Pakistan position to test revitalized Zimbabwe

Having negotiate Bangladesh in a one-off Test two weeks ago, Zimbabwe now face a much higher fence on Thursday - Pakistan.

The single Test match, which starts Thursday, will be followed by three ODI's and two Twenty-20s. Zimbabwe was decided a return to Test cricket by the ICC last year, after a gap of six years.

They had been grateful to field a weak side following a strike of almost all their professionals and two resulting Test defeats by an innings and more than 200 runs.

Withdrawal from Tests was predictable and those years have been used to reconstruct. They play Pakistan now, followed by New Zealand, in October/November.

These opponents are careful by the ICC to be ones a nascent Zimbabwe can best cope with. The new Zimbabweans got off to a good start two weeks ago in beating Bangladesh by 130 runs and then by 3-2 in an ODI series.

Pakistan will unavoidably start favourites, even although there appears to be continuing disagreement in their camp.

Coach Waqar Younis suddenly declared his acceptance last year with the Zimbabwe tour his planned last. Pakistan will also not have Shahid Afridi on the tour as he has said he will not work with Younis, or with the present executive.

There was dressing-room disarray here in 1995, when they lost to Zimbabwe by an innings, with Grant Flower, the present batting coach, scoring an unbeatable 201.

However, their overall record is impressive. Pakistan has won eight out of the 14 played, with two defeats.

Their last encounter was in 1992 when Pakistan won both Tests, by 119 runs and by 10 wickets. Earlier this year, they broke even 1-1 in a West Indies series, winning one and drawing one against New Zealand.

Pakistan has rested Umar Gull, Wahib Riaz and Abdur Rehman on this tour, bringing back Imran Farhat, Adnan Akmal and Sohail Tanveer.

They will introduce Ramiz Raja, Yasir Shah and Aizaz Cheema. Zimbabwe are expecting seamer Brian Vitori back after a leg muscle strain. But he still needs to prove fitness.

He had two five-wicket hauls against Bangladesh, and is their key strike bowler.

Pakistan squad: Misbah-ul-haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufic Umar, Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Rameez Raja Jnr, Adnan Akmal (wk), Saeed Asmal, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanveer, Ramiz Raja, Yasir Shah, Aizaz Cheema.

Zimbabwe have not yet formally released names in their squad, but the team will be selected from: Brendan Taylor (capt), Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu (wk), Forbes Mtizwa, Craig Ervine, Malcolm Waller, Elton Chigumbura, Kyle Jarivis, Raymond Price, Christopher Mpofu, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori.

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Broad hope to carry Test impetus

England Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad said that they are looking to carry the energy of the Test series into the one-off T20 vs India on Wednesday.

"Fans and media want you to win but the real force for us is in the changing room - it's a game we want to win and are fully focused. We are keen to do well," said Broad on the eve of the T20 match.

The pacer, however, was quick to point out that the Indians are a different kettle of fish in games that are played with the white balls.

"It's a different format. Indians are strong in formats which are played with the white balls. Besides, we haven't seen a huge amount of them in this format, haven't done the investigate and it can catch us by surprise," said the captain.

"Cricket is big in India. They have some brilliant players, exciting youngsters and we expect a tough challenge," he added.

Broad, though, added that India would be hurt by the absence of some key players like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan.

England are defensive world champions but Broad felt it gave his side no cushion, particularly since they play so little Twenty20 international matches.

Broad said: "It's not easy when you meet with other players for three days in couple of months. In World Cups, like the one in the Caribbean, we could get impetus even though we had at first lost a practice game in Abu Dhabi."

England played a practice game among them at Old Trafford on Tuesday morning and Broad said the idea was to see how players react to pressure in match situations.

"We wanted match intensity, match force for the guys. You know which shots give you value, how do you bowl Yorkers in the hole, how do you bat in the first six overs, in the middle overs and then at the death overs," he explain.

"The fast bowlers tried innovative method to practice bowling yorkers constantly in the middle. An iron rod was put on top of two hard slabs, placed on the two sides of the pitches. If a fast bowler could bowl under the iron rod, it destined he had been able to bowl a successful yorker," he added.

Broad said that the practice match was also intended for players to get used to different angle of the ground.

"The position of the square has been changed for this game. What were directly boundaries earlier are now sweeper boundaries. We need to get used to the size of boundaries." he said.

England had lost the Twenty20 match next to Sri Lanka earlier this summer and Broad said the over-riding lesson from the game was they hadn't put enough runs on the board.

"We review every game. Where we unsuccessful was to put runs on the board. If we can set a competitive total, we have the bowlers to protect it. That's what we learnt from the Sri Lanka game," he said.

Broad said Twenty20 has been a learning knowledge for him, even though he's the captain of the side.

He added: "I try and watch as much as I can. You watch how a batsman can dig it over keeper's head and the next ball he can send it 20 rows back in the stands. You realize how serenity in international Twenty20 cricket is important."

England are experiment with three different captains for three formats of the game and Broad believed it was essential for the amount of cricket that is being played.

"It's impractical for one captain to deal with all three formats because then he would be playing every day of the year. Besides, each captain can bring different ideas to each format. It's worked well so far," said Board.

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India rock by Gambhir return to home

Gautam Gambhir will miss India's limited-overs games against England due to concussion.

The left-handed opening batsman has made a slower than expected recovery since knocking his head on The Oval turf while attempt - and failing - to take a catch offered by Kevin Pietersen during the final match of the four-Test npower series.

The 29-year-old bat down the order in both innings during the Test but was still concerned by indistinct vision when he took to the nets on Monday.

A spokesman for the Indian team said: "Gautam Gambhir is flying home to India as soon as possible after he was diagnosed with concussion on Tuesday.

"He went to see a specialist in Manchester who advised Gautam to have complete rest. "It was therefore determined he would be sent home and will miss the incomplete overs series with England."

His nonattendances adds to India’s long wound list and further deplete a batting order already without Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh ahead of Thursday's one-off Twenty20 at Old Trafford.

Earlier on Tuesday, India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni exposed he did not expect Gambhir to be passed fit before admitting his absence would be a "big loss".

With star man Sachin Tendulkar retired from from Twenty20 internationals the tourists are set to turn to the more stoic presence of veteran Rahul Dravid for Wednesday's game under the new Old Trafford lights.

