richie Owen and Dean Widders to injury. Cooper has yet to play for the Wolves first team this season.The BBC has confirmed that it will show Hull's Challenge Cup tie against Leeds on 17 April (kick-off 2.30pm) and Huddersfield v Hull KR (kick-off 1.45pm) the following day.Salford have claimed that a local government decision to form a joint venture company with Peel Holdings is final confirmation that their £26m, 15,000-capacity stadium will finally be built. "Other clubs may have stadium plans on paper, but we will have building work as proof of our intention," said their chief executive, Dave Tarry. "We're expecting a minimum 12-month build, with everything completed by the end of 2011."Catalans DragonsCastlefordSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

Heavy snow puts Casteford's Super League game against Catalans in doubt

www.guardian.co.uk - Catalans have advised Castleford and fans to delay travel Volunteers working to clear 40cm of snow from pitchHeavy snowfall in the south of France has put Castleford Tigers' Super League match against Catalans Dragons on Saturday in doubt.The Perpignan club have advised Castleford and their supporters not to travel until attempts to clear around 40cm of snow from the pitch at the Gilbert Brutus stadium have been completed."It's crazy," said the Catalans general manager, Christophe Levy. "It snowed for the whole day and everything is closed."The players and volunteers are trying to clear the pitch but it's going really slowly. The snow is not melting because it's only one degree."We will see at the end of the day how far we get but we probably won't make a decision until tomorrow."The clubs considered reversing the fixture but time is against them and the Dragons are keen to play a second home match of the season, having arranged to play four of their opening five games away from home because of refurbishment to their ground."It's making it a bit difficult," said the Catalans coach, Kevin Walters, who was forced to cancel training yesterday due to the conditions. "We haven't been able to do a field session yet but we're hoping to get a pitch this afternoon."Castleford, who held their pre-season training camp in Perpignan, are due to fly out, and have signed Mike Cooper, a 21-year-old prop who was a Challenge Cup winner with Warrington at Wembley last August, on a month's loan after losing Brett Ferres, Paul Jackson, Richie Owen and Dean Widders to injury. Cooper has yet to play for the Wolves first team this season.The BBC has confirmed that it will show Hull's Challenge Cup tie against Leeds on 17 April (kick-off 2.30pm) and Huddersfield v Hull KR (kick-off 1.45pm) the following day.Salford have claimed that a local government decision to form a joint venture company with Peel Holdings is final confirmation that their £26m, 15,000-capacity stadium will finally be built. "Other clubs may have stadium plans on paper, but we will have building work as proof of our intention," said their chief executive, Dave Tarry. "We're expecting a minimum 12-month build, with everything completed by the end of 2011."Catalans DragonsCastlefordSuper LeagueRugby leagueAndy Wilsonguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Rugby league)

British Gas faces strike ballot

news.bbc.co.uk - British Gas workers are to vote in a strike ballot over allegations of bullying by management, and on changes to working conditions. More... (UK)

Boy's torturers given jail terms

news.bbc.co.uk - A Leeds drugs gang are jailed for torturing a boy, 16, to force his family to pay a £20,000 ransom over a "drugs debt". More... (England)

Gang jailed for torturing teenager

news.bbc.co.uk - A Leeds drugs gang are jailed for torturing a 16-year-old with boiling water to force his family to pay a £20,0000 ransom. More... (England)

Airlines offer to give up slots

news.bbc.co.uk - British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia offer to give up take off and landing slots in London and New York, say EU watchdogs. More... (Europe)

IPL fortunes threaten to lay waste to Bangladesh's potential stars | Dileep Premachandran

