Dhoni's time is up-M. Amarnath Said

Previous cricketer and selector Mohinder Amarnath feels that MS Dhoni's time to be in the Test team is up, lending his voice to rising demand for the wicketkeeper-batsman’s removal from the team.

The 62-year old who was removed from India’s selection committee reportedly after asking for Dhoni’s sacking, aired his views on Times Now.

If you see his track record for the last one year, he has done well in ODI cricket, but in Tests he has not led from front, said Amarnath, who had played 69 Tests and 85 ODIs for India. As a captain, your place should be protected. I don’t see that for Dhoni.

I am not against Dhoni. I like the guy. But we should look at it from a broader viewpoint. It is main to look at Now performance of players rather than past performances. Amarnath revealed Dhoni's series was discussed earlier this year. Without naming anybody, Amarnath said there was accord regarding this. But the decision wasn't followed through.

There was a discussion to replace Dhoni with somebody else. People had settled to do that. But for some reason did not do it. When asked about who was putting the force on retaining Dhoni, Amarnath retreat saying, that is an internal matter. I cannot speak about it at the moment.

Throwing his weight behind Amarnath was another former selector, C Raja Venkat, who represented the East Zone in the Krishnamachari Srikkanth-led selection committee.

There are better wicketkeeper batsmen in the country. Dhoni doesn’t merit a place in the Test side. Still his captaincy is under question, Venkat said. Dhoni too hails from the East Zone.

Pakistan 500 seats reserved for fans

Calcutta: Only 500 supporters from Pakistan will be witness to the matches in the India-Pakistan series. The decision was taken at a BCCI meeting chaired by President Narayanswamy Srinivasan — in Mumbai. 

CAB treasurer Biswarup Dey, who attended the meeting along with joint-secretary Subir Ganguly, also informed that supporters from the other side of the border will be banned from buying tickets from the web portal. 

A number of decisions concerning the India-Pakistan bilateral series were taken on Thursday. Among them, one of the main decisions is that only 500 tickets per venue will be available for the Pakistani supporters.

We will also have to provide a list of hotels where the supporters can stay, Dey said. While the match in Chennai starts from 9.30 in the morning, the game at the Eden is set to begin at 2.30pm. 

The last showdown in New Delhi begins from 12.30 in the afternoon.

BCCI said Pakistan clear to tour India

The BCCI announced on Tuesday that it has secured government permission to host Pakistan for a small tour later this year. 

The BCCI in India has invited Pakistan to play 3 ODI and 2 Twenty20 matches in December-January, the 1st bilateral contests between the arch-rivals in 5 years. 

We have discussed all security aspects the tour is on, board spokesman Rajiv Shukla told the media after a meeting between its officials and Indian Home Secretary R. K. Singh.

A report by the Press Trust of India said the venues for the ODI games would most probable be Chennai, Kolkata and New Delhi while the T20 matches would take place in Bangalore and Ahmadabad. 

The rivals have not played a series since Pakistan's tour of India in 2007, after cricket ties were snap following the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai by militants from Pakistan. Cricket ties have been the subject of deliberations between the governments of both nuclear-armed countries.

They have been holding usual meetings in a bid to pick up relations and finally thrash out a peace agreement. The countries where cricket is hugely popular have fought 3 wars since independence in 1947. The Indian and Pakistani cricket teams have only met in international tournament since 2007. They clashed in the ODI World Cup semi-final in the northern Indian town of Mohali last year, a match that was attended by both countries' prime ministers.

Yuvraj Name Added India 'A' squad

Yuvraj has been named in the India 'A' squad that will take on England in a 3-day match at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium, from coming October 30. 

Last week, Yuvraj made 208 for North Zone versus middle Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinal. After staging a 9-month recovery from a rare germ cell cancer, he had returned to cricket in Twenty20 International vs New Zealand and played in the ICC World Twenty20 that followed. 

A good performance in the 3-day match against England will put the 30-year-old back in the reckon for the crucial No.6 spot for the upcoming Tests against Alastair Cook's team. 

No spin for England The India 'A' squad that will take on England, but, will be without a spinner, as the Sandeep Patil led selection commission decided to deprive the visitors of being over-exposed to what will be their main concern in the Tests. An all-seam attack thus comprises Irfan Pathan, Ashok Dinda, Vinay Kumar and Parvinder Awana. 

The batting duties of the Raina-led side will be shared between Ajinkya Rahane, Manoj Tiwary, Robin Bist, Ashok Menaria, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay and Abhinav Mukund. Rohit Sharma has not been included.

IND vs ENG Test squad for the table

India and England teams play 4 Test squad for the table and they have been released.

