Dhoni cheerful despite Zaheer loss

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has put a positive spin on Zaheer Khan's nonappearance from the second power Test against England in Nottingham.

The tourists' captain delivered corroboration at Trent Bridge on Thursday that the left-arm seamer - who recorded a match-winning nine-wicket haul on his last Test visit to this venue four years ago - has failed to recover in time from the constrain injury he suffer at Lord's last week.

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Steven Finn get Trent Bridge call

Steven Finn has been call up to England's squad for the second npower Test against India, starting Friday.

The 22-year-old Middlesex player joins the squad due to misgivings over Chris Tremlett's fitness.

Tremlett experienced his hamstring "niggle" for a second time during England's net session on Thursday afternoon; although Captain Andrew Strauss appears hopeful the Surrey man will figure at Trent Bridge.

Strauss said: "We are very sure he should be fine.

"But like all these things, because there is such a short rotate between the two Test matches, we've almost got to wait until Friday morning before we're 100% sure one way or another.

"We'll only choose him if we're 100% he'll get through the game."

Finn, who took 5-33 in a CB40 clash with Derbyshire on Thursday, will compete with Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan for a place in the XI should Tremlett miss out.

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Raja, Cheema, Sohail integrated in squad for Zimbabwe

Pakistan have satisfied some of their reliable performer in domestic cricket by counting three uncapped players - top-order batsman Rameez Raja, legspinner Yasir Shah and seamer Aizaz Cheema - as well as fast bowler Sohail Khan, who has played only one Test, in the squad for the tour of Zimbabwe that starts on August 28.

There are also recalls for opening batsman Imran Farhat, who hasn't played for Pakistan since the one-day series next to South Africa in the UAE in October 2010, and left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir, who was last built-in for the New Zealand tour earlier in the year.

The squad seems to be a new one, with the bowling attack in particular feature several new names and missing some of the senior players. Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmed and Wahab Riaz, who have been Pakistan's three premier fast bowlers in new times, have all been rested, with Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir, Cheema and Junaid Khan making up the pace attack. There is also a alter in the spin department with Abdur Rehman being rested and Yasir being given an opportunity.

Pakistan's chief selector Mohsin Khan explains that the fresh look to the squad was an attempt to blood youngsters. "We have to bring in young players along with seniors so that they could be groomed," he said. "Because it's a short tour we have selected only one squad for all three format of the game and have rested Riaz and Gul in a hope to try out some youngsters."

Adnan Akmal has domestic the wicketkeeper's spot in the squad, meaning Mohammad Salman, who unsuccessful to make an impression with the bat in the West Indies and Ireland, makes way. Allrounder Hammad Azam also failed to have a crash on those tours and has been kept in the standbys to make place for Raja. Ahmed Shehzad, who was drop after the tour of the West Indies, has been left out again.

Another growth is the enclosure of Shoaib Malik, the former Pakistan captain, in the list of standbys. Malik has been concerned in a battle with the PCB, whose reliability commission has not clear him for selection since the contentious tour of England last year. Mohsin said Malik would only be built-in if he managed to obtain clearance from the PCB. Meanwhile, legspinner Danish Kaneria, who has taken his fight to get authorization to the Sindh High Court, continues to be ignored.

Raja's call-up comes on the back of reliable domestic presentation in all formats. He was the leading run-getter in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division One last season, and was top of the run charts again during the recent Faysal Bank Super Eight Twenty20 Cup. His performances in the T20 competition, which incorporated a 97 in the semi-final and a half-century in the final, led to calls for his enclosure in the national side.

Sohail Khan, Sohail Tanvir and Cheema were all lately part of an emerging player’s camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, where they received tips from former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz. Sohail Khan and Sohail Tanvir both bring themselves back into the attention during the Super Eight Twenty20 competition; the former took 14 wickets in Karachi Dolphins' road to the finals, while the latter captained Rawalpindi Rams to the title. Cheema, 31, earn his call-up from side to side another strong first-class season in which he took 57 wickets in eight games in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Yasir frightened with his 16 wickets in four games during the Faysal Bank Pentangular Cup at the start of this year, and then took 3 for 29 for Pakistan A against Afghanistan in a one-dayer. Farhat also did well in the Pentangular, hitting a century and two fifties, and was leading run-getter in the domestic one-day rivalry before that.

Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Rameez Raja junior, Adnan Akmal (wk), Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanvir, Sohail Khan, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema.

Standbys: Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Khurram Manzoor, Sharjeel Khan, Mohammad Talha, Hammad Azam, Shoaib Malik (subject to clearance from PCB integrity committee)

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Long probability for injury-hit India

England's inclusive triumph at Lord's, with a presentation hail by their captain as "outstanding", has put them one step closer to the much-desired No. 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings. Some are already proclaim them the best team in the world, irrespective of what the rankings say. Others suggest they aren't yet, and that judgment should be withheld waiting later in the series, given India's extraordinary knack of bouncing back after defeats in series-openers.

An injury-hit India presents England with a great opportunity to settle the discuss. MS Dhoni's side is crippled by the loss of arguably their most powerful player, Zaheer Khan, due to a hamstring problem.

What will make it inferior is if Gautam Gambhir, who is still getting better from a blow to the prod he took in the first Test, joins the wound list. While India at least have a couple of back-up quick bowlers to choose from to restore Zaheer, Gambhir's nonappearance could end up offensive the batting pattern. One of three makeshift openers will have to be employed - Yuvraj Singh, Rahul Dravid or Wriddhiman Saha - and the knowledgeable middle order, India's biggest strength, could be exposed early to the swinging ball.

England start as favorites in Trent Bridge, but as India have frequently shown, they are a astonishingly flexible side, frequently managing to get around problems caused by their moderately weak bowling line-up. Can they do it once again?

Form guide (most recent first)
England WDDWW
India LDDWD
In the spotlight

Harbhajan Singh's place in the XI has not often come under the scanner, particularly after his ascension to the lead spinner's role after the departure of Anil Kumble nearly three years ago. Now, though, question is being asked after a run-of-the-mill presentation in the Caribbean was followed up with a 1 for 218 at Lord's. While the track for the first Test didn't offer much for the spinners, Harbhajan's incapability to keep the runs down hurt a Zaheer-less India. He needs three more caps to complete 100 Tests; a landmark he may not reach in this series if not he turns his form around.

At Trent Bridge four years ago, Matt Prior's career hit one of its lows when he faces a volley of criticism for the notorious jelly bean saga. Now he returns to the venue highly praised by some as the best Test wicketkeeper-batsman in the world. With four centuries in the past year and an average that has soared to the mid-forties, prior has made quite a persuasive case.

Team news

The most established side in world cricket, England's only apprehension is the hamstring problem that is troubling their tall fast bowler Chris Tremlett. Andrew Strauss is certain Tremlett will be fit to play but even if he isn't, there's a ready replacement in Tim Bresnan. The rest of the XI is certain picks.

England 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Andrew Strauss (capt), 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Kevin Pietersen, 5 Ian Bell, 6 Eoin Morgan, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Graeme Swann, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Chris Tremlett/Tim Bresnan, 11 James Anderson

India has more to ponder. The good news for Indian fans is Sachin Tendulkar has improved from the viral fever that concerned him in the first Test. The bad news is that Zaheer is out and Gambhir could join him on the sidelines. Sreesanth is probable to get his first Test since Cape Town six months ago, and Yuvraj Singh could get yet another shot at stimulating his Test career.

India 1 Abhinav Mukund, 2 Gautam Gambhir/Yuvraj Singh, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Suresh Raina, 7 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Praveen Kumar, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Sreesanth

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Broad: England chase top spot

Stuart Broad says England is "hunting" top spot in the ICC Test rankings after victory over India at Lord's.

Needing to take the series by two clear Tests to move above their opponents in the standings, England made the perfect start with an impressive 196-run triumph on Monday.

Broad, though, insists the squad is not resting on their laurels, and is strong-minded to turn in another strong presentation in the second Test at Trent Bridge, which gets underway on Friday.

