India Australia Sri Lanka One Day 2008

India have won the toss and decided to bat first

2008-02-01T13:52:00.000+05:30

India (Playing XI):

Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w/c), Robin Uthappa, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, S Sreesanth, Ishant Sharma.

Australia (Playing XI):

Adam Gilchrist(w), Adam Voges, Michael Clarke(c), Bradley Hodge, Mike Hussey, Andrew Symonds, David Hussey, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Ashley Noffke, Nathan Bracken.

Harbhajan cleared for his racist comment

2008-01-31T10:41:00.000+05:30

Harbhajan Singh has been cleared of making racist comments and, as a result, has had his three-match ban rescinded, according to the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI).

Harbhajan had been accused of calling Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds a "monkey" during the second Test in Sydney.

However, after an appeal at the Federal Court in Adelaide the charge was downgraded to one of using abusive language and Harbhajan has been fined 50% of his match fee as a lesser punishment.

VR Manohar, Harbhajan's counsel, said: "BCCI made it clear during the hearing that racism charge was like laying blame on the board and the nation, and should be dropped."

Match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor had brought the charge against Harbhajan under section 3.3 of the ICC code of conduct after receiving a complaint from Australia captain Ricky Ponting on day three of the Sydney Test when the spinner was batting alongside Sachin Tendulkar.

Harbhajan was ushered into the Federal Court on Tuesday morning without making any comment to the media, and was followed in soon after by Tendulkar.

The Australian team members had arrived earlier, while Ponting left the hearing shortly after noon, again without making any comment.

Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young is keen for both sides to put the unsavoury incident behind them and concentrate on the triangular series involving the two teams and Sri Lanka looming on the horizon.

"All parties will move on with the cricket," Young said. "The game is the important thing."

Brillant Century By the Little Master Sachin

2008-01-24T15:20:00.000+05:30

India finish day one at 309 for five with Sachin Tendulkar unbeaten on 124 - his 39th Test ton. Sachin alond VVS Laxman put on a 100-plus partnership after India were reduced to 156 for four at one stage. Laxman got out when he set for a big score.

The good thing for India is that the Little Master is still there. Dhoni's at the other end, who was dropped by Hayden.

Adelaide Test : Can India Square the series

2008-01-23T13:47:00.000+05:30

Australia and India are both set to gamble on recalled players in their fourth and final Test at the Adelaide Oval, starting here Thursday.

Trailing 2-1 but determined to square the series, India seem almost certain to recall spinner Harbhajan Singh after relegating him to 12th man duties for the third Test at the WACA Ground.

If India win in Adelaide, it will be the first time since the two sides met in 2003-04 that the Australians have failed to win a home series.

Harbhajan was suspended for three Tests following the contentious second Test in Sydney, but is free to play pending an appeal that appears certain to be heard after the series.

His absence enabled India to play three fast bowlers in Perth and while the move worked as the Indians broke Australia's 16-match winning streak with a 72-run victory, the seamers are less likely to have a major impact here.

India may drop struggling opener Wasim Jaffer and reshuffle its top order, enabling Mahendra Singh Dhoni to bat at six and all-rounder Irfan Pathan at seven, or they could axe a fast bowler.

Either way, Harbhajan is likely to be wanted to partner captain Anil Kumble with the spin duties, despite Virender Sehwag's pivotal cameo with the ball in Perth.

Indian board to appeal Harbhajan ban

2008-01-08T09:08:00.001+05:30

The Indian cricket board on Monday vowed to appeal against the three-Test ban slapped on Harbhajan Singh for racially abusing Australia's Andrew Symonds during the ill-tempered Sydney Test.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it did not accept the findings of match referee Mike Procter and would lodge a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

"The Indian board does not accept the findings of the match referee and has decided to challenge the unfair decision to suspend Harbhajan Singh as it deems it patently unfair," BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement.

"The board will appeal to the ICC to review the decision of the match referee and suspend its operation until the appeal is disposed of."

Harbhajan, 27, was found guilty under the ICC's code of conduct following a clash with Symonds on the third day of the acrimonious second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) which Australia won by 122 runs Sunday.

The charge was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor after Australia captain Ricky Ponting accused Harbhajan of making a "monkey" comment at Symonds, the only black player in the home team.

Following a four-hour hearing held at the SCG, Procter delivered his judgement.

The BCCI said it would not tolerate "unfair" treatment of any of its players while also questioning the manner in which the hearing was conducted.

"The Indian board realises the game of cricket is paramount but so too is the honour of the Indian team. To vindicate its position, the board will fight the blatantly false and unfair slur on an Indian player.

"The board also questions the very conduct of the hearing as the match referee, before reaching his decision, disregarded the essential point of any inquiry, that it should be based on facts, rational, detached and objective."

The BCCI has also said it will lodge an official complaint against "incompetent" umpiring in the Sydney Test.

Day 2: India batsman fight back; Laxman Century

2008-01-04T11:14:00.000+05:30

V.V.S. Laxman led an Indian counter attack with his third consecutive century at the Sydney Cricket Ground to slow Australia's push for a record-equalling 16th straight Test victory Thursday.

The 33-year-old batting craftsman from Hyderabad fully stretched Ricky Ponting's team at the SCG with classic strokeplay for his 12th hundred in his 88th Test match.

