It's just sour grapes from Smith

The sight of Graeme Smith whingeing about being refused a runner during South Africa's defeat to England has been the most entertaining sideshow of the Champions Trophy tournament.

Suddenly Andrew Strauss, having been hailed a saint for recalling Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews after he was given run out following a collision with Graham Onions, became the sinner of Centurion.

Smith, after hitting a career-best 141, was miffed because Strauss and the umpires had turned down his request for a runner when he was suffering from cramp as the match drew towards its thrilling climax.

The whiff of sour grapes from the South Africa captain is as powerful as the pull shot that brings him so many runs. As Strauss rightly said when the post-match row flared: "Cramping to a certain extent is a preparation thing and to a certain extent a conditioning thing. I didn't feel he merited having a runner at that stage."

An ICC spokesman said later that the umpires had taken the view that cramp is a symptom of fatigue and as such did not warrant a runner.

Quite right too, especially as Smith wanted to bring on one of the quickest players between the wicket in AB de Villiers at a time when the match was in the balance.

And for the record, Law 2.1 (b) says: "The umpires shall have discretion, for other wholly acceptable reasons, to allow a substitute for a fielder, or a runner for a batsman, at the start of the match or at any subsequent time."

To his credit, Strauss is proving to be a captain who won't be bullied, and he's doing it without losing his sense of dignity.

As for Smith, he's right to say that what goes around, comes around. Which is why the forthcoming Test and ODI series between England and South Africa should have an extra dash of spice to it.

Does Smith have genuine cause for complaint? Or was Strauss right to stand his ground? Add your comments below

Who is the best Premier League striker?

The Premier League may not be the most technically consistent league in the world, but, after a weekend drenched in goals, it can easily lay claim to possessing the world's greatest strikers.

The 2009-10 campaign has, so far, been dominated by the most gifted forwards currently plying their trade on these shores. The leading scorer race promises to go to the wire.

A quick check of the current top scorers chart sees an array of talent. Fernando Torres (8), Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent (6), Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Louis Saha (5), Emmanuel Adebayor, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Kenwyne Jones (4). Of the big names, perhaps only Nicolas Anelka (2) and Robin van Persie (2) are missing from the top ten.

So who is the best? Torres is the most lethal finisher around, Drogba the most uncomfortable to defend against and Rooney the man with most awareness, touch and skill. If you had to pick one, Torres is top dog.

Who do you think is the best striker in the Premier League? Send in your selections below

Latest F1 gossip... Kubica to reject Renault

Our F1 expert is back with more wicked whispers ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

Read all the latest F1 gossip, including news on Robert Kubica who is set to shun Renault, and then send in your views and rumours using the boxes below.

Button's title hopes back on track in Singapore

If Bernie Ecclestone had not been out-voted, Jenson Button would have been crowned world champion following the Singapore Grand Prix. Thankfully, sense prevailed and the title is still all to play for with three races to go.

F1 supremo Ecclestone hoped to introduce a medals system for the 2009 season whereby the winner of the most grands prix and not the overall points scorer would be crowned champion.

That would have seen Button, with six wins compared to two for Lewis Hamilton, Rubens Barrichello and Sebastian Vettel, declared his fellow Briton's successor as champion.

As it is, Button will surely wrap up the title after a dogged drive from 11th on the grid to fifth, picking up another point and extending his title lead to 15 points over Barrichello.

Such a drive could not have been more timely. There were suggestions the Briton was cracking up, so dire was his qualifying effort, but he proved otherwise, even though he overtook just one car during the race.

The 29-year-old said the title battle was still wide open, which wouldn't have been the case had Ecclestone's ludicrous idea gone through. One only hopes Ecclestone has seen the error of his ways and it isn't now pushed forward for 2010.

Singapore Grand Prix preview

Jenson Button heads into Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix with a sizeable 14-point lead over team-mate Rubens Barrichello. With just four races to go, it should be enough to see him crowned world champion.

But Button was in cautious mood ahead of practice, pointing to the nightmare Lewis Hamilton suffered in 2007 when he missed out on the title to Kimi Raikkonen despite leading by 17 points with just two races remaining.

The Brawn GP racer simply needs to drive consistently and conservatively for the rest of the season, but, worryingly for those backing him to be Britain's latest world champion, he insisted that was not in his nature and he would still attack in the final four weekends.

Such a high-risk approach opens the door for Barrichello, whose growing momentum could set up another stunning finale. Button and the British public will be hoping not.

Will Button throw it away? Post your comments and your tip to win in Singapore below.

England must team up Cipriani and Wilkinson

Danny Cipriani's return to form has transformed Wasps from last season's mid-table strugglers to this season's Guinness Premiership leaders. And likewise across the Channel, Toulon have turned from relegation fodder to world beaters since Jonny Wilkinson's arrival.