No	Date	Team	Venue
1	19 Nov 2012	ENG vs IND	Ahmedabad
2	27 Nov 2012	ENG vs IND	Mumbai
3	09 Dec 2012	ENG vs IND	Kolkata
4	17 Dec 2012	ENG vs IND	Nagpur

England recovered Series level

Jade Dernbach marked his return to England duty with 3 wickets, including the prize scalp of Hashim Amla, in a 4-wicket succeed over his native South Africa in the 3rd ODI at The Oval.

Dernbach, recalled in place of Tim Bresnan, took 3 for 44 in nine overs on his Surrey home ground Friday as South Africa were dismissed for a below par 211 with 20 balls of their innings left. man seamer Anderson took 4 for 44 in 9.4 overs, including a spell of 3 for one in 8 balls that polished off the tail to help set up a win -- England's first over the Proteas this season in any format -- that leveled the 5-match series at 1-1.

England slumped to 64 for 3 in reply before a 4th-wicket partnership of 108 between former South Africa youth international Jonathan Trott (71) and ex-Ireland left-hander Eoin Morgan (73) punish the tourists for not making enough runs after winning the toss.

Amla was again South Africa's top scorer, as he had been while making a masterful 150 in the Proteas' 80-run win at Southampton on Tuesday. But his return to the ground where last month he became the first South Africa batsman to score a Test match triple century saw him dismissed by Dernbach for just 43.South Africa made a steady start after winning the toss, with Amla and Smith sharing a partnership of 50. But Smith was bowled by Anderson for 18 after the left-hander charged down the pitch.

England then got Amla, a thorn in their side all season, out moderately cheaply when Dernbach shaped a full length delivery that nipped back and bowled him off the in edge. James Treadwell, replacing rested fellow off-spinner Graeme Swann, took 2 for 49 as both captain AB de Villiers and JP Duminy holed out when well set.

Dean Elgar, in only his 2nd innings at this level, made 42 until bowled by a clever slower ball from Dernbach, who last played for England in a ODI against Australia in July that totally deceived the left-hander. Dernbach, born in Johannesburg but who arrived in England as a schoolboy, strike again when Wayne Parnell edged to wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter, a former South Africa Under-19 international.

Ian Bell was lbw to recalled fast bowler Steyn, included after being rested from the first 2 matches, to leave England 14 for one. England ODI and now Test, captain Alastair Cook took 18 balls to get off the mark before cutting Lonwabo Tsotsobe off his pads for 4.

But the left-hander carelessly lofted spinner Robin Peterson to Elgar, running round from deep mid-wicket, on 20. And 61 for 2 became 64 for three when Ravi Bopara was caught after for a duck by wicket-keeper de Villiers off speedy bowler Morne Morkel. Trott took 86 balls over his 50, with just 2 fours, but prevented more collapse while Morgan, who lofted left-arm spinner Elgar for the 1st six of the match during a 54-ball 50, ensured the innings did not idle.

Man-of-the-match Morgan, known as ODI 'finisher', later advanced down the pitch to cover-drive Tsotsobe for an impressive six high over long-off before he skied a return catch to Peterson. Trott was out with 5 needed for victory when caught behind off left-arm fast Parnell. The series continues across London at Lord's on Sunday.

ENG Series-South Africa won the match

Southampton: Hashim Amla inflicts another record-breaking hundred upon England as South Africa win the second ODI by 80 runs in Southampton on Tuesday.

Amla 150 saw him become the fastest player to 3,000 ODI runs as he reached just his 57th innings compared to the 69 it took West Indies great Vivian Richards. It was also the highest individual score in ODI matches between South Africa and England, and the foundation stone of the Proteas' 287 for five, made after captain AB de Villiers win the toss. England in reply was dismissed for 207, with more than 9 overs left.

Amla 10th hundred at this level surpass team-mate Graeme Smith's 141 in Centurion 3 years ago as the largest solo effort in South Africa-England one-dayers and was also Amla personal best, overtaking the 140 he made against Bangladesh in Benoni in 2008.success saw South Africa take a 1-0 lead in this 5-match series following Friday's washout in Cardiff and ended England's run of 10 straight wins in finished one-dayers.

It also meant South Africa, having already dethroned England at the top of the world Test rankings this tour, also replaced them at the head of the same one-day standings and were now top in all 3 formats. South Africa only needs to draw this series to cement their new-found status, while England must win it to remain in pole place in the 50-over format.

England's attack must be sick of the sight of Amla, who made a South Africa record 311 not out in the 1st Test at The Oval last month and another hundred as the Proteas conserved the 3-match series 2-0 with victory at Lord’s. Opener Amla, a touch batsman rather than a power player, was in sight of the rare difference of carrying his bat in a ODI match when, 2balls before the end of the innings, he uppercut fast bowler Steven Finn to Tim Bresnan.

