Samsung Galaxy S3 to hit 10 million sales

Samsung Galaxy S3 to hit 10 million sales

South Korea’s Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest smartphone maker, says it expects to have sold 10 million of its newest Galaxy S3 model by the end of July, two months after its launch.

JK Shin, head of the mobile communications division, says robust sales of the model will help Samsung’s mobile business post a second-quarter profit bigger than the first three months.
“We’re getting more positive reviews for Galaxy S3 than the previous Galaxy S1 and S2 since the release in Europe, the Middle East and South-East Asia beginning May 29,” Shin said at an event to mark the phone’s domestic release on Monday.
He estimated that global sales of the new phone — currently available in 147 countries — will surpass 10 million next month, including about a million to be sold at home.
“We’re doing fairly well in emerging-economy markets … I think our second-quarter earnings will be better than the first quarter’s, despite the difficult economic situation in Europe,” Shin said.

The company, the world’s biggest technology firm by revenue, posted a record net profit for all its divisions of 5.05 trillion won ($A4.43 billion) in the first quarter, thanks largely to strong smartphone sales.
The third version of the Galaxy S series offers face-recognition technology and improved voice-activated controls as well as a more powerful processor that lets users watch video and write emails simultaneously.
It also has a 12.2cm screen that is 22 per cent larger than the S2, while it can detect eye movements and override the automatic shutdown if the user is looking at the screen.
Samsung shipped 44.5 million smartphones in the first quarter, exceeding the 35.1 million of rival Apple, according to market researcher Strategy Analytics in April.
Samsung, embroiled in patent lawsuits in 10 nations with Apple, is pinning its hopes on the S3 to further erode Apple’s market share before the expected new version of Apple’s iPhone 5 this year.
In a rare victory for the Korean company, a Dutch court last week ruled in favour of Samsung and ordered the US giant to pay unspecified damages for patent infringement.

iPhone 5 versus Samsung Galaxy S3: Wait or buy now?

iPhone 5 versus Samsung Galaxy S3: Wait or buy now?

“The Samsung Galaxy S III (S3) is a great phone, but should I wait for the iPhone 5 instead?”
This is the kind of question we CNET editors are asked all the time, and with good reason. Given the breakneck pace of the smartphone world, there’s always something good now, but something better around the corner — and you want your investment to last.

In some ways, the answers are obvious if you prefer one OS over another, have a Mac at home, or need a phone right now. However, if not, there’s a lot to like about each platform’s superphone (we surmise; one of them hasn’t even been announced yet), and we can’t make your decision for you. So here’s what we’ll do. We’re going to break it down by some of the phone features that we think could sway your decision.
Design
When it comes to first-class materials, Apple has Samsung beat. That is, if you like glass on both sides of your handset, and an industrial look and feel. With the Galaxy S3, Samsung unabashedly sticks to its plastic preference, but has managed to make it look and feel sleeker and more desirable than on past Galaxy S devices. The GS3 also features a Gorilla Glass 2 cover, which we expect Apple to announce as well on its mystery iPhone.
Size is the other issue. Rumors point to an iPhone 5 with a larger screen, but an only slightly taller profile. Apple’s phone would still fit in the hand about the same way. Compare this with the Galaxy S3, which dwarfs the iPhone 4S. We like its smooth, comfortable feel, but some people will simply find it too large.
Screen
Apple has made it abundantly clear that it’s obsessed with screen quality. And now that the MacBook Pro is sporting a Retina Display, it’s safe to assume the next iPhone will be equipped with the same technlogy. Though the iPhone 4S has the brighter and sharper display of the two phones, the Galaxy S3′s HD Super AMOLED display has richer color contrast. Some argue that the S3′s AMOLED screen technology oversaturates, and in some cases we do find that to be true.
However, the human eye can only register so much. As displays get sharper in high-end devices, getting into the minutia of screen comparisons won’t say as much about user experience as size does. And as we previously stated, the Galaxy S3′s 4.8-inch screen may seem like overkill for some, but it’ll definitely feel less cramped than the iPhone, even if the iPhone 5 does get the expected 4-inch screen.
Camera
If the camera specs for the new iPhone remain in line with the current model (as in it’ll still have an 8-megapixel lens and an A5 chip), then we’ll let our shoot-out shots between the S3, the iPhone 4S, and the HTC One X speak for themselves. We found that the cameras had their specific strengths and weaknesses under certain conditions.
However, Apple is never one to pass up a chance to lift smartphone camera standards and some rumors about an interchangeable lens and a high-definition front-facing camera would call for another camera showdown.

