Trescothick flies home from India

Trescothick's stress-related illness ended his England career

Somerset's Marcus Trescothick has had to fly home from the Champions League Twenty20 in India after a recurrence of his stress-related illness.

The former England opener will play no further part in the event which has seen Somerset reach the second phase.

"Marcus has made a great effort to travel to India," said Somerset director of cricket Brian Rose.

"Regrettably it has not worked out for him and he has travelled back to England to rejoin his family."

Rose added in a statement on the club website: "The club and all his team mates have fully appreciated this effort and personal commitment and look forward to further success on his behalf."

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Kiwi Oram retires from Test arena

Oram has over 2,000 runs and 130-plus wickets to his name in ODIs

Injury-plagued New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram has confirmed his retirement from Test cricket.

The 31-year-old has quit the long form of the game in an effort to prolong his international career.

He will remain available for the shorter versions of the game - Twenty20 and one-day internationals.

"This decision has been a very tough one and has not been made without careful consideration and discussion with those closest to me," Oram said.

The last few years have shown that my body cannot handle the strains and stresses that come with being an all-rounder, playing all three formats for up to 10 months a year.

"For the sake of longevity I have had to make a decision that will decrease my workload, so I can concentrate all my efforts on the shorter forms of the game."

Oram said aside from injuries, the pending arrival of his first child next month and a chance to spend more time with his family were factors in his decision.

"I have attempted to delay any decision about my future career path for some time now," he added.

"However in light of my latest injury at the Champions Trophy it has became clear to me that now is the time to sacrifice something to try and stay in the game longer.

"I am hoping this decision extends my career. I do not want to put an exact time frame on that, as I have learnt that sometimes my body and my mind are on different wavelengths."

Oram, who plays for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, said he was hoping to feature at the ICC World Cup in 2011.

The 6ft 6in medium pace bowler and left-hand batsman has a history with injuries restricting his appearances for New Zealand since his debut in 2002.

He has suffered from various back ailments, fractures to his fingers as well as Achilles and calf muscle problems and last month failed to make it to the Champions Trophy in South Africa after straining his hamstring in training.

He said he would leave the Test arena with some regrets after only featuring in 33 Tests since his debut in 2002.

"I have really enjoyed my Test career and I leave that format with many fond memories. I would be lying if I said I had no regrets, however these feelings were not powerful enough to make me reconsider this decision."

Oram scored 1,780 Test runs at an average of 36.3, including five centuries, and picked up 60 wickets at an average of 33.

New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan said he understood the decision for Oram to cut back on his workload. "Jacob has made a tremendous contribution to our Test team over the past seven seasons, and his experience will be missed," said Vaughan.

"But we fully understand the difficulties he has faced with injuries - and we hope this decision will help him prolong his playing career."

Oram will remain on a contract with NZ Cricket but will slide down the ranking list.

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Denly in frame as England wait on Pietersen

	Joe Denly has earned the right to a place in England's Test squad for South Africa

In the aftermath of their Ashes victory, and shortly before their momentum was destroyed by a chaotic month of one-day hammerings, England's cricketers vowed to use their summer success as a platform for greater glory. There would be no repeat, said Andrew Strauss, of their tailing-off in 2005, when victory against Australia was a prelude to a run of dismal form that culminated in their 5-0 whitewashing in the return series Down Under.

To all intents and purposes, that building process begins at Lord's at noon on Thursday, when the national selector, Geoff Miller, unveils their squads for England's winter tour of South Africa. Five years ago in the corresponding Test series, Michael Vaughan's men won a thunderous contest, sneaking a 2-1 victory against opponents who began in disarray but gathered momentum with every match.

This time around, however, South Africa will start as the No. 1 Test side in the world, and in Graeme Smith they possess a steely captain who exacted the ultimate revenge by toppling Vaughan in person during last summer's triumph in England. It counts for little that England have subsequently won five completed ODIs in a row against South Africa, including the shock of the tournament in the recent Champions Trophy. As far as England's aspirations are concerned, Test success remains the benchmark.

To that end, one of the very first names on Miller's list will be a man who still speaks with a thick South African accent, but who announced himself as a bona fide Pom by producing the decisive innings of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval. Barring a long-forgotten duck in Belfast, Jonathan Trott has been in mothballs ever since his nerveless 119. He was overlooked for the one-day debacle against Australia because the squad for the Champions Trophy had to be named in advance of his Test debut, but the assurance of his footwork and the clarity of his shot selection mean he is sure to take the squad place of the man whom he replaced at The Oval, Ravi Bopara.

Trott, in fact, could well be one of four players in England's top seven set for a return to the country of his birth - Strauss left Johannesburg at the age of six but returned with aplomb in 2004-05 with 656 runs in the five Tests, while the wicketkeeper Matt Prior also hails from the Highveld. But the most imposing returnee of the lot, fitness permitting, will be Kevin Pietersen, whose absence from the sharp end of England's Ashes campaign left the batting dangerously short of gravitas until Trott's timely arrival.

If missing out against Australia was a crushing disappointment, it will be cruelly exacerbated should Pietersen's Achilles injury deny him the chance to play his first Test in South Africa, having made his full England debut in the ODIs against Zimbabwe that preceded the last trip five years ago. A recent infection in the stitching of his wound pushed Pietersen's rehabilitation back by several weeks, but Strauss remains confident that his star man will be ready to resume his career at least in time for the Test leg of the tour that commences on December 9.

"The information we have got at the moment is that he is getting better quite quickly now," Strauss told BBC Radio Four. "We are very hopeful he will be making the trip to South Africa, hopefully playing some part in the one-dayers and then a full part in the Test series. That is great news for us. We have sorely missed him and the sooner he is back the better."

With Andrew Flintoff now retired, and Stuart Broad still feeling his way as a Test-class allrounder, England's batting will need to be bulked out regardless of Pietersen's availability. Ian Bell produced one of the best innings of his unfulfilled career when he top-scored in England's first innings at The Oval with a gritty 72, and so deserves one more chance to make the No. 3 slot his own. But with Alastair Cook under some pressure as an opener following a poor Ashes campaign, the new name in the frame is likely to be Kent's Joe Denly, whose upright technique has earned plaudits during his early forays in the one-day side, and whose calm demeanour bodes well for the tough challenge that lies ahead.

