Cricket-Warne come out of retirement for 'Big Bash'

Shane Warne is bringing his short departure to an end and recurring to cricket in Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash opposition next month, the leg-spinning huge said on Tuesday.

Less than six months after reserved from all cricket, the 42-year-old said he would play in the revamp league for the Melbourne Stars this season and has not ruled out ongoing beyond that.

"I'm a young 42 at the moment, so I'll see how it goes this year," he told a news meeting in Melbourne on Tuesday.

"This is something fresh, this is something new and we're all learning without delay away. Let's see how it goes this year and we'll take it from there."

In May, Warne said he was bring the curtain down on his specialized career after his final match for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League to focus on media work and his business interests.

Warne last played in Australia during the 2006-2007 Ashes whitewash of England before end his test career in victory at the end of that series with 708 wickets to his name.

He remainder one of his country's most popular cricketers and his signing is a major boost to the Big Bash League, which begins in Sydney on Dec. 16.

The Melbourne Stars play their first match in the eight-team competition next to the Sydney Thunder at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Dec. 17.

"Having one of the most cricketers of all time join the Melbourne Stars ... is an enormous win for everyone," Cricket Australia's Mike McKenna said in a news release.

"Fans will be looking onward to Shane making a response not only at the home of cricket but at other grounds around the country."

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Pakistan clutch on for series victory

Pakistan claim a morale-boosting Test series win over Sri Lanka today after the third and final match between the sides in Sharjah finished in a draw.

The Pakistani game has be rocked by the custodial sentences hand to former captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir in the UK last week for their role in a spot-fixing plan, but today's effect meant Pakistan's nine-wicket win in the opening Test in Dubai was sufficient for a 1-0 series victory.

Rain destined no play was likely in the first session and when play finally did get under way, Sri Lanka quickly affirmed on 181 for six, leaving chosen hosts Pakistan need a notional 255 to win from 61 over’s, though their primary goal was simply to protect wickets.

They manage it cheerfully, as the captains shook hands on the draw with Pakistan on 87 for four in fading light.

Sri Lanka made a positive start in their bid to bowl out Pakistan as Mohammad Hafeez was run out for 13 after he was uncertain in making his ground for what looked like a straightforward single, with alternate fielder Lahiru Thirimanne claim the direct hit.

Azhar Ali was attentive lbw by the left-arm spin of Rangana Herath for seven to go away the hosts two down with 30 on the board.

Thirimanne was also a lot involved in the discharge of Younus Khan, as the Pakistan batsman strangely drove a straightforward-looking Chanaka Welegedara delivery to him at mid-on.

Opener Taufeeq Umar took tea victorious on 26 having faced 87 balls, but tamely gave his wicket away in the final session, lob the ball to Kumar Sangakkara off Suraj Randiv for 39 before the umpires bring the players off for bad light.

Earlier, Sri Lanka had opted not to declare directly upon the recommencement after the rain wait. Kosala Kulasekara was the first man out today, bottom-edging a doosra from Saeed Ajmal onto his stumps having added just seven to the tourists' total. Opener Tharanga Paranavitana batted on to 76 not out before the statement came.

The sides will now reconvene in Dubai for the first leg of a five-match one-day series on Friday before Sri Lanka's tour conclude with a one-off Twenty20 international on November 25.

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Audience are waiting for: Sachin Tendulkar hundredth ton

So the long wait continues. A Sachin Tendulkar ton on this hard batting track would have made India's day in more ways than one, but maybe Delhi's audience knew something we didn't.

One would have predictable the stands to be satisfied on a public holiday in expectation of watching Tendulkar bat. But only a handful of spectators cheer the man as he walked in. It all seems worlds away from the normal thunderous ovation Tendulkar are used to.

Would this be the grand stage? The team surely needed it, but natural stroke players had struggle on this pitch. Recovering match strength was the primary focus. He lasted only 18 balls, failing to get to twice figures. A solid punch to the point boundary off a loose Bishoo release was the only highlight.

As he trudges back at a pin-drop silent Kotla, the truth unexpectedly dawned: Players gain legend status merely by scoring 15-20 international centuries. This man has scored 99 of them. Maybe we're forget how tough it is to score just one Test ton. He is coming out of injury. He nearly got there with the 91 at the Oval. He hasn't had match carry out. He will surely get there.

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