Harbhajan rescues India after Johnson wrecks top order

Tendulkar, playing his first competitive match since the Test series in Sri Lanka in August due to a shoulder injury, was greeted by an ear-splitting roar from some 35,000 home fans.

He opened his account by slashing Lee to the point boundary, but was lucky to survive the next over when he was stranded down the wicket as Clarke's throw narrowly missed the stumps.

Tendulkar had another escape before he had reached double figures, pushing a short ball from Johnson just out of the reach of debutant Cameron White at short point.

Johnson, however, had the final say as Tendulkar patted a slower delivery straight to White in the same position to leave India on 94-3.

Venkatsai Laxman, another veteran fighting to retain his place in the Test side, failed to score as he edged Johnson to wicket-keeper Brad Haddin.

Scoreboard
Australia 1st innings 430
(S. Katich, 66, R. Ponting 123, M. Hussey 146, Zaheer Khan 5-91, I. Sharma 4-77)
India 1st innings (overnight 68-0)
G. Gambhir lbw b Lee 21
V. Sehwag c Hayden b Johnson 45
R. Dravid lbw b Watson 51
S. Tendulkar c White b Johnson 13
V. Laxman c Haddin b Johnson 0
S. Ganguly lbw b Johnson 47
M. Dhoni b Clarke 9
H. Singh c Haddin b Watson 54
Zaheer Khan not out 35
A. Kumble not out 0
Extras (b24, lb9, nb5) 38
Total (for eight wickets) 313
Fall of wkts 1-70, 2-76, 3-94, 4-106, 5-155, 6-195, 7-232, 8-312
Bowling
Lee 21-5-49-1 (nb1), Clark 17-3-58-0, Johnson 20-4-62-4, Watson 15-3-37-2 (nb3), White 13-2-39-0, Clarke 15-2-35-1
Overs 101

Tailender Harbhajan Singh proved India's unlikely batting hero after Mitchell Johnson put Australia in charge of the first cricket Test here on Saturday.

Harbhajan smashed 54 as India, replying to Australia's first innings total of 430, recovered from 155-5 to 313-8 by stumps on the third day at the Chinnaswamy stadium.

Zaheer Khan chipped in with an unbeaten 35 during an eighth-wicket stand of 80 with Harbhajan as the last three Indian wickets plundered 158 runs after the famed top order had been decimated by Johnson.

The tall 26-year-old from Queensland claimed three wickets for 19 runs in the morning session to reduce India to 106-4 and left the hosts in danger of being asked to follow-on.

Harbhajan hit five boundaries before he was caught behind off Shane Watson just before stumps.
The four-pronged Australian pace attack of Johnson, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Watson prospered in their first Test appearance on Indian soil with sustained hostile spells.

The bowlers won a fascinating contest against India's veteran batsmen on a dual-paced wicket where deliveries rose alarmingly or keep low at times.

Rahul 'the Wall' Dravid, who had a brick wall unveiled in his honour by the local cricket association before the match, made 51 and retiring former captain Sourav Ganguly scored 47.

Sachin Tendulkar, needing 77 runs to overtake retired West Indian Brian Lara as Test cricket's highest run-scorer, was dismissed for just 13.

Dravid fell two balls after recording his 53rd Test half-century, trapped leg-before by Watson.

Left-handed Ganguly, who will retire from international cricket after the series, held fort for three hours before Johnson had him leg-before soon after tea for his fourth wicket.

India lost openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag in the first five overs after the hosts resumed at the overnight score of 68 without loss.

Gambhir was leg-before to Lee for 20, while Sehwag edged a wide ball from Johnson to lone slip Matthew Hayden after making 45.
Source: www.cricbuzz.com

India start well after Hussey's stubborn century

India made a spirited reply to Australia's 430 in the first Test here on Friday, reaching 68 without loss in their first innings by the close of the second day's play.

Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir negotiated a tricky 18.1 overs before heavy rain brought an early end to the day's play that was marked by a solid century from the ever-reliable Michael Hussey.

