Australia's West Indies tour confirmed in next year

West Indies Cricket has long-established details of Australia's tour of the Caribbean next year.

Australia will play five one-day matches, two Twenty20s and three Tests during the six-week tour.

The Test series, which decide the Frank Worrell Trophy, starts on April 7 in Barbados with follow-up matches in Trinidad (April 15 to 19) and Guyana (April 23 to 27).

It continues a heavy workload for the Australians, who begin in August with the tour of Sri Lanka.

Australia will play 14 Tests, eight T20 matches and up to 31 one-day games during an approximately incessant nine-month period.

The Windies have not won a Test series next to Australia since triumph 2-1 Down Under during 1992/93.

Their last Test victory next to the Australians was at St John's in 2003.

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India on top as West Indies looks to delay predictable

A dominant India put themselves on course for a series-clinching victory even as West Indies fought resolutely in their second innings to delay the inevitable after conceding a huge 478-run lead in the second cricket Test here today.

West Indies were 195 for three at stumps on day three, still 283 runs behind, after India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni enforced the follow-on after bowling the visitors out for a paltry 153 runs in their first innings.

India had amassed a mammoth 631 for seven declared in their first essay, and then rode on Pragyan Ojha's four-wicket haul to take a massive lead.

But the West Indies then launched a spirited fightback riding on half centuries from opener Adrian Barath (62) and Kirk Edwards (60).

Darren Bravo (38, 84b, 1x4, 3x6) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (21, 40b, 3x4) were the two unbeaten batsmen at the crease at the close of play on an eventful third day.

The penultimate day's proceedings will once again begin 30 minutes earlier (8.30am) to make up for the lost time because of poor light on day two.

The visitors had two contrasting batting displays today. First, they batted like school kids to concede a huge lead, their biggest first-innings deficit since 1930 when they fell behind England by 563 runs, but in the second essay they frustrated the Indians with a dogged approach.

India still have a slim chance of bettering their biggest victory of innings and 239 runs, achieved against Bangladesh in Dhaka (2007). India's biggest margin of win over West Indies is by innings and 112 runs in Mumbai in 2002.

Resuming at 34 for two, West Indies batted poorly in the morning session to straightway hand over the advantage to the Indians.

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Bangladesh prepared to tour Pakistan if ICC clear protection

Bangladesh can tour Pakistan in April next year but they need security authorization from the game’s governing body, a top official from Bangladesh Cricket Board told AFP on Wednesday.

International cricket has been balanced in Pakistan since March 2009 after an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore which left eight people dead and seven visiting players and their assistant coach wounded.

Sri Lanka turned down an invitation to tour Pakistan in May this year following attacks on a military base in Karachi, forcing their hosts to shift the ongoing series to a neutral venue in the United Arab Emirates.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf on Monday said he was doing his level best to bring international cricket back to Pakistan and has invited Bangladesh to tour the country.

Mustafa Kamal, president of the BCB, told AFP his country can tour provided the International Cricket Council (ICC) clears security in Pakistan.

“I met Ashraf who is keen to bring cricket back to Pakistan and for that he has invited us also and we have an obligation to tour them but for that we need the ICC’s clearance on security,” Kamal said.

Under the ICC Future Tours Programme Bangladesh is due to tour Pakistan in April 2012. Kamal said he has also discussed the prospect of the tour with ICC officials.

“I am also discussing the issue with the ICC officials and since they have to send umpires and other officials for the series they are also reviewing the situation and we will also continue to discuss the matter with Pakistan,” said Kamal.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat on Monday said Pakistan will be supported in their efforts to bring back international cricket to the country.

Kamal said the negotiations will continue with Pakistani officials who are due to tour Bangladesh soon.

“Since the Pakistan team is also touring us we have invited their officials to come and discuss the matter further,” said Kamal of the tour during which Pakistan play a Twenty20, three one-day and two Tests.

The tour starts with a Twenty20 on November 29.

Kamal said he felt for Pakistani fans who have been deprived of international cricket.

“I started (career) from Pakistan,” said Kamal of the times when Bangladesh was part of Pakistan before gaining independence in 1971.

“I know they are cricket loving people and at some point in time, someone has to tour them to give them international cricket.”

Kamal said Bangladesh was also open to send Under-19 and ‘A’ teams to Pakistan.
Bangladesh and Pakistan were also due to nominate a joint candidate for the ICC vice presidency and Kamal hoped a final name will come up in the next two weeks.

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Graeme Smith rue Test championship conclusion

South African captain Graeme Smith thought on Wednesday he was dissatisfied that the International Cricket Council had determined not to bring in a world Test championship before 2017.

"It's a bit unsatisfactory," said Smith. "I personally felt it wasn't the right decision for cricket."

ICC chief administrative Haroon Lorgat announces on Monday that the foreword of a championship had been pressed out from 2013 because of commitment to broadcaster and sponsors.

"Obviously the ICC contains their reasons but five years is a attractive long time," said Smith.

"You can skip a making in five years. As cricketers you want the ICC to make the best decisions in the interests of the game and I'm not sure that that's happen now."

Smith said his players were focus on performing well in the second and final Test against Australia, starting at the Wanderers Stadium on Thursday.

South Africa are 1-0 up subsequent an eight-wicket win in the first Test in Cape Town last week but Smith said the players were not taking anything for granted.

"It's our second Test match in seven or eight months and we're really aggravated to perform. We have a lot of admiration for Australia and we're definitely not going to take our foot off the gas. We want to earn the right to win the series."

Smith said he expected Australia to bounce back after being bowled out for 47 in the second innings at Newlands.

"They've got sufficient players with sufficient knowledge to have deal with things like this and put it at the back them.

"They know it's a fresh start. But if we can put them under force again maybe the amount of stress they've been under this week can come out."

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