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Captain Misbah-ul-Haq is fired up to help steer Pakistan against England in the Investec Test series, which gets going on Thursday at Lord’s, live on Sky Sports. Whitey Ford Jersey . The 42-year-old is ready to steady his teams ship in the wake of the 2010 spot-fixing crisis and misdeeds of Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt.With Amir back at Lords on Thursday for his first Test since his teenage misdemeanours, Misbah remains determined to lead from the front in what he sees as an hour of need. My retirement has been discussed every series, he said.I could have retired after the UAE against England last winter – but weve been playing together for six years.I really have to take the initiative and come here as captain and batsman also to face this challenge. I decided I need to be here in a tough series for Pakistan, and I really want to do well here. Life ban or second chance? Top pundits reflect on Mohammad Amirs return He has earned his longevity with a weight of runs too, taking him close to 4,500 runs in his 61 Tests, and is looking forward to playing at Lords.There are no nerves yet, he said. Thats something you always wait for. Its a big occasion – everyone wants to play at Lords, just to perform well here and get the respect of every spectator and supporter. Don’t miss a ball as England take on Pakistan at Lord’s, live on Sky Sports 2 from 10am this Thursday These opportunities give you the chance to prove yourself.The bigger picture remains most important to him.If you analyse what we did in the last six years, its overall discipline, belief – consistently playing the same team, he said.We missed bowlers – but Yasir Shah came in, and theyve been outstanding. With the batting line-up, its discipline.Watch England v Pakistan on Sky Sports 2 HD. Coverage begins at 10am on Thursday.  Or watch from £6.99 on NOW TV, no contract Also See: Root comfortable at No 3 Ballance surprised by recall Finn a big player for England Cricket on Sky Gary Sanchez Jersey . Defenceman Tessa Bonhomme was among three players released from the team Tuesday morning along with defenceman Brigette Lacquette of Waterhen, Man. Mickey Mantle Jersey . After all, the No. 8 seed is chasing far loftier goals. Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., defeated American Jack Sock 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in Wimbledons second round on Thursday.NAIROBI, Kenya – Rita Jeptoo, a three-time winner of the Boston Marathon and two-time Chicago Marathon champion, was handed a two-year doping ban Friday in a case that has cast a shadow over Kenyas famed distance runners.Jeptoo tested positive for the blood-booster EPO in an out-of-competition test last September, a few weeks before winning her second straight Chicago Marathon title. Both the A and B samples were positive.Athletics Kenya announced Friday that Jeptoo was suspended from all competition until Oct. 29, 2016. The sanction rules her out of this years world championships in Beijing and next years OIympics in Rio de Janeiro.The 33-year-old Jeptoo is the biggest name among dozens of Kenyan athletes who have failed drug tests in recent years. The World Anti-Doping Agency has urged Kenya to step up its drug-testing program and is working with the east African country to help set up a national anti-doping body.Jeptoo appeared at a disciplinary hearing in Nairobi earlier this month. Also testifying were her estranged partner, Noah Busiendich, Italian manager Federico Rosa and Italian coach Claudio Berardelli.For now, the case of Rita has come to a rest and what remains now for us is to move on, Athletics Kenya president Isaiah Kiplagat told The Associated Press. We shall see how we shall work with the new anti-doping agency of Kenya in partnership to deal with the vice.Jeptoo has already been denied her share of the $500,000 prize for winning the 2013/14 World Marathon Majors.Her positive test has made it very difficult for us, two-time womens marathon world champion Edna Kiplagat said. We keep on being asked about doping every timme we go to compete out there and Im hoping that her punishment will make others stop engaging in this bad thing. Gio Urshela Jersey. I hope the (ban) will deter Kenyan athletes to stop taking short cuts, added Kiplagat, who stands to be upgraded to winner of the World Marathon Majors. It will be a lesson for others. Its unfortunate since nobody wants anyone to be banned. If you take something like EPO which is injected as a professional athlete, it is obvious you know what you are putting in your body.Kenya has been under close scrutiny since German broadcaster ARD alleged in 2012 that doping was common among the countrys distance runners.Kiplagat said this month that Athletics Kenya has banned or suspended 32 athletes for doping in the past five years.Our athletes should work hard to ensure we dont bring down what has taken 50 years to build, the 2008 Olympic mens 800-meter champion Wilfred Bungei told the AP on Friday.Anti-doping bodies from Norway and China are helping Kenya set up its own anti-doping agency.Boston Marathon organizers said they would evaluate Jeptoos ban before making any decision on stripping her results in the race.We are deeply disappointed in the findings involving Rita Jeptoo, and we are committed to upholding the integrity and credibility of the Boston Marathon, Tom Grilk, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, said in a statement.The World Marathon Majors said the winner of the 2013/14 prize would not be determined until the completion of due process in Jeptoos case and the outcome of any appeal. Under WMM rules, any athlete sanctioned for doping is ineligible to win the series title. ‚ ‚ ‚