My job is to score runs: Gambhir

NEW DELHI: Gautam Gambhir can do no wrong these days. The opener has gone from strength to strength over the last year or so,becoming a bigger scourge for the bowlers every passing month.

Fresh from leading India to a landslide win over Sri Lanka in the Kanpur Test, Gambhir, who will be skipping the third Test in Mumbai (beginning Wednesday) to attend his sister's wedding, spoke to TOI on Monday over a host of issues. Excerpts:

It must have been a tough decision to skip a Test when you are in the form of your life...

At times, family comes first. This is one occasion, you don't want to miss. I tried to adjust the timing, but it was touch and go and eventually, it didn't work out. Earlier, I thought of taking an evening flight to Delhi and then fly back to Mumbai next morning. But with weather conditions uncertain, you can't take a chance. Such an event doesn't happen again and again and so I decided to skip the Test.

Virender Sehwag had said that you are the best opening batsman India have produced after Sunil Gavaskar. Your response.

It's quite a compliment from Sehwag, even though I don't believe in comparisons. Right now, I have a lot to achieve. It's been two years that I'm regular Test opener. I have a long way to go. It's good that I am able to score consistently and in my opinion, that is my job.

Many cricket pundits feel you are now India's best batsman. How to do react to such praise when the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid, Sehwag are a part of the same team?

As I said earlier, I don't believe in comparisons. If I am able to contribute to my team's fortune, that makes me the happiest man.

You are also the BCCI cricketer of the year...

I consider myself lucky. Getting awards motivates a player, but for me the biggest motivation is to play for the country.

Apart from cricket, what do you share with Sehwag when you two are batting together?

We try to keep each other relaxed by cracking jokes and singing some tunes other than discussing cricket. When the overs start, we get into our shells and concentrate intensely on our batting. So, the breaks between overs actually help us relax.

You are playing fewer Test matches nowadays. Do you think that there should be better balance between Tests, ODIs and T20s?

Personally, I prefer Test cricket because that is the ultimate test for any cricketer in matter of skills, stamina and temperament. But if we play Test after long gaps, it's slightly tough to adapt initially. Something of that sort happened in the first innings against Sri Lanka in the first Test at Ahmedabad. But in the second innings, I was a lot more confident.

Who is the biggest fan of your batting in the Indian dressing room?

(Laughs) I don't think anyone enjoys my batting. When there is so much flair, so many strokemakers and record-holders in the team, there is little opportunity for them to watch me bat. I am the batsman with the least talent in the team. My job is to socre runs.

No.1 Test batsman in the world, four hundreds in last four Tests...did you imagine all this happening three-four years ago?

I knew I could make it big. But I was in and out of the side. Once I got a longer run, I started scoring. Now, I don't want to get complacent and relax. For me, it's important to give good starts to my team and I will do it to the best of my ability.

Was it a ploy to attack the Sri Lanka spinners from the word go...

When I go out to bat, my natural instinct is to play aggressively. On top of that, the pitches were flat. So it was easy for me to dominate the Lankans spinners.

Do you think Muttiah Muralitharan is losing his edge?

Not at all. He is too great a spinner to lose the edge. Don't forget his record and never underestimate his ability to take wickets. Right now, like any other cricketer, he is going through a lean patch, but a wicket or two can make a big difference.

Have the Indians sorted out Ajantha Mendis?

If you are playing international cricket for sometime, it's natural that the opposing teams are going to study you. We have also done our homework.

Unlike some of your teammates, you are not very emotive on the field. Is this your natural being?

Well, that is how I am. I don't express too much on the field. But in front of my family and friends, I am a different person. This is my basic nature.

Your thoughts on Sreesanth's bowling spell in the Kanpur Test?

Sreesanth was fantastic. He is very talented. If he can stay away from controversies, he is a great asset for the Indian team and can lead the Indian pace attack with Ishant (Sharma).

Some reports claim that Sreesanth is still a loner even after his Kanpur performance?

These are all rumours. When you are playing for India, everyone has a common goal and there can't be any loner in that. He is very much part of the team and has shown what he can do for India.

Coming to Ishant, how do you see him getting back to form?

Look, Ishant is just 21 and if he is going through a low phase, it's going to help him come back stronger. He is immensely talented. Not only that, he is going to break a lot of records. Even I have gone through similar stages. In the end, it only makes us stronger and wiser.

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Bond out of Pakistan series

Shane Bond's test cricket comeback has lasted just one match after New Zealand's premier pace bowler was today ruled out of the remainder of the current series against Pakistan because of an abdominal tear.

Bond reported discomfort in the aftermath of his man-of-the-match performance during New Zealand's 32-run victory in the first test at Dunedin last weekend.

He had scans today that confirmed a tear, a recurrence of the injury that forced him to retire from test cricket in November, 2007, after playing South Africa in Johannesburg.

Bond took match figures of eight for 153 in Dunedin - including the key wicket of Umar Akmal during Pakistan's failed run chase on Saturday - in his first test appearance in two years and just 18th since his debut in 2001.

The 34-year-old misses the second test starting in Wellington on Thursday and the final test at Napier starting on December 11.

The New Zealand selectors are considering adding a replacement to the squad, probably Tim Southee.

Daryl Tuffey, already with the team, may be in line for his first test cap in five years.

In more positive news, fast bowler Iain O'Brien has been cleared to play despite dislocating a finger on his bowling hand.

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Australia and West Indies suffer injury blows

West Indies fast bowler Jerome Taylor has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour of Australia because of injuries to his left hip and back.

The 25-year-old bowled only nine overs on the opening day of the first Test, which the Windies lost by an innings.

He will return home, with a decision on a replacement expected on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, uncapped fast bowler Clinton McKay has been called into Australia's squad for the second Test on Friday, following an injury to Ben Hilfenhaus.

Having claimed 5-70 in his first Test on Australian soil as the hosts won the opening match of the series, Hilfenhaus succumbed to a long-term knee injury.

Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said: "Ben Hilfenhaus has had a widely-reported knee tendon injury that was sore during the recent one-day international series in India and the first Test at the Gabba.

"The demands of Test cricket and the subsequent increased workload have made it harder to manage Ben's injury, so it has been decided that the best course of action is for him to miss the Adelaide Test.

"He will undergo an intense period of rehabilitation over the next two weeks with a view to him being available for selection for the third Test in Perth." [starting on 16 December]

Victoria fast bowler McKay, 26, played in two one-day internationals on the recent tour of India, taking 3-59 on his debut and 0-44 in his second match.

"Clint impressed all with his performances in India with the one-day squad and with his bowling for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield this year," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch explained.

"We also feel his style of bowling will be well-suited to the conditions in Adelaide, should he be selected in the starting 11."

There was some consolation for the beleaguered West Indians with news that key batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan is expected to be fit for the second Test, having missed the first match due to back trouble.

Australia squad: R Ponting (c), M Clarke, D Bollinger, B Haddin (wkt), N Hauritz, M Hussey, M Johnson, S Katich, C McKay, M North, P Siddle, S Watson.
West Indies squad: C Gayle (c), A Barath, S Benn, D Bravo, S Chanderpaul, N Deonarine, T Dowlin, B Nash, D Ramdin (wkt), R Rampaul, K Roach, D Sammy, R Sarwan, G Tonge.

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Gayle says he won't quit Windies captaincy

Melbourne, Nov.30 (ANI): A defiant West Indies cricket captain Chris Gayle has said that that he won't quit Test captaincy despite his team's humiliating innings and 44 run defeat to Australia in last week's Gabba Test.

According to Fox Sports, in a News Limited column, Gayle says he has the respect and support of his players and will not walk away from the captaincy.