After saving the Cardiff Test with the rearguard of his life in July, Paul Collingwood finished England's Ashes campaign with his place under habitual scrutiny, but a brief break during the Australia one-dayers enabled him to return revitalised for the Champions Trophy. His subsequent buttock strain will not, in Strauss's opinion, have any impact on his selection for the Test squad, and in fact the reverse is probably true, because he will now have a chance for a proper break from the grind, having escaped his commitment to play for the Delhi Daredevils in the forthcoming Champions League.

England's bowling presents another set of conundrums entirely. James Anderson found form in the Champions Trophy after a difficult final month of the English season, and has established a handy new-ball pairing with Graham Onions, with Ryan Sidebottom seemingly assured of his place in the squad alongside Broad. However, since the retirement of Flintoff, England lack a bowler with the pace to frighten opponents ... unless, of course, they take a punt on a man who went missing spectacularly on the last South Africa tour (and for that matter on most overseas trips either side of the 2004 West Indies tour).

Steve Harmison recently declared his unwavering commitment to England, although he then tempered that resolve by hinting he could retire if overlooked for this winter's campaign. However, given the steepling bounce on offer during the recent one-dayers at the Wanderers, Harmison could be worth his squad place even if Johannesburg proves to be his only appearance of the tour.

Graeme Swann has stormed past Monty Panesar in the spin-bowling stakes, and the legspinner Adil Rashid has since slipstreamed him as well - first by impressing in the ICC World Twenty20, and then by demonstrating his allround credentials during an impressive but ultimately unsuccessful home ODI debut against Australia at The Oval. Given how brutally AB de Villiers treated the last legspinner to make his debut in South Africa, Bryce McGain at Cape Town back in March, there is an element of risk in overlooking Panesar's unspectacular offerings, but that could be said for the selection of all wristspinners. Shane Warne would never have been the player he was had it not been for some brave decisions from above, and on the evidence so far, Rashid has the demeanour to cope.

Which leaves room for one last selection, that of the reserve wicketkeeper. Prior's place is sacrosanct at present, after a summer of aggressive strokeplay at No. 6 allied to vastly improved glovework, but the identity of his understudy remains impossible to pinpoint. James Foster looked the part behind the stumps during the World Twenty and impressed in front of them as well, not least in the Pro40 when he spanked five sixes in a row against Durham.

However, it was Surrey's new signing Steven Davies who earned the call-up for the Champions Trophy when a virus cut short Prior's participation. Meanwhile, the quiet clamour of late has been for the quietest achiever on the county circuit. Geraint Jones was jettisoned in ignominious circumstances during the 2006-07 Ashes, and has barely been mentioned in dispatches since. However, five hundreds in Kent's Division Two title push - the most by a county wicketkeeper for 25 years - could yet earn him a remarkable recall.

Test squad (possible) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Alastair Cook, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Jonathan Trott, 5 Kevin Pietersen, 6 Paul Collingwood, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Stuart Broad, 9 Graeme Swann, 10 James Anderson, 11 Graham Onions, 12 Ryan Sidebottom, 13 Joe Denly, 14 Adil Rashid, 15 Geraint Jones (wk), 16 Steve Harmison.

ODI squad (possible) 1 Andrew Strauss (capt), 2 Joe Denly, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Paul Collingwood, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Owais Shah, 7 Matt Prior (wk), 8 Luke Wright, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Graeme Swann, 11 James Anderson, 12 Graham Onions, 13 Ryan Sidebottom, 14 Tim Bresnan, 15 Adil Rashid.

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Australia retain Champions Trophy

ICC Champions Trophy final, Centurion:
Australia 206-4 (45.2 overs) beat New Zealand 200-9 (50 overs) by six wickets

Shane Watson's magnificent knock featured 10 boundaries and four sixes

Shane Watson's second successive century ensured Australia held on to the Champions Trophy with a six-wicket win over New Zealand at Centurion Park.

Watson, aided by Cameron White (62), rebuilt Australia's innings from 6-2 to take them past their target of 201.

White fell to Kyle Mills (3-27) but Watson hit two sixes in a row to end the match and finish unbeaten on 105.

Earlier, spinner Nathan Hauritz (3-37) helped restrict New Zealand to 200-9, with Martin Guptill (40) top-scoring.

Although a fiery opening new-ball spell from Mills and Shane Bond had given the Black Caps fresh impetus with two quick wickets inside three overs, Watson and White batted with intelligence and composure to ensure the world champions leave South Africa as the world's best one-day side in the world.

Bond removed opener Tim Paine, caught at first slip by Ross Taylor in the second over, before Mills snared the key wicket of tournament top scorer Ricky Ponting, trapped lbw in the following over.

Bereft of scoring opportunities, Australia managed just 18 from the 10-over mandatory powerplay, the lowest total in the entire two-week tournament, surpassing New Zealand's modest 22 a few hours earlier.

However, fresh from an unbeaten 136 against England on Friday, Watson greeted the arrival of New Zealand's second-string seam attack with disdain, dispatching anything short and wide for four.

Kyle Mills was the pick of the New Zealand bowlers

Although White succumbed to Mills - the second of his three dismissals - for 62, Watson continued his sensational form, smashing two successive sixes off Jeetan Patel to bring up his fourth one-day hundred as well guide Australia to victory with 28 deliveries to spare.

New Zealand's task was made the more difficult when captain Daniel Vettori - one of the stand-out candidates for Player of the Tournament - was forced to withdraw before the match because of a hamstring problem.

With off-spinner Jeetan Patel the only change from the team which beat Pakistan in the semi-final, stand-in skipper Brendon McCullum elected to bat on an energetic - if unpredictable - Centurion wicket.

Rampant after their nine-wicket annihilation of England on Friday, Australia once again named an unchanged XI, with new-ball pair Brett Lee and Peter Siddle instantly extracting pace and sharp bounce from the wicket.

