Brisbane, Jan. 22 : Australia's star all-rounder Andrew Symonds has said that when he returns to first-class cricket next week, his focus will be on becoming a specialist batsman. He also said that he would like turn out in the same capacity for Australia.

According to Fox Sports, Symonds will turn out for his club side Gold Coast on Saturday in the first step on the road back to the Australian side.

Sydney, Jan. 22 : There was a time when star South African batsman Jean-Paul Duminy was not in Cricket South Africa's scheme of things. It has, therefore, been an arduous ride from domestic to international cricket.

South African cricket bigwigs believed Duminy did not possess the will to cut it at the top. So they cut him.

Questions were raised of his commitment to training, and Duminy became the butt of jokes in the team camp when fitness tests were held.

Adelaide, Jan.

Sydney, Jan. 22 : Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has reportedly told batting sensation David Warner to trust himself and his ability as he gets ready to erupt in front of his hometown fans for the first time at the SCG.

Selectors have stuck with Warner to open the batting for Friday''s third one-dayer against South Africa, and Ponting has no doubts the rookie left-hander can quickly bounce back to form.

Warner made front and back-page headlines when he slammed a whirlwind 89 off 43 balls on his Twenty20 debut for Australia earlier this month.

London, Jan. 22: England batting coach Andy Flower has claimed that former captain Kevin Pietersen wanted to remove him along with Peter Moores.

As England flew to the Caribbean yesterday, rumors were in circulation that Flower was known to be one of the targets of Pietersen''s campaign to alter England''s coaching methods.

Sydney, Jan. 22: Australian pace bowler Stuart Clark is one of three star players who will ramp up their South African tour credentials via park cricket this weekend.

According to Fox Sports, Clark will line up for Sydney University on Saturday and test his troublesome elbow, which sidelined him before the Perth Test last month.

The right-arm seamer will clash with Sutherland, who have Aussie opener Phil Jaques ready to test out his back.