The ball before the stylish Amla, who put on 89 for the 1st wicket with Test skipper Smith (52), gave himself room to work the ball down to 3rd man for a 4 that took him to 150 in front of a near-capacity Ages Bowl crowd in this day/night fixture. Amla faced 124 balls with 16 boundaries but was missed on 92 when Johannesburg-born wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter failed to hold a intricate but catchable leg side chance off Finn.

England was reduced to nought for one when skipper Alastair Cook was superbly yorker by Lonwabo Tsotsobe off just the 2nd ball of their reply. Ian Bell got England going again but a second-wicket partnership worth 64 ended when Jonathan Trott, a previous South Africa youth international, was luminously caught over his shoulder by Dean Elgar at long leg off M- Morkel.

And 64 for 2 became 77 for 3 when Bell, whose 45 came at better than a run-a-ball, played down the wrong line to left-arm spinner Robin Peterson made it 2 wickets for three runs in 8 balls when Ravi Bopara struck a long hop to short extra-cover. England, without the exile Kevin Pietersen, was now 90 for four.Kieswetter then became Elgar's 1st wicket at this level when he edged the slow left-armer's 3rd ball to Smith at slip. Any hopes of a late England rally left when Eoin Morgan, Bresnan and Swann all exited on the same total to leave the hosts 159 for 8.

Last man Finn and Patel entertain the crowd with some bold boundary hitting before Patel was caught behind for 45 off Morkel to end the match. The series continues at The Oval on 31- 8-2012 (Friday).

Man of the match:

Hashim Amla

NZ Series Test and T20 Series India Name announced

Rahul Dravid's retreat earlier this year has spared the current selection committee major headache as they sit together to pick their last Test team before the end of their term. After the 8 straight losses abroad, the demand for change and youth was natural, but the job created by Dravid's departure will allow them to pick 3 new batsmen for the New Zealand Series with no having to make a tough call. Tough calls will be left for the team board who will prune the 15 to 11 on the eve of the 1st Test, which begins on August 23.

Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are likely to continue as the openers, VVS Laxman is almost certain to retain his middle-order place, and Cheteshwar Pujara will be only addition to the bat group that tour Australia. Rohit Sharma, who was the next man in should India have made changes in Australia, is likely to retain his Test slot in spite of a very much not good enough limited-overs tour of Sri Lanka. The selection of the XI is some way off, but Pujara's return from injury and his adult knocks on rough West Indies pitches through the A tour might have pushed him in front of Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane in the pecking order.

Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, who formed a victorious spin duo in home Tests against West Indies last year, are likely to backed up by Rahul Sharma in the reserves. Zaheer Khan and Umesh Yadav will be the 2 1st-choice quicks.

Although the BCCI's release didn't say so, the selectors are also likely to discuss the squad for next month's World Twenty20. They might or might not make the statement tomorrow, but this is likely to be a more complex conversation. For starter, they will have to take a call on the moving favorite Yuvraj Singh's return after his recovery from a rare germ-cell cancer.

There is room for discussing various combinations in the Twenty20 squad, particularly in the bowling department. They could look at other T20 specialists, but the 15 who played in Sri Lanka start off as favorites for preservation.

Test squad	T20 squad
MS Dhoni (capt./wk)	MS Dhoni (capt./wk)
Virender Sehwag	Virender Sehwag
Gautam Gambhir	Gautam Gambhir
VVS Laxman	Virat Kohli
Sachin Tendulkar	Suresh Raina
Virat Kohli	Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma	Ajinkya Rahane
Cheteshwar Pujara	Manoj Tiwary
Ajinkya Rahane	Irfan Pathan
R Ashwin	R Ashwin
Zaheer Khan	Zaheer Khan
Umesh Yadav	Umesh Yadav
Pragyan Ojha	Pragyan Ojha
Rahul Sharma	Rahul Sharma
Ashok Dinda	Ashok Dinda

Harbhajan angry over 'wicket less' jibe

Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has hit out at the country's media after news reports noted his wicket less bowling in Recent County Matches in England.

Harbhajan, out of India's team since an England tour last year, conceded 33 runs in 13 overs for no wickets while playing for Essex against Gloucestershire in a rain-affected 4-day match last week.

Indian media makes the news out of nothing. 3 days of region match gone in rain and they playing 'Bhajji gone wicket less'. Well done media, Harbhajan, who is recognized as Bhajji in India, wrote on Twitter last Friday.

Indian media is not anything but a joke. Worst part is the people believe what they write. Come on guys grow up. Stop put one guy down," he added.

The Indian spinner is also wicket less in a continuing match against Hampshire which started on Thursday. He bowled 28 overs for 73 runs on the opening day of the 4-day match in Chelmsford.