And it was Siddle who made the initial breakthrough, snaring a top edge from a wild McCullum slash outside outside off stump and into the gloves of Paine in the fourth over.

Neither Aaron Redmond or new batsman Guptill could penetrate the vice-like grip as New Zealand limped to 22-1 at the 10-over powerplay.

The run-famine relented with the introduction of second-change bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Watson, with Guptill in particular punishing anything full and outside off stump.

But with New Zealand slowly wresting the momentum in their favour, Redmond recklessly conceded his wicket charging a wide Hauritz delivery in the 19th over, with Paine whipping off the bails in an instant.

The off-spinner landed his second wicket when Guptill returned a simple catch in the 23rd over, ending his promising innings of 40, before Taylor was brilliantly caught by Mike Hussey at backward point off Johnson in the following over to leave New Zealand teetering at 81-4.

Consolidation arrived in the form of Neil Broom and James Franklin, with the pair compiling a patient 65-run stand in 14 overs.

But just after taking the batting powerplay in the 39th over, calamitous running saw Broom gift his wicket to Australia for 37 shortly after a series of confident boundaries.

Franklin departed for 33 in the 41st over as Lee speared a vicious yorker at the left-hander's toe from around the wicket, uprooting the off stump in the process.

Ian Butler became Hauritz's third wicket, trapped lbw, before Patel and Bond took the Black Caps beyond the 200-run mark with a boundary from the final ball of the innings.

Brendon McCullum dropped Cameron White on 14

But despite their electric start with the ball, Kiwi skipper McCullum was left to lament a dropped catch when White was on 14.

The Victoria captain top-edged an attempted pull of Ian Butler high in the air, but the wicketkeeper failed to cling on to a tough chance running backwards towards fine leg.

New Zealand's support seamers could not find the same disciplined lines as Mills and Bond, with Watson, in particular, capitalising as Butler and Franklin dropped short, while off-spinner Patel was lofted with a slog-swept six over mid-wicket.

The Queenslander brought up his 10th one-day 50 from 74 deliveries in the 26th over, although he was fortunate to survive a very confident appeal for leg before against Franklin soon after.

White brought up his half century with a punchy straight drive for four over Butler's head, but his innings came to an abrupt end when he played on to his stumps attempting to shoulder arms to a Mills delivery in the 35th over.

Hussey soon followed, cutting Kyle Mills to point, but Watson took Australia past their winning target in emphatic style to ignite a celebratory pyrotechnic display high in the Centurion night sky.

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Younus rues dropping catch after Pakistan's Trophy exit

Pakistan skipper Younus Khan blamed himself after dropping a crucial catch in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final defeat against New Zealand, saying the elimination was the biggest disappointment of his career.

"Personally that moment when I dropped Grant Elliott in the semi-final still haunts me and will continue to haunt me," he told reporters on Monday after the team's return from South Africa.

New Zealand edged out favourites Pakistan by five wickets on Saturday after Younus grassed a simple catch off top-scorer Elliott, who was on 40 with 69 runs required from 64 balls to win.

Elliott, who played with a broken thumb, went on to score 75 not out and steer his team into the final against Australia, to be played later on Monday.

Younus, who also had a hairline fracture in his little finger, was disappointed Pakistan could not repeat their successful Twenty20 World Cup campaign.

"It was a trophy I was desperate to win for my country because the ICC Champions Trophy was shifted from Pakistan to South Africa," said Younus, who has been advised four weeks rest.

"I wanted to show the world that even while fighting a war against terror, Pakistani people are a resilient lot and cricket would never die in our country."

The tournament, which had been originally scheduled for last year, was postponed and moved out of Pakistan due to security concerns.

Pakistan next face New Zealand in a one-day series to be played in the Gulf venues of Abu Dhabi and Dubai from Nov. 3.

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England wait on Broad and Prior

England seam bowler Stuart Broad will have a late fitness test ahead of Friday's ICC Champions Trophy semi-final against Australia at Centurion.

England will make late decisions on both Prior and Broad

Broad complained of tightness in his left buttock during Tuesday's defeat by New Zealand, and a scan revealed a torn muscle in his buttock.

England will also make a late decision on wicketkeeper Matt Prior, who has missed the last two games with illness.

He could be replaced by Steve Davies, who has joined up with the squad.

Team director Andy Flower said they had already approached the International Cricket Council - who must approve any replacement to the squad - about bringing Davies in for Prior.

"Matt's over the worst of that illness, but he's still nowhere near 100%," explained Flower.

"We have chatted to the ICC about replacing him in the squad and the protocols involved to do so, and that option is still available."

Batsman Eoin Morgan has kept wicket for the last two games, but either Davies or a recovered Prior could play, probably in place of Ravi Bopara at Centurion.

After having his scan, Broad joined Thursday's practice under the supervision of physio Kirk Russell and team doctor Mike Stone, but halted during a series of exercises and seemed to be struggling with his movements.

The trio were joined by Flower and captain Andrew Strauss, who held further discussions before Broad simulated running between the wickets with a bat - but he did not appear to be moving freely, and left for the dressing room with Russell and Stone.

"He bowled a few overs at full pace in the nets and practised running between the wickets and had a little fielding test," Flower told BBC Sport.

"He has got a little tear in one of the muscles in his backside, so he's not 100%.

"But we're going to give him a little more time to see if he can be fit for the game, and give him another test in the morning.

"He's an important player in our side, who's just hitting his straps in this tournament, but if we can't get him in we've got other players who can take his place."

If Broad is unable to feature, Tim Bresnan's all-round abilities could see him edge out fellow seamer Graham Onions, whose inclusion would lengthen England's tail.

Another option would be to name Adil Rashid as a second spinner.

"Bresnan's probably the obvious replacement as a first-change bowler, but we'll make that decision tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Australia have been granted permission from the ICC to add batsman David Hussey to their squad as cover for injured vice-captain Michael Clarke, who has returned to Australia with a back injury.

