INDIA VS SRILANKA 2nd ODI:INDIA WON A THRILLING ENCOUNTER

INDIAN BATTING HIGHLIGHTS PART 1 

INDIAN BATTING HIGHLIGHTS PART 2

Yuvraj Singh struck a mature half-century to guide India to a competitive 256-9 against Sri Lanka in the second one-dayer here on Saturday.Yuvraj top-scored with 66 off 88 balls and stitched together a 85-run fourth wicket partnership with Suresh Raina (29) to stabilise the Indian innings after the first three wickets fell within 13 overs.Virender Sehwag (42) was his usual aggressuve self at the top of the order but the Indians were hit hard by some dubious umpiring decisions, Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh being at the receiving end.Spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan Murali, who needs two wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in the ODIs, returned empty-handed and Ajantha Mendis managed only two tail-enders.Both Yuvraj and Sachin Tendulkar (six) were ruled leg before wicket though the television replays showed that they were distinctly unlucky.Yuvraj was ruled leg before wicket when he got on the back foot to work a Nuwan Kalusekara delivery towards square leg. The umpire failed to spot a big inside edge onto Yuvraj's pads and, though he took some time, ended up raising his finger to leave everyone surprised and Yuvraj distraught.Yuvraj smashed seven hits to the fence and a towering six during his stint in the middle.

The visitors suffered a big jolt early in the innings when Sachin Tendulkar got a dubious leg before decision, the second time in succession.Tendulkar was sent back to pavilion as early as in the third over when he was trapped leg before wicket by Kalusekara. Tendulkar tried to play the ball towards square leg, but replays suggested the ball might have missed leg.Thereafter, Sehwag and Gambhir went on rampage but were both removed before the 10th over.Gambhir got off to a cracking start as Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene also took out one of the slips but the Delhi batsman's stint was cut short by Ferveez Maharoof. Maharoof tricked Gambhir by angling the delivery acrossthe stumps which the Indian tried to send towards third man and outside edged the ball which landed in the hands of wicketkeeper Kumara Sangakkara. Gambhir made 27 runs in 28 balls and hit four boundaries.Sehwag followed his Delhi team mate as he tried to score a third run off a Thilan Thushara delivery in the 13th over. Sehwag hit a superb shot towards long-on. Murali chased the ball from mid-on and relayed it to Sanath Jayasuriya whose accurate throw to the non-striker's end got the host rid of Sehwag.Yuvraj and Raina batted cautiously at start of their stints and steadied the innings. Yuvraj played Mendis' carrom ball with ease and hit quite a few bounaries besides a six over long-off while Raina also looked at his best before falling prey to Thilakratne Dilshan.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni guarded one end for almost 15 overs and scored just 23 runs before being caught by Sangakkara off Maharoof.So far an ineffective Mendis made his presence felt by scalping Zaheer Khan (17) and Prveen Kumar (15) on the last two balls of the innings.

LATEST ICC NEWS AS ON 31st JAN 2009

Jeff Crowe referees his 100th ODI:

No stranger to compiling centuries during his playing career for Auckland and New Zealand, Jeff Crowe of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees has reached that landmark again.Today, as Kenya hosts Zimbabwe at Nairobi Gymkhana for the third match in a five-game series, Crowe notched up 100 One-Day Internationals as an ICC match referee. To mark the occasion, ICC’s High Performance Manager Richard Done made a presentation to the New Zealander before the game on behalf of the ICC.“I would like to congratulate Jeff on his achievement,” said ICC Umpires’ and Referees’ Manager Vince van der Bijl.......

ICC President David Morgan pays tribute to Bill Frindall

“Cricket owes Bill a huge debt as his tireless work has helped create a context for the game we know today” ICC President David Morgan today paid tribute to cricket statistician, scorer and author Bill Frindall, who passed away on Thursday, aged 69. “The news of Bill’s passing has shocked me and my thoughts and those of everyone at the ICC go out to his wife Debbie, other members of his family and friends........

Results of first day of ICC Board meeting in Perth

Zimbabwe, FTP post-2012 and Indian Cricket League among the agenda items covered 

The ICC Board on Saturday held the first day of its two-day meeting in Perth, the first of the four scheduled meetings it holds each year.

Among the matters discussed were the following: 

Zimbabwe 

A task team, headed by Dr Julian Hunte, the President of the West Indies Cricket Board, presented an interim report to the ICC Board. This followed a visit to Zimbabwe by Dr Hunte and ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat in November last year........

ICC RANKING:MS DHONI AGAIN RECLAIMS TOP SPOT

India captain moves ahead of Chris Gayle following first ODI against Sri Lanka .South Africa’s AB de Villiers rejoins the top 10 batsmen rankings; Johan Botha breaks into top 20 bowlers after impressive series Down Under India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has reclaimed the top rank in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen from the West Indies Chris Gayle.Dhoni’s 61 not out against Sri Lanka in his side’s first ODI of a five-match series has enabled the 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman to regain his place at the head of the table. There will be ample opportunity for Dhoni to put daylight between him and the chasing pack as the rest of the series unfolds in Colombo.Further down the batting table there have been a few noticeable movements, including South Africa’s AB de Villiers who has shot up 10 places to rejoin the top 10 for the first time since August 2008. De Villiers made a strong impression with the bat during South Africa’s 4-1 series win over Australia appearing in four of the five ODIs and averaging 63.66 for the series.It wasn’t all bad news for Australia as Michael Hussey has climbed two places to return to the top five in the batsmen’s rankings. Hussey scored 78 in the fifth and final ODI in Perth as his side went down by 39 runs.Meanwhile, South Africa’s Jacques Kallis has slipped two places to 14th while Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara has risen one place to joint-16th with Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik and Salman Butt.India’s Gautam Gambhir has climbed four places to claim the number 20 spot in the rankings. It is the first time the 27-year-old has been in the top-20 since August 2008 when he reached 19th place during a previous tour to Sri Lanka.

South Africa’s Jean-Paul Duminy and Hashim Amla have also made inroads on the table. Duminy who has had an exceptional series with the bat, in both Tests and ODIs, has climbed eight places to take 29th position while his team-mate Amla has risen a substantial 34 places after an impressive performance in Australia. Amla’s 97 in Perth and series average of 49.75 has pushed the 25-year-old right-handed batsman up to 37th place.

Zimbabwe’s Elton Chigumbura has also climbed the batsman rankings, some 11 places to go joint 47th with Bangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful.The Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers has seen no change in the top five with the table still headed by New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori followed by Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Kulasekara. However, further down the top 20 there has been plenty of movement, most noticeably from South Africa’s Johan Botha.The 26-year-old off-spinner has shot up 13 places in the rankings to take 13th place, the highest of his career so far. Botha, who captained the Proteas to victory over Australia, took a total of eight wickets in the five matches at an average of 23.50 and an impressive economy-rate of exactly four runs per over.India’s Zaheer Khan has climbed two places in the rankings to go joint-ninth, level with England’s Andrew Flintoff.Australia’s Mitchell Johnson has slipped out of the top 10 for the first time since July 2008. The 27-year-old fast bowler has dropped seven places to go 14th, one place below Botha.Outside of the top 20, South Africa’s Dale Steyn is steadily climbing the table, gaining 10 places to take 35th spot after his four-match appearance in Australia. Five places below Steyn, in 40th, is Zimbabwe’s Ray Price. Price has also climbed 10 positions in the table after making a good start for Zimbabwe in their five-match series in Kenya.There has been no change in the top-ranked player in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI all-rounders, with Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan still top of the table. However, Kallis has dropped out of the top five and has been replaced by Gayle.