For now, the Galaxy S3 and the iPhone 4S offer the same amount of megapixels, high dynamic range, and zero shutter lag. But if you want something featured-packed, the GS3 has a lot of options. True, we don’t know what sort of services the new iPhone will offer, but the GS3 already has panoramic shooting, burst shot, two sharing modes, and other fun shooting settings like “cartoon” (a la “A Scanner Darkly”) and “beauty” (a la this-is-not-real-life).
Processor
Samsung and Qualcomm teamed up to put a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor in the Galaxy S3, which makes it one of the fastest phones in the U.S. Apple is all about advancing its processors with each succeeding model. Rumor is that Apple will promote the 4S’ A5 chip to a faster A5X chip. We’d expect the same quad-core graphics processor that’s in the iPad 3. However, don’t get too caught up in processor specs (after all, quad-core prowess is still shrouded in myth). Both phones’ internals will impress.
Data speeds
The Samsung Galaxy S3 and Apple iPhone 5 will be evenly matched once the iPhone comes along with its expected (and anticipated!) 4G LTE support. Just keep in mind that not every carrier supports LTE (like Sprint and T-Mobile), and some networks are faster than others.
Availability
Both the Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5 will be easy to get. The Galaxy S3 will be available on T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, U.S. Cellular, and even C Spire (a regional carrier.) Apple will surely let its carrier-partner gravy train keep rolling with the Big Four, and (way later) down the line, it could also pass the iPhone 5 to Cricket and Virgin Mobile, following by taking the iPhone 4 and 4S prepaid.
Price
In the U.S., the Samsung Galaxy S3 is starting on-contract at $199.99 for the 16GB and $249.99 for the 32GB model (it’ll differ by carrier.) As for the iPhone, the 4S on a designated network has a retail price of $199.99 for the 16GB model, $299.99 for the 32GB model, and $399.99 for its 64GB model. And, if the rumors prove true, the newest generation won’t be any cheaper. With luck, Apple will remain steady on price, which would make a 32GB Samsung SG3 more cost-effective.
Conclusion
Whether or not a phone is right for you depends on a whole bushel of personal values, but the bottom line is that when you compare the main features and specs, the Galaxy S3 is good enough to recommend on its own against the iPhone 4S.
However, if you’re open to either OS (as we are) and you’re in no rush to buy a phone, here’s what we’d do. We’d go ahead and wait until Apple’s announcement this autumn. If the iPhone 5 fails to impress you, the Galaxy S3 has proven itself a worthwhile device with plenty of bells and whistles. And if in your estimation it falls before Apple’s charms, you’ll be fully informed and clear from any pangs of buyer’s remorse.

Wait for Windows Phone 8 or buy a Samsung Galaxy S3?

Wait for Windows Phone 8 or buy a Samsung Galaxy S3?

Microsoft’s newest mobile OS — Windows Phone 8 — will add some key functionality to Microsoft’s smartphones, but is it worth waiting for?
The new software offers a few more bells and whistles in terms of functionality for smartphone subscribers. But the bigger deal is that it will offer the necessary hooks for developers and device makers to build more advanced hardware. Finally, this could mean that Microsoft’s live tile interface may finally be installed on some heavily spec’ed devices.

In this edition of Ask Maggie I help one reader figure out if he should wait for this flashy new hardware for the new Windows Phone 8 devices, or if he should go ahead and buy one of the latest and greatest Google Android phones of the summer: the Samsung Galaxy S3 or the HTC One series.
I also offer some advice about finding a normal-size smartphone in a world that seems to be going oversize.
To wait for new Windows Phone 8 devices or not
Dear Maggie,
I currently own a Motorola Droid X on Verizon. I will be eligible for a new device in August. Android is fine, but I am by no means a fanboy. I’m a PC user and have tinkered with Windows for a very long time. I’ve been using a beta version of Windows 8 at home, and I really like it. I’m also interested in maybe getting the Surface when it comes out.
Anyway, I like the look and feel of the Windows Phone OS. But I’ve been disappointed in the hardware. But I hear that this might improve with Windows Phone 8. Is that true? Can I expect some Windows Phone 8 smartphones that are in the same category as Android devices? Also, do you think Verizon will offer some new Windows Phone 8 devices? And if you think they will, should I wait for a Windows 8 device, or should I just get a new Android this summer, like the Samsung Galaxy S3?
Thanks,
David
Dear David,
It’s hard to say how the new Windows Phone 8 smartphones will stack up against current Android devices. That said, the Windows Phone 8 software is all about providing a foundation for Microsoft to offer new cutting-edge hardware. For instance, the new OS will support multicore processors. It will have an embedded NFC chip for mobile payments and other apps that may require short range wireless technology. It will allow multitasking. And it will be LTE capable.
The Verge reported Thursday a supposed roadmap for HTC’s Windows Phone 8 devices. HTC expects to launch three classes of Windows Phone 8 smartphones later this year. The Zenith will be the high-end line, with an expected 4.7-inch Super LCD 2 display, quad-core processor, NFC support, 8-megapixel camera that can grab 1,080p, and 42Mbps HSPA+. (My guess is that the top of the line phone will also have LTE support for the U.S. market.) The midrange is being referred to as Accord and it’s expected to have a slightly smaller, 4.3-inch screen and dual-core processors. The budget Windows Phone 8 will be the Rio line, which is expected to offer a 4-inch WVGA display; 14.4 Mbps HSPA connectivity; 5 megapixel, 720p capture; and a Snapdragon S4 processor.
Many of these new hardware enhancements are already available on Google Android devices today. In many ways, Windows Phone 8 is really just about keeping up with what Google Android has already been doing from a hardware and technology perspective.
Greg Sullivan, senior product manager at Microsoft for Windows Phone, said the Windows Phone 8 software paves the way for Microsoft to keep up with its competitors
“Windows Phone 8 is about investing in the future of the platform,” he said. “It gives us the necessary headroom to continue to grow the device capabilities. It’s important for consumers, but it’s also really important for developers and hardware manufacturers as we move forward.”
So should you wait for the Windows Phone 8 smartphones, or should you just buy a new Android phone now?
As you know, there are a couple of high-profile Google Android devices hitting the market this summer. And they already come equipped with the most powerful hardware out there. The Samsung Galaxy S3 goes on sale soon at all four major wireless carriers. And HTC has also introduced its latest One family of devices on all four major carriers.