www.guardian.co.uk - The money to be made from the 20-over format may send the best players in Bangladesh the same way as the faltering Mohammad AshrafulHas there ever been a more annoying invention than the phone camera? Thanks to the tabloid culture so lovingly nourished by the likes of the News of the World - after all, John Terry's dalliances are more important than climate change - and copied shamelessly in Britain's former colonies, etiquette is no longer an issue. If you have a phone, it gives you the right to point and shoot at anyone. Permission be damned.As I waited in line to board a flight to Bangalore, a group of men not even travelling on it stood right next to me and clicked away happily at someone behind me. Bollywood starlet, I thought. But then I heard the words desh ka hero (national hero) from someone who was in true shutterbug mode. When I turned around expecting Sachin Tendulkar or Anil Kumble, I came face to face with Praveen Kumar.Sleepy-eyed, fingernails still stained with Holi colours and wearing a hideous Christian Audigier-designed Ed Hardy T-shirt that now seems to be default civvie wear for cricketers, Praveen looked most unhappy. Even as he talked on his phone, random people came up to him, patted him on the back, grabbed his hand and aimed the flash squarely at his face.Over the past couple of seasons, he's had a decent run in the Indian one-day team, picking up 41 wickets in 36 games. He moves the ball both ways at friendly pace and has a rudimentary batting style with an emphasis on the big heave. A Garry Sobers he's not, though he takes home more from one Indian Premier League season - $300,000 (£200,000) - than the greatest cricketer managed in his entire career.Anand Vasu's fine piece in the Hindustan Times earlier this week addressed the paradigm shift in Indian cricket, and when you see the adulation directed at players like Praveen, you wonder how warped the celebrity-bug-infested "consumer" has become. And if it's this bad in India for a fringe player like Praveen, you can imagine what it's like in Dhaka for Mohammad Ashraful and Mashrafe Mortaza.Mortaza will play no part in the Tests against England, with his frightening catalogue of knee problems similar to those endured by Andrew Flintoff. Like English cricket's modern-day icon, the 26-year-old Mortaza is unlikely to be seen in whites again. By some distance the best one-day bowler that his country has produced, with 135 wickets in 104 games, his recent return to the fold was none too impressive, with Shakib Al Hasan's lack of enthusiasm for his efforts palpable.Ashraful has no fitness issues, but his mindset has been frozen in that of an impetuous teenager for far too long. A batsman capable of the sublime - a Test century against India at Chittagong and the delightful 87 that shocked South Africa at the last World Cup readily come to mind - he has spent most of the last eight years flirting consistently with mediocrity. If ever an innings encapsulated a player, it was a thrilling stroke-filled cameo against India in the second Test last January. Having eased some gorgeous drives through cover, he then succumbed to a headless-chicken charge against Pragyan Ojha. The derision in the stands as he walked off, thumping his pads in disgust, was unmistakable.He may only be 25, but it's hard to see where Ashraful will fit in under the current dispensation. In recent times, Bangladesh have squandered promising positions against better sides, most notably in the first Test against India and the second ODI against England, but there have been signs of progress under Shakib and Jamie Siddons, the coach. Ashraful, with his crumbling-biscuit temperament, represents a past that it's perhaps best to draw a line under.You also wonder how much both he and Mortaza have been affected by IPL fortune. The Knight Riders' signing of Mortaza for $600,000 represented perhaps the most bizarre acquisition in the annals of sport. As everyone assembled at the auction in Goa and thousands watching on TV scratched heads in disbelief, he joined the august rank of misfits like the footballers Andrea Silenzi and Juan Sebastián Verón. Apart from being carted all over the park by Rohit Sharma in a match that the Knight Riders had as good as won, he did next to nothing in South Africa.Ashraful's $75,000 from the Mumbai Indians may have seemed like small change in comparison, but it was still comfortably more than your average Bangladeshi cricketer can dream of making in six months, leave alone six weeks. When he signed up, he spoke of his excitement at sharing a dressing room with Tendulkar and of the possibility of meeting another hero, Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood star, but like Mortaza his impact on the tournament was mosquito bite rather than shark attack.As Vasu wrote of India's youngsters, it's no longer imperative for players to crave the national cap. A season or two of IPL can set you up for life, provided you have slightly better advisers than Mike Tyson did. Dennis Lillee and others risked crippling themselves to play Test cricket a generation ago. They had no option. If you didn't play at the highest level, you didn't put food on the table. With more than a million banked, the likes of Mortaza hardly need to worry about the groceries.In any case, the future is Shakib. From the time I first watched him play, at the World Cup in the Caribbean, his composure and maturity were eye-catching. This was a young man who knew his game and its strengths, and played to them. As with one so young, there will be mistakes - witness the daft sweep that precipitated a slide to defeat against India - but with the right guidance, he has it in him to be Bangladeshi's Tiger Pataudi, a young leader with the ability to lead his team from the hinterlands of promise to the periphery of achievement.England's bowling firepower should be too much for Bangladesh to handle, but if Tamim Iqbal can pull off the sort of innings he managed against India, and give the phalanx of left-arm spinners a score to defend, things could get very interesting indeed.Tigers not to grab by the tail: Tamim Iqbal: Few will forget his irrepressible charges down the pitch and lofted strokes as India were sent tumbling towards the World Cup exit three years ago. In recent times, he has been more responsible, while still expressing his considerable shot-making ability.Shakib Al Hasan: Starred in the series win against a depleted West Indies, but didn't do himself justice with the bat against India. His left-arm spin is invariably tidy and clever. One world-class player that England should be especially wary of.Shahadat Hossain: Think of Steve Harmison's early years, or a kid with a garden hose. Shahadat is as erratic as they come, but is capable of touching 140kph and getting steep bounce from lifeless pitches. Broke Rahul Dravid's jaw in January.Mahmudullah Riyad: Made a superb century in New Zealand after falling just short against India. Has been a revelation since he came into the side, adding ballast to a lightweight tail and giving Shakib one more spin option. Won't hold back if Swann and Tredwell toss them up.Abdul Razzak: Like Aftab Ahmed, he's never been able to translate the odd dazzling one-day display into anything more tangible. His action is certainly not Bedi-smooth, but on slow and low pitches he shouldn't be underestimated.Mushfiqur Rahim: As with Kamran Akmal, his wicketkeeping appears to have deteriorated markedly in recent times. A doughty batsman capable of the big shots, he's one of the core group that the team of the future will be built around.Raqibul Hasan: Fresh from a century in the tour game, Raqibul appears to have resuscitated his game after a nightmare series against India. When in form, he's the glue in the middle order, the Bangladeshi answer to Dravid and Paul Collingwood.Shafiul Islam: Impressed at times in the recent one-day games. Has a nice easy action and can hurry the batsmen with his pace. Is still very raw, though, and with Mortaza no longer around, there's no one to mentor him either.Bangladesh Cricket TeamCricketDileep Premachandranguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Cricket)

