Nadal, Azarenka win 1st titles in Cincinnati

Rafael Nadal continued his baking summer with his aboriginal Cincinnati appellation Sunday, while No. 1 Serena Williams angled just one set abroad from a advance of her own.
Nadal took advantage of the few openings he got adjoin John Isner, cutting out a 7-6 (8), 7-6 (3) win at the Western & Southern Open that added yet addition appellation to his amazing summer.
The 27-year-old Spaniard won the championship in Montreal a anniversary ago and has back-to-back hard-court championships for the aboriginal time in his illustrious career. He'd never even accomplished the finals in Cincinnati.
When his backhand down the band accomplished it off, Snapbacks Hats Wholesale Nadal flopped on his aback and screamed.
“It agency a lot acceptable two beeline titles on harder (courts),” Nadal said. “It's just amazing for me. I never did something like this in my career.
“So it was an affecting moment.”
Williams had never won a Cincinnati appellation either. Like Nadal, she was aggravating for her additional championship in two weeks, beginning off her championship in Toronto.
She bedeviled the aboriginal set, afresh fell apart, giving No. 2 Victoria Azarenka a adventitious to assemblage for a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6) win that concluded Williams' 14-match acceptable streak. It was evocative of their finals bender at the U.S. Open endure year, if Williams took the endure four abecedarian to win 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
The anniversary in Cincinnati provided a examination for the U.S. Open, with the men's bracket added abstruse at the top.
Nadal's 5 Masters titles this analysis are a career best. He's angry with Novak Djokovic for a lot of Masters titles in a analysis aback 1990. He's won seven of the nine Masters contest during his career.
Nadal has bedeviled the bender afterwards advantageous a knee abrasion that alone him for the endure allotment of 2012. The win on Sunday gave him a career-best mark of 53-3 this season. He's accomplished the finals in 11 of his endure 12 tournaments, accent his connected excellence.
He had one of his bigger challenges on Sunday _Isner, who had the Sorry I Am Fresh Snapbacks tournament's a lot of able serve and the army at centermost cloister abaft him.
Nadal survived a brace of set credibility in the opener, sending it to a tiebreaker. The army chanted “Let's go Isner!” during a about-face during the tiebreaker, which concluded with Isner auctioning a annual acceptance into the net and Nadal pumping his fist.
Nadal survived the alone breach point of the additional set, demography it to addition tiebreaker. The army chanted Isner's name again, but it didn't help. He hit a backhand and a forehand into the net, acceptance Nadal to go up 5-1 in the tiebreaker.
Nadal accomplished it with a backhand casual attempt from the baseline, afresh plopped on his back. He never got to a breach point during the match, but won it by arena so able-bodied in the tiebreakers.
“I accept to be accommodating and delay for my opportunities,” Nadal said. “And I waited.”
Even with the loss, it was absolutely a anniversary for Isner.
While Nadal spent endure anniversary acceptable the Rogers Cup, Isner was agape out in the aboriginal annular and fell to No. 22, the aboriginal time in the 40 years of ATP rankings that no American man was in the top 20. He'll move up to No. 14 next anniversary afterwards extensive the finals in Cincinnati on the backbone of his serve.
The 28-year-old American agitated No. 1 Djokovic in the quarterfinals at Cincinnati, one of the best moments of his career. Aback July, Isner has won 16 of his 20 matches, authoritative him into a alarming abecedarian branch into the U.S. Open.
“So I played a lot, and I've won a agglomeration of them,” he said. “And a lot of very, actual auspicious results.”
On the women's side, Williams has dominated, traveling 60-4 this season. She has never done able-bodied in Cincinnati, and was acquisitive to win on Sunday for a career-best ninth appellation of the season. All the statistics were in her favor _ a 12-2 career almanac adjoin Azarenka, including that U.S. Open appellation endure year.
She won the aboriginal set in 26 minutes, bottomward alone 11 points. Then, she got awkward in a additional set that bogged down. The sixth bold went to brace 12 times afore Williams captivatedhttp://shopsnapback.tripod.com/ serve on the 30th point. Williams appeared to abrasion down and absent the set 6-2.
Williams bankrupt Azarenka and took the absolute set to a tiebreaker. She led 5-4, afresh absent the next two credibility off her serve, acceptance Azarenka to accomplishment it off in 2 hours, 29 minutes. (AP)