The good thing about these new Android phones is that they both sport the latest Google Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich software. They also have advanced cameras. And they come fully loaded with all kinds of high-end specifications.
I think that Windows Phone 8 will help manufacturers bring that same level of high-end hardware specifications to Windows Phones in the future. This could mean that the new Windows Phone 8 devices will be on par with any of the new Android devices as well as anything that Apple introduces this fall. But will they be more advanced? That’s tough to say.
Since the hardware will be similar in terms of specifications, I think the question you really need to ask yourself is which user experience and interface you prefer. The live-tiles make using Windows Phone devices very easy and intuitive. It still lacks some key apps, but Microsoft says it’s catching up fast. In fact, Microsoft has surpassed the 100,000 mark in terms of the number of apps in its app store. Microsoft is also changing the home screen in the new Windows Phone 8 to make it even more customizable. (Windows Phone users on older hardware will also get this benefit in the Windows Phone 7.8 update that’s expected to come later this summer.)
I’d recommend checking out a Nokia Lumia 900 or an HTC Titan at an AT&T shop to see if you like the software. These phones will soon get the Windows Phone 7.8 software upgrade that will give them the new home screen, which will be used on Windows Phone 8 devices.
But keep in mind that you may have to wait a long time for the new Windows Phone 8 devices. Microsoft has said that devices will be ready by the “end of the year.” My guess is that the high-end phones won’t come to market until the late fall, just before the holidays.
Will Verizon be one of the carriers offering these devices? That’s a good question. As you are probably aware, Verizon hasn’t been a big supporter of Windows Phone to date. In fact, it offers only one Windows Phone device on its network: the HTC Trophy. Even though Microsoft has updated its software and helped Nokia and HTC launch several other newer Windows Phone devices into the market, Verizon has still remained on the sidelines with respect to the platform.
But that may soon change. In April, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo said during the company’s earnings call that Verizon is “fully supportive” of Microsoft’s Windows Phone platform. He also indicated that Verizon would have new Windows Phone 8 devices in time for the holidays. A Verizon representative reiterated these plans earlier this week after Microsoft’s launch of Windows Phone 8. She said the carrier would offer devices using the OS by the end of the year.
Still, Verizon hasn’t said a lot about how much it will support Windows Phone. Will it introduce just one Windows Phone 8 smartphone, or will it offer a full portfolio of devices with an Android-like marketing campaign?
It’s a little too early to say for sure. But Microsoft’s Sullivan said the carrier seems enthusiastic about the new Windows Phone 8 platform. Sullivan couldn’t tell me specifics about the discussions, but he acknowledged that Microsoft has been in talks with Verizon for a long time. Still, he indicated that with Windows Phone 8, Verizon may finally be willing to put a little more weight behind its support for Microsoft’s smartphones.
“They’re very excited and enthusiastic about what Windows Phone 8 can bring,” he said. “And it’s very important for us to have strong support from Verizon.”
If Verizon plans to put a lot of marketing muscle behind Windows Phone 8, then I’d definitely expect some cool new phones running the OS to appear on the carrier’s network in the late fall and into the spring.
But it’s the end of June now, and you are up for a new phone in August. Can you really wait that long? If not, the Samsung Galaxy S3 and HTC One devices are terrific phones. I doubt you’d regret buying either one of them. But if you are really intrigued by Windows Phone 8, you may just want to wait to see what’s offered later in the year.
Good luck with your decision.

