Nadal fights on despite appendicitis

Rafael Nadal plays a forehand in his match against Martin Klizan. Picture: Getty Source: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

RAFAEL Nadal is counting on antibiotics to control his appendicitis so he can get through the Shanghai Masters this week.

The second-ranked Nadal began feeling pain in his abdomen late Saturday, and the next day went to the hospital where the doctors confirmed he had the early stages of appendicitis.

Nadal said on Tuesday he chose to try treatment with antibiotics rather than undergo surgery right away. He felt well enough to begin hitting again, he said.

The 14-time major winner said the risk of his condition getting worse after three days of steady improvement "is always very, very low."

"I am not going to go for surgery. That's great news for me today. That's why I'm here practising for 45 minutes, and trying to play tomorrow. But obviously I am not in my best condition," he said.

Rafael Nadal was put on antibiotics after going to hospital with appendicitis. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

Nadal said he will talk with his doctors when he returns to Spain after the tournament about whether he will need to have the appendix removed.

"My idea is take it out, but you can imagine that I didn't (think) much about that yet. I am here in Shanghai. I just want to try. Then when I go back home, I will talk about the situation with my doctor," he said.

The Spaniard is playing just his second tournament since returning from a two-month lay-off due to a wrist injury. After missing the summer hard-court season, including the defence of his title at the U.S. Open, Nadal said it was important to get back on the court as soon as possible so he's back in top form before the Australian Open in January. He reached the China Open quarterfinals last week.

"I don't expect anything from these two tournaments. I expect just to come here and play again and practice and feel a little bit again the competition, try to get in rhythm as soon as possible," he said.

Nadal plays his opening match on Wednesday against countryman Feliciano Lopez.

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Live: Pakistan v Australia one-dayer

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STEVE Smith scored his maiden one-day international century as Australia overcame a slow start to post a competitive total of 8-255 in Tuesday's clash with Pakistan.

Smith's superb knock of 101 off 118 balls came in stifling heat with temperatures in the high 30s in Sharjah.

He arrived at the crease for the second ball of the day with his side under plenty of pressure at 1-0.

The 25-year-old right-hander hit six fours and two sixes and departed in the 45th over with Australia in a strong position at 6-216.

Brad Haddin (23 not out) and Mitchell Johnson (21) shared a 32-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Australia had lost Aaron Finch caught at backward point from the first ball of the match as the right-hander made a "royal" duck against the bowling of towering 216cm quick Mohammad Irfan.

David Warner (43) and Smith added 86 for the second wicket after a slow start that yielded just five runs off the first three overs.

Warner was out after hitting a pull shot from the bowling of legspinner Shahid Afridi to mid-wicket in the 19th over.

FOLLOW PAKISTAN V AUSTRALIA IN OUR MATCH CENTRE, WITH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS, LIVE COMMENTARY AND STATS

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Skipper George Bailey (18) fell attempting a second successive six as Afridi held a difficult high catch at mid-wicket at 3-123.

Glenn Maxwell was dropped twice on his way to scoring 21 before the aggressive right-hander was caught at long-off to the bowling of 35-year-old debutant leggie Zulfiqar Babar.

Afridi removed James Faulker lbw for 11 at 5-196, after Faulkner's video review was unsuccessful.

Smith reached his century off 115 balls with a push to mid-wicket and immediately gazed skywards, looking relieved and exhausted, before raising his bat to the dressing rooms.

Afridi (3-46) made the key breakthrough to remove Smith caught at long off and debutant Sean Abbott made three.

Australia named 22-year-old NSW quick Abbott for his debut with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh unavailable because of a hamstring strain.

One-day great Dean Jones presented Abbott with his cap.

Left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty is set to join the squad ahead of Friday's second one-day game in Dubai in place of Marsh.