"When you have a bad loss like this, it's to be expected that a lot of people are going to speculate over my captaincy. Some say I'm not the right person for the job. I've got a message for those people - I'm not going anywhere. My heart is in it and I feel really strongly that I am the right man to lead the West Indies through this challenging period, "Gayle writes.

"With my captaincy coming under fire, the really heartening thing for me is to see how I have respect from each and every one of the players in our squad. Times are tough, but I'm determined to be the strong captain the team needs right now," he adds.

While key batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan is likely to be fit for the second Test in Adelaide starting on Friday, fast bowler Jerome Taylor has been ruled out of the series and will return home.

Gayle said that West Indies batsmen will use the debut Test century of 19-year-old opener Adrian Barath to inspire them to turn things around.

"If a teenager in his first Test can do that sort of thing, it should drive the rest of our batsmen to produce some big scores," Gayle said.

Gayle also criticised cricket's controversial new video review system after twice unsuccessfully challenging his lbw decisions at the Gabba.

"I'm just not a fan of it, the new technology they have put in place still makes mistakes," Gayle said.

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India eye top spot in final Sri Lanka test

MUMBAI (Reuters) - India will reach the top of the ICC test rankings for the first time if they win the third and final test against Sri Lanka starting on Wednesday.

India lead the series 1-0 after thumping Sri Lanka by an innings and 144 runs in last week's second test in Kanpur and have been given an added incentive to make it 2-0.

India are currently third on the world rankings behind South Africa (first) and Sri Lanka (second) but are close enough to leapfrog them both with a victory in Mumbai.

Climbing to the top spot would undoubtedly represent a major milestone in Indian cricket but captain Mahendra Dhoni has tried to play down the significance, warning his players just to concentrate on the match and forget about the rankings.
"It will be an added responsibility," he said.
"Becoming the number one side is not important, we've got to maintain our performance level."

India's chances of beating the Sri Lankans have already suffered a blow with in-form opener Gautam Gambhir, the world's top-ranked batsman, pulling out of the match to attend his sister's wedding.

The left-handed Gambhir has played a significant role in India's great start to the series, scoring centuries in each of the first two tests and sharing in a 233-run opening stand with fellow centurion Virender Sehwag in Kanpur.

He is expected to be replaced by Murali Vijay, an exciting but relatively inexperienced batsmen who played his only test against Australia last year.

Batsmen have dominated the series so far with 10 centuries in the two tests although Indian medium-pacer Shanthakumaran Sreesanth gave the seam bowlers some hope with a five wicket haul in the first innings in Kanpur.

Although they cannot win the series, the Sri Lankans are eyeing their own slice of history and are putting their faith in spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

They never won a test on Indian soil and the form of Muralitharan remains a real cause of concern with the world record holder managing just five wickets at a cost of 396 runs.

"We got the worst bowling conditions in the last two tests," Muralitharan
"We didn't have the bowlers, that was one of the factors."

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara remains confident Muralitharan can recover and play a starring role in what will be his final test away from home.
"He is still the best bowler that has played the game," Sangakkara said.
"So you still have to have faith in him and trust him and keep backing him 100 per cent to do the job because he is going to do it at one point.
"We have still got a lot to achieve in Mumbai. Whether we can win the series or not, we can still equal the series and finish the series 1-1. That is a great motivation for us."

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Two-tier system crucial to saving Test cricket

AUSTRALIA was far too good for the West Indies in Brisbane, but was it a surprise? What questions were answered?

It proved that there is a massive gap between the top four or five-ranked Test teams and the bottom three or four.

Unfortunately, the worst fears about a poor West Indies team are true.

I love Test cricket, but I think it is has got to the stage where there are some things that need to be addressed.

I reckon we need a two-tier system for Test cricket with a grand final for the top two sides in a neutral venue in a one-off Test.

I love tradition and that's why I have been vocal about saving Test cricket.

I believe two tiers is the future and a grand final. Which means the fifth side in the top tier would be relegated to the bottom tier and the top team in that tier would be promoted.

I can hear people saying that there will be complications regarding sponsorship and the like. This might be true and the ICC will need to help on that one.

So how is the top five decided? The ICC rankings would get credibility as the system that determines which tier each country goes to.

The other advantage of a two-tier system is Test captains will need to play to win, to protect their spot in the top tier, which will surely result in more entertaining cricket.

Although it was good to see the Australian boys being ruthless, I'm not a big believer in the follow-on. But Ricky got it spot on and indeed spot on through the whole Test.

He also looked in super touch with the bat. For that matter, all the batters did, including the tail.

My only concern is Shane Watson. It's not because of his duck, I just know he is better suited in the middle order, right now and for the future.

What happens if he does fail a few times opening and the middle order piles on the runs against the ordinary Windies?

Where is the spot then for Watto?

He is confident now and a few failures opening could damage the space he is in. What then? Drop Watson?

No way.

Australian selectors cannot let this happen. Watson in the Australian team is a must.

It's great that he wants to open, but that is a short-term solution.

The start of the summer was the perfect time to put players in their best positions against weak opposition.

It's still not too late to make the tough and correct call, please!

I have known Watto for a long time and know how he ticks.

He is a good guy who just wants to be the best he can . . . he wants the responsibility, but deep down I reckon if the selectors said, "Mate, we want you in the team for a long time and want you to bat at five", he would say "Cool" or "Phew!"

He would do anything that Ricky wants - that's the truth.

But for the sake of his future, now is the time to make the tough call - move him to No. 5.

Mike Hussey has to open.

Remember Hussey was an opener for most of his career and is how he got selected in the first place.

We want Hussey at his best and opening could be just the move to bring out his best form again. It's the right thing by the team. Watto is a genuine all-rounder and is best suited at No. 5.

My top six would read: Hussey, Simon Katich, Ponting, Michael Clarke, Watson and Marcus North.

Then, if Hussey does not find form, there are openers in Shield cricket ready to step in.

Phil Hughes should be first-choice opener when he is in form. But first he must get over demons against the short ball and show he is hungry to get the opening spot back.

Chris Rogers has again piled on the runs, and if Hughes does not rediscover his form, Rogers is ready to go.

Where to now for the West Indies? I'm not sure they know, which is such a shame.

They are a very proud bunch, the West Indians, and will feel embarrassed at their performance in Brisbane.

They will come back, but they cannot sustain pressure for long periods of time with bat or ball.

Young opener Adrian Barath was a surprise and it was great to see him put up a fight.

Everyone knows Chris Gayle and Shiv Chanderpaul are the keys with the bat. But for those guys to use both video challenges when they must have known they were plum was to put themselves above the rest.

Speaking of the referral system, I think it worked and the more everyone gets used to it, the quicker it will be.

Later this week Les Burdett will roll out a typical belter in the city of churches.

Adelaide is a great venue to play and let's hope the cricket resembles a Test match, not a walk in the park.

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Hodge retires from first-class cricket

Cricket Australia has confirmed that Victoria's champion batsman Brad Hodge is retiring from first-class cricket. He will play just two more Sheffield Shield matches for the ladder-leading Victoria, his final four-day match for the Bushrangers to start on December 18 against New South Wales. Hodge will remain available for one day matches and Twenty20 games.

The prolific 34 year-old right-hander has officially stepped down in order to spend more time with his young family, and his wife, who has health issues, but his frustration at not being selected for the Australian Test team was pivotal to the decision.

Hodge will speak about his decision at a press conference at 11.30am this morning.

On the Cricket Australia website, Hodge is positive about his new direction: "It's been a wonderful journey, which hopefully has more to go at limited-overs and Twenty20 level. I've loved every time I've pulled on the navy blue cap and it was a dream come true to swap it for a baggy green for the times I did. Playing Test cricket for Australia was an incredible experience and I feel proud and blessed to have had that opportunity."