But Hussey appears unlikely to play at such short notice against England, although he may offer them batting cover in the event that they make Monday's final.

Having played the same side in all three group games, seamers Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger are expected to miss out again, along with batsman Adam Voges.

Australia will go into the match as clear favourites, but spinner Nathan Hauritz says he has been impressed with England's revival since their 6-1 thrashing in the recent one-day internationals series.

"We played seven games back-to-back against each other and it can get a bit monotonous and draining at times," he said. "It was a fresh start for England over here and they've done really well.

"They have obviously looked at a few different areas, seen what they need to do and it's worked for them so far."

The defending champions booked their meeting with Andrew Strauss' team by scrambling a bye off the final ball to beat Pakistan by two-wickets on Wednesday to finish top of Group A.

"We knew if we tied the game we were going through anyway so it didn't really matter what happened on the last ball, but we still want to win every game," Hauritz added.

"It doesn't bother me who we play, we've been playing some good cricket recently. It's good to play England because we know their games and they know ours but it's a new game and a new venue."

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England (from): Andrew Strauss (capt), Joe Denly, Owais Shah, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wk), Ravi Bopara, Luke Wright, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan, Graham Onions, Adil Rashid.

Australia (from): Shane Watson, Tim Paine (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Mike Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Cameron White, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, David Hussey.

Umpires: Billy Bowden, Aleem Dar, Tony Hill (third umpire), Asad Rauf (fourth umpire).

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Shoaib, Steyn and Anderson vault into the top 20

The group stage of the ICC Champions Trophy 2009, as expected, has provided thrilling, exciting and nail-biting finishes, as well as a couple of heart-breaking results which have caused plenty of reshuffle in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Team and Player Rankings.

Host South Africa, which entered the tournament as the number-one side in the team rankings on 126 ratings points, has slipped to third on 121 ratings points after suffering defeats against Sri Lanka and England which resulted in its elimination from the tournament it won in 1998 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

In contrast, defending champion Australia has regained the top spot on 126 ratings points after recording victories over the West Indies and Pakistan. Former winner India, which also took an early flight home after losing to Pakistan with its match against Australia being washed out, has retained its second position but has conceded two ratings points and now sits on 124.

However, India can regain the coveted number-one spot if sixth-placed England defeats four-time world champion Australia in the first semi-final at Centurion on Friday. Defeat would drop Ricky Ponting's side to 124 ratings points and behind Mahendra Singh Dhoni's side when ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

There will be plenty at stake in the second semi-final when 2000 winner New Zealand goes head to head with Pakistan at The Wanderers on Saturday. A defeat for Younus Khan's men will drop it to 109 ratings points and potentially in sixth place if England upsets Australia.

If Australia beats England and New Zealand defeats Pakistan, the green shirts will slip one place to fifth.

In case of Australia beating England and Pakistan defeating New Zealand, Australia will go to 127 ratings points and Pakistan will rise to 113 ratings points while England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand will be locked on 106 ratings. Nevertheless, England will be in fifth position, Sri Lanka in sixth spot and New Zealand in seventh place after the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings, it is still India first and second with Dhoni leading Yuvraj Singh in the batting table and Nuwan Kulasekara of Sri Lanka just ahead of New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori in the bowling chart.

But good performances in the group stage of the ICC Champions Trophy have helped several star players improve upon their rankings and move up the ladder.

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen, South Africa captain Graeme Smith has rocketed five places to third position after scoring 206 runs while Australia's Mike Hussey is just behind in fourth position after jumping two places to trail second-placed Yuvraj by four points.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who is the third leading run-getter to date with 176 runs, has also improved his ranking by four places and he now sits in ninth spot with eighth-placed Indian maestro Sachin Tendulkar firmly within his sights.

Mohammad Yousuf and Shoaib Malik, who put on 206 runs for the fourth wicket against India, have also made movements in the right direction with Yousuf climbing one place to 13th and Shoaib, who is the second lead run-getter to date with 178 runs, vaulting eight places to 15th.

Other notable batsmen outside the top 20 are England's Paul Collingwood 21st (up by six places) and Owais Shah 30th (up by nine places), New Zealand's Martin Guptill 40th (up by 24 places) and Eoin Morgan of England who has shot 31 places to 43th spot.

In the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI bowlers, South Africa's Dale Steyn has achieved his career-best ranking to date to assume eighth position. His six wickets in the tournament have helped him rise 14 places to share the position with Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralidaran who has dropped three places.

Also on the charge is England fast bowler Stuart Broad whose 10 wickets to date have helped him jump four places to 14th spot while his team-mate James Anderson has returned to the top 20 in 19th place after his seven wickets have helped him climb 16 places.

In the top 10, New Zealand pair of Kyle Mills and Shane Bond have improved their positions by two places. Mills shares second place with his captain Vettori while Bond is in fifth spot.

Also achieving his career-best ranking is Sri Lanka's magician spinner Ajantha Mendis who is now in seventh position after rising four places.

The only change in the top five of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for all-rounders is Shahid Afridi who has climbed one place to share fourth spot with Jacob Oram of New Zealand.

Forthcoming matches in the ICC Champions Trophy 2009:

2 Oct - Australia v England, Centurion (d/n)

3 Oct - Pakistan v New Zealand, The Wanderers (d/n)

5 Oct - Final

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Vettori urges Black Caps to go step further

Johannesburg: New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has urged his team to go one step further in the ICC Champions Trophy following their exuberant show so far in the tournament sealing a semi-final clash against Pakistan on Friday.

"It is about time we made a final. There is a lot of determination in the group when we come to these tournaments and there is an expectation of us as a One-day team," The New Zealand Herald quoted Vettori, as saying.

"We have had a pretty good One-day team over the years. Now, it is up to us to deliver a little bit more than that. We know when we get to a semi-final it could be anyone's day and we are just hoping it is ours," he added.

New Zealand's progress is also remarkable for the fact that they had to deal with injuries of some key players including fast bowler Daryl Tuffey - who broke his hand, opener Jesse Ryder - who suffered a groin injury batting against Sri Lanka and all rounder Jacob Oram - with a hamstring injury.