"We knew we wanted to start the series well," the Nottinghamshire bowler told in front of the game at his home ground.

"We had talk about it, chiefly the first hour, so to come away from Lord's with victory is just the ideal start.

"We know it's only one Test out of four and that India are the best team in the world, so we need to be right on it at Trent Bridge.

"We've got huge leaders of our group - people like Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss - and we will be very listening carefully on that first hour at Trent Bridge.

"The great thing about Trent Bridge is that it's a really good cricket wicket, but you can lose the game inside the first hour since it can swing around. If you're 50-5, you're in a bit of trouble.

"The boys are hunt that No.1 slot and we need to be right on the money all of the time."

Broad positively played his part in England's success at Lord's, final up with match figures of 7-94 and also weighing in with an winning half-century in the home side's second innings.

The 25-year-old had been under force going into the match, only just keeping his place in the final XI ahead of Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan, after lasting a lean series against Sri Lanka at the start of the summer.

"It's always nice to take wickets and score some runs, but more highly to add to the team winning," he added.

"It was nice to pick up some key wickets and help Matt reach his hundred, which was a special moment, but it all starts again at Trent Bridge.

"The boys are really focused on that. It was an amazing win at Lord’s; we really enjoy sitting in the changing room on Monday evening, but the mind soon switched on to Trent Bridge and looking to go 2-0 up."

While England is on a high, India has plenty of problems ahead of the match in Nottingham.

Their most pressing anxiety is the fitness of Zaheer Khan, who suffers a hamstring strain on the opening day at Lord's and did not bowl again.

"We saw Zaheer in 2007 at Trent Bridge and he caused our batsmen problem. We know he is a skilful bowler and he would use circumstances well," Broad said of the left-arm seamer.

"Obviously, we don't know how he is going to pull up, but we must focus on what we have got to do.

"We need to regulate our line and lengths - you do get good value for pitching the ball up at Trent Bridge - and a lot of catches can go to the slip, so that's something we will be working on in training."

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Chris Broad locate to become PCA president

Chris Broad is to take over as president of the Professional Cricketers' Association after Sir Ian Botham determined to stand down from the role.

Broad, father to England bowler Stuart and a former Test player and match referee, will take the job on a two-year fixed term start in August.

Angus Porter, chief administrative of the PCA, said: "Sir Ian has been a kind and active supporter of the PCA, and it has been a privilege to work with him as president.

"We are thankful for everything he has done for us, and offer him our very best wishes as he continues to offer his energies to his media career and his formidable generous efforts."

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Kenya, UAE set for first surrounding battle

Kenya and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will assemble in the first round of ICC Intercontinental Cup on Thursday (28 July 2011) in Nairobi.

Kenya’s new captain Collins Obuya will be most important a new-look side for the Africans for this tournament with a digit of new faces mixed with some old-hands.

UAE will be making a go back to the competition; having last year compete in and reach the final of the ICC Intercontinental Shield, and Khurram Khan’s men will want a physically powerful start to its new campaign.

Captain Obuya said: “It has been a while since we played UAE but they have a very experienced side in contrast to our younger, newer squad.

“We last hosted them for one-day matches and we are challenge to their bowling attack which is strong and tends to win matches for them, particularly on spinner-friendly wickets. They might have played in the I-Shield last year but they will sure give us a hard challenge.”

“To some degree we have home advantage because we are used to pitch conditions while the climate here is very different from the UAE thus playing a key role to our game plan. We must exploit the home benefit point to garner first points for this round of the contest,” added the 29-year-old all-rounder.

“We’ve all been training hard in front of this fixture and would have also been in a team camp before the fixture so I think we’ll be well ready for taking on the UAE.

“We are coming off playing the shorter version of the game and so the longer version will need a lot more energy and attentiveness and we will need to be at our best to register first win in the Intercontinental Cup competition this year,” he finished.

The UAE side has some recognizable faces to Associate cricket in the form of bowler Nasir Aziz while Saqib Ali leads a strong batting line-up along with the like of captain Khurram Khan.

Khan said: “Having played quite a lot of 20-over cricket in the past months we have now turned our concentration to the longer format and have been working hard in front of this first I Cup fixture.

“Everyone in the side is very happy, we’ve had some good performance in the recent times but we need to do better in the format and we’re certainly looking forward to returning to playing with the red ball.”

“We’ve seen Kenya play before but we’re a strong side and will be ready for whatever challenges they offer to us. We do have a strong spin attack but at the same time our fast bowlers, Amjad Javed and Shoaib Sarwar help gives us a impartial side.

“We have a strong team which is very mature and I consider if we remain committed and listening carefully we can do well in this match and beyond,” added the 40-year-old all-rounder.

Ahead of the ICC Intercontinental Cup match, the sides split a two-match 50-over series 1-1. Kenya won the gap match on Monday by 66 runs (D/L method), before the UAE claim a four-wicket victory on Tuesday.

Kenya squad: Collins Obuya (captain); Rakep Patel; Tanmay Mishra; Runish Gudka; Hiren Varaiya; Lucas Oluoch; Dominic Wesonga; Karen Kaul; Amit Shukla; Rajesh Bhudia; Rajesh Varsani; Ramesh Mepani; Mansukh Jesani (wicket keeper); Samarth Patel

UAE squad: Khurram Khan (captain); Mohammed Touqir; Arshad Ali; Saqib Ali; Abdul Rehman; Ahmed Raza; Amjad Javed; Shadeep Silva; Amjad Ali; Shaiman Anwar; Nasir Aziz; Shoaib Sarwar; Wasim Bari; Palekar Hamid.

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Anderson expect India repercussion

James Anderson expects a backlash from India after the hosts' believable victory in the first npower Test at Lord's.

The 28-year-old bowled England to a unforgettable 196-run win on Monday, returning five for 65 and secretarial for all three of the tourists' star batsmen in a second-innings total of 261 all out.

He anticipates India will come out fighting when the second Test gets under way at Trent Bridge on Friday.

"When any team gets beaten they usually come back stronger and have more fire in their belly," he said .

"All we can do is focus on our game, get ready well the next couple of days and concentrate on that first hour on Friday."

Anderson has put his first-Test heroics aside and urged England to think only of the second as they look to move closer to their goal of attractive the world's top-ranked Test team.

"It was a great presentation, a great team effort. We did actually well to get the win. But that's gone now," said the Lancashire seamier. "We've got to hit the re-set button and focus on Friday now.

"Each game is dissimilar. We can't rely on what's gone on in the past. It's a different game completely and we've got to just prepare well the next couple of days and with any luck hit the ground running on Friday.

"We've got to try to get better if we can. That's something we've prided ourselves on in the last couple of years - not resting on our laurels but trying to improve and be as good as we possibly can be."

The Lord's achievement put England 1-0 up in a four-match series that will see them leapfrog India as the top side in the world if they win by two matches or more.

On that target, Anderson added: "It's our end goal but we've got to think on each game and play as well as we can in each game and hope that will be the end product."

Like Anderson, India opener Abhinav Mukund was looking forward to Trent Bridge rather than back at Lord's.

"We're all disappointed but there are a lot of good belongings we can take from the previous game," he said.

"It's a four-match series. We'll take the positives and move on to the next game. "Being the world number one team, the India team has conquered a lot of challenges on the way here. We're knowledgeable sufficient. We've come here to take on this challenge."

This Test series is only the second for Mukund, who is playing in place of the wounded Virender Sehwag at the top of the order, and the 21-year-old batsman is relish being concerned.

"To be part of this set-up, anyone who comes in as a new batsman will be trained every day. Even in nets, there are so many people you look up to.

"A pat on the back from someone like Sachin [Tendulkar] does anyone's confidence the world of good.

"I've absolutely well over the last few months and I'm looking forward to keeping improving."

On deputising for 87-Test veteran Sehwag, he added: "its big boots to fill but I want to play my own game.

"I don't want to put back Sehwag. I just want to play how I want to play. If it comes off it's going to help the team."

