Suresh Raina century helps India to 245

Suresh Raina's first ODI century against serious opposition - his previous two were against Hong Kong and Bangladesh - could prove to be his most influential contribution when a rejuvenated India take the field to defend 245 in Dhaka. Having dug themselves into a deep hole at 60 for 5, India were made to fight every inch for their total and while it is far less than what they should have got on a good batting track, it looks a whole lot better thanks to Raina.

His effort was the fourth-highest ODI score by an Indian at No. 6. From the time he entered the carnage in the ninth over, with India 4 for 47, to the time he was dismissed for 106 in the 46th over, Raina was confidence personified. However, Sri Lanka finished off well, taking the last four wickets for 32 runs in 5.2 overs and, given the notorious dew factor, will back themselves to chase this and secure a rare tournament title.

For the fulcrum of that belief, rewind to an overcast and mildly chilly Dhaka afternoon, when India's innings resembled an automobile ignition on a wintry morning in Denmark. A mishmash of indiscreet shot selection, accurate new-ball bowling, efficient left-arm pace and smart catching is often a recipe for a lop-sided contest and India so nearly made it one. The top order played without purpose - completely failing to make use of the chance to bat time at the crease - and wickets fell in a heap before the second fielding Powerplay was taken.

Gautam Gambhir's first-over dismissal - bowled off the pads while trying to glance Nuwan Kulasekara - set about a brief period of chaos where India's batsmen made the slightly nippy Chanaka Welegedara look like Jeff Thomson. Virat Kohli, in a rich vein of form, had only himself to blame when he steered a wide ball to Kumar Sangakkara. The change of angle had worked for Welegedara, who, with the previous ball, had been unfortunate to have a good lbw shout turned down. For Yuvraj Singh, who had not batted so early in the innings since November 8 against Australia, Sangakkara plugged two slips in a strong off-side field. It worked to perfection, as Yuvraj stood up and flirted with a rising delivery outside off stump and was well snapped up by Thilan Samaraweera at second slip, plucking the thick outside edge with one hand. Welegedara, hovering in the late 120s to early 130 kmph, had made Yuvraj look like a novice.

Sehwag - who went past 7,000 ODI runs today - didn't think it was over, counterattacking for a period in which boundaries flowed square on the off side with precision. But overconfidence did MS Dhoni in, as he attempted another drive and nicked Kulasekara to Sangakkara, for the wicketkeeper's 300th ODI dismissal. As with several Sehwag cameos in the recent past, this too wouldn't last. Sangakkara opted not to take the second fielding Powerplay after ten overs and Sehwag, looking to manufacture a run, uppercut Kulasekara to Sangakkara. It was the fourth time an Indian batsman had played an injudicious shot.

With India struggling at 76 for 5 after 15 overs, this was threatening to be one of the quickest finals in recent memory. Luckily for India, Raina and Ravindra Jadeja proceeded to buckle down and give the innings a backbone. Raina was the more dominant partner after settling down to bat sensibly. After beginning with a wild shot that evaded mid-off, he showed signs of real intent. A pull through midwicket in the 20th over changed the tempo from survival to acceleration, and an open-faced steer between mid-off and extra cover was the shot of the innings. In Jadeja, who initially looked more suited to the situation than his senior team-mate, he found a capable ally with whom he stitched together an invaluable 106-run stand that helped push India's score to a respectable 245.

As their confidence increased, so did the nature of their shots. For the first 30-odd minutes of their alliance Raina and Jadeja were circumspect, content to thrust bat and pad together, but then they began flicking deliveries on off stump and just outside with precision. Fielders moved back from cover to deep extra cover and point to deep backward point as the pair began dabbing Suraj Randiv's spin with soft hands square on the off side as well.

Raina never allowed the situation get to him. He was alert to the singles, was skilled at placing the ball into the gaps, and called and responded well with Jadeja. Forty one of Raina's runs came behind the wicket, all through dabs, steers, glance and gentle maneuvering, but it was the crisply struck drives that had spectators purring and then cheering. The cover area was regularly threaded, especially as Raina made room to dominate the bowlers.