It would, extraordinarily, be the 38-year-old's first, and last, Twenty20 international after he announces his limited-overs departure after being selected in the squad.

"Losing Gambhir will be a big loss for us but you can't control injuries," Dhoni said. "Hopefully someone will stand up and take the responsibility." He added: "It looks like Rahul will play.

"You don't want to be a batter light; in this format you want your top seven batsmen. "So Rahul will most probable get a chance."

India's wound crisis has not been consigned to their batsmen only, with quicks Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma also strike down as well as spinner Harbhajan Singh.

The long list of wounded has served to weaken India's performances on a forgettable tour that has seen them already surrender the Test series, and the world's top ranking, to England following a 4-0 whitewash.

That has twisted the focus on the amount of cricket being played. The tourists' best players - most of who are concerned in the Indian Premier League.

While Dhoni believes Indian cricket almost certainly needs to employ the type of rotational policy England have used in recent times - something they did do on the tour of the Caribbean - he thinks the IPL has become the easy answer to explanation away any ills in the national team.

"Whenever anything bad happens in Indian cricket it is put down to the IPL," he said. "Irrespective of the fact we play in April and we lose a series in August. "That's one thing that will always be answerable on IPL."

He added: "I think we'll have to (look at resting players) because the timetable looks quite cramped. "It's significant to give players rest. Someone like a Suresh Raina has been playing all the formats for a long time now.

"It's more to deal with the mental aspect than the physical aspect. A bit of good rest in between also helps keep the injuries away."

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Dhoni: Players banal, need rest

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday passed that the players were banal as he called for a rotation policy to give them rest.

India lost six normal players Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan due to injury in the four-match Test series which India lost 0-4 and Dhoni hinted that the hectic list had tired the players.

"We will have to rotate. It's significant that players get rest. Raina has been participating in all formats. It's more to do with the mental rather than the physical aspect. Good rest helps you keep the injury away," Dhoni said in front of the Twenty20 international against England on Wednesday.

Dhoni himself has been on the road for a long time and his fingers are battered, causing a fall in his usually high standards of wicket keeping, as was sharp out by former Leicestershire keeper Paul Nixon recently.

"If majority of your 10 fingers are overworked then it becomes difficult (to keep) in these conditions. But I have more problems with Ishant than with Sreesanth or Praveen Kumar. May be it's the shake in these conditions which make it difficult," said the Indian captain.

Dhoni revealed that Rahul Dravid would be making his first appearance in Twenty20 internationals on Wednesday but Sachin Tendulkar is not playing. It means young Ajinkya Rahane would get his first game in India cap on Wednesday.

Gautam Gambhir is certainly out of Wednesday's match but Dhoni did not sound too confident that left-hander would be obtainable at all in the forthcoming ODI series.

"It's a big loss. He has done really well not only as an opener but also when he batted at number three when Sehwag and Tendulkar were opening the innings. He also plays spin very well," said Dhoni.

Gambhir, who is suffering from a indistinct vision, an injury he chosen up after falling on his head in the Oval Test on August 19, is likely to miss the entire ODI series, starting in Chester-le-Street on Saturday.

The World Cup winning Indian captain was intrigued by England's policy of having separate captains for all three formats of the game.

"It's interesting how it shapes out. It's significant that the captain is a regular in all three formats of the game. One thing sure though is it affords rest," Dhoni said.

Dhoni, a keen footballer himself and a Manchester United fan, took time off in Leicester to watch his favorite team thrash Arsenal 8-2 last Sunday.

"Being a Manchester United fan, it was fantastic to see them win so big. Since I started as a footballer, it was attractive (to watch the match). As for inspiration, we don't need it from outside. There is sufficient motivation within the dressing room. We don't need to look outside," insisted Dhoni.

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PCB forms board to look for coach

Former captain Zaheer Abbas has been named in a three-man commission to look for a new Pakistan coach.

The unpredicted decision by Waqar Younis to resign from the coaching post took everyone in the organization by surprise. The former speedster has done wonderful work in uplifting Pakistan cricket and it came as a shock to all when he decided to take a break.

Waqar will give up the job after Pakistan's tour of Zimbabwe, next month. Waqar had exposed that the decision is based on personal and medical reasons and he will make a return and serve Pakistan cricket again. In the interim, the search for a replacement is on.

The Pakistan Cricket Board, in the group, has also built-in its development manager, Intikhab Alam, and ex-Test wicketkeeper, Naushad Ali, while former Test opening batsman and now observer, Ramiz Raja, will assist the committee.

The PCB also revealed on Monday that the board will "look for coaches, both from within and outside Pakistan", and will start its work next week.

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Lillee: Rough road ahead for Zaheer

Australian pacer Dennis Lillee feel Zaheer Khan, having gone through surgery on his wounded ankle, will find it hard to create the same impact on his return to the game.

“I think Zaheer's injury happen due to stress. If he was 18 years old, his revival would have been faster. But when a player suffer a fresh injury at 33, he of course takes more time to get back into action," Lillee, who is in the city overseeing the MRF Pace Foundation training camp, said on Monday.

The Aussie has a lot of faith in Zaheer and wants his ward to perform. "I'm not a doctor, so it's not probable for me to point out if his international career is all but over," he added.

However, Lillee was glad for rookie India speedster Varun Aaron, who has been draft into the Indian ODI side for the ODI series against England. Aaron, an MRF product, is critically quick and is full of promise, feels the Aussie legend.

"He is a rare talent. I'm enormously happy that Varun has made it to the national squad. He is young and needs some time before he flourishes at the maximum level. He came at the MRF Pace Foundation as a 16-year-old boy and we all have put in a lot of attempt to groom him. I am convinced he would excel against England if given a chance," TOI report the Aussie as saying.

There have been many instance in the past when young pacers have shown great possible, only to fade away after some time due to injury. Aaron, who every time bowls above 145/kmph, had suffer two stress fractures in his back.

"Varun is still very young and his injury is totally healed. But he should be more careful now and he has to learn how to defend himself in spite of playing a lot of cricket," he said.

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Another warm up Indians win

Indians 161 for 5 (Parthiv 40, Rohit 29, Joshua Cobb 2-22) hit Leicestershire 146 for 7 (Andrew McDonald 44, R Vinay Kumar 3-29, A Mishra 2-19) by 15 runs



India produced an inspiring presentation in the field to beat Leicestershire by 15 runs at Grace Road in their final warm-up game.