The three-match series concludes in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Pakistan's Anwar Ali bowls against Australia in Sharjah. Source: AFP

THE FIXTURES

Game Two

9.50pm (EDT) Friday, Fox Sports 2HD

Dubai International Cricket Stadium

Game Three

9.50pm (EDT) Sunday, Fox Sports 2HD

Zayed Cricket Stadium (Abu Dhabi)

THE TEAMS

Australia

The Aussies are without captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson, with the latter ruled out of the entire tour due to a calf injury while the skipper is battling to be fit in time for the Test series. An injury cloud also looms large over Mitch Marsh and he is unlikely to play in at least the opening one-dayer, and possibly the whole series. Nathan Lyon is the sole frontline spinner in the squad but will receive support from Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith. NSW all-rounder Sean Abbott is a chance to make his ODI debut after earning his first Australian cap in the T20 clash in Dubai.

Australia squad: George Bailey (c), Sean Abbott, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Phil Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.

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Australia's players are jostling for World Cup spots in the UAE. Source: AP

Pakistan

The 'hosts' will be led by 40-year-old Misbah-ul-Haq-, who has saved his team on many occasions with a classy middle-order knock. Those skills may be called on again as Pakistan will be without two of its best players — star spinner Saeed Ajmal (chucking ban) and all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez (hand injury). Young spinner Hasan Raza will need to step up to the plate but so will the pace duo of Wahab Riaz and giant left-armed Mohammad Irfan.

Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Raza Hasan, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal, Umar Amin, Wahab Riaz.

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Shahid Afridi (L) shares a laugh with Aussie batsman Aaron Finch. Source: Getty Images

WHAT THEY SAID

"I still think teams are doctoring their wickets when we come and play them to produce very large spinning wickets, which says to me that teams still think that we're vulnerable against spin." Australia captain George Bailey.

"You need to have a balance between pace and spin. You normally need five bowlers in a one-day or T20 game. Everybody has to really play his role. You cannot just rely that two spinners will do the damage." Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

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Sam Burgess NRL’s player of the year

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THE performance of Sam Burgess in the grand final leaves me in no doubt he was the best player in the NRL this year.

What a year. I was in complete awe of him for the way he produced week in week out for South Sydney. He is the most dominant forward in the NRL and it was a year like no other.

I've seen the photo of his depressed cheekbone X-ray and it's shocking. What a brave performance and a deserving winner of the Clive Churchill Medal.

It's a shame Sam can't test himself in rugby league's toughest arena of Origin football, but he has answered every challenge put to him as a player.

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It's hard to judge him against the other guys who play Origin, which takes more out of player physically and mentally than a finals series, but Sam Burgess was the most consistent NRL player of 2014.

I've named Sam at lock in my team of the year and when I compare all players for consistency, importance to their team and performance in big games it's no surprise I've named many of his Rabbitohs teammates too.

FULLBACK

South Sydney's Greg Inglis salutes the crowd. Source: News Corp Australia

Greg Inglis. When the big NRL games rolled around, Inglis took his team to another level. Honourable mention to Billy Slater, whose Origin series was the best he's had for a while, and Jarryd Hayne who won NSW the Origin series and shared the Dally M.

WINGER

South Sydney's Alex Johnston scores a try. Source: News Corp Australia

Alex Johnston. This is a fairytale story for a kid who played Inglis in a TV commercial to play with GI in a premiership. In his rookie season he scored 21 tries in 18 games and I think he is a very strong chance to be named in Australia's Four Nations squad next week.

Semi Radradra. The NRL's leading tryscorer, many of them long range efforts that fans love to see.

CENTRE

Jamie Lyon. No other centre in the game plays with the high level of consistency that Lyon produces for Manly.

Dean Whare. He is a big reason Penrith shocked everyone to finish in the top four. GI says he is the hardest player to mark up against when he plays centre, that says it all.

FIVE-EIGHTH

Johnathan Thurston joint winner of the 2014 Dally M Award. Source: News Corp Australia

Johnathan Thurston. A record third Dally M medal joining the great Andrew Johns.

