England retains Ashes with emphatic 4th Test win

England has retained the Ashes in emphatic fashion by completing an innings and 157—run win over Australia on Wednesday in the fourth Test.

England retained the Ashes for the first time on Australian soil since 1986—87. It travels to the final Test in Sydney starting Sunday with a 2—1 series lead, but as the Ashes-holder, England needs only to draw the series to keep the urn.

Tim Bresnan claimed the final wicket and his fourth of the innings when Ben Hilfenhaus was caught behind for a duck to dismiss Australia for 258. Last batsman Ryan Harris could not bat due to a foot injury.

Brad Haddin and Peter Siddle shared an 86—run eighth—innings partnership, but that only delayed the inevitable. Haddin ended the match on an unbeaten 55.

Australia’s loss looked inevitable from day one when it was dismissed for a paltry 98 in two rain—shortened sessions on the first day. A capitulation became inevitable early on the third day when England replied with a first—innings total of 513 for a massive 415—run lead.

Bresnan claimed the vital wickets of Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey after tea on Tuesday to become the architect of yet another poor Australian batting performance.

Bresnan, who replaced Steven Finn in England’s bowling attack for the fourth Test, ended the innings with figures of 4—50. Tremlett had 1—71, Anderson had 1—71 and Swan finished with 2—59.

Shane Watson provided Australia’s second highest score of the match with 54, while the England line-up featured knocks of 168 from Jonathan Trott, 85 from Matt Prior and 82 by Alastair Cook, proving the MCG wicket had plenty to offer the batsmen.

Siddle’s bowling provided the only highlight for the Australians, taking 6—75. Johnson, who took 9 wickets in Australia’s 267—run win at Perth in the third Test, was far less effective in Melbourne, conceding 134 runs for his two wickets.

Australia captain Ponting’s future has come under intense scrutiny in the light of the series loss, his failure with the bat, a finger injury and his unseemly remonstrations with the on—field umpires on Monday after having a reviewed decision ruled not out.

Sachin Tendulkar - the first batsman to score 50 centuries in Test cricket

India's Tendulkar plays a shot as South Africa's Boucher and Amla watch during the fourth day of their first test cricket match in Pretoria

Master blaster Sachin TendulkarSachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to score 50 centuries in Test cricket history.

The God of Cricket reached the coveted landmark when he completed his ton in 197 balls on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park, Centurion.

Tendulkar takes a single off Dale Steyn to achieve the historic milestone.

The master batsman, enjoying a memorable year at age 37, has amassed 1,532 runs in thirteen Tests this year at an amazing average of more than 85 runs per innings Dedicated 20 Years Of Life For Play.

Tendulkar has scored seven centuries and five fifties in the year 2010 with one more match to play against South Africa starting on December 26.

Test cricket's greatest run-scorer has till now scored more than 14,500 runs and scored 59 fifties along with the half-century of centuries. i don't know about others but he is God For Me And All Cricket Fan Across The Globe

Pathan leads India to five-wicket win over New Zealand in 4th ODI

Just a day after Gautam Gambhir said that Yusuf Pathan deserves more opportunities to express himself, the Baroda big-hitter lived up to the Indian skipper's faith.

Yusuf tided past a rain-interruption and made a mockery of an inflationary required-rate while his unbeaten 123 paved the way for India's five-wicket victory over New Zealand in the fourth One Day International of the five-match series at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Tuesday night.

Chasing New Zealand's 315 for seven in 50 overs, India finished with 321 for five in 48.5 overs to extend its series-lead to 4-0.

The pursuit was never easy after the law of averages caught up with Gambhir (27) and Virat Kohli. Briefly the Delhi-duo's dismissals seemed a minor aberration as Parthiv Patel (53) biffed around and Yuvraj Singh effortlessly hoisted Scott Styris.

Twin blow
India though suffered another twin-blow when Patel got ambitious and Yuvraj crunched a pull straight to short mid-wicket with Nathan McCullum being the grateful bowler.

Rohit Sharma, who replaced Murali Vijay in the eleven, then played with his customary elan and whetted his appetite with sixes off McCullum and New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

Rohit (44) slotted the higher gears while Yusuf (123 n.o., 96b, 7x4, 7x6) preferred the supporting role until he revealed his blistering self with a mighty strike against Vettori.

True to his past of frittering away brisk starts, Rohit scooped Tim Southee straight to Vettori and just as Yusuf and Saurabh Tiwary were settling down, the match was grounded under a wet curtain.

The rain-stoppage lasted an hour but once play resumed with no reduction in overs, Yusuf muscled Vettori over the ropes and struck a massive six off Kyle Mills.

During the batting Power Play from overs 39-43, Yusuf briefly remained tentative against the seamers before he kept the fans in the upper tiers interested with mighty blows against Mills in an over that went for 21 runs.

Tiwary chips in
The tide had turned and an Indian victory seemed as inevitable as Yusuf's maiden ODI hundred that was ushered in with a swat off Andy McKay. In the match-winning unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 133 runs, Tiwary too found his voice towards the end.