"Hopefully this decision will allow me to continue playing good cricket and also spend more time with my young family."

Ex-temamate and current Cricket Victoria chief executive Tony Dodemaide, also quoted on the game's official site, said: "Brad Hodge has been a champion player for Victoria who has achieved almost every honour available."

"Throughout his career he has shouldered the bulk of the batting responsibilities, maintaining an excellent record and playing a huge role in Victoria's success over that time. He's set high standards for himself and the team and performed strongly at Test level. Hopefully he can add to his appearances at international level and continue to contribute strongly to the Bushrangers in the shorter versions of the game."

Hodge's retirement is part of a trend of older cricketers to bow out of longer forms of the game in order to maximise earnings in Twenty20 cricket in their twilight years, particularly as the shorter form of the game is less taxing upon the body. England's Andrew Flintoff and former Australian star Andrew Symonds both took this route last season despite remaining viable Test players.

Hodge, who has played for many years in England, representing Durham, Leicestershire and Lancashire, is likely to command big money playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and English domestic short form cricket for several years.

He ends his six-Test career with an average of 55.88, having last played for Australia in a Test in May 2008, contributing two crucial innings, of 67 and 27, on a difficult pitch in Kingston Jamaica.

He had a top Test score of 203 not out, made against South Africa in Perth in December 2005, but was passed over for nearly his entire career despite a stellar record at domestic level. His snubbing at the selection table has never been explained by national selectors.

Hodge averaged 73.41 and 61.77 in 2003/04 and 2008/09, when Victoria won the Shield title, and he has averaged 102 in the first two games of the Sheffield Shield season.

His absence, and the call-up of in-form paceman Clint McKay to the Test squad, will test the depth of the Victorians, who are six points clear at the top of the Shield ladder.

Record-breaker.

Hodge has scored the most runs for Victoria in first-class cricket, 11,278 at an average of 47.39. Dean Jones is next best with 9622 at 54.05.

Hodge has played 222 first-class matches making 17,012 runs at an average of 48.88 with 51 centuries and 63 ffities.

In one-day matches, he averages 41.80, with 23 centuries and 35 fifties.

In 73 Twenty20 matches Hodge averages 40.10 with one century and 17 fifties.

Hodge has played 25 one day matches for Australia, averaging 31.33, with one century and three fifties.

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Test cricket returns to CCI

The Cricket Club of India is to India what Lord’s is to England, and the Melbourne Cricket Ground to Australia.

Steeped in history and dripping cricket, the Brabourne stadium at the CCI is primed to welcome back Test cricket after a 36-year-old hiatus.

The construction of the Wankhede stadium, not far from the CCI premises, meant Test cricket moved to a venue with a greater seating capacity. Brabourne made its debut as a Test centre when John Goddard’s West Indies came calling in 1948-49. The last Test here was in 1972-73, India holding Tony Lewis’ England to a draw a match that saw Gundappa Viswanath slam 113 and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar pick up his 200th Test to clinch the series 2-1.

“I never thought that would be the last Test at such a beautiful ground,” said Ajit Wadekar, India’s captain during that series. “It is sad that this ground is going without cricket, it is unthinkable.”

The final Test against Sri Lanka, beginning on Wednesday, is being held at the Brabourne only because the Wankhede stadium is undergoing renovation ahead of the 2011 World Cup.

“What Lord’s is to England, Brabourne is to India,” added the 68-year-old Wadekar. “It is the ultimate dream for any cricketer to play at Lord’s; by the same token, every Indian cricketer would like to play at the CCI. It has a lovely atmosphere and that makes you feel different. You also play in front of a knowledgeable crowd.”

Eleven out of the 17 Tests at the Brabourne have ended in a stalemate, India winning four and losing two of the other six. The most famous of those draws, of course, was in that ’72-73 game. “It was a crucial match for us, basically to win the series,” Wadekar recalled. “That is the reason we went out with all intent. The uniqueness of the stadium is that the dressing room used to be shared by club members too. They advised me to field first but when I walked up to the wicket, I saw no moisture in the pitch -- it was a dry wicket.

“When I decided to bat, the club members questioned my wisdom. When we got 370 for three, nobody approached me! I also recollect Farokh Engineer and myself being engaged in a big partnership and England bowling a negative line. I shifted the off-stump as Tony Greig ran in to bowl. Greig told me, “Don’t do that to me, Mr Wadekar,” he said. “So I told him to stop bowling negative. ‘I will hit you with a bouncer’,” Greig retorted. “I said go ahead, you are slower than Prasanna!”

‘Perfect venue’

Wadekar had his wish list ready for this Test. “Sachin getting a hundred at Brabourne would be special. The way India are playing, this could be match where they will be crowned number one,” remarked Wadekar, adding that it would be the perfect venue for India to reach the number one Test ranking for the first time.

“We have a balanced side, a tremendous batting line-up and a balanced attack. The players seem full of confidence and the captain (Dhoni) has done extremely well.”

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Pietersen form not a worry - Flower

It isn't only the crowds that Kevin Pietersen is having to battle in South Africa, but also his own form after a four-month injury lay-off following Achilles surgery. His innings during the one-day series have been unconvincing, but given the career he has already had, expectations were always going to be high as soon as he returned to the England side.

His soft chip to midwicket at Port Elizabeth ended a six-ball 3 in which he had already been dropped at long leg off a top-edged hook. At Centurion Park he made 29 off 19 balls in the second Twenty20, his comeback match, but managed just 4 in the one-day international on the same ground. His top score of 45 came in Cape Town but, although there was the odd glimpse of his usual style, he looked like a player feeling his way back.

The camp, though, remain unconcerned about Pietersen's results. Before the fourth ODI, Paul Collingwood said it was only to be expected that he would struggle for a while after such a long time out and now the coach, Andy Flower, has said he it was always going to be a challenge for Pietersen.

"I wouldn't be too worried. I think he's going to take a little while to get back in form," Flower told reporters after England arrived in Durban. "Being out for four months - when he's used to playing all the time - I think is a challenge he's going to have to overcome.

"He's a high achiever, an outstanding sportsman - and he will be very impatient to get back into his dominant ways again. I think we should be patient with him, because it's not easy just to walk back in and dominate straight away."

Given Pietersen's record of performing best when the pressure is on, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him emerge from his early problems during the final one-day international at Durban - his old home ground for Natal and where he first encountered England during the 1999-2000 tour and made his intentions known about switching allegiance.

"He tends to want to do it his way," Flower said. "That's part of his strength, his make-up - what makes him a different and very powerful player for us. He will score heavy runs on this tour, and maybe Friday is the day. It could be his day."

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Sri Lanka to go 'all out' for victory

Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene has urged his team to go flat out in Wednesday's final Test against India at the Brabourne Stadium.

India crushed Sri Lanka by an innings and 144 runs in the second Test in Kanpur and are poised to go top of the International Cricket Council's Test rankings if they win again in Mumbai.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side battled back from a massive first-innings deficit to draw the first Test in Ahmedabad and have a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

Former captain Jayawardene, however, has exhorted his teammates to ensure their goal of achieving a first Test victory in India is reached.

"Our goal when we came to India was to win our first Test here," Jayawardene wrote in a column. "But the reverse in Kanpur brings our goals into sharp focus.

"We now have to go all out to win the final Test in Mumbai and square the series.
"The way forward is to not think too much about the defeat or over-analyse what happened but to pick ourselves up and perform as a group."

Sri Lanka's decision to field three specialist spinners in Kanpur came in for severe criticism, but Jayawardene believes the collective failure of the batsmen led to defeat.

"We took a tough call with team composition and it did not work for us," Jayawardene said.

