Trott scores double ton as England dominate Sri Lanka

Trott beat Graham Gooch's record Test score for England against Sri Lanka Jonathan Trott remorselessly ground his way to England's highest individual Test score against Sri Lanka on another rain-affected day in Cardiff.

When play finally started at 1430 BST Sri Lanka quickly removed Alastair Cook after adding four to his overnight 129.
Kevin Pietersen soon followed, lbw to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.
But Trott finally fell for 203 having put on 160 with Ian Bell (98 not out) as England closed on 491-5, a lead of 91 in a match surely bound for a draw.
Day four of the first Test was just the latest frustrating day weather-wise in a chilly and blustery Cardiff, with rain ensuring an early lunch, and even then another shower meant the planned 1330 start was delayed by a further hour.
But Trott was unflustered and dominated proceedings once play got under way, rarely looking in anything other than total control as he scored his second Test double-hundred.
When the game finally resumed Sri Lanka's conservative bowling lines, with a spinner bowling around the wicket into the footholes to the right-handers, helped ensure England inched along at less than three runs an over in the two hours before tea.
On day three Trott and Cook, continuing their fine form from the Ashes in Australia, had been as persistent as the rain was to prove on Sunday morning.
But they added only 11 to their partnership of 240, with Cook slashing off the back foot at Farveez Maharoof and being caught behind by Prasanna Jayawardene for 133.
That brought to the crease Pietersen, who had waited over 400 overs for either an Australian or Sri Lankan bowler to break Cook and Trott's run-laden partnership, and he soon found himself facing left-arm spinner Herath.
Pietersen has famously struggled against left-arm spinners and he soon succumbed for a 19th time in Tests to the breed, playing back to one that kept low.
The ball hit his back pad and bat at almost the same time and umpire Billy Doctrove initially ruled not out, but Sri Lanka referred it and when hot spot showed the ball had connected with the pad first - by a split second - Pietersen was on his way for three.
England's fans had begun the day hoping they would press on and look to build a big lead but the combination of the weather and the early dismissals ensured the atmosphere was as grey as the sky overhead for much of the first few hours.
Bell briefly gave them something to cheer about as he shimmied down the pitch and lofted Herath back over his head for a sweetly-struck six, the first of the match.
But he also enjoyed a couple of strokes of luck, first getting an inside edge to an attempted drive that flew past the keeper, and then offering a sharp chance to Kumar Sangakkara as he cut hard into the gully.
At the other end Trott went calmly about his business, mixing watchful defence with the odd classy drive, including one on the up through mid-off that drew oohs and aahs from the largely subdued crowd.
The low-key nature of the day was not helped by play resuming after tea three minutes later than it should have done.
England were 344-4 at the interval, with Trott on 147 not out, and he reached his 150 with a delightfully-timed clip through mid-wicket.
Although the pitch was generally on the slow side Thisara Perera got the odd ball to bounce sharply and three times in quick succession troubled Bell with lifting deliveries from the Cathedral End.
Bell also inside-edged a drive past the keeper but brought up his 50 soon after with a crisp pull to the boundary.
At the other end Trott had been steadily accumulating and after England went into the lead in the 133rd over, a superb on-drive took him past Graham Gooch's 174 to give him England's highest individual Test score against Sri Lanka.
In the process he also took the partnership with Bell past the 100 mark and they began to increase their scoring rate inside the final hour, with Trott twice hitting Ajantha Mendis to the boundary in an over as he closed on his double-century.
Bell twice switch-hit Herath for four as he moved into the 80s before Trott brought up his double hundred.
It had been an innings of extraordinary concentration from the England batsman but he finally fell just before the close, backing away to give himself room against Tillakaratne Dilshan and being bowled for 203 off 409 balls.
Bell was frustratingly left stranded two short of his century at the close.
With the forecast for Monday promising yet more rain it is odds on that the first Test will end as a victim of the wet weather in Wales.
But such was the quality of batting from Trott and Bell that what had looked for a long time like a pretty pointless exercise on Sunday will instead be remembered for a Test match batting masterclass from England.