Leicestershire, field 10 of the side that won the Friends Life t20 final next to Somerset on Saturday, were peg back to 146 for seven as they chase a victory target of 162.

Put into bat, India post 161 for five in front of a capability crowd of more than 6,000. Opener Parthiv Patel top-scored with 40 off 31 balls to get better his chances of making the starting line-up next to England.

Australian Andrew McDonald was Leicestershire's top-scorer with 44 before fetching one of three wounded for Vinay Kumar, while Amit Mishra took two for 19 in four tidy overs.

Abdul Razzaq hit a typically forceful 37 off 24 balls for Leicestershire but it was not sufficient to keep them up with the rate and they were left require 25 runs off the final over, which prove to be well out of their reach.

India, without Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, made a scorching start to their innings as Parthiv and Ajinkya Rahane put on 52 in less than six overs.

Parthiv was the leading partner with a succession of fine shots next to Matthew Hoggard and Razzaq, but the latter finally broke the opening stand when he had Rahane luminously caught at short third man by Jigar Naik.

The opening of McDonald saw Parthiv go with the total at 73, having hit six boundaries. But, trying for another big hit, he was caught at deep mid-wicket by Will Jefferson.

Rahul Dravid made an elegant 29 but, for the first time in the warm-up games, Virat Kohli failed to reach a half-century, caught at long-on off the bowling of Naik.

Rohit Sharma boost the scoring rate with 29 off 21 balls, including two successive sixes off Wayne White, before asset out to McDonald off the bowling of Josh Cobb.

India's total was a aggressive one and the early departure of Cobb, who had his middle stump knocked back by Praveen Kumar; put the county side on the back foot.

McDonald and Jefferson briefly look to have them back in the game with some big hitting until Jefferson was out lbw trying to sweep Mishra.

McDonald's removal from office when he was bowled by Vinay Kumar gave India the plan and, when Razzaq went, caught in the bottomless off Ravichandran Ashwin, it ended Leicestershire's hopes.

Vinay Kumar finished with three for 29 but Mishra looked the most imposing performer. Gambhir, still suffering problems after his head injury in the last Test against England, is to have a further test before deciding whether he will play in the Twenty20 match at Old Trafford.

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Ishant Sharma delay his surgery to next year

Speedster Ishant Sharma will delay his ankle surgery until the termination of India's tour of Australia early next year.

Sharma was ruled out of the England-India ODI series after he continued a muscle injury to his left ankle during the third Test at Edgbaston.

"It [the tour of Australia] is a very main tour and nobody wants to miss it," Ishant told.

"So I'll get the surgery after completed the Australian tour. I am going to the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, where I'll stay for a week or 10 days to suffer rehab and seek a proper schedule. At the moment, I've been told to do intensification exercises.

"I have a muscle tear in my left foot, and there is also a bone impingement in my left ankle. Surgery is the only way out. But if I feel that now, my foot will be in plaster for about three months and the treatment in all could take about 6-8 months," the 22-year old bowler added.

Once called by Steve Waugh as the "next big thing in Indian cricket", Ishant spearhead India's attack in England but his team failed to live up to the opportunity after his senior bowling partner Zaheer Khan was ruled out due to an injury.

"You can't say our confidence went down. We were always in the game. But if a bowler with 10 years of knowledge isn't there, it affects the performance. We had England on the ropes in the second innings at Lord's, and if Zaheer was there and had taken a couple of wickets, the result could have been dissimilar," Sharma reflect on the power Test series.

"Bowling in different venue in different conditions teaches you a lot. In India, you know that after the initial burst, you have to wait for the third or fourth day to get amazing like reverse swing. In England, if the sun is out and there is no dampness on the track, it gets really very flat and that makes it hard to bowl on," Sharma said.

However, Ishant's decision to delay his ankle surgery is certain to raise many eyebrows particularly after what happened with Zaheer Khan on the England tour.

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RP's enclosure in ODI squad baffling

If world champions India are to win the ODI series next to England, the bowlers will have to do something odd, says Wasim Akram.

India’s bowlers will be below the scanner when the ODI series starts this weekend at Chester-Le-Street. India’s Test disgrace was mainly due to an insufficient bowling attack and if it continues in the same vein, Dhoni’s team will be in big difficulty.

I doubt what RP Singh is doing in the ODI squad. He was totally off-colour in The Oval Test match and it will be a miracle if he can do something special in the ODIs. It was good decision to comprise young Jamshedpur quickie, Varun Aaron, because India need fresh pair of legs in both batting and bowling.

Much will depend on the spinners and Amit Mishra has to realize that his main job will be to pick wickets. I was dissatisfied with Mishra’s bowling in the Test matches and Dhoni may not be inclined to play him. Mishra has a lot to learn. It may not be a bad idea for BCCI to hire someone like Shane Warne for some time and teach Mishra how to turn the ball better and with more control!

The ODI series will be a test of character for India’s young batsmen. The sooner they learn to accept liability, the better it is for India. India’s Generation Next must make a start in England because the golden generation of Indian middle-order batting is drawing to a close. Tendulkar, Dravid and Laxman are all above 35 and they will eventually retire in a couple of years.

It’s time for Raina to learn from his mistakes. He looked completely out of sorts in the Test series. It looked as if he did not know how to hold the bat, leave alone score some runs. It was extremely sad to see such a talented batsman struggling like this.

The younger generation of Indian batsmen needs to realise that they have to spend more time playing first-class cricket rather than concentrate all their energies on T20 cricket. The BCCI has to ensure this too. T20 version is meant only for entertainment purposes! But if you want to become great batsmen like Dravid, Tendulkar or Ganguly, then you have to score big runs consistently at the Test match level. Only then will you be considered a legend.

Can the Kohlis, Rainas and Rohit Sharmas make themselves count? This is the time to stand up and deliver because England are on a high and will come really hard at the world champions.

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Ponting, Clarke look to hit form

Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke are aim to put an finish to a bad run in Test cricket when Australia face Sri Lanka in the three-Test series, starting Wednesday.

The visitors will be dependent on Captain Clarke and his precursor, Ponting, to claim the series. This will be Australia's first since the uncomfortable 3-1 Ashes defeat to England in January.

However, it will not be easy to regain form under hard conditions. The duo has struggle in the longer version of the game for close to two years now. They will be eager to make compensation when the first Test opens at the Galle International Stadium.