New Zealand's win in their must-win Group B match against England also secured an extra day's rest for the team and another match at the Wanderers, a venue which suits the fast bowlers.

"We are fortunate enough to have the later semi-final now. So, that helps us," Vettori said.

"And, to be honest, 99 per cent of the wickets we play on are featherbeds. So, it is not a problem once in a while to have wickets, which challenge the batsmen. I don't have a problem with it at all," he added.

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Australia eye final berth

Centurion: Having sneaked into the semi-finals with a last-ball victory over Pakistan, Australia will have to plug their batting loopholes when they take on their traditional rivals England in the first semi-final of the ICC Champions Trophy here tomorrow.

Chasing 206 against Pakistan, Australia's middle order collapsed from a comfortable position before they struggled their way to the semi-final and skipper Ricky Ponting will have to ensure his men do not repeat the same mistakes.

Australia had recently registered a convincing 6-1 victory over England in the ODI series in England and Ponting will hope his team draws inspiration from that series and comes up with a similar performance tomorrow.

"We had a very good series against England over there but its different conditions here and I think they are playing really good cricket. We have to make sure we play well in the next match on Friday," said Ponting.

On papers, Australia does not seem to have any chink but yesterday's match showed their vulnerability to quality bowling specially at the end overs.

Australia's top order has so far fired in unison with Tim Paine, Ponting and Mike Hussey leading the way for the team.

However, opener Shane Watson's poor form will be a cause of worry for the Aussies.

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Australia clinch semi-final spot

Australia won a thrilling match against Pakistan by two wickets to reach the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy and to knock India out of the event.

Pakistan made a disappointing 205-6 off 50 overs with Mohammad Yousuf (45), Kamran Akmal (44) and Misbah-ul-Haq (44) all making good contributions against some accurate Australia bowling.

In reply, Australia appeared to be coasting to victory when it was 140-2, but Ricky Ponting's dismissal sparked a dramatic collapse which threatened to eliminate it from the tournament.

Michael Hussey, who won the Man of the Match Award for an excellent 64, fell to make it 174-5 which led to a flurry of wickets with four wickets falling in 4.3 overs.

In the end Australia was left to be grateful to Nathan Hauritz and Brett Lee adding 19 for the ninth wicket which sealed a semi-final match against England on Friday.

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ICC Champions Trophy : Australia vs India Match Delayed due to Rain

Australia vs India Match Delayed due to Rain,Now the current Score is 234 runs after loosing 4 wickets..get regular intouch with us for latest ICC Cricket Match updates

Australia Lost 3 Wickets

Australia Lost 3 Wickets in 32 overs and Now the score 174 runs after loosing 3 Wickets..keep in touch for live ICC cricket updates

Australia Lost his Second Wicket

Australia Lost his Second Wicket in 19 overs and Now the score 99 runs after loosing 2 Wickets..keep in touch for live ICC cricket updates

Australia Lost his First Wicket

Australia Lost his First Wicket in first 5 overs..keep in touch for live ICC cricket updates

Australia won the toss and decided bating first

Australia won the toss and decided bating first..Mactch will started at 12:30 GMT (18:00 IST)..See live cricket match score only on http://icctwenty20cricketscore.blogspot.com

Recent Results (Last 15 days)

ICC Champions Trophy 2009 ( One Day International )
24 Sep 2009	South Africa vs New Zealand 3rd Match Group B, SuperSport Park, Centurion South Africa won by 5 wickets
23 Sep 2009	Pakistan vs West Indies 2nd Match Group A, New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg (D/N) Pakistan won by 5 wickets
22 Sep 2009	South Africa vs Sri Lanka 1st Match Group B, SuperSport Park, Centurion (D/N) Sri Lanka won by 55 runs (D/L method)
Compaq Cup 2009 ( One Day International )
14 Sep 2009	Sri Lanka vs India Final Match, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (D/N) India won by 46 runs
12 Sep 2009	Sri Lanka vs India 3rd Match, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (D/N) Sri Lanka won by 139 runs
11 Sep 2009	India vs New Zealand 2nd Match, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (D/N) India won by 6 wickets
Australia Tour of England 2009 ( One Day International )
20 Sep 2009	England vs Australia 7th One Day International, Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street England won by 4 wickets
17 Sep 2009	England vs Australia 6th One Day International, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (D/N) Australia won by 111 runs
15 Sep 2009	England vs Australia 5th One Day International, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (D/N) Australia won by 4 wickets
12 Sep 2009	England vs Australia 4th One Day International, Lord"s, London Australia won by 7 wickets

ICC Champions Trophy 2009

Team	Played	Won	Lost	NR	Tie	BP	Points	NRR	For	Against
Pakistan	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	1.730	134/30.3	133/50.0
Australia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	0/.0	0/.0
India	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	0/.0	0/.0
West Indies	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	-1.730	133/50.0	134/30.3

Team	Played	Won	Lost	NR	Tie	BP	Points	NRR	For	Against
Sri Lanka	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	1.460	261/37.4	206/37.4
South Africa	2	1	1	0	0	0	2	-0.050	423/78.5	475/87.4
England	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.000	0/.0	0/.0
New Zealand	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	-0.990	214/50.0	217/41.1

Team	Played	Won	Lost	NR	Tie	BP	Points	NRR	For	Against
Sri Lanka	2	2	0	0	0	2	10	2.360	523/100.0	287/100.0
India	2	1	1	0	0	0	4	-1.040	324/90.3	462/100.0
New Zealand	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	-1.370	274/100.0	372/90.3

Team	Played	Won	Lost	NR	Tie	BP	Points	NRR	For	Against
South Africa	3	3	0	0	0	0	6	0.790	427/58.2	392/60.0
West Indies	3	2	1	0	0	0	4	0.063	401/47.0	415/49.0
England	3	1	2	0	0	0	2	-0.414	343/49.0	346/46.4
India	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	-0.470	421/60.0	439/58.4