At 166 for 5 in the 35th over, India appeared on course for 250 but Dilshan trapped Jadeja (38) plumb in front. Harbhajan Singh (11 from 26 balls) and Zaheer Khan (16 from 8) helped India reach 200, but Raina's attempt to boost the tempo, after he crossed his century and lost No's 8 and 9, didn't come off. Despite facing 53 dot balls, Raina's strike-rate was a swift 92.17; marvelous considering the mess he had walked out to. Of the 185 runs scored since he came to the middle, Raina contributed 106. His excellent contribution at least gave India something to bowl at.

SL to put pressure on inconsistent Indian bowling

Indian bowlers have been leaking runs in the tournament so far and Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara today said his side would look to exploit their opponent's bowling woes in the cricket tri-series final today.

"We have been putting pressure on their bowling for the last two or three months or even more than that. We would be looking to do that tomorrow. But at the same time we don't underestimate any side or any player. We will play to our strength to win the game tomorrow," Sangakarra said after his team practice session ahead of the summit clash at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium here.

Sangakkara said his side has moved on from the crushing defeat it suffered at the hands of India on Sunday.

"It was a bad performance by us on Sunday with the bat and ball and even fielding. We have forgotten that and it will be a fresh start tomorrow. We have been preparing for the final as best as possible and we want to win," he said.

Sehwag turns up for practice, set to play Idea Cup final

Vice-captain Virender Sehwag is back in action after skipping team training for the last few days as he turned up for practice today ahead of the cricket tri-series final against Sri Lanka here tomorrow.

Sehwag, who was rested for India's last two matches, did not join practice on Saturday and was not seen with the team on Sunday and Monday but turned up today for an optional net session along with four other team-mates.

On his absence, he said he had got permission from the team management to rest but will play tomorrow's final.

"I was given rest by the team management and I enjoyed my it (at team hotel)," he said after having around two-hour net session at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium indoor facilities along with Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

"I will play in the final and I hope I will do well to win the series," said the dashing opener who has scored 47 and 9 in the two matches he had played so far.

Sehwag did not agree that India's bowling woes would affect their chances in the summit clash.

"We have been playing against Sri Lanka with these bowlers in the past two-three months and they have done well.

I think they will do well tomorrow with Zaheer Khan returning and he was brilliant in that match against Sri Lanka (on Sunday)."

On Virat Kohli's fine run in form, Sehwag said the youngster should not be put under pressure.

"He is in fine form. A century and a 71 and 91, but we should allow him to enjoy his game. He is young and we should not put him under pressure," said Sehwag.

He said a lot would depend on winning the toss but the team will have to post a big total in case Mahendra Singh Dhoni do not call the coin correctly and they are put into bat.

Sri Lanka ask Pakistan to bat in final Test

Sri Lanka's captain Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and sent Pakistan in to bat in the third and final Test at the Sinhalese sports club here on Monday.

Sri Lanka, having already taken a decisive 2-0 lead in the series, recalled veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas for his last Test match in place of spinner Ajantha Mendis.

Vaas, 35, had on Sunday announced his retirement from the five-day game after the series, but said he will continue to play limited-overs cricket.

Pakistan also made one change, bringing in seasoned leg-spinner Danish Kaneria in place of seamer Abdur Rauf.

Pakistan: Younus Khan (capt), Fawad Alam, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul Haq, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Aamer, Danish Kaneria.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara (capt), Malinda Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Mathews, Rangana Herath, Chaminda Vaas, Thilan Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekera.

Umpires: Simon Taufel (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG)

TV umpire: Gamini Silva (SRI)

Match referee: Alan Hurst (AUS)

Rain sets Bangladesh back against Windies

Rain took a sizeable chunk out of the day, but Bangladesh still held all the aces with West Indies wobbly on 192 for eight in their second innings in the second and final Test on Sunday.

The Bangladesh spinners continued to torment the West Indies' batsmen, and the home team could only extend their lead to 197 in the time available on the third day at the Queen's Park Stadium Complex.

The entire evening session was lost to the weather, after rain had earlier stopped play about half-hour before lunch, and the afternoon session started about an hour and 10 minutes later than scheduled after the interval. The Tigers' spinners applied the pressure throughout the truncated day and the West Indies' batsmen - except for birthday boy Dave Bernard Jr - cracked.