Legendary keepers do battle in Euro 2012 final

Legendary keepers do battle in Euro 2012 final

The world's top two goalkeepers, Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon, go head-to-head in the final of Euro 2012, so we take a look at their big-tournament records for Spain and Italy.

• taly's goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon (L) and Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas talk after their Group C Euro 2012 football match at the PGE Arena in Gdansk, June 10, 2012 (Reuters)

Not only are they regarded as the best custodians in modern football, but many believe Casillas and Buffon to be among the greatest of all time.

Both are World Cup winners, with Casillas also a European Champion, although Buffon was a beaten finalist back in 2000.
Both have a plethora of club titles with Real Madrid and Juventus respectively, teams they have stayed with for over a decade, despite Buffon suffering relegation with his side.
But how do they match up at the major tournaments? We’ve taken a look at their records for the 2006 World Cup, Euro 2004, Euro 2008 and this tournament. We have selected these tournaments because both keepers were first choice at all of them.
The stats make interesting reading – across the tournaments, the duo have near-identical minutes-per-goal-conceded ratios: Casillas is on 166 minutes and 36 seconds, with Buffon on 166 minutes and 24 seconds.

However, at Euro 2012, Casillas reaps the benefit of a miserly Spanish defence and domination of possession – his four clean sheets and sole goal conceded are in part the result of only having had to face 12 shots all tournament. Therefore, his superior minutes-per-goal of 480 for this event can be attributed to the collective.
Buffon has a higher save-to-shot ratio overall, but he has faced considerably more shots over the four tournaments: 82 to Casillas’s 44. That is almost double the work.
The same applies to his Euro 2012 tournament – whereas Casillas has only faced 12 shots, Buffon has had to deal with 21, so his inferior minutes-per-goal of 160 can be attributed to Italy’s lesser dominance of games.
What is clear without statistics is that both are excellent goalkeepers, capable of turning it on for the big matches and – crucially – of keeping concentration when untested for large swathes of a tournament.
How they perform will be vital to their teams’ hopes – but the chances are that neither will let their country down.

Balotelli stars in coming-of-age drama

Mario Balotelli fires past Philipp Lahm to kill off Germany's hopes (Reuters)Isn't it reassuring to know that any team, even one with all the current and historical might of Germany, can have a bogey side?

Joachim Loew's young guns may have been many people's favourites to win Euro 2012, and they went into their semi-final against Italy on the back of a 15-game winning streak in competitive games that stretched back to the last World Cup.
We looked on course for the final everyone was expecting, Europe's two best teams providing a fitting showpiece to what has been a highly enjoyable tournament. A rematch of the final at Euro 2008 and the semi-final in South Africa two years ago that would be the chance either for Spain to complete their historic hat-trick or Germany to gain revenge.
But then Mario Balotelli - a player with little time for the crowbarred narratives and worthy significance the media likes to project on to the results of football matches - scored a brace which sealed a 2-1 win that gave the tournament its defining result and extended Italy's unbeaten run over their cross-Alpine rivals to eight matches.
The 1970 World Cup semi-final saw the Azzurri beat the Mannschaft 4-3 after extra time, with five goals scored in that additional 30 minutes, so no wonder it was dubbed 'Game of the Century'. The 1982 final of the same competition was a storming 3-1 win for the Italians, while another World Cup semi in 2006 saw Germany cruelly beaten in extra time in their own back yard. Last night's performance in Warsaw can sit comfortably alongside those memorable results.
Balotelli has never looked more in the mood than he did at the Stadio Narodowy. So often when he scores he tries a little too hard to show he's not at all bothered, like a sulky teenager desperate not to show any weakness.
But against Germany there was no ambivalent shrug of the shoulders, no cocky folding of arms. Balotelli celebrated his historic two-goal salvo - the first goals ever scored by Italy in a European Championship semi-final - by exploding with emotion for the first and whipping off his shirt to reveal a muscle-bound torso only Jodie Marsh can rival for the second, an emphatic strike from the edge of the box.
It was a celebration every bit as iconic as Marco Tardelli's tears of '82, and even though it happened in only the 36th minute, it seemed to mark no way back for the Germans.
Despite becoming Italy's first ever Premier League winner only last month, Balotelli entered into this tournament as a young player with an army of doubters as big as his cult following. The flashes of brilliance he has showed for Manchester City, and his lone goal for his national team before Euro 2012 kicked off, had many questioning if he would become another of football's long list of unfulfilled talents.
This is a player once described by Jose Mourinho as "unmanageable" during their time together at Inter. The stark dichotomy of his precocious quality and pointless stupidity was encapsulated during a European Under-21s match in 2009 when he opened the scoring against Sweden with a wonderful curling strike, only to then get needlessly sent off for a retaliatory attack on Pontus Wernbloom.
But now, still only 21 years of age, he goes into the final of a European Championship as Italy's joint-highest scorer in the history of the competition and favourite to claim the Golden Boot outright.
At the end of Italy's quarter-final win over England, while the rest of the squad was celebrating Alessandro Diamanti scoring the decisive penalty, Balotelli went over to console his City team-mate Joe Hart. After the final whistle last night, there were emotional scenes as he went up to the crowd and embraced his adoptive mother.
"My mother was in the stadium and my father was watching it on television," said Balotelli after the match.
"I scored two goals in front of my mother and I would like to score four in front of my father in Kiev in the final!
"My favourite moment was when I embraced my mum after the match."
One excellent performance in a big game does not wipe the slate clean of all his past indiscretions, a long list ranging from screwball comedy to outbursts of violence, but last night's destruction of Germany had the feel of a young player ready to take his job seriously.
Despite their win over Portugal by the narrowest of margins in their own semi-final, Spain still go into the final against Italy as favourites to lift the trophy. The experience and quality running through the defending champions completely justifies their pricing at almost 1/2 to claim an unprecedented third-straight major title.
But if Balotelli can prove that his performance against Germany is the mark of newfound maturity, and deliver another top display in tandem with Player of the Tournament-elect Andrea Pirlo, then Italy will feel they have a fighting chance of upsetting the odds once again.
As Italy manager Cesare Prandelli put it after the win over Germany: "Mario is rather unique, he's atypical.
"The career of Mario Balotelli has only just begun."
- - -
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "David has been an extraordinary supporter, probably our number one supporter, of the Games from the very beginning and is keen to continue his enthusiastic support right to the end. He really gets this. He is from east London and knows how important the Games and sport are to young people. He is a great role model and we are lucky to have such an advocate. I will be talking to him about a Games-time role." - London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coe insists that David Beckham still has a big part to play in the Olympics after he was left out of the Team GB football squad.
FOREIGN VIEW: A Spanish public prosecutor has accused Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o of conspiring to evade 3.5 million euros (£2.8 million) in taxes owed on income from his image rights when he was playing for Barcelona between 2006 and 2009. The former Barca and Inter Milan player, now with Russian Premier League club Anzhi Makhachkala, is accused of four tax offences, each punishable with up to five years in prison and a fine of as much as 21 million euros.
COMING UP: No live football action today, but we will be getting Jim White's verdict on Italy's run to the final when he files his latest column this lunchtime.
Away from football there is plenty of action to enjoy. Follow live coverage of the European Athletics Championship, Snooker's Wuxi Classic, the first one-day international between England and Australia, day five at Wimbledon and qualifying for the MotoGP race at Assen.