The 36-year-old Ponting is the third-highest run-getter in Test cricket at the back the Indian duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, with 12,363 runs from 152 matches. He has 39 centuries to his credit, though he has not hit a ton in his last 20 outings. His 209 against Pakistan at Hobart, in January, 2010, was his last develop.

Clarke, 30, has fared no better, going with no a hundred in 10 matches after hitting 168 against New Zealand in Wellington in March, last year. But a circle in the fortunes of the tourists' captain and elder statesman may be just an innings away.

Ponting, who made way for Clarke as captain after the World Cup in April, scored 53 and 90 not out during the earlier one-day series next to the Sri Lankans which Australia won 3-2.

Clarke also chips in with two half-centuries in the series and then scored 104 in a three-day put into practice match in Colombo last week ahead of the first test.

Clarke, who begins his reign as a full-time Australian Test captain on Wednesday, said he was keen to score Test runs again.

"My form has not been as good as I would like in Test cricket," Clarke told the travelling Australian media.

"For me, Test cricket is the final, the pinnacle, and I want to be at my best. I could not have asked for better training, but now I have got to do it when it counts. It's significant to make runs every time I bat but I would favor a hundred in the first Test."

Clarke, regard as one of the finest players of spin bowling, has scored 4,742 runs in 69 Tests at an average of 46.49 with 14 centuries.

Ponting admit Australia's Ashes loss, when he was captain, had overstated his batting and now looked forward to doing well as the team's forefront batsman.

"The team's presentation had started to play on my mind and it almost certainly dragged my batting down a little bit," Ponting told a website in a recent interview. "I have got to score runs that are going to be sufficient to win for Australia and that's my main objective for the instant future."

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Jonathan Trott denies foul-mouthing kids

England batsman Jonathan Trott was accuse of foul-mouthing a group of children during the team's ODI match in Ireland but it twisted out to be a misinterpretation.

Former Irish skipper, Trent Johnston, claim on Twitter: "Word on the street is Trott told a bunch of kids (including my son) to f*** off when they asked for an autograph."

The 30-year-old Trott, who top-scored with 69 from 105 balls in England's One-day victory, deprived of the charges.

Johnston, who did not play in the match because of injury, later detached his post. "I have spoken to Jonathan Trott who assure me it did not take place and we appreciate Trent Johnston has now delete the post," an England spokesman was quoted as saying by The Sun.

It was not the first instance of English cricketers getting into a disagreement. Former captain Kevin Petersen vents his fury on Twitter when he was left out by England last year. He later claimed that the feed was meant to be sent as a private message to a friend.

Tim Bresnan was also warning by the England administration in 2009 after he swore on Twitter at a fan who mocked-up an image of him which made him look fat.

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Injured Gambhir probable to return home

With his indistinct vision deteriorating to improve, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir could be stuffing his bags to return home.

In what might be a big blow to the movement of the world champions in the approaching one-day series next to England, Gambhir looks set to undergo the same fate as Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag who either came or joined the Indian squad only to leave upset having contributed little to the team's cause.

India were whitewashed 4-0 in the Test series; lost their number one Test rankings and are in danger of suffering a similar incapacitating fate in the one-day series, starting with the first game in Chester-le-Street on September 3.

Gambhir had backpedalled to catch a pull by Kevin Pietersen at mid-on on the second day of the final Test at the Oval on August 19, but trip and fell on his head, a fall which resulted in blurred vision.

He didn't open either innings of the Oval Test and came in down the order, causal little by way of runs.

Since then, he has visit doctors and had MRI scans which have given him a clean bill of health. However, Gambhir is still far from well.

Gambhir's case is similar to the one suffer by South African fast bowler Dale Steyn during the Champions League T20 last year when he too fell on his head as he backpedalled to try and catch Michael Hussey in a semi-final clash between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Steyn's MRI scans also show little, but the pace man took 3-4 weeks to regain full fitness. With Gambhir potentially out for a similar length of time, he is also now a doubt for when England pay a return visit to India in early October.

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Nixon: Dhoni have painful hands

MS Dhoni could be distress from "sore hands" causing his wicket keeping deteriorating on the current England tour.

Nixon, who last night retire after powering his Leicestershire team to domestic Twenty20 title victory, has also been an England 'keeper in the past and is the one who helped Dhoni out with his keeping when he first came on tour to these shores in 2007.

"It looks like he has sore hands. He's too proud a guy to show it but he has sore hands. Or else, he is very violent and sure in his catching but (on this tour) he's been giving a lot," Nixon said this morning.

"It's like life form in the boxing ring. If your hands are joined, you can't throw a punch."

Since Dhoni is not in the best of physical shape, Nixon believe he hasn't been doing those things constantly well sufficient which he passed it on him on the last tour.

"As a wicketkeeper, while you are at the back the stumps, your chin should be lower to your knees. Your shoulder should be square and level. He hasn't been doing it."

"If you are not very square (in shoulders), you could finish up doing a lot of twisting and there would be more catching errors. Your arms should be at your chin height. He's not doing it as without fail in this series."

Nixon said the only way to get rid of pain in your hands is to give it a good rest, an chance Dhoni hasn't had for a very long time now.

"It (the soreness) isn't going to go away without rest. Sometimes, we are keen a non-natural rubber-band kind of strip on fingers but then you lose feel of the ball. It's unwieldy on hands."

Nixon believed Dhoni's behavior and the fact that he is a leader, isn't helping him in seeking a break and sort out his tattered hands. "Being a captain, you require putting in 15-18 hours a day. You look after everybody, communicate. Dhoni is a giver and when you are so with other people, you ignore your own game," he praised Dhoni.

"Dhoni is fervent about other people. It gives you esteem from team-mates. But at times, senior players and management need to say 'Let's forget about others and let's get you right. Let's clean up your backyard."

Nixon admitted that it is certainly a tough job for players at the best level.

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Gambhir approximately fit for ODI series

Gautam Gambhir's contribution in the ODI series next to England looks possible with the Indian opener likely to be fit for the five-match rubber. Team manager Shivlal Yadav definitely this on Wednesday.

Yadav said Gambhir should be fine for next month's ODI series after his MRI scan did not show anything unpleasant.

He, however, said that the left-hander might not play in the perform game next to Sussex on Thursday.