Hamels gives Phillies addition able start

PHILADELPHIA - The renaissance of Cole Hamels continued into addition alpha Sunday. He threw seven innings, addled out eight and absolved none in a no-decision. He threw added than 115 Snapbacks For Cheap pitches for the additional beeline alpha and he looked arch in the seventh inning of a 3-2 Phillies win.
The 29-year-old lefthander salvaged his analysis with a automated acclimation at the end of May.
"I wasn't accepting myself in a appropriate timing so I could absolution the pitches the appropriate way and apprehend the after-effects that I apperceive I'm able of," Hamels said. "Once I was able to watch the video of years accomplished and plan on things over and over afresh it assuredly just clicked. Then, boom, actuality we accept it."
Hamels has a 2.66 ERA in 98 innings (14 starts) aback June 1. The Phillies are just 7-7 in those games. He has pitched at atomic 5 innings in 68 beeline starts, which is the additional longest band in the majors abaft Kansas City's James Shields (70 starts).
Each of his endure 5 starts accept lasted at atomic seven innings. His ERA is 1.66 in that span. Hamels has bigger as the aggregation flounders.
"You accept to accumulate blame yourself," Hamels said. "You can't be annoyed with Taylor Gang Snapbacks what's gone on in the past. You accept to accumulate advancing for the next game. You accept to accumulate assured to do things well."
YOUNG HOBBLED
Michael Young hit the game's absolute pitch, but he did not alpha Sunday because of a abscessed larboard Achilles tendon. He was removed from Saturday's game.
"I've dealt with it in the accomplished before, apparently the endure several seasons," he said. "This analysis it's acquainted the best, but there accept been times area it just locks up and I've got to get off it."
Young said he could acceptance Monday.
"Once I get off it," he said, "it actually feels much, abundant better, about to the point area I actually don't feel it at all."
EXTRA BASES
Carlos Ruiz's four hits angry a career high. Afterwards a 2-for-20 alpha to 2013, Ruiz is batting .283 in his endure 56 games. ... Jonathan Papelbon, the Phillies' $50 actor closer, http://shopsnapback.webspawner.com/pitched for the additional time in the Phillies' endure 11 games, acrimonious up the win. He has not had a save befalling aback Aug. 1. His endure save was July 11.

WWE twins series: Bella Twins, divas angle up wi

The WWE is continuing to accomplish a biggerCheap Hats Online name for themselves, and they wish to admirable divas to get out there more. Per a WWE columnist absolution on Monday, April 22, 2013, they are traveling to do just that as a new absoluteness alternation will air on the E! arrangement starting this summer, and it is traveling to focus on the WWE divas, including the Bella Twins.
The alternation will acutely activate on July 28, 2013, and it is traveling to be called, "Total Divas."
View slideshow: The Bella Twins will be allotment of new absoluteness alternation on E!
"I'm captivated for E! and WWE to accompany armament and cull aback the blind on one of pop culture's a lot of alluring arenas," said Suzanne Kolb, New Era Dopetastic Snapbacks Admiral E! "With tens of millions of account admirers at their disposal, these glamorous, absorbing and able women prove that abaft the amaze of the spotlight, the locker allowance ball and the jockeying for position aural the organization, they are all fatigued to one thing: stardom."
"Total Divas" is traveling to accord an affectionate attending central the lives of the WWE Divas. That doesn't just beggarly their able lives with the company, but aswell their claimed lives.
The byword "WWE accompanying series" began trending because the anew re-signed Bella Twins - Nikki and Brie - are traveling to be a allotment of the series, but they won't be the alone ones. Added divas slated to arise on the appearance will be Natalya and the Funkadactyls (Naomi and Cameron).
Two others will be a allotment of the show, http://vicecap.jigsy.com/ but they are a bit newer. Eva Marie and Jo-Jo Offerman will aswell be on the appearance and advance to fit into every aspect of getting a WWE Diva.

