McCullum streak to ton in warm-up

New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum has marked to a century next to Australia A in a warm up match of their Australian tour in Brisbane.

McCullum cut a four throughout point to the boundary to bring up his triple figures innings, smash 15 fours and five sixes off 85 balls on the opening day of the 4 day match.

The visitors raced to 106 runs without loss by lunch and were cruise after the interval before the opening partnership of Brendan Guptill (43) and McCullum was broken in the 29th over.

Guptill look to be on his way to the half-century mark after beating a patient 43 runs innings off 89 balls but an attempt cut shot fell short to Nic Maddinson at gully.

The Black Caps sit at 164/1 with Kane Williamson (3 runs) joining McCullum at the crease.

New Zealand team:

Ross Taylor (c) - Central Stags
Trent Boult - Northern Knights
Doug Bracewell - Central Stags
Dean Brownlie - Canterbury Wizards
Martin Guptill - Auckland Aces
Chris Martin - Auckland Aces
Brendon McCullum - Otago Volts
Jesse Ryder - Wellington Firebirds
Tim Southee - Northern Knights
Kane Williamson - Northern Knights
Reece Young - Canterbury Wizards

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Subramaniam Badrinath eyes No.6 spot in India's Test squad

While there are quite a few in the race to grasp the No. 6 spot in India's Test squad, Tamil Nadu's middle-order basis Subramaniam Badrinath, on Wednesday, claim that he was the best bet for that position.

"I have been to come in the sidelines. Honestly, there is just one spot left (in the middle-order). To be truthful, I do not want to be that one guy who is only in the squad and not playing. I want to play in the eleven and that is my biggest inspiration," Badrinath said.

"I have been in the national team for a while but didn't get a chance to play. In the back of my mind I know I haven't actually lost. Maybe the spots would open up soon and I sense I am the best guy to do the job," insist the 31-year-old, who has played two Tests and seven ODIs.

Stating that Michael Hussey, who made his international debut at the age of almost 30, is his "idol", Badrinath said, "I have spoken to him quite a lot concerning this (the age). I am backing my fitness, which has forever been my strength.

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'When we compete we've exposed we are on par with India'

West Indies cricket is on a downslide for a couple of decades now, and the Caribbean’s' winning something now comes crosswise as a surprise more often than not.

For the record, the West Indies have won just five Test matches in the last five years!

Not much was, therefore, probable from them when they landed in India for the three-Test series. Two matches later, they have expectedly lost the Test series and are staring at a first whitewash next to India in their history.

To his credit though, Darren Sammy was still able to find positives. The wry smile on his face is still whole even as he believes that the West Indies team is going forward contrary to what many would like to believe.

Asked what his first Test series as captain in the subcontinent has taught him, Sammy was categorical.

"I've been asked this question right from the time I stepped in India. I think it's my mental toughness," he said, before proceeding to elaborate his point.

"I'm leading a side that nobody expects to go out there and do well," he explained, adding, "Therefore, I was quite happy that while batting at Eden we scored the highest second-innings total by a West Indian team (463) following on.

"To get 400-plus in the second innings is good to see."

The captain was equally categorical about what his team lacks.

"We just have to be more consistent, especially with the bat," admitted Sammy.
"If we bat well in one innings, we don't do so in the second," he added, referring to the two innings of the second Test in Kolkata .

Sammy also went a step ahead and offered a solution, which he believes can ensure better results for the West Indies.

"Throughout the series, when we competed we've shown we are on par with India," he explained, adding, "I'd like to see a scenario where (Darren) Bravo, (Kirk) Edwards, (Devendra) Bishoo and (Kemar) Roach come good for us and be consistent.

"I'm looking forward to be part of that consistency."

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Pakistan pace man Wahab dropped for Bangladesh tour

Pakistan paceman Wahab Riaz has been unnoticed for the squad touring Bangladesh after his name was mention in the spot-fixing trial in London at the start of November.

Chief selector Mohammad Illyas said Wahab had been drop for the tour after consultations between the selectors and team management.

"We have picked the best probable team," Illyas told a news meeting in Lahore on Monday.

Wahab was part of the teams that played a test series next to Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates last month but was then drop for the one-day series and sent home soon after his name was mention in the trial.

During the trial, an in secret reporter told the jury that Pakistani player agent Mazhar Majeed had told him he had several cricketers working for him and mention the names of Wahab and not needed wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.

At the Southwark Crown Court on Nov. 1, Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were handed jail terms ranging from six to 30 months for taking bribe to fix parts of a test match during Pakistan's tour to England last year.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was disinclined to comment on Wahab's keeping out but sources within the body long-established to Reuters that the bowler was sideline because his name was mention during the trial.

"The PCB has determined not to select any players whose names were linked to the spot-fixing trial," one source, who wished to remain anonymous, said.

Wahab's keeping out is a blow to the team after a string of good performances in domestic and international cricket since making his test first appearance at the Oval last year.

His exclusion forced selectors to make one change to the test squad that hit Sri Lanka, replacing Wahab with young pace man Mohammad Talha.

The selectors have retained the same one-day squad participates in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka in the Gulf.

"Bangladesh is always a formidable side at home and we didn't want to take risks. As it is the team is on a winning impetus and we want that to continue," Illyas added.

Pakistan will play two tests, three one-dayers and a Twenty20 international in Bangladesh from Nov. 26.

Test squad:

Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umar, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Adnan Akmal, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Mohammad Talha, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul.

One-day international squad:

Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Farhat, Umar Akmal,, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Sohail Tanvir, Saeed Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul.

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