Gambhir is critical to India's plans in the ODIs now that his guy opener Virender Sehwag has been totally ruled out for the five one-dayers and one-off Twenty20 match.

Gambhir suffer the concussion after he backpedalled at mid-on in a bid to catch a miscued pull off Kevin Petersen during the Oval Test. The chance was fluff when he fell back and hit his head on the ground with a thump.

Even though assumption over his ease of use has died down after the MRI scan, the left-hander did not come out to do with his colleagues today.

The present series has been one of hard luck for Gambhir. He was glaringly hit on his right prod while field at forward short leg during the first Test at Lord's last month.

He later had to miss the second Test at Trent Bridge. He did play the third Test at Edgbaston and scored 38 and 14 in the two innings.

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England captaincy a enormous compliment

Eoin Morgan believe his selection as England captain for the RSA Challenge in his native Dublin is a "huge tribute" to Irish cricket.

The 24-year-old lead his adopt country for the first time in tomorrow's stand-alone one-day international in the city of his birth and next to the side he made his name with.

Morgan played 23 one-day internationals for Ireland before catching the notice of the England selectors and has gone on to become debatable the central cog in their limited-overs batting.

His altitude to captain in the absence of the rested Alastair Cook and Stuart Broad represent another significant achievement, but while many in Ireland regret the loss of their country's most gifted player, Morgan thinks his own progress should be seen in an optimistic light.

"It's a huge honor and freedom to be in the location I am at the instant, for this game in exacting," said Morgan, who captain Ireland Under-19s against England Under-19s in 2006.

"I wouldn't have likely it (would come against Ireland). It's thrilling though, I certainly enjoy playing alongside Ireland and I've done it a number of times. "I think it's a huge tribute (to Ireland) and I can vouch for that.

"I played with Ireland when Ed Joyce made his first appearance for England, played in a World Cup for England, scored a hundred in Sydney for England.

"They were proud moment for Irish cricket. You can pride yourself on producing guys who can play at the highest level."

Morgan was absent with injury in March when a Kevin O'Brien-inspired Ireland famously defeated England in Bangalore in the World Cup.

His squads include just one man who knowledgeable that shock reversal, the fit-again Jonathan Trott, with a host of star names rested following the Test series whitewash over India.

Next to Cook and Broad, the likes of James Anderson, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann - not to mention team director Andy Flower - have all been exempt the trip to Clontarf.

That leaves fielding coach Richard Halsall in charge of team affairs and four uncapped players - Ben Stokes, Jonathan Bairstow, Scott Borthwick and James Taylor - included. But Morgan discarded suggestion the selection betrayed satisfaction on England's part.

"With the strength of cricket we've played in the last 12 months and the cricket ahead of us, this game is a window of chance to give some of the senior guys a rest. There has to be a understanding," he said. "The cricket we've played and the level we've played it at takes a hell of a lot out of you.

"And take nothing away from the guys who are coming in. A lot of them have previously played and the four new guys who have come in are the brightest and biggest talents in English cricket at the moment. No-one should be dissatisfied with the side we've come with.

"The side is always hungry. With our ethos in the team, we strive to win and to do it for each other. It's why we succeed in the Test arena and what we're look to do in one-day cricket as well."

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Ireland activist of World Cup do again

Ireland skipper William Porterfield insists the make-up of England's team for Thursday's One Day International in Dublin has not diminished the sense of juncture in the Irish capital.

It will be England's first look in an ODI in Dublin and even with the likes of Kevin Petersen, James Anderson and Graeme Swann absent from the line-up; the sense of expectation in the Irish camp is strong.

Ireland notably beat England in the World Cup earlier this year and that has added to the publicity nearby the re-match.

"It's clearly massive," Porterfield told Sky Sports News. "There's been a lot of build-up and hype about it particularly after the World Cup, so it is going to be a good time."

Temporary stands have been erected for a sell-out crowd of 5,000 at a ground that is more suggestive of a club venue than an international stadium.

Porterfield added: "The crowds are going to be on top of the players. When we played Australia here a pair of years ago it was a full house and a pretty good environment, so it makes for a pretty good occasion."

And the Irish are keen to build on the force that World Cup win gave the game in the Republic.

"No one takes us lightly any longer when they come over here and it's going to be a good game of cricket. We are looking forward to it," Porterfield said.

"For the people back home the key was beating England, like in any sport - get one over on them - and we manage to do that at the World Cup. It did wonders back here and hopefully we can keep that going and keep Irish cricket touching forward."

As for the England side making the trip crossways the Irish Sea, Porterfield said: "To be honest it doesn't really substance that comes. It is a one day international next to England as far as we are concerned. Whoever puts on the shirt for them doesn't bother us, we are going out there to play next to England and that's all we care about."

Ed Joyce has played for England in the past but will be representing his motherland on Thursday, beside a side that has just taken over at the top of the Test rankings after an emphatic 4-0 series win over India.

Jouce said: "They have under enemy control and it's great to see. They are playing a great brand of cricket and are number one in the world, so fair play to them. They are a very good side. In ODI cricket they will be gunning to get up to number one as well, but we will be here tomorrow trying to stop them doing that."

Joyce also reckons this England side represents the future. "People like James Taylor and Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes - we have seen a lot of them in county cricket and they are special talents," he said. "I think those guys will be approximately England set-ups for a long time to come.

"So that will be stimulating for the Irish public. It will be a good time because these guys coming in are very good players.

"These guys will be in ODI squads going forward from here. It is not as under-strength as people are making out. They will clearly be a huge test for us and we are looking forward to giving them a good game."

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Axed Katich back Hughes to blaze

Simon Katich has put the cover on the past and announces his support for the uncapped Phillip Hughes as the man to help lead Australia out of the doldrums.

The 36-year-old crushed no words when he slam the selectors for axing him from the annual list of nationally- agreement players in June, accusing the Andrew Hilditch-led panel of favoring possible over form in picking players.

Katich has been like a run-machine for Australia for fairly some time. However, he unfortunately had to miss the last three Tests of the doomed Ashes campaign after being ruled out with an Achilles injury.

His replacement, the 22-year-old Hughes, is infamous for his suspected weakness against quality seamers. He failed to position up to the rigours of England's quicks for second consecutive Ashes but was however satisfied with a contract.

Rising above the rancor, Katich insist Hughes has the probable to repay the faith of the selectors.