Laxman relished his return to the venerable ground, producing his trademark sumptuous drives, scoring 109 off 142 balls with 18 fours to breathe new hope into the tourists after Australia's formidable first innings total of 463.

Before Laxman's arrival shortly after lunch on the second day of the second Test, Andrew Symonds had dominated with his unconquered 162 in Australia's innings.

But the Indian right-hander joined Rahul Dravid at the crease to restore morale after the tourists' 337-run drubbing in the first Test in Melbourne.

Laxman and Dravid fell late in the day, six minutes apart. Dravid was out for a battling 53, caught at first slip by Matthew Hayden off Mitchell Johnson, and Laxman was taken by Mike Hussey off leg-spinner Brad Hogg.

At stumps on day two, India were 216 for three and trailing by 247 runs with Sachin Tendulkar on nine and Sourav Ganguly not out 21.

"Getting a hundred on this ground previously definitely gives you a boost because you've done well and it's familiar conditions. It gives you a lot of confidence," Laxman said.

"I was disappointed that we lost two quick wickets because I really wanted to be not out and carry on tomorrow.

"It's very important how we start off tomorrow morning. If they can build a big partnership we can have a big first innings total and put pressure on the Aussies.... I'm sure Sachin Tendulkar is going to get a double (century) tomorrow."

Laxman and Dravid, who have proved Australia's nemeses with two huge partnerships in the past, amassed 175 runs for the second wicket.

Australia 1st innings (376 for 7 overnight)

P. Jaques c Dhoni b Singh 0
M. Hayden c Tendulkar b Singh 13
R. Ponting lbw b Harbhajan 55
M. Hussey c Tendulkar b Singh 41
M. Clarke lbw b Harbhajan 1
A. Symonds not out 162
A. Gilchrist c Tendulkar b Singh 7
B. Hogg c Dravid b Kumble 79
B. Lee lbw b Kumble 59
M. Johnson c Ganguly b Kumble 28
S. Clark lbw b Kumble 0
Extras b2, lb9, w4, nb3 18
Total all out, 112.3 overs 463

Fall of wkts: 1-0, 2-27, 3-119, 4-119, 5-121, 6-134, 7-307, 8-421, 9-461

Bowling:
Singh 26-3-124-4 (1nb, 1w)
Sharma 23-3-87-0 (2nb, 3w)
Ganguly 6-1-13-0
Harbhajan 27-3-108-2
Kumble 25.3-0-106-4
Tendulkar 5-0-14-0

India 1st innings

W. Jaffer b Lee 3
R. Dravid c Hayden b Johnson 53
V.V.S. Laxman c Hussey b Hogg 109
S. Tendulkar not out 9
S. Ganguly not out 21
Extras b4, lb8, w3, nb6 21
Total 3 wkts, 62 overs 216

Fall of wkts: 1-8, 2-183, 3-185

Bowling:
Lee 15-4-34-1 (5nb)
Johnson 18-2-75-1 (1nb, 3w)
Clark 11-3-28-0
Symonds 7-1-19-0
Hogg 11-0-48-1

Day 3: Advantage Aussies

2007-12-29T10:58:00.000+05:30

India will have to do what no other Test team has done before to come from behind and win the first cricket Test after Australia set them a historic run chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Australians offered the Indians 499 runs to win with two days left after declaring their second innings at 351 for seven late on the third day.

India safely reached stumps at six without loss, with Rahul Dravid on three and Wasim Jaffer on two.

Only three teams in Test cricket history have scored 400 or more in the fourth innings for victory.

The West Indies hold the Test record of 418 for seven when they beat Australia at St. Johns in 2003, while India amassed 406 for four to down the West Indies in Port-of-Spain in 1976 and Australia hit 404 for three to defeat England at Headingley in 1948.

But the drop-in pitch is playing low and cracking, making high scoring problematic in the fourth innings.

"I'd like to say they have no chance, but the reality is they have to get 493 runs and they've got two days to get it so they have plenty of time," Australian batsman Michael Clarke said.

Before lunch India claimed the wickets of first-innings centurion Matthew Hayden and skipper Ricky Ponting, followed by the dismissals of Phil Jaques, Mike Hussey and Andrew Symonds in the middle session, with Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist sent on their way after tea.

Opener Jaques picked up his sixth consecutive Test half-century and was out next ball to a return catch by Anil Kumble for 51 shortly after lunch.

Hayden had just passed 8,000 Test runs when he skied finger-spinner Harbhajan off a leading edge to Sourav Ganguly at long-off for 47.

Harbhajan's Test career high point was his 32 wickets at 17.03 in the three-match home series against Australia in 2001.