Who would write off Italy’s chances now?

Who would write off Italy’s chances now?Andrea Pirlo and Xavi will be a key battle in the final (Reuters)He's the same age as Danny Welbeck, a year younger than Theo Walcott and Andy Carroll, five years younger than Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young, seven younger than Robin Van Persie: you have to say that Mario Balotelli has some potential.

His performance yesterday against the Germans was simply breath-taking. And that was just his guerrilla marketing, stripping off his shirt in celebration of his second goal to reveal  the three stripes of Adidas adhered to his rather impressive torso.
With those two goals of stunning facility, those who have been promoting the Italian as the greatest thing to emerge from the country since parmesan cheese (look away now Jose Mourinho) were vindicated. Those who doubted he would ever match his self-worth were proven wrong. While those who watched him every other week at the Etihad Stadium merely purred at what lies ahead. They knew he had it in him all along.
And with that match-winning display, he altered the dynamic of this superb Euro competition. There were many people — including me — who thought that the Germans were the side to back. Their mix of power and skill seemed impregnable. They were going to win it, and thus end 16 years of hurt since they last picked up a trophy. Surely, it was theirs to lose.
But then we didn't realise they would enter into a semi final with their own unexpected twist on Spain's no centre-forward formation, by playing without centre-backs. Boy, was their defence woeful. There was a hint when Greece scored twice against them that they might be vulnerable at the back. After all, no defence worth such a description leaks a goal to Giorgios Samaras. But nobody expected that sort of League One back-tracking.
And what Italy did was to back up Balotelli's genius at exploiting weakness by ensuring Germany's powerful forward play was negated. Try as the Germans did, once they had fallen behind they simply could not outwit the blue ranks. The weight of history ultimately seemed to make them crumble. Never have they beaten the Italians in a competitive match: and there were we English thinking the Germans had the same psychological hold over everyone else they have over us.
So it is the Italians who move on, offering magnificent riposte to those who suggest scandal and corruption gnaws at their footballing soul. At every stage in this tournament people assumed Italy had reached the limit of their possibility. There were plenty (including the entire BBC pundit panel) who thought they weren't good enough to beat England. No-one (including me) saw them past Germany. Now they meet Spain. Who would dare suggest they can't do it now?
Mind, one thing we have lost with Germany is the possibility of an open final. What we will get on Sunday is a game cagier than a John Cage symphony, with Nicholas Cage guesting on timpani, performed in a cage. Or rather, given that it is unlikely to feature much in the way of drumbeats, triangle.
But it will offer up a fascinating contrast in paths. Spain have arrived at the final on the most prodigious ability to keep the ball (plus doing the sensible thing and making sure their best penalty takers actually took a penalty). Opponents simply don't have control long enough to carve an opening. That is the reason they have the best defence stats in the tournament: it is hard to threaten unless you have the ball.
They have barely needed a forward, preferring to keep tactical fetishists purring with their false nine. Fernando Torres, the man who won them the Euro title four years ago, is unlikely to make a starting appearance in the final then.
Italy have done it very differently. Good defence, a good keeper and a man who can control the game are married to the most mercurial forward talent, a bloke capable of scoring out of nothing. You just wonder what would have happened had Balotelli been available to play for Spain. Would they have selected him? Would they have worried he might disrupt the intricacies with his absolute unpredictability? We will never know. We are just lucky someone trusts him sufficiently to let him entertain us.
Gordon Strachan, speaking on the ITV highlights show, said of the City player's performance against Germany: "He is now the player he has always thought he is." That might be a touch premature. Sunday night is the tantalising stage on which he might give us a view of how he can be even better.