"He knows how to make runs. He knows how to make big scores," Katich said of Hughes, who averaged 16 in three Tests next to England, in Wednesday's Daily Telegraph.

"He's previously made 16 first-class hundreds, which is no mean achievement for a player of his age. I think he'll be better for the little off period he had last year.

"All batsmen go throughout it at some stage during their career. You have to become familiar and get better and he'll do that, I have no doubt. Phil works firm and he's a good kid," he said.

Despite backing the very small Hughes, Katich has return to his State side, New South Wales, and has not written off his probability of making a return to the Australian Test side after being before written off.

The selection panel he answerable, in part, for Australia's 3-1 loss to England, will be revamp in line with recommendation of a self-governing team presentation review released last week.

The new-look panel will include Captain Michael Clarke and a new coach with better powers to be chosen, while being led by a full-time head to put back disliked chairman Hilditch, who acted in a part-time capacity.

Head of youth expansion Greg Chappell will also give up his role as a full-time selector as part of the shake-up.

"I was told four years ago they were never going to pick me yet again and I got back in, so you never know," said Katich.

He added: "The same guys who told me that are no longer in their jobs, so it's a bit ironical they've been given the brush. I have the same approach I had four years ago. I'm just going to enjoy my cricket with New South Wales."

Former top dogs, Australia, who have slip to fifth in the ICC world Test rankings, play fourth-ranked Sri Lanka in the first Test of a three-match series starting August 31 in Galle.

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Waqar to get treatment in Australia

Waqar Younis will have to undergo a treatment programmed in Australia for around five months to treat his health problems which enforced him to step down as Pakistan coach.

Sources close to the former Test captain said that Waqar's choice to resign as coach and end his tenure after the Pakistan team's tour to Zimbabwe was exclusively because of his health issue.

"He is facing some liver problem and specialists in his now adopted hometown, Sydney, have advise him to start an instant treatment/rehabilitation programmed to prevent the health problem from turning into a more serious disease," one source said.

"Waqar only learnt that he will need undergoing the treatment programmed after coming to Pakistan to prepare the team for the Zimbabwe tour because the consequences of the tests he underwent before coming to Pakistan only came out earlier this month after which he knowledgeable the PCB about his personal and health problem," the source said.

He said PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt didn't want Waqar to go and the former Test pacer has certain the board that once he is 100 per cent well he will be obtainable for Pakistan cricket again.

"Don't rule out the opportunity of Waqar recurring as coach sometime next year or even being given another top liability by the board as even while resigning Waqar made it clear he wanted to serve Pakistan cricket in any capacity," the source said.

The source said the possibility of the board appointing a coach on temporary basis until Waqar is well again is also a strong opportunity and for the time being Aaqib Javed, who served as supporter coach with Waqar, might be the temporary choice.

There have been speculations that Waqar's acceptance might be related to some problems with the board but the sources close to him denied this and said the pace bowler had faced lot of pressure from his family and doctors to return to Australia instantly and start his treatment.

"But because of the PCB request him to at ablest carry on for the Zimbabwe tour he agreed and he will return to Pakistan with the team to collect his possessions and sort out all matters with the board before returning to Sydney to start his treatment program," one source added.

The 39-year-old former Test captain has won a lot of praise and appreciation from former players and greats, who felt Waqar did a good job transformation the Pakistan team in spite of the several controversy and scandals that Pakistan cricket had to undergo since last year.

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West Indies name inexperienced squad

West Indies have named an inexpert squad for their two Twenty20 internationals in England next month.

With the two matches at The Oval set to clash with the Champions League Twenty20, the Windies selectors have chosen to fail to notice Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo and Ravi Rampaul.

Star batsman Chris Gayle has also been lost as he remains out of favour following a spat with the West Indies Cricket Board after he miss the limited overs series next to Pakistan earlier this year.

West Indies' choice not to select their Champions League Twenty20 players may not go down well with their England rivals, who earlier this month, tag the matches on to the end of their summer programme to help fulfil a contractual responsibility with the media and the WICB.

England is also likely to select Eoin Morgan in spite of the left-hander being named in the Kolkata Knight Riders' squad for the competition.

In contrast, Bravo and Pollard are due to play for their IPL franchises - defensive champions the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians correspondingly - while the residual four players will appear for home country Trinidad & Tobago.

In their nonattendance the Windies have called on four new uncapped players - Miles Bascombe, Johnson Charles, Nkruma Bonner and Derwin Christian. The two Twenty20s are listed for September 23 and 25 at The Oval.


West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Christopher Barnwell, Miles Bascombe, Devendra Bishoo, Nkruma Bonner, Johnson Charles, Derwin Christian (wk), Fidel Edwards, Danza Hyatt, Ashley Nurse, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Dwayne Smith.

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Flower listening carefully on remaining No. 1

Andy Flower on Tuesday allowed a brief moment of approval at a job wonderfully done by England - before they move on to the powerful challenge of staying on top of the world.

England took the last seven India wickets for only 21 runs at The Oval, to complete a 4-0 power Test series loss with an innings victory.

After the general elation had died down - and a sell-out swarm made their way home - Flower and Andrew Strauss' team held their own low-key celebration, transport a box of freezing drinks out to camp just off the square for a few moments to reproduce together on their attainment.

There will be valuable little time for any more of the same before a rush of England limited-over’s assignments begins when Test batsman Eoin Morgan lead his adopt country for the first time next to his native one in Dublin on Thursday.

There is much longer - five months till January when they head to the United Arab Emirates to take on Pakistan - for England to plan how they protect their new world-beating Test status.

While Flower is noted for his confrontation to the smallest amount hint of satisfaction, and can be count on to be thinking already about the way forward in all formats, he adjudicators it only right too that England are given due praise for their rise to the top of the International Cricket Council Test rankings.

"It gives me wonderful fulfillment, but it is the players we have to think about," said the coach. "I look at them in the changing room after the game, and they can rightly feel very proud of themselves.

"They've put in a wonderful amount of hard work to get themselves into a place where they feel very confident and where they are creation good decisions - and then are good sufficient to back them up out in the middle."

England's winning recipe has centered on collective support for one more towards a common aim, but it has also been achieve on the back of a stream of exceptional individual performances.

Ian Bell's creative batting form has been a exposure over the past 12 months; Stuart Broad was named man of the series for his all-round heroics, especially in the second Test on his home ground in Nottingham; and Kevin Petersen is back to somewhere near his substantial best.