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st innings: 343 M. Hayden 124, P. Jaques 66; A. Kumble 5-84,
Zaheer Khan 4-94

India 1st innings: 196 S. Tendulkar 62, S. Ganguly 43; S. Clark 4-28,
B. Lee 4-46

Australia 2nd innings

P. Jaques c and b Kumble 51
M. Hayden c Ganguly b Harbhajan 47
R. Ponting c Dravid b Harbhajan 3
M. Hussey c Tendulkar b Singh 36
M. Clarke st Dhoni b Kumble 73
A. Symonds lbw b Zaheer 44
A. Gilchrist c Singh b Harbhajan 35
B. Hogg not out 35
B. Lee not out 11
Extras lb3, nb13 16
Total for 7 wkts declared 351

Fall of wkts 1-83, 2-89, 3-139, 4-161, 5-243, 6-288, 7-316

Bowling
Zaheer 20-2-93-1 (13nb)
Singh 16-1-50-1
Kumble 25-2-102-2
Harbhajan 26-0-101-3
Tendulkar 1-0-2-0

India 2nd innings

R. Dravid not out 3
W. Jaffer not out 2
Extras nb1 1
Total for no loss 6

Bowling Lee 3-1-4-0 (1nb)
Johnson 2-1-2-0
Clark 2-2-0-0
Hogg 1-1-0-0

Day 2: Aussies put India on a backfoot with a good bowling spell

2007-12-28T10:02:00.000+05:30

Brett Lee's seemingly unstoppable rise to become one of the greats of Australian bowling reached another milestone here Thursday when he joined the 250 club of Test wickets.

Lee, 31, man-of-the-series against Sri Lanka last month, claimed 4-46 and took his 250th Test wicket to become the sixth all-time leading Australian wicket-taker, overtaking Richie Benaud.

"To think that you're in the 250 club, it's a pretty special moment. I'm a very proud man."

India conceded a 147-run innings deficit on a wearing drop-in pitch with the opening match of the four-Test series seemingly Australia's to lose over the remaining three days.

At stumps, Australia were on track for their 15th consecutive Test win and were cruising at 32 without loss with Matthew Hayden on 22 and Phil Jaques 10, representing an overall lead of 179 runs with 10 wickets intact.

Lee played a major part in helping the Australians seize the momentum with a 179-run lead after the second day's play with 10 wickets and three days left to get a result in the first match of the four-Test series.

The speedster has developed into a model of line and length consistency as he shoulders the responsibility of leading the Australian new-ball attack.

"In our team meetings... we've been talking about being so patient, especially on this MCG (Melbourne) wicket," Lee said.

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st innings

P. Jaques st Dhoni b Kumble 66
M. Hayden c Dravid b Zaheer 124
R. Ponting b Zaheer 4
M. Hussey lbw b Kumble 2
M. Clarke c Laxman b Singh 20
A. Symonds c sub (Karthik) b Kumble 35
A. Gilchrist c Tendulkar b Kumble 23
B. Hogg c Dravid b Zaheer 17
B. Lee lbw b Kumble 0
M. Johnson not out 15
S. Clark c Harbhajan b Zaheer 21
Extras lb5, w2, nb9 16
Total 343

Fall of wkts 1-135, 2-162, 3-165, 4-225, 5-241, 6-281, 7-288, 8-294, 9-312

Bowling:
Zaheer 23.4-1-94-4 (1w, 8nb)
Singh 20-3-82-1 (1w)
Harbhajan 20-3-61-0
Ganguly 3-1-15-0 (1nb)
Kumble 25-4-84-5
Tendulkar 1-0-2-0

India 1st innings

W. Jaffer c Gilchrist b Lee 4
R. Dravid lbw b Clark 5
V.V.S. Laxman c Ponting b Lee 26
S. Tendulkar b Clark 62
S. Ganguly b Hogg 43
Y. Singh c Gilchrist b Clark 0
M. Dhoni lbw b Clark 0
A. Kumble c Gilchrist b Lee 27
H. Singh c Clarke b Hogg 2
Z. Khan c Gilchrist b Lee 11
R. Singh not out 2
Extras b4, lb3, nb7 14
Total 196

Fall of wkts 1-4, 2-31, 3-55, 4-120, 5-122, 6-122, 7-166, 8-173, 9-193

Bowling:
Lee 19.5-6-46-4 (6nb)
Johnson 13-5-25-0 (1nb)
Symonds 3-1-8-0
Clark 15-4-28-4
Hogg 21-3-82-2

Australia 2nd innings

P. Jaques not out 10
M. Hayden not out 22
Total for no loss 32

Bowling
Zaheer 4-1-17-0
Singh 3-1-15-0
Kumble 1-1-0-0

Day 1: Confident India up against the Aussies were 337/9

2007-12-27T10:30:00.000+05:30

India's brave showing on the opening day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was vital to the tourists' quest to win a series in Australia for the first time, skipper Anil Kumble said.

Kumble was India's hero on the first day of the Boxing Day Test taking 5-84 off 25 overs to reduce the world's number one Test team from 135 without loss to 337 for nine at stumps.

Kumble was delighted with the attitude of his team to claw back after a difficult morning session.

"I've always believed that the first innings of the first Test of a series is very important and we've done exceptionally well after being on the back foot at lunch, so I'm very pleased with the way everyone's performed today," Kumble said.

"The wicket is definitely on the slow side, but if you apply yourself there are runs to get, Matt Hayden showed that, and if our batsmen apply themselves then it will happen."

Kumble now has 589 Test wickets and lies third as the all-time wicket-taker behind Muttiah Muralitharan (723) and Shane Warne (708).

Pre Match Stats: Welcome to Boxing Day

2007-12-26T13:00:00.000+05:30

Welcome to the traditional Boxing Day 1st Test, 1st Day coverage from the MCG which is hosting its 100th Test in front of a 45,000 strong crowd which is expected to double as the day progresses as people recover from Christmas. It's one of the world's greatest sporting occasions, the sun is shining and the place looks marvellous.