Arguably the most creative England players of their generation are back to their best, both proving prolific with the boot and in launching wave upon wave of attacks, as well as being immense in defence.

Wilkinson has always had a strong defensive record but, now clear of his injury problems, he is going into challenges as hard as ever while Cipriani, who was told he needed to improve his defence, has done just that, most notably in Sunday's 23-3 win over Worcester.

England boss Martin Johnson must rely on the dynamic duo for the November internationals against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand.

Cipriani deserves the No.10 slot where he can be at his creative best, while Wilkinson can be the more experienced foil at No.12, adding vital leadership and additional defence should his midfield sidekick let him down. Johnson has said he will always select on form, so Cipriani and Wilkinson deserve their chance.

Have Cipriani and Wilkinson done enough to earn call-ups to the England starting XV or should Martin Johnon pick another pairing? Post your comments below...

Latest F1 gossip... tensions high at McLaren

Our F1 expert returns ahead of this weekend's Singapore GP to bring you the latest whispers from the pitlane.

In this week's F1 gossip updates, he reveals that Nico Rosberg is set for a move to Brawn, and tensions are running high between McLaren and Mercedes.

Find out more by clicking here and post your reaction in the boxes below. Feel free to share any rumours you may have heard.

Was the 4-3 Manchester derby the best ever?

Manchester United's last-gasp 4-3 derby win over Manchester City was hailed by Sir Alex Ferguson as the best Manchester derby of all time.

The most eagered-anticipated Manchester derby for many a moon after the move of Carlos Tevez and 'Postergate', the match surpassed all expectations.

It finished in controversy as Michael Owen netted six minutes into injury time, to leave City boss Mark Hughes raging about time keeping, and Craig Bellamy involved in ugly scenes with a fan on the pitch.

The game had everything, but is Fergie right? Was it the best Manchester derby of all time? Could it even be hailed the derby seen in any city?

What's the best derby you've ever seen? We want to know what the best of all time is, and if Sunday's Old Trafford spectacular is up there.

Why Foden is worth a gamble

Martin Johnson has some big calls to make ahead of the autumn Tests now that Riki Flutey and Delon Armitage are likely to be ruled out through injury.

Olly Morgan, back for Gloucester after injury, must be among the favourites to take the full-back slot, but Johnno would do well to gamble on the versatile Ben Foden.

His attacking flair was evident when he played on the wing for England against the Barbarians in May, scoring a try and looking the part at international level.

Matthew Tait might be a safer choice, but Foden could be the man to give England a fresh attacking spark.

As for Flutey's replacement at centre, surely Shane Geraghty is the man. He's been in good form so far this season and can also play at 10.

Jonny Wilkinson can't be ruled out of the equation, with some calling for him to play at centre and Geraghty at fly-half. And Quins' Jordan Turner-Hall must also be in the running.

Johnson in the past has tended towards caution in his team selections, but he might just be tempted this time round to gamble on the likes of Foden and Geraghty.

What do you think? Is Foden ready to step up to the plate, and can Wilkinson still cut the mustard at the highest level? Send in your thoughts via the boxes below.

Renault get off lightly in 'Crashgate'

Renault chiefs will be breathing a massive sigh of relief at the team's French headquarters today after getting away with a two-year suspended sentence concerning 'Crashgate' at last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

Rumours ahead of the FIA hearing in Paris on Monday had suggested that the team were facing a fine running into tens of millions of pounds and possible disqualification from the World Championship. While the FIA said disqualification was the appropriate punishment, it opted to suspend that for two years after the culprits behind getting Nelson Piquet Jr to deliberately crash, Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds, were axed from the team last week.

The reason for the FIA ruling is something of a cop-out when you consider McLaren were fined $100 million two seasons ago for the Ferrari spy row, a much lesser crime considering it did not endanger lives. But the sport cannot afford to lose such a big manufacturer, which also supplies engines to both championship battlers Red Bull and B team Toro Rosso.

The main focus of the hearing, however, was Briatore, who has effectively been banned altogether from all motorsport events and been told he can no longer run his lucrative driver management company. On top of that, he looks certain to be forced out at QPR, with the Football League set to rule he no longer meets the Fit and Proper Test.

Briatore cannot complain about his punishment for what was an immensely dangerous act - effectively ordering a driver to deliberately crash, endangering other drivers, marshals and spectators in the process.

However, there is still an element of surprise that Piquet has been given immunity for agreeing to such a reckless act to keep his job. The FIA should have taken a hardline stance against the Brazilian as well.

Have the FIA done enough with their ruling or is it not hard-hitting enough for this blatant and dangerous act of cheating? And do you feel Piquet deserves punishment? Post your comments below...