Broad scripts strong return
England paceman Stuart Broad has come back strongly against Sri Lanka in the one-day series after becoming the fourth bowler in history to be smashed for six sixes in an over by Yuvraj Singh.

“It was obviously not a pleasant experience, but I didn’t lose any sleep over it. It happened. I can’t get away from that, but I think I’ve come back pretty strongly,” Broad said.

Wurz retires from F-1
Williams driver Alex Wurz of Austria announced his immediate retirement from Formula One on Monday and said that he would not be taking part in the season's final race in Brazil, reports Reuters from Vienna.

"I would like to announce my retirement from active racing in Formula One," Wurz, 33, said in a statement on his website (www.alexwurz.com). He finished 12th on Sunday at the Chinese Grand Prix.

"In such a hard fought environment as Formula One, I have always maintained that if you have a moment's doubt about what you are doing then it is time to stop. Privately I began to have these earlier this year and so have decided that now is the time to make my announcement.

But India’s Narain Karthikeyan was piped by Japan’s Kazuki Nakajima for the driver’s slot, and the Japanese will drive for Williams in the last race of the 2007 season at Interlagos in Brazil.

Former Kerala captain dies
Former Kerala Ranji team captain B Bhaskar died of brain haemorrhage at a private hospital, family sources said on Tuesday, reports PTI from Kasaragod.

Bhaskar (79) is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.

He was a star player of the state cricket team from 1962 to 1965 and led the side during 1964-65.

A former LIC employee, Bhaskar also led the LIC South Zone cricket team besides donning the role of vice-captain of Bombay University. His all-round performance during a friendly tie with the Australian team led by cricket legend Don Bradman in Mumbai in 1958 had earned him accolades.

Pak open door to foreign players
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is to allow foreign players into its domestic tournaments from this season in a bid to lift the standard of competition for local players, reports Reuters from Lahore.

Shafiq Ahmed, who heads the PCB domestic cricket committee, said the board had introduced a clause for the first time which allows teams to sign foreign players. "We have allowed this for the first time. But we have to wait and see what response we get," he said.

SA construction work on track
FIFA said on Tuesday that South Africa’s programme of stadium building remained on schedule, despite a recent strike by construction workers in Cape Town, reports AFP from Cape Town.

“So far, things are all right,” FIFA spokesman Alain Leiblang said in Cape Town as a FIFA delegation wrapped up a tour of the 2010 World Cup hosts.