Fifa suspends Bin Hammam & Warner after ethics hearing

David Bond reports from Zurich

Fifa has provisionally suspended executive committee members Mohamed Bin Hammam and Jack Warner after a meeting of its ethics committee on Sunday.

Football's governing body will now open a full investigation into allegations that financial incentives were offered to members of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU).
CFU officials Debbie Minguell and Jason Sylvester have also been suspended.
But Fifa president Sepp Blatter was found to have no case to answer.
Petrus Damaseb, deputy chairman of the ethics committee, said of Bin Hammam and Warner: "We are satisfied that there is a case to be answered."
However, Fifa insists that they are innocent until proven guilty.
If found guilty, they could be expelled from the organisation and banned from all football activity.
Bin Hammam was the only candidate due to oppose Blatter in the forthcoming election for the Fifa presidency but he withdrew in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke confirmed that Wednesday's election would go ahead unless three-quarters of the 208 delegates voted to change the agenda.

Bin Hammam's suspension is announced

It leaves Blatter clear to seek a fourth term in charge of the organisation, which he has run since 1998, unopposed.
"I am not Fifa, I can't change the agenda," Valcke said. "It is up to the delegates - they have the final say."
"I don't see what is wrong with this election with Mr Sepp Blatter.
"I think the most important thing is a commitment from all the members of the Fifa ExCo with the president to support a change within Fifa and in his last mandate make sure that Fifa is stronger and cleaner than it was.
"Maybe we can have the top guys around the world come to put things in place to stop these things from happening again."
The Qatari and his colleague, Fifa vice-president Warner, were forced to answer charges of bribery over allegations from executive committee member Chuck Blazer in Zurich on Sunday.
It was alleged that they offered bribes at a meeting of the CFU on 10 and 11 May.

Continue reading the main story

Fifa had hoped today's hearings would draw a line under this tawdry affair. But with the investigation now set to drag on into the summer, world football's problems don't look like going away anytime soon.

David Bond BBC sports editor

A file of evidence claimed bundles of cash of up to $40,000 (£24,200) were handed over to members of the CFU at the meeting in Trinidad.
The payments were allegedly made to secure votes for Bin Hammam in his campaign to challenge Blatter for the presidency.
In turn, Bin Hammam effectively claimed Blatter was aware of some wrongdoing but did not report it, in itself a breach of Fifa's ethics code.
But Damaseb said the committee took the view that the obligation to report did not arise because at that stage no wrongdoing had occurred.
After the meeting, Blatter said in a statement: "The Fifa ethics committee has reached its decisions.
"I do not wish to comment in detail. But simply to say that I regret what has happened in the last few days and weeks.

Continue reading the main story

There's no doubt that what's happened over the past few days and indeed weeks has been hugely damaging to the image and reputation of Fifa. But of course damage had already been done. What's going to happen now? Maybe there is coming into view a new dawn for Fifa

David Davies Former executive director of FA

"Fifa's image has suffered a great deal as a result, much to the disappointment of Fifa itself and all football fans."
Warner said he was shocked and surprised by the decision to provisionally suspend him.
"I will vigorously defend my reputation as well as the reputation of the rest of the Caribbean members," he said in a lengthy statement.
Bin Hammam also expressed his unhappiness with the verdict.

Jerome Valcke: "There is no reason to postpone (elections)"

"I'm very disappointed about the way the status of the proceeding has been presented at the media conference," he said. "This is not how I understand fair play. I'm reserving all my rights."
Asked if this was the lowest point in Fifa's 107-year history, Valcke replied: "The reputation of Fifa? Maybe it's not at the highest, that's clear. It's sad.
"Definitely, there is a need for change. I'm not the Fifa president so he is the one who must decide what he wants to do and Fifa must make the necessary changes so that the institution has systems in place to avoid something like this happening again.
"This is the pattern of the work which we have to do very quickly in the next few months."