The Toss:
Australia won the toss and Ricky Ponting unsurprisingly elected to bat first as the MCG pitch is expected to have early life and flatten out over the remainder of the Test in forecast hot temperatures. There has been lots of sun on the pitch, but it still contains some moisture. It should increasingly take spin as the match proceeds.

Team India:
India head into the Boxing Day Test with two fast bowlers and two spinners, with offspinner Harbhajan Singh to bowl in tandem with skipper Anil Kumble's legspin.
India’s bowling attack with left-armers Zaheer Khan and RP Singh, while paceman Ishant Sharma was named 12th man.

Having won the man-of-the-series against Pakistan earlier in the month, Sourav Ganguly today joins an elite club of players to have played 100 cricket test matches. He is awarded a special plaque before the match starts.

Squad: W Jaffer, R Dravid, VVS Laxman, SR Tendulkar, SC Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, A Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, RP Singh. 12th man - Ishant Sharma.

Team Australia:
The Australians left fast bowler Shaun Tait out of the eleven, going into the first match of the four-Test series with three quicks and wrist-spinner Brad Hogg.
PA Jaques, ML Hayden, RT Ponting (Captain), MEK Hussey, MJ Clarke, A Symonds, AC Gilchrist, GB Hogg, B Lee, MG Johnson, SR Clark. 12th man - Shaun Tait.

Boxing Day Test

2007-12-20T12:46:00.000+05:30

Boxing Day is a public holiday celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and many other Commonwealth countries on December 26, the day after Christmas Day; or alternatively on the next weekday after Christmas.

In common usage, 26 December is continually referred to as Boxing Day whichever day of the week it occurs on. If it falls on a Sunday then in countries where it is a Bank Holiday the Statutory Holiday is moved to Monday 27 December to ensure a day without work. As Christmas Day would therefore be a Saturday, Tuesday 28 December is also declared as a holiday in lieu.

In some Commonwealth countries, fixed-date holidays falling on Saturday or Sunday are often observed on the next weekday, so if Boxing Day falls on a Saturday then Monday 28 December is a public holiday; in the UK and other countries this is accomplished by Royal Proclamation.

If Christmas Day falls on a Sunday itself then the Boxing Day holiday is automatically on Monday 26 December, and no Royal Proclamation is required. In such a circumstance, a 'substitute bank holiday in lieu of Christmas Day' is declared for Tuesday 27 December, this being the next available working day - thus the Boxing Day holiday occurs before the substitute Christmas holiday.

Boxing Day Test:

The Boxing Day Test match is a cricket Test match hosted in Melbourne, Victoria, involving Australian cricket team and the opposition national team touring Australia that summer. It begins annually on Boxing Day (December 26), and is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

History:

In 1950 the first ever Australian Boxing Day Test was hosted at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. No Boxing Day Tests were played in Melbourne between 1953 and 1967, and periodically the Australian Cricket Team played on Boxing Day in other nations. However in 1980 the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Australian cricket team secured the rights to play the match annually.

Other Boxing Day Tests:

In New Zealand an annual Boxing Day Test Match was played at Basin Reserve in Wellington, involving the New Zealand cricket team as one of the competing sides. Over the past few years the Boxing day Test has been phased out for a One Day International and Twenty20 matches involving New Zealand and the touring opposition national team.

In South Africa a Boxing Day Test is often played if another national team is touring to play the South African cricket team.

AUS vs IND: Australian squad for first India Test

2007-12-20T12:26:00.000+05:30

Cricket Australia named a 12-man squad to take on India in the first Test of the summer series on Tuesday, with spinner Brad Hogg replacing an injured Stuart MacGill.
Fast bowler Shaun Tait has recovered from injury to return to the team which will play India in the first of four Tests at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starting December 26 "The Boxing Day".

Cricket Australia chairman Andrew Hilditch said the final side would be decided once the conditions at the MCG were inspected.

India's team arrived in Australia on Tuesday for the four Test series.

Australian Squad for first test:

Ricky Ponting (captain)
Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain)
Phil Jaques
Matthew Hayden
Michael Hussey
Andrew Symonds
Mitchell Johnson
Stuart Clark
Brett Lee
Shaun Tait
Brad Hogg
Michael Clarke.

Year 2007: India play on despite the turmoil

2007-12-20T12:21:00.000+05:30

The chaotic world of Indian cricket hit a new low in 2007 with reluctant captains, invisible coaches, warring officials and rebel games hogging the spotlight.
The real test start over the next two months when India take on world champions Australia in four Test matches Down Under followed by a tri-series also featuring Sri Lanka.

"Australia is the benchmark every team sets for itself," former Test batsman and television commentator Sanjay Manjrekar told AFP. "But some good individual performances gives me hope we will do well." Sourav Ganguly, 35, sacked as captain and player by the then coach Greg Chappell, ended the debate over the future of ageing stars by hammering 1,023 runs from nine Tests with three centuries.
Sachin Tendulkar, 34, the world's leading century-maker with 37 Test and 41 one-day hundreds, was dismissed in the 90s seven times this year but remained in top form with 699 Test and 1,425 one-day runs.