Team	Played	Won	Lost	NR	Tie	BP	Points	NRR	For	Against
Sri Lanka	3	3	0	0	0	0	6	1.270	452/60.0	376/60.0
Pakistan	3	2	1	0	0	0	4	1.180	390/53.1	369/60.0
New Zealand	3	1	2	0	0	0	2	-0.230	407/60.0	373/53.1
Ireland	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	-2.190	370/60.0	501/60.0

Team	Played	Won	Lost	NR	Tie	BP	Points	NRR	For	Against
India	2	2	0	0	0	0	4	1.230	293/35.3	267/38.0
Ireland	2	1	1	0	0	0	2	-0.160	250/36.2	250/35.3
Bangladesh	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	-0.990	292/40.0	318/38.2

Team	Played	Won	Lost	NR	Tie	BP	Points	NRR	For	Against
England	2	1	1	0	0	0	2	1.170	347/40.0	300/40.0
Pakistan	2	1	1	0	0	0	2	0.850	312/40.0	278/40.0
Netherlands	2	1	1	0	0	0	2	-2.020	256/40.0	337/40.0

Team	Played	Won	Lost	NR	Tie	BP	Points	NRR	For	Against
Sri Lanka	2	2	0	0	0	0	4	0.620	352/39.0	336/40.0
West Indies	2	1	1	0	0	0	2	0.710	349/35.5	361/40.0
Australia	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	-1.330	328/40.0	332/34.5

Team	Played	Won	Lost	NR	Tie	BP	Points	NRR	For	Against
South Africa	2	2	0	0	0	0	4	3.270	339/40.0	208/40.0
New Zealand	2	1	1	0	0	0	2	0.310	217/26.0	217/27.0
Scotland	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	-5.280	170/27.0	301/26.0

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Kandamby, Mathews prop up Sri Lanka

Thilina Kandamby

Thilina Kandamby and Angelo Mathews hit half-centuries under pressure as Sri Lanka recovered from a horror start to reach 212 against England in the Champions Trophy here on Saturday.

Sri Lanka were struggling at 17-4 before Kandamby (53) and Mathews (52) led the fightback with an 82-run stand for the sixth wicket to help their team post a competitive total in the day-night match.

It was a rare sporting gesture by England captain Andrew Strauss that allowed Mathews to resume his innings after he was run out.

Mathews turned England paceman Graham Onions to square-leg and completed the first run before colliding with the bowler going for a second, with wicket-keeper Matt Prior effecting the run out after receiving the throw.

The Sri Lankan batsman stood briefly at the pitch before walking back to the pavilion, but Strauss called the batsman back.

Mathews, who was then on 51, failed to make the most of the opportunity as he added just one run more to his score before being caught behind off Luke Wright. He hit six fours in his 73-ball knock.

Kandamby smashed five fours in his 82-ball knock before being run out.

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There is still space for ODI cricket: Gambhir

Chennai: One-day cricket should not be scrapped as there is enough space in the international calendar to accommodate the format which is struggling to survive in the face of Twenty20's rising profile, feels Indian opener Gautam Gambhir.

"There is still space for 50-over format in international cricket. It gives batsmen an opportunity to show their talent, particularly the middle-order batsmen. Test is the toughest form of the game," Gambhir said.

Asked about the upcoming season, Gambhir said the Indian team is well-prepared to handle the challenges, which include a tri-series in Sri Lanka and Champions Trophy in South Africa. "If we play to our potential and continue to perform with positive approach, we will do very well in the coming season," he said.

Gambhir dismissed suggestions that Indian batsmen could not deal with the short ball well.

"It is only a hype that has been created. We do not face any such problems. I do not see it as a problem in our team," he said.

Asked about the Delhi players' recent stand-off with their state association, Gambhir said he doesn't know whether the row has ended permanently. "I do not know whether it has been resolved temporarily or permanently," he said.

'When you take wickets, no one talks of technique'

Irfan Pathan Interviewed by GS Vivek of Indian Express on Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Irfan Pathan talks about his technique, his transition from a pure bowler to a batting all-rounder, and about the mistake of consulting too many experts.

After a hectic workout at the National Cricket Academy, Irfan Pathan was aware that all eyes were on him as he made his way to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where his Corporate trophy team Air India (Red) were practising. In an interview with The Indian Express, Pathan talks about his technique, his transition from a pure bowler to a batting all-rounder, and about the mistake of consulting too many experts. Excerpts:

What's the latest on Irfan Pathan's comeback?

I was supposed to play Corporate trophy, but I just did a session with the trainers in NCA, and they wanted me to first strengthen my legs before I start playing again. Paul Close and Paul Chapman are here and they'll work with me for one or two weeks. I might miss the first two matches. So that's the latest but yes, but I'm pretty relaxed, feeling pretty fresh.

There's been a lot of debate about your technique, how you hold the ball and why it doesn't swing.

It's all got to do with performance. If someone starts the way I did and goes down in comparison, people are bound to talk. I might have done well compared to others, but if my performance is not as good as my first two years, people have to say something. Everyone bowls differently — Muralitharan bowls differently. If he hadn't taken that many wickets, people would've been saying he's not a conventional off-spinner, that he puts his wrist behind his elbow. But now people say he's doing so well because he's got a unique technique.

You consulted several experts for your bowling. Did that help?

When you think about it, you can say it proved detrimental. But at that time, I didn't realise it. Even now, I'm open to suggestions, but I'm much more confident about my bowling. In hindsight, I do think going to too many people affected my bowling, but I really wanted my performance to reach the level I started off with in international cricket. That's where it went wrong — trying to be too curious, to pinpoint how my hand comes and how my jump goes. But that phase is over.

There have been big comebacks this year — L Balaji and Ashish Nehra returned from career-threatening injuries — but is your comeback, where there are doubts about skill, more difficult?

In a way it is. But I'm in a really good place right now because I've done it before. After I got dropped I got a chance to play in the World T20, where I bowled reasonably well. But when I was dropped after the World Cup in the West Indies, I didn't even get a game for six months. Now I know things weren't in my control. If the team loses, someone has to suffer.

