Ngidi, Bavuma in SA ODI squad, de Kock appointed captain
Lungi Ngidi has earned a recall to South Africa's one-day squad for the upcoming series against England in which Quinton de Kock will step up as captain in the absence of Faf du Plessis. Ngidi was ruled out of the current Test series after suffering a hamstring tear during the Mzansi Super League playoffs in December. Temba Bavuma, who is expected to be recalled for the fourth Test starting in Johannesburg on Friday, has also been included in the squad. De Kock boasts 115 ODI caps with 4,907 runs at an average of 45.01, including 14 centuries and 24 fifties and is South Africa's highest run-scorer so far after three of the four Tests against England with 265 runs. The first fixture of the three-match series starts on February 4.
South Africa squad: Quinton de Kock (capt), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Jon Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Sisanda Magala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Janneman Malan, Kyle Verreynne.
Charity match: Walsh, Tendulkar to coach
Cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Courtney Walsh will coach star-studded teams in a charity match on February 8 to raise funds for victims of Australia's bushfires, organisers said on Tuesday. The former Test captains are the latest players to come out of retirement for the appeal, joining Aussie greats Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Michael Clarke and Shane Watson. India's Tendulkar and Windies fast bowler Walsh will coach teams skippered by Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting respectively. Steve Waugh and Australian coach Justin Langer will also have non-playing roles.
United charged over players’ misconduct
Manchester United have been charged by the Football Association (FA) over misconduct of their players in the 0-2 loss to runaway English Premier League leaders Liverpool. United's players surrounded referee Craig Pawson midway through the first-half on Sunday after Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk challenged goalkeeper David de Gea. Roberto Firmino subsequently scored, but his goal was ruled out following a VAR review of Van Dijk's clash with the Spanish goalkeeper. United have until Thursday to respond to the charge.
Petagna ignites SPAL comeback
Andrea Petagna ignited a come-from-behind victory for struggling SPAL to hand his former club Atalanta a shock 2-1 defeat in the Italian League on Monday. SPAL snatched just their fourth win of the season to move off the bottom of the table. Slovenian forward Josip Ilicic put Atalanta ahead after 16 minutes with a clever back-heel flick beating Etrit Berisha in the SPAL goal. But Petagna pulled SPAL level after 54 minutes by scoring his fifth goal in four meetings against his former club. Mattia Valoti snatched the winner six minutes later with new signing Bryan Dabo playing a role in the goal on his first start for SPAL.