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BCCI deny India skip greeting

The BCCI in a statement today denied the story of Indian team skipping a reception at the Indian High Commission for Mahendra Singh Dhoni's event as "baseless".

Reacting to the media information that the Indian cricket team skipped a reception at the Indian High Commission for presence a function organized by caption Mahendra Singh Dhoni at a central London hotel to raise money for his charity as "baseless".

"The BCCI would like to make it clear that this story is unjustified. The Indian High Commission had comprehensive an invite to the Indian team to attend a reception on 18 July 2011. However, the Indian cricket team had previously committed itself to another function on the same day, six months in advance.

"The BCCI had so communicated the same to the Indian High Commission, and optional that the reception be organised on 25 July 2011 in its place," the board seceratary and President Vote for N Srinivasan said in a statement.

"However, the Indian High Commission establishment said that there were other actions scheduled on the 25th. They also knowledgeable the BCCI that they would get in touch with the Indian Team Management after its influx in the UK, and fix up a date for the reception. The BCCI decided to this.

"Mr. Anirudh Chaudhry, the Manager of the touring side, is in touch with the Indian High Commission officials, and it is learnt that the reception may be organised in August, when the Indian team proceeds to London," the statement added.

Earlier, an Indian daily report that the Indian team and the BCCI have been report by the Indian High Commission to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) here for failing to be present at a reception on July 18, which was to be hosted by the high commissioner to the United Kingdom.

The daily further stated that the high commissioner, Nalin Surie had to cancel his planned reception, after he learnt that Dhoni had listed a function the same evening.

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Kaneria's PCB case to be hear

The first full hearing of the case file by not needed Danish Kaneria next to the PCB will be heard at the Sindh High Court on Tuesday.

The PCB's legal team will submit its complete reply to the appeal filed by the not needed leg-spinner in which he has said that the board had given no reason for not clearance him to play for the national team.

The court summoned the PCB officials for the hearing to give details why Kaneria was not being careful for selection when the Essex police had empty him in the spot-fixing examination that was held last year.

Kaneria and fellow Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield were under arrest last year on charges of spot-fixing during a Pro40 match against Durham.

Kaneria was later unrestricted without being charged but Westfield faces criminal events.

But sources said the PCB legal team was planning to inform the court about reports in the British press that Kaneria was still not cleared in the case.

Apparently a British newspaper, which covered the court hearing of the case last year in September, had report that the Essex police in its announcement filed with the court had said that Kaneria was still a co-accused in the case.

Kaneria feature in Pakistan's Test series against England last year but has not been selected since for global matches.

The PCB will be represent by its legal avisor, Tafazzul Rizvi.

This is the second time in two months that a senior player has gone to the Sindh High Court against the PCB.

Pakistan's former captain, Shahid Afridi had also filed a petition against the PCB in June for not issuing him a NOC to play in England for Hampshire.

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England unmovable for second Test

England has named an unmovable 12-man squad for the second power Test with India, starting at Trent Bridge on Friday.

Following Monday's 196-run over the tourists at Lord's, National Selector Geoff Miller has long-established that the same group of players, along with Tim Bresnan, will meet up in Nottingham later this week.

Bresnan was edge out of the estimate by Stuart Broad for the Lord's Test, and return to Yorkshire to play in their narrow loss to Lancashire, while Broad vindicated his selection with a fine presentation with bat and ball.

"There was a lot to be satisfied about from the opening Test at Lord's," said Miller.

"We saw some outstanding performances with both bat and ball which resulted in a wonderful win on the final day of what was a unforgettable match.

"While the squad from the first power Test all came through unscathed we have built-in Tim Bresnan in the squad for this next Test and he'll once again be pushing for selection following a short rotate in between Test matches."

England squad: Andrew Strauss, captain (Middlesex), James Anderson (Lancashire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Alastair Cook (Essex), Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), Matt Prior (Sussex), Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Chris Tremlett (Surrey), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire).

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PCB ask Alam,Mohsin to give details

The PCB has required an clarification from Intikhab Alam and chief selector, Mohsin Khan over the sudden addition of eight players in the fast-track coaching camp in Lahore.

Reliable sources in the conservatory said that an official of the PCB had inquired from Alam on how these players were inducted into the camp without the authorization of the board.

The eight players from Hyderabad and Abbot bad regions were incorporated in the camp for which initially 20 players were announce by the board.

The second phase of the camp, being organized by the PCB, is for spinners, all-rounder’s and middle order batsmen.

Amusingly all the eight players were included in the camp without the PCB making any announcement about their enclosure and on what grounds they were called up.

The source said when he was told to explain the position; Alam said he would give a detailed clarification soon.

"Intikhab stated that the players were incorporated after he consults Mohsin and they felt the players could be called up late," the source said.

The enclosure of these players caused a stir here as many of them have nothing to show for on the domestic circuit.

The controversial inclusion are Mohammad Aslam, Imran Chandio, Mir Ali Haider, Aqeel Anjum and Zahid Mehmood from Hyderabad and Adnan Raees, Khalid Usman and Wajid Ali from Abbotabad region.

"The enclosure of Imran Chandio is strange as he has not played any first class cricket while Ali Talpur played just one first class match last season in which he didn't do anything distinguished. Same is the case with Mohammad Aslam," another source said.

The sources said the case is likely to be bringing to the notice of the chairman of the board when he proceeds tomorrow from abroad.

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Sydney Sixers mark Hayden for Big knock

The Brisbane Heat has scored a major coup, signing up past Aussie batsman Matthew Hayden for the initial KFC T20 Big Bash League this summer.

The 39-year-old, who has enjoy great achievement in the Indian Premier League since his international departure in early 2009, will lead the Heat's already strong batting line-up, one that also include New Zealand international Brendon McCullum and Queensland run-machine, James Hopes.

Playing with the Chennai Super Kings in 2008, 2009 and 2010, Hayden was the IPL's leading run-scorer in 2009 with 572 runs at 52 and a strike-rate of 144.81.

He was also a essential player in Chennai's 2010 Champions League T20 and Champions Trophy victories.

Hayden is the 14th player signed by the Heat, one of the eight teams that will play in the Big Bash League that starts on 16 December.

"I am keyed up about being a part of the Heat and the first-ever Big Bash League, and I will be doing my utmost to make the Heat an achievement both on and off the field," said Hayden.

"I'm looking forward to receiving back into top form and working with Darren (Lehmann) and the Brisbane players. December can't come soon sufficient," an excited Hayden said.

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Pietersen double outshine Praveen's five

India 17 for 0 follow England 474 for 8 decl. (Pietersen 202*, Prior 71, Praveen 5-106) by 457 runs

Kevin Pietersen describe his innings as a "mission" after his 202 not out put the hosts in a talented position after the second day.

Pietersen survive a few scares en route to his 18th Test century, and once he passed the 200 mark captain Andrew Strauss affirmed, with England on 474 for eight and India's openers batted from side to side to the close on 17 without loss.

Pietersen told Sky Sports: "It was quite nice from 150 to 200, but to get there was an undertaking. It was just great to bat with the other lads. I found it quite hard and a couple of the other boys came in and scored quickly and that took the force off me.

"It is always nice to get the team into a position where we can optimistically do something in this Test match. I haven't had the best couple of years, I had a pretty good winter but there are a lot of players in that dressing room that are doing really well."

Praveen Kumar took his first international five-for as he replace the wounded Zaheer Khan as the tourists' forefront seamer, removing both Eoin Morgan and Stuart Broad for ducks and Pietersen could have been out early on when he was caught by Rahul Dravid.

Umpire Billy Bowden gave the 31-year-old out, but the television official upturned the decision and Pietersen was happy with the result and the position the team now find themselves in.

"He (Dravid) thought it was out and you have to use the technology - there was a really good impression out there," he said.

"We are in a real good position here to do something in this Test match. I wouldn't say pressure, but you always have to score runs.

"No one ever takes anything for granted and this is a huge series and a huge, huge Test match and those are games that I love and the things that I thrive on."