"Over the last couple of years our batting has been reliable and we had the men to put the runs on the board.

"It just didn't happen in Kanpur and this, rather than composition was why we lost."
Sri Lanka's fast bowlers Dammika Prasad and Nuwan Kulasekara are available for selection having recovered from minor injuries and showed no signs of discomfort as they, along with Dilhara Fernando, were put through an extended session in the nets.
Master spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has struggled on this tour, the world's leading bowler only managing five wickets at an average of 79.20.

Captain Kumar Sangakkara, however, has kept his faith in the off-spinner.
"He is still the best bowler that's played the game," Sangakkara said.
"You still have to have faith in him and trust him and back him 100% to do the job because he is going to do it at some point.

"Having said that, we could do with a bit more penetration with spin."
India will be without opener Gautam Gambhir but Dhoni believes his replacement - Tamil Nadu batsman Murali Vijay is expected to fill in - will step up to the plate.
"It is difficult to say how much the team will miss Gambhir," Dhoni said.
"We are a side that depends greatly on a good start and whoever opens with (Virender) Sehwag should be able to do that.

"Whenever Gambhir and Sehwag give us a good start, the run rate is pretty high and that makes it easier for the batsmen to follow."

India also have the option of opening with Rahul Dravid, their top scorer in the series so far, and could pick an extra bowler in Gambhir's place.

This is the first Test at the Cricket Club of India's home in over 36 years and 11 of the previous 17 matches here have ended in draws.

Milind Rege, secretary of the CCI, however, has promised a good wicket.
"There is a bit of moisture and that will help the bowlers in the first hour," Rege said.

"But it's a good wicket to bat on and it will assist spin on the fourth and fifth days. I expect a result."

Players spend time with underprivileged children

It turned out to be a memorable evening for underprivileged children from 'Make A Wish Foundation' as they got to spend some fun moments with members of the Indian and Sri Lankan cricket players here today.

The occasion was a fun fair at the G D Somani School in south Mumbai, organised by the Yuvraj Singh Foundation.

While Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha and Yuvraj were present from the Indian team, the Sri Lankan team was represented by skipper Kumar Sangakkara and ex-captain Mahela Jayawardene.

The children, many of them suffering from life threatening diseases, had to wait for over two hours from the scheduled time but the cricketers made up for the delay by handing them gifts of their choice, besides taking pictures with them.

"It's a great opportunity to make a few wishes of these kids possible," Yuvraj said on the occasion.

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Colly confident KP will find form

England's most in-form batsman Paul Collingwood is confident it is only a matter of time before Kevin Pietersen starts making big runs again too.

Collingwood, who last week marked his record 171st one-day international cap with an unbeaten hundred at Centurion and added another 86 in a losing cause at Newlands yesterday, has already seen plenty of evidence that the "old KP" is on his way back.
Pietersen shared a fourth-wicket stand of 84 with Collingwood last night as England lost by 112 runs to allow South Africa to level the series at 1-1 with two to play, starting at St George's tomorrow.

By the mercurial South Africa-born batsman's standards, his 45 was an understated performance.

But Collingwood points out it would be entirely unreasonable to expect Pietersen to be instantly back to his destructive best in only a handful of innings so far since four months out after Achilles surgery.

"I wouldn't start putting him under any kind of pressure," he said.

"If you think of the lay-off he's had I don't think you'd expect him to come in and score hundreds straight away."

Even so Collingwood, who has often largely stood and admired Pietersen's world-beating strokeplay from 22 yards during previous partnerships, saw enough in Cape Town to conclude his team-mate is close to hitting top form.

"It's fair to say that there are some of the shots he's playing, with the old Kevin Pietersen there," he added.

"It's not going to be too long before he's making a massive contribution, just like he used to.

"He's not going to hit his straps 100% straight away. But he's certainly showing signs that he's got a big innings round the corner.

"As soon as he makes that big innings, the old flamboyant KP will be back - because he's certainly not far away."

Even before the big runs flow, Collingwood sees the mere presence of Pietersen as a major asset for England.

"It's just great to see him back on the pitch, running around fine - with that energy back," he reported.

"You can do as much training as you want in the nets, but the centre is where it counts.

"So far, he's looked pretty solid without having that major innings. But he's that kind of world-class player who will be clicking soon.

"Just having his presence in the batting line-up is the crucial thing.

"No opponents want to bowl against KP. It gives the rest of the lads a lot of confidence."

England have already drawn a Twenty20 series against their hosts this autumn, eliminated them from the Champions Trophy back in September and are now in a tough battle for this ODI series.

"So far, it's been a little bit of a rollercoaster ride, in terms of results and performances," Collingwood said.

"It's been an up-and-down tour.
"But a lot of credit goes to South Africa and the way they bounced back last night.
"Right from ball one, their intent was very good and obviously put us under a lot of pressure.

"But we're not going to get it right all the time."
Collingwood is banking on it being England's turn to fight back.
"We hope in new conditions in Port Elizabeth we can adjust to them and play the better cricket again tomorrow," he said.

As for his own outstanding run of consistency, the Durham batsman insists he is doing little different - merely trying hard, as he always has.

South Africa have admitted they are having to reassess Collingwood's capabilities, and he admits: "It's nice when the opposition are looking at you like that.
"Obviously, I feel in very good form at the moment - seeing the ball well.
"I'm enjoying the wickets out here, I gained a lot of confidence from playing in the Champions Trophy on faster and bouncier wickets.

"I've been working on my game over the years - trying to improve - and I'm just starting to see some of those benefits.

"Confidence is high, and it's amazing what you can do when confidence is that high.
"I'm not doing anything that different. I'm probably striking the ball a little bit harder than I used to and I've opened a couple more areas out technically."


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Gambhir to miss final Sri Lanka test

MUMBAI (Reuters) - In-form India opener Gautam Gambhir will miss next week's third and final test against Sri Lanka in Mumbai so he can attend his sister's wedding, the cricket board (BCCI) said on Friday.

India's selectors retained the rest of the squad that played in the first two tests of the series, but did not name a replacement for Gambhir, who scored his fourth century in as many tests in the second match in Kanpur.

The first test in Ahmedabad ended in a draw while Sri Lanka are in danger of losing the match in Kanpur after being forced to follow on.

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Kent chief Millman leaves Canterbury

Kent chief executive Paul Millman has announced that he is taking early retirement after 10 years at the club.

He is to leave with immediate effect for personal reasons. Jamie Clifford takes over as acting chief executive.

Meanwhile, Kent have announced that Canterbury City Council have agreed to loan £4m towards the redevelopment of the St Lawrence Ground.

The redevelopment includes floodlights, a hotel, hospitality boxes, conference facility and health and fitness centre.

Kent chairman George Kennedy said: "It will go a long way towards helping realise the vision of creating a ground of which we can be truly proud."

As for Millman's departure, a club spokesman said: "The club is grateful for his efforts over the past 10 years and wishes him a long and happy retirement.

"Jamie Clifford will be appointed acting chief executive whilst the club reviews its options and seeks applicants for the role."

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UP to get one more cricket stadium by 2011

Kanpur, Nov 27 (PTI) The Green Park stadium here will not remain the sole venue in Uttar Pradesh to hold international cricket matches as the upcoming stadium in Great Noida will also get to organise one-dayers and Twenty20s in future.

Moreover, the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) is also looking for land to build its own cricket stadium.

UPCA Secretary Rajiv Shukla today said the Jaypee Group, who are developing a Sports city in Greater Noida, are building a cricket stadium there and UPCA has already inked a fifty-year agreement with them to hold matches.

He added that stadium will be ready by 2011 and it will hold Twenty20 and one-day international matches.

Initially the spectator capacity at the stadium will be 40,000 but it will be increased to one lakh gradually.