NEWZELAND VS AUSTRALIA 1st ODI:PONTING WANTS TO BE POSITIVE AGAINST KIWIS

Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting and other senior players will seek to boost the confidence of the younger players following Australia's 4-1 One-Day series loss to South Africa.Ponting said it is important that the team starts afresh for their five-game series against New Zealand, which begins in Perth on Sunday.I think it's a mindset thing at the moment. Confidence in the group is down a little bit on our last couple of performances.It's important we start off this series against New Zealand on a positive note,” Ponting said.With the younger guys in and around the group and coming in for their first series and losing it the way we have, it's important for me as a senior player, and some of the other guys, to really get to them in the next 24 hours and let them know that that series is gone now and we have to look forward to the New Zealand series, he added.Ponting is even looking at going on the front foot against the visitors by unleashing fast bowler Shaun Tait to reopen some old scars.

Tait terrorised the Black Caps in a Twenty20 match at the WACA Ground in 2007, snaring 2-22 in four breathtaking overs as he unnerved the Kiwi's line-up with his sizzling pace.New Zealand are set to recall pacer Tim Southee, who sat out Thursday's loss to the Prime Minister's XI with a groin strain, while captain Daniel Vettori is also contemplating including spinner Jeetan Patel.Jesse Ryder will miss the opener due to a shoulder injury but wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, who blasted a century against the Prime Minister's XI, appears to have overcome a hip injury.Ponting said opener David Warner, who averaged just 22.25 against South Africa in the One-Day series, would play all five games against the Kiwis."It's too early yet to start panicking," Ponting said

INDIA VS SRILANKA 2nd ODI:India on top as Lanka lose three early wickets

 Yuvraj Singh struck a mature half-century to guide India to a competitive 256-9 against Sri Lanka in the second one-dayer here on Saturday.Yuvraj top-scored with 66 off 88 balls and stitched together a 85-run fourth wicket partnership with Suresh Raina (29) to stabilise the Indian innings after the first three wickets fell within 13 overs.Virender Sehwag (42) was his usual aggressuve self at the top of the order but the Indians were hit hard by some dubious umpiring decisions, Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh being at the receiving end.Spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan Murali, who needs two wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in the ODIs, returned empty-handed and Ajantha Mendis managed only two tail-enders.Both Yuvraj and Sachin Tendulkar (six) were ruled leg before wicket though the television replays showed that they were distinctly unlucky.Yuvraj was ruled leg before wicket when he got on the back foot to work a Nuwan Kalusekara delivery towards square leg. The umpire failed to spot a big inside edge onto Yuvraj's pads and, though he took some time, ended up raising his finger to leave everyone surprised and Yuvraj distraught.Yuvraj smashed seven hits to the fence and a towering six during his stint in the middle.

The visitors suffered a big jolt early in the innings when Sachin Tendulkar got a dubious leg before decision, the second time in succession.Tendulkar was sent back to pavilion as early as in the third over when he was trapped leg before wicket by Kalusekara. Tendulkar tried to play the ball towards square leg, but replays suggested the ball might have missed leg.Thereafter, Sehwag and Gambhir went on rampage but were both removed before the 10th over.Gambhir got off to a cracking start as Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene also took out one of the slips but the Delhi batsman's stint was cut short by Ferveez Maharoof. Maharoof tricked Gambhir by angling the delivery acrossthe stumps which the Indian tried to send towards third man and outside edged the ball which landed in the hands of wicketkeeper Kumara Sangakkara. Gambhir made 27 runs in 28 balls and hit four boundaries.Sehwag followed his Delhi team mate as he tried to score a third run off a Thilan Thushara delivery in the 13th over. Sehwag hit a superb shot towards long-on. Murali chased the ball from mid-on and relayed it to Sanath Jayasuriya whose accurate throw to the non-striker's end got the host rid of Sehwag.Yuvraj and Raina batted cautiously at start of their stints and steadied the innings. Yuvraj played Mendis' carrom ball with ease and hit quite a few bounaries besides a six over long-off while Raina also looked at his best before falling prey to Thilakratne Dilshan.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni guarded one end for almost 15 overs and scored just 23 runs before being caught by Sangakkara off Maharoof.So far an ineffective Mendis made his presence felt by scalping Zaheer Khan (17) and Prveen Kumar (15) on the last two balls of the innings.

AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRICA 5th ODI :PROTEAS DEFEATED AUSSIES AND GAIN TOP SPOT

Australia were on Friday dethroned as the number one team in one-dayers by South Africa who demolished the hosts by 39 runs in the fifth and final match to clinch the ODI series with an emphatic 4-1 margin.The ODI series triumph follows South Africa's 2-1 win in the Test series and though Australia remain the number one team in the longer version of the game, the Proteas return home with the new-found tag of being the top team in one dayers.Australia needed 289 runs for a win to remain the number one side but 249 was all they managed before folding in 49 overs with Michael Hussey (78) and Brad Haddin (63) making futile efforts with the bat.Earlier, Hashim Amla (97) and AB de Villiers (60) steadied South Africa with a 118-run stand and then JP Duminy (60 not out off 42 balls) provided the late burst as South Africa posted 288 for six wickets.Australia faltered early in the chase and could not really recover from the early setbacks.The hosts needed a strong start from Shaun Marsh (5) and David Warner (22) but debutant South African Lonwabo Tsotsobe rocked the Australian boat with early double strikes and Ricky Ponting's men could never really recover from that.Tsotsobe removed Marsh in the second over while Warner ran himself out in the 13th. In between, Tsotsobe returned Ponting (12) and then Michael Clarke (0) dragged a Morne Morkel onto the stumps as Australia slumped to 53 for four inside 13 overs.The subsequent 69 runs raised by the Hussey brothers did arrest the slide for a while but Duminy broke the stand by claiming David and Tsotsobe then castled Michael. Haddin did try his best but it was too late by then. For South Africa, Tsotsobe made a memorable debut, scalping four wickets for 50 runs in his nine overs.Earlier, after South Africa decided to bat first, Hashim Amla began with some early fours before guiding a Ben Hilfenhaus delivery over third man for a six.The visitors had their share of early troubles as well. Hilfenhaus removed Herschelle Gibbs (7) and then James Hopes scalped Neil McKenzie (10), promoted to number three in Jacques Kallis' absence, as South Africa stuttered to 58 for two.

Displaying the same maturity that has been the hall mark of his batting, Amla retreated into a shell and resisted every temptation to go after the host bowlers. De Villiers was equally cautious even though he didn't hesitate to impose himself whenever Michael Clarke and David Hussey erred.Hopes finally snapped the stand in the 37th over when de Villiers holed out in square leg boundary and 20 runs later, Amla joined him in the pavilion, having missed the 100-mark just by three runs.Amla tried to guide Hopes through the cordon only to tickle it to Brad Haddin behind the stumps. Amla's 117-ball 97 included six fours and a six, while de Villiers' 71-ball 60 had four boundaries in it.ALbie Morkel (14) and Vaughn van Jaarsveld (5) didn't last long either but with Duminy in scintillating form, South Africa made the most of their batting power play which yielded 53 runs.Duminy simply went ballistic, hitting Mitchell Johnson over mid-on for a six before hoicking Nathan Bracken for two more, the last of which brought up his fifty.Duminy eventually remained not out on 60 and his 42-ball blitzkrieg was studded with three fours and as many sixes. Thanks for his batting pyrotechnics, South Africa milked 92 runs off the last 10 overs to swell their tally.

SYMONDS ,MCCULLUM CONTROVERSY:SYMONDS RELIEVED BEING SPARED SUSPENSION

Embattled all-rounder Andrew Symonds is relieved that he was spared from being suspended and handed a small fine by Cricket Australia for his bizarre radio rant on New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum. Symonds was fined just 4,000 Australian dollars for his "lump of shit" comment on McCullum on a radio interview last Friday, an amount which is less than an ODI fee, after the wayward all-rounder pleaded guilty for his offence onThursday.After a two-hour CA hearing Thursday, retired judge Gordon Lewis found Symonds guilty of breaching CA Code of Behaviour Rule 9 relating to detrimental public comment. Symonds escaped a suspension after CA treated him as a first time offender of breach of Code of Behaviour.In a brief statement, 33-year-old Symonds said he had been spared a heftier penalty because of the comment's intended meaning and because he apologised to McCullum."Whilst the comments were intended to be light-hearted, I acknowledge that they were careless and as such I accept the fine that I have received today," he said.