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Praveen Kumar relish Lord's dream

Praveen Kumar was a happy man after claim five wickets against England on the second day of the first Test at Lord's.

Asked to plug the gap twisted by the absence of hurt seamer Zaheer Khan, the inspiring Praveen took 5 for 106 to share Friday's attention with England's Kevin Pietersen who recorded an unbeaten 202.

"It's a dream to get five wickets at Lord's. It is very special," he told The Times of India.

"The weather was nice and it felt really nice to get the five wickets. After taking four I was very sure of getting the fifth."

"I didn't mind bowling that many overs since I do bowl 30-35 overs in domestic cricket. In Zaheer's absence, I had to shoulder that liability.

With little support from his fellow bowlers, Praveen, who only made his Test debut for India on their recent tour of the West Indies, accounted for Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior and Stuart Broad to ensure a marked turnaround in fortunes from Thursday when he finished wicketless.

"I bowled the same as I had on the first day. But since it was an older ball, I did try to put in extra effort."

Praveen's heroics come after he miss the ICC Cricket World Cup due to injury, not that the 24-year-old

"If you lose anywhere, God makes it up in some other way," he said.

"I can only work hard and play cricket. I missed the World Cup due to injury but this might have happened with any athlete," Praveen finished.

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Dhoni has made a ridicule of Test cricket by bowling himself: Kapil

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s choice to bowl his seam-up stuff throughout the second day came under severe disapproval from former India captain Kapil Dev, who feels that the existing skipper made a mockery of Test cricket. “Dhoni has made contempt of Test cricket by bowling (himself). This is not acceptable on the second day of a Test match, you can’t do this,” Kapil told a television channel.

Kapil was also serious of Zaheer Khan, who didn’t bowl after suffering from constrain injury. “Zaheer is himself accountable for it. He has put the team in problem. He should have known and tested his fitness levels before recurring to Test cricket,” he said. “It’s really tough to bowl 20 overs a day. He has killed the option of India winning this Test,” Kapil added.
Panesar defend net meeting with Tendulkar

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Indian batting resolve be there tested

Indian cricket has come a long way. Certainly the rush of the last few summers has caused a few headaches but cricket is lucky to have India as its driving force. Amongst major playing nations, only Sri Lanka has better half as much.

However, India has cause to worry about its prospects. Over the next few months the quality of Indian batsman ship will be examine and the new making needs to prove it can counter lifting deliveries as capably as their elders.

India's rise in the last 15 years has in no small part been due to the ability of senior batsmen to master back foot play. Now that go forward is in peril. Whereas the old guard of necessity learnt to play back, their successor can make millions by bashing away off the front peg.

India visits Australia this winter and within a few months group will know whether the Indian Premier League (IPL) is a breeding ground of brilliance or a promoter of charlatans. Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trot have risen on the back of old shaped technique and attitudes. Can the new Indians match them?

Lacking guts

Indian batting needs to keep its imagination. Not so long ago, and with few exceptions, Indian batsmen were incompetent against great pace and seam movement and were easily crushed by assorted English miners and antipodean roughnecks.

England once claims four Indians off the first 14 balls of a Test match. Forgetting about the Ghurkhas, and applying a caricature, observers finished that Indian batsmen lacked fortitude.

In fact many of those players lacked experience and sometimes leadership. As George Headley was obliged to play under useless West Indian pale skins so Indian teams were for an unconscionable period led by Maharajahs unburdened with cricketing knowledge or skill.

Not that the batting order was strong or knowledgeable sufficient to flourish in hostile conditions. Indian batsmen were raise on passive pitches. Expert against spin, they were found wanting next to cutters and rib ticklers.

Now they place up on fiery track in Perth and on damp decks in Leeds.
Of course, a strange generation of batsmen has emerge, one of the finest any country has produced. No nation can forecast such riches, let alone depend on it.

All a community can do is to organize itself so that talent is paying attention, recognized and knowledgeable. After that it's up to the player. Additionally the present seniors were lucky with their timing. Cricket has enter its second age of high scoring.

Helmets have summary the threat posed by fast bowlers, pitches have lost their spirit and, in India, faster tracks and more recurrent tours have forced the issue.

Scaling new heights

So Indian batting has scaled new heights. It is an impressive line-up. Sachin Tendulkar's 100th hundred for his country is eagerly awaited.

How easily that phrase “100th hundred” trips off the tongue, concealing a mind-boggling feat requiring unexpected skill and stamina!

Rahul Dravid is a remarkably durable and talented first drop. Alas! Virender Sehwag is upset, a serious loss to any team for he can control from the outset.

He is a master cast as a maverick. Still V.V.S. Laxman is approximately, continually fretting until the crisis comes.

Sourav Ganguly has reserved but Gautam Gambhir has risen, and formed a potent opening partnership.

What about their replacements? Is Indian batting in safe hands? Can the new group play off both feet?

Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and company have the capability, but are their education complete?

Can they build an innings? If not they will wither in the sun of separation, fall at the fence of high hope. Nothing lasts forever, not even Tendulkar, Laxman and Dravid.

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Michael Clarke pick out of Big Bash League

Michael Clarke, the Australia captain, will take no part in the Twenty20 Big Bash League this summer; prefer to focus on his international commitments.

Extensive discussions between Clarke, his organization and the Sydney Sixers were incapable to reach a workable cooperation between the batsman's desire for rest and training in between Test series and Cricket Australia's desire to have as many thin players as possible taking part in the BBL. Clarke had also conduct talks with numerous other teams.

"With the greatest respect to everybody concerned in the T20 Big Bash League, I will not be committing for this year," Clarke said in a statement. "My goal is to play Twenty20 cricket internally, for sure. But at the moment, I want to priorities my time and promise to my role with the Australian team.

"We have a big six months ahead, and my promise and focus is with those teams. I am also only available for one BBL game this year, and that was a thought as well."

Clarke's choice means both he and Mitchell Johnson will sit out the opposition, while every other CA-contracted player, including the likes of Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey, take part.

As CA's most high profile figure, Clarke's nonappearance from the BBL launch in Sydney next week will be notable, but the latest instance of his degenerative back problems, during a practice fixture at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane last week, provide a harsh reminder that physical organization must be a priority for the national captain.

Stuart Clark, general manager of the Sixers, said Clarke's was a hard decision, but a logical one in the conditions that confront him.

"Michael has chosen to focus on international cricket and I wish him all the best in that, we haven't shut the door on him playing for the Sixers in the future," Clark told. "I think it would've been a difficult decision, he's got a lot to offer the BBL, but he's thought about it and determined to think on the Australian team."

Mike McKenna, the BBL scheme owner and CA's head of marketing, said he could see why Clarke's decision had been made. "We appreciate and admiration his decision," McKenna said, "and while we will miss him, the T20 BBL previously offers fans a galaxy of international and national stars which will help galvanise fan enthusiasm in year one."

Teams have finalized their initial lists of at least 14 players, with some squad having named their full 18-man groups. The residual teams can wait until December to fill out their playing rosters. The Sydney Sixers have named England's Michael Lumb as their first abroad player, while in other final-day actions, the fast bowler Ben Edmondson will return to Western Australia to play with the Perth Scorchers; Chris Swan has signed with the Brisbane Heat; and the Sixers locked in Dominic Thornely and Ian Moran.

The squads so far

Adelaide Strikers Aiden Blizzard, Cameron Borgas, Lee Carseldine, Tom Cooper, Adam Crosthwaite, Theo Doropoulos, Brendan Drew, Callum Ferguson, Daniel Harris, Michael Klinger, Nathan Lyon, Aaron O'Brien, Gary Putland, Kane Richardson. Overseas players: Kieron Pollard. Coach Darren Berry.

Brisbane Heat Ryan Broad, Nick Buchanan, Daniel Christian, Ben Cutting, Peter Forrest, Ryan Harris, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Chris Lynn, Michael Neser, Chris Swan, (One further contract lodged, subject to approval). Overseas players: Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori. Coach Darren Lehmann.