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'We were outplayed' - Sangakkara

Sri Lanka came into the series intending to secure their maiden Test victory on Indian soil but were left with a lot of soul searching to do after they were thrashed by an innings-and-144-runs in the second Test in Kanpur.

Though India ran up 642, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara defended the selection of three spinners. "If we had won the toss and batted first on the wicket and got a decent amount of runs on the board our spinners would have been quite a threat on this track," he said. "It would have been very hard to score runs off them as well. The chances that we did create were not taken by us, allowing the Indian batsmen to get away on a really flat track. 400 runs on the first day was a little too much."

The main concern for Sri Lanka was the inability of the world's leading wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan to provide the breakthroughs for his team as he had done till the recent past. Murali went for over hundred runs for the second time in two Tests; so far in the series his returns are five wickets for 396 runs, average 79.20. "It does become a concern when your star strike bowler is not really picking up the wickets you know he can, but he is still the best bowler that's played the game," Sangakkara said. "You still have to have faith in him and trust him and back him 100% to do the job because he is going to do it at one point, hopefully in the next Test."

The Kanpur defeat was the largest in terms of runs to India but Sangakkara remained optimistic that he had the bowlers to win in Mumbai. "We have the potential to pick 20 wickets with the bowlers that we have," he said. "Potential is one thing really doing the job is another. We would like a bit more penetration with the spin.

"With our fast bowlers we always created opportunities, the disappointing thing is we haven't really taken those chances twice in the first over in two Test matches, especially this one on a track that was one of the flattest we've played on.

"We've still got a lot to achieve in Mumbai. We can still equal the series and finish one-all. That's a great motivation for us. Disappointed with today's defeat, but that's the way cricket goes. If you don't play well enough you lose and you've got to accept that responsibility but still move on. You have no one else to blame. You got to look at the 16 players in the dressing room and say that we were just not good enough. We were outplayed by India who were a better team in this Test match.

"It was a good toss to win for Dhoni the first day the wicket was going to be the flattest and it got slower and slower as the game progressed. If we probably had kept India down to about 450 in the first innings it would have been a chance for us to come back, but 600 runs on we were always chasing. Bad batting in our first innings put us into trouble."

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Blistering de Villiers flays England

South Africa 354 for 6 (de Viliiers 121, Amla 86, Smith 54, Petersen 51) v England

AB de Villiers went a long way towards correcting his poor one-day record against England with a blistering 85-ball 121 as South Africa marched to a massive 354 for 6 at Newlands, their highest total against the tourists and equal-highest at the venue. In a wonderful display of clean and controlled striking de Villiers made the most of his recent promotion to No. 3, building on the 107-run opening provided by Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla.

At no stage did de Villiers take his foot off the gas, but his innings really exploded into life when South Africa took their batting Powerplay in the 43rd over. He greeted Stuart Broad with an audacious ramp-turned-scoop over the keeper's head then swept him fiercely through midwicket in an over that cost 15. His breathtaking hundred - the fourth of his career - came in the next over off 75 balls with another boundary pummelled through midwicket and erased an anomaly in his career where his previous best against England was 42.

de Villiers' effort was as pure as you could wish to see. When he invented he did so with the basis of a superb technique that meant he was always in the ideal position. When past his hundred he shimmied around his crease against Broad, but was still in the perfect position to flay him through the covers, then went down on one knee to sweep him over fine leg. When he finally skied to cover, a number of England players acknowledged the innings as he left the field.

History shows that chasing under lights on this ground is notoriously difficult, so arguably the most important part of the day was when Smith won the toss and South Africa didn't miss out. From early on it felt a given that they would reach a huge total, but de Villiers' onslaught - in which 57 came from the batting Powerplay - pushed the eventual mark from difficult to daunting.

On a picture-perfect day with a clear blue sky it soon became obvious there was little on offer for the pace bowlers. Broad, in his first serious bowl since the opening match of the tour, during which he landed awkwardly on his shoulder, bowled on both sides of the wicket and often too short. Amla pounced on the early gifts to kick-start his innings, although he did have one uncomfortable moment when a short ball from Broad struck his elbow and left him needing a couple of minutes of treatment.

Having assessed the conditions, and the lack of help for the quicks, Andrew Strauss opted not to use the bowling Powerplay straight away and introduced Graeme Swann alongside Paul Collingwood to take pace off the ball. The plan worked well as overs 11 to 15 didn't produce a boundary with Swann landing the ball well after his lay-off. Smith broke the shackles with a straight drive off Collingwood and brought up a run-a-ball fifty in the next over.

With the scoring-rate under some modicum of control Strauss called the Powerplay after the drinks break in the 18th over. Wright replaced Swann and provided the breakthrough when Smith gave himself room to carve through the off side but only succeeded in dragging into his stumps. The South African captain was furious, well aware a huge score was in the offing, but he had at least set a solid platform for his team.

Amla wouldn't be playing if Jacques Kallis hadn't been ruled out with his rib fracture but he continued to make full use of his opportunities in the top order. His 59-ball half-century followed the 57 he made at Centurion and he upped his tempo with consecutive boundaries to fine leg off Wright.

de Villiers backed up the opening stand with a positive start as he took advantage of the fielding restrictions with a flick over midwicket and two rasping cut shots. Anderson was recalled to the attack but his first over back went for 12 as South Africa once again began moving through the gears. Amla was content to play the anchor role as de Villiers rushed to a 39-ball half century and had a hundred for the taking when he bottom-edged a pull to Matt Prior.

Momentarily England held the run-rate in check when Wright had JP Duminy taken at deep square-leg, but South Africa were just biding their time. De Villiers and Alviro Petersen consolidated for a few overs until the mayhem started. The fourth-wicket stand was 95 in 10 overs then Mark Boucher ensured the innings ended with a flourish as the final 10 overs brought 109 runs.

Extraordinarily, given the total, Boucher launched the first six of the innings in the 48th over with a straight drive off Wright. Petersen reached an almost-ignored fifty from 39 balls - matching de Villiers' rate - during the final over as South Africa moved past 350. South Africa have won 24 out of 27 ODIs on this ground and it will take a monumental chase to prevent them adding to that record.

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India record their 100th Test win

India secured a crushing innings and 144-run victory over Sri Lanka with four sessions to spare in the second Test at Kanpur to take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

India secured a crushing innings and 144-run victory over Sri Lanka with four sessions to spare in the second Test at Kanpur to take a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
Following on, Sri Lanka, who were bowled out for 229 in their first innings in reply to India's total of 642, were skittled for 269, handing the home side their biggest triumph over Sri Lanka.

India's previous best margin of victory was by an innings and 119 runs, achieved in 1994.

Thilan Samaraweera fought bravely but India's spinners achieved the victory in the afternoon session to leave the middle-order batsman stranded on 78.

Sri Lanka, who resumed on 57 for four - still 356 behind India's total, began in careless fashion in the morning, although runs came quite easily right through the first session.

India started with pace and Zaheer Khan struck in his first over - the second of the day - by removing Angelo Mathews for 15.

A belligerent Mathews had smashed Zaheer for three consecutive boundaries off the first three deliveries of the over but perished while attempting a fourth off the next delivery.

Mathews attempted to pull a short delivery but only managed a top edge which Rahul Dravid smartly grasped at gully.

Samaraweera had stuck to a more diligent and patient approach and one more befitting a player attempting to save a Test.

He showed there were runs to be had as well, as he drove crisply, showed excellent shot selection and used his feet nicely against the spinners.

He eventually found an able ally in Prasanna Jayawardene, the wicketkeeper-batsman looking good until he was undone by a classic off-break delivery from Harbhajan Singh.
Jayawardene attempted to drive, but the ball spun past the inside edge of the bat, sped through the gap between bat and pad and crashed into the stumps.