Sri Lanka eyeing end to series drought

• Kumar Sangakkara's unbeaten 199 in Colombo set up Sri Lanka's win

Captain Mahela Jayawardene vowed Sri Lanka will go for the jugular in the second Test against Pakistan as they chase a first series victory since 2009.

Sri Lanka return to the SCC in Colombo, where they are unbeaten in Test cricket since 2005, holding a 1-0 lead in the three-match series following their comprehensive 209-run win in Galle.
Jayawardene said: "A lot of hard work is required going into the next Test. We need to handle the conditions at SSC very well. We need to try and get on top of the opposition and keep the pressure."
Kumar Sangakkara's unbeaten 199 put Sri Lanka in the box seat and they then bowled Pakistan out for 100, with Suraj Randiv claiming four for 13, to take charge of the Test match. Sri Lanka went on to record their biggest ever Test win against Pakistan in terms of runs but Jayawardene warned they cannot afford to lose their grip on the series.
"We have to be positive," he said. "There are two more matches to go and we need to put the Galle match behind and keep improving. We need to be a lot more consistent with bowling, batting and fielding."
Pakistan came into the Test series on the back of a five successive Test victories, including a clean sweep of England, the world's number one side, in the United Arab Emirates. But they lost the one-day series and had captain Misbah ul-Haq suspended from the first Test for a "serious over rate offence" in the fifth limited-overs international.
Misbah is set to return to the side for the Colombo clash to bolster a batting line-up that crumbled struggled in the first Test. Sri Lanka have drafted fast bowler Dilhara Fernando into their squad in place of the injured paceman Chanaka Welegedara.
Although Misbah has stressed the need for Pakistan's batting to improve, they were furious with the standard of umpiring from Steve Davis and Ian Gould and have reportedly lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council.
The Decision Review System is not being employed in the three-Test series, much to the disappointment of both teams, although it was Pakistan who were feeling it more acutely after the first Test. The ICC ruled this week that the DRS would not be made mandatory for every Test series.
Mohammad Hafeez, who captained Pakistan in Galle in the absence of Misbah, said: "It should be made compulsory for every game. I feel as a player, not having the DRS puts a lot of pressure on you and that pressure goes to the umpires. If this technology can improve the game, then why not? The authorities should either go for it, or not at all."

Patel and Bairstow released

• Jonny Bairstow (right) and Samit Patel will be in Friends Life t20 action on Friday

England have released Samit Patel and Jonny Bairstow from their NatWest Series squad to play for their counties in Friday's Friends Life t20 matches.

Patel will therefore travel to Nottingham to take on Durham, and Bairstow will journey a little further north for Yorkshire's Roses match at Headingley.
All-rounder Patel, batsman Bairstow and fast bowler Jade Dernbach were the three players not selected to face Australia at Lord's in the first one-day international.
Patel and Bairstow are due to report back to London on Saturday, where England will face Australia again at the Kia Oval on Sunday.

Tanvir set to join up with Pears

• Sohail Tanvir could link up with Worcestershire this weekend

Worcestershire are hopeful Pakistan paceman Sohail Tanvir can finally link up with the county for their Twenty20 campaign this weekend.