Earlier, James Franklin's unbeaten 98 (69b, 12x4, 3x6) added flourish to New Zealand's steady tenure at the crease after Gambhir opted to field under overcast skies. Franklin's personal best in limited overs cricket was etched with shots straight down the park and his deft wrists often worked the ball into the gaps.

Walking in at 170 for four in 29.4 overs with Ross Taylor for company, Franklin continued unhindered despite edging a four in the initial minutes against part-timer Rohit.

Taylor (44) cut out the risks and put his hoick past mid-wicket in cold-storage and shockingly for New Zealand, he was out first ball of the batting Power Play taken from the 38th over. In trying to flick Ashwin, Taylor missed the line and the final thrust firmly rested on Franklin and he readily complied.

Cutting loose

The southpaw cut Yusuf (three for 48), square drove Zaheer Khan and lofted Ashish Nehra. Franklin survived a scare on 47 when he spooned a leading-edge but a diving Yusuf faltered. He then nervously reached his fifty, second in ODIs, as he chipped one over a scampering Yusuf at short covers.

Franklin then cut loose with the high-point being the 21 runs he plundered in the final over bowled by Nehra with a stirring sequence of 6, 6, 4, 4 and 1 to help New Zealand dream about a much-awaited victory.

Before Franklin soared, the visitor's innings was blotted by batsmen, ranging from Brendon McCullum (42) to Styris (46), who flattered to deceive against an Indian attack that failed to impose pressure.

Scoreboard

New Zealand: M. Guptill c Yuvraj b Nehra 30 (25b, 5x4), B. McCullum c Rohit b Ashwin 42 (42b, 8x4, 1x6), J. How c Yusuf b Nehra 4 (6b), R. Taylor lbw b Ashwin 44 (73b, 3x4), S. Styris c Tiwary b Yusuf 46 (48b, 3x4), J. Franklin (not out) 98 (69b, 12x4, 3x6), D. Vettori b Yusuf 16 (19b, 2x4), K. Mills b Yusuf 1 (6b), N. McCullum (not out) 13 (12b, 1x4); Extras (b-1, lb-8, w-12): 21; Total (for seven wkts. in 50 overs): 315.

Fall of wickets: 1-62 (Guptill), 2-70 (How), 3-91 (McCullum), 4-170 (Styris), 5-210 (Taylor), 6-249 (Vettori), 7-251 (Mills).

Powerplays: One (Overs 1-10): 70/1; Bowling (11-15): 27/2; Batting (38-42): 36/1.
India bowling: Zaheer 8-0-40-0, Praveen 7-0-42-0, Ashwin 10-0-66-2, Nehra 9-1-70-2, Yuvraj 3-0-21-0, Yusuf 9-0-48-3, Rohit 4-0-19-0.

India: G. Gambhir c Guptill b McKay 27 (24b, 4x4), Parthiv c sub b N. McCullum 53 (57b, 8x4), V. Kohli c Mills b McKay 0 (2b), Yuvraj c How b N. McCullum 20 (28b, 1x4, 1x6), Rohit Sharma c Vettori b Southee 44 (48b, 4x4, 1x6), Yusuf Pathan (not out) 123 (96b, 7x4, 7x6), S. Tiwary (not out) 37 (39b, 3x4, 1x6). Extras (b-4, lb-3, w-8, nb-2): 17. Total (for five wkts., in 48.5 overs): 321.

Fall of wickets: 1-67 (Gambhir), 2-68 (Kohli), 3-103 (Yuvraj), 4-108

(Parthiv), 5-188 (Rohit).

Powerplays: One (Overs 1-10): 68/2; Bowling (11-15): 18/0; Batting (39-43): 44/0.

New Zealand bowling: Mills 10-1-65-0, Southee 10-0-64-1, McKay 7-0-63-2, McCullum 7.5-0-38-2, Styris 4-1-27-0, Vettori 10-0-57-0.

3rd ODI: Ton-up Gambhir wins India series

Skipper Gautam Gambhir cracked an unbeaten 126, his second century on the trot, to power India to a series-clinching nine-wicket victory over New Zealand in the third ODI here on Saturday.

The Delhi left-hander played a captain's knock that followed his match-winning unbeaten 138 in the second ODI in Jaipur on December 1 as India easily chased down the target of 225 in 39.3 overs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Gambhir, who smashed 16 boundaries with his flicks and drives in the 117 balls he faced, put on 115 runs for the opening wicket with Murali Vijay who made a slow 30 in 50 balls before being run out.

The solid foundation laid by Gambhir, who notched up his ninth ODI hundred in 103 matches, with Vijay was carried forward by number three Virat Kohli, who continued his form from where he left in the previous two matches.

Kohli, who had scored a match-winning ton at Guwahati and a half century in Jaipur, remained unbeaten on 63 in 70 balls with six fours and two sixes. He also hit the winning runs, a six over long on.

The second wicket duo of Gambhir and Kohli put on 114 runs in 125 balls without being separated to help the home team score a comprehensive victory in front of a weekend, capacity crowd.

Today's win, India's ninth successive ODI victory over New Zealand, left the remaining two matches in the five-match series in Bangalore (December 7) and Chennai (December 10) just mere contests of academic interest.