Shakib Al Hasan has been Bangladesh's most successful bowler with four wickets for 61 runs from 22 overs, and fellow left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr has taken two for 42 from 15 overs.

But the Bangladeshis found Bernard hard to dislodge, and he reached 50 for the third time in the series, when he swung his 56th ball from Enamul over mid-wicket for his sixth four.

The Tigers spinners were never able to dominate him, and the lanky all-rounder struck six fours and one six in an unbeaten 61 from 71 balls in a little over two hours.

The weather intervened before lunch to set Bangladesh's effort back, after their spinners, led by Shakib, bowled them back into contention, when they reduced West Indies to 124 for five at the interval.

Shakib made the breakthrough in the eighth over of the morning, after West Indies continued from their overnight total of 56 for one.

The acting Bangladesh captain removed Omar Phillips, when the left-handed opener was caught at deep square leg for 29.

Four overs later, Shakib had Ryan Hinds caught at leg-slip for two, when the left-handed batsman gloved a sweep shot.

Off-spinner Mahmudullah, who has been the most successful bowler for Bangladesh in the series, then removed West Indies captain Floyd Reifer for three to a questionable lbw decision from New Zealand umpire Tony Hill.

Video replays suggested that Reifer was struck just outside the off-stump and the ball would have spun away from lanky left-hander.

Enamul Haque Jr then added to West Indies' pain, when he scalped Travis Dowlin for 49 to an incredulous lbw verdict from Hill to leave West Indies 110 for five.

The TV replays again suggested that the batsman was struck just outside the off-stump and the ball would have spun away past the stumps.

When play resumed after lunch, the Bangladesh spinners wheeled away, and Bernard and Darren Sammy spent the first 40 minutes putting up their best defence.

But things became undone, when Enamul had Sammy caught at mid-wicket for 22 to trigger a decline which saw West Indies lose three wickets for 21 runs in the space of 43 balls.

Shakib, leading Bangladesh in the absence of the injured Mashrafe Mortaza, had Chadwick Walton caught at slip for one edging a loose drive at a wide ball before Shahadat Hossain returned for a second spell and had Ryan Austin caught in the mid-wicket region for three.

Rain sent the players scampering for a slightly early tea break, and they never returned to the field, despite several attempts.

Bangladesh lead the two-Test series 1-0, after they won the opening Test which ended last Monday in St. Vincent by 95 runs.

The Tigers need only to draw the match to clinch their first-ever Test series victory overseas.
Scoreboard
West Indies 1st Innings 237 T. Dowlin 95, Mahmadullah 3-44
Bangladesh 1st Innings 232 Mushfiqur Rahim 48, K. Roach 6-48
West Indies 2nd Innings
D. Richards lbw b Shakib Al Hasan 12
O. Phillips c Ashraful b Shakib Al Hasan 29
T. Dowlin lbw b Enamul Haque 49
R. Hinds c Mahmudullah b Shakib Al Hasan 2
F. Reifer lbw b Mahmudullah 3
D. Bernard not out 61
D. Sammy c Raqibul b Enamul Haque 22
C. Walton c Mahmudullah b Shakib Al Hasan 1
R. Austin c Tamim b Shahadat Hossain 3
T. Best not out 4
Extras lb2, nb4 6
Total for 8 wkts 192
Fall of wkts 1-20, 2-72, 3-84, 4-95, 5-110, 6-166, 7-167, 8-187
Bowling
Rubel Hossain 8.2-1-32-0 (nb3), Shahadat Hossain 4-0-18-1, Enamul Haque Jr 15-2-42-2 (nb1), Shakib Al Hasan 22-3-61-4, Mahmudullah 15-1-37-1, Mohammad Ashraful 1-1-0-0

Rain fails to slow Bangladesh spinners down

Bangladesh's spinners continued to torment the West Indies' batsman in an afternoon session truncated by the weather and left the home team scrambling on 192 for eight at tea in the second and final Test on Sunday.