Harbhajan barren spell for Essex continues, read a title by The Times of India on Friday, which used a news report file by the Press Trust of India agency from England.

He was on Wednesday named in a 30-man beginning Indian squad for the World Twenty20 to be played in Sri Lanka later this year.

He has bagged 406 wickets in 98 Tests and 259 wickets in ODI.

Tatenda Taibu announced the retirement

Zimbabwe wicketkeeper-batsman Tatenda Taibu (29) has announced his retirement from cricket, citing a desire to work for the church instead.

Tatenda Taibu, who has been playing for over 11 years, became the first youngest captain in Test history at 21 when he led Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka at Harare in 2004.

I just feel that my true calling now lies in doing the Lords work, he said, and although I am lucky and proud to have played for my nation, the time has come for me to put my entire focus on that part of my life.

Taibu played in 28 Tests matched and 150 One day International matches for Zimbabwe. He was also named in Zimbabwe's temporary squad for the World Twenty20, which will be held in Sri Lanka in September.

Pakistan announce for Australia series Schedules

KARACHI - Pakistan will host Australia in 3 ODI cricket matches and 3 Twenty20 games in its home series in the United Arab Emirates from August 28 to September 10, the Pakistan Cricket Board said on Thursday.

Australia had expressed concern about playing ODI match in the heat of the UAE and the matches would start late in the day, when the weather was cooler, the board said.

Pakistan has been forced to organize one more home series in the UAE after Australia refused to tour Pakistan because of security concerns.

The PCB had at first planned the series in Sri Lanka but the Sri Lankans withdraw their offer due to their premier league match being held in August.

Since 2009, when militant attacked the Sri Lanka team test-playing nations have refused to tour Pakistan.

Pakistan Vs Australia series Schedules

Three ODI Matches

1st one-day August 28 - Sharjah

2nd one-day August 31 - Abu Dhabi

3rd one-day September 3 – Sharjah

ThreeTwenty20 Matches

1st Twenty20 September 5 - Dubai

2nd Twenty20 September 7 - Dubai

3rd Twenty20 September 10 - Dubai

Do not spread out all over the world urging the ICC scandal

Cricket chiefs on Wednesday called for an international lifetime ban for Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria after he was punished for his job in an English spot-fixing scandal.

The International Cricket Councils board said domestic bodies should be aware of and respect the sanctions... including by enforce and giving effect to them within their own jurisdiction to the fullest extent allowed by law. Kaneria was banned for life by English authorities for his involvement in the Mervyn Westfield spot-fixing case. The 31-year-old Pakistani has vowed to plea the permit.

Westfield was jailed for four months in February, but served 2 before being released in April, after admitting he accepted 6,000 Pounds to under-perform during a Pro40 match between Essex and Durham in 2009.The now 24-year-old Westfield named Kaneria -- arrested with him in 2010 but released without charge -- as the link among bookmakers and players. Westfield was given a 5-year ban for bring cricket into disrepute, a charge the seamer accepted, though he will be able to play club cricket in the last 2 years of his suspension.

The ICC is wrestling with the problem of spot-fixing, often bowling no-balls to order by bookmakers, at its yearly conference in Kuala Lumpur which wraps up on Thursday. Kaneria has not played for Pakistan since appear against England in August 2010 -- the same tour that saw the notorious fixing episode in the Lord's Test, which led to then-captain Salman Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamer being jailed on bribery charges.

Butt, jailed for 30 months last November on charges of compliant corrupt payments, was freed from an English jail on Thursday.

Aamer was released in February after serving half his 6-month sentence while Asif, jailed for one year, was freed in May.

Johnson gets 2012-13 contract list, Cowan out

Paceman Mitchell Johnson was a big winner in one of a streamlined 17 players Friday awarded a Cricket Australia contract, but Test opener Ed Cowan missed out.

CA sliced its centrally contracted players list from 25 to 17 under a new agreement with the players' union, but with the talent to upgrade others if their performance warranted. Johnson, 30, has not played for Australia in any form of the game since November last year due to a foot injury, while Cowan, national T20 skipper George Bailey, Clint Mackay and Christian were the big losers.

ODI specialist David Hussey kept his contract, despite having yet to play a Test match Australia’s selectors said the contracts were awarded on the form over the past 1 year. Their likelihood of being selected for Australia in any form of the game during the next 12 months and the weighting for Tests over ODIs and in turn T20.

Chief selector John Inverarity said his panel had faith that Cowan and Bailey could still be awarded a contract with better performances. Naming just 17 players at first, with the ability to upgrade others, as and when performance warrants, ensure a tighter position between present performance, recognition and reward, Inverarity said in an announcement.

There are a number of very good regarded players who the panel has great faith in -- and hopes for who didn't, on this occasion, make the cut for the contract list of 17. Cowan; George Bailey, Forrest, Clint McKay, Christian and some others come readily to mind.