The consistent left-hander shored up Australia's first innings with a gritty 146 before he was last man out soon after tea.

Sehwag began in his typical aggressive style, smashing seven boundaries against the four-man Australian pace attack on the way to 43 not out. His Delhi teammate Gambhir was unbeaten on 20.

India will resume on Saturday looking to build a sizeable total of their own on a wicket that is still batsman-friendly but could keep low later in the match.

Hussey, who averages an astonishing 70.60 in 26 matches after making his Test debut three years ago aged 30, has already scored nine hundreds and as many half-centuries in his remarkable career.

Entering the fray just before tea on the first day, Hussey batted for seven hours, hitting 15 boundaries and a six to frustrate India's hopes of terminating the innings early.

Hussey said the team's total had given the tourists a chance to put the Indians under pressure.

"I think it will definitely be harder to bat on as the Test match wears on," the 33-year-old said.

"It is already very dry and there are a lot of cracks in it. One can never really feel 'in' on it.

"You feel there is just enough variable bounce there to keep all the bowlers interested, particularly our fast bowlers."

Indian left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan, who bowled Hussey, finished with five for 91, while new-ball partner Ishant Sharma had figures of four for 77.

There was no joy, however, for the spinners. Indian captain Anil Kumble had unflattering figures of 0-129 from 43 overs while Harbhajan Singh went for 1-103 from 41.

Australia, who resumed on their overnight score of 254-4, lost all-rounder Shane Watson in the third over of the day, bowled off-stump by a sharp inswinger from Sharma.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin put on 91 for the sixth wicket with Hussey, contributing 33.

Sharma removed Haddin and debutant Cameron White in the space of three overs after lunch but Brett Lee (27) helped Hussey along by adding 59 for the eighth wicket.

Sharma had Haddin and White caught in the cover region off deliveries that came off the barren pitch slowly, an indication that batting may become difficult as the Test progresses.

Hussey, who was on 49 when Watson was out, took charge with three boundaries off Zaheer, two of them exquisite cover drives and the third a ferocious pull to square-leg.

Zaheer claimed the last three Australian wickets in the space of 14 runs after tea, shattering the stumps of Lee, Mitchell Johnson and finally Hussey.

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting Thursday notched his 36th career Test century, just three behind record holder Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 39.

The visitors were helped along towards their big total by shabby Indian fielding, highlighted by retiring former captain Sourav Ganguly letting the ball pass through his legs at mid-off.

Ganguly, 36, said on Tuesday he will retire from international cricket after the four-Test series ends.
Scoreboard
Australia 1st innings
M. Hayden c Dhoni b Zaheer 0
S. Katich c Dhoni b Sharma 66
R. Ponting lbw b Harbhajan 123
M. Hussey b Zaheer 146
M. Clarke lbw b Zaheer 11
S. Watson b Sharma 2
B. Haddin c Laxman b Sharma 33
C. White c Harbhajan b Sharma 6
B. Lee b Zaheer 27
M. Johnson b Zaheer 1
S. Clark not out 0
Extras b1, lb10, nb3, w1 15
Total for all out 430
Fall of wkts 1-0, 2-166, 3-226, 4-254, 5-259, 6-350, 7-362, 8-421, 9-429
Bowling
Zaheer 29.5-4-91-5 (nb1, w1), Sharma 30-7-77-4, Harbhajan 41-8-103-1, Kumble 43-6-129-0 (nb1), Sehwag 6-0-19-0 (nb1)

India 1st innings
G. Gambhir not out 20
V. Sehwag not out 43
Extras b4, nb1 5
Total for no loss 68
Bowling
Lee 5-1-12-0 (nb1), Clark 7-1-28-0, Johnson 4.1-0-23-0, Watson 2-1-1-0
Source: www.cricbuzz.com

Shoaib enjoys winning Pakistan return

Controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar marked his return to international cricket by taking two wickets to help Pakistan to a 35-run win over Canada in the four-nation Twenty 20 tournament here on Friday.