The hosts won the opening match at Guwahati by 40 runs and then took a 2-0 lead with a thumping eight-wicket victory in the second ODI in Jaipur.

Chasing New Zealand's modest score, built around James Franklin's unbeaten 72, India were on the offensive from the first ball thanks to Gambhir who raced to his 50 in only 30 balls with nine fours and then got his next 50 in 58 balls with the help of four fours.

He struck left arm Andy McKay for three successive fours after having dispatched the other new ball bowler Kyle Mills for two in as many balls previously.

The manner in which the 29-year-old Delhi player batted blew away any hopes New Zealand might have nurtured to come back into the match after posting a modest score when conditions were slightly in favour of the bowlers.

Earlier in the morning, another left-hander, James Franklin, led New Zealand's revival with an unbeaten half century and helped the visitors recover from a poor start to post a fighting score.

The visitors made a disastrous start by losing their openers within the first five overs and were struggling at 106 for seven before Franklin (72 not out) and Nathan McCullum staged the recovery act with a stand of 94.

Left-handed Franklin batted sensibly after coming in at 49 for 4 in the 16th over even as continued to tumble from the the other end.

He top-scored for the Black Caps with the help of five fours and one six in 108 balls while McCullum made 43 in 53 balls with four fours.

Their eighth-wicket stand off 107 balls took the score to 200 after the Kiwis had lost half their side for 77.

Apart from the eighth wicket pair, only opener Martin Guptill (12) and Scott Styris (22) reached the double figures in a largely uninspiring display put up by the Kiwis after they were asked to bat first by the hosts.

For India, Zaheer Khan (2/31), Yusuf Pathan (2/37 and R Ashwin (2/49) shared six wickets among them while Munaf Patel chipped in with one scalp.

The pitch for the match was a major surprise at a venue that normally provides flat tracks. There was a lot of bounce for the pace bowlers and bounce and turn for the spinners.

New Zealand batsmen, having played on low bouncing tracks after coming to India in early November, were undone by the extra bounce.

Zaheer Khan utilized the bounce to the fullest extent in his splendid first spell of seven overs as he made early inroads into the Kiwi top order.

Coming off after a three-week lay-off, the left-arm paceman struck in the second legal ball of his first over when he prised out danger man Brendon McCullum, who also came into the series after missing the opening two ties because of a back problem.

McCullum was caught in second slip by Murali Vijay off a rising ball that moved away a shade.

Munaf bowled tightly to return with one for 28 while spinners Yusuf Pathan and Ashwin did their but in the middle overs to claim 2 for 27 and 2 for 49 respectively.

When India batted, Gambhir straightaway got into his groove by singling out Mills for special treatment.

Though Vijay crawled at the other end, the aggressive approach by his captain ensured that the hosts were never put under any pressure.

*Source:- Cricketnext

India beat New Zealand in Guwahati ODI

Virat Kohli's sparkling century helped India script a 40-run win against an injury-hit New Zealand to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing India's challenging score of 277 at the Nehru Stadium, New Zealand were short on experience with skipper Daniel Vettori and explosive opener Brendon McCullum missing out due to back injuries as the visitors were all out for 236 in 45.2 overs.

Stand-in skipper Ross Taylor top-scored for the Kiwis with a fighting 66 from 69 balls studded with three sixes and three boundaries.

Scorecard

At 169 for eight, New Zealand looked to give up easily but Nathan McCullum (35 from 35 balls, 4x4) and Kyle Mills (32 from 28 balls, 2x4, 2x6) produced a 67-run ninth wicket stand to give India some tough time in the middle.

But Sreesanth (three for 67) broke the partnership dismissing Nathan and Mills with te former being brilliantly caught by skipper Gambhir as India won the match with 28 balls to spare.

Under intense scrutiny, Yuvraj Singh failed with the bat but he was really effective with his bowling claiming three for 43 from his full quota of 10 overs, while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took a career-best three for 50 to help India take the series lead.

Thanks to a compact 105 by in-form Kohli, the new look Indian side under Gautam Gambhir put on 276 as they were bowled out in 49 overs after the hosts were sent in to bat.

Fresh from his back-to-back centuries in Ranji Trophy, the Delhi lad played a neat and chanceless knock from 104 balls with 10 boundaries for his second consecutive and fourth overall one-day century.

But Kohli's dismissal brought in a stunning Indian collapse as the lower-order managed 26 runs from last six overs something that exposed the new look side's inexperience at this level.

At 250/4 in the 44th over, with Kohli going great guns, a total in excess of 300 looked within easy reach but it was not the case after the centurion's dismissal by Andy McKay.

But New Zealand fought back with a planned and calculated bowling in the fag-end especially by left-arm seamer McKay who returned with a career-best figures of 10-1-62-4.

New ball bowlers Kyle Mills and Daryl Tuffey claimed three for 42 and two for 56 respectively.

With no McCullum, the New Zealand openers of Jamie How and Martin Guptill lacked the firepower as the visitors were slow and cautious to start with.

Nehra broke the opening stand for 32 scalping How (9) as his partner Guptill, after being dropped twice by Murali Vijay, did not last long departing for 30.

