DIGEST:South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs has been banned for two Test matches by the International Cricket Council for remarks he made about a section of Pakistan supporters during the first Test in Centurion.
Gibbs's comments were picked up by a stump microphone during the fourth day's play in the match eventually won by the Proteas by seven wickets.
The 32-year-old was charged by the ICC under Level 3.3 of the code, which prohibits using "any language or gesture that offends, insults, humiliates, intimidates, threatens, disparages or vilifies another person on the basis of that person's race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethic origin".
At the hearing, which was convened by the match referee Chris Broad after play concluded yesterday, Gibbs apologised for the remark but pleaded not guilty to the Level 3 charge.
Gibbs maintained he was guilty of a Level 1 offence, clause 1.4 of which refers to the use of "language that is obscene, offensive or insulting and/or the making of an obscene gesture".
But in finding Gibbs guilty of the Level 3 offence, Broad said, "I took into account the mitigating circumstances that the players were provoked by unruly spectators.
"However, the remark was racially offensive, the player admitted saying it and on that basis I am content that the level of the charge and the resulting punishment are appropriate."
Meanwhile, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis steered the South Africans to a comfortable win.
South Africa, who were chasing 199 to win, reached 199 for three with 40 minutes to go before the tea interval on the fifth day.
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England coach Duncan Fletcher has warned against expanding future Ashes series to six matches.
Tasmania is bidding to host an Ashes Test should future campaigns return to longer length.
Player burn-out has been a concern for England for some time, however, and those who play five-day Tests as well as one-dayers have been pushed to the limit by the demands of the modern calendar.
"We have been going non-stop since February 4th right through now until the end of the World Cup," said Fletcher. "To introduce more cricket is just going to complicate the issue as far as England are concerned because we play these long Test series - five against the Aussies, four against West Indies, four or five against South Africa."Quarterback Tom Brady led the New England Patriots on a 72-yard drive that ended with Stephen Gostowski's game-winning field goal as the Patriots beat the San Diego Chargers 24-21 to advance to the AFC championship game on Sunday. It was the 12th time in 13 NFL play-off starts that Brady's Patriots won, and it was the fifth time the Patriots have defeated the top seed in the AFC.
The Chicago Bears beat the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 in their thrilling NFL play-off game on Sunday thanks to Robbie Gould's 49-yard field goal in overtime.
Chicago quarterback Rex Grossman orchestrated a seven-play, 34-yard drive early in overtime that ended with Gould's kick sailing through the uprights to send the Soldier Field crowd into a frenzy and the Bears to the NFC title decider.Stephen Maguire discovered his form to send the defending champion, John Higgins, packing in the SAGA Insurance Masters in London yesterday.
The Glasgow player held his nerve to clinch a nailbiting 6-5 second-round victory at the Wembley Arena.
Maguire led 3-1 and 5-3 , but despite a brave comeback Higgins was given the slip in the final frame by his regular practice partner.
Maguire will play Australia's Neil Robertson, who beat Mark Williams 6-0 to book his place in the quarter-finals.
It was the first time the Welshman had been whitewashed at the event.
Robertson pocketed three century breaks and three more half centuries to earn a last-eight showdown with Maguire.
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