Sri Lanka's tail then fell away as Rangana Herath was trapped in front by Harbhajan - his second victim of the day - and Muttiah Muralitharan, who hit 29 off just 11 deliveries, was bowled by Pragyan Ojha.

Samaraweera, who reached his half-century with a cut through point off Ojha, then forged another partnership with Ajantha Mendis, the eighth wicket duo batting steadfastly for much of the afternoon session.

The pair put on 73 together when Yuvraj Singh bowled Mendis with his left-arm spin, the ball going straight on as the batsman attempted to defend off the front foot.
Ojha then caught and bowled last man Chanaka Welegedara, the wicket sparking wild celebrations.

Harbhajan finished with three for 98, while Ojha claimed two for 36.

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Katich shines as Australia, WI kick off series

Brisbane: Riding on half centuries by opener Simon Katich (92), skipper Ricky Ponting (55) and in-form batsman Mike Hussey (66), Australia finished the first day of the first Test match against the West Indies on 322 for five off 90 overs here on Tuesday.

After losing their make shift opener Shane Watson in the third over without scoring to Jerome Taylor, the hosts recovered through the second wicket partnership of 126 runs by Katich and Ponting.

Earlier the hosts won the toss and elected to bat first against a full fledged West Indies team led by Chris Gayle.

Katich, who looked all set for a century, also added another 74 runs for the third wicket with Hussey before being caught by wicketkeeper D Ramdin off D Bravo for 92 which came off 134 balls with 13 hits to the boundary and six.

Hussey then addeed another 53 runs for the fourth wicket with vice-captain Michael Clarke before being caught and bowled by S J Benn while Clarke became Bravo's second victim after making 41 runs.

At stumps Marcos North (42) and Brad Haddin (9) were holding the fort.

For the visitors Bravo took two for 66 while Taylor and Benn had a wicket each while A Barath and Ravi Rampaul made their Test debut for the West Indies.

Teams:

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus.

West Indies: Chris Gayle (capt), Adrian Barath, Travis Dowlin, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Brendan Nash, Denesh Ramdin, Jerome Taylor, Suliemann Benn, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach.

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Comeback kid Sreesanth beats Kapil

Kanpur: Following are the statistical highlights of the third day of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka:

S Sreesanth (5-75), after being out of the Indian side for more than 18 months, took a five-for in his comeback Test. Only two other pacers have taken a five-for in their comeback Tests for India after being out for a year or more- Madan Lal and Manoj Prabhakar.

Sreesanth’s figures are the best by an Indian pacer against Sri Lanka at home, beating Kapil Dev’s 5 for 110 in the very first Test between the two sides at Madras in 1982-83. Incidentally these two are the only pacers to take a five-for against Sri Lanka in India.

Sreesanth’s figures are the second best by an Indian pacer against Sri Lanka – at home or away – after Venkatesh Prasad’s 5 for 72 at Kandy in 2001-02.

This was the second five-wicket haul for Sreesanth in Test cricket, after 5-40 against South Africa at Johannesburg in 2006-07.

Sreesanth also became first pacer and only the fifth Indian bowler to capture a five-wicket haul on his first appearance against Sri Lanka, after Venkatapathy Raju (6-12 at Chandigarh in 1990-91), Shivlal Yadav (5-76 at Nagpur in 1986-87), Dilip Doshi (5-85 at Madras in 1982-83) and Anil Kumble (5-87 at Colombo SSC in 1993-94). Incidentally the previous best figures for an Indian pacer on his first appearance against Sri Lanka was 4-78 by Debabis Mohanty at Colombo SSC in 1997-98.

When MS Dhoni asked his counterpart to bat again, it provided the 27th occasion of India enforcing the follow-on on the opponents. Of them 19 have been at home soil, with India winning 12 and drawing 6 before today.

This was the fifth instance for India to enforce the follow-on on Sri Lanka- all at home soil. The details: at Cuttack in 1986-87, at Chandigarh in 1990-91, at Lucknow and Bangalore in 1993-94 and in this Test. India won on all previous four occasions.

This was the first time MS Dhoni enforced the follow-on in a Test. Dhoni was entitled to enforce the follow-on on Australia at Mohali in October 2008, but decided against it.

India gained a first-innings lead over Sri Lanka- their second biggest in all Tests after 492-run first innings lead against Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2007.

Three Sri Lankan batsmen - Paranavitana, Sangakkara and Jayawardene - suffered the ignominy of getting dismissed twice in a day. Paranavitana made 38 in the first innings and 20 in the second; Sangakkara managed 44 and 11; while Jayawardene made 47 and 10. This provided only the seventh instance of three opposition batsmen getting out twice on the same day against India. This was the third such instance against India in India.

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NOTTS SWOOP FOR NANNES

Nottinghamshire have completed the capture of the Netherlands-born Australian pace bowler Dirk Nannes for next year's Twenty20 campaign.

The 33-year-old has a wealth of experience having starred for Delhi Daredevils, Middlesex and Victoria in the past.

Notts' director of cricket Mick Newell is delighted with the county's latest acquisition, saying: "I regard Dirk as the most effective Twenty20 bowler in the world.

"He will be a great addition to our attack given his wealth of experience.

"The likes of Ali Brown, David Hussey, Samit Patel, Alex Hales and Chris Read will give provide good depth to our Twenty20 batting line-up so bolstering the bowling unit was always going to be the priority when we were considering our recruitment plans.

"Dirk has got good pace, he can bowl left-arm around the wicket and he bowls a good yorker, which will come into play at the end of the innings.

"His achievements in the IPL underline his pedigree and we're signing him at the peak of his powers."

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ANDERSON HAPPY TO BE TARGETED

Leading England paceman James Anderson has brushed off suggestions that South Africa's batsmen are trying to wind him up ahead of the third ODI on Friday.

The 27-year-old is remaining cool in the knowledge that the Proteas want to add pressure on him as he is the most experienced of England's frontline attack.

However, he has admitted he will take it all with a pinch of salt.

Speaking to reporters, he said: "I like the fact that they're saying they feel the need to get under my skin to affect me.

"Being the leader of the attack, they may want to target me a bit more.

"Maybe they think if they can get to me they can get to the rest of the bowlers. I don't think it will happen."

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Broad relishing England return

Stuart Broad is impatient to make up for lost time as he targets a winning return from injury for England against South Africa.

The fast bowler injured his shoulder fielding in the first match of England’s tour at Bloemfontein almost three weeks ago - and has since had to sit out two Twenty20s and a one-day international.

A drawn Twenty20 series was followed in his absence by England going 1-0 up with three to play in the ODIs, starting at Newlands on Friday.

For Broad, man of the match in England’s Ashes-clinching victory at the Brit Oval three months ago, it has been an aggravating false start to the winter.

But he was relieved to discover his shoulder problem was not long term.

“I’ve been bowling for three or four days now, feel fully fit - and I’m excited about potentially taking some wickets again.”

Right up there on Broad’s wish-list is to renew his pace-bowling partnership with James Anderson.

“We’ve missed a bit of cricket since the Ashes together,” he said.

“He’s been rested, and I’ve been rested on occasions. I’m looking forward to getting back in the middle with him. He’s been bowling well, as has the whole unit.”

One man who may yet have to wait a few more days to return to the team, however, is off-spinner Graeme Swann - who took part, along with Broad, in the middle practice but is not yet certain to be fit in time for the third ODI.

“I’m not sure about Swanny’s fitness. He’s having a bowl, testing it out,” Broad reported.

“We’d like him to be fit for the game. But we’ve got to make sure he’s right before we risk him.”