Your batting has often bailed India out. Have you ever considered being a batting all-rounder, with bowling secondary?

It's an option; it will take the pressure off my bowling. But I'm not ready for that transition right now. In a way, I am very stubborn about my bowling, and at 24, there is still a long way to go. It's an option that Gary Kirsten and I have spoken about. He says whatever he feels, and he told me to give it a thought. But right now, I'm going to be the way I am — a bowler who can bat.

You think you are out of favour because you lack the pace of Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan and RP Singh?

Pace was never my forte. There are quite a few international cricketers who don't bowl 90 mph but they still get wickets. I think it's more because there are other options available right now. My comeback might look difficult in the short-term, but people know who I am and that I have been there and done the job. The good thing about me is that my batting adds a few points.

You got your chances in between, but couldn't make them count. Why?

When was the last time Irfan Pathan played four ODIs in a row, or bowled his full quota of 10 overs in four consecutive games? It hasn't happened — for almost one-and-a-half years. What I'm saying is, if you allow a bowler to bowl more, you are going to bring his confidence up. I am not blaming anyone, neither the team management nor the selectors, I'm blaming myself. It's good I've got a break from international cricket, the attention will be away from me and I can train hard, play matches, and show what I am really capable of.

Sehwag wants to play more Tests than T20

Mumbai: The public might be enchanted with the Twenty20 format but swashbuckling Indian opener Virender Sehwag prefers to play Tests and ODIs more than the shortest form of the game that has taken the cricket world by storm.

"Personally I would like to play more Tests and ODIs than T20 games which I know have become extremely popular. I would like to play at least eight to 10 Tests in a year," Sehwag said at the media conference here to announce the list of nominees for this year's LG-ICC annual awards.

Sehwag batted for all three formats even as some past cricketers, including spin legend Shane Warne, have written the epitaph of the 50-over game.

The England and Wales Cricket Board already scrapped the One-dayers from its domestic schedule.

"The 20-20 game is big and in future may be everything but I would like to play more Tests and ODIs. The message I would like to give to the ICC is to introduce a World Championship of Tests. Every cricketer would like to play Tests against every other country and perform well. Test cricket is the true Test (of a cricketers' calibre)," he said.

Sehwag, one of the nominees for the ODI Player of the year award, welcomed the idea of the ICC awards, which he felt give the cricketers an added incentive to do well and described them as the "Oscars of cricket".

Dhoni, Dilshan in three categories for ICC awards

Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and in-form Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan have each been nominated in three categories for this year's International Cricket Council (ICC) awards.

Dhoni has an opportunity to pick up a second consecutive one-day international player of the year award, and also features in the cricketer and test player categories in the list of nominations released by the sport's governing body on Wednesday.

Dilshan has been named among the nominees for the cricketer, test player and Twenty20 international performance of the year.

The nominations were compiled by a five-man panel chaired by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd with performances during the period from Aug. 13, 2008 to Aug. 24 this year taken into consideration, the ICC said.

Awards will also be handed out to the emerging player, women's cricketer and umpire of the year, and will be presented in Johannesburg on Oct. 1.

The test and ODI teams of the year will also be selected and an award to the team that has adhered most to the spirit of cricket will also be named.

Sri Lanka set to chase 142 runs

Ross Taylor's 60 runs powered New Zealand to 141/8 in 20 overs against Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 International at R Premadasa Stadium.

West Indies unearth 'next Tendulkar'

ROAD TOWN: If former player Keith Arthurton is to be believed, West Indies has unearthed the next Sachin Tendulkar in a seven-year-old hailing from Hannah Estate in Tortola. Arthurton conducted a three-day coaching clinic this weekend on the islands of Tortola and Virgin Gorda and he had no doubt whatsoever that he has seen the next Tendulkar in Aidan Gorege.

"While he was batting, I heard someone in the crowd shout out that he looked like Sachin Tendulkar and I thought the same thing because of the way he bats, his stance and his attitude," said Arthurton, who represented West Indies in 33 Tests and 105 ODI between 1988 and 1999.

"You don't really see that in kids who are that young but he has something special in him and the local coaches should work with him so that he can develop his cricket skills," Arthurton said of Aidan, who is originally from Dominica.

Youngest participant of the camp, Aidan looks older than his age and has a stance which is almost a replica of Tendulkar's, according to a report in the 'Anguilla News'.

Bhajji fined for breaking Chandigarh traffic rules with his Hummer

Driving his dream Hummer landed Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh in trouble on Tuesday, when he was fined by Chandigarh traffic police for using the vehicle without a valid number plate.

Singh had to pay a 3000-rupee fine for the offence, according to reports.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (traffic), H S Doon, told reporters that this episode would promote better traffic sense among the general public.

The off-spinner became the latest Indian cricketer to buy the American SUV after skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Harbhajan imported the car from England, which costs about 70 lakh rupees in India. After paying the duty, the cost of the vehicle has come to one crore rupees.

While Dhoni's Hummer is silver in colour, Harbhajan has opted for a "Black Beauty".

Harbhajan is also looking forward to shifting to a new home.

The house is under construction in the New Baradari area of the city. The plot was given by the state government for his outstanding performance in the 2001 home series against Australia.

However, he has no plans to sell off his ancestral home where he was brought up.

Sangakkara reclaims top spot in rankings

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara reclaimed the top spot in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) test rankings for batsmen after his inspired knocks in the final test against New Zealand.

Sangakkara scored 50 and 109 in the home side's 96-run win for a 2-0 sweep on Sunday to regain his top ranking from India's Gautam Gambhir.

Sangakkara's team mate and man of the match Mahela Jayawardene moved up four places to a career-best third after scoring 92 and 96 in the same match.