Stand-in skipper Taylor held the fort even as wickets kept falling in at the other end with Yuvraj doing a great job for India with his slow left-arm orthodox spin.

Taylor and Kane Williamson (19) looked good during their 67-run third wicket stand but Yuvraj did not let the partnership going.

Just when Taylor was beginning to look dangerous with his towering sixes, Ashwin gave the crucial breakthrough as New Zealand were reduced to 154 for seven after 33.3 overs.

Earlier Kiwi new ball bowlers, Mills and Tuffey, extracted some fine seam movements early on as openers Vijay (29 from 32 balls, 5x4) and Gambhir (38 from 38 balls, 6x4) survived some anxious moments in the early morning start.

The Indian duo however did not look under any pressure in absence of Virender Sehwag as they stitched 44 for the opening wicket before Vijay was done in by Tuffey with wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins taking a brilliant catch running backwards.

Kohli settled soon his second-wicket partnership of 48 did not last long with Gambhir falling in a soft dismissal to McKay.

Due for a big knock, Yuvraj was slow and watchful to start that saw India scoring just 17 in the five overs in the bowling powerplay from 10-15 overs.

Having consumed 28 balls for his first eight runs, Yuvraj opened up to the New Zealand spin attack that missed Vettori sorely as Nathan McCullum and Kane Williamson bowled their conventional off-breaks.

Kohli, meanwhile, raced to his ninth half-century in a rather nondescript way but he ensured that they were on track for a big total.

In their 88-run stand for the third wicket, Kohli was compact and flexible in rotating the strike while Yuvraj looked to score in boundaries before he edged one behind the stumps.

India look to nail Kiwis in ODI series

A jaded Suresh Raina (13, 1x4) continued with his poor Test run into the ODIs, as the southpaw lasted 18 balls before becoming Mills' victim.

After Kohli's dismissal for 250 in the last ball of 44th over, the Indian inexperience showed as the lower order collapsed.

Yusuf Pathan played a cameo of 29 from 19 balls laced with three fours and one six, as debutant Wriddhiman Saha (4), Ravichandran Ashwin (0), Ashish Nehra (0) and Sreesanth (1) were dismissed cheaply.

But the total was enough to rattle New Zelanders who missed their regular skipper Vettori and opener McCullum badly to trail in the five-match series 0-1.

India have rested their star performers including skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh who were not considered due to injury concerns.

Ashes - Peter Siddle ripped Hattrick Stunned England

Australia's Siddle celebrates after Ponting caught out to England's Pietersen during the first Ashes test in Brisbane.
Australian paceman Peter Siddle ripped apart England's lower middle order with a hat trick on his way to figures of 6-54 as the tourists were dismissed for 260 late on the first day of the first Ashes Test on Thursday. Australia's Simon Katich and Shane Watson negotiated the last seven overs of the day to reach 25 without loss on what ultimately proved to a good day for the home side.

Gambhir captain for entire series

Gautam Gambhir has been appointed captain for the entire five-match ODI series against New Zealand, not just the first two games.

Confirming this on Sunday evening, a well-placed source of The Telegraph said: “The press release issued by the Board (late on Saturday) didn’t specify that, but the selectors have decided on Gambhir for all five matches.”

The series, the last at home before the World Cup, will be played in Guwahati (November 28), Jaipur (December 1), Vadodara (December 4), Bangalore (December 7) and Chennai (December 10).

What is also clear now is that Sachin Tendulkar, regular vice-captain Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh won’t be featuring in any of the matches. Besides, obviously, regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

All four are likely to leave for South Africa around December 5/6, arriving about 10 days before the start of the three-Test series.

Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman would be boarding the same flight. Possibly Pragyan Ojha and Cheteshwar Pujara too.

However, there’s no clarity on Zaheer Khan. “There’s a chance that Zaheer will play the last three ODIs, otherwise he’ll land in South Africa with no match practice at all... If he does play, then he won’t be going with the advance party,” the well-placed source pointed out.

The Board, one learns, would take a call on whether rookie quicks Jaydev Unadkat and Umesh Yadav also need to reach South Africa early.

Dhoni and Co. will be accompanied either by coach Gary Kirsten or bowling consultant Eric Simons. Both have played for South Africa, with the latter having coached the Proteas too.

Meanwhile, there’s no official word, but it seems Dhoni has bruised fingers, while Sachin and Sehwag have a shoulder problem. Harbhajan, it’s gathered, has a shin injury, while Zaheer is recovering from a groin strain.

Except Zaheer, the other four are turning out in the final Test against New Zealand.


Source:- TelegraphIndia

The bowler who troubled Tendulkar the most

Tendulkar, surprisingly enough favors England over Australia in the Ashes an names Eoin Morgan as the key man. This is enough reason for me to revisit my own impression of the Ashes - I think Australia will win with reasonable ease, though I don't see either side winning more than 2 out of the 5 Tests. If the wickets are sporting (i.e. they favor bowlers at least in some way), then this might change.

As for the bowler who has troubled him most in Tests. I'm going to stick my neck out here and suggest that he's going to name Hansie Cronje. Note that I write this on Friday evening, before the interview is published. He has said before that he hates facing part time bowlers more than anything else, and Cronje has dismissed him 5 times in Tests.