There is no one in the team, though, undeserving of special mention. Flower believes success is reproduction success - and insists England's forceful victory should not be devalue by those decry India, for whom only Rahul Dravid has perform in keeping with his status among a clutch of superstars.

"It is nice to see the team like that and see them actually sure and it's nice to see them believing that they will win games of cricket.

"They have conquered a very good side here, and I don't think we should forget that.
"There are some very fine cricketers in that Indian side, and they have been drama at a high level for a very long time.

"They are hugely knowledgeable - so to play like we did and to rule them like we did is a great credit to these England players."

Bell, Petersen and Alastair Cook have each made double-centuries over the past month - a clear response to batting coach Graham Gooch's familiar call to make 'daddy hundreds'.

But as they look towards those supplies which must be met to beat the likes of Pakistan, Sri Lanka and - a winter on - India again away from home, England's batsmen knows more of the same is a must.

Oval man of the match Bell has obviously got the message. He averages more than 118 this calendar year, and has made 950 runs, but will prize major contributions in the sub-Continent even more highly - and is challenging himself and his team-mates to outdo the efforts of several previous generation by making England's first 200-plus individual scores in Asia for almost 30 years.

"I think when we get out to the sub-Continent it's about getting big scores," he said. "I'm not certain when anyone last got a double-hundred out there. That'll be the goal.

"Goochie will be approaching us hard - because with our bowling attack, we know if we get big scores on the board in the first innings we can win Test matches. "We've complete it well here; we've now got to take it abroad, where we've not done it so well in the past," Flower completed.

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India can be able to number two in ODIs

Going by the present form, it looks highly improbable but if India strike England by a 4-1 margin or better in the upcoming one-day series, they can scale to second spot from third in the ICC ranking chart.

World champions India (117) are placed third behind Sri Lanka (119) in the list, head by Australia (130)

Australia's 3-2 series win has limited Sri Lanka to earn only one rating point which, in turn, has given India a chance to get back the second position.

To get the number-two positions, India will have to beat England by a 4-1 scoreline, or whitewash the hosts in the five-match series, initial at Chester-le-Street on September three.

Meanwhile, in the rankings for ODI batsmen, Virat Kohli has enter into the top-five with a gain of one position and sachin Tendulkar re-entered into the top-10 with a similar gain.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost a place to find himself at number nine. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is the only Indian bowler in the top-10 as he missing one position to be at 10.

Australia's fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson, who the length of with Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga was the most important wicket-taker in the recent series with 11, has jump four places to maintain third position while Malinga, who recorded the third hat-trick of his career in Monday's ODI, has jump 19 places to claim 11th position.

Dough Bollinger's nine wickets in the series has help him return to the top-10 in seventh place after vault 15 places while Brett Lee has been satisfied with a jump of four places after his eight wickets in four matches which has put him just at the back Malinga in 14th position.

Graeme Swann of England is on top of the bowling table but leads New Zealand's Daniel Vettori by just six points.

In the list of batsmen, former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena has return to the top-20 in 17th position after increasing five places following his series contribution of 180 runs which made him the fourth most winning batsman in the series behind Michael Clarke (242), Ricky Ponting (196) and Shane Watson (185).

While Watson and Ponting have retained their third and 15th positions, correspondingly, Clarke has moved up two places to seventh place.

The batting table is head by South Africa's Hashim Amla while his captain, AB de Villiers, is in second position.

There is no modify in the top three of the rankings for all-rounders which are still led by Watson.

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Akram: Nothing cool concerning Dhoni

Former Pakistan skipper establish the Indian captain distant and his batting form a big fret against England. Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s demean was hardly exciting during the Test series against England.

The four-nil defeat next to England has done no good to Dhoni’s standing as a captain and former Pakistan skipper Akram is just not pleased at the way Dhoni handled belongings during the Test series that completed at The Oval on Monday.

In a limited chat with Mobile ESPN from London on Monday night, Akram, like other cricket pundit, was sorrowful with the way Dhoni unsuccessful to lead India by example. Captain Cool has unexpectedly lost a few admirers and Akram is positively one of them.

At The Oval on Monday, India lost seven wickets for 21 runs after Sachin Tendulkar (a lucky 91) and Amit Mishra (a defiant 84) held the Indian fort with a 144-run partnership. One of the culprits in this recurrent middle-order capitulation has been the skipper himself. Dhoni was out for three; Stuart Broad once again revealing the captain’s batting restriction next to a moving ball.

“His batting form is of great anxiety. In this series Dhoni frequently got out in the slips region. He may have got a couple of 70-plus scores in the third Test at Edgbaston, but what good are these runs when your adversary has collective a 700-plus score?” asked Akram.

Akram feels a dressing room can never be a happy one waiting and if not a captain and coach communicate with the team and lift their confidence. Dhoni’s body language was absolutely not motivating sufficient, felt Akram.

“I feel Dhoni needs to be even more concerned in the game. New coach Duncan Fletcher is not a performer and will take time to settle down,” Akram said.

The serious lack of preparation by the BCCI (for example, RP Singh arriving late for the third Test) and the announcement gap between the team organization and the Board bigwigs was expressively clear. Akram agrees too.

“According to me, it seems that no one had any idea in the Indian camp about what was going on. Dhoni did not look too concerned with on-field events. I know this has been his style, but when your team is getting thrash, ‘Captain Cool’ can’t pay for to freeze! At times, you have to change your style to get the best out of your players. This result should be eye-opener for Dhoni,” said Akram.

In spite of the censure, Akram back Dhoni as Indian skipper. Removing him is not a quick-fix explanation, he felt.

“Our cricketing civilization in the sub-continent doesn’t hold up a losing captain, but here is where we need to back Dhoni. He can certainly show the critic wrong in the ODI series. While that will work to India’s benefit, Dhoni can pick up his piece as well,” said Akram.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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."

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England chip left after Dravid's epic

India 300 (Dravid 146*, Bresnan 3-54) and 129 for 3 (Tendulkar 35*, Mishra 8*) trail England 591 for 6 dec by 162 runs

England moved nearer to a 4-0 series whitewash next to India in spite of encounter some brave confrontation from Rahul Dravid on day four at The Oval. Dravid's winning 146 accounted for almost half of his side's first-innings total as the tourists were bowled out for 300 during the afternoon session.