Rahul Dravid, 34, had a lean year by his lofty standards - 585 runs in nine Tests - and was dropped from the one-day team, but remains India's most dependable batsman overseas. The younger Yuvraj Singh, 26, inspired India's Twenty20 triumph with six sixes in one over from England's Stuart Broad and marked his overdue return to Test cricket with a century against Pakistan in Bangalore.

Gary Kirsten will offically take over as the Indian Cricket Coach only from March 1.

LG ICC Player Rankings: Sangakkara and Ponting share top spot

2007-12-15T15:58:00.000+05:30

Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka and Australia’s Ricky Ponting are sharing number one position in the LG ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen in one of the closest battles for top spot in many years. The two are locked on 936 ratings points but Sangakkara has the first chance to move ahead again when Sri Lanka and England take the field for the third and final Test of the series in Galle, starting on Tuesday.

Also ready to pounce from third place is South Africa’s dependable all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who is just one ratings point adrift. His push for the top begins when the Proteas take on the West Indies beginning on 26 December in Port Elizabeth.
Ponting, too, will get another chance to reclaim the number-one ranking when the first Test of the four-match series against India gets underway in Melbourne on the same day.

Sangakkara’s team-mate Mahela Jayawardena has gained three places and is back into the top 10 following his magnificent 195 in the drawn second Test at Colombo. Jayawardena moves ahead of Rahul Dravid of India, Michael Clarke of Australia and the West Indies’ Shivnarine Chanderpaul into ninth position.

LG ICC Test Rankings (as of 14 December):

Batsman:

1. Ricky Ponting Aus
K.C.Sangakkara SL
3 Jacques Kallis SA
4 Mhd Yousuf Pak
5 Mike Hussey Aus
6 Kevin Pietersen Eng
7 Matthew Hayden Aus
8 Yunus Khan Pak
9 M.Jayawardena SL
10 S.Chanderpaul WI

Bowlers

1. M.Muralidaran SL
2. Makhaya Ntini SA
3. Dale Steyn SA
4. Stuart Clark Aus
5. Anil Kumble Ind
6. Brett Lee Aus
7. M’thew Hoggard Eng
8. Shane Bond NZ
9. Shaun Pollock SA
10. Shoaib Akhtar Pak

All-rounders

1. Jacques Kallis SA
2. Andrew Flintoff Eng
3. Shaun Pollock SA
4. Daniel Vettori NZ
5. Chaminda Vaas SL

SL vs ENG: Battling England draw second Test

2007-12-14T10:47:00.000+05:30

England's batsmen shone under pressure to draw the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka here on Thursday and keep their hopes alive in the three-match series. The tourists, needing to bat out the fifth day after trailing by 197 runs on the first innings, played solidly to move to 250-3 in their second knock by tea before rain washed out the final session.

England now head for the final Test in Galle from next Tuesday seeking a series-levelling win after losing the first Test in Kandy by 88 runs last week. Alastair Cook, captain Michael Vaughan and Ian Bell hit half-centuries to keep the Sri Lankans at bay on a dead pitch where just 22 wickets fell over the five days.

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, who was later named man of the match for his 195 in the team's first innings total of 548-9, defended his decision to delay the declaration until after tea on the fourth day.

Can Murlitharan spin Sri Lanka to Victory again

2007-12-13T10:29:00.000+05:30

England face the daunting prospect of playing out spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan on the final day Thursday to draw the second Test and keep the three-match series alive. The tourists, trailing Sri Lanka by 197 runs on the first innings, ended the fourth day's play on a wearing Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) pitch at 48-0 in their second knock on Wednesday.

Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 19 and captain Michael Vaughan was on 28 when play was abandoned for the day 16 overs early due to bad light. England, who lost the first Test by 88 runs in Kandy last week, must bat out the last day's play to have a chance of forcing a series-levelling win in the final Test at Galle from next Tuesday. Sri Lanka have won 10 of their last 12 Tests at the SSC with Muralitharan, Test cricket's leading bowler, being the wrecker-in-chief on most occasions.

Indian - Australian Test Series Down Under

2007-12-13T10:19:00.000+05:30

India's selectors on Wednesday recalled hard-hitting opening batsman Virender Sehwag for an upcoming Test series in Australia. The 29-year-old got the nod following make-shift opener Dinesh Karthik's inconsistent form in the just-concluded Test series against Pakistan.

Sehwag has so far scored 4,155 runs in 52 Tests with 12 centuries. The four-Test series begins in Melbourne on December 26. Teenage paceman Ishant Sharma and newcomer Pankaj Singh were also named in a 16-man squad to be led by Anil Kumble, announced Indian cricket board secretary Niranjan Shah. India won their first Test series against Pakistan at home since 1980 under Kumble, leading the side for the first time.

"It's a great comfort to know that all of your batsmen are in good form and this is the best-prepared side to tour Australia," said Kumble. Sharma, 19, was rewarded for his five-wicket haul in the drawn third and final Test against Pakistan.

India will yet again rely on their famed middle order, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Venkatsai Laxman, to test Australia in home conditions. They played big roles when India drew a four-Test series on their last tour of Australia four years ago under Ganguly. India named just two spinners -- Kumble and Harbhajan Singh -- as the selectors ignored Murali Kartik who gave a good account of himself in a recent one-day home series against Australia and Pakistan.