At the break, Dave Bernard Jr was unbeaten on 61 and Tino Best was not out on four, after the Tigers' spinners continued to apply the pressure on the West Indies batsmen and restricted the home team's lead to 197 on the third day at the Queen's Park Stadium Complex.

Shakib Al Hasan has been Bangladesh most successful bowler with four wickets for 61 runs from 22 overs, and fellow left-arm spinner Enamul Haque Jr has taken two for 42 from 15 overs.

But the Bangladeshis have found Bernard hard to dislodge, and the West Indies all-rounder reached 50 for the third time in the series, when he swung his 56th ball from Enamul over mid-wicket for his sixth four.

Play started after lunch an hour and 10 minutes later than scheduled because of rain before and during the interval.

When play resumed, the Bangladesh spinners wheeled away, and Bernard and Darren Sammy spent the first 40 minutes putting up their best defence.

But things became undone, when Enamul had Sammy caught at mid-wicket for 22 to trigger a decline which saw West Indies lose three wickets for 21 runs in the space of 43 balls.

Shakib, leading Bangladesh in the absence of the injured Mashrafe Mortaza, had Chadwick Walton caught at slip for one edging a loose drive at a wide ball before Shahadat Hossain returned for a second spell and had Ryan Austin caught in the mid-wicket region for three.

Rain had also prompted an early lunch and stalled Bangladesh's progress, after their spinners, led by Shakib, bowled them back into contention, when they reduced West Indies to 124 for five at the interval.

The weather intervened about half-hour before the interval to set Bangladesh back in their efforts, after West Indies continued from their overnight total of 56 for one.

Shakib made the breakthrough in the eighth over of the morning, when left-handed opener Omar Phillips swung at a shortish delivery, and was caught at deep square leg for 29.

Four overs later, Shakib had Ryan Hinds caught at leg-slip for two, when the left-handed batsman gloved a sweep shot.

Off-spinner Mahmudullah, who has been the most successful bowler for Bangladesh in the series, then removed West Indies captain Floyd Reifer for three to a questionable lbw decision from New Zealand umpire Tony Hill.

Video replays suggested that Reifer was struck just outside the off-stump and the ball would have spun away from lanky left-hander.

Enamul Haque Jr then added to West Indies' pain, when he scalped Travis Dowlin for 49 to an incredulous lbw verdict from Hill to leave West Indies 110 for five.

The TV replays again suggested that the batsman was struck just outside the off-stump and the ball would have spun away past the stumps. Bangladesh lead the two-Test series 1-0, after they won the opening Test which ended last Monday in St. Vincent by 95 runs.

The Tigers need only to draw the match to clinch their first-ever Test series victory overseas.

Clarke century revives Australia in second Test

Michael Clarke survived some fiery new-ball bowling to keep England at bay with an unbeaten century that gave Australia hope when all seemed lost in the second Ashes Test at Lord's here on Sunday.

Australia were 313 for five when bad light forced an early close on the fourth day with 12 overs left.

They needed a further 209 runs to achieve what would be a new Test record fourth innings victory total of 522 on Monday's final day.

England, by contrast required five more wickets if they were to beat Australia in a Test at Lord's for the first time in 75 years and so go 1-0 up in the five-match series following last week's drawn opener in Cardiff.

But first they needed to separate Clarke and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, 80 not out, who'd so far shared an unbroken stand of 185 for the sixth wicket.

If Australia reached their target they would surpass the current fourth innings record victory total of 418 for seven made by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03.

After tea, Haddin - who made a hundred in Cardiff - completed a 95-ball fifty with a single against off-spinner Graeme Swann.

And next ball Clarke went to his 11th Test hundred and first at Lord's when he pushed Swann for two.

He reached the landmark in 159 balls, his first fifty coming in 58 but his second in 101 as Clarke concentrated hard.

It had looked Sunday as if England might wrap up victory with more than a day to spare as they reduced Australia to 128 for five.

But they encountered more than three hours of stylish resistance from the sixth-wicket pair, especially Clarke, who made 83 in Cardiff and 91 in the Lord's Ashes Test four years ago.

England took the new ball as soon as it became available after 80 overs with Australia 287 for five on a still-good batting pitch.

James Anderson and Andrew Flintoff both went close but the Lancashire duo were denied a breakthrough.