It was the first time they had reached that mark in the whole series, but the total was still not sufficient to avoid the follow-on as England made their opponents bat all through the whole day.

India avoid another top-order collapse and ended the day 162 runs behind on 129-3, but they still face an uphill task on the final day if they are to avoid beat in the fourth and final Test.

India had resume the day on 103-5 and during the night partnership of Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (17) survived for 12 overs awaiting the latter edge at the back off the bowling of James Anderson.

Dravid continued undeterred and bring up his century, from 168 balls, with a dab to third man for two off Tim Bresnan.

The 38-year-old is fourth on the all-time list of Test centurions with 35 and becomes only the third India player to carry his bat in a Test innings.

Amit Mishra, who shattered the last ball before lunch for a six over long-on, made a breezy, defiant 43 in a seventh-wicket stand of 87 before he was dismiss by a superb one-handed Ian Bell catch as he attempt to pull a Bresnan delivery.

Usual opener Gautam Gambhir, not second-hand at the top of the innings due to a concussion, then made a n almost strokeless 10 before looping an easy catch to Kevin Pietersen at gully off Stuart Broad.

RP Singh hit five boundaries in a rapid 25 to help take the tourist to the 300 mark for the first time in the series, but they would go no further.

Bresnan (3-54) had Singh wedged at third slip and last man Sreesanth drove the same bowler directly to Eoin Morgan at cover two balls later.

Dravid was trapped four runs short of 150 and minutes later was back out in the middle again, retain opening duty as England, with a first-innings lead of 291, compulsory the follow-on.

His continuous spell at the crease looked to have come to an end when he was given out trapped by short-leg Alastair Cook off Swann, but a review showed the ball had clearly miss his bat.

But his valiant confrontation finally ended when he was once again snared bat-pad by Cook off the same bowler, with the review this time going next to him despite no evidence of any edge. With no conclusive proof suggesting Dravid had actually nicked the ball, it was strange how third umpiring Steve Davis determined to claim superiority the on-field umpire.

The Hot-Spot and snick meter clearly failed to spot any contact between the bat and ball but Dravid walked off the field in a cordial manner, very typical of him.

The wicket can be crucial in the background of the game, felt Sunil Gavaskar in the commentary box.
Virender Sehwag made a patchy 33 before departure as he was beaten by the spin of Swann and bowled throughout the gate attempt an ambitious drive against the turn.

Sachin Tendulkar (35 not out) and VVS Laxman almost made it to the come to an end but the latter fell for 24 late in the day after a beauty from Anderson sent his off stump flying out of the ground.

And Tendulkar was given a life when slow-motion replay suggested he was confused by Prior in the closing stages of the day but no England player appeal after the bails were removed with the batsman's back foot appear to be in the air at the crucial moment.

But with no appeal, Tendulkar survives and will have a chance to make that indefinable hundredth international hundred on the final day of the series.

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Hayden inspired by 'dominant' Bell

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden has paid rich compliment to Ian Bell, saying that the England batsman was now ruling Test cricket. Bell struck 235, his best in Tests, in the final Test at The Oval.

It was his fifth Test hundred this year. The feat saw him restore Alastair Cook as the most important Test run-scorer in 2011 - Bell now has 950 runs to Cook's 927 and England's Kevin Pietersen is third with 731.

Hayden, a cruelly effective run-scorer, was a key member of the Australia side that led the way in Test cricket in the 1990s and 2000s.

But he has been frightened by the performance of England, who have become the world's leading Test side since defeat Australia 3-1 in an Ashes series earlier this year, in general and Bell in particular.

"Ian Bell has always been a very technically sound player and he's now dominate Test cricket simply because theoretically he's sound, mentally he's grown up, his physical attribute are very good and he's relish the hard work," Hayden told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme on Sunday.

Hayden, talking after the magazine of the Argus report into the state of Australian cricket, also highlighted consistency of selection - something England was once infamous for lacking and which has been a trouble for recent Australia sides - as a key reason behind the rise of Andrew Strauss's team.

"In my career there was a lot of discrepancy (in the England team), both in performances and also selection," he said.

"There were so many players coming in and out of the side it was really a turnstile into the English covering room, but now it's very different," Hayden added.

Meanwhile, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive David Collier downplayed suggestions powerful England coach Andy Flower could be misplaced to another country.

The Zimbabwean has played a key role behind the scenes during England's scale to the top of the ICC Test Championship table since captivating over from Peter Moores two years ago.

Flower rejected a move toward from India before they chosen his compatriot Duncan Fletcher, the former England coach, and Collier said: "I think Andy made his position very clear when the Indian state of affairs happened.

"I think he is very established in England and long may that continue. I think the whole of the backroom team is very important.

"We've residential a structure over five to 10 years now that has not only deliver plans but has leapfrogged countries in the world and we want to keep that team together."

England currently leads their series with India 3-0. If they win at The Oval, it will be the first time England have triumph 4-0 in a four-Test series since whitewashing the West Indies in 2004.

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Arthur needs to coach Australia

As Cricket Australia search for a new coach for its national side after a major unexpected result, previous South Africa coach Micky Arthur has shown awareness in the job.

Arthur, who is now coach of Western Australia, said he has wants to go back to international cricket and would think the job, but that his priority at the moment remains the domestic Australian side.

"Yes, I would be stupid not to be paying attention, but at the moment my priority is Western Australia. I have ambitions to carry on coaching at international level, however, I have incomplete business here (in WA)," Arthur was quoted as saying by Daily Telegraph.

Cricket Australia sack chief selector Andrew Hilditch, selector Greg Chappel and asked Coach Tim Nielsen to re-apply for the job on the commendation of a review panel, led by Don Argus.

Argus has optional that a new coach, general manager of team presentation and full-time chairman of selectors be put in place before the South African tour.

Australia will play two Twenty20 matches, three one-day games and two Tests in South Africa from mid-October to late November.

"Given Arthur's deep information of South Africa's players and circumstances, it would be an ideal place for him to start," the report in the newspaper said.

The report also renowned that "India became the No. 1 Test nation under South Africa's Gary Kirsten for approximately two years and now England are top dog with Zimbabwean Andy Flower at the helm."

"Australia has the ideal opportunity to become the best Test nation again by following the lead of India and England and appoint an African coach," it said. Australia has never chosen a foreign coach for its national side.

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