India will also play a triangular one-day series in Australia, also featuring World Cup runners-up Sri Lanka. The one-day squad will be named later.

India Test squad:

Anil Kumble (capt), Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Pankaj Singh.

India wins Test series at home against Pakistan after Two Decade

2007-12-13T10:14:00.000+05:30

Anil Kumble raised visions of a dramatic Indian victory with a five-wicket haul before Pakistan managed to escape with a draw in the third and final Test here on Wednesday. The veteran leg-spinner grabbed 5-60 with shrewd variations on a wearing track as Pakistan finished at 162-7 in fading light chasing an improbable 374-run target off 48 overs on the fifth and final day. The Kumble-led India clinched the Test series 1-0 after winning the opening match by six wickets in New Delhi and drawing the next two in Kolkata and here.

It was India's first Test series triumph against Pakistan at home in more than two decades, the last success coming in 1980 under Sunil Gavaskar. India needed the last three wickets when bad light thwarted their incredible victory bid. Mohammad Yousuf (10) and tailender Mohammad Sami (four) were the unbeaten batsmen with 12 overs remaining. According to the playing conditions, both the teams had agreed that artificial lights would not be used in the series. There was no hint of collapse when Pakistan were 144-3 in the 32nd over following a 71-run stand for the fourth wicket between Faisal Iqbal (51) and in-form Misbah-ul-Haq (37).

But Kumble virtually turned the match upside-down when he dismissed Iqbal and Kamran Akmal off successive deliveries in front of his cheering home fans on a day when team-mate Sourav Ganguly missed out on a rare landmark. It was the second time the spinner had grabbed two wickets in an over, having earlier removed opener Yasir Hameed (39) and stand-in captain Younis Khan. Kumble was brilliantly backed by part-time spinner Yuvraj Singh, who celebrated his 26th birthday by removing Misbah and debutant Yasir Arafat as Pakistan lost four wickets for 10 runs in a dramatic collapse.

A dull draw looked on the cards when India declared their second innings closed at 284-6 an hour after the lunch-break. But Kumble enlivened the proceedings by striking in quick succession to push Pakistan on the verge of defeat with his 34th haul of five or more wickets in a Test innings. Ganguly's march towards to a rare feat and Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's duel with the batsmen were the only talking points in the first two sessions. Former captain Ganguly fell nine runs short of becoming the seventh batsman to score a double-century and a hundred in a Test.

The left-hander, who cracked a maiden double-ton in the first innings, was dismissed for 91 after an impressive exhibition of strokeplay. Ganguly looked set to join the elite club in his 99th Test before uppishly driving fast bowler Mohammad Sami to Iqbal, who took a smart catch at gully. But he had completed 1,000 runs in a calendar year at that stage. Australians Doug Walters and Greg Chappell, West Indies' Lawrence Rowe and Brian Lara, Gavaskar and England's Graham Gooch are other batsmen to have scored a double-century and a hundred in the same Test.

Australia thrashes New Zealand in Twenty20

2007-12-12T10:20:00.000+05:30

A fast bowling blitz saw Australia thrash New Zealand by 54 runs in a Twenty20 international at the WACA Ground here Tuesday. The home side made 186 for six from its 20 overs, led by an unbeaten 85 from powerful all-rounder Andrew Symonds, and the Black Caps managed just 132 in reply in front of 17,344 spectators.

Although Twenty20 is viewed as a batsman's game, the Australian pace attack derailed New Zealand's run chase from the start with some extremely hostile bowling in another tough match for new Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori. On a lively wicket, Brett Lee (17-2) claimed the wicket of dangerous opener Lou Vincent from the first ball of the innings, the Kiwi batsman getting a top edge to a rising ball and skying it to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. Lee then dismissed Brendon McCullum, who had survived a close third umpire run out decision and audaciously slashed the Australian quick over point for six in his previous over, in similar fashion, caught behind from a leading edge for 13.

Fellow tearaway Shaun Tait (22-2) was brought into the attack and claimed a wicket with his first ball, Jamie How (4) gloving a bouncer through to Gilchrist, who pulled in a stunning catch. Gilchrist leapt high to get a hand to the ball, and then wheeled around and dived full length to snare the ball in one hand. The first three New Zealand wickets had all fallen to express, rising deliveries. Three deliveries later, Tait removed Ross Taylor for a duck off an inside edge. When Gilchrist took his fourth catch to remove Mathew Sinclair for a duck, the third of the innings, and give Mitchell Johnson (19-2) his first wicket, the Black Caps were 31 for five and the game was as good as over as a contest. Another quick, Ashley Noffke, celebrated his promotion with 18-3. Kiwi all-rounder Jacob Oram restored some respectability and gave another reminder of his hitting ability with an unbeaten 66 from 31 balls, hitting five sixes in eight balls from the spin of Symonds.

Australia's imposing total was built around a typically brutal knock from Andrew Symonds, who faced just 46 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes. Australia was not in great shape at 73 for three after 10 overs, but Symonds teamed with rookie Adam Voges (26) for an 80-run stand that accelerated the innings. Michael Clarke, captaining the Australian side for the first time, opened the batting with Adam Gilchrist and made 33 from 26 balls.