Shoaib, who last played for the national team against India last December before a spectacular fallout with the Pakistan Cricket Board, struck in his first over when he removed Abdool Samad and Mohammad Iqbal.

The 33-year-old finished with 2-11 although he suffered the indignity of being pulled for six by Rizwan Cheema.

Pakistan opener Salman Butt was man of the match for his 74 off 56 balls as the Asian giants made a modest 137-7 before Canada were restricted to 102 for 9.

Cheema and Manoj David added 52 for the third wicket to give Canada hope but once David was removed by Umar Gul, the home side lost their next six wickets for just 37 runs.

Pakistan were made to work for their runs and when skipper Shoaib Malik (9) was dismissed, they were 63 for 3 following the losses of debutant Shoaib Khan (9) and Younis Khan (13).

Butt's contribution was decisive with Misbah-ul-Haq (17) the next highest scorer.

Sri Lanka's latest spin sensation Ajantha Mendis took three wickets and was named man of the match as his side clinched a five-wicket win over Zimbabwe.

Mendis finished with 3-15 from three overs after ripping the heart out of the Zimbabwe middle order including dismissing Prosper Utseya with his 'carrom ball', which turns away from the right-handers.

Tatenda Taibu, the former captain, finished on 45 to push Zimbabwe to 106-8 off 17 overs in match shortened by the damp outfield at the King's City venue.

Sri Lanka openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mahela Udawatte put on 36 in four overs, before Udawatte was caught behind.

Left-arm spinner Ray Price bowled an economical spell which yielded two wickets including debutant Jeevantha Kulatunga and Dilshan.

Thilina Kandamby and skipper Mahela Jayawardene were both run out as Zimbabwe reduced the Asian side to 77-5 before Chamara Kapugedera and Farveez Maharoof saw their side home.

On Saturday, Canada face Zimbabwe while Sri Lanka tackle Pakistan.
Source: www.cricbuzz.com

Stanford 20/20 goldrush gets go-ahead

The 20-million-dollar Stanford 20/20, the world's richest cricket match which had been in danger because of a bitter row over commercial rights, will go-ahead as planned, organisers said on Thursday.

The match, between the Stanford Supertars and England, had been thrown into doubt after a High Court hearing had backed objections made by West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) sponsors Digicel.

The telecommunications company argued that the WICB had entered an agreement with Stanford that "wholly compromises the exclusive rights granted to Digicel as principal sponsors of West Indies cricket".

That legal decision meant that either the match would have to be called off or that the Stanford Superstars side would be weakened by the withdrawal of most of the leading West Indian players.

But the match, the highlight of the week-long Stanford Super Series, will now take place as scheduled on November 1 after talks between the two sides proved successful.

Sir Allen Stanford, the man behind the cricket revolution in the Caribbean, said: "I am pleased with both parties' solution-oriented approach and most importantly that this matter has been finally resolved.

"We look forward to welcoming fans from around the world to the Stanford Cricket Ground to enjoy a fantastic week of cricket."

Reports in the Caribbean media earlier Thursday claimed a "commercial agreement" had been reached after a trans-Atlantic telephone conversation between Stanford and Digicel's Irish boss Denis O'Brien.

"Digicel is delighted to confirm that negotiations have been successful and that arrangements have been put in place to allow for the Series to continue for at least the next three years," said a statement.

"As such, the match scheduled between the West Indies and England on November 1 will now proceed.

"Digicel has at all times supported the Stanford initiative and from the outset sought a negotiated compromise with the relevant parties."

England all-rounder Paul Collingwood said he was looking forward to the match.

"It's going to be interesting, it's going to be certainly a good spectacle," said Collingwood.

"I'm sure there will be a lot of pressure on the day."

The row over the match began when the WICB originally agreed to make all their players available to play for Texan billionaire Stanford's select side.

But Digicel went to the High Court in a bid to establish that, as the contracted official sponsor of the WICB until 2012, it enjoyed commercial rights associated with a game that was, in effect, a West Indies XI v England.

