Abhimanyu Mithun replace Praveen for Oz tour

Abhimanyu Mithun replaces an offended Praveen Kumar in India's Test squad for the upcoming four-match away series next to Australia.


Right arm-fast bowler Mithun, who has played four Tests for India, the last in Barbados in May, has been extra to the 17-man squad after Praveen was ruled out of the Test series in Australia with a fractured rib.

Mithun joins Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron and Ishant Sharma in India's pace department for the Australia tour, with pacer lead Zaheer Khan selected conditionally, as he has to prove his fitness before the squad's departure.

The BCCI's All-India Senior Selection Committee which met here today also replace pacer Yadav with Irfan Pathan for the last two ODIs next to the West Indies to be played in Indore and Chennai on December 8 and 11 correspondingly.

Umesh's keeping out has been the only change in the current ODI team as the selectors have retain the rest of the squad for the residual two matches against the Caribbean side, according to a statement issued by BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale.

Irfan, who has not played for India since 2009, drew the selector’s thought by virtue of his imposing performance in this season's Ranji Trophy, in which he is the most important wicket-taker with 21 scalps.

The BCCI statement also said that Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Yadav and reserve wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha, who be not part of the current ODI team against West Indies, will leave for Australia early on Thursday to acclimatize to the conditions.

The seven players will be accompanying by Evan Speechly (physiotherapist), Ramji Srinivasan (trainer), Amit Shah (massage psychoanalyst) and Raghavendra DVGI (attendant).

Indian squad for last two ODIs against West Indies: Virender Sehwag (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Parthiv Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, R Vinay Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Varun Aaron, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Rahul Sharma, Abhimanyu Mithun

West Indies stay series alive: India lead the series 2-1

West Indies 260 for 5 (Samuels 58, Sammy 41*, Russell 40*) strike India 244 (Rohit 95, Rampaul 4-57) by 16 runs


After bowling West Indies to an impressive 16-run win over India, Ravi Rampaul said the early breakthrough was the key to his side's victory in the third ODI. "I would say it was receiving early breakthrough," Rampaul said.

Rampaul said the vital lesson that he had academic on his visits to India with the Trinidad and Tobago squad for the Champions League matches was to bowl base to stump.

"My two visits for the Champions League have help. The key to bowling on these pitches is to keep line and length, bowl wicket to wicket," said the 27-year-old pace bowler.

Rampaul's outstanding figures of 4 for 57 in 8.5 over’s built-in the wickets of India skipper Virender Sehwag and one down Gautam Gambhir for first ball blobs.

Sehwag was dismiss by the bowler with a late out swinger which the stylish opener try to drive and edged to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, while Gambhir was fox by a ball that moved in a shade as the left-handed batsman shoulder arms and was attentive in front.

Rampaul also give credit to debutant off-spinner Sunil Narine and Marlon Samuels for backing up him and the other fast bowlers very well.

"The spinners bowled very well and kept it tight. Narine bowled well and kept up the pressure. We also immovable to our plans," he said.

Rampaul did not see the Motera Stadium wicket as a hard one to bat on.

"It was not a complicated wicket to bat on," said the bowler, who had frightened in the earlier Test rubber too which the West Indies lost 0-2.

Rampaul, a man of few words, also spoken the hope that his team would carry on do well in the residual two matches at Indore and Chennai by sticking to their plans.

New Zealand Cricket's new CEO David White


David White has been named as New Zealand Cricket's new chief executive to take over from the departure Justin Vaughan, and it will increase conjecture the national body are allowing for relocate to Auckland.

White has significant experience in sports administration as a former Auckland Rugby and Blues' chief executive as well as Wellington Rugby and the Hurricanes.

He newly returned to New Zealand after three years in England, as CEO of Bristol Rugby, to work on the Rugby World Cup. Even though most of his experience is in rugby, White played cricket for Northern Districts for 15 years and he also sits on the board of the New Zealand Cricket Players' Association.

"The board of NZC is pleased to have secured the services of such a qualified sports administrator as David,'' NZC chairman Chris Moller said.”In addition, it is a bonus that David has represent New Zealand in cricket and played for Northern Districts for 15 years, as well as being captain for two seasons.''

White will be based at Lincoln, even though his family will carry on to live in Auckland.

"The board of New Zealand Cricket is very conscious that David's appointment will fuel conjecture about the future location of New Zealand Cricket,'' said Moller.

"I can guarantee everyone that no conclusion has been made concerning the future location of New Zealand Cricket and if and when such a matter is most careful, it will be a decision made by the Board, not by the CEO.''