Yuan at record high versus dollar after Treasury report

China's yuan has hit a record high against the US dollar after the US Treasury department said the Chinese currency was undervalued but not manipulated.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) fixed the yuan's mid-point at 6.4856 against the US dollar on Monday.
China has been accused by the US and other developed economies of keeping the value of its currency artificially low to boost its exports.
China is the world's biggest exporter.
The US and other major economies have said that China's policy of keeping the value of its currency low gives an unfair advantage to its manufacturers.
There have also been concerns that China's currency policies have also been responsible in part for big trade imbalances with its trading partners.

There have been repeated calls in the US to label China a currency manipulator, given Beijing's currency policies and reluctance to let the yuan trade freely.

China however has maintained that while it is willing to allow the yuan to appreciate, its pace has to be gradual.
It said that a sudden rise in the yuan will not only be detrimental to its export sector but will also have a negative impact on the overall economy.
In its report released on Friday, the US Treasury Department said that although China's currency was undervalued, the country was not a currency manipulator.
Analysts say that while there has been considerable pressure within the US, it seems that the Treasury Department had taken on board China's concerns about a sharp rise.
"Manipulation carries negative connotation. The intention is to mislead", said Peter Esho, chief market analyst at City Index.
"They are acknowledging that their (China's) intentions aren't to mislead," he added.
'Insufficient' progress
In an attempt to show its intent on letting the value of its currency rise, China loosened its peg to the US dollar in June 2010.
The yuan has gained more than 5% against the dollar since then.
However the US Treasury report said that the rise has not been up to their expectations. "Treasury's view… is that the progress thus far is insufficient and that more progress is needed."
Many analysts are of the view that China is trying to make sure that the appreciation in its currency has the minimum impact on its economy.
"They want to do it in a way that is sustainable and gradual," said Mr Esho.
"A way that gives Chinese exporters enough time to adjust. The Chinese economy has to be in a position to absorb the appreciating currency", he added.
Mr Esho also said that since China is so reliant on its export sector "the government will not let exporters suffer, just to appease foreign concerns."
Balancing act
China's currency policy has not only created problems with its trading partners. It has also contributed to domestic problems.
Inflation in China has been rising sharply as the costs of oil, food and other essential commodities continue to spike.
Consumer prices rose by 5.3% in April compared with the same month a year ago.
Analysts say that while China has to take care of the interests of its export sector, it has also got to keep in mind that a lower valued currency makes imports more expensive and adds to inflation.
"I think really it's a balancing act. If the currency is undervalued you're going to have inflationary pressure on your economy," said Mr Esho.
"That will eventually be a hindrance to growth and that's China's biggest worry," he added.

Germany pledges to end all nuclear power by 2022

Germany's ruling coalition says it has agreed a date of 2022 for the shutdown of all of its nuclear power plants.

Environment Minister Norbert Rottgen made the announcement after a meeting of the ruling coalition that lasted into the early hours of Monday.
Chancellor Angela Merkel had set up an ethics panel to look into nuclear power following the disaster at the Fukushima plant in Japan.
Germany saw mass anti-nuclear protests in the wake of the disaster.
'Sustainable energy'
Mr Rottgen said the seven oldest reactors, which were already subject to a moratorium, and the Kruemmel nuclear power plant, would not resume.
Six others would go offline by 2021 at the latest and the three newest by 2022, he said.
Mr Rottgen said: "It's definite. The latest end for the last three nuclear power plants is 2022. There will be no clause for revision."
Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats met their junior partners on Sunday after the ethics panel had delivered its conclusions.
Before the meeting she said: "I think we're on a good path but very, very many questions have to be considered.
"If you want to exit something, you also have to prove how the change will work and how we can enter into a durable and sustainable energy provision."
The Fukushima plant was crippled by the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan, causing radioactive leaks that spurred anti-nuclear protests in Germany.
Mr Rottgen said a tax on spent fuel rods, expected to raise 2.3bn euros ($3.28bn) a year from this year, would remain despite the shutdown.
Germany's nuclear industry has argued that an early shutdown would be hugely damaging to the country's industrial base.
Before March's moratorium on the older power plants, Germany relied on nuclear power for 23% of its energy.
The anti-nuclear drive boosted Germany's Green party, which took control of the Christian Democrat stronghold of Baden-Wuerttemberg, in late March.