The High Court upheld that argument and ruled that the Board would be in breach of its contract with Digicel if it sanctioned the match without granting commercial rights to its sponsor.
Source:www.cricbuzz.com

I didn't like the way I was dropped - Ganguly

day after announcing his retirement from international cricket, Sourav Ganguly has spilled the beans on his reasons for retiring."I didn't like the way I was dropped from Irani Trophy and that is when I decided to quit. To be honest, I felt I'd two outstanding years except the Sri Lanka series. It took me around 2 weeks to come to this decision," he said.Ganguly also said his family has been supportive of his decision. "I didn't want to create a big fuss over this. I know my family will be disappointed but I had to do this sooner or later," he said.When asked why he was subject to the most scrutiny of all the senior players, he responded, "Probably people didn't like my face." He dismissed any rumours about him intending to carry on for two more years. "I've not said anywhere that I wanted to play for two years. It was picked from an interview a year ago after I played against Pakistan," Ganguly said. Ganguly also said that he wanted to keep the announcement low-key with the series as a priority. "I didn't want to make much of a fuss and that's why I announced it at the end of the press meet because the series is more important," Ganguly said.He recalled his favourite moment as his debut test. "That has to be my first Test at Lords," he told reporters.

Soruce: www.cricbuzz.com

Ponting ends India lean trot with crafty century

Skipper Ricky Ponting ended his run drought on Indian soil with a superb century as Australia came back strongly after a shock start in the first Test on Thursday.

Ponting hit 123 to steer the tourists away from the first-over dismissal of Matthew Hayden to a more comfortable 254-4 by stumps on the opening day at the Chinnaswamy stadium here.

Ponting, who won the toss and elected to take first strike in good batting conditions, put on 166 for the second wicket with Simon Katich after Hayden was caught behind off the third ball of the match by Zaheer Khan.

Left-handed Katich justified his selection ahead of Phil Jaques by following up back-to-back centuries on the preceding tour of the West Indies earlier this year with a dour 66.

Ponting added 60 for the third wicket with Michael Hussey (46 not out) before he was trapped leg-before by Harbhajan Singh in the final session, the ninth time the Australian captain has fallen to the off-spinner.

Zaheer trapped Michael Clarke leg-before with the second new ball in the day's last over, at which time the umpires called off play.

Ponting set aside a disappointing average of 12.27 in eight previous Tests in India to compile his 36th career Test century, just three behind record holder Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 39.

"It was nice to get some runs today," said the skipper, whose 200th Test innings made him only the fourth Australian after Allan Border and the Waugh brothers, Steve and Mark, to achieve the feat.

"As I have said since I have been here, I have been working really hard and I have made no secret of it that my record here has been poor, and I want to rectify that.

"Today is one step in the right direction and it was nice get the team into a good position, but one innings does not make a tour. I have got a few more yet to play.

"At no stage today did I put any extra pressure on myself to play different shots or combat anything the bowlers were doing.

"It was all about watching the ball and playing it on its merits and trusting my defensive technique more than anything."

Ponting's 16th century as captain enabled him to stamp his authority at the start of his team's defence of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the four-Test series.

The only time Ponting looked in trouble was when India appealed for a return catch as the batsman, then on 110, drove a half-volley back to bowler Anil Kumble, the Indian captain.

With no TV review system in place for the series, umpire Rudi Koertzen consulted his colleague Asad Rauf before turning down the appeal, indicating Ponting had played the ball down into the ground.

Indian seamer Ishant Sharma applauded Ponting's knock, saying "all good batsmen go through a rough patch, but they come out of it because they are so good.

"But the fourth wicket in the last over has evened up things a bit. It was a very good effort on our part to concede just 254 runs in the entire day on a good batting wicket."

Sharma ended Katich's vigil just before tea when the batsman poked at a ball outside the off-stump and the edge was easily taken by wicket-keeper Mahendra Dhoni.