HALFBACK

Ben Hunt. To have similar stats to the great JT in your rookie year at halfback is a fair season. When he has played to his potential Brisbane has won.

Honourable mention must go to Mitchell Pearce whose back half of the year was unbelievable.

FRONT ROW

Matt Scott charges forward. Source: News Corp Australia

Matt Scott. I still remember that game he played against the Broncos and the 20m try he scored. He is still the best front-rower in the game.

George Burgess. Had a huge grand final, scored a memorable try and was probably second only to his brother Sam for the man of the match.

Honourable mentions must go to Jesse Bromwich and Sam Moa.

HOOKER

Cameron Smith. There is no hooker in the game like him. Ankle injury at crucial times for Queensland and Melbourne cost his teams dearly.

SECOND ROW

Aidan Guerra celebrates a try for the Roosters. Source: News Corp Australia

Aidan Guerra. In a star-studded Roosters team he has probably been their form player week in week out. Had a great Origin debut and Queensland has found another backrower.

James Graham. Canterbury made the grand final on the back of him. He might play prop, but I've got to fit him in somewhere.

COACH

Ivan Cleary wins Coach of the Year Awards at the 2014 Dally M's. Source: News Corp Australia

Ivan Cleary. His injury list was as big as any side, but he kept on getting the best out of his players. It is obviously a very well-drilled and coached team to still finish top four.

Finally, it's not a season wrap without taking a quick look at those who need to do better next year.

I want to see more from … James Tamou. If you walk past him in the street fair dinkum he'd scare a dog out of a butcher shop. He is big and he has every asset you want in a front-rower. I don't think he had the season you expect of a Kangaroos front-rower.

I want to see more from … Martin Kennedy. To come with the reputation he did and to spend time in the Intrust Super Cup he should have enough motivation to have a better 2015.

I want to see more from … Cronulla Sharks. The whole organisation from top to bottom. The ASADA saga is over, show us how strong your club can be on and off the field.

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KP accuses Flower of personal vendetta

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KEVIN Pietersen has accused former England coach Andy Flower of holding a personal vendetta against him and said he was deliberately undermined by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

A day after his new autobiography was released to the press, Pietersen continued his assault on the English cricket authorities in a series of media interviews on Tuesday.

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The outspoken 34-year-old batsman, whose book claims that there was a culture of "bullying" within the England team, told the Radio Times magazine that the ECB used underhand tactics to tarnish his public image.

Kevin Pietersen with Matt Prior, whom he accuses of fostering a bullying culture in the England set-up. Source: Getty Images

"The way the ECB works is it uses the media to get messages out there," said Pietersen, whose international career was effectively ended by the ECB in February after England's 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia.

"If the ECB could never get at me — because they knew they couldn't really squash my personality — they would leak story after story to try to get me through the media.

"But unfortunately, I've got incredibly thick skin, and it never worked."

Pietersen also claimed that Flower had an issue with him throughout his five-year tenure as coach because the batsman had criticised the former Zimbabwe international's role during his time as an assistant to Peter Moores.

Former England coach Andy Flower has been accused of holding a vendetta against Kevin Pietersen. Source: AFP

"I think he (Flower) had it in for me ever since he took over because when I was captain, I didn't think he was doing the second-in-command job really well," Pietersen told BBC Radio 4.

"When I said to the ECB to just let me step down as captain and let Peter Moores continue, I gave my views on the coaching structure and I said that I didn't think Andy Flower was fulfilling his role as the second-in-command properly.

Alastair Cook and Andy Fower, both of whom have been criticised by Kevin Pietersen. Source: News Limited

"And then he got given the number-one job, and it certainly felt — the way that he treated me throughout his coaching reign — that he was looking to try and find ways to get rid of me." Pietersen, England's all-time leading run-scorer, added that he still did not understand why the ECB had decided to axe him.