"I am pleased that the commissioner (Lewis) determined the penalty based on the full 14-minute interview, and not just the one comment that received extensive coverage."I want to again apologise to Brendon McCullum for my comments and thank him for his understanding. I want to reinforce that I remained committed to Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket, and I look forward to putting this matter behind me so that I can focus on my cricket."Symonds will return to first-class cricket on Friday for the first time since a minor knee surgery, after the second Test against South Africa, in a Sheffield Shield match for Queensland against Western Australia at the Gabba.

AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRICA 5th ODI :South Africa make steady progress with Amla fifty

South Africa have won the toss and elected to bat in the fifth and final one-day international against Australia at the WACA here on Friday.


South Africa, who have already taken the series 3-1, need a win in today's game to dislodge Australia from the top of the ICC ODI rankings.


Meanwhile, from Australia's point of view they have everything to play for in this dead rubber. 


A win will not only ensure they hold on to their top spot in the rankings, but also give them invaluable confidence before they host New Zealand for the five-game Chappell-Hadlee Trophy next month.


The team news is that South Africa have decided to rest Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini and will field two debutants - Wayne Parnell and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

IPL AUCTION :REPORTS SAYS PIETERSEN MAY BE OPT FOR 8 CRORE BY ROYAL CHALLENGERS

The second auction of IPL players will be held in Goa on February 6. While most teams already have the core of the squad in place the players available this time can provide them just that extra edge.Some people described the 2008 IPL auction as the most thrilling moment in cricket after the 1983 World Cup win for India at Lord's. The second auction isn't expected to be quite as exciting but promises its own share of thrills.Former England captain Kevin Pietersen will be the big star at the auction. His base price of 1.35 million US dollars or about Rs 8 crore will make him the second most expensive player in the IPL after MS Dhoni.Sources tell CNN-IBN that Pietersen is likely to be snapped up by the Bangalore Royal Challengers who are desperate to overturn their disastrous campaign from last year.The other star attractions will be Andrew Flintoff and Michael Clarke. Both are expected to fetch in the range of 1 million US dollars each. According to sources Flintoff is headed for the Chennai Super Kings while the Rajasthan Royals and the Deccan Chargers will battle it out for Clarke.

South Africa's rising star Jean Paul Duminy is another player who has attracted a lot of interest from the franchises and he too could fetch a substantial price at the auction.While five Pakistan players have been put up for auction including leg spinner Danish Kaneria, there is still no certainty about them being available given the current political climate.A 114 players may be available. But only 10 per cent of these will make the final cut. Under IPL rules each franchise can only have 10 foreign players and most teams have eight or more already signed up. Also teams can only spend 2 million US dollars at this year's auction unlike the 5 million they were allowed last year.

IPL:SYMONDS CHARGE MAY BE FOR THE ENTIRE IPL SEASON

Australian all rounder and cricket's original Twenty20 millionaire, Andrew Symonds, has been fined for abusing Kiwi wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum, and while his long-term future will be decided next week by Cricket Australia, he is contemplating another IPL stint with the Hyderabad-based Deccan Chargers.According to Fox Sports, there is every chance that Symonds will be left at home from the South African tour and he may even have his contract torn up.If he is thrown out of the Australian team, he will at least be in a position to collect more than 1.5 million dollars by competing in the entire 2009 IPL competition that begins in April.Active members of the Australian team will struggle to find more than two weeks in their busy schedule to participate in the six-week tournament and so will have their earnings capacity severely limited.The IPL has released a list of players who would be auctioned off next month for round two and Clarke's name was at the top of the list with a reserve price of a million dollars.Clarke is understood to be in two minds about whether he should participate or concentrate on the crowded Australian cricket calendar. He withdrew from last year''s auction because his father and his fiance's father were both sick at the time.Clarke has also been battling a thumb injury which has not improved as it should and will only discover if he bats today how the damaged ligament is holding up.His manger, Chris White, said the player had a lot to consider but would decide on Thursday after further consultation with IPL officials.

The other Australians and their reserve prices for February''s auction are: Brad Haddin (250,000 dollars); Stuart Clark (250,000 dollars) and Jason Krejza (250,000 dollars).Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff will also be auctioned but it is not known what their reserve is.

INDIA VS SRILANKA 1st ODI:INDIA WON WITH EASE

IND VS SRI 1st ODI HIGHLIGHTS

Gautam Gambhir and Suresh Raina failed to capitalise on their half-centuries as both fell in quick succession as India chased Sri Lanka's 246-7 in the first of the five-match series in Dambulla on Wednesday.Gambhir and Suresh Raina combined for a 113-run second wicket stand, before Gambhir, struggling with cramps jumped down the track off Muralitharan for 62, only to offer a catch to Kandamby. Raina also completed his half-century, but fell soon after, run out for 54.Sachin Tendulkar was adjudged leg before for 5 by former Sri Lankan international Kumar Dharmasena, officiating in his maiden one-day international, as India began their run chase.Milestone man Sanath Jayasuriya (107) rolled back the years and hit his 28th ODI century as Sri Lanka set India a 247-run victory target.Put in to bat, the hosts lost in-form opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (0) in the third ball of the day but Jayasuriya's 114-ball 107 and Kumar Sangakkara's 86-ball 44 helped Sri Lanka post 246 for seven — highest score at the venue — in their allotted 50 overs.Indian bowlers did a good job by restricting the hosts to a moderate total on a sluggish pitch and Ishant Sharma (3-52) turned out the pick of the visitors' attack.

A perennial thorn in India's flesh, Jayasuriya's 28th ODI century was studded with 10 fours and a six off Pragyan Ojha.Jayasuriya also became the second man, after Sachin Tendulkar, to score 13,000 runs in ODIs when he steered Ishant in the 14th over for his 37th run.At 39 years and 212 days, Jayasuriya also became the oldest cricket to score an ODI century. Geoff Boycott held the previous record for scoring 105 against Australia in 1979 when he was 39 years and 51 days old.Earlier, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won an important toss at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium and asked the hosts to take first strike.

Yet to open their account and Sri Lanka suffered their first setback when Jayasuriya responded to Dilshan's call before sending him back when it was too late.And with Zaheer Khan looking virtually unplayable, runs were not easy to come by. Zaheer began with two maidens and in fact the first run came off his 18th delivery, such was his accuracy. The left-arm seamer's incredible five-over spell yielded just eight runs.Jayasuriya decided to go after Munaf Patel and managed boundaries in each of the Indian pacer's first three overs to keep the scoreboard ticking.Apart from Ojha, the lone specialist spinner in the side, Dhoni pressed in service Yusuf Pathan, Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina as well and all of them did a decent containing job.Boundaries not really flowing, Jayasuriya and Sangakkara ran hard between the wickets and there was a 10-over stretch when not a single boundary could be scored off the Indian spinners.Once he reached his fifty, Jayasuriya provided a glimpse of his characteristic savage batting when he stepped out to hit Ojha to the sightscreen for a clean six.

A half-century, however, eluded Sangakkara who came down the track to hit Ojha but didn't get the elevation and found Raina at mid-on. His partnership with Jayasuriya was worth 118 runs.A couple off Rohit brought up Jayasuriya's hundred but the toil had started taking its toll on his stamina and the opener soon developed cramps. A visibly tired Jayasuriya eventually perished in the 40th over when he lobbed a slower full toss from Zaheer to mid-off.Sent ahead of captain Mahela Jayawardene (11), Farveez Maharoof played a 27-ball cameo of 35, including two fours and a six off Ojha, before an inside edge off Ishant disturbed his timber.Virender Sehwag was ruled out of the match with a lower back injury picked up during training.

AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRICA 5th ODI :SA EYE TO BECOME NO 1

Australia saved the top spot in the ICC Test rankings by the skin of their teeth by winning the final match against South Africa of their series in Sydney. This Friday, a similar challenge awaits them in Perth; defeat in the final one-dayer would mean South Africa go to the top of the one-day rankingsThir arms have raised in triumph, in coloured clothes or whites; South Africa have been much the better team over the Australian summer and if they can breast the tape ahead of Australia in Perth, the Proteas will knock the three-time defending World Champions off their heady pedestal"A Test series win and then a one-day series win (in Australia) is what every cricketer can dream of and it's come true for us. We have worked very hard to achieve it." said AB de Villiers, the man of the match of the Adelaide ODI where South Africa sealed the series 3-1.Australia have been surprisingly mediocre so far in the series. Not a single century has been by their batsmen in the the four games. The top order has fired occasionally but the men in the middle have failed to build on those starts.

"We need a bit of experience down the order but the guys who are coming in have played a lot of first class and domestic cricket. We just have to learn from our mistakes," said Australian skipper Ricky PontingSouth Africa have had many heroes to fall back on through this contest. But the unheralded star has been their stand-in captain - Johan Botha. Stepping into the big shoes of Graeme Smith, Botha has led calmly and leads the wicket-takers tally with seven scalps."I am very proud; the guys have supported me. In the process (of the series win), everybody got excited and had a rush. In the ODIs, everything has been brilliant," said Botha.With a series against New Zealand starting immediately after South Africa leave, Australia know victory in Perth will be critical and not just because it will keep them at the top of the rankings tree for now.

SYMONDS ,MCCULLUM CONTROVERSY:SYMONDS LIKELY TO GET AWAY WITH FINE

 Andrew Symonds is likely to escape suspension and only be fined for his radio rant against New Zealand player Brendon McCullum as Cricket Australia will treat him as a first-time offender in the hearing on Thursday."Andrew Symonds has never been reported for a breach of the Code of Behaviour. This will be treated as a stand-alone incident," CA spokesman Peter Young was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.According to the newspaper, Symonds, who called McCullum "a lump of s**t" during an alcohol-fuelled radio interview, would be asked to pay a maximum of 5750 dollars as fine for his indiscretion."Bad boy Andrew Symonds is set to escape suspension for his abusive radio rant as he is amazingly considered a clean-skin under cricket's Code of Conduct," the report said."Incredibly, despite his long history of disciplinary troubles, Symonds will be treated as a first-time offender when he faces a closed hearing in Melbourne on Thursday," it added."That means the troubled cricketer can expect merely a fine (maximum 5750 dollars) rather than a possible suspension for the most serious offenders under the Code of Conduct provisions." Symonds has been involved in various alcohol-related misdemeanours in the past, including turning up drunk for a one-dayer during the 2005 Ashes. Before the radio diatribe against McCullum, Symonds had been sent to rehab in the aftermath of the infamous "gone fishing" affair.But all these matters were dealt with by the team management and a formal process under the Code of Conduct has been initiated for the first time.Code of Conduct commissioner Gordon Lewis will oversee the proceedings in the closed-door hearing tomorrow.

INDIA VS SRILANKA 1st ODI:INDIA BACK TO GAME,TOSS WILL BE CRUCIAL

 There are those who still remember how five months ago, Chennai batsman Subramaniam Badrinath's lower-order batting heroics earned India a series levelling win at Rangiri Stadium in the heart of Sri Lanka's cultural centre.It had come after Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted how he had misread the pitch conditions in the opening game of the 2008 five-match series and had most likely cost his side the opening match. Badrinath made his debut when Gautam Gambhir picked up a neck injury problem. Since then India have moved on, Badrinath is no longer part of the squad and as India gear for the first game of this impromptu stop-gap series at Dambulla, the tourists will feel more settled as a squad. Especially with Virender Sehwag and Gambhir at the top of the order.And as India start rebuilding their squad for CWC11, Dhoni also recalled a few words from the ODI series India played here last August by saying how he expected reverse swing and early spin in the Dambulla conditions.India have come on this tour with five seam and swing bowlers and a couple of spinners. It is felt they will learn from the experience. But Dhoni is as collective and cool under pressure as he is when facing a curious media. While memories of last year's comments are fresh enough, he offered a big smile when the subject of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis surfaced again."I thought I had dealt with that one (in Colombo),' was the polite smile. 'But they are different bowlers. Murali is fast through the air and off the pitch. He can turn on any sort of surface and loves Sri Lankan pitches, 'What else can I say? Even when he bowls fast he gets some purchase out of the surface. If it was any other spinner apart from Murali and Mendis, they wont' have achieved so much turn you can say. Being in a good position, you can exploit what turn there is."Murali is only three wickets away from overtaking Pakistan's Wasim Akram as the highest wicket-taker in ODI history. Last Saturday he collected his 500th in the Lahore game where Pakistan's batting succumbed in disarray after the Sri Lanka new-ball attack of Nuwan Kalusekara and Thilan Thushara Mirando.His eighteen wickets at an economical rate spread over the last eleven games has catapulted him to the unlikely level of second in the current ODI rankings, and head of Murali, surprising many. But as this comes from consistency and his ability to swing the ball around in a controlled manner, he has been preferred to Chaminda Vaas.In the concrete bowl in Lahore against Pakistan, his tight, disciplined accuracy earned him three for seventeen in seven overs and the deceptive delivery that bowled Shahid Afridi for a three ball duck was as embarrassing moment as Afridi will experienced.In Dambulla, the breeze is always strong, and as Dhoni and others will remember, ball will swing throughout the day. He can also expect a fair bit (of movement) in the surface at the start. It is why winning the toss is quite crucial to both sides.

YOUNIS KHAN REPLACES MALIK AS NEW CAPTAIN FOR PAKISTAN

Beleaguered Shoaib Malik was sacked on Tuesday as Pakistan's captain and replaced by senior batsman Younis Khan in the wake of the team's worst-ever one-day defeat to Sri Lanka.But Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ejaz Butt told reporters in Lahore after meetings with Younis Khan, Coach Intikhab Alam and Chief Selector Abdul Qadir that Malik himself decided to step down."Malik himself kindly said he wanted to step down as captain after the series loss to Sri Lanka. The Board collectively decided that Younis should be the captain and he has agreed to lead the side," Butt said."We also felt that Malik's body language was not very positive as captain and we think Younis is the best choice now," he added.The decision comes just two days after Pakistan suffered its heaviest one-day defeat by 234 runs when it was bowled out for its lowest one-day total of 75 runs against Sri Lanka in the third one-day international at Lahore.Butt, who had retained Malik captain for an indefinite period just three weeks back, said he had not made any U-turn."No one is changed without a reason. I had a discussion with him (Shoaib). I have asked him that this is the situation, we would like some change if he is willing to step down," Butt said."We haven't sacked him. We made a request to him and he has stepped down. After his stepping down, we have made Younis Khan the captain," he added.Butt said he did not believe in having separate captain for two formats of the game so Younis will lead the team in both the versions. "I don't believe in having separate captains. He will be captain till further advice." A decision will be made later on the vice-captain.

"At the current moment, Misbah-ul Haq will remain. But we will see and get an opinion from our other players and other people also and see what we can do," he said.Asked if team would start winning due to change of captain, Butt said "My end result is not winning only, it is a good performance. We did not just lose, our performance was very bad." Younis had earlier turned down an offer to captain the side after Pakistan's humiliating first-round exit from the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies. Malik was then made captain until last December after which his contract was extended for an indefinite period.Younis led Pakistan in the 2006 Champions Trophy in India as then captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was under a suspension from the International Cricket Council. Pakistan could not progress beyond the first round.