The expectation is that a handful of names will be added to the list as the season unfolds and upgrade points are accrued by those players in lieu of Australia in the various formats of the game.

Under a new pay agreement signed with the Australian Cricketers Association, the minimum CA retainer contract is worth Aus230, 000 with performance payments, counting $Aus14, 000 for a Test match $Aus5, 600 for an ODI and $Aus4, 200 for a T20.

Australians 2012-13 contracted list - Michael Clarke, Patrick Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Shane Watson, and David Warner.

My boys respect the well, said Sammy

Birmingham, England: Captain Darren Sammy was fast to reaffirm his young side's huge respect for former West Indies' greats after Denesh Ramdin was fined by the ICC for a jibe at famous captain Vivian Richards.

Ramdin celebrated his century on the 4th day of the 3rd Test against England Sunday by producing a piece of paper with the words "Yeah Viv Talk Nah" scribbled, and brandish it towards the media center.

It was in response to criticism leveled at him by Viv, now an analyst for BBC Radio, following West Indies' 2nd Test defeat at Trent Bridge.

Denesh and I spoke and he spoke in the media yesterday and he said almost certainly his emotions got the better of him, Sammy told a media meeting Monday.

We as a West Indian team have a lot of respect for our past players particularly someone as great as Sir Viv. We all take a lot of motivation from Fire in Babylon which reflects our history and as a team we have a lot of good respect for guys like Sir Viv.

Chris Gayle of West Indians in the back

Previous captain Chris Gayle has been named in the West Indies ODI squad, scheduled to play England later this month after a long absence of 14 months.

Gayle, whose row with the West Indies Cricket Board resulted in him being barred for close to a year, was built-in in a 15-man squad announced on Monday for the 3-match series that begins on June 16.

Gayle, who has been one of the most winning batsmen for the West Indies, played his last match for them in the World Cup quarterfinal in March 2011.

He was critical of the WICB in a radio meeting after the World Cup, following his removal from the subsequent ODI series at home against Pakistan, The Sydney Morning Herald information.

Those comments, some of them unkind to coach Otis Gibson, led to his long spell out of the team, and Gayle instead played well-paying Twenty20 tournament in India, Zimbabwe, Australia and Bangladesh.

In March, a meeting between Gayle and the WICB facilitate by CARI COM ministers, cleared the way for his return.

Last Sunday, the few residual matters in the long-running stalemate were sorted out to clear the way for his return.

Pakistan in Sri Lanka T20 and ODI Cricket Series 2012

Sri Lanka and Pakistan will test each other's strength ahead of the World T20 match later this year when they clash in a 2-match series starting on (01-06-12) Friday.

The Twenty20 Match in southern Hambantota on Friday and Sunday are a prelude to the 4th edition of the world event that will be played in Sri Lanka in September-October.

With the World T20 coming up in a few months, this series against Pakistan is very important for us,Sri Lanka's veteran skipper Mahela Jayawardene said on Thursday.

We're using these 2 games to find the right combination so we will mix and match. We need to make a report in this series.

The absence of Pakistani players from the Indian Premier League could give Sri Lanka the initial benefit at the start of the tour that also includes 5 ODI and 3 Test matches.

Several Sri Lankan stars like Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga played in the cash-rich Twenty20 event in India that ended last Sunday.

But the Pakistanis, who win the World Twenty20 name in England in 2009, have been kept out of the IPL after the initial edition in 2008 reportedly over safety fears.

Pakistan in Sri Lanka T20 Series

No	Date& Time	Match	Place
1	01-Jun-12	Sri vs Pak	Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota
2	03-Jun-12	Sri vs Pak	Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota

Sri vs Pak ODI Series

No	Date	Team	Place
1	07-Jun-12	Sri vs Pak	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
2	09-Jun-12	Sri vs Pak	Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
3	13-Jun-12	Sri vs Pak	Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
4	16-Jun-12	Sri vs Pak	Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
5	18-Jun-12	Sri vs Pak	Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Andrew Strauss more hard work against West Indies

Nottingham: England captain Andrew Strauss has warned his side to wait for more difficult days ahead as they seek to wrap up a series success over the West Indies.

Strauss's men go into the 2nd leg of a 3-match series, which gets underway at Trent Bridge here on Friday, with a 1-0 lead after a 5-wicket win at Lord’s. But the West Indies took England the world's leading Test side, into the 5th day at Lord's and twice made they stumble in chase of a win target of 191.It was very hard work that's forever the case with Test match cricket, Strauss told Sky Sports at Trent Bridge here on Thursday.