Scoreboard
Australia 1st innings
M. Hayden c Dhoni b Zaheer 0
S. Katich c Dhoni b Sharma 66
R. Ponting lbw b Harbhajan 123
M. Hussey not out 46
M. Clarke lbw b Zaheer 11
Extras lb5, nb2, w1 8
Total for four wickets 254
Fall of wkts 1-0, 2-166, 3-226, 4-254
Bowling
Zaheer 17.2-4-39-2 (nb1, w1), Sharma 16-3-49-1, Harbhajan 25-6-71-1, Kumble 27-4-84-0, Sehwag 4-0-6-0 (nb1)

Soruce:www.cricbuzz.com

Sehwag says no to 'catches pact' with Aussies

Aggressive Indian opener Virender Sehwag said Tuesday he was against a "catches pact" with Ricky Ponting's Australia in the upcoming Test series after bitter memories of the last tour Down Under. "We suffered the most in the catches pact during the last series," Sehwag told ESPN-STAR Sports ahead of the four-match series starting in Bangalore on Thursday. "There is no point in having such an arrangement when the Australians are claiming one-bounce catches. We'd have won the Sydney Test if they hadn't claimed catches off half-volleys in that game." The Sydney Test ended the pre-series captains' agreement on taking the fielder's word on disputed catches, but Ponting recently said he was still open to the idea. "I will have a think about it and see if I think it is the right idea to bring it up again," Ponting had said. "Anil was the one who did not want that after the Sydney Test for one reason or the other. We will have a chat (before this series) and it's important to us Australians to play the game in the right spirit and embrace the culture." The Sydney match also almost saw Anil Kumble's Indians pull out of the series after a string of controversial umpiring decisions. The tourists agreed to continue only after the International Cricket Council pacified them by standing down West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor from the subsequent Perth Test. Sehwag said the hosts held an edge in the coming series as they had a balanced bowling attack. "Bangalore, Mohali and Nagpur (venues for Tests) have offered good bounce in the past and we can take advantage of these conditions with tall, fast bowlers," he said. "If we have spinning tracks, we have the spinners to extract advantage. Their spin department is weak and there is a wide possibility we can win the series either 3-0 or 3-1." Australia are hoping to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy they won by an identical 2-1 margin in the last two series in 2004 and earlier this year.

Soruce: www.cricbuzz.com

Ganguly announces retirement

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said Tuesday he would retire from international cricket at the end of the upcoming four-Test series against Australia."This will be my last series," Ganguly, 36, told reporters after a training session ahead of the first Test starting in Bangalore on Thursday."I've decided to quit. These four test matches will be my last. Before coming here, I spoke to my team-mates and hopefully I will go out with a winning knock."More to follow...

Soruce: www.cricinfo.com

Bangladesh name three newcomers

Bangladesh have included three youngsters to boost their depleted squad for an upcoming one-day series against New Zealand, selectors announced here.

Opener Imrul Kayes, middle-order batsman Naeem Islam and paceman Mahbubul Alam Robin were the newcomers in a 14-man squad for the three-match series starting here on Thursday.

The trio, belonging to the country's cricket academy, had consistently done well in domestic leagues and on overseas tours over the past one year, chief selector Rafiqul Alam told AFP.

"Kayes and Naeem are talented young batsmen while Robin has proved his worth as a medium-fast bowler. We have high hopes on them," he said.

The squad contains none of the 13 players who recently defected to the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), including seven current or former internationals.

The selectors also recalled wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim, ignored for a recent one-day series in Australia, and fit-again seamer Syed Rasel.

Alam said the inexperienced squad was capable of causing an upset in the series.

"We hope we can win at least one match in the series," he said.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has banned 13 players, including former captain Habibul Bashar, for 10 years for joining the ICL.

Daniel Vettori's New Zealanders will also play two Tests.