England, after captain Andrew Strauss declared on their overnight score of 311 for six, had the rub of the green with umpiring decisions.

Flintoff, who before this match said he would retire from Tests at the end of the Ashes, struck twice to reduce Australia to 34 for two before lunch.

But controversy surrounded both wickets, with veteran umpire Rudi Koertzen, standing in his 100th Test, missing a no-ball in the lead-up to Simon Katich's exit and then giving Phillip Hughes out to a disputed slip catch by Strauss.

Replays showed the fast bowler had overstepped the crease, an action which should have seen South Africa's Koertzen call no-ball and so cancel out the wicket.

Ashes-holders Australia then saw Hughes, their other left-handed opener, on 17 edge Flintoff to first slip Strauss.

The 20-year-old started to walk off but was told to stay by Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who on Saturday had seen England's Ravi Bopara reprieved after the umpires referred a low catch to TV umpire Nigel Llong.

But this time around Koertzen, after asking West Indies' Billy Doctrove if the ball had carried, gave the decision without calling for Llong's assistance.

There was no debate when Ponting played on to paceman Stuart Broad for 38.

It was all a far cry from Cardiff where Ponting made a majestic 150 and Australia were only denied victory by a last-wicket stand between tailenders Anderson and the now dropped Monty Panesar.

Swann then got in on the act with two wickets for two runs in 19 balls.

He removed left-hander Michael Hussey with the aid of Paul Collingwood's sharp slip catch.

Hussey was given out by Doctrove although replays suggested the ball may have missed the outside edge, although Swann's dismissal of Marcus North, bowled between bat and pad, was far more conclusive.

One concern for England, which could have consequences for the rest of the series, was that star batsman Pietersen, who has been troubled by an Achilles injury, spent much of Sunday off the field.

Ponting departs as England eye Test victory

England saw the back of Australia captain Ricky Ponting as they moved closer to winning their first Ashes Test at Lord's in 75 years here on Sunday.

Australia were 178 for five at tea on the fourth day of the second Test of this five-match series - still needing a further 344 runs to reach their world record victory target of 522.

But England were now just five wickets away from wrapping up this match with more than a day to spare and so taking a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series.

Michael Clarke, who held firm with a typically stylish fifty in 58 balls, was 60 not out and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin 15 not out.

Ponting had added just one run to his lunch score, when 10 balls after the break, he tried to force the ball but played on to pace bowler Stuart Broad for 38.

His exit left Australia in dire straits at 78 for three and continued Ponting's poor run of Test scores at Lord's where his best is 42.

It was all a far cry from last week's drawn series opener in Cardiff where Ponting made a majestic 150 and Australia were only denied victory by a last-wicket stand between James Anderson and the now dropped Monty Panesar.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann then got in on the act with two wickets for two runs in 19 balls.

He removed left-hander Michael Hussey (27) with a ball that turned and bounce thanks to Paul Collingwood's sharp slip catch.

Hussey was given out by West Indies umpire Billy Doctrove although replays suggested the ball may have missed the outside edge - one of several umpiring decisions Sunday that went against Australia.

But there was no doubt about Swann's next wicket, with Marcus North bowled between bat and pad to leave Australia 128 for five.

Injury-hit all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who before this match said he would retire from Test cricket at the end of the Ashes, struck twice to reduce Australia to 34 for two before lunch.

But controversy surrounded both wickets, with veteran umpire Rudi Koertzen, standing in his 100th Test, missing a no-ball in the lead-up to Simon Katich's exit and then giving Phillip Hughes out to a disputed slip catch by England captain Andrew Strauss.

Fast bowler Flintoff, saw Katich guide his eighth ball Sunday to the gully where Kevin Pietersen safely held the catch.

But replays showed Flintoff had overstepped the crease.

That should have led to a call of no-ball from South Africa's Koertzen which in turn would have denied England their first wicket.

Ashes-holders Australia then saw Hughes, their other left-handed opener, on 17 edge Flintoff to first slip Strauss.

The 20-year-old started to walk off but was told to stay by Ponting, who on Saturday had seen England's Ravi Bopara reprieved after the umpires referred a low catch to TV umpire Nigel Llong.