Changing Allowance Chat: Buchanan | Rory McAllis

SCOTTISH battle fable Ken Buchanan will footfall assimilate the apple date afresh – if he is portrayed on the argent screen.
Buchanan, 67, who lives in Leith, Cheap Snapbacks For Sale will be played by Australian Home and Away amateur Ryan Kwanten, 36, in the blur Hands of Stone, which stars Robert de Niro, and archive the career of Buchanan’s arch-rival, Panamanian Roberto Duran.
Buchanan became the WBA apple failing best in 1970 by assault addition Panamanian, Ismael Laguna, in Puerto Rico, but absent the appellation to Duran two years afterwards at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The two men are now friends, and the Scot said: “I’m admiring to see him accepting acceptance like this.” Of the accommodation to casting Kwanten, Buchanan said wryly: “Ryan’s a handsome lad – like myself! I’m animated they best him.”
Filming will activate in South America this summer Cal Bears Snapbacks and Duran is accepted to be played by Venezuelan Edgar Ramirez while Usher Raymond has been casting in the allotment of Sugar Ray Leonard.
• Peterhead’s match-winner at Ibrox on Saturday, striker Rory McAllister, could be abutting at the Dejected Toon next analysis by beforehand brother Jamie. Balmoor bang-up Jim McInally accepted that he is absorbed in seeing whether the 29-year-old Culter Juniors striker, who has denticulate an absurd 70 goals this season, could cut it at a college level.
McInally said: “I accept watched Jamie in activity and he has a talent. He is quick, able-bodied and a acceptable finisher. Rory has active a new arrangement with us and the two of them up foreground could be a actual agitative duo.”
• The Brazilian government is afraid accustomed admirers could be priced out of the country’s modernised stadiums in an exceptionable bequest from hosting the 2014 Apple Cup. Brazil is architecture two cast new stadiums and remodelling addition ten which will leave the country with a excess of all-seater, advanced arenas. The anguish is that abounding will no best be able to allow to go to games.
“To accept socially http://vicecap.zitecode.com/ absolute stadiums is not the bequest we want,” said agent sports abbot Luis Fernandes.

Steel confirms a revised coaching structure

A review conducted recently by newly-appointed Snapback Hats Wholesale Netball South chief executive Sue Clarke showed the coaching structure comprising Janine Southby as head coach and Natalie Avellino as her assistant coach was not working effectively.

"Both Janine and Natalie agree the coaching relationship is no longer tenable and the decision has been made for Natalie to finish with the franchise," Clarke said.

"Ultimately it is my responsibility to have the Southern Steel operating in the best environment possible as we compete in the 2013 ANZ Championship season. This is where our energy is focused and nothing can be allowed to detract from this."

After an inaugural season with Southby and Avellino as In4mation Snapbacks Hat  co-coaches in 2012, the franchise opted to revert back to a traditional coaching structure for 2013 following an end-of-season review with players in which the majority stated they were not in favour of co-coaches.

"To Janine and Natalie's credit, they have both invested a significant amount of energy into forming a constructive partnership. However, I believe we are faced with two very different coaching philosophies," Clarke said.

Avellino said she was disappointed with the decision.

"I have been very proud to represent Southland," she said. "I was looking forward to furthering my coaching and believe I had a lot to offer but felt restricted in the opportunities."

Southby remains at the helm of the Steel team and the franchise will investigate options regarding additional coaching support for the remainder of the 2013 season.
"Understandably this is a difficult situationNew Era NFL 2012 Draft Snapbacks for all parties involved and my priority is to minimise any impact on our players," Southby said.