Bangladesh squad: Mohammad Ashraful (capt), Mashrafe Mortaza, Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Imrul Kayes, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehrab Hossain, Naeem Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmud Ullah Riyad, Abdur Razzak, Syed Rasel, Shahadat Hossain, Mahbubul Alam Robin.
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Ntini and Nel dropped from ODI squad

South Africa dropped fast bowlers Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel from the one-day squad to play Kenya and Bangladesh later this month, with an eye on the 2011 one-day World Cup.

Ntini has been a permanent fixture in both the test and one-day squads for the best part of a decade but, like Nel, is 31-years-old and is deemed unlikely for the next World Cup.

"That has to be our focus now, building a squad for the 2011 World Cup is the priority," national coach Mickey Arthur told Reuters on Tuesday after the squads were named.

Veteran batsman Herschelle Gibbs was included in the one-day team, despite a disappointing performance in the recent tour of England.

"Herschelle still has that X-factor," said Arthur. "He still has the ability to win matches for us. We usually win if Herschelle does well."

The Proteas are due to play two one-day internationals against Kenya and a Twenty20 international, three ODIs and two tests against Bangladesh.

South Africa included uncapped all rounders Ryan McLaren and Rory Kleinveldt, chosen for the Twenty20 game, in the limited overs squads.

Off spinner Johan Botha has been made vice-captain.

"Johan is to be congratulated on his promotion and he will, in all probability, captain the side in the two matches against Kenya as we only expect Graeme Smith to recover from injury in time for the series against Bangladesh," Cricket South Africa chief executive Gerald Majola told a news conference.

South Africa's test squad contains 13 of the players who triumphed 2-1 in England in July and August, with Nel and second spinner Robin Peterson missing out.

Test squad: Graeme Smith, (captain), Neil McKenzie, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn, Monde Zondeki.

One-day squad: Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Amla, Kallis, Duminy, De Villiers, Justin Ontong, Albie Morkel, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Johan Botha, Steyn, Zondeki.

Twenty20 squad: Smith (captain), Loots Bosman, De Villiers, Gibbs, Duminy, Ontong, Botha, Rory Kleinveldt, McLaren, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Steyn.

Soruce: www.cricbuzz.com

Afghanistan and Hong Kong keep perfect records

Afghanistan's push towards a place at the 2011 World Cup continued on Sunday when they thrashed Jersey by 124 runs to make it two wins in two matches in the World Cricket League Division Four.

Batting first, Afghanistan made 203 for 9 in 50 overs and then bowled out Jersey for 79, a performance which delighted their coach, Kabir Khan.

"Everybody is very happy as we have taken one step closer to the final and the team has played very well," he said.

"Bowling wise, I am really happy and our fielding was excellent again today. We do need to work on our batting but I was not worried because I knew 200 runs would be a winning score on this wicket."

The top two sides in the six-nation tournament here will ensure spots in Division Three with the leading two nations there progressing to the final World Cup Qualifier in April 2009.

Left-arm spinner Nadeem Ahmed took 4 for 19 as Hong Kong also maintained their unbeaten record as they defeated hosts Tanzania by 134 runs after the home team were bowled out for 121 chasing 256.

Hong Kong's batsmen rattled up 255 with man of the match Moner Ahmed top scoring with 66 while skipper Tabarak Dar chipped in with 60. Italy's opener Andy Northcote enjoyed an eventful day in his side's 254-run thrashing of Fiji.

Twenty-five year-old Northcote, who shared an opening stand of added 140 with Thushara Kurukulasuriya (73), was five runs short of century when he collapsed with heat exhaustion. He bravely carried on to reach the three figures but retired soon after.

Italy reached 318 for 5 and then dismissed Fiji for 64.

Source: www.cricbuzz.com

Coach tells India to not get distracted

BANGALORE (Reuters) - Coach Gary Kirsten told India's squad to distance themselves from the controversy surrounding five senior players ahead of the start of the test series against Australia next week. The countdown for the four-test series starting in Bangalore on Thursday has been overshadowed by news the Indian board has drawn up retirement plans for five veterans including captain Anil Kumble and record-breaking batsman Sachin Tendulkar. A board official said on Wednesday that Kumble, Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid and Vangipurappu Laxman, all well into their 30s, had been told to plan their retirements by December. "I think we should move on from that," South African Kirsten told a news conference on Friday. "We need to focus on the team and get on with the test series. "India have got the best record against Australia and we have got a good idea of what we need to do, game-wise as well as mentally." World number ones Australia won a four-test series 2-1 four years ago to record their first series victory on Indian soil in 35 years but are rebuilding after several high-profile retirements.