Tanvir was initially due to be available for the entire 10 group matches as a replacement for compatriot Saeed Ajmal.
But he was then called into Pakistan's squad as an injury replacement for the one-day internationals in Sri Lanka. Then his arrival at New Road was delayed while his visa was being processed in Islamabad.
Worcestershire chief executive David Leatherdale said: "We are now just waiting for the visa to be rubber-stamped in Pakistan.
"As soon as that happens, Sohail can jump on a plane straight away and be here.
"If that happens imminently, which we believe is the case, he will hopefully be here in time for the game at Somerset on Sunday.
"The delay is frustrating but we have no control over what happens several thousand miles away.
"If Sohail is here for Sunday, it would still mean he could play in the remaining group games."

Hales shines as Outlaws go top

England Twenty20 opener Alex Hales' fine form continued with the bat as he propelled Nottinghamshire Outlaws back to the top of the Friends Life t20 North Group with a 41-run victory over Durham Dynamos.

• England's Hales hits out during the International Twenty20 Match against the West Indies at Trent Bridge cricket ground

The 23-year-old, fresh from his brilliant 99 against the West Indies on his home ground last weekend, hit 88 off 51 balls with four sixes and six fours, sharing a club record partnership of 142 with Riki Wessels for the second wicket. Wessels himself made 53 and Michael Lumb 36 as Notts posted 210 for three in the first innings, Mitch Claydon picking up three for 34.

Durham lost early wickets and, although Ben Stokes (56) smashed four sixes from 32 balls, his dismissal by Darren Pattinson ended any hopes of a win for the visitors, who finished on 169 for seven.
Yorkshire took a giant step towards qualifying for the quarter-finals by beating Lancashire by 19 runs in front of a 10,350 crowd at Headingley.
Yorkshire, put in to bat, were 60 for three after 10 overs, losing all three batsmen to boundary catches. However, they were then propelled to their final total of 180 for six by a hurricane stand of 91 in 7.1 overs between David Miller and Gary Ballance. Lancashire finished on 161 for five.
Former Derbyshire all-rounder Wayne White condemned his ex-team mates to a fifth defeat as the Leicestershire Foxes won a thrilling match by four wickets off the last ball at Derby. White hit the final ball from Rana Naved-ul-Hasan to the fine leg boundary to clinch victory and overhaul the Falcons" 171 for three.
Hamish Marshall led from the front with 66 as Gloucestershire romped to a shock nine-wicket win over Somerset with 5.2 overs to spare. A packed crowd of more than 7,000 saw the hosts fall to their first defeat in the Midlands/Wales/West Division, having been restricted to 140 for eight after winning the toss, Albie Morkel top-scoring with 33.
Spinners Muttiah Muralitharan (two for 20) and Ed Young (one for 18) bowled their eight overs for a combined total of 38 runs, while Ian Saxelby and James Fuller claimed two wickets each. Marshall and Benny Howell (55 not out) then made the total look even more inadequate, with an opening stand of 115 in 12.1 overs.
Michael Rippon took career-best figures of four for 23 on his debut as Sussex romped to an 83-run victory over Kent at Hove, while Glenn Maxwell produced another explosive innings to carry Hampshire to victory against Essex at Chelmsford.
Warwickshire Bears captain Jim Troughton led by example with a half-century in his side"s seven-wicket win over Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road, and Phil Hughes showed the Australians what they are missing by lighting up Worcestershire"s campaign in a 19-run victory over Glamorgan Dragons at New Road.

Federer restores order after epic fight back

• Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after defeating Julien Benneteau of France in their men's singles tennis match at the Wimbledon tennis championships

LONDON (Reuters) - For all the titles and records Roger Federer owns it was his warrior heart that rescued him from the brink of defeat against Julien Benneteau and put the tennis world back on its axis following an incredible 24 hours at Wimbledon on Friday.