But this time around Koertzen, after asking Doctrove if the ball had carried, gave the decision without calling for Llong's assistance.

Flintoff, the star of England's 2005 Ashes triumph, had taken two wickets for two runs in 20 balls.

Strauss, with rain in the air, declared before play Sunday on England's overnight second innings score of 311 for six.

That left Australia chasing a target that, were they to achieve it, would be a new world record for the highest fourth innings total to win a Test, surpassing the 418 for seven made by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03.
Scoreboard
England 1st Innings 425 A Strauss 161, A Cook 95, B Hilfenhaus 4-103, M Johnson 3-132
Australia 1st Innings 215 M Hussey 51, J Anderson 4-55, G Onions 3-41
England 2nd Innings
A. Strauss c Clarke b Hauritz 32
A. Cook lbw b Hauritz 32
R. Bopara c Katich b Hauritz 27
K. Pietersen c Haddin b Siddle 44
P. Collingwood c Haddin b Siddle 54
M. Prior run out 61
A. Flintoff not out 30
S. Broad not out 0
Extras b16, lb9, w1, nb5 31
Total for 6 wkts decl 311
Fall of wkts 1-61, 2-74, 3-147, 4-174, 5-260, 6-311
Bowling
Hilfenhaus 19-5-59-0 (3nb), Johnson 17-2-68-0 (1nb, 1w), Siddle 15.2-4-64-2, Hauritz 16-1-80-3 (1nb), Clarke 4-0-15-0

Australia 2nd Innings
P. Hughes c Strauss b Flintoff 17
S. Katich c Pietersen b Flintoff 6
R. Ponting b Broad 38
M. Hussey c Collingwood b Swann 27
M. Clarke not out 60
M. North b Swann 6
B. Haddin not out 15
Extras (lb5, nb4) 9
Total (5 wkts, 49 overs, 227 mins) 178

Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-34, 3-78, 4-120, 5-128

Bowling:
Anderson 12-2-57-0
Flintoff 14-3-35-2
Onions 6-0-35-0
Broad 9-2-23-1
Swann 8-1-23-2

Match position: Australia need a further 344 runs to reach their victory target of 522 with five wickets standing

Toss: England

Umpires: Billy Doctrove (WIS) and Rudi Koertzen (RSA)

TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)

India elect to field against Windies

India won the toss and decided to take the field on Friday in the third One-day International against West Indies at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.

There are two changes for India with Ishant Sharma and Abhishek Nayar replacing Praveen Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja, but West Indies are, predictably, unchanged.

The four-match series is level 1-1, after India won the high-scoring opening ODI by 20 runs last Friday at Sabina Park in Jamaica, and two days later, West Indies rebounded to secure an eight-wicket victory in a low-scoring second ODI at the same venue.

Whichever side wins the third ODI will be fortunate to take an unbeatable lead in the series, but India will be hoping it will be them, as they look to formalise a rare ODI series victory in the Caribbean before embarking on a much-anticipated two-month break from the game.

West Indies: Chris Gayle (captain), Runako Morton, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Jerome Taylor, David Bernard Jr, Sulieman Benn, Ravi Rampaul

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Dinesh Karthik, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ashish Nehra

UMPIRES: Clive Duncan, Nigel Llong

TV UMPIRE: Goaland Greaves

MATCH REFEREE: Chris Broad

Pak to host home series against Kiwis on neutral venue

Pakistan would host New Zealand for three Tests and five one-day internationals on a neutral venue, after all efforts by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to relocate the ‘home’ series against Kiwis to New Zealand failed.

Sources said the PCB proposed hosting the series in New Zealand itself , but issues regarding television rights and sharing of revenues could not be sorted out with the New Zealand cricket officials

The PCB is now considering hosting the series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), The News reports.

The series is likely to be held in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in October-November this year.

Ponting in search of missing Ashes triumph

Australia captain Ricky Ponting heads into the upcoming Ashes series against England looking to erase the one blot on a CV filled with outstanding achievements.

Ponting, one of the most talented batsmen of his and many another generation, has yet to captain his country to Ashes glory in England.