Kevin Pietersen and Mitchell johnson swap pleasantries in the middle. Source: News Limited

"I still don't know why I'm not playing for England. I've never been told," he said.

"I've been told 'cricketing reasons'. Well, 'cricketing reasons'? 'Disinterested'? Can you be disinterested when you're facing 95 miles per hour from (Australia bowler) Mitchell Johnson?"

The ECB has yet to comment on Pietersen's book, KP: The Autobiography, which is published on Thursday.

Three central figures: Andy Flower, Graeme Swann and Kevin Pietersen. Source: News Limited

But former England spinner Graeme Swann, one of the players accused of bullying by Pietersen, has described it as "codswallop" and "the biggest work of fiction since Jules Verne".

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Aussies stumble in Shanghai opener

Australia's Sam Groth is out of the Shanghai Masters. Source: Ross Swanborough / News Corp Australia

AUSSIES Thanasi Kokkinakis and Sam Groth have suffered first-round losses at the Shanghai Masters.

Groth went down 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 to Slovakia's Martin Klizan, while Kokkinakis was beaten by Spain's Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (12-14) 6-3 6-4.

Meanwhile, Andy Murray's bid to make the end of season ATP World Tour Finals remains on course as he powered through his opening match on Tuesday, defeating Russia's Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-1 7-5.

The 27-year-old Scot is desperate to book his place in next month's tournament, which features the world's top eight players, and would need a deep run in Shanghai to help his cause.

The 11th seed in Shanghai, who is currently ninth in the Race for London, took one hour and 25 minutes to overcome the 29-year-old qualifier.

Andy Murray defeated Russia's Teymuraz Gabashvili at the Shanghai Masters. Source: AFP

Meanwhile, Fabio Fognini, the 17th ranked player in the world, suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of 553-ranked Wang Chuhan of China, who showed great composure under pressure to seal a 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 victory.

The 22-year-old wildcard saved four of the five break points he faced against the Italian 15th seed.

"I wanted to win this match, but I never actually thought I could do it," Wang said. "I practised with him in Beijing, so I knew a bit about him."

Elsewhere, 12th seed Ernests Gulbis came up against a serving masterclass from his opponent Mikhail Youzhny, who dropped just 10 points on serve to dump out the Latvian in two sets.

The Russian world number 35 — who had previously not won a match on the ATP Tour in three attempts — converted three of his four break points to win 6-4 6-1.

Canada's Vasek Pospisil squandered a 5-2 lead in a second set tie-break as his opponent Santiago Giraldo forced a decider in their match.

But the 44th ranked player fought back ruthlessly to wrap up a 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1 victory.

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Stosur fights on at Japan Open

Samantha Stosur won straight-sets against Misa Eguchi at the Japan Open. Picture: AP Source: Vincent Thian / AP

SAMANTHA Stosur began the defence of her Japan Women's Open title with a hard-fought 6-4 7-5 victory over home hope Misa Eguchi.

The top-seeded Australian won 84 per cent of points on her first serve, but it still took 90 minutes for the former US Open champion to overcome Eguchi, who is ranked No. 127 in the world.

Stosur advances to a second round meeting with compatriot Jarmila Gajdosova, who also saw off a Japanese opponent, Miharu Imanishi, 6-4 6-0.

Fourth seed Coco Vandeweghe needed less than an hour to beat France's Kristina Mladenovic, the American racing to a 6-2 6-3 victory.

Awaiting her in the second round is Croatia's Ana Konjuh, who was a 4-6 7-5 6-2 winner over Zheng Jie of China.

Kazakhstan's Zarina Diyas, seeded fifth in Osaka, beat Chan Yung-jan 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 while eighth seed Lauren Davis also battled through to second round, ending the hopes of Japan's Hiroko Kuwata 1-6 6-4 7-6 (7-3).

Spain's Lara Arruabarrena and home favourites Shuko Aoyama and Misaki Doi were also first round winners on Tuesday.

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