Baseball Rallies Past Lafayette, 14-8

Rutgers baseball scored five in the top of the sixth inning to break an 8-8 tie on the way to defeating Lafayette, 14-8, Tuesday at Kamine Stadium. The offense scored in six of the first seven innings, with all nine hitters reaching base safely at least twice in the game.

The victory put the Scarlet Knights back over .500 at 17-16, Snapback Hats For Sale while the Leopards fell to 6-31. It was the first of four games this week for RU in the state of Pennsylvania, as the squad will take on No. 25 Pittsburgh in the BIG EAST road series starting Friday.

Both senior Steve Zavala (Randolph, N.J.) and sophomore Vinny Zarrillo (Forked River, N.J.) collected three hits to lead the 15-hit attack against the Leopards, while freshman Matt Tietz (West Milford, N.J.) and sophomore Nick Favatella (Washington Township, N.J.) each notched three RBIs. The offense also drew 10 walks and was hit by a pitch twice to put runners on base in all nine innings.

On the mound, sophomore Jon Young (Old Bridge, N.J.) (1-0) pitched the final 4.2 innings with four strikeouts and only one hit allowed to earn his first career victory. The right-hander retired 12 of the final 14 batters, needing only 51 pitches in the outing.

The Scarlet Knights scored in the first inning for the second straight game to jump out 2-0 and force LC starter Alex Farina to throw over 40 pitches. The rally started with two outs when junior Brian O’Grady (Warminster, Pa.) walked and came around to score on a Zarrillo RBI double to the left field corner. Then an error and a walk loaded to bases for senior Charlie Law (Mainland, N.J.), who fought back from a 0-2 count to draw a walk to force in Zarrillo. The first baseman picked up three base on balls for the day.

The lead stretched to 3-0 in the second when Favatella connected for his third home run of the year and second to the opposite field. However, Lafayette answered back with a two-run shot by Tim Lazor in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-2.

The scoring continued in the third inning with two more runs produced by Rutgers. Senior Jeff Melillo (Annandale, N.J.) crushed a ball to right field with one out that appeared to be over the fence, but Leopard right fielder Alex Nickles reached up and deflected in back into the outfield with his glove to leave Melillo with a double. Zavala next stepped up and roped a solid RBI single into right-center to bring home Melillo. The right fielder proceeded to steal second with two outs and came around on an opposite field hit by freshman R.J. Devish (Beachwood, N.J.), Monolith Collection NBA Snapback who registered his first career RBI.

LC responded with four runs in the third to go up 6-5, scoring twice unearned after an RU error. The rally also featured three hits and a walk.

After senior Nathaniel Roe (Plainfield, N.J.) worked out of a two-on, no-out jam unscathed in the fourth, the offense score three times to recapture the lead. Zavala sent a homer to right field on a 3-1 pitch with one out in the fifth to knot the score at six. It was his fourth career long ball and first outside the state of Virginia. The rally continued after the home run with Law walking and Devish being hit by a pitch to force a pitching change. Sweeney followed with a walk to load the bases, as Tietz next bounced a ball over third base for a two-run double to put RU back on top, 8-6. The rookie now has eight doubles in 29 games.

In the bottom of the inning, Lafayette countered once again to tie the game on a two-run homer by Matt Lawrence to left field. Zarrillo made sure of no more runs in the frame by firing in a strong throw from left-center to prevent the base runner from stretching a hit into a double.

Zarrillo immediately came to the plate in the sixth and singled down the left field line to start a five-run rally that would send 11 batters to the plate and prove to be the difference in the game. Melillo followed with a single of his own and Zavala beat out a bunt down the third base line to load the bases. Law next executed a sacrifice fly for his second RBI of the day to make it 9-8. The next run scored on an error by the first baseman, but Devish was credited with an RBI for putting the ball in play. On the ball four to junior Pat Sweeney (Sparta, N.J.), the ball scooted past the catcher to allow Zavala to score on a passed ball for the third run. The last two tallies plated on a two-out, two-run single through the left side by Favatella.