He was in charge when Australia lost their first Ashes series in nearly 20 years when England won 2-1 on home soil four years ago.

"I was disappointed to lose the Ashes in 2005 as the entire touring group were," said Ponting. "I've been lucky to play in an era of Australian cricket that's been very dominant.

"One thing I haven't been able to achieve as captain is to win an Ashes series in England and I'll make sure that I get that point across to the rest of the guys."

Will he ever.

The fact the Tasmanian was in charge when Australia regained the Ashes 5-0 'Down Under' in 2006/07 won't lessen his determination to do well now.

His captaincy skills have been repeatedly 'bagged' with former Australia fast bowler Jeff Thomson stinging in his criticisms again this week.

But Thomson also said Australia had the better line-up and that may yet prove to be true even though they are now without retired stars Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist.

The loss of leg-spin great Warne and accurate paceman McGrath, who between them took 49 wickets in the last Ashes series, has made life harder for Ponting in the field, as it would for any captain.

Even so he still led Australia to a Test series win in South Africa after the Proteas had had to perform brilliantly to win the preceding series in Australia.

They don't have those legends they had but the guys that have come in have done a good job and they will be determined to make their own mark in Australian cricket," said England captain Andrew Strauss.

In left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson and the emerging Peter Siddle, Australia have a lively pair of fast bowlers.

Meanwhile the way veteran quick Brett Lee reverse-swung the ball to take five wickets against England Lions at Worcester on Thursday suggested a skill that proved their undoing in 2005 has been mastered by at least one Australian.

But the question is have Australia's batsmen got better at playing it? Left-hander Gilchrist was driven to distraction by Andrew Flintoff's bowling in 2005 and Australia's top order contains several of his fellow southpaws.

However, taking 20 wickets in a Test has proved a problem for England in recent times.

Flintoff, England's hero four years ago, is coming back from a knee injury while star batsman Kevin Pietersen heads into the Ashes under the cloud of an Achilles problem.

England do at least appear to have more and better spin options than Australia although it will be up to the home side's batsmen to give the likes of Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar something to bowl at, even on a Cardiff pitch for next week's Ashes opener which has a reputation for taking turn.

Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz, an unusually conservative selection by Australian standards, has rarely looked like taking a wicket so far on tour, a vindication of the damning assessment of former Australia captain Ian Chappell that containers should remain the preserve of the shipping industry.

"One of the great strengths of Australian cricket has been how adaptable we've been over a long period of time," said Ponting.

"Yes Swann has done a good job in the games he's played but I see him as being fairly similar to Nathan Hauritz. They are not overly big spinners."

If Australia do leave Hauritz out, it will mean Ponting having to fiddle overs from the likes of Michael Clarke and Marcus North if his quicks are not to run the risk of burnout.

Australia opener Phillip Hughes burst on the scene in South Africa with back-to-back hundreds in only his second Test but the unorthodox left-hander was roughed up by fast bowler Stephen Harmison against the Lions.

Having said that Harmison, equally capable of sending the ball to second slip as he is of sending down a blistering bouncer, is currently out of the England side and may not feature in the Ashes at all.

In Strauss, England have a captain who helped unify the side after the fall-out from Pietersen's enforced resignation from the post.

A sound opener it will be up to him and fellow left-hander Alastair Cook to give England a solid platform at the top of the order.

New England No 3 Ravi Bopara looked good against a lacklustre West Indies but how he goes during the Ashes remains to be seen - as indeed does the latest chapter in cricket's oldest international rivalry.

Sri Lanka name squad for first Test with Pakistan

Sri Lanka on Monday named a 15-man squad for the first of the three Test matches against Pakistan here.

Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Malintha Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavithana, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Tilakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Matthews, Chamara Kapugedara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilina Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dhammika Prasad, Kaushal Silva and Suranga Lakmal.

Coach: Trevor Bayliss (ENG)

We got it all wrong, says Dhoni

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted that his side literally took their eyes off the ball in the second One-day International against West Indies on Sunday at Sabina Park.

India allowed West Indies to draw level in their four-match ODI series with an eight-wicket victory, after Dhoni almost single-handedly led an Indian revival with 95 to help them set their rivals a respectable target of 189.