SYMONDS ,MCCULLUM CONTROVERSY

Controversial Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds has been charged by Cricket Australia (CA) and will face a disciplinary hearing here on Thursday over a radio interview in which he called New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum a "lump of s**t".CA has reported the all-rounder for an alleged breach of the Code of Behaviour following the radio interview with Roy & HG on Triple M on Friday night. In a media release issued by CA on Tuesday, the report alleges that Symonds breached the provisions relating to detrimental public comment."Given the importance of the tribunal hearing, it would be inappropriate to comment on the issue now a report has been made. Once the outcome of this hearing is finalised, CA will be in a better position to assess issues relating to Andrew Symonds," CA's acting chief executive Michael Brown said in a statement.Symonds' outburst was prompted by New South Wales' (NSW) decision to recruit McCullum for its Twenty20 final and he felt it was an "injustice" that a local player had to make way for the New Zealander."We love to hate them, but he (McCullum) is a lump of s..t, sorry, lump of cow dirt that people are thinking of," Symonds said on the radio interview.Symonds later issued a statement and expressed his remorse."My intentions for this interview were light-hearted and my comments no way reflect the respect that I have for McCullum both on and off the field. I understand how this has been received differently to the way in which I intended to express myself and for that I am extremely sorry."The hearing will be presided over by CA Code of Conduct senior commissioner Gordon Lewis here on Thursday.

INDIA VS SRILANKA ODI SERIES:INDIA BACK TO RACE FOR THE TOP SPOT

A 5-0 whitewash by India in their five-match ODI series against India starting on Wednesday would make an interesting three-horse race for the top spot in the Reliance Mobile ICC championship rankings.In that case, India will get 123 rating points, equal to that of South Africa but three less than Australia (126), calculated after Monday's fourth ODI between the Proteas and Ricky Ponting's men.Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team would then get the chance to go to the top of the rankings before long if all results against the Lankans go their way and they make a winning start to their series against New Zealand early in March.But if India lose 0-5 to the Lankans they would slip below New Zealand (113) into fifth position. Such a result would catapult Sri Lanka (107) to third spot.Irrespective of India vs Sri Lanka result, South Africa will go to top of the table if they win the fifth and final match of the ongoing series against Australia in Perth on Friday.

Victory for the Proteas in that match would put them level with Australia on 125 ratings points. However, South Africa would be just ahead of their hosts by a fraction of a ratings point (124.85 points compared to Australia's 124.64). India will retain their third place in that case.Australia though can regain the number one position immediately as they take on New Zealand for five ODIs, just two days after the Perth match.Whichever side leads the ODI Championship table on April 1 will collect $175,000 with the runners-up pocketing $75,000. The same is true of the Test Championship with the top team walking away with $350,000.

AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRICA 4th ODI:Amla & AB De villiers Partnered SA To a Win

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It seems to be going from bad to worse for Australia. After losing the Test series to arch rivals South Africa, Ricky Ponting's team was drubbed in the one-day series on Tuesday as the visitors won the fourth ODI convincingly by eight wickets to take an invincible 3-1 lead in the five-match series.After skittling out Australia for a modest 222, South Africa romped home in the 39th over with stand-in opener Hashim Amla (80 not out) and AB de Villiers (81 not out) stitching a match winning 142-run stand.South Africa need 223 runs in the fourth ODI to close the series in their favour as Makhaya Ntini (4-52) and Dale Steyn (3-49) helped the visitors bowl out Australia for a modest 222 in 48 overs here on Monday.The Proteas are already 2-1 up in the series and are now on well their way to glory after their historic triumph in the Test series. The only bright spot in the Australian innings was a 93-run stand between skipper Ricky Ponting (63) and Michael Hussey (28).

After choosing to bat, Australia lost David Warner (one) and Shaun Marsh (13) early before Ponting and Hussey came to the rescue. Australia were well-placed at 110-2 in the 20th over but the wicket of Hussey triggered a collapse with the South Africans tightening the noose. Both Hussey and Ponting within a space of nine balls and the home team never recovered from there.Brad Haddin (three) fell to an ambitious heave off skipper Johan Botha and David Hussey (24) mistimed an Albie Morkel delivery to spoon a regulation catch to Herschelle Gibbs.Cameron White (30), who came into the eleven in place of Ryan Harris, and James Hopes (42) led a mini recovery before Steyn came into the act. The South African spearhead snared the duo in consecutive overs to win back the momentum. The Australian tail failed to wag with the South African pacers cleaning up the lower order with clinical precision.

LATEST ICC NEWS AS ON 25th JAN 2009

Pakistan drops to fifth as Sri Lanka makes presence felt again

Black Caps benefit from Pakistan’s misfortune in Reliance Mobile ICC ODI ChampionshipPakistan has slipped one place in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship table following its 2-1 series defeat at home to Sri Lanka.Although Shoaib Malik’s team won the first ODI of the series in Karachi thanks to a brilliant unbeaten century by Salman Butt, it then proceeded to lose the second and third matches after impressive displays by the visitor.....

In-form Kulasekara up to second in ODI bowling rankings

Sri Lanka pace man claims best rating of career after another fine seriesBangladesh’s Shakib and Mashrafe break into top 10; Shakib knocks Oram off number-one all-rounder spot; Pakistan’s Salman Butt returns to top 20 of Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Kulasekara has raced up the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers to second position with yet another good performance in his side’s successful series in Pakistan.

Uganda, Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong get off to winning starts

Afghanistan’s ICC Cricket World Cup campaign suffers setback as Argentina and Cayman Islands also lose on opening dayUganda was the star performer on the opening day of the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3 (WCL Div. 3) after a dramatic 14-run win over Afghanistan.But Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Hong Kong also showed they too will be in contention at this tournament with impressive victories over Cayman Islands and Argentina respectively.

COOK NAMED VICE-CAPTAIN OF ENGLAND TEST TEAM

Opener Alastair Cook has been named the Alastair Cookof the England Test cricket team for the Caribbean tour,suggesting that the England and Wales Cricket Board sees him as future captaincy material.Essex batsman Cook, 24, has been chosen over the more experienced former One-Day skipper Paul Collingwood. Collingwood is likely to be Strauss's deputy in the One-Dayers.The left-hander has been viewed as a potential England captain since he scored a century on his Test debut in India three years ago. Now the endorsement has become official, The Sun reports."This is another chance for me to gain some valuable leadership experience and help Straussy in any way I can. It was unexpected news, but I’m happy they’ve asked me to do it. I hope to make the most of it," Cook was quoted as saying after the announcement."Straussy will need support, not just from me, but from the other senior players as well. And we do have a lot of leadership experience in the dressing room with three other guys who have captained England," he added.Strauss said: "I think it is important everyone knows who will take over if I have to go off the field. But I don’t think it is necessary for Alastair to have the formal title of vice-captain."Axed skipper Kevin Pietersen said that he was happy to be back in the ranks, adding that the past five months had been very stressful for him.

IPL:MICHAEL CLARKE SET FOR WINDFALL IN IPL AUCTION

Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke is expected to land up with a massive windfall if he makes himself available for the Indian Premier League auction on February six.The middle-order batsman stayed away from the inaugural IPL season due to personal commitments and is drawing major interest from the franchisees."I think Michael (Clarke) can earn anywhere between USD 750,000 to USD 850,000 a season," said player agent Neil Maxwell, who recently stood down as chief executive of Kings XI Punjab."Michael will be attractive. He's a very versatile cricketer. He can bat, he can bowl and he's a brilliant fielder," he was quoted as saying by The Sunday Telegraph.Besides Clarke, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and speedster Shaun Tait too are in high demand, the newspaper reported.It meanwhile said that IPL franchisees could demand the team's top stars make themselves available for the business end of the tournament."The demand follows an amended ICC playing schedule that will now see the likes of Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds travel from Australia's series against Pakistan straight to India without a break ahead of Australia's tour to England," it said.The second edition of the IPL will be held between April 10 and May 24 while Australia's tour of Pakistan, expected to be shifted to a neutral venue, is set to be held between April 19 and May 10.

AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRICA 4th ODI:HARRIS TP REPLACE BRAKEN IN ADELAIDE ODI

All-rounder Ryan Harris returned to the Australia squad for the fourth ODI of the Commonwealth Bank series against South Africa replacing injured left-arm pacer Nathan Bracken.Cricket Australia's National Selection Panel named Harris on Saturday in place of Bracken, who suffered a slight calf strain during Friday's three-wicket loss at Sydney, for the fourth match in Adelaide on Monday."Nathan suffered a slight strain to his left calf during last night's game. He underwent a scan this morning in Sydney which has confirmed a small strain, ruling him out of Monday's game in Adelaide ."We will continue to assess the injury over the next few days before a decision can be made on Nathan's availability for the Perth game against South Africa and New Zealand," Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a CA statement.Selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch admitted that the hosts will miss the service of New South Wales pacer in the crucial match of the series."It is disappointing to lose Nathan Bracken for such a critical game, particularly given his current form and world ranking in the one-day format of the game. However it does provide Ryan Harris with another opportunity to come back into the Australian squad after a good performance during his debut in Hobart," Hilditch said.

PAKISTAN VS SRILANKA 3rd ODI:SRILANKA CLINCH THE SERIES BY WINNING THE FINAL ODI

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Chasing a target of 310, Pakistan lost top six wickets for 20 in the third and final One-Day International against Sri Lanka here on Saturday.Sri Lanka, powered by Tillekeratne Dilshan's second ODI hundred, produced 309-5. In reply, Pakistan lost first two wickets for five runs. They lost four wickets more for 15 runs by 8.4 overs.Kulasekara and Tushara bagged three wickets each. While the former has dismissed Khurram Manzoor, Salman Butt and Shahid Afridi, Tushara has sent Younis Khan, Kamran Akmal and Mishbah-ul-Haq so far.Earlier, Dilshan remained unbeaten on 137 with 10 fours from 139 balls with Farvez Maharoof 8 not out at the other end.Jayasuriya and Dilshan, after sent in to bat by Pakistan skipper Shoaib Mallik, were off to a conscious start, reaching 26-0 in the first 10 overs. But Jayasuriya added pace to the game later. He went after Iftikar Anjum Rao who conceded 25 runs in the 15th over.Sri Lanka went for powerplay in the next over and lost Jayasuirya in the first ball. The opener made 45 before mistiming a Umar Gul delivery.Kumar Sangakkara fell next for 50. Sangakkara was hesitant for a qucik single and paid the price. Afridi ran out and started celebrating even before he got the bells dislodged.Pakistan's Khurram Manzoor took an excellent catch, running a good distance to his left to dismiss Kadamby who made 32. Mahela Jayawardene contributed 18 before Chamara Kapugedara went for a duck. Both were dismissed by Gul who bagged three wickets for 45 from nine overs.Sohail Khan was the only other Pakistan bowler to get a wicket. Saeed Ajmal, Iftikar Anjum Rao and part-time bowlers Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik failed to scalp any.Malik decided to drop the off-colour Shoaib Akhtar amidst speculation that the team management might not like to drop such a senior player, once selected to the squad. Sohail Khan, with an experience of three ODIs, replaced Akhtar. Spinner Saeed Ajmal was brought in place of Sohail Tanvir. Sri Lanka went with the same playing eleven that won the last game.

PAKISTAN VS SRILANKA 3rd ODI:MURALI EYES WORLD RECORD

Muttiah Muralitharan needs five more wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in one-day cricket history as Sri Lanka take on Pakistan in the third and deciding one-day match here on Saturday.The wily off-spinner needs two more wickets to become only the second bowler to cross the 500-mark in limited overs internationals. Another three would help him overtake Pakistan's Wasim Akram's one-day tally of 502.The 36-year-old Muralitharan is already the world's top wicket-taker in Test cricket with 769 in 125 Tests. Muralitharan took 3-19 to help Sri Lanka thump Pakistan by 129 runs in the second day-night international in Karachi on Wednesday, levelling the series at 1-1 to set up an intriguing final match.Pakistan won the first match, in Karachi, by eight wickets on Tuesday. Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene said however winning the match -- and with it the series -- was the priority."Definitely it would be great to see Murali achieve that record. Winning the match and the series would be the top priority, and on the way if Murali achieves that record we would definitely celebrate," said Jayawardene.Muralitharan, who made his one-day debut against India in 1993, has 10 times taken five wickets in a match in a 323-match career. Jayawardene was happy his team learnt from the mistakes of the first match."We didn't repeat our mistakes of the first match and the guys showed a lot of character, so it's necessary we continue that. Lahore will be a new ground and we will assess the situation and hope to execute our plans."Jayawardene would also look to his other spinner Ajantha Mendis, who took three wickets in the second match after going wicket-less in the first.Pakistan are likely to drop struggling pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Sohail Tanvir -- Akhtar has managed just one wicket for 88 runs and Tanvir's only wicket in the series cost 85. Rookie paceman Sohail Khan and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal are tipped to take their places.Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, hinting at changes to his team, said his side needs to show more character."We let the lead slip in the second match, so it's now a must-win situation in the final game. I hope the players realise that and do not repeat the mistakes of the second match," said Malik. "The second match should be behind us and we must move on and win the last match," he added.

IPL:ENGLAND PLAYERS RELEASED TO PLAY IN IPL

England's cricket board has allowed its Test players a 21-day period to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League.England stars such as big-hitters Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff were forbidden from playing in last year's inaugural IPL Twenty20 event because it breached the terms of their central contracts. But the terms of their new contracts with the England and Wales Cricket Board allows a 21-day spell between the end of the current tour of the West Indies and before the start of the next series against the same opponents in May. "It's great to see some flexibility and the players should thank the IPL and the ECB for allowing them to participate," Sean Morris, chairman of the Professional Cricketers' Association, said on Thursday."We have had very open discussions with county chairmen, they are keen for the best players in the country to go out and perform in IPL with some of the best players in the world."The ECB has also given players who don't have a central contract a 28-day period to play in the IPL, even though they will be late joining up with their County Championship teams.

BANGLADESH VS ZIMBABWE 3rd ODI:BANGLADESH CLINCH THE SERIES BY WINNING THE FINAL ODI

 Set to get 120 runs for a series win, Bangladesh were coasting at 52 for two off 17 overs in third and final One-Day International against Zimbabwe here on Friday.Earlier, the hosts' Mashrafe Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan took three wickets each to restrict Zimbabwe to 119 for nine off 37 overs. The match was reduced to a 37-over-a-side contest after heavy fog delayed the start of play by almost an hour.Bangladesh, who put Zimbabwe in to bat after winning the toss, struck early through Mortaza.Shakib Al Hasan continued with the damage at regular intervals and barring Sean Williams, who top scored with 38, the other Zimbabwean batsmen struggled to make it to double figures.Hasan finished with a haul of three for 15 from seven overs, while Mortaza picked three for 26 from eight overs.

AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRICA 3rd ODI 2009:ALBIE MORKEL BLISTERING 40 GUIDED SA TO VICTORY

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Albie Morkel blasted 40 runs from 22 balls to guide South Africa to a tense three-wicket win to establish a 2-1 series lead over Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.Chasing 270, South Africa appeared to lose their way after launching a blistering run chase in reply to Australia's 269 in the third ODI, before Neil McKenzie (27), Morkel and Mark Boucher (31 not out) combined to take South Africa home, before captain Johan Botha hit the winning runs.Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis added 96 for the second wicket in quick time after the Proteas lost Hashim Amla early. Gibbs slammed 10 fours and a six in his 54-ball assault in which he scored 64, before Mitchell Johnson ended his stay.South Africa, cruising at the stage began to stumble and lost three wickets in the process. AB de Villiers, JP Duminy and Kallis fell in quick succession as the visitors slipped to 163-5 with Neil McKenzie and Mark Boucher left with the task to stem the rot.Earlier, the South African bowlers pegged back Australia with quick wickets to reduce the hosts to 269 all out off 49.1 overs after captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat.After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the hosts' young opening pair of David Warner and Shaun Marsh gave their team a confident start with a century stand before departing in quick succession.Than Michael Hussey was run out while regaining the crease for 12 while skipper Ricky Ponting was caught by Gibbs of skipper Botha for 29.Warner played a super innings of 69 off just 60 balls hitting six fours and two sixes before getting out.He and Marsh added 114 runs for the opening wicket off 18.5 overs. Marsh scored a patient 43 off 63 balls and held one end up before he fell to Botha.

ANDREW SYMONDS TO MARK RETURN AS A BATSMAN

 Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds will return to first-class cricket next week as a specialist batsman and is likely to be used in the same capacity when he returns to the national team.The 33-year-old, who is recuperating for almost a month now after a knee surgery, will return to first-class arena for Queensland in a Sheffield Shield clash against Western Australia starting at the Gabba next week"I have been sent the medical reports and they show he is well ahead of time," Queensland coach Trevor Barsby said.The knee problem just came from wear and tear over the years and the surgeons scraped the knee, fixed some floating bone and did some general maintenance"Reading the medical reports has given me a lot of confidence that he will be back playing top-level cricket very soon. He should be available for the Shield game next week and we will play him just as a batsman," Barsby was quoted as saying by the Courier Mail.The Shield outing will be actually a fitness test for Symonds ahead of the team selection for the Test series in South Africa.According to sources, he is likely to be utilised only as a specialist batsman until his knee returns to full fitness. Besides, Symonds has rarely been a match-winner with the ball, they added.

REVISED SCHEDULE FOR INDIA TOUR TO SRILANKA

The central town of Dambulla will host just one match instead of two during India's upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, the two cricket boards said in a statement on Thursday.Dambulla, which was due to hold the first two matches of the five-match one-day series, will now host only the opening game on January 28.The remaining four matches and a Twenty20 international will be played in Colombo during the brief tour, which ends on February 10.The first and fifth one-dayer will be day games, while the other matches will be played under lights. The series was finalised to partly fill the gap created by India's cancelled tour of Pakistan in January-February following the Mumbai attacks in November.India last toured Sri Lanka in July-August of 2008, losing the Tests 2-1 before winning the one day series 3-2.

Revised schedule:

Jan 28 - First ODI, Dambulla

Jan 31 - Second ODI, RPS, Colombo (day/night)

Feb 3 - Third ODI, RPS, Colombo (d/n)

Feb 5 - Fourth ODI, RPS, Colombo (d/n)

Feb 8 - Fifth ODI, SSC, Colombo

Feb 10 - Twenty20 international, RPS, Colombo (d/n)

LATEST ICC NEWS AS ON 22nd JAN 2009

Six sides prepare to take a step closer to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011

Afghanistan fast bowler dreams of playing ODIs against England and AustraliaSix countries will try to take a step closer to qualification for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 this week when they participate in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3 (WCL Div. 3). But only two will succeed.The tournament, held in Buenos Aires from 24-31 January, will see host team Argentina, Afghanistan, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Uganda battle it out with the finalists progressing to the 12-team ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in April......

Pakistan fined for slow over-rate in Karachi ODI

The Pakistan team was fined for maintaining a slow over-rate during its 129-run defeat against Sri Lanka in the second ODI in Karachi on 21 January.Chris Broad of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after Shoaib Malik’s side was ruled to be two overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration......

SEHWAG IN RACE FOR CRICKET AWARD

Indian opener Virender Sehwag is a frontrunner for the Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year 2008 with 59 points.The other four in the running are Gautam Gambhir, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma.Sehwag has had a phenomenal year in Test cricket with a triple hundred against South Africa and a double hundred against Sri Lanka, along with some blazing starts at the top of the order in one day cricket.Carrying on with his splendid form against the Australians in the Test series, Sehwag also came good in the one day series against England with a blistering 85 in the first game at Rajkot, propelling India to a massive total of 387/5 in their allotted 50 overs. He followed that up with knocks of 68 in Kanpur, 69 in Bangalore, and missed out on a scintillating century with 91 in the fifth game at Cuttack.He ended the year with a blistering 83 in the second innings of the Chennai Test against England, which facilitated India's series win.


Gambhir is a close second with 52 points, after matching his opening partner's good run with scores of 51,70 and 40 in the one-dayers against England, along with a gritty century in seaming conditions in the second Test against England in Mohali.Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni concluded one of the most successful years by an Indian captain, with four wins in five Tests. Dhoni led from the front with sterling performances at crucial moments to take the third position with 48 points.Two young bowlers walked away with the fourth and fifth positions with pivotal spells against the visiting English team. Harbhajan Singh kept the pressure on the Englishman with some tight spells during the one-dayers, and picked up crucial wickets during the Chennai Test, to capture 41 points.Ishant Sharma enhanced his reputation as India's new speed sensation, spearheading the attack with 6 wickets in the two Tests against England, and holds fifth position with 37 points.

As per the Awards criteria, all Indian cricketers who have played international cricket for India will now be invited to vote for their choice of the Castrol Indian Cricketer of the Year from amongst the top five.The annual Castrol Awards for Cricketing Excellence were instituted in 1997-98. The rating system takes into account performances by Indian cricketers in Test and One-Day International matches during the calendar year. The Awards have been dominated over the last decade by Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid and this is the first year when neither of the three legends - Sachin, Rahul and Sourav, features amongst the top five.In 2008, Castrol also initiated the Castrol Asian Cricketer of the Year Award which was won by Sourav Ganguly for 2007.

PAKISTAN VS SRILANKA 2nd ODI:SRILANKA LEVEL THE SERIES WITH A BIG MARGIN VICTORY

After the eight-wicket loss a day before, Sri Lanka resurged with an emphatic 129-run win against Pakistan in the second ODI on Tuesday to square the series 1-1.After Sri Lanka were powered by Tillekaratne Dilshan (71) and Thilina Kandamby (59) to 290-8, the Pakistan chase fell apart at the halfway mark with the wickets of Shoaib Malik (54) and Salman Butt (62).The home side were bowled out for a paltry 161 in 34.5 overs with their last seven wickets falling in 10 overs for only 31 runs.Pakistan were off to a disastrous start losing three wickets within the first four overs for 17 runs. Khurram Manzoor (one), Younis Khan (four) and Misbah-ul-Haq (one) fell cheaply.Butt and Malik breathed life to the Pakistan chase with a 108 runs stand which came in only 21 overs. Malik was the more aggressive one, slamming five boundaries and one six in his 52-ball 54.Muttiah Muralitharan got Lanka the much needed breakthrough when Malik edged one to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara in an attempt to play a delicate shot. Butt top edged a Sanath Jayasuriya delivery six balls later to perish for 62, leaving the lower order a steep task.The Pakistan innings then fell like a pack of cards. Kamran Akmal (six) and Shahid Afridi (14) were the home team's only hope but the duo failed to come up with anything special. The Pakistan innings was folded up with more than 15 overs to spare. After the visitors were put in to bat by Malik, a brisk start was followed by an early wicket with Jayasuriya falling hit wicket in the seventh over for 19. Lanka's mainstay Sangakkara was run out for 16 in the 12th over and the tourists were in a spot of bother at 66-2. 

The innings was revived by Dilshan and Kandamby with a 99-run stand. The partnership was taking dangerous proportions when Shoaib Akhtar snared Dilshan after the stand-in opener smashed 11 boundaries in his 88-ball knock.The Lankan innings in the death overs was powered by Chamara Kapugedera's 39-ball 44 that included two fours and two sixes.