India poised to end long wait - Day 5

2007-12-12T10:16:00.000+05:30

Misbah-ul-Haq relished India's attack with a second successive century to boost Pakistan's hopes of forcing a draw in the third and final Test here on Tuesday. The middle-order batsman followed his second-Test 161 with a brilliant 133 not out as Pakistan warded off a threat of follow-on to post 537 in their first innings in reply to India's 626.

India were strongly placed to clinch their first Test series against Pakistan at home since 1980 after reaching 131-2 in their second innings at stumps on the penultimate day for an overall lead of 220. The hosts lead 1-0 in the series, with the final Test heading for a draw. India lost openers Gautam Gambhir (three) and Wasim Jaffer (18) before former captains Sourav Ganguly (63 not out) and Rahul Dravid (35 not out) steadied the innings with an unfinished 105-run stand for the third wicket.

Ganguly, who smashed a maiden Test double-hundred in the first innings, raced to his half-century off 57 balls with a six off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and nine fours. The hosts needed a couple of early wickets in the morning to raise victory hopes after Pakistan had resumed at 369-5, but had to wait for two sessions to wrap up the innings on a track where the ball sometimes kept low. India also earned a dubious distinction of conceding a record 76 extras in a Test innings, surpassing the previous highest of 71 by the West Indies against Pakistan at Georgetown in 1988.

Sri Lanka - England Series : Record-setting Jayawardene, Vandort flay England - Day 3

2007-12-11T18:36:00.000+05:30

Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene took over from Sanath Jayasuriya as his country's leading run-maker as the hosts pulverised England in the second Test here on Tuesday. Jayawardene made 167 not out and Michael Vandort hit 138 as Sri Lanka, replying to England's first innings total of 351, piled up 379-4 by stumps on the third day at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC).

Sri Lanka go into the fourth day's play leading by 28 runs with six wickets in hand and almost certain to put England under pressure when the tourists bat a second time. Jayawardene surpassed the recently-retired Jayasuriya's career tally of 6,973 runs and also equalled Aravinda de Silva's Sri Lankan record of 20 Test centuries. The 30-year-old now has 7,030 runs from 92 Tests while Jayasuriya played 110 matches before retiring from the longer format of the game after the first Test in Kandy last week.

Jayawardene shone once again on his favourite hunting ground where he scored 374 against South Africa two years ago during a world record stand of 624 with Kumar Sangakkara (287). The Sri Lankan captain has 2,034 runs from 19 matches at the SSC, the most by any batsman at a single venue, surpassing former England captain Graham Gooch's 2015 runs from 21 Tests at Lord's in London. Jayawardene, who has hit 13 boundaries and a six, and Vandort put on 227 for the third wicket after coming together in the post-lunch session of the second day with Sri Lanka struggling at 22-2. The pair batted through Tuesday's morning period before left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom broke the stand with his fourth delivery with the second new ball an hour after lunch by trapping Vandort leg-before.

Vandort hit 18 boundaries, and a six off Monty Panesar, but failed by two runs to surpass his Test best of 140 against Bangladesh in 2002. Chamara Silva helped his captain put on 128 for the fourth wicket, making 49 before he fended a short ball from Steve Harmison to Ravi Bopara at point.England, who lost the first Test by 88 runs, were denied quick wickets after they had removed the prolific Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga cheaply on Monday.

Sangakkara's wicket had raised the tourists' hopes after the left-hander hit 152 in Kandy to become the first batsman in history to compile 150-plus scores in four consecutive Tests. But England were frustrated by the slow wicket that offered no assistance to the bowlers. The nearest England came to taking a wicket in the morning session was when Panesar got one to spin sharply across Jayawardene's bat, but wicket-keeper Matthew Prior failed to take the thin edge. Jayawardene moved to 88 when he edged Harmison to gully where Ian Bell dived in front, but indicated to the umpires he had picked up the ball on the half-volley and was not claiming a catch.

Kevin Pietersen was given out similarly on the first day after umpire Daryl Harper declined to call for television replays which showed that Chamara Silva had grassed the ball before holding it. Sidebottom was England's most successful bowler on the slow pitch, claiming three wickets for 72 runs. Panesar went for 111 runs from his 32 overs.

Misbah-ul-Haq's fighting ininings boost Pak chances of avoiding a follow-on

2007-12-11T10:25:00.000+05:30

Pakistan rode on Misbah-ul-Haq's fighting half-century to boost their chances of avoiding a follow-on in the third and final Test against India here on Monday. The tourists were 369-5 in their first innings at stumps on the third day in reply to India's mammoth 626, needing just 58 more runs to avert the follow-on. Misbah (54 not out) and Kamran Akmal (32 not out), who made centuries in a similar situation in the previous Test at Kolkata, rallied Pakistan with an unfinished 81-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Pakistan were in trouble at 288-5 before Misbah and Akmal denied India further success with their responsible knocks. Misbah has so far struck eight fours in his second half-century. India also made a dubious record of conceding 70 extras, their previous highest being 60 against England in 1979.The hosts lead 1-0 in the series following their six-wicket win in the opening Test in New Delhi. The second match ended in a draw. Pakistan were strongly placed at 221-2 before stand-in captain Younis Khan was bowled attempting a reverse-sweep off spinner Harbhajan Singh, starting a slide that saw his team lose three crucial wickets in the space of 67 runs.