India help for Sri Lanka amputees

news.bbc.co.uk - An Indian charity sends a team to Sri Lanka to provide 1,000 amputees in the war-ravaged north with artificial limbs. More... (Asia)

Kidnap boy's father returns to UK

news.bbc.co.uk - The father of a British boy kidnapped in Pakistan is returning to the UK, against the wishes of the police, the BBC learns. More... (Asia)

Facebook killer police criticised

news.bbc.co.uk - Merseyside Police is criticised for not referring earlier its handling of the case of a known sex offender who killed a teenager. More... (UK)

Victim 'murdered over prostitute'

news.bbc.co.uk - A murder accused admitted stabbing a man because he did not want his girlfriend working as a prostitute, a trial has heard. More... (Scotland)

Street actress reveals depression

news.bbc.co.uk - Coronation Street actress Beverley Callard reveals she has been receiving treatment for a "serious breakdown" and depression. More... (UK)

'We just clicked'

news.bbc.co.uk - Will more Indian couples turn to the web for love? More... (Asia)

Driver jailed over A9 death crash

news.bbc.co.uk - A man who admitted causing the death of another motorist by dangerous driving is jailed for three years. More... (UK)

'Moment of madness' led to crash

news.bbc.co.uk - A man who admitted causing the death of another motorist by dangerous driving is jailed for three years. More... (Scotland)

Felipe Massa backs Ferrari to have their best F1 season for many years

www.guardian.co.uk - Brazilian confident following successful winter testing Planning to score points at Bahrain opener on SundayFelipe Massa believes Ferrari is in position to have their best Formula One season for many years. Speaking ahead of the first race of the 2010 campaign, which takes place in Bahrain on Sunday, Massa said the team were in confident mood following successful winter testing when their new F10 car proved to be competitive as well as reliable."I am very happy and very motivated that we can start the championship in a better way not just than last year, which was not a very good year, but also than the other championships," Massa told the Ferrari website. "It looks like we are in good condition to start the championship. What we did in the winter tests was very positive. Our car and our team were very competitive."I think it shows that we have a car ready to start the season. But we have to work every day to improve the situation and improve the car race by race to be at the top. But I'm very motivated."The 2009 season was an extremely poor one for Ferrari. The team won just one race with their sluggish F60 car and saw Massa suffer a life-threatening injury during qualifying for the Hungary grand prix in July.But having invested much time and money into the F10, as well as recruiting Fernando Alonso to drive alongside a now fully-fit Massa, there is a renewed sense of optimism within the Italian team. The aim, it appears, is to score regularly and score quickly."It's good to think about the points straight away," said Massa. "My expectation is definitely to score many points. Even if maybe we don't know if it will be possible to win, it will be important to start the championship in the right direction. That's our expectation and that's what we're looking for."The feeling is good, but for sure our feet are on the ground because we know we are going to have a very difficult championship. There are a lot of good cars, good teams and good drivers."Felipe MassaFormula OneFerrariMotor sportSachin Nakraniguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Motor sport)

Beckham excited by Man Utd return

news.bbc.co.uk - AC Milan's David Beckham says he is excited to face Manchester United at Old Trafford for the first time but maintains he wants them to lose. More... (UK)

Stirring it up with Richard Woolfe | Media Monkey

www.guardian.co.uk - Never let it be said that Channel Five controller Richard Woolfe isn't game for a laugh, frequently taking to the stage at the Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival. Comedy dancing? Freddie Mercury impression? Spoof Flashforward video with Dawn Airey? More comedy dancing? The Woolfemeister's yer man. Now he's taken to the kitchen, cooking a stir-fry for staff with TV chef Ching-He Huang, presenter of Five's Chinese Food in Minutes. Careful with that chopper, Woolfie! Presumably he was using lots of, ahem... Chinese Five Spice.Channel FiveTelevision industryMonkeyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds More... (Film & TV)