Dhoni struck six fours and two sixes from 130 balls, but the target was never going to be treacherous for West Indies, and the Indian captain felt his side took things for granted.

"We could have done a bit better," Dhoni said. "We could have given the respect to the balls that really needed or demanded that respect, and by the time we realised, we had already lost three wickets.

He added: "I think it was a good pitch, but the batsmen just went with their strokes and before we knew it we had three down. Once you are in that situation, you are just playing catch-up.

"R.P. [Singh] and I had a partnership, otherwise it would have been quite embarrassing."

India had only themselves to blame for their defeat, after they plunged to 82 for eight in the 22nd over after choosing to bat.

But Dhoni staged a rearguard action in the form of a 101-run, ninth-wicket stand with Singh before they both fell in the space of six balls as India were dismissed for 188 in 48.2 overs.

"I don't think there was that much in it for the bowlers, they bowled really well, they were swinging the ball well, and when it stopped swinging, they were able to get reverse swing," the India captain said.

"I think we made a mistake in our approach to batting rather than the decision of whether to bat or field."

He continued: "Later on, the pitch became better for batting. When you are batting first, initially you expect the pitch to do a bit, and after that you can capitalise if you get a good start."

At the same time, West Indies captain Chris Gayle praised Ravi Rampaul and Jerome Taylor for setting his side up for the victory.

"It's nice to square the series," he said.

"There were some good performances from the guys. Rampaul and Taylor set the game for us and from now we will look to go from strength to strength.

"There was moisture in the pitch early, and Taylor and Ravi utilised it well, and the catching was also good, so we just need to keep working on our game."

The series is now tied 1-1, after India won the high-scoring, opening match last Friday by 20 runs at the same venue.

The series concludes with a pair of ODIs - this coming Friday and Sunday - at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St. Lucia.

Pak selectors angry with PCB for ignoring them after T20 World Cup win

Lahore, June 29 (ANI): The national selectors, who picked the Pakistan squad that won the Twenty20 World Cup, are angry that they have been completely ignored in the celebrations for the team’s triumph.



Although former chief selector Abdul Qadir has resigned from his job, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not clarified the status of Saleem Jaffer and Shoaib Mohammad who were on the selection committee that picked the World Cup squad.



The board had appointed an interim selection committee headed by former captain Wasim Bari to pick the team for the Test tour of Sri Lanka.



“No one has the decency to even invite us for any celebratory event even though our contribution is clear that we picked the winning side,” one selector said.



Qadir, who resigned from his post in acrimonious circumstances while the team was playing in the Twenty20 World Cup, has also castigated the board for their treatment of the selectors.



“No matter what they do they can’t take away the credit from us that we picked the World Cup winning squad,” the Daily Times quoted Qadir, as saying.

We erred in reading the pitch: Dhoni

Dhoni (95) and Rudra Pratap Singh (23) added 101 runs for the ninth wicket to help India get to 188 after they were reduced to 82 for eight in the 22nd over.
"We should have paid a little more respect to the bowlers. The wicket was a bit difficult, it was swinging around a bit. We didn't judge the wicket well and just went around playing our strokes which really brought our downfall," Dhoni said.
Dhoni and Rudra Pratap's partnership was the fifth century-run stand for the ninth wicket in ODIs and it saved India from the ignominy of getting bowled out for less than 100 runs. West Indies openers Runako Morton (85) and skipper Chris Gayle (64) then blazed off to a 101-run opening wicket stand as they attained the target in 34.1 overs with eight wickets in hand.
"Once you lose too many wickets then the only thing that you are doing is catching up. Rudra Pratap and me had a partnership, otherwise it would have been quite embarrassing," Dhoni said.
Dhoni blamed the top-order for India's failure to put up a challenging total.
"When you are batting first, initially you expect the wicket to do a bit and it is the first half an hour and after that you can capitalise if you get a good start," he said. "Later on, the wicket became better for batting."
Dhoni also defended Yuvraj Singh, who scored a match winning century in the first game, saying the left-handed batsman was not going to win them every match.
"Yuvraj is the man in form, he is getting the runs for us but we can't expect one individual to score in every game," he said.