Adelaide, Dec. 7: Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie has accused Cricket Australia of deserting some of the country''s finest players during the series against India that was held last year.

The Sunday Mail quoted him as saying that Cricket Australia was kowtowing to the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The South Australian pacer banned from first-class cricket in Australia after signing a three-year deal with the non-ICC sanctioned Indian Cricket League, also criticized Indian Premier League (IPL) chief Lalit Modi, adding that Cricket Australia is afraid to stand up to Modi and the BCCI.

Dubai, Dec. 7 : International Cricket Council (ICC) President David Morgan has urged the Indian public to support the upcoming two-Test series between the hosts and England.

According to an ICC press release, Morgan said good attendances at the matches in Chennai and Mohali would be a demonstration that people would not be dictated to by terrorists.

He also confirmed he and ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat would be present during the series to show solidarity and support for the people of India and the two teams.

"Safety and security of the players, officials and spectators must be the key consideration at all times," Morgan was quoted, as saying.

Madrid - Barcelona went six points clear at the top of the Spanish Liga on Saturday by thrashing hapless Valencia 4-0.

Barca now have 35 points from 14 games, six points more than Villarreal, who did well to force a 3-3 draw against Getafe earlier on Saturday.

With Samuel Eto'o suspended, Thierry Henry took centre stage, banging in a handsome hat-trick and looking more comfortable than ever in a Barca shirt.

The French veteran made it 1-0 in the 20th minute by latching on to a classy through-ball from Yaya Toure and scoring with the outside of his right foot.

Eight minutes later, with the Valencia defence looking shaky, Henry made it 2-0 by turning in a short pass from Alexander Hleb.

London - Fulham and Manchester City fought out a 1-1 draw in Saturday's early game in the English Premier League.

Benjani headed City in front after just five minutes but Jimmy Bullard equalized on 27 minutes to clinch a share of the points.

Bullard almost won it for Fulham but goalkeeper Joe Hart made a fantastic save from his free kick.

Fulham remain in 10th place, while City climb two places to 13th.

Later on Saturday, leaders Liverpool were out to maintain their one-point advantage when they travel to Blackburn.

Trondheim, Norway - Magnus Moan claimed his first World Cup season win in Nordic combined skiing on Saturday in front of a Norwegian home crowd.

Placed 20th after the morning jumping portion, Moan proved the strongest in the 10-kilometres cross-country pursuit, clocking 24 minutes 49.6 seconds for his eighth career victory.

Frenchman Jason Lamy Chappuis trailed by seven tenth of a second in second place. Third-placed Anssi Koivuranta of Finland was 2.2 seconds off the pace as the top six finishers were separated by less than five seconds.

Los Angeles  - The surging Boston Celtics extended one streak by putting an end to another.

Ray Allen scored 19 points, and Rajon Rondo had 16, along with eight rebounds and seven assists as the Celtics rolled to their 11th straight victory by snapping the Portland Trail Blazers' six-game winning streak 93-78 on Friday night.

The Celtics run is their longest since winning 14 in a row during the 1985-86 championship season.

"We're just building to get better," said Celtics captain Paul Pierce, who finished with 12 points. "The earlier we get these wins against quality opponents it's preparing us for the long run."