SPIN THREAT

Kirsten expects spin to pose a serious threat to the visitors but said the hosts were capable of winning in all conditions. "It feels good to have two spinners who have got so many wickets in our team and that is certainly something that works in our favour," he said. India named leg-break bowler Amit Mishra as a third specialist spinner in the squad for the first two tests as back up for Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. Leg-spinner Kumble is the world's third highest wicket taker and architect of several victories. Off-spinner Harbhajan, who took 32 wickets in the 2-1 victory over Australia in 2001, needs nine more scalps to reach 300 in tests.

Cameron White to replace McGain

Cameron White, the 25-year old all-rounder from Victoria has been named as Bryce McGain's replacement for the India tour after McGain had to fly home for treatment on his shoulder. He will join the squad on October 6 in Bangalore."We feel that Cameron's right-arm legspin and experience in Indian conditions, where he has just returned after captaining the Australia A one-day team to a tournament victory, is the correct option and will provide a good balance to our slow bowling attack," Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said. "Cameron's bowling has continued to improve over the past year at inter-state level and his powerful batting adds extra depth and versatility to the squad.""Cameron has performed well in Australian colours since his return to the one-day international squad earlier this year and he has now been rewarded with inclusion in the Test squad," he added. White is yet to play a test but has played 21 ODIs for Australia. More recently, he led Australia A to a series triumph in a triangular series in India.

Source: www.cricbuzz.com

Kumble urges media to criticise responsibly

BANGALORE (Reuters) - Test captain Anil Kumble has urged national media to be more responsible in their criticism of senior players following reports that the cricket board has drawn up an exit plan for him and four fellow veterans. "It is just that it needs to be a bit more respectful when people discuss cricketers," Kumble told a news conference on Thursday. "We don't mind the scrutiny but when it is done really rubbishly and the way it has been portrayed, then it hurts." Cricket-mad India is fiercely debating whether it is time for their record-breaking batsmen Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Vangipurappu Laxman, as well as spinner Kumble, all well into their 30s, to quit. Indian media reported that a 'voluntary retirement' plan had been drawn up by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). "As sportsmen we go out there to perform and win for the country and we have been doing that for the last 18 years and you know, when you do that (the scrutiny), you do that with respect and dignity then there is no problems with that," Kumble said. Television channels ran programmes on the advancing age of the five players on Wednesday after they were named in the squad for the first two Australia tests starting next week, belying media predictions that former captain Ganguly could be dropped. Kumble, the third highest test wicket-taker, is the oldest at 37 and is being named captain on a series-by-series basis since Dravid abruptly resigned the job last year. A BCCI official said on Wednesday that the five had been told to plan their retirements by December but Kumble said: "No one has spoken to us on these terms and neither have we, but it's all happening in the media."

Source: www.cricinfo.com

Afghanistan eye step closer to World Cup

Players from war-torn Afghanistan hope to take another step closer to the 2011 World Cup when they tackle five other contenders in the latest qualifying round which starts here on Saturday. Afghanistan will compete against Hong Kong, Jersey, Fiji, Italy and hosts Tanzania for the top two places in the ICC World Cricket League Division Four which will ensure spots in Division Three. The top two sides there will progress to the World Cup Qualifier in April 2009, with the top four sides from that making it to Asia in 2011. "It's our dream to qualify for the 2011 World Cup," said Afghanistan fast bowler Hamid Hassan. "I couldn't explain the feelings of happiness and joy if we get to achieve that. It will be a matter of pride for us to be watched live by the whole world on TV while representing Afghanistan." Afghanistan, who won promotion from the fifth division earlier this year, have a new coach in former Pakistan international Kabir Khan. Despite Afghanistan's optimism, it will be Hong Kong, coached by former England batsman Aftab Habib, who will start as favourites but Italy and Jersey, coached by former South Africa Test batsman Peter Kirsten, are also strong. Fiji will be hopeful of qualification despite missing injured all-rounder Neil Maxwell, a former Australia A player.