After great rival and 11-times grand slam champion Rafa Nadal was bludgeoned out of the tournament by unknown Czech Lukas Rosol the previous evening, Wimbledon king Federer was two points away from following him through the exit door.
French journeyman Benneteau, a 30-year-old without a singles title to his name compared to Federer's 74, played astonishing tennis to lead by two sets under the Centre Court roof before the Swiss maestro fought back to win 4-6 6-7 6-2 7-6 6-1.
"It was a tough match, it was brutal," said 16-times major winner Federer, who has not lost before the fourth round of his last 33 grand slam tournaments since the 2004 French Open.
"He was hurt in the fifth but I tried in the third, fourth and fifth sets to stay alive and come back."
Reigning champion Novak Djokovic, the other member of the "big three" who have won 28 of the last 29 grand slam titles, also flirted with danger against eccentric Czech Radek Stepanek before reaching the fourth round.
Outfoxed for an hour by the tricky Stepanek, Djokovic fought back impressively to win in some style 4-6 6-2 6-2 6-2.
Women's top seed Maria Sharapova reached the fourth round, beating Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei 6-1 6-4 to set up a last-16 clash with German 15th seed Sabine Lisicki, who she beat in last year's semi-final.
Kim Clijsters also made the last 16 as she hunts a first Wimbledon crown on her farewell appearance while in the men's draw Federer and Djokovic were joined in round four by 18th seed Richard Gasquet, 26th seed Mikhail Youzhny and unseeded Belgian Xavier Malisse, who won a five-setter against Fernando Verdasco.
Throughout the day the chatter around the All England Club was dominated by second seed Nadal's shock loss to Rosol.
From the moment the buccaneering Benneteau won the first set against Federer, however, the possibility that the two dominant forces of the past decade would be knocked out in the space of 24 hours suddenly looked possible.
Benneteau had Federer on the run. His backhand was devastating at times, he smacked down 15 aces and the way he mixed up his game clearly flummoxed Federer, despite the Swiss player's trademark calm demeanour.
SURGING THROUGH
Federer had three set points in the 12th game of the second set but Benneteau saved them all in style before surging through the tiebreak to take a two-set lead.
Third seed Federer dug in, rattled off the third set, then levelled the match after a nerve-jangling fourth set in which he twice served to keep alive his hopes of a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon title before clinching a tie break.
With his legs cramping Benneteau finally cracked in the decider which Federer rolled though in 26 minutes to record his eighth career comeback from two sets down.
"Mentally he's a rock, he's two sets down and he doesn't show anything, after that if your level is a little bit lower, right here, right now, he takes the opportunity... you cannot make any mistakes," a weary Benneteau, who was given a standing ovation by an enthralled Centre court crowd, said.
Federer admitted he was a little surprised to effectively play indoors, despite not a drop of rain falling all afternoon.
After the Centre Court roof was slid shut for the fifth-set shoot-out between Rosol and Nadal on Thursday, forecasted rain showers meant it stayed shut all day on Friday despite a sunny, if breezy afternoon in south west London.
Just as it was when Nadal was blown away, the atmosphere was electric as Federer battled for survival.
Ever the Wimbledon traditionalist, Federer said it had been a memorable moment is his career.
"I'm happy to weather the storm out there today," Federer said. "It's always one of the best feelings coming back from two sets to love in a grand slam.
"I have been there, but obviously not with the roof closed. That made the atmosphere very special out there."
While Federer, who faces Belgian Xavier Malisse on Monday, was just relieved to get off court, Djokovic said he did not want his match to end against Stepanek.
"When you're playing that well you want to stay on the court," the world number one, who dropped his first set of the tournament, said. "It was a tough match, but I think I played the second, third and fourth sets very well."
Djokovic will face compatriot Viktor Troicki next.

Sharapova sweeps into Wimbledon last 16

World number one Maria Sharapova struggled with her serve at a wind-blown Wimbledon before overcoming Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei 6-1 6-4 to reach the fourth round.

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• Russia's Maria Sharapova celebrates a point against Chinese Taipei's Su-Wei Hsieh, June 2012 (PA Sport)

The top seed dominated the first set with a free-flowing game that oozed confidence as Hsieh, the daughter of a Taiwanese locksmith, just could not find the key to the Russian's armoury of powerful groundstrokes.

But Sharapova, who completed her career grand slam this month with victory in the French Open, then let her concentration slip.
Twice she lost her serve, clearly thrown by the swirling wind and delivered a string of double-faults much to her own fury.
Hsieh led 4-2 but could not maintain the pressure against Sharapova who clawed her way back. Hsieh saved two match points but lost the third when she sent a backhand wide.
The elegant Russian, who first won Wimbledon in 2004 at the age of 17, will have to sharpen her game against her next opponent, last year's semi-finalist Sabine Lisicki, the German beating American Sloane Stephens 7-6(5) 1-6 6-2.
"That's a tough one," Sharapova said. "She did extremely well last year. She is a very good player on grass and I look forward to it."
Kim Clijsters also reached the last 16 at Wimbledon when Russia's Vera Zvonareva was forced to retire through illness trailing 6-3 4-3 in their third-round match.
Belgian Clijsters, the former world number one who is playing her farewell Wimbledon, dominated the 12th seed who left the court for treatment after suffering breathing problems.
"I had to retire. It was not possible for me to play. You never want to retire during the grand slam, one of the great matches when you are playing a good player. It's never good," Zvonareva told reporters.
The 29-year-old Clijsters, Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2003 and 2006, controlled the match as Zvonareva, runner-up at the All England Club two years ago, made 28 unforced errors.
Clijsters, ranked 47th in the world, will play eighth seed Angelique Kerber in the last 16.
Kerber made short work of American 28th seed Christina McHale, rushing through 6-2 6-3 to continue her quiet progress through the tournament.
Shuai Peng was even more clinical, conceding just three games en route to a 6-1 6-2 victory over Arantxa Rus. Next up for the Chinese is Maria Kirilenko, who impressed against Sorana Cirstea to win through 6-3 6-1.