Younis, leading the team in a second successive Test in the absence of unfit Shoaib Malik, batted confidently during his 156-ball 80 before he fell playing one reverse-sweep too many. He had played the same shot with success on a couple of occasions in the morning session but missed the line this time off Harbhajan, bowling round the stumps. He struck 12 fours in his 20th half-century.

Younis, who scored a match-saving hundred in the previous Test, propped up the innings with a 90-run stand for the second wicket with Salman Butt (68) and 72 for the next with Mohammad Yousuf (24). After the reverse-sweep came a poor stroke that led to the dismissal of Yousuf, who uppishly drove left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan to Yuvraj Singh at point a few deliveries after exchanging words with India skipper Anil Kumble. Pakistan threw away two vital wickets just when Younis, seven overnight, and Yousuf looked set to play long innings on a track which had little for seamers and spinners even on the third day. The Indian captain kept changing his bowlers but the next success came with the second new ball, with inexperienced Ishant Sharma making amends for a below-par performance by removing Faisal Iqbal.

Seamer Sharma, playing only his second Test, struck in his third over with the new ball when he surprised Iqbal (22) with extra bounce to have him caught by Gautam Gambhir at short-leg. India struggled for success in the morning on a placid track as Younis batted comfortably against both pace and spin to help his team add 94 to their overnight total of 86-1.

Ganguly-Pathan fireworks, Pakistan under pressure - Day 2

2007-12-10T10:26:00.000+05:30

Sourav Ganguly and Irfan Pathan posted career-best knocks as India showed their batting prowess to put Pakistan under pressure in the third and final Test here on Sunday. Ganguly cracked an elegant 239 for a maiden Test double-century and Pathan marked his comeback with an explosive 102 for a first hundred to help India pile up a mammoth 626 in their first innings. Pakistan made a strong reply as they reached 86-1 at stumps on the second day.

Salman Butt was unbeaten with an aggressive 50 and stand-in captain Younis Khan with seven. They still need 341 more runs to avoid a follow-on. Left-handed Butt swept leg-spinner Anil Kumble for a ninth four to reach his half-century.

It was India's highest total against Pakistan at home, beating the previous best of 616-5 declared in the second Test of the current series at Kolkata. Left-handed Ganguly and Pathan put the Pakistani attack to the sword with thrilling strokeplay on a good batting track, adding 178 for the seventh wicket to ensure the tourists bat under the threat of a follow-on.

Ganguly, 125 overnight, reached his double-hundred in the afternoon when he drove Arafat through the covers for two runs. His previous best was 173 against Sri Lanka in Mumbai in 1997. Lower-order batsman Pathan, 23, went on the rampage in his first Test in more than a year as he smashed four sixes and 10 fours in his 133-ball knock.

Pakistan were a bowler short as paceman Shoaib Akhtar was unable to resume bowling after being off the field for more than a session on Saturday due to back pain. He was not given a single over even when he became eligible to bowl. Younis was left with only three specialist bowlers but seamers Mohammad Sami and Arafat, and Kaneria were ineffective on an unhelpful wicket. Ganguly and Pathan made the most of the conditions, reducing the Pakistani bowlers and fielders to a state of helplessness during their big partnership.

Third Test : Yuvraj and Ganguly demoralised the Pakistani bowling attack - Day 1

2007-12-09T10:29:00.001+05:30

Yuvraj Singh and Sourav Ganguly hammered explosive centuries to lead India's fightback in the third and final Test against Pakistan here on Saturday. Yuvraj celebrated his comeback with a career-best 169 and Ganguly scored a fluent unbeaten 125 as an injury-hit India recovered from a horror morning session to post 365-5 in their first innings at stumps on the opening day.

India were wobbling at 61-4 after winning the toss on a good batting track before left-handers Yuvraj and Ganguly restored their team's fortunes with a 300-run stand for the fifth wicket. The partnership was the highest for the fifth wicket in Tests between the two countries, surpassing the previous best of 213 set by Pakistanis Zaheer Abbas and Mudassar Nazar at Karachi in 1982. Debutant seamer Yasir Arafat jolted India with three important wickets in a tight seven-over opening spell before his side ran into Yuvraj and Ganguly, who counter-attacked to steer their team to safety.

It was one-day specialist Yuvraj's third Test century - all against Pakistan - and Ganguly's 15th, including a second successive ton against the tourists following his 102 in the previous match. Pakistan also suffered a stroke of misfortune when ace paceman Shoaib Akhtar walked off the field after bowling two overs in the afternoon. He was taken to hospital with back pain. Pakistan's team management said the fast bowler's condition would be assessed on Sunday morning before any decision was taken. "I was nervous when we were 61-4. I have never been a confident starter in Test cricket. It gives me shivers because it's a different ball game," said Yuvraj, playing only his 20th Test since his international debut in 2000. "I feel bad sitting out, but it's not easy to replace Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ganguly and Venkatsai Laxman in the middle order. "I was disappointed to get out. I should have got a double-century, but I am happy I pulled my team out of trouble."

Yuvraj and Ganguly demoralised the Pakistani attack in the last two sessions with a wide range of attacking shots all round the wicket.

Third Test : Yuvraj and Ganguly demoralised the Pakistani bowling attack - Day 1

2007-12-09T10:29:00.000+05:30