It was the third time RU scored five runs in an inning, as the other two instances were in the 17-7 victory at Old Dominion back on Feb. 24.

The 14th run was added in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Tietz to plate Law. Rutgers has scored at least that amount the last three Tuesday games.

From there, Young pitched efficiently to cap off Rutgers’ 12th road win of the season. He ended the game by striking out the final two batters.

Freshman Reed Shuttle (Lansdale, Pa.) made his first collegiate start for the Scarlet Knights and lasted 2.1 innings for a no-decision. He became the first freshman to start a game for head coach Fred Hill since current senior Jerry Elsing (Montville, N.J.) on May 29, 2010 – a span of 138 games.

Connor McMahon (0-1) took the loss after giving up four earned runs for the Leopards.

RU will next to stay above .500 with a Wednesday home New Era Snakeskin Snapbacks game against Monmouth at 3:30 p.m. RVision, presented by AT&T, will have the live broadcast from Bainton Field.

Paul jumper lifts Illinois over Minnesota, 51-49

If he has hit a bigger shot than this, Brandon Paul couldn't remember it. He'd have a hard time matching it.

Paul nailed a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer and finished Wholesale Snapback Hats with 25 points to lead Illinois to a 51-49 victory over Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten tournament on Thursday.

''I didn't want to lose. We worked too hard to get to this point,'' Paul said. ''This team has so much character. My mindset was just to be aggressive. Coach told me to stay aggressive. I basically wanted to attack on offense and do other things. I'm more excited about I didn't turn the ball over today.''

Illinois (22-11) led by as much as 12 but was trailing by three when D.J. Richardson nailed a 3 with 47 seconds left to tie it at 49. That basket came after the Illini missed four shots on the possession.

The Gophers (20-12) had a chance to win it, but Austin Hollins stepped on the sideline after catching an inbounds pass with 14 seconds left. Paul then went the other way and pulled up left of the free throw line for the winner as time expired, sending the eighth-seeded Illini to the quarterfinals Friday against top-seeded and third-ranked Indiana.

Paul was the only player to score in double figures for the Illini, who shot just 32.1 percent and were outrebounded 38-26. They pulled this one out, anyway, because they had more offensive rebounds (12) than Minnesota (11) and committed just six turnovers while the Gophers had 19.

Coach John Groce said he was ''50-50'' about calling a timeout before the winning shot but ''decided to ride with it.''

''The big thing that we were trying to do there is make sure he didn't go until between five and seven on the game clock because we wanted to make sure we got the last shot,'' Groce said.

Now, they'll get Indiana again, a team they beat last month. Leaders 1354 Snapbacks The Gophers will have to wait and see what's next.

Austin Hollins, who thought he might have been pushed on that out of bounds play, led Minnesota with 16 points. Andre Hollins added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Gophers, who still are a good bet for the NCAA tournament even though it's been a disappointing stretch for a team that was ranked No. 8 at one point.

''I think we have a good resume,'' coach Tubby Smith said after his team's third straight loss and seventh in 10 games. ''We haven't played well of late, but when you look at the entire body of work . but it's not up to us. It will be a sweat-it-out type of thing.''

Illinois was leading 32-22 early in the second half when Minnesota went on a 19-4 run.

The Gophers scored 10 straight, getting back-to-back 3-pointers by Andre Hollins and a three-point play by Andre Ingram to tie it before Nnanna Egwu scored on a put-back for Illinois. Minnesota continued to pour it on, though, and Austin Hollins finished the run by hitting three free throws to make it 41-36 with 8:35 remaining.

It remained tight right up until Paul hit that jumper at the end, sending a loud roar through the arena.