The man himself says, as I suggested he might, that it was Hansie Cronje who troubled him most. In comments and chats, Abdul Razzaq, Pedro Collins, Glenn McGrath and Dion Nash came up. A few years ago, there was a theory doing the rounds that Tendulkar was bothered by orthodox left-arm spinners, especially Raymond Price of Zimbabwe. Yet, we are presented with Hansie Cronje.

This choice is far from innocent on Tendulkar's part. This is not to say that it is a sly choice. It is true that Cronje had as much success against Tendulkar as Donald did. But then, by that count, Muttiah Muralitharan has dismissed Tendulkar more times than any other bowler - 8 in 19 Tests. Tendulkar also average 48.9 in these Tests and took 5 Test hundreds off Murali. Against Warne and McGrath, Tendulkar has played 2 major series - a 0-3 defeat in Australia in 1999-2000, and a 2-1 win in India in 2000-01. In 12 innings, he reached at least 50 6 times in those series. The mammoth innings eluded him - 126 at Chennai and 116 at Melbourne being his three figure innings. By contrast, Brian Lara played 47 innings against McGrath and reached at least 50 13 times. One of those, was his best ever Test innings in my view - 213 at Sabina Park.

India Vs New Zealand - Harbhajan hits second century in a row

India's Harbhajan Singh became the first number eight batsman in the world to score centuries in successive matches during the second Test against New Zealand.

The feisty tailender on Monday rattled up seven sixes and seven fours in his unbeaten 111-run knock off 114 balls to take India's first-innings to 472 for a lead of 122 runs before New Zealand reached 37-0 at lunch. Tim McIntosh was batting on 18 with Brendon McCullum (15) at the break on the fourth day of the match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

Harbhajan notched up his maiden Test century last week to help India salvage a draw in the opener against the Kiwis in Ahmedabad. His feat surpasses the record of New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori who scored 140 and 99 batting at number eight in back-to-back Tests last year.

The Punjab player added 105 runs for the last wicket with Shanthakumaran Sreesanth who also defied the New Zealand attack for close to two hours before being trapped leg before wicket off Vettori.

Sreesanth made 24 off 71 balls with three fours. It was Harbhajan again who dominated the proceedings in the morning session, lofting Vettori for a straight six and following it up with another off Tim Southee (3-119) that landed in the stands.

Vettori picked his 19th five-wicket haul in Tests and finished as the most successful New Zealand bowler with figures of 5-135. The visitors started off confidently in their second innings with McCullum and first-innings centurion McIntosh negotiating 13 testing overs with ease.

India's pace spearhead Zaheer Khan left the field midway through his fifth over after apparently picking an injury and the remaining three balls were bowled by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha.

Team Declared For India - New Zeanald Series

Left-handed opener Gautam Gambhir and paceman Ishant Sharma returned after injury lay-offs as the national selectors on Monday announced a full strength 15-member Test squad for next month’s series against New Zealand.

Gambhir and Ishant, who had to sit out of the second and final Test against Australia at Bangalore because of injury, have recovered sufficiently to be named in the squad, which has no new faces.

While upcoming batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has been retained, two other youngsters Abhinav Mukund and Jaidev Unadkat have been left out of the team announced by the BCCI.

Yuvraj Singh again failed to find favour in the Test squad, with the selectors opting for Suresh Raina and Pujara as the middle-order batsmen, both of whom have done reasonably well when provided with the opportunity.

The team, to be captained by MS Dhoni, has three fast bowlers in Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth and Ishant and three specialist spinners comprising Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha.

The Indian batting order looks formidable as it has stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag, who have all been in fine nick in recent times.

The return of Gambhir, who was laid low by a knee injury, means that opener Murali Vijay will have to sit out of the series commencing on November 4 in Ahmadabad.

“The team has performed extremely well against the Australians in both the Tests and one-day series, particularly the Bangalore Test. Our junior players have gelled well in the middle-order with the seniors. Our bowlers have done a remarkable job.

“Going by this, we have picked the team for all the three Tests. I am confident that our players will continue their victory march,” chief selector Kris Srikkanth told reporters.

“Our bench strength has come good and it was there for all to witness. This is a good sign for Indian cricket. Like it is said that the best player win, I must say let the best team (India) win,” Srikkanth said adding the team for the one-day series will be picked later.

The Test series will be followed by five one-day series — Guwahati (Nov 28), Jaipur (Dec 1), Vadodara (Dec 4), Bangalore (Dec 7) and Chennai (Dec 10).

Test squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, S Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha and Amit Mishra.

India and Australia to try new faces in one-day series

Australia will rely on an experimental line-up as they seek to atone for their Test series defeat in India by winning the one-day leg of the tour.

The tourists have included uncapped all-rounder James Hastings and paceman Mitchell Starc in their squad.

They have also given opener David Warner a chance to prove he is more than just a Twenty20 specialist.

India, who won the Test series 2-0, are set to try out young batsmen Shikhar Dhawan and Saurabh Tiwary.