Often it's hard work to get on top of the resistance and often it's hard work to nail that last nail in coffin. The West Indies put up a really good fight, there's times when they made life hard for us and we were relieve to a certain coverage to get over the line and succeed that game, but we're also aware we have to do it again this week if we want to win, added opening batsman Strauss, who ended his 18-month wait for a Test century at Lord's.

Alastair Cook (79) and Ian Bell (63 not out) saw England to successes at Lord's after they were in trouble at 57 for four, while the 1st Test was a personal triumph for seamer Stuart Broad, who takes 11 wickets in the match. That target was tricky and there was a time when we were beneath a bit of pressure and Alastair Cook and Ian Bell deal with that very well, and that's very important, said Strauss.

There were some really good performances from our side. Clearly Stuart Broad bowled exceptionally well; most of the batters got a score in the game, so I think we're sensitivity in pretty good form heading into this match. But as I said before, we don't want to get ahead of ourselves, it's going to be very hard work this week, and matches here are always hard fought."While England consider whether to alter their seam attack, after all-rounder Tim Bresnan manages just one for 144 at Lord's, the West Indies will be compulsory into at least one change.

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel, who took 4 wickets on debut at Lord's, was then ruled out of the rest of the series with a back injury. His absence could see the return of fellow fast Ravi Rampaul, who would have played at Lord's but for a neckline problem. Last year-and-a-half Ravi has been the guy who always takes wickets with the new ball for us, captain Darren Sammy. The way Kemar Roach is bowling and the insertion of Ravi, which could be a very good grouping for us.

And the tourists -- who in 22 matches against Nottinghamshire and England dating back to 1906 have never lost a first-class fixture at Trent Bridge, a run counting four wins and four draws in 8 Tests -- could recall off-spinner Shane Shillingford.The Dominican was left out at Lord's, despite taking 10 wickets in his earlier Test against Australia on home soil in Roseau last month. But Sammy said he could return as West Indies look to develop on a record of just 2 wins in their last 31 Tests.

Most definitely, we'll think playing Shilling ford," Sammy said. Looking at our attack, playing on flat pitch over the last year or so, a spinner has always been in our line-up, and we've gone with the fast men and me, and that has been successful for us. So we'll absolutely consider that and hopefully we can go out there and take 20 wickets against England.

Gayle's return to WI. Said WICB

Bridgetown- The way has been paved for starter Chris Gayle's selection to the West Indies team but uncertainty over his real return and grave concerns concerning his role in a multi-million dollar complaint against the West Indies Cricket Board, continue to hover worryingly over the deal reach.

Chairman of CARICOM's prime ministerial sub-committee on cricket, Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer announce on Wednesday evening the year-long impasse flanked by the embattled Jamaican and West Indies Cricket Board had been resolved.

His announcement follow weeks of talks which started in St. Vincent last month between the worried parties and which were facilitate by St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

Chris Gayle however, in a announcement dated March 23, said while he had signed the agreement, he remain ineligible for West Indies job for the duration of the Indian Premier League which winds up May 27.

The former Windies captain now has a legal case against the West Indies Cricket Board which the Board said it wanted discontinued.

Sri Lanka aim 2-0 series in Eng test Series

Colombo - Sri Lanka will settle for nothing less than a 2-0 series loss in the second and last Test against England in Colombo from 03-04-12, as the happy hosts celebrate 30 years of Test cricket.

Sri Lanka won the 1st Test in win by 75 runs, meaning a draw would be sufficient at the P. Sara Oval in the Sri Lankan capital for a 1st series Test win since 2009, when they hit New Zealand 2-0 at home. We will go for 2-0 because we play our best cricket when we are positive, Captain Mahela Jayewardene said on Monday.

Andrew Strauss's spin-wary England will slip to number 2 in the world rankings behind South Africa if they lose or draw the 2nd Test, but Jayewardene said his team was not going to show the tourists any mercy. When play a team like England, you have to be violent and look to get in front of them from the 1st ball. They are a sturdy side and will come hard at us, he said.

But we are ready for that and ready to play excellent cricket. We played well in Galle and must now look to develop on that. It was at the same venue that Sri Lanka played their opening Test in February 1982 against an England side led by Keith Fletcher, which win by 7 wickets inside four days.

It is going to be a bit emotional; Jayawardene said of the landmark Test. Everyone who plays the match will happen to part of our rich history. We are modest and proud to be part of such an important game.

PCB plan to host Australia in Sri Lanka

KARACHI: Pakistan plan to host their ODI series against Australia this August in Sri Lanka, a senior board official said on Tuesday.

In principle we have determined to hold the series against Australia in August in Sri Lanka but we are negotiate with the Sri Lankan board for a positive deal, PCB chief operating officer Siobhan Ahmed told Reuters 4 ODI internationals and 3 T20 games are planned.