Hobart Hurricanes Travis Birt, Mark Cosgrove, Xavier Doherty, Luke Feldman, Evan Gulbis, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hogan, Phil Jaques, Matt Johnston, Jason Krejza, Nick Kruger, Ben Laughlin, Rhett Lockyear, Tim Paine, Ricky Ponting. Overseas players: Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Owais Shah. Coach Ali de Winter.

Melbourne Renegades Ryan Carters, Aaron Finch, Shane Harwood, Aaron Heal, Jayde Herrick, Michael Hill, Brad Hodge, Glenn Maxwell, Andrew McDonald, Brenton McDonald, Dirk Nannes, Nathan Reardon, Will Sheridan, Shaun Tait. Overseas players: Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi. Coach Simon Helmot.

Melbourne Stars George Bailey, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Jon Holland, David Hussey, Alex Keath, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Peter Siddle, Chris Simpson, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, Cameron White. Overseas players: Luke Wright. Coach Greg Shipperd.

Perth Scorchers Tom Beaton, Michael Beer, Mark Cameron, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ben Edmondson, Michael Hussey, Simon Katich, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Marcus North, Luke Pomersbach, Nathan Rimmington, Luke Ronchi. Overseas players: Paul Collingwood, Herschelle Gibbs. Coach Mickey Arthur.

Sydney Sixers Ed Cowan, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Brett Lee, Nic Maddinson, Ian Moran, Peter Nevill, Steve O'Keefe, Ben Rohrer, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Dominic Thornely, Shane Watson. Overseas players: Michael Lumb. Coach Trevor Bayliss.

Sydney Thunder Sean Abbott, Tim Armstrong, Nic Bills, Doug Bollinger, Luke Butterworth, Scott Coyte, Tim Cruickshank, Matthew Day, Luke Doran, Ben Dunk, Jason Floros, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Craig Philipson, Daniel Smith, David Warner. Overseas players: Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle. Coach Shane Duff.

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Fletcher mourn loss of Zaheer

India coach Duncan Fletcher feel the wound to pacer Zaheer Khan cost India the opportunity of "having a very good day" in the opening Test against England at Lord's.

Khan was easily India's best bowler at Lord's on Thursday before he went to hospital for a scan on his left leg. He took both wickets as England reached 127/2 before rain ensured just over half the listed 90 overs were bowled on the first day.

"He showed he's almost certainly the bowler we miss the most," Fletcher said. "Probably, the others lacked experience. He going off was a big miss. From our point of view, I think maybe we would have been happy with three wickets. I think if he had stayed there and got three or four, we would have broken up having a very good day."

Before limping off the field halfway through the 42nd over, Khan proved penetrating and miserly, footage figures of 2-18.

He trapped Alastair Cook lbw in the morning session and then dupe England captain Andrew Strauss into a skin complaint pull that was caught by Ishant Sharma at fine leg shortly after lunch.

"He's almost certainly the one that could have got us three or four wickets, so he was quite a loss at that stage," Fletcher said.

India's other bowlers proved notably less threatening, however, and while Praveen Kumar and Harbhajan Singh were perhaps unlucky not to claim wickets, Sharma was inconsistent and failed to pressurise batsmen.

Fletcher argues they still bowled rationally well.

"It was hard for our bowlers to get used to the swing," he said. "I still think we bowled pretty well, but they need to get their lines right."

England's Jonathan Trott lived dangerously on his way to 58 not out. Having been drop by Dravid at first slip off Harbhajan, he then edged a delivery from Khan between wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Dravid.

He said: "I think they were two very hard chances," Fletcher said. "I think on another day one might have been taken, but they were very hard chances and we've seen that happen at Lord's on numerous occasions."

He also protected his players against suggestion they lacked intensity in the field.

"Not at all. I consideration those players were really up for the game," he said. "They wanted to play at Lord's and give it their best shot. Those players have just had three hard Test matches in the West Indies.

"It's not just a question of coming over here and getting used to the conditions. We've seen players play a whole Test series and move violently in the field," said Fletcher.

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Rain plays wet blanket at Lord's

Jonathan Trott struck his seventh Test half-century before rain brings an untimely end to day one of the first Test between England and India at Lord's.

Playing in his first Test match next to the world number one-ranked nation, Trott ride his luck when presenting Rahul Dravid with two chances at slip and made the tourists pay by navigation England to 127-2 under leaden, swing-assisting skies.

An early tea was taken with Trott victorious on 58 and Kevin Pietersen not out 22, however dark clouds surrounded Lord's and determined rain meant no further play was possible.

India, who had in progress the day so well by dismiss openers Alastair Cook (12) and Andrew Strauss (22) either side of lunch, will now be sweating on the man who dismissed both, Zaheer Khan, after he hobble off the field with an apparent constrain injury midway through his 14th over.

Having won the toss and opt to bowl there were hopeful early signs for the Indian seamers, with Zaheer's first ball moving considerably into Strauss and Praveen Kumar finding some lavish swing from the Pavilion End.

After causing the England openers plenty of problems, it came as no surprise when Zaheer trapped Cook on the gather in the 11th over to claim the breakthrough.

Strauss, who had one near miss from a run-out, scored his first boundary after 48 balls off Sharma, with new man Trott also finding the ropes after another loose release from the wayward seamer.

Spinner Harbhajan Singh was given the 19th over and approximately saw off Trott with his first ball, which went straight on and took the edge. Dravid, at slip, did not get down quickly sufficient and the chance went begging.

England reach lunch on 43-1 and, just as it comes into view as though batting conditions were improving, Strauss undid 25 overs of alert work by looking to pull a Zaheer bouncer from outside off stump.

He was quick for pace and top-edged it low on the bat, giving Ishant Sharma a simple catch at fine leg.

Pietersen endure a nervy start, taking 14 balls to get off the mark and looking ill at ease as Sharma tighten up his line.

Zaheer had bowled 33 successive dot balls when he finally located Trott's edge, only for the ball to wriggle between wicketkeeper and first slip. Either Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Dravid might have pouched it but neither man put a hand on it to give Trott a second life on 32.

A single off the next ball took England past three figures but inferior was to follow for India when Zaheer pulled up with an obvious hamstring injury and left the field in some discomfort.

Trott eased Harbhajan for four throughout the covers as England looked to break the shackles, but Pietersen almost rotten to a rash stroke, skying one just over mid-on off the spinner.

Trott's 50 came up off 89 balls before dark skies and heavy light rain took the teams off early.

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A party of 2000 glorious Tests

With the 2000th Test well happening at Lord's,  looks at some of the most hard to believe milestones in the history of the game.

England and India are battling in the 100th Test between the two teams at the Mecca of cricket - what better time might there be to go down memory lane and celebrate a enormous journey. Despite the advent of Twenty20 after the ODI's, Test cricket continues to thrive. Numbers don't lie.

5,000 run against one country

The only batsman to amass 5,000 runs against one country is Sir Donald Bradman - 5028 at an average of 89.78 in 37 Tests for Australia against England between November 1928 and August 1948.

15 hundreds against one country

Don Bradman is the only batsman to register 15 hundreds or more against one nation - 19 in 37 Tests against England.

Most double hundreds in a Test series

Don Bradman is the only one to post three innings of 200 or more, accompishing the feat against England in 1930 - 254 at Lord's; 334 at Leeds and 232 at The Oval.

A triple hundred and a hundred

England's Graham Gooch is the only batsman to register a triple hundred and a hundred in the same Test - 333 & 123 vs. India at Lord's in 1990.

Five hundred in a Test series

West Indian Clyde Walcott is the only one to accomplish the feat of registering five hundreds in a Test series while amassing 827 runs against Australia in a five-Test series in 1955.

950 runs in a Test series

Only one batsman has managed 950 runs or more in a Test series. Don Bradman, in only seven innings during Australia's five-Test series aainst England in 1930, aggregated 974 at an average of 139.14, his scores being 8, 131, 254, 1, 334, 14 and 232. The only other batsman to manage 900 runs in a Test series is England's Wally Hammond - 905 at an average of 113.12, including four centuries against Autralia in five Tests in 1928-29.

