LONDON: Australian captain Mark Taylor and tour manager Geoff Marsh hit out today at both the quality and the attitude of their opposition in the coutny matches on the current Ashes tour.Both men said, they were feeling disappointed after the recent match against Glamorgan and were now considering making a formal protest in their end of tour report to the England and Wales Cricket Board. The tourists, were disappointed with the Welsh county's attitude in leaving out Waqar Younis, Steve Watkin and Robert Croft and their negative tactics in putting them in on a flat pitch in an attempt to set up a run-chase on the final day.Becker pulls out of ATP tourSTUTTGART: Three-time Wimbledon winner Boris Becker announced yesterday that he has pulled out of next week's ATP tour tournament in Kitzbuhel, Austria.Becker, 29, suffered a calf muscle injury in the Mercedes Cup and was forced to withdraw before his third-round match against Albert Costa.The German, who is winding up his career, will be back in action in time for the US Open, which starts in New York on August 25.Christie wild over IAAF cardsLONDON: British sprinter Linford Christie criticised the sport's governing body yesterday for awarding a wild-card invitation to American Michael Johnson, for next month's World Championships.``Wild card selections help no one but the Americans and I think that's pretty bad,'' said Christie, a former World and Olypmic 100-metre champion. Christie, now retired from international competition, will be in Athens as coach to Baulch and sprinter Darren Braithwaite.Pele named WHO ambassadorGENEVA: Former Brazilian soccer star Pele, was named by the World Health Organisation yesterday as a ``goodwill ambassador'' for eliminating leprosy around the world. He is already actively involved in the fight against leprosy in Brazil Officials at the UN Agency said Pele would be lending his globally-known name and high profile to promote these campaigns and encourage sufferers to come forward for treatment.Ince dives into Liverpool for $6.3mLONDON: Liverpool said yesterday that they had signed Paul Ince from Internazionale for $6.3 million, bringing the unsettled England midfielder home after two seasons in Italy.Liverpool's official club Call Line said ,vice-chairman Peter Robinson returned from Italy with Ince's signature on Thursday night. Ince will fly to England on Monday and begin training with his new team-mates on Tuesday with a view to playing in Wednesday's friendly against Bristol City.