That came after a huge basket by Richardson, who had missed two 3-pointers on that possession before tying it. He was just 2 of 12 in the game but delivered the end.

''My teammates found me, I kept shooting,'' Richardson said. ''I'm a shooter, that's what coach wanted me to do. I didn't think about (the missed shots).''

All that came after a first half that was nothing short of ugly.

Paul scored 12 as Illinois built a 25-16 lead despite hitting just 9 of 24 shots, but as bad as things were for them, multiply it a few times for Minnesota.

The Gophers were 6 of 22 with 11 turnovers, and that barely tells the story. They got outscored 19-2 over a 12-minute stretch after jumping out to a 7-2 lead and went nearly eight minutes without a point.

''It's not a feeling that you want to go into Selection Sunday,'' Andre Hollins said. ''We haven't played our best basketball these past three games. We still want to have faith. We have a pretty good resume. New York Mets A tough strength of schedule, a good RPI.

Michigan beats Penn St 83-66 at B10 tourney

No costly mistakes this time. No problems at the foul line. No big turnovers, either.

When Michigan pulled away from Penn State on Thursday, Trey Burke and Co. just poured it on.

Burke scored 21 points and the sixth-ranked Wolverines Wholesale Street Snapback Hats beat the Nittany Lions 83-66 in the first round of the Big Ten tournament, avenging a shocking loss during the regular season.

''It was a lot of motivation coming into this game,'' Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. said. ''We knew what they did to us at Happy Valley and we really wanted to do a great job just going into the game, sticking to the game plan, and just playing Michigan basketball.''

Hardaway and Nik Stauskas each had 15 points for the Wolverines (26-6), who will play fourth-seeded Wisconsin in the quarterfinals on Friday. Freshman reserve Mitch McGary added 10 points and 11 rebounds, helping Michigan to a 28-15 advantage in second-chance points.

''Their bigs did a tremendous job today,'' Penn State coach Patrick Chambers said. ''I think that was really the difference. The bigs finished. They hurt us on the offensive glass as well.''

D.J. Newbill scored 20 points for the Nittany Lions (10-21), who faded after a fast start. Sasa Borovnjak scored 10 of his 15 points in the first half, and Ross Travis finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Michigan had a chance to grab a share of the Big Ten title when it hosted Indiana last Sunday, but the Hoosiers won 72-71 after Jordan Morgan's last-second putback rolled off the rim. The Wolverines then slipped all the way to the fifth seed for the conference tournament, giving them a game on the first day at the United Center while the top four seeds rested.

The one payoff was a chance to avenge a shaky performance Leaders 1354 Snapbacks against the Nittany Lions two weeks ago, when Michigan blew a 15-point lead in the second half of an 84-78 loss.

''It was obviously in the back of our head that we were up 15 points with 10 minutes left at Penn State and that they're capable of coming back and winning the game,'' Burke said. ''This is a team that's playing for pride, a team that's been through a lot this year. We just had to make sure we did what we needed to do to pull out the win.''

This one had a much different finish, with the Wolverines breaking open a close game with an 18-3 run in the second half. Hardaway got it started with a jumper and Morgan added a layup to make it 50-45 with 13:36 left. After Jermaine Marshall scored inside for Penn State, Burke made another jumper and the rout was on.

Jon Horford converted a three-point play and Hardaway dunked on a fast break to extend the lead to 64-48 with 9:49 remaining.

''They played some great basketball, that's all I can say,'' Newbill said. ''They hit shots, we missed shots. They got stops, we didn't. Can't say much more than that.''

Now Michigan gets another chance for revenge when it takes on the Badgers, who rallied for a 65-62 victory over the Wolverines on Feb. 9 in one of the best games of the season. Ben Brust hit a tying 3-pointer from just inside midcourt at the end of regulation, then hit another big 3 with 39 seconds left in overtime to lead Wisconsin to the win.

