Swann's six complete India's embarrassment

England 591 for 6 dec (Bell 235, Pietersen 175) strike India 300 (Dravid 146*, Bresnan 3-54) & 283 (Tendulkar 91, Mishra 84, Swann 6-106) by an innings and eight runs

ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat has said that England deserved ICC Test Mace as they have achieved it by sheer resolve cap with good planning.

England captain Andrew Strauss was on Monday presented with the ICC Test Mace after they climbed to the top of Test rankings with 125 points.

England is followed by South Africa with 118 points while India has now dropped to the third spot in ICC Test Rankings with 117 points.

Presenting the Mace, ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said: “England have deservedly achieved their goal to be crown as the number one Test side in the world.”

After England completed their victory by an innings and eight runs in front of a capacity crowd at The Oval in London, Lorgat congratulate the England and Wales Cricket Board and the England side.

He said: “I know England was strong-minded to be number-one and through careful planning and a series of clinical performance, they have deservedly achieved their goal. They were clearly the most consistent side in the world over the past few years as evidence by their strength of mind to complete their series victory here at The Oval.

“This attainment is just prize for the hard work from all the players and team management and the England and Wales Cricket Board and they no uncertainty will celebrate being on top of the world. It was an opportunity to be here at The Oval to join a full house to watch another fascinating day of Test match cricket.”

Meanwhile, Andrew Strauss, the England captain, said: “We are pleased to be number one in the Reliance ICC Test Rankings and to have achieved that position with such a complete series success. This has been a real team effort and every one of the players; management and back up staff merit great credit. Becoming number one in the world was our stated ambition two and a half years ago and even though we have achieved that objective we will carry on to look to build on this success.’

Sanjay Behl, Group Head – Brand & Marketing, Reliance Communications said: “Reliance congratulates the England cricket team on achieve the number-one ranking in the Reliance ICC Test Championship table.

“Skipper Andrew Strauss and his boys have established a hunger to succeed and tremendous constancy over the past two years in the toughest format of the game and have deservedly emerge as the best Test-playing team in the world.

“The England cricket team’s coronation as the world’s best Test team earns them the Reliance ICC Test mace. The Test mace is the symbol of their ascendancy in the Test match arena.”

England is only the fourth team after Australia, South Africa and India to achieve the number-one position on the Reliance ICC Test rankings table.

England had previously preserved the number-one position after taking an invincible 3-0 at Edgbaston but victory in the fourth and final Test at The Oval not only strengthened its position at the top of the tree but also drop India into third position on 117 ratings points, one at the back second-placed South Africa.

The Championship table will now be efficient at the end of Sri Lanka and Australia series which starts on Wednesday 31 August in Galle.

Read more »

Sachin Tendulkar falls short of 100th ton

Sachin Tendulkar fell agonizingly short of his 100th international century on Monday, leave-taking cricket fans dissatisfied all across the globe.

Tendulkar's luck appear to be in after he enjoyed several reprieve on his way to 91 on day five at The Oval, but Tim Bresnan attentive the 'Little Master' first ball after recurring to the attack after lunch.

Tendulkar departed one over after Amit Mishra (84), who was clean bowled by Graeme Swann after the India pair, put on 144 for the fourth wicket and in danger to halt England's victory charge.

The double get through left the tourists on 262 for five following on, only 29 runs short of making England bat again but, critically, with only five wickets in hand. The decision by Rod Tucker to send away Tendulkar lbw was a brave one, with Hawk-Eye showing the ball would only just have abrupt the top of leg stump.

Tendulkar turned to the umpire in apparent incredulity before trudge off following what could be his final Test innings in England.

In reality, he was lucky even to make 90, with England having unsuccessful to appeal for a stumping last night, as well as dropping him twice today.

He also survives one good lbw appeal and another that was too close to call. England was therefore backing in the kind of position in which they began the day, well on top and heading for a series whitewash.

A sell-out crowd had assembled at the The Oval, both for the chance to pay homage to Tendulkar and witness the home side's coronation as the world's number one team.

They seem set to get value for their money on both counts too, because England will receive their International Cricket Council mace as current world-beaters whatever the outcome today - while Tendulkar compile by far his highest score of the series.

The 38-year-old passed his second 50 of the summer in 74 balls, and Mishra followed to the next of his career from 103. The nightwatchman was strike a painful early blow on the left thigh by James Anderson, and necessary on-field treatment for several minutes.

But he was otherwise peaceful by everything the England attack could muster before lunch, arresting six fours to Tendulkar's seven in their own half-centuries.

After Sunday's stump slip-up, Swann had a second piece of bad luck against Tendulkar just before the interval, when Alastair Cook drop a bat-pad catch at short-leg to stay of execution him again on 70.

Read more »

Lasith Malinga’s hat-trick guide Sri Lanka win

Sri Lanka 213 for 6 (Jayawardene 71, Silva 63) strike Australia 211 (Watson 56, Malinga 3-35, A Mendis 3-49) by 4 wickets


Lasith Malinga's hat-trick and half-centuries from Mahela Jayawardene and Chamara Silva motorized Sri Lanka to a comfort four-wicket win over Australia.

The tourists, who held an unquestionable 3-1 lead going into Monday's final match, were dismiss for 211 with approximately four overs to spare.

Shane Watson made 56, Michael Clarke 47 and David Hussey 46, and Ajantha Mendis took three wickets, but it was Malinga who wrap the attention as his trademark yorkers ripped out Mitchell Johnson, John Hastings and Xavier Doherty in consecutive balls.