Without Swann and Broad, England kickstarted their campaign with an impressive seven-wicket win at Centurion last weekend - after a washout at The Wanderers - and Broad has seen much from emerging stars like Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan to be confident of further success.

Asked about the contributions made by some of the least experienced members of the touring party, Broad added: “I think that’s crucial with any sports team, and Eoin Morgan has really shone on this tour so far - and let’s hope that can continue for these last three games.

“Then there is Jonathan Trott. You sometimes forget how little international cricket he’s played, with the way he’s performed - a hundred on Ashes debut, and he’s been batting fantastically in these Twenty20s and one-dayers as well.

“It’s about players taking responsibility really. It’s important you don’t rely on certain individuals to make the runs and take the wickets. That’s why we’re in a good place as a team - because everyone is ’putting in’ on different days.

“We had some strong performances in the Champions Trophy when we came out here. We were disappointed to lose in the semi-final, because we’d played some good cricket till then.”

Standing in England’s way, among others, is South Africa’s batting all-rounder JP Duminy - and he made it no secret that he sees Broad as someone the hosts can try to target.

South Africa are chastened by their unexpectedly heavy defeat, and Duminy admitted: “I guess it was a bit of a shock. Leading up to the weekend, we didn’t expect to get such a beating."

He is confident of a telling response, though - and, on Broad, added: “With him not playing over the last couple of weeks, he will probably be a little low on confidence.

“It is definitely a tactic to think about, to go out to attack him.”

Broad, however, said: “I see that as a positive. They’re coming harder at you, and it gives you a better chance of finding the edge or taking wickets.

“You might have to accept you go for a few more runs. But if you’re bowling them out, you’re happy.”

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AFP client advisory - Australia cricket

SYDNEY — We regret to inform subscribers that AFP is unable to provide coverage of the 2009-10 Australian cricket season, including the Test series against the West Indies starting on Thursday, because we have not been able to reach agreement with Cricket Australia (CA) on acceptable terms of accreditation.

CA has declined to amend certain terms that international news agencies believe impose unreasonable restrictions on news reporting and distribution. This refusal comes despite an Australian Senate Inquiry's warning in May that there are real concerns, which affect matters of public interest and media freedom, arising from recent innovations in accreditation practices by some sports.

AFP hopes Cricket Australia will review its decision and remains ready to resume discussions with CA at any time. AFP is disappointed not to be able to cover Australian cricket for the second year running, but we cannot sacrifice editorial integrity and principles of press freedom. We will keep clients advised of developments.

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Cricket advertising goes back to the future

CRICKET'S unofficial anthem has been resurrected, with summer soon to ring to the strains of ''C'mon Aussie, C'mon'' once again.

Advertising agency Leo Burnett Melbourne has launched this season's campaign for Cricket Australia, featuring a version of C'mon Aussie in an advertisement telling the story of three cricket fans doing everything possible to get to the cricket this summer.

The advertisement takes its inspiration from the original song written by Allan Johnson and Alan Morris in the 1970s.

The advertisement will screen in Melbourne from December 13. Leo Burnett Melbourne's executive creative director, Jason Williams, said: ''This song is a part of the fabric of summer.''

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Sreesanth puts India in control

An excellent bowling performance from Shanthakumaran Sreesanth on day three put India in sight of a comprehensive victory in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Kanpur.

Sreesanth, playing his first Test since April last year, claimed five first innings wickets as Sri Lanka were skittled for a meagre 229 in response to India's first innings total of 642.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni then chose to enforce the follow-on and Sreesanth again provided the breakthrough by dismissing the dangerous Tillakaratne Dilshan (11) as India tightened the noose.

The home side then picked up the wickets of Tharanga Paranavitana, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene cheaply as Sri Lanka ended the third day on 57 for four, still 356 behind India's first innings score.

Virender Sehwag, bowling his off-spinners for the first time in this match in the final session, sent back Paranavitana, while Mahela Jayawardene was run out, responding to a poor call from Sangakkara.

Sangakkara was then bowled by Harbhajan Singh via an inside edge as Sri Lanka collapsed to 54 for four.

Angelo Mathews (two not out) and Thilan Samaraweera (one not out) were at the crease when stumps were drawn.

The toast of the day, however, was Sreesanth as he made a triumphant return to international cricket.

The temperamental fast bowler was playing his first match since the Test against South Africa at this very venue, the 18-month interval spent recovering from injury.
The 26-year-old had produced the first breakthrough in the morning by snaring Paranavitana, the opener adding only eight to his overnight score of 30.

Paranavitana, troubled by Sreesanth from the start, edged an out-swinger and Dhoni threw himself to his left to hold a good catch in front of first slip.
Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan had looked off-colour all day and was warned in the morning for running on the pitch.

The left-arm seamer's lack of form played nicely into Sreesanth's hands as he bowled unchanged in an extended spell of nine overs, responding brilliantly to the heavy workload.

He bowled Sangakkara (44) via an inside edge as the batsman got down on one knee to drive and removed Samaraweera in similar fashion.

Minutes before the lunch interval, Harbhajan had caused further damage by bowling Mathews with one the turned just enough to beat the bat and clip the bails.

Sri Lanka had slipped to 138 for five at the lunch interval, but Mahela Jayawardene (47) and Prasanna Jayawardene (39) came together to offer a semblance of resistance.
The former captain, however, was fortunate to have stayed that long as Sreesanth had found the edge on the first delivery he faced, the ball safely falling between Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar at first slip, the two fielders helplessly watching each other.
Rahul Dravid then grassed another catch at first slip when the batsman was on 25, this time Harbhajan the unfortunate bowler.

The two Jayawardenes held firm in the first hour after lunch and in the process added 60 for the sixth wicket - Sri Lanka's only substantial stand after the 82 between the second wicket pair.

But Sreesanth returned to sever that stand, snaring Prasanna Jayawardene in the second over of his afternoon spell.

Sreesanth had fired the delivery well wide of the off stump and the wicketkeeper batsman slashed at it, only to feather a top edge to Dhoni.

Debutant left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who had kept a tight leash on Sri Lanka in the morning, was then rewarded with his first Test victim - Mahela Jayawardene.
The former captain had played patiently until he decided to come down the track to hit Ojha over the top, only to pick out Tendulkar at mid-on.

Sri Lanka's innings then unravelled quickly, with Sreesanth pegging back Rangana Herath's off stump for his fifth wicket - only his second five-wicket haul in Tests.
Ojha trapped Muttiah Muralitharan in front to finish with two for 37 from 23 overs, while Harbhajan claimed the last wicket of Chanaka Welegedara to also finish with two wickets from the first innings.

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Mum was to blame: Mitchell Johnson

MITCHELL Johnson says he was living in denial during the Ashes series and admits his public split with his mother undermined his tour of England.

Johnson has revealed the emotional toll caused by his mum Vikki Harber's claim that the fast bowler was "stolen" from her by his fiancee Jessica Bratich.

The left-arm quick battled an Ashes form slump - he struggled to hit the pitch during the second Test at Lord's - but at the time insisted personal problems were not to blame.

Now Johnson admits he was fooling himself, but insists he has emerged a mentally tougher person.

"I guess it (poor form) started off with the personal side of things. That really probably did get to me," he said yesterday.

"I was probably denying it as well at the time.

"The personal things that came out, it was mostly through Lord's where I felt that pressure.

"Copping it from the crowd probably didn't help.

"Mentally, I have learnt to be a lot stronger. I've just got to concentrate on what I'm doing out in the middle.

"This is what I have to do for a living and I've just got to leave everything behind me when I'm out there."

"My problems got technical as well because I was thinking about it but in the end it was just more of a mental thing." Johnson said.

"I just had to concentrate on where I wanted to bowl the ball and how I wanted to get those guys out and I just wasn't doing that.

