Day II washed out

CHESTER-LE-STREET: Play in the second day of the second Test match between England and the West Indies here at the Riverside on Friday was abandoned for the day without a ball being bowled. After persistent rain all day, the umpires called off play. England were 302-2 with Alastair Cook 126 not out and James Anderson unbeaten on four. — AFP

Match called off

EAST RUTHERFORD: A charity football game at Giants Stadium next month set to feature world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo has been scrapped because of a lack of corporate sponsors. The All-Stars for Hope match on June 14 hoped to raise mo-ney for the Schools for Hope Foundation of Mikael Silvestre, the French defender who plays for Arsenal. — AP

Laursen retires

BIRMINGHAM: Aston Villa captain Martin Laursen retired from football after struggling with long-term knee injuries. Villa announced on Friday that the Danish center back decided to quit rather than have more surgery. Laursen was signed from AC Milan in 2004 but played only 28 times for Villa in his first three seasons, and the injury problems returned this term. He played 53 times for Denmark and has already announced his international retirement. — AP