The venue in Sri Lanka where we will embrace the matches will be decided soon. The Australians have also not articulated any reservations over playing in Sri Lanka, Ahmed said. Pakistan have be playing their series in the UAE venues of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah since distant teams refuse to visit the nation after a 2009 gun attack on the Sri Lanka side.

Ahmed said UAE had been lined out of contention because the withstand in August would be too hot. In case we don't reach a cost effective deal with the Sri Lankan board, South Africa is the other replace neutral venue for us, Ahmed said. The PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD has invite Bangladesh to break the mould and play an ODI series in Pakistan in April.

Ahmed said the PCB was still waiting for a positive response from the BCB With time running out it appears difficult they will send their team to Pakistan which would be a shame, he added. A series next to Bangladesh at a neutral venue is not cost effectual for us so that is not in our planning.

David’s 27 - Festival of Praise

Mumbai, Board of Control for Cricket in India's Rahul Dravid recently retired in Mumbai on 27 - E-appreciation service.

End hotel in Bandra in Mumbai tajlent in the occasion of the Indian team players, former players, family members of Dravid, BCCI's former, current players that participated included the BCCI said in a announcement.

In the 2nd test at the highest accumulation of the 16-year international cricket career over the Dravid - came to an end on. Outstanding role to Indian cricket gave him a farewell ceremony organized in a way that Kevin wanted to ü.

Dravid has played in 164 Test matches so far, 36 century’s, including a chance 63 of centuries 15, 470 run. 344 ODI centuries in 12 matches, including 83 fifties and is compounded by 10.889.

Clarke says. Sacking Ponting was tough.

Australian captain Michael Clarke has said he was partly answerable for the sacking of former captain Ricky Ponting from the one-day squad.

Clarke wrote about how difficult the decision had been in a newspaper column on Thursday, while toting up that the 37-year-old Ponting remain a huge part of our test team. I’m 100 % part of the choice panel - that's part now of the captain's job," he wrote in a New Ltd column. "We've made this decision as a panel.

It is tough not having the great Ricky Ponting out there..... Playing ODI cricket for us but that's the choice we've made."Clarke replaced Ponting as captain after England complete a 3-1 Ashes series win on Australian soil in January 2011, attractive part of the national side's selection panel.

Ponting's axing from the ODI side earlier this week as Australia build a side for the 2015 World Cup trigger fierce contest in the country. Without peer in the 50-overs game, Ponting has racked up 13,704 runs in 375 matches at an average of 42, also winning three World Cups in his 17-year career.

After accepting his ODI international career was ended, Ponting said he would go on in test cricket and hope to play in the 2013 Ashes. His test place had also been under strain at the end of last year but he respond with 544 runs at an average of 108 as hosts Australia whitewashed India 4-0.

Ponting consider play future after ODI axing

Sydney- Feb 20. Ricky Ponting's ODI international career appear over on Monday after he was dropped from Australia's team after a dismal run of form, and was consider his future in the game.

Chief selector John Inveracity announced the axing of Ricky Ponting, the 2nd all-time leading runs corer in ODIs, after he scored just 18 runs in five tri-series knock against India and Sri Lanka.Ricky Ponting has be dropped from the (ODI) squad due to his lack of form in the five tri-series matches to date," Inveracity said. Meeting reporters in Perth, Inveracity also said there were no guarantee Ponting continues playing Test cricket, and that the former captain was pondering his next steps.

Ponting is going to think his future over the next couple of days and he'll talk it over with his family and with his manager, and my estimate is he'll be giving a press conference in the next two or three days," he said.Ponting, 37, said earlier that he wanted to battle during his current slump. He has averaged just 3.60 in his five tri-series innings. But Inveracity, while praising Ponting's input over an impressive 17-year ODI career, seem to shut the door on any future for the expert in Australia's one-day side.

The team will not seem the same not including him, but moving on from the exclusion of players who have been outstanding over a long time of time is the nature of selected game, he said."He made a double century in his last Test match and we are hopeful that he remains available for Test match cricket, but there can be no guarantee in elite game and in the Australian team.”Inveracity added” If he drops out of the ODI team then there's a possible lack of thrust there.

There are three Test matches in the West Indies (in April), then as I appreciate it there are no more Test matches until October or November. The selectors dumped Ponting as they announced a 13-man squad with all-rounder Shane Watson returning for Australia's next two tri-series ODIs, against Sri Lanka in Hobart on Friday and India in Sydney next Sunday.Ponting's sacking came a day following he led Australia to a crushing 110-run win over India in Brisbane as stand-in for injured skipper Michael Clarke. But while the other batsmen made merry, he scored just seven runs from 26 balls.