Dhawan, 24, and 20-year-old Tiwary are both left-handed, both free-scoring at domestic level and were team-mates for Mumbai Indians during last month's Champions League T20 competition.

But they have big shoes to fill with the Indian selectors having chosen to rest Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir because of injury concerns.

Having slipped to fifth in the Test rankings, Australia will be keen to bolster their position at the top of the one-day list, as well as gaining valuable preparation for the World Cup, which will be jointly staged by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from february to April next year.

However, they will be without Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus, who are all being rested ahead of the forthcoming Ashes Test series against England.

The absence of Johnson and Hilfenhaus means Doug Bollinger, who had to sit out he second Test because of injury, and Clint McKay will lead the seam attack with left-armer Starc providing the back-up.

Plans to give another 20-year-old, James Pattinson, his first opportunity were scrapped because of a back problem, prompting the selectors to call up Hastings as a late replacement.

But there is good news for batsman Callum Ferguson, who makes his international comeback after undergoing reconstructive surgery on his right knee, 17 months on from his last appearance.

Double trouble for Australia in Bangalore

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar will never forget this trip to Bangalore. The day he arrived at the Garden city from Mohali, he won the ICC player of the year award.

He followed it up by completing his 14,000 Test runs on Sunday and the next day he scored his 49th Test hundred and is just nine runs short of his sixth double century.

On Monday, the Australians were left wondering as how to get Tendulkar out with the Little Master playing a chanceless innings of 191 runs to put India on top in the second Test match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Tendulkar along with Murali Vijay, who scored his maiden Test century, took India into a comfortable position as the hosts ended Day Three on 435 for five in reply to Australia’s 478 runs. India now trail by 43 runs and the bad news for the visitors is that Tendulkar is still at the centre along with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is batting on 11.

Tendulkar and Vijay added 308 runs for the third wicket off which 218 were scored on Monday to really make it a day that the Australians would like to forget at the earliest. Though Vijay was unlucky to be out on 139, his innings was overshadowed by Tendulkar’s knock.

Right from the morning it looked like it was going to be Tendulkar’s day. He started the day with a boundary of the very first ball and two balls later brought up his fifty with a paddle sweep.

From then on there was no stopping Tendulkar. While his first 50 took 91 balls, Sachin raced to his next 50 in just 66 balls to bring up his 49th century in style hitting Nathan Hauritz for two sixes over wide long-on.

Tendulkar and Vijay also ensured that the tradition set in the first two days was followed as they batted through the morning session that once again turned out to be wicketless for the third successive day.

Post lunch, Vijay stepped on the accelerator, while Tendulkar played the sheet anchor’s role.

The Tamil Nadu batsman, who scored his third test fifty in the morning session, made full use of the opportunity as he smashed the bowlers all across the ground to get past his previous highest score of 87 runs.

Once in the nervous nineties, Vijay took 43 balls to get to his maiden century and he celebrated it in style by jumping in the air. In fact, it took him 11 balls to move from 99 to 100.

The two made the day more agonising for the visitors as Australia failed to get a breakthrough even in the second session.

The last session started with yet another milestone for Tendulkar, who reached 150 runs for the 20th time in his career. This added another feather to his already overcrowded cap as he broke Brian Lara’s record of going past the 150-run mark 19 times.

He was replaced by debutant Cheteshwar Pujara, who started on a good note hitting a beautiful cover drive off the second ball he faced in Test cricket. But he was unlucky to get out the very next ball after the Johnson delivery kept low and shot across

towards a surprised Pujara, who crouched and tried

to get some bat in the way.

But he couldn’t and his debut lasted for just threedeliveries.

Suresh Raina, who has been in good form, played some glorious shots. At one stage it looked as if Raina along with Tendulkar would see offthe day’s play after the Australian’s were forced to deploy spinner from both ends due to fading light.

But Raina played a loose shot off Michael Clarke only to hit it straight to mid-on where Ben Hilfenhaus made no mistake and the left hander departed for 32 (43b 5x4).

While wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Tendulkar didn’t lose his concentration and carried on minting runs against what looked like a helpless Aussie attack until the umpires decided to call it a day due to bad light with four more overs left.

Mohali Test - India Won By 1 Wicket

It was at 1.37 p.m. on Tuesday that this capricious first Test, which had swung wildly and often, sometimes with no determinable reason, finally rested.

It took all of V.V.S. Laxman's considerable powers to persuade the Test India's way as it settled. Just how this kind, gentle man continues to find under the most severe duress not merely the right response, but also the sensitive, artistic response is still not known and perhaps never will be.

But this much is certain: if a situation, given up for dead, needs resuscitation, particularly against Australia, you can be sure Laxman will breathe life into it.

Laxman's done it twice in two Tests now — he hand-crafted a match-winning century in the third Test against Sri Lanka in August, and while that was a remarkable innings, his unbeaten 73 here on Tuesday, made despite a stiff back, was a masterpiece in miniature, among the greatest non-century knocks of all time.

He arrived at the crease 25 minutes into the fifth morning, Suresh Raina in tow as runner, after Zaheer Khan, the night-watchman, had edged Nathan Hauritz to slip. India, pursuing 216 for victory, was on 76 for five.