"Hopefully I have passed all that and I can mentally be stronger.

"I block things out pretty well normally but I think it was just the Ashes, the whole hype of it, and the personal things that came out."

Former Australian captain Kim Hughes said Johnson was performing no better than a club bowler and had hit "rock bottom with his confidence" after his mother's outburst.

After being stripped of the new ball in England, Johnson is set to open the bowling with Ben Hilfenhaus in Thursday's first Test against the West Indies in Brisbane.

Captain Ricky Ponting believes Johnson bowls better with the new Kookaburra ball used in Australia than the Duke ball of England.

Johnson said the faith shown in him by Ponting had helped turned his form around.

"I definitely thought I wasn't going to play the Edgbaston (third) Test," he said.

"I'm glad I got that opportunity again. You just can't take anything for granted.

"Who knows where I could have been now? I could be back playing state cricket."

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Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting is confident that Michael Hussey has turned the corner

A PRIVATE meeting with Mike Hussey has convinced Test skipper Ricky Ponting that the veteran has turned the corner and will rebuild his career this summer.

Ponting took Hussey aside yesterday to gauge how he was feeling about his form and speculation over his Test spot.

The chat ended with Ponting feeling certain that the 34-year-old was back on track and feeling more relaxed.

"I sat down with him (Hussey) yesterday and had a good chat out in the nets about how he was feeling about things and how he was going," Ponting said.

"He is really relaxed, he is really confident in his game at the moment.

"He feels that the amount of time he has spent in the middle of late in one-day cricket, and the amount of runs he has scored in one-day cricket, should hold him in good stead for the summer.

"We know Test cricket and one-day cricket are a totally different kettle of fish but if you look at the way he has gone about it, he has worked exceptionally hard.

"I have kept a pretty close eye on him over the last couple of days and what I've seen is he has hit most balls in the middle of the bat so hopefully there's some big scores around the corner for him."

Hussey, 34, has endured a lean 12 months at Test level with 28 innings without a Test century until his career-saving 121 in the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval. The veteran then resuscitated his career in India after chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch had said he had "big decisions" to make about Hussey's futureresuscitated his career in India.

Hussey scored a series-high 313 runs at 104 during the seven one-day match series to convince selectors that he was worth retaining this summer.

Ponting said Hussey's form resurgence was born during the Ashes, despite his on-field struggles.

"I think even by his own admissions he has struggled a bit and been less consistent in the last 12 months than he had been for all of his career," Ponting said.

"I think there were glimpses of some really good stuff through the Ashes, although it wasn't until the last innings of the series he made a century.

"His hundred at The Oval was as well as he has played in a long time.

"Any deficiency he has had he has always tried to rectify and change pretty quickly."

To his teammates, Hussey might now appear more relaxed and at ease with himself and his place in the side.

But behind the scenes "Mr Cricket" has spent countless hours in the nets working on his technique and finding fresh strategies.

"He has worked his way out of it with some hard work and some determination to score as many runs as he can," Ponting said.

"We've all been there as batsmen when you are struggling.

"You are trying everything in your power to get out in the middle and score some runs.

"The game sometimes can just grab hold of you like that and you feel like you can't ever get out of it.

"It's good to see that runs have started to come for him."

Ponting was also quick to deny speculation that Hussey could be moved up to open with Simon Katich, with allrounder Shane Watson shuffled down the order.

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Emirates Airlines to sponsor Arabian Cricket Challenge

Extending its association with cricket, Emirates Airline, the official partner of International Cricket Council (ICC) and the title sponsor of Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab, will now sponsor the Arabian Cricket Challenge, a Twenty20 format cricket tournament held in Dubai.

As part of its association, Emirates will fly some of the team members of Kings XI Punjab, the team co-owned by Bollywood actress Preity Zinta, to Dubai for participating in the tournament.

To signal the change in format after two years as a 50-over tournament, the event has been renamed Emirates Airline Twenty20 and will also have a new home — The Sevens — Emirates’ dedicated sporting facility, which is set to unveil cricket pitches and a pavilion in the New Year.

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No cheer girls during Cuttack ODI

The Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) decided not to go ahead with its earlier plan of cheer girls concept in the forthcoming match.
"Looking at the unnecessary controversy over the issue, we have decided to stall the plan," said OCA secretary Asirbad Behera after a preparatory meeting held here under the chairmanship of state Sports minister Prabin Kumar Bhanjdeo.

OCA had earlier decided to engage cheer girls with traditional attire like Sambalpuri sarees and display various movements of local folk dances during drink intervals and lunch breaks, fall of wickets or when the ball is hit for a four or six in the match.

But a local outfit had threatened to disrupt the match if cheer girls were roped in for the match. The outfit had claimed that the OCA was trying to erode the rich cultural tradition of the state by engaging the girls to perform during a cricket match.

The Sports minister today inaugurated the OCA Corporate Box in the stadium which would have 1050 seats for the spectators to watch the match inside cool comforts under AC with food, soft drinks and beverages. The price of a single seat inside this box is pegged at Rs 8000, sources said.

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"Only Sri Lanka can lose from here"

With a staggering 576 runs in the arrear, there is only one team which can lose the second Test and it's Sri Lanka, Gautam Gambhir said.
Resuming on 417 for two, India lost their last six wickets for 29 runs to settle for a 642-run first innings total and Gambhir said it was enough to put the Lankan under the kosh.

"I'm absolutely satisfied with the score," said the in-form left-hander who hit a sublime 167 and starred in a blistering 233-run opening stand with Virender Sehwag yesterday.

"Batting second, 650 would be a difficult score to chase.

The way wicket has started behaving, stroke-making would be difficult for the Sri Lankans if we stick to our plan. From here, only one team can lose the match and it is Sri Lanka, if we bowl well," said Gambhir.

"We have seen the last session and I think if we can bowl well, there can would be a result. When we first saw the wicket, we knew something would happen even though we didn't know what. The wicket will further deteriorate and if we can bowl in the areas we should, we are the favourites in this match," he explained.
Gambhir took heart from Rangana Herath's five-for and said it augured well for the Indian spinners too.

"That is good news for us. The wicket will get only tougher and shot-making would be difficult. To chase 650 you have to first score those 450 runs to avoid the follow-on and 450 is a lot of runs on this track," added Gambhir.

The opener felt Mahendra Singh Dhoni won an important toss, for it would have been hazardous to bat in the fourth innings against a Sri Lankan team which had three spinners -- Herath, Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis -- in their ranks.

"It was a good toss to win. We could bat the first two days on a flat track when the pitch had virtually nothing for the bowlers. And now it is showing signs of turns and would deteriorate further.

"They have three spinners and it is good that we would not be batting in the fourth innings," he said.

Gambhir hit his fourth Test century in as many Tests, prompting Virender Sehwag to call him the best opener India had after Sunil Gavaskar.

Asked about the secret of his golden run over the last 18 months, Gambhir said, "I have not changed my approach. I think it's because I feel more secure now. I have been having this feeling since winning the (2007) Twenty20 World Cup and the confidence I got from my captain, coach and my teammates," he said.

Downplaying Sehwag's praise, Gambhir said, "Coming from him, it means more and is a great feeling. Had it come from anybody else, I would not have taken it seriously. These statements don't matter, what matters is doing well and giving 100 percent."

Looking at the placid tracks, Gambhir said he felt bad for the bowlers and said cricket needed pitch which offered an even battle between bat and ball.

"We have seen in Ahmedabad that it was a tough job both for the spinners and the pacers. Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) and Amit (Mishra) did their best and my heart goes for them.

"Even Murali, the world's greatest spinner, went wicket-less for a day. I think we should have wickets which offer even contest between bat and ball," he added.

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