England face Australia in 2nd T20 - Commentary (Last 5 Overs)

It is time for the second and final Twenty20 International between England and Australia as this match turns out to be a decider due to the first match washed out. The match is being played at the same venue and the weather is more or less the same as well. The pitch for the first match was slow and dry and the Aussie batsmen found it very difficult to score runs. They were bombarded with short stuff which rhey found difficult to handle. England bowled very well lead superbly by Paul Collingwood. Australia, however, did not get much chance to bowl on this track, but in the time that they bowled, they also managed to creep in a few doubts among the English batsmen. Australia are still to find an answer to the inconsistent batting that they have had of late. Their bowling has not been in great form either. England on the other hand, have a superb bowling attack, but, they too, are in a little bit of a worry with their batting. Both the teams have plenty to play for with England players going on air saying that they want to send Australia back home empty-handed while Australian players want an Ashes revenge. Sidebottom is back for England and Lee is back for Australia, both who looked in good shape in the first match. Should be another humdinger, if weather does not play spoilt sport with rain forecasted for the evening.

Scrap Champions Trophy, says Hayden

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has called for scrapping the Champions Trophy as there already is a World Cup in the 50-over format.

Hayden, writing about his vision for cricket, questioned why the tournament should be held when there is already a World Cup in 50 overs format. The Champions Trophy is scheduled to take place in South Africa Sept 22-Oct 5.

'There's too much cricket, too much of it is meaningless, and there are just too many different formats.' Hayden wrote. 'Playing the World Twenty20 every other year is too much. And why have the Champions Trophy (a 50-over tournament) when you've already got a 50-over World Cup?

'There are strong lessons to be learned from the success achieved in other sports, such as the quadrennial cycle of football World Cup and UEFA European Championships.

Cricket should follow this with a similar cycle of T20 World Cup and ODI World Cup. To maximize coverage these should be played in odd-numbered years - football major competitions, and the Olympics, are in even-numbered years. The Champions Trophy should be scrapped. '

Hayden also suggested a two-month window for the Indian Premier League to avoid overlapping of schedules.

'The main point of conflict between the IPL and the established game is in scheduling, particularly the subsequent clash of players' contracts. This can be avoided in the future by creating a two-month window each year. I'd hold it in March and April - when other forms of the game take a back seat, no Tests, no World Cup cricket and so on.

'We need to do this. The IPL has the ability to generate international fan bases in the same way as achieved by the English football's Premier League. I believe some IPL matches should go on the road each year and be played in other countries, to make it a global competition.

'The sooner the world of cricket embraces the IPL, the sooner everyone can find ways to benefit from its massive potential,' he said.

A courageous stand to save Sehwags of future

Delhi cricket is a world in itself. Here, laws are meant to be flouted, and anyone who sticks to rules is considered a lunatic fit for an isolation ward. Here, men stab each other in full public view and are not apologetic about it. Here, cricket is just a means to serve vested interests, to push mediocrity to the forefront, and to ensure that those with talent but no clout are dead before they can breathe. It is a world where everyone is guilty, be it an official who has never played cricket, or a player who plays ball with those in power. From time to time, people have raised their voice against this injustice but have not been powerful enough to silence those whose whispers can send a chill down the spine of even the most honest. Bishan Singh Bedi, cricketing iconoclast and fearless crusader of the cause he believes in, succeeded once in breaking this stranglehold of Delhi's cricketing thugs, but not for long. They were back again, and today they roam the grounds of Kotla without the fear of being punished, mocking at transparent selection with their brazen disregard of genuine talent. Young cricketers, no matter how much talent they possess, are not allowed a look in, unless they happen to be the sons of the mighty and powerful, who abound like ants in a sugar field in India's capital. The pressure to please those who matter is so much that the number of players in a Delhi junior team goes up to 25, sometimes even 30. You need not always be a powerful businessman, a politician, a bureaucrat or a cop to push your child into the team, or resort to bribery to have your son play for the state team; you can also get your way by hiring goons to threaten those in power. In this world, nothing is a secret. Every newspaper has, from time to time, published reports of how corrupt the DDCA edifice is. But this has not stopped the next selection having a large quota for players who have nothing but their parents' CVs to recommend them. It is a world where even those who play well have had to resort to backdoor methods of appeasing those whose approval is a must. Those who are wondering why Virender Sehwag, safe in his fame, riches and iconic status, all of a sudden raised his voice and created a chaos in this 'ordered' world, perhaps don't know this story: For two consecutive years a young lad from the suburbs of Delhi would go to the selection trials of Delhi cricket only to be shooed away after facing only half a dozen balls in the nets. The crestfallen youngster found a godfather in Satish "Neelu" Sharma, who recognised his potential and pitted him against the full might of a DDCA team. The boy smashed half a dozen sixes in his rampaging hundred, something that has become a signature of almost every Sehwag innings when he plays for India today. Maybe it is payback time for all the Sehwags who are regularly shooed away from the DDCA nets even today. We must all applaud the courage of a man whose rebellion has given a voice to all those meek, helpless players who clamour for a fair trial.

More than virus, Dilshan's batting contributed to Kiwi defeat: Vettori

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has said that more than the energy-sapping virus that stuck his team during the first Test match at the Galle International Stadium, it was Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan's explosive batting which contributed to New Zealand's 202-run loss.

Dilshan scored 92 runs in Sri Lanka's first innings and scored quickfire 123 runs in the second to take Sri Lanka to an imposing target of 413.

"When you look at how well Dilshan played and how poorly we bowled to him, it was probably the defining moment of the game," Stuff.co.nz quoted Vettori, as saying.

"There were a couple of opportunities there to put pressure on them, but everything we did, he took it away from us. He played exceptionally well, he played very aggressive innings, and when you've got a player like that, it makes it very tough to captain," he added.

Vettori said that he wanted to take the game to the wire, however, failed to do so, as multiple players being ill in the team meant that they were bowled out for a meager 210 runs.

"I really hoped we'd take it down to the wire. I hoped that we could bat for long periods of time, but in some ways a few illnesses counted against us and the application wasn't quite there," Vettori said.

He further said that one of the most disappointing things in the Test was to lose as many wickets to the seamers as they did.

"Obviously Murali's a difficult customer to come up against but the way Thushara bowled was probably where we let ourselves down," Vettori said.

Ponting, Hussey fight back

Australia lost two wickets in the morning session but Ponting and Hussey were playing cautiously on Day 4 of the last Ashes Test against England.