Sussex place for Caribbean winter


Sussex is to take part in the Caribbean Twenty20 in January as one of three overseas teams.

The English county will be connected by Holland and Canada as well as seven Caribbean teams - Barbados, Combined Campuses and Colleges, Guyana, Jamaica, the Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and the Windward Islands.

The event will be played in Trinidad and Barbados from January 9 to 22.

Sussex chief administrative Dave Brooks said "We are very much looking onward to the CT20 in January as it offers our players the chance to play spirited cricket in different conditions around the world, and offers our coaching staff the chance to see show some of our younger players perform under pressure."

Pakistan leading on Taufeeq double-century

Sri Lanka 47 for 1 and 197 follow Pakistan 511 for 6 dec (Taufeeq 236, Hafeez 75, Azhar 70) by 267 runs


Taufeeq has broken a double hundred to guide Pakistan into a leading position in the first Test next to Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.

Taufeeq bat for almost 12 hours across three days in roasting warm in making 236 as Pakistan confirmed an hour before the close on the third day on 511 for six.

The 30-year-old's vigil finally broken shortly before the statement came, run out by a mixture of Kumar Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardene after partner Asad Shafiq unexpectedly refused a single.

His knock saw him become the first Pakistan opener to get to 200 since Aamer Sohail next to England at Old Trafford in 1992.

It was one longer day of toil for the Sri Lankans though they fixed to their task in spite of being hindered by a docile pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Pakistan, who is playing this home series in the Middle East due to protection concern at home, undergo an early blow when Azhar Ali departed for 70 in the seventh over of the day, failing to put off a Chanaka Welegedara inswinger from career between bat and pad.

Younus Khan connected Taufeeq and fakes his partner's alert style; accumulate 33 from 94 deliveries before playing crossways the line to Welegedara and being adjudge out lbw.

The innings necessary some momentum and it was provide by Misbah-ul-Haq, who played a captain's knock.

Clearly keen to push the score on with a view to declare, he hit 46 from 52 balls as well as four fours and a six.

He was finally out in contentious conditions when umpire Tony Hill raise the finger despite a release from Rangana Herath appear to clip his cover rather than the bat on its way to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

The notice saw one more shift in force with Pakistan going back into their shell with Asad chiefly in charge.

His carefully slow 26 not out took 94 balls and certainly contribute to Taufeeq's late rush of blood.

Herath also claim the wicket of Umar Gul for a second-ball duck, prompt Misbah to call his batsmen in.

The innings belong to Taufeeq, though.He did not miss a deception with a magnificently firm knock which could yet pave the way for a Pakistan victory in this first Test of three.

He approved his previous Test best of 136 in the opening sitting and looked peaceful thereafter in a 496-ball knock.

India Win the series 3-0

India 300 for 5 (Rahane 91) strike England 298 for 4 (Trott 98*, Patel 70*) by five wickets


Lead by Ajinkya Rahane's top order heroics and and MS Dhoni's ideal finishing, India take a series winning 3-0 lead at Mohali as England lost by five wickets.

England were another time not capable to do themselves impartiality as they succumb to a series defeat next to India - yet they stood accuse of graver sins than that.

Home captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni question England's restless behaviour among themselves and towards their hosts during three succeeding losses over the past week.

England will be playing only for pride and maybe International Cricket Council rankings points in the final two matches in Mumbai and Kolkata, following their five-wicket beat in Mohali.

But according to Dhoni, they will do well to discover some common respect too. England had no answer to Dhoni himself in a continuous stand of 65 with Ravendra Jadeja, as India chase 298 for four with four balls to extra on the back of a second-wicket century stand between Ajinkya Rahane (91) and Gautam Gambhir (58).

The best hard work of Jonathan Trott (98no), Kevin Pietersen (64) and Samit Patel (70no) therefore came to naught.

But Dhoni was more concerned with England's manner than their cricketing skills. "It's very significant to be nice to your member team-mates," he said.

"There was heaps of gesture flowing around in the field when it comes to the England side.

"When you are under force (in the field), most of the persons will certainly commit mistakes.

"These are the things that really shape the nature of the side. "When it comes to just the talent, most of the international sides are really good - even England are a very good side.

"As far as talent is concerned, they are very good. But they need to stick together - because that's one thing that's very significant, particularly when the team doesn't get the preferred result."

Several England players earn rebuke from the umpires in Monday's eight-wicket beat in Delhi, yet have vow to carry on with a policy they consider may knock India "out of their console zone".

That does not appear to have happen, and Dhoni is advising them to believe again. "I think their approach is not working. That's what's occurrence right now," he said.

"It's not only about 'giving it' to the resistance. You have to be fair. "If our players are saying impressive to the opposition - which happens at times - I don't want them to get actually personal or say things that are not within the strategy.

"A bit of chit-chat is fine, because that makes the game attractive. "You don't forever want a friendly series, as long as things don't get too personal. "But I consider they should change the plan for the next two games."