Source: www.cricinfo.com

McGain ruled out of India tour

Australia's spin woes deepened in India on Friday when ageing leg-spinner Bryce McGain was ordered to return home because of a shoulder injury. The 36-year-old Victorian, who sustained the injury during last month's Indian tour by the Australian 'A' team, missed the ongoing four-day match against the Board President's XI here. Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said the decision to send McGain home was made after it was confirmed he would not be able to bowl for the majority of the tour. "Bryce suffered a setback at training on Tuesday in an attempt to be available for the four-day match," Kountouris said in a Cricket Australia statement. "As a result, it has been decided that Bryce will not be available for selection for the majority of the tour." A decision on who will replace McGain for the four-Test series, which starts next week, will be taken after Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch arrives here early Saturday. It is expected that left-armer Beau Casson, a surprise exclusion from the original squad after making his Test debut in the Caribbean earlier this year, will be the likely replacement. McGain was widely tipped to make his Test debut as the first choice spinner ahead of fellow newcomer Jason Krejza, who went for 0-123 in the practice match earlier on Friday. The world champions are struggling to throw up a quality spinner following the retirements of legendary Shane Warne and fellow wrist spinner Stuart McGill in quick succession over the last two years. The series for the Border Gavaskar Trophy opens in Bangalore next Thursday, followed by back-to-back Tests in Mohali, New Delhi and Nagpur.
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Pakistan to raise Australia stand in ICC meet

KARACHI (Reuters) - Pakistan will raise Cricket Australia's policy not to tour the country over security fears but travel to India at the International Cricket Council (ICC) next month, sports minister Najamuddin Khan said. Khan will attend ICC's executive board meeting as Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is without a chairman since August and is being monitored by the sports ministry. "Australia can play in India although even there, unfortunately, there have been bomb blasts but they're refusing to tour Pakistan," he told Geo News channel. Australia have refused to tour Pakistan over safety and security concerns for its players following a spate of suicide bombings. They were among the teams who declined to play in this month's Champions Trophy in Pakistan citing security fears, forcing the tournament to be postponed until late next year. However, Australia are in India to play four tests after accepting security assurances from the Indian board despite a series of bomb attacks in New Delhi, including one on Saturday. "I will raise this issue with the ICC and talk to the Australians also," he said. "I think they are opting double standards and following different policies for Pakistan and India which is unfair to our cricket." Khan said he would try to convince the other boards to give fresh dates for the eight-team Champions Trophy. "We'll try our best to keep Champions Trophy in Pakistan because we are assuring foolproof security to all teams and we want our cricket to flourish."

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Ganguly included for first two tests

The new selection committee, led by Kris Srikkanth has included Sourav Ganguly for the first two tests against Australia.Saurav Ganguly's inclusion has come as a surprise after he was left out of the Rest of India squad for the Irani Trophy.It is understood that the selectors want to give the Bengal left-hander an honourable exit from the game and that Ganguly will retire after the Australia series as part of a transition plan.Another surprise inclusion is Delhi's 25 year-old leg spinner Amit Mishra, who pipped favourites Pragyan Ojha and Murali Karthik to take the third spinner's slot.The last batsman's slot was handed to S. Badrinath, who had a remarkable domestic season, ending as the second highest run getter in the Ranji trophy.Munaf Patel and RP Singh are the other two pacemen in the squad but are likely to play if either of Ishant Sharma or Zaheer Khan gets injured.The selectors chose not to name any back-up openers or wicket-keepers.India squad: Anil Kumble (c), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Saurav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, S Badrinath, Amit Mishra, Munaf Patel, RP Singh.

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