Australia immediately tested Laxman with the short ball, forcing him to jerk his head away, doing his back no favours at all.

Stilted movements

Laxman appeared stilted in his movements. But he managed to use his reach — such an under-appreciated facet of his batsmanship — to cover-drive Hauritz against the break for his first four. He hung back next ball, which was shorter, and stroked it past short-cover off the back-foot for another four.

These two balls showed that while he was still in discomfort, it wasn't preventing him from using crease-space as he can against spin.

The introduction of Doug Bollinger made matters interesting. Sachin Tendulkar, who had made three handsome strokes for boundaries against Nathan Hauritz and reached 1000 runs in the calendar year for the sixth time in his career, was at once made aware of what Bollinger can do.

One ball jumped off a length and smote Tendulkar on the glove. Tendulkar brought out the upper-cut, but the delivery, of slightly shorter length, didn't rise as promised, and Michael Hussey held a blinder at gully.

When M.S. Dhoni departed 20 minutes later, a victim of the confusion a runner engenders, India had slipped to 122 for seven. It soon became 124 for eight, as Bollinger devoured Harbhajan Singh with a lifter.

Thus began the partnership that turned the Test. Bit by bit, for an hour and 46 minutes, Laxman and Ishant Sharma chipped away at the deficit. Laxman trusted Ishant, often taking the single on offer, first ball. Ishant repaid the trust, using his height and a surprising clarity of purpose to negotiate the seamers.

Strained abdomen

That Bollinger left the field with a strained abdomen not to bowl again helped the pair — he was the only Australian to trouble Laxman, nearly forcing a chop-on once, gaining an edge that went through the slips another time.

Somehow Laxman found the boundary when he needed it. His singular pull-stroke — wrists, not arms and body, doing the work — returned profits, as did the velvet-punched drive through cover off the back-foot.

Ishant managed runs himself, three fours off Mitchell Johnson in fact — a steer, a flail, and an edge. It wasn't until Johnson bothered Ishant, nearly having him caught at short-leg, did Laxman farm the strike, waiting until the fourth ball for the single.

The second ball after drinks in the middle session ended Ishant's defiant, heroic stay. Ben Hilfenhaus claimed his fourth wicket, winning an appeal for leg-before from umpire Ian Gould, but the ball would have missed leg-stump. India still needed 11.

Tension thickens

Pragyan Ojha walked in, the tension thickened, the game grew taut as a drawn bow. Disaster threatened every instant — even Laxman betrayed a rare moment of anxiety when he yelled at Ojha to run. But he swiftly regained his equipoise, and soon six were required for victory, as Ojha prepared to face Johnson.

The left-armer had a strong appeal for leg-before, Ojha wandered out of his crease, and Steve Smith, the substitute fielder, took aim from point. It was a moment that could have won Australia the game; it brought four overthrows instead.

Umpire Billy Bowden didn't signal leg-byes and therefore revealed that he had detected an inside-edge (which replays didn't confirm).

On such thin margins are Tests sometimes won. Ojha and Raina promptly scampered two leg-byes. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy was safe. Laxman had again mastered Australia.

Sehwag belts unbeaten 99 to steer India to victory

India's comfortable victory over Sri Lanka has been soured by a controversy over Suraj Randiv's massive no-ball, which proved to be the winning run and left Virender Sehwag stranded on 99, though the batsman slammed it over long-off for a six. Sehwag celebrated what would have been century No. 13, only to be told later the six didn't count. After the match, he said Randiv had bowled the no-ball deliberately, and that the move "has no place in good cricket".

"Yes, it was done deliberately," Sehwag said, shedding the blase attitude with which he had reacted to the incident immediately after the match. "Because [of the size of the no-ball] ... that much from the crease. Till now in Test matches he hasn't bowled a no-ball [Randiv bowled two at the P Sara Oval], he hasn't bowled no-balls in one-day cricket, on 99 only why did he bowl a no-ball? And not a small no-ball, not a small margin, from one foot ahead."

Sehwag had blasted 29 of India's 33 runs in four overs leading up to the 34th to move to 99, and the team was five short of the target. He has reached several of his famous hundreds with sixes, including the maiden triple-century by an Indian in Tests, and there was an air of anticipation in Dambulla as Randiv started the 34th over. The first ball slipped past the batsman outside off and beat Sangakkara as well for four byes to bring the scores level. The next two deliveries were carved straight to the point fielder, before Randiv overstepped by about a foot to end the match; Sehwag's six off the no ball was futile.

"They [Sri Lanka] have done it because no team wants anybody to score hundreds against them," Sehwag said, "but they did that, they are happy and we are happy, we won the game, we got the bonus point."

When asked whether he felt Randiv had instructions from senior team members to bowl the no-ball, Sehwag said this was the second time Sri Lanka had ended a match by giving away extras to deny an Indian batsman a century. Sachin Tendulkar had finished unbeaten on 96 in a one-dayer against Sri Lanka in Cuttack last year after the match ended with Lasith Malinga bowling a wide down the leg side which went to the fine-leg boundary.