800 runs in a Test as series as captain

Don Bradman is the only captain to aggregate 800 runs in a Test series - 810 (avverage.90.00), including three hundreds, in a five-Test series against England in Australia in 1936-37.

750 runs in a three-Test series

Graham Gooch, apart from captaining England, amassed 752 at an average of 125.33, including three hundreds, against India in 1990 - the highest in a three-Test series.

750 runs in a debut Test series

India's Sunil Gavaskar is the only batsman to amass 750 runs in a debut Test series, aggregating 774 at an average of 154.80 in four Tests against West Indies in the Caribbean in 1970-71. His tally included four hundreds and three fifties.

The first to amass both 9,000 and 10,000 runs in Tests

India's Sunil Gavaskar was the first to reach 9,000 and 10,000 runs in Tests. He had completed 9,000 during his undefeated 166 against Australia at Adelaide on December 17, 1985. He also became the first to notch five-figure mark shortly after tea on March 7, 1987 - against Pakistan at Ahmedabad's Gujarat Stadium and playing his penultimate Test. A jubilant crowd invasion halted play for more than 20 minutes.

First to register 300 runs in a Test match on debut

England's Tip Foster (287 + 19) had become the first batsman to register 300 runs on debut in a Test match. He had achieved the feat against Australia at Sydney in December 1903.

Most runs in a Test match on debut

Jamaica's Lawrence Rowe is the only batsman to register a double hundred and a hundred in his first Test match, accomplishing the feat for West Indies against New Zealand on his home ground at Sabina Park, Kingston, in February 1972 - 214 and 100 not out. His tally of 314 is a record for any player in his first Test.

Separate centuries on successive days of a Test match

Playing against Australia at Adelaide in 1948, India's Vijay Hazare posted 108 of his first innings 116 on January 26, followed by 102 of his second innings 145 on January 27. He is the only batsman to accomplish the feat in Tests.

First to accomplish a triple of 1,000 runs, 100 wickets and 100 catches

West Indian Garry Sobers was the first all-rounder to amass 1,000 runs, capture 100 wickets and hold 100 catches in Test cricket. In a 93-Test career between March 30, 1954 and April 5, 1974, he managed 8032 runs, claimed 235 wickets and held 109 catches.

First to complete the 'double double' 

Australia's Richie Benaud was the first to accomplish the double of 2000 runs and 200 wickets, achieving the feat in his 60th Test while registering his 2000th run on December 6 1963 against South Africa at Brisbane - in the last of his 28 Tests as Australia's captain.

First to complete the 'treble double'

The first player to accomplish the 'treble double' (3000 runs + 300 wickets) was Ian Botham when he bagged his 300th wicket - against West Indies at The Oval on August 9, 1984 in his 72nd Test. Just for the record, Botham had completed his 3,000 runs in 55 Tests, 4000 in 69 and 5,000 in 94.

Only two all-rounders to accomplish a triple of 3,000 runs, 300 wickets and 100 catches

Ian Botham (5200 runs, 383 wickets & 120 catches in 102 Tests) and Shane Warne (3154 runs, 708 wickets & 125 catches in 145 Tests) are the only two all-rounders to accomplish a triple of 3,000 runs, 300 wickets and 100 catches.

A hundred and five wickets in an innings in the same Test five times

Ian Botham is the only all-rounder in Test annals to post a hundred and take five wickets in an innings in the same Test five times - twice against New Zealand and once each against Pakistan, India and Australia.

A hundred and ten wickets in the same Test

The first all-rounder to register a hundred and bag ten or more wickets in the same Test match was Ian Botham. In the 1979-80 Golden Jubilee Test at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, Botham captured 6 for 58, registered 114 off 144 balls and then routed India's second innings by taking 7 for 48 off 26 overs. No other batsman posted a fifty in the Test.

Ian Botham's unique feat was emulated by Imran Khan at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad in January 1983 when Pakistan's captain posted 117 and returned match figures of 11 for 180.

5000 runs and 500 dismissals as wicketkeeper

The only wicketkeeper to aggregate 5000 runs and make 500 dismissals in Test Cricket is South Africa's Mark Boucher - 5312 and 521 dismissals (499 catches + 22 stumpings) in 139 Tests.

First wicketkeeper to make a hundred and make five dismissals in an innings

South Africa's Denis Lindsay was the first to accomplish the feat against Australia at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg on Decembner 23-28, 1966. He held six catches in the first innings and posted 182 off 227 balls in the second.

First and only wicketkeeper to aggregate 600 runs in a Test series

Denis Lindsay had aggregated 606 (ave.86.57) in seven innings (five Tests), including three centuries and two fifties against Australia in 1966-67. Just for the record, Lindsay is the only wicketkeeper to register three hundreds in a Test series.

Only captain-cum-wicketkeeper to effect 100 dismissals

India's Mahendra Singh Dhoni has effected 102 dismissals - 91 catches + 11 stumpings - in 27 Tests. He is the only one to achieve the distinction as captain-cum-wicketkeeper.

Consecutive tosses won

The record for winning the toss in most matches in succession is nine by Colin Cowdrey for England - two against West Indies in 1959-60; all five against South Africa in 1960 and two against Australia in 1961.

The only captain to have won all five tosses in a Test series twice

Garry Sobers is the first and only captain to have won all five tosses in a Test series twice - vs. England in 1966 and vs. New Zealand in 1971-72.

Captains with most Tests

Australia's Allan Border holds a record for having led in 93 Tests between December 7, 1984 and March 29, 1994. His unbroken sequence of 93 Tests as captain is unlikely to be surpassed.

The first fielder to hold 100 catches

Wally Hammond of England was the first fielder to hold 100 catches, reaching the landmark on July 25, 1939 against West Indies at Old Trafford, Manchester in his 76th Test.

The fewest Tests to reach a tally of 100 catches

Australia's Bobby Simpson holds a fielding record for having taken 54 Tests to reach 100 catches between December 1957 and December 1977.

Double century of catches as a fielder

Rahul Dravid is the first and only fielder to take 200 catches or more in Tests. He is likely to be the holder of this fielding record for a few years atleast. His present tally is 203 catches in 153 Tests.

Four catches in an innings as substitute

Pakistan's Younis Khan is the only substitute fielder to take four catches in a Test innings - all four off Danish Kaneria in Bangladesh's second innings at Multan in August 2001.

Most consecutive Test wins

Australia won sixteen Tests in succession twice - between October 14,1999 and February 27, 2001 and between December 26, 2005 and January 2, 2008. Both the times, their sequance was broken against India.

Most consecutive Test defeats

Bangladesh's sequence of 21 defeats in succession between November 2001 and February 2004, an unwanted record, is not likely to be surpassed in years to come.
July 21, 1884
Lord's staged its first ever Test match on July 21, 1884 when England played in the second Test and won by an innings and 5 runs. Australia's captain, Billy Murdoch became the first substitute fielder to take a catch in Tests, performing the feat while fielding for the opposition, W.G. Grace having injured a finger. Murdoch had caught fellow countryman Tup Scott.

Brothers posting a century each in both innings

Australia's Ian and Greg Chappell had provided the first and only instance of two brothers posting hundreds in each innings of a Test match. Ian had made 145 and 121 and Greg 247 not out and 133).

First bowler to take 100 wickets

Lancashire and England left-arm slow bowler Johnny Briggs was the first to take 100 Test wickets, accomplishing the feat in his 25th Test just before tea on the first day of the fourth Test against Australia at Sydney on February 1, 1895.

Most wickets taken by one bowler in a single day

In the 1888-89 Cape Town Test, England (292) had defeated South Africa (47 & 43) by an innings and 202 runs. Johnny Briggs claimed 15 wickets for 28 runs in the match - 7 for 17 in the first innings and 8 for 11 in the second - the most taken by one bowler in a single day's play. Six of his seven first innings wickets and all of his eight in the second were bowled. He captured all 15 wickets without the help of a fieldsman, the other one being lbw. In the second innings nine batsmen were bowled - the most in any Test innings - a feat repeated in the 1890 Oval Test. In Australia's second innings of 102, nine players were bowled out against England.