SACA: A starter guide to cruising in Alaska

While many independent travellers may find the strictures of “cruise life” a bit stifling, there are plenty of reasons to take an Alaskan cruise, namely the two “Cs”: comfort and convenience. In Alaska, a state that could take months, if not years to thoroughly explore, a cruise offers travellers the chance to see many of the top sights in one convenient package.

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Depending on the type of trip you choose, cruises allow you to disembark in port for anywhere from four to eight hours, where then you can bop around town or venture further inland. You also get to sit on deck and spot bald eagles hunting, humpback whales breaching and glaciers calving. Not a bad little bit of sightseeing.
On the smaller lines, you will often get more wildlife excursions and more stops. Backpackers and thrifty types can always hop on the Alaska Marine Highway ferry where you see the same sights without a casino or heated pool.
Picking your ship
Large cruise ships
Most large cruise ships are as comfortable as a floating hotel. They stop in the major ports of call and generally depart from Vancouver or Seattle. Excursions range from zipline tours to guided hikes to day trips to Denali National Park. Cruises cost around $120 a night, not including your flight to the port of embarkation. Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess and Royal Caribbean all offer Alaskan cruise options.
Small ships
Just 3% of Alaskan cruisers take a small-ship voyage. And while you will have tighter quarters, bumpier seas and less entertainment options than on the big boys, these vessels offer better chances at seeing wildlife, more land and kayak excursions, onboard naturalists (most of the time), a more casual atmosphere (you can leave that blue sports coat at the office where it belongs) and a more intimate portrait of Alaska.
These small boats sleep anywhere from eight to 100 and are more likely to depart from somewhere within Alaska. While this is probably your best bet if you are looking to match comfort with quality and authentic experience, it does come with a steeper price tag: anywhere from $400 to $1,200 a night. Adventure Life Voyages, AdventureSmith Explorations, America Safari Cruises, Cruise West, Discovery Voyages, Lindblad Expeditions and the Yukon Queen II (Holland America) offer a variety of small boat cruises.
Alaska Marine Highway
Travel on the state ferries is a leisurely and delightful experience. The midnight sun is warm, the scenery stunning and the possibility of sighting whales, bald eagles or sea lions keeps most travellers at the side of the ship.
Alaska Marine Highway runs ferries equipped with observation decks, food services, lounges and solariums with deck chairs. You can rent a stateroom for overnight trips - spartan compared with what you will get on a cruise liner - but many travellers head straight for the solarium and unroll their sleeping bags on deck chairs.
The ferries are extremely popular during the peak season (June to August). If boarding in Bellingham, Washington, you absolutely need reservations for a cabin or vehicle space, and just to be safe you should probably have a reservation even if you are just a walk-on passenger.
Picking your cruise route
Inside Passage
This is a classic route, which sails from Seattle or Vancouver up through the Inside Passage. Most trips will stop in Ketchikan, which has just about as many bars as people and some very fine totem poles. They then continue to the state capital in Juneau, home to a lovely glacier and some nice heli-seeing tours; Skagway, a gold-rush port with some nice hiking not far out of town; and the granddaddy attraction of Alaska cruises, Glacier Bay, where you will see 11 tidewater glaciers spilling their icy wears into the sea.
Gulf of Alaska
This trip includes the Inside Passage, but then continues to the Gulf of Alaska, with stops in Seward, the Hubbard Glacier and Prince William Sound. While you get a broader picture of coastal Alaska on this one-way cruise, it also comes at a price, as you will generally need to arrange for flights from separate ports.
Bering Sea
These trips are more expensive and generally focus on natural and cultural history. Folks that enjoy learning on their vacations will like this trip, with stops in the Pribilof Islands, Nome and, on the really expensive cruises, King Island.
'Cruisetours'
These trips give you the chance to get off the boat for about half of your trip. Most begin with the Inside Passage cruise, then head out on a tour bus, with stops in Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Fairbanks, Eagle or the Copper River. Most cruise companies have all-inclusive hotels in these destinations (basically cruise ships without the rocking).