"I'm not the captain of the opposing team, so I can't say, but something must have been said by either the captain or the senior team members," Sehwag said. "It has happened before, when Sachin Tendulkar was left on 99 not out [actually 96] in Cuttack, they bowled four wides down the leg side This is not the first time Sri Lanka has done this, they may have done it with other teams but with India it is the second time."

Kumar Sangakkara denied playing any role in the incident. "I hope it was not deliberate," he said. "That's not the way I would like to play cricket. If that was intentional, and I have to find out about that, it has got no place on the field of cricket. I will also have to see if there was any talk about it on the field prior to that delivery."

Sangakkara also defended Randiv, saying the offspinner was not the sort of person to bowl a deliberate no-ball. "Knowing Suraj, he is a really nice guy. I have no doubt that it was not intentional. Maybe he was trying to bowl the doosra, and maybe get some bounce off it. But if there has been some talk about it on the field before the start of that delivery by other players, or maybe a bit of coaxing, I will have to address that very, very strongly in the dressing room."

Sehwag said he was not aware of the rule that stipulated the match was over once the no-ball was bowled, though it counts as a delivery faced. Sangakkara also appeared bemused by the rule, saying it had robbed Sehwag of a century. "I think if a batsman scores the runs, he scores the runs, whether it is a no-ball or not. I think if he scores runs off it, it should count for the batsman. The way Viru batted, he deserved to get a hundred."

Muralidharan records 800 wickets in Test matches

History has been created by Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan because 800th Test wicket was grabbed by him during the last day of the first Test match against India in Galle. He is the first bowler who takes 800 test wickets.

When Muralidharan picked up the wicket of Pragyan Ojha on the last day of the Test match against India at Galle, the milestone was attained by him. The 38-year-old off spinner had Pragyan Ojha caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene at Galle International Stadium. In the second innings, India booked 338 runs. As 800 wickets, Pragyan Ojha was the last victim of Murali. For leading to Sri-Lanka on board, 95 runs have been given by India. Total eight wickets in the test match and three wickets in second innings were bagged by Murali.

Muralidharan completes with 800 Test wickets at 22.72 in 133 Tests. He took five in an innings on 67 occasions. His statistical achievements run to pages. Murali was carried from the field by jubilant teammates and saluted the crowd, ball held aloft. Dhoni and Yuvraj are also removed by Murali to finish with a tally 5/63 in the first innings. He was starting with the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar.

22, 10-wicket hauls has been taken by Muralitharan in his Test debut in 1992 against Australia in Colombo. Previous, Harbhajan Singh had been trapped by Murali in front of the wicket to pick up his 799th Test wicket. A year later he captured his first five-wicket haul in Tests against South Africa with figures of 5-104.

Against New Zealand in 1995 his 19 wickets in Sri Lanka`s 2-1 series victory proved his match-winning qualities on any surface. The first Sri Lankan was become to reach 100 Test wickets by him on March, 16, 1997. He took his first 10-wicket haul against Zimbabwe in the first Test in January 1998. Career best figures of 16-220 were produced by Muralitharan in a one-off Test against England in August 1998.

By reaching 500 wickets during the second Test against Australia in Kandy, he became the fastest and youngest bowler on March 16, 2004. Muralitharan had reached the landmark just four days after Australia`s Shane Warne had done so on the fifth day of the first Test. Having tussled with Warne for the leading Test-wicket taker status in the following years, Muralitharan reclaimed the record in December 3, 2007 against England with his 709th wicket.

India Vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2010

Indian Cricket team recently won the Asia Cup 2010 in Sri Lanka. Now India will play a test series of three matches against Sri Lanka. Indian team will go on tour of Sri Lanka for all most 2 months. Both teams will play a three day practice match, 13th to 15th July, 2010 at Colombo. The test series will be started from 18th June, 2010. Total three test matches will be played in this test series.

India have played 15 tests against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka and the results of seven matches were draw. But India won the last test series by 2-0 and became world number one test team in cricket ranking. And also India had beaten Sri Lanka in final match of Asia Cup so Indian team has a lots of confidence to win the series. After the test series New Zealand will come to Sri Lanka and join for the ODI Tri Series. The triangular series will be played between three nations – India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

S.NO.	DAY DATE	TIME	TEAMS	VENUE
1	Sunday July 18, 2010	10:00 AM (IST) 10:00 local, 04:30 GMT	India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test	Galle
2	Monday July 26, 2010	10:00 AM (IST) 10:00 local, 04:30 GMT	India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd Test	Colombo
3	Tuesday Aug 03, 2010	10:00 AM (IST) 10:00 local, 04:30 GMT	India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test	Colombo
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The Indian Squad For Test Series Against Sri Lanka

A 16 members squad for test series against Sri Lanka was announced by the BCCI. A reserve wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, Yuvraj Sinh and Suresh Raina are included in the squad. When senior batsman player Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman are also selected for Indian tour of Sri Lanka for test series. The players list is given below who are selected in Indian test team against Sri Lanka.

Indian Test Team : Mahendra Singh Dhoni (c), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag (W/c), Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Murali Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, S Sreesanth.

Remark:- S. Sreesanth has been replaced by munaf patel due to his injury.