ANDRE NEL BANNED FOR 3 MATCHES FOR MISCONDUCT

South African pacer Andre Nel has been banned from three domestic Twenty20 matches after being found guilty of misconduct.Nel appeared before the Cricket South Africa's disciplinary committee in Johannesburg on Monday and was found guilty of contravening Clause 1.4 of the Code of Conduct, which prohibits players from using crude or abusive language against any fellow player, official or spectator.The incident took place during a domestic championship match between Nashua Cape Cobras and Bizhub Highveld Lions at Boland Park on January 4."Nel has been found guilty of misconduct and banned from three local Pro20 and inter-provincial matches," the CSA stated.However, CSA added that Nel could appeal against the sentence.

PAKISTAN VS SRILANKA 2nd ODI:Malik departs after resolute stand with Butt

Fighting half-centuries by Tillekaratne Dilshan (71) and Thilina Kandamby (59) guided Sri Lanka to 290-8 against Pakistan in the second ODI here on Wednesday.After the visitors were put in to bat by Shoaib Malik, a brisk start was followed by an early wicket with Sanath Jayasuriya falling hit wicket in the seventh over for 19. Lanka's mainstay Kumar Sangakkara was sent back for 16 in the 12th over and the tourists were in a spot of bother at 66-2. The innings was revived by Dilshan and Kandamby with a 99-run stand. The partnership was taking dangerous proportions when Shoaib Akhtar snared Dilshan after the stand-in opener smashed 11 boundaries in his 88-ball knock.The Lankan innings in the death overs was powered by Chamara Kapugedera's 39-ball 44 that included two fours and two sixes. Pakistan, who won the first ODI on Monday by eight wickets, fielded an unchanged side.The visitors, however, have made one change bringing in Kandamby in place of Jehan Mubarak.

ADAM GILCHRIST ADVISES DAVID WARNER

Former Australian attacking opener Adam Gilchrist has urged his country’s newest batting sensation David Warner to stay calm and remain unfazed by the burden of expectations to retain the explosive form he showed on debut.Warner blasted onto the international scene in the first Twenty20 International against South Africa, scoring a power-packed knock of 89 runs from just 43 balls.However, since that knock, Warner could not continue in the same vein and the Proteas nailed him cheaply in the second T20 game (7 runs) and his maiden ODI for only 5 runs.

With two dry innings, the pressure is increasing on the youngster to perform an encore, but Gilchrist, who played in a similar manner for Australia at top of the order, has advised the 22-year old Warner to maintain his cool and avoid the hype.“Don't put too much pressure on yourself, I always felt that pressure came from within; it is not a matter of the headlines or the air time that you received,” Gilchrist told the Sky News."So for him to relax and try to stay true to the processes he normally goes through and the results will come again eventually," Gilchrist said.However, the former wicketkeeper lauded Warner's effort in his debut match."Obviously that initial knock of his of 80-odd off 40 balls was very exciting. I was there watching it and I loved it,” he added.

BANGLADESH VS ZIMBABWE 2nd ODI:BANGLADESH DEF ZIMBABWE BY 6 WICKETS

Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe by six wickets in the second One-Day International to level the three-match series 1-1 at the Shere Bangal National Stadium in Mirpur here on Tuesday.Bangladesh, chasing 161 to win, romped home in 44.5 overs with six wickets at hand. Raqibul Hasan who remained unbeaten on 52 was declared man of the match. Bangladesh lost Tamim Iqbal early in reply to Zimbabwe's 160-9 in 50 overs. Md Ashraful was the next man to go as the hosts reached 42-2. Mehrab Hossain Jr and Raqibul Hasan took the onus and added 52 runs before Hossain Jr fell to Price for 43. Raqibul top scored with 52 including seven boundaries.Rainsford, Utseya, Mupariwa and Price claimed one wicket each for the visitors.Sean Williams, one of the most promising youngsters from Zimbabwe, played a determined knock with 59 runs to recover the visitors from 47-6 in 18.3 overs. He added 96 runs with Utseya for the seventh wicket.Nazmul Hossain claimed three wickets as Rubel Hossain and Mashrafe Mortaza scalped two each.Mohammad Ashraful won the toss and chose to field first in the must-win game for Bangladesh. The Hossain duo vindicated their skipper's decision, dismissing Zimbabwe top order early. Zimbabwe, leading the series 1-0, were six wickets down with Matsikenyeri got run-out by Mashrafge Mortaza.Nazmul Hossain drew the first blood in 9.5 overs, getting rid of Massakadza for 17. He struck again two overs later, to trap the other opener Sibanda leg before. Rubel kept pressure from the other end and got rid of former skipper Tatenda Taibu soon after. The visitors lost three more wickets adding 10 runs in next four overs. Nazmul scalped three for 28 in 10 overs.

While the hosts were jubilant following the early collapse of Zimbabwe, Williams and Utseya fought back with a determined 96-run stand. Williams slammed three fours and one six from 89 balls before he was run out by Mortaza in an excellent attempt. Utseya followed suit soon in the final over for 38. Mortaza claimed two wickets in that over as Zimbabwe produced 160 for nine in 50 overs.

IPL:ROYAL CHALLENGERS TO SWAP ZAHEER FOR UTHAPPA

Mumbai Indians and Bangalore Royal Challengers are discussing the possibility of swapping Robin Uthappa and Zaheer Khan during the month-long Indian Premier League players' trading window."Nothing has been finalised yet, but talks are on. Royal Challengers are keen to have Robin as he's also the captain of Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy," informed sources told PTI on Wednesday, a day before the trading window closes.There is another angle to the proposed swap as the Vijay Mallya-owned Royal Challengers want to make the flamboyant Uthappa captain of the Bangalore franchise outfit in place of Rahul Dravid, the sources said.The Bangalore franchise had a poor first IPL season last year by finishing seventh out of eight teams.Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, would welcome the inclusion of India's left-arm pace spearhead Zaheer who has had an outstanding year in international cricket in 2008.

Zaheer also played a key role in Mumbai clinching the Ranji Trophy for the 38th time by beating Uttar Pradesh in the final held at Hyderabad recently.Mumbai Indians have made one trade-off during the window by swapping their left arm pacer Ashish Nehra with left handed opener Shikhar Dhawan of Delhi Daredevils.No money exchanged hands and it was a straight swap with both the players entitled to what they received as salary in the first edition of the multi-million dollar IPL.This year's IPL is set to be held in April-May.Meanwhile, the IPL's Governing Council will meet in Goa in early February and the players' auction is also likely to take place there, according to other sources.

SHANE WARNE WANTS NO INTERNATIONAL MATCHES DURING IPL

 Spin legend Shane Warne said there should be an annual two-month freeze on international calendar so that cricketers can take part in the Indian Premier League without going through the country-or-club dilemma.Effusive in his praise for IPL, Warne said the International Cricket Council and its member boards have to agree to a two-month gap in the calendar to ensure that the players are not forced to make a choice between the IPL franchises and their national team."I think for world cricket, I think (because of) the IPL for April and May, there should be no international cricket, and all the players around the world should be involved," said Warne, who led a bunch of no-hopers at the Rajasthan Royals to the ultimate glory in the inaugural edition of the Twenty20 extravaganza.The retired Australian spin great cherished his IPL experience last year and said the never-before experience would rank higher than even the Ashes win dotting his career."In 20 years of playing...I haven't experienced any like what I experienced in India last year. It was truly unbelievable," Warne was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press (AAP), a news agency here."The Ashes (in) '05 comes pretty close to the intensity of the crowd, and the passion and the news, but we were getting (more than) 110,000 at Eden Gardens, there was 25,000 outside the ground for the final, plus 90,000 in the stadium," Warne recalled