Ponting said after Sunday's victory that he had no target of seeking a rest to freshen up."It's fair to say I've struggle in the first five games," he told reporters."I'm not going to put my hand up and say I want a break, since when you are going through a bend trot like I've had the last couple of games, you want to turn that approximately."Ponting ranks second only to India's Sachin Tendulkar with nearly all ODI runs (13,704) from 375 matches, while he has scored 13,200 runs in 162 Tests matches."Ricky's record speaks for itself," Inveracity said.

He is one of the truly great performers in the history of Australian ODI cricket, with his standing enhanced further by him captain ship Australia to two World Cup victories."Inveracity said that Ponting's giving to the Australia ODI team went far beyond his batting statistics and excellent t fielding.

The example he sets in every respect and his very positive influence in the dressing-room is approved by all," he said, while hailing Ponting's "selfless" motivation to stand in for Clark recently.

Ponting sacking comes less than a month after his dominant role in Australia's 4-0 clean sweep of the home pitch Test series against India. He was 2nd for most series runs only to Clarke, scoring 544 at 108.80 with 2 centuries and 3.50s.

Ponting as captain for Sydney ODI

Melbourne, Feb 14: Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has slam the national selectors for choosing Ricky Ponting as skipper more vice captain David Warner to replace the injured Michael Clarke rest for the Sydney ODI against Sri Lanka.

They put David Warner in there as vice-captain; I assume they think he's control material. If he's vice-captain, why can't he be captain? Ricky can do the job blindfolded but the future is David Warner, so I'm staggered they didn't go to Warner," The omen Sun quoted Waugh, as saying. Waugh also came out in maintain of wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who was been replace by Matthew Wade.

If he's rested, why doesn't he come back in and be captain? He was vice-captain of the Test side so there was a chance for Brad to be captain of the one-day team," he said. Chairman of selectors John Inveracity said acting Vice-captain David Warner was not set to fill the control role in Clarke's deficiency.

David Warner is a youthful player making his way. He displays great leadership potential, but the selection panel is of the view that he must not, at this second, have the added duty of captaincy thrust on him, he said. David has been in advance valuable experience under Michael Clarke's captaincy and now he will have the chance to grow his leadership skills additional as vice-captain to Ricky Ponting.

The squad for Australia's next two one-day matches is:

Ricky Ponting (C, Friday), David Warner (VC), Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, and Matthew Wade.

Clarke injury Miss to Sri Lanka Sydney match

SYDNEY: Australia Captain Michael Clarke has been ruled out of Friday's triangular series match next to Sri Lanka in Sydney with a right restrict injury, Cricket Australia said on Monday.

The selectors name the Australian squad for the next bunch of matches in the triangular series on Tuesday we are they will also have to select a replacement captain for Friday's fixture. Michael Clarke continued a low grade right restrict strain in the ODI versus India in Adelaide on Sunday, Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said in a report.

He had scans today (Monday) that complete the low grade nature of the injury. He will not recuperate in time to play in Australia's next... game on Friday in Sydney against Sri Lanka but I will assess him later this week and decide on his accessibility for the match in Brisbane on Sunday 19 February against India."Clarke broke the information of his injury first on Twitter. Pleasant to back in Sydney... Having a scan this afternoon so will keep you all informe Feeling very affirmative. Thanks for the concern.

michael-clarke tweeted earlier on Monday. After getting his scan reports, Clarke was happy that the injury was a small one and said he hoped to be back for Australia's match against India. I have a rank one hamstring strain so will be out of Friday's game vs. SL but with anticipation be back for Sunday next to India in Brisbane. Good news," he said India plays Sri Lanka in Adelaide on Tuesday in the fifth match of the triangular series. Next we have think chance to ponding.

Sri Lanka to Australia's weakness in bowling department

Sydney: Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayewardene has claimed Australia's bowling attack is their weakness, and his team would look to expose it in Friday's one-day international at the WACA.

He said if his team plays neatly, then they could easily expose Australia's weakened bowling attack, which is now without a few of its cutting edge bowlers who are out with injury. Ace fast bowler Brett Lee is out injured due to a broken foot, while the exciting young duo of Pat Cummins and James Pattinson are still trying to make a comeback from injuries.

Jayewardene believe Sri Lanka needs to win the decisive battles during their match against Australia. Ryan Harris, Clint McKay, Xavier Daugherty and Mitchell Starc constitute Australia's pace attack against India in the first ODI international match, which they contentedly won. Harris has endured an injury-hit summer while Starc and McKay are yet to establish themselves as regulars in the national set-up.

Now Jayewardene feels his batting line-up has a good chance to get on top. Harris is a decent bowler but they're still missing quite a few cutting edge guys. That's an area we can aim," The Herald Sun quote Jayewardene, as saying. Meanwhile, swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus was draft into the squad cover for Lee, but Arthur said he was almost confident to stick with the same bowling attack that perform so well against India last week.