If the Wolverines were at all motivated by the shocking loss at Penn State, it sure didn't show at the start. Borovnjak had eight quick points as the Nittany Lions bolted to a 14-3 lead with 14:27 left in the first half.

Michigan eventually settled down and led 35-33 at halftime. McGary had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first half, providing a big lift after Morgan got off to a slow start.

''Coming off the bench I wanted to provide a spark,'' McGary said. ''We were down 14-3 and I know we needed to pick up the intensity on the defensive and offensive glass and I was able to score a few buckets.''

Horford scored seven of his 11 points in the second half Los Angeles Clippers as the Wolverines pulled away. They shot 46 percent from the field and went 19 for 23 at the foul line in their fifth victory in the last seven games.

''Really proud of the way they showed great composure to come back and then win the game going away,'' coach John Beilein said.

Sri Lanka pay dispute settled ahead of Banglades

Sri Lanka have named their strongest available Dog Ear Caps  squad for the first Test against Bangladesh after a dispute between 23 centrally contracted players and the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board.

SLC said the players wanted a higher share of the board's revenues and had threatened to select a reserve team.

But 22 of the 23 players have now signed their central contracts.

The only player who has not signed is ex-captain Mahela Jayawardene who is abroad and misses the Test with injury.

His successor Angelo Mathews leads a 16-man squad, which is also lacking injured seamers Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera.

Players met with chief selector and former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya on Sunday.

A SLC statement read: "At this meeting the players requested the California Republic Snapbacks  reinstatement of the guarantee fee component which was taken off by SLC this year. (The guarantee fee is a payment made by the ICC to member nations for participation in ICC events). Earlier players were allocated of 25% of the fee paid to SLC.

"The players requested the fee to be paid to them where they would reallocate the funds received via the guarantee fee towards cricket development in the country. SLC rejected the proposal as it was felt cricket development activities should be vested with the governing body rather than with the players.

"The amounts allocated to the 23 national players from the current contracts amounts to 67% of the 2013 revenue generated by SLC. If SLC agreed to grant the players' request to include the guarantee fee, SLC will have to bear 81% of its annual revenue towards the 23 cricketers.

"On 4 March, all cricketers who were offered contracts (with the exception of Mahela Jayawardene who is currently overseas) signed the same showing the players' solidarity towards SLC."

The first Test begins in Galle on Friday, Chicago Cubs  with the two-Test series followed by three one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international.

David Beckham takes up China football ambassador

David Beckham has become a global ambassador for Chinese football to help the image of the country's game.

The Chinese Super League has recently been hit Wholesale Street Snapback Hats by the exit of ex-Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, while also suffering from a match-fixing scandal.

Beckham, 37, will combine the role with playing for Paris St-Germain.

"I am honoured to have been asked to play such an important role at this special time in Chinese football history," he said in a statement.

His role will involve attending league matches in China and visiting clubs to help promote the game to children.

"I'm excited by the prospect of promoting the world's greatest DOPE Snapbacks game to Chinese sports fans as I've seen first hand the growing interest in football there," added Beckham.

"This is a wonderful sport that inspires people across the world and brings families together, so I'm relishing the opportunity of introducing more fans to the game."

Drogba, 34, joined Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua in June 2012 on a two-and-half-year deal after helping Chelsea to win last season's Champions League.

But the Ivory Coast international left the Chinese club in January 2013 for Turkish side Galatasaray, in a controversial loan move.

Drogba's former Chelsea team-mate and ex-France striker Nicolas Anelka also left Shanghai in a short-term loan move to Italian side Juventus.

The departures have been a blow to the Chinese game ahead of the 2013 Chinese Super League season starting on 8 March.

There have also been problems with corruption, Baltimore Orioles which resulted in the country's former top referee being jailed and 58 officials being banned for match-fixing by Fifa and the Chinese Football Association.

Beckham was a special ambassador for the 2012 London Olympics and the worldwide icon's role will be promote Chinese football domestically and globally.