Most Test hundreds

Sachin Tendulkar holds a world record for registering most Test hundreds - 51 in 177 Tests. His run-aggregate of 14,692 (ave.56.94) is also a world record.

8000 Test runs overseas

Sachin is the only batsman to amass 8,000 runs away from home - 8145 (ave.56.95) in 98 Tests, including 29 hundreds.

800 wickets

Muttiah Muralitharan is the only bowler to take 800 wickets in Tests at an average of 22.72 in 133 Tests. His feats of 67 instances of five wickets in an innings or more and 22 instances of ten wickets or more in a Test match are not likely to be surpassed

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Lord's to crowd Eng-WI Test in 2012

A Test Match between England and the West Indies will be played at Lord's in 2012, ECB announce on Thursday.

It had been award the Test following a spirited tender process for bids by international venues.

However, the dates for next summer's Lord's Test match against West Indies will not be announced until the ECB has finalized the international match calendar for 2012 in its entirety.

The match, which had initially been awarded to Glamorgan CCC, was put back out to tender last month after the club advise ECB that it would be late in making its payment of the staging fee for hosting the recent England vs. Sri Lankan power Test Match in Cardiff.

West Indies are planned to visit England in May and June next summer for a three-match Test series follow by three NatWest Series One-Day Internationals and a NatWest International T20.

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Ranatunga lead to protest alongside SLC

Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga helped launch a complaint on Thursday against alleged dishonesty in the governing body and the politicization of its management.

Ranatunga is now a resistance lawmaker in Sri Lanka and connected several others to launch a appeal on Thursday in Colombo, demanding an end to the government appoint interim committees to run Sri Lanka Cricket.

Cricket officials were accuse of corruption and misconduct as the governing body accumulate US$ 69 million in debt after co-hosting the World Cup with India and Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka's sports minister fired the preceding administration earlier this month and selected another temporary five-man committee.

Ranatunga said the government has politicized cricket and other sports by appoint provisional committees to run their administration.

"Sri Lanka Cricket has become broke and establishment has no interest in rectify this sad situation," he said.

He calls on the public "to join hands to stop political intrusion and restore the image of sports."

SLC has been run by consecutive interim committees, picked by politicians, for seven years.

The International Cricket Council this month generally decided to amend its laws to make free elections compulsory for all national bodies by mid-2012.

Sri Lankan establishment have said election for SLC will be held next year.

In March, the International Rugby Board poised the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union from full IRB member status after failing to conduct suitable board elections, and restored the membership weeks later after election were held properly.

Netball is also run by a temporary committee, but the sport's officials have said elections will be held shortly for the alliance.

Ranatunga, who played for Sri Lanka from 1982 to 2000, led the national team in 1996 when the team hit Australia in the final to win the World Cup.

Cricket is the most popular and wealthiest sport in the country, but internal strife among those seeking a spot on the Board and political interfering has resulted in elections for office holders not being held for seven years.

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Australian set as NZ bowling coach

Veteran Australian state fast bowler Damien Wright has been set as the final piece of the New Zealand cricket coaching mystery.

The 35-year-old was confirmed today as the New Zealand bowling coach, combination head coach John Wright and one more Australian, assistant Trent Woodhill.

Damien Wright was Victoria's bowling coach last summer but still played Sheffield Shield cricket, and also twisted out for Worcestershire in England this season. He has 123 first-class matches to his name over a 14-year career for Tasmania, Victoria, and five English counties, taking 406 wickets at 28.62.

He also made three cameo appearances for Wellington in the New Zealand Twenty20 opposition last season.

"It's fantastic. I'm pleased to bits. I'm looking onward to getting concerned, it was a huge chance and one I was thrilled to take," Damien Wright told The Dominion Post on Wednesday of his imminent appointment.

He said he was approach by former Australian coach John Buchanan, now NZC's director of cricket.

"I had a pair of interviews and a chat with John Wright and that go really well."

The New Zealand job became accessible last month after former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald made a late U-turn to go back to his homeland to support Gary Kirsten with the Proteas.

Donald had a verbal agreement to carry on the role he took up in January, but NZC didn't secure his signature after the World Cup and he conventional Kirsten's offer soon after he was long-established as South Africa's head coach.

Coach John Wright said the selection is an exciting one for NZC and capitalises on years of experience playing first-class cricket and his work as bowling coach with Victoria.

"Damien comes highly regard by his peers and coaches in Australia. He is a coach on the rise and we are lucky to secure his services.

"As a player he made the most of his capability and got everything out of himself and they are character he will bring to his coaching.

"He will offer a lot to the team in terms of energy and eagerness and relate mainly well to the young fast bowlers."

The other leading contender for the New Zealand job was unspoken to be New South Wales bowling Coach Matt Nicholson. He played 124 first-class matches for NSW and Western Australia, and a solitary test against England at Melbourne in 1998.

Damien Wright begins on September 5 with the role base at NZC's high presentation centre at Lincoln in Christchurch.

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Dhoni lament Sehwag's nonappearance

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday rue deficiency of Virender Sehwag in the first two Tests against England.

Dhoni exclaim the opener is one of the few players in the world who could power the outcome of a game in a big way.

Sehwag, built-in in the squad of 17, is recovering from a process on his right shoulder and in his nonappearance, young Chennai opener Abhinav Mukund will open the innings with Gautam Gambhir at least in the first two Tests.

"We, as a side, rely on our openers quite a bit. A good start helps our middle order capitalize on it. There aren't many cricketers in the world that crash a game like Sehwag does. We will miss him," Dhoni said as India opens the tour with a three-day game against Somerset from Friday.

Dhoni insist that it was important for the openers to stand up to possibly the best international attack in the world. The Test series will begin at Lord's from July 21.

"England is a very good side; they frequently get abundance of runs. They take 20 wickets. We have to be at our very best," he said.

The Indian captain did not let himself to be weighed down by the fact that England; if winners by 2-0 in the series, could move them as number one Test team in the world.

"The basis of sport is to enjoy it. A lot of times you don't enjoy sport while playing top class cricket. We don't want to get into it the ratings aren't that important," he said.

Dhoni was also not ready to be besieged by England's strength and also looked at a few positives due in next few weeks.

"In West Indies, it was difficult to time after time score runs. Shot-playing wasn't that easy. It could be dissimilar here. You can play shots. The outfield certainly will be 200 miles faster than in the Caribbean which can be a great help to score runs," he said.

Over the next five weeks, in the four Tests, Indians can be assured of a huge support in the stands by the massive Asian population in the country. Dhoni recognized it but didn't think it would be the influential factor.

"Crowd support can push bowlers and batters to do that bit extra but frankly it's up to 11 players playing the match.

The bench strength and the support staff."

Dhoni did not forget to express his understanding with the victims of the Mumbai blast and hoped the pliability of Mumbaikars would help them overcome this tragedy as well.

"It's a sad event. It would be sad even if it didn't happen in Mumbai. Hopefully they will be soon being back at their best since Mumbai has resilience."

Coach Duncan Fletcher was by the skipper's side and said he did not think he would come back to England in such a way.

"Once I left England, I consideration that's it. I did a bit of consultancy before the coaching bug bit me again. When this chance came along, I couldn't turn it down."

From his short stretch with the Indians so far, Fletcher is frightened how too much cricket or lack of training isn't much of an issue with his players.

"They have played a lot of cricket. There is also a lot of cricket ahead. They played a Twenty20 game within hours of arrival in the West Indies, then a one-day game after two days. Still, the way Dravid and Laxman still prepare with strength - they might have played a lot of cricket but they don't show it. It doesn't seem to be an issue with this Indian side.

"In West Indies, I have never been concerned with those kinds of wickets, really spicy wickets in Barbados, it seemed all five days. Yet the team won. It appears in good space," he said.

Fletcher hinted if rules and conditions allowable, he would like to field more than 11 players in the three-day game against Somerset, beginning on Friday

He added: "We would like to play 13-a-side. Since this is the only first class game, the idea is to give practice to as many players as likely. But if there is a MoU alongside it, we would stick by it."

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"Feels extraordinary to be back in England"

India coach Duncan Fletcher told it feels odd to return to England with the blame to plot their downfall.

Fletcher was caoch of England from 1999 to 2007 and was chosen the Indian coach earlier this year.

"It's odd for me. I never consideration I'd be back in this role. When I left England I thought I wouldn't get (back) concerned with cricket. But having worked (as a consultant) with South Africa, New Zealand a bit and Hampshire to some degree - I sort of got the bug again," Fletcher was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

"It does seem a little bit odd coming over here. But I have enjoyed working with India, who I think had quite a good tour of West Indies. It's going to be a thrilling series. To be concerned with a top side and in a thrilling series is quite a challenge," he said.

During his term as the England coach, Fletcher had worked with some of the members of the current crop, particularly captain Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and pace spearhead James Anderson.

"The team has distorted quite a lot. There is a pair of senior players that I know something about but the rest of the team has changed. We'll have to look at the tapes, look at the technique that certain players have got, we'll have to assess that over the next couple of days," he said.

Asked if he thought England is a better side now, Fletcher said: "It's difficult to assess what is a better side - or (what is) the best side in the world. If you want to look at the statistics, then you'd have to say India is (the best side in the world). England has absolutely improved under Straussy and Andy Flower. They have done a really good job receiving that side back on track."

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Struggle for number 5: Yuvraj or Raina?

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni faces a hard task of choosing between Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina for the number-five spot in the first Test against England.

It will be quite a choice for Dhoni as Yuvraj or Raina are together left-handers, both violent, both brilliant fielders and both worth a few handy overs of spin.

Raina has been inspiring in the recently-concluded tour of the Caribbean, where he scored 232 runs at 46.40 with three half-centuries on tracks that Rahul Dravid describe as the most difficult among all he has played in the West Indies in the last 15 years.

On the other hand, Yuvraj Singh showed his brightness in the World Cup.

While Raina manage to impress no less than famous batsman Sunil Gavaskar in the way he flinch not to one single short-pitched release from the West Indian pacemen directed at his torso, Yuvraj can flaunt his figures that shows seven half-centuries from the last 11 Tests he played and the success he has enjoy against England with 46-plus average.

Raina can certainly maintain that he deserves as much contact as possible given the wheels of transition have slowly begun to turn in Indian cricket. And there is every reason to keep him battle-hardened and not a discouraged young man when the time comes.

However, Yuvraj, if sidelined now, might not make a comeback and his otherwise glorious career would show just 34 Tests with 1639 runs during a fractured career of 12 years.

Raina can be probable to take on the aggressive off-spin of Graeme Swann like he did to leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo on the first afternoon of Jamaica Test against the West Indies that was a game-changing instant of the three-Test series.

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Tendulkar not idea of 100th hundred

Sachin Tendulkar is one century away from accomplishment 100 international tons and has an opportunity to achieve that on a historic instance at Lord's, where India and England will play the 2000th Test later this month. Tendulkar, who has 51 centuries in Tests and 48 in ODIs, however, said the landmark wasn't preoccupying his build-up to the game.

"I am not thoughts of records," Tendulkar told the Daily Telegraph. "I am just thinking of enjoying this tour. The secret to any presentation is not in chasing records. I think about, 'What is the best way to enjoy the game, and how can I improve that enjoyment factor?'

"If I enhance the pleasure then, naturally, the standard of play becomes higher. To me, that is more important. If I am playing well, things can happen. I don't need to go around chase them. It is a process. You construct a solid base and build on it."

Tendulkar opt out of India's tour of the West Indies, where they won the ODI series 3-2 and the Tests 1-0. It was India's first international task after their World Cup win, of which Tendulkar was an integral part. "I was extremely enchanted. It was something I had always dreamt about,"

Tendulkar said of India's victory in his sixth World Cup. "You start playing cricket, and one day you walk away as part of a world champion team.

"I took up playing serious cricket because in 1983, we won the World Cup, and that was a big turning point in terms of allowing for cricket a full-time profession. That instant was a decisive one. I felt, 'I want to play for India one day'. It was a huge improves. From then I started working hard."

When asked of his plans for the future, Tendulkar said it was main he left behind a good inheritance whenever he chose to leave the game. "For me, it's not about breaking records or creating new ones. It's about adding value to my team. Records will be set by me; they might be broken by someone else.

"They're not going to stay enduringly. But the feeling that I leave on people will last forever, I feel. The impression that I leave behind - to me that is important. If I can inspire the next young cricketers that will be a big contribution."

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Butt-Afridi tale takes another wind

The PCB has in progress taking damage-control steps to restore its relationship with former national one-day captain Shahid Afridi.

The PCB chairman, Ijaz Butt, in a clear move to send out a message that the Board had nothing personal against Afridi, made it a point to ask about the health of his (Afridi's) father, who is admit in a hospital in ICU after pain a heart attack.

"Ijaz Butt had a bunch of flowers and a get-well card sent to Shahid at the hospital, while a senior official of the Board also called up the former captain to make inquiries about the health of his ailing father," a source in the Board said.

The source also said that the moves were intended to snub the feeling that the PCB had any personal feeling of resentment against the allrounder.

"As far as his payment to Pakistan cricket is anxious, everyone in the Board appreciate and admire him for it," the source said.

Relations between Afridi and the Board have been tense since June and got worse recently when in an interview Butt passed serious comments about his captaincy and quote the tour report of manager Intikhab Alam from the West Indies.

Afridi swift back home from England, where he was doing extremely well for County-side Hampshire, to be with his father.

Afridi said that he was deeply dissatisfied by Butt's remarks and reserved the right to respond to them also through legal means.

The 31-year-old remains one of the most popular cricketers in Pakistan with a huge fan next and there have been renewed calls for his comeback since he announce retirement from all international cricket in late May.

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"Recommendation not obligatory on PCB"

Haroon Lorgat on Wednesday said that it was not fixed for the PCB to realize the recommendation and comments made by ICC's Special Task Force on Pakistan cricket.

In an interview, Lorgat said from Dubai that the task force report was meant to propose to the PCB ways and means to get better their cricket structure.

"It is not required on the PCB to implement all recommendation or explanation of the task force. But we are confident that they will study it and their governing body would see the importance of implementing some, if not all, recommendation and explanation of the task force," Lorgat said.

Lorgat was dialogue after the PCB sent a strong worded response to the task force report in which they discarded most of the recommendation and observations. The PCB also said that the report restricted factual errors and superfluous.

Lorgat said he had not seen the PCB reply as yet but everyone had to realize that the purpose was to help Pakistan cricket.

"As far as the truthful errors are worried, yes, there might be some but at the same time, we had shown a draft copy of the account to the chief operating officer of the Board, Subhan Ahmad, to check it out before we gave it final shape and submit it," the ICC official said.

Asked about the PCB defense of its system of having the Pakistani President concerned in cricket affairs and his power to employ the Board Chairman and governing board members, Lorgat said that the ICC decision-making council had already passed a legitimate amendment that made it mandatory for Boards to prohibit political interference and government involvement in their matters.

"From what we saw, the PCB supports the constitutional alteration and we are hopeful they will implement the recommendation on this issue," he said.

He noted no opposition was raise at any point during the ICC meeting on this issue by Pakistan.

Lorgat also made it clear that when the task force was twisted, Pakistan was taken into self-assurance and the main purpose at that time was to ensure that Pakistan cricket was not isolated and got sufficient contact at the top level with the exception of hosting foreign teams at home.

"With due course of time, the mandate of the task force was delayed and the PCB was taken into self-confidence on this.

"The pleasing feature is that, at the moment, the Pakistan team is one of the busiest in international cricket and it is playing a lot of cricket which was our main anxiety in 2009," Lorgat signed off.

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