Sports digest

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Kallis and Amla put SA in control

CRICKET:Former captain Rahul Dravid said India would need to dial into the fighting spirit they have shown in recent years to save the first Test against South Africa.

India scored just 136 all out in their first innings and their bowlers failed to obtain the same assistance from the pitch as South Africa rattled up 366 for two by stumps on the second day yesterday.

Dravid, however, was optimistic his team could still avoid defeat in the opening match of a three-Test series that could decide the number one place in the International Cricket Council’s test rankings.

He said: “We’ve got to believe, we’re way behind in the game, that’s pretty obvious. We’ll have to bat well in our second innings, it will be tough, but the quality is there and we need the same fighting spirit we have shown in the past couple of years.

“There’s still a lot of cricket to be played in the series and we need to keep our heads up and show fighting spirit with the ball tomorrow and especially with the bat.”

But South African opening batsman Alviro Petersen, who scored 77 against the struggling Indian attack, said: “The pitch should get quicker and quicker, which is what we want, it’s our bowlers’ strength.”

Unbeaten centuries by Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla put South Africa totally in control against the inconsistent India attack.

Amla made 116 not out and Kallis 102 not out. Kallis breezed to his 38th Test century off just 130 balls in three hours and looked entirely on top of his game. Amla, who passed 1,000 runs against India in his 10th Test against the world’s number one ranked team, survived a number of scares to score his 12th Test century and sixth this year.

South Africa could claim the number one ranking from India if they win all the tests in the three-match series.

Young boxers in the medals

BOXING: Ireland's young boxers will be taking home at least four bronze and one silver medal from the 20-Nation Abbas Agalarov Youth Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan. World Youth champion Joe Ward guaranteed himself at least silver after he beat Russian light-heavyweight Vladimir Korshunov 2-1 in yesterday's 81Kg semi-final. But there was disappointment for Evan Metcalfe, Declan Milligan, Michael McDonagh and Kieron Forde, who all narrowly lost.

McLaren set for sportscar racing

MOTOR SPORT: McLaren are to return to sportscar racing next season after more than a decade in the wilderness. McLaren's main target is 2012 when they aim to run in the European FIA GT3 series with racing cars based on their new road-going model currently in production, the MP4-12C.

As part of the development programme, McLaren, who have teamed up with successful Leicestershire-based race team CRS Racing, are to compete at a limited number of European GT races in 2011.

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: “Racing is in our blood, so it was natural to develop a GT3 car alongside the 12C road car.

“We have a legendary history in global motorsport, including GT racing, and we aim to maintain that reputation with this GT3 programme, and any future sports car projects that may evolve.”

Khan has sights set on fight with Mayweather

BOXING: Amir Khan has his sights set on a super-fight against Floyd Mayweather in 2012 as he continues to win over American audiences. The WBA light-welterweight champion has boxed twice in the United States this year and achieved creditable live and television figures for last weekend's fight against Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas.

His points win over the Argentinian will significantly boost his stock further as he plots a path towards a blockbuster bout with Mayweather. Bolton’s Khan, who floored Maidana with a first-round body shot but survived some hairy moments himself, believes Saturday’s win will only help enhance his credentials.

“I think we’re getting towards that,” he said. “If I want to fight the likes of Mayweather and other big names out there then I have to beat the Maidanas and other people who come in the way. These are the fights that are going to take me to the next level and the next level now for me is the elite level, the likes of Mayweather.”

The 2004 Olympic silver medalist is the first to admit he is not quite ready for Mayweather yet. “Right now I know I can go in that fight and probably go the distance but maybe fall short because of experience,” he said. “In another three or four fights I’ll be ready for Floyd Mayweather. By then the experience, the speed, the power and the maturity will be there. It’s a fight that all the fans want to see and it will be made in 2012 I think.”

Ferguson to surpass Busby's record

SOCCER: Alex Ferguson will surpass Matt Busby's record when he becomes Manchester United's longest-serving manager tomorrow, an achievement unlikely to be beaten in an age of decreasing patience with the man in charge.

Ferguson will overtake Busby’s record of 24 years, one month and 13 days in the job when he takes his side to Chelsea tomorrow. Busby accumulated his 8,800-plus days in charge as United manager in two spells, the first between 1945 and 1969 and made them champions of Europe, and the second spell a largely forgettable postscript in 1970-71. Ferguson has been in control at Old Trafford since November 1986.

“To pass 2,000 games and now become the club’s longest-serving manger this season is a such fantastic achievement and surely one that will never be equalled in the future,” the League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan said yesterday.