And the hosts improved from 33 for three to come out victorious, thanks largely to a stand of 111 between Jayawardene and Silva.

Having been put in to bat, Australia lost Shaun Marsh, bowled playing across the line at Shaminda Eranga, to go away them four for one from two overs.

But Watson put on 67 with Ricky Ponting before the latter fell for 31 after failing to pick Angelo Mathews' off-cutter.

Watson's half-century inwards from 64 balls, with six fours and a six, en way to another 50 partnership with captain Clarke but he fell shortly afterwards, heaving Mendis to deep mid-wicket.

Michael Hussey made just six but Brother David fared better, though he lost Clarke when the skipper edge Eranga to keeper Kumar Sangakkara.

David Hussey under enemy control a stand of 43 with keeper Brad Haddin before also absent out on fifty when he was bowled by Mendis. His 49-ball innings included five fours and a six, and his exit left his side 210 for five.

The real entertainment was still to come, although, as Malinga spear a full delivery into new man Mitchell Johnson's leg stump and follow up by pinning Hastings lbw on the crease, a decision uphold after an Australian review.

Doherty had no chance next to the hat-trick delivery, which not working into the base of middle stump to earn Malinga a unique achievement, following previous hat-tricks against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup - when he took four wickets in succeeding balls - and Kenya in this year's event.

Haddin then chip Mendis to mid-off, meaning Australia had lost their last five batsmen for one run in 11 balls.

The clatter of wickets sustained as Upul Tharanga last just four balls of Sri Lanka's reply before edging Johnson to Haddin.

James Pattinson then detached Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan, the latter making 17 from 16 balls before being bowled via bat and pad.

But the patient Jayawardene was connected by Silva, who survived an lbw review against Watson but contribute 30 to his senior partner's 10 by the time their stand reach fifty in the 13th over.

Silva reach a 51-ball half-century feature seven fours and a six but fell shortly afterwards for 63 after a top-edged sweep at Doherty was wedged by Hastings.

A rain delay of just over half an hour follow but failed to disturb Jayawardene, who pressed on persistently in the company of an equally restrained Mathews.

Jayawardene's fifty came from 86 balls with only three boundaries but there followed a string of narrow escape, with an inside edge past the stumps and a run-out chance failed by Doherty.

He fell for 73 after trying to loft Doherty over long-off, a shot he had played more effectively earlier in the over.

Mathews (26) drove Watson to Doherty with only three desired but Jeevan Mendis edged the charming boundary wide of slip.

Read more »

Virender Sehwag and Ishant Sharma are ruled out of ODIs

Virender Sehwag and Ishant Sharma have been ruled out of the forthcoming ODI series next to England.

Sehwag suffer from labyrinth this of the left ear in July. Although his condition has better, he continues to knowledge headaches. An ENT expert, who was consult on the same, has said that he will take two more weeks to get better completely.

Sehwag has made good development since the surgery on his right shoulder. He will be continuing treatment to build up his throwing and bowling fitness.

Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma sustained a tendon injury in his left ankle during the Birmingham Test of the ongoing series. He has respond well to treatment, but will need to undergo a course of intensive therapy and training to prevent reappearance of the pain in his left ankle.

The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Ajinkya Rahane and Varun Aaron as the replacement of the two players in the team for the T20 International and ODI series. Both players will join the squad at the first.

The one-off T20 International will be played on 31 August and the first of five ODIs on third September.

Read more »

Dhoni: Batsmen in charge for disaster

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Monday responsible his batsmen for the embarrassing whitewash at the hands of a stimulated England team.

"We never put par score on the board. Runs are significant to put pressure on the other side. Our batting should have perform better," stated the Indian captain, looking and sounding as calm as ever.

Dhoni's anger was necessary after they lost their final seven wickets for 21 runs, as well as the skipper, who seem to be getting out in the same manner time and again.

"The fall down wasn't good. We consideration there was a situation when we should be able to protect this game and play for a draw. We were not able to build partnerships and that was the reason."

Injury played a huge part in India's presentation and from Zaheer to Sehwag to Gambhir to Harbhajan, everyone kept pulling out of the team at main junctures.

There was also the question if players had hurried back without being fully fit as the doubt is on the issue of Zaheer and Sehwag.

"Zaheer's was a dissimilar injury. It wasn't shoulder or ankle but a constrain injury which anxious him. It's a difficult one for me to answer. Once you give a strength report, it's different. Now whether it's given or not is one more different issue. When it concerns people like Zaheer and Sehwag, you wait for them so they are existing for selection for you know what difference they can make," He said.

Read more »

Flower: These are bright moments

England Head Coach Andy Flower has likened the post-match celebrations at the Oval to those following his side's Ashes win two years ago.

Flower said, "These are brilliant moments.”We like listening to (Jerusalem) before each day's play and to have it while they're doing a lap of honor is very special.

"It reminds me of the Ashes in 2009, there's a similar impression. It was maybe a bit of an anti-climax because we were 3-0 up but it's a great instant for them.

"The Ashes are particular for their own reasons, and for the significance the English public and the Australian public give to it, but it's also something special to be playing India."

On the work which has gone into his side's ascent to the peak of the Test rankings, Flower added: "The players have worked extremely hard to get their skills and their training up, and they walk over that boundary rope and make good decision under pressure.

"Also really good leadership from Strauss, you see that in all facets, and really good work by Graham Gooch and some of our hold up staff, you can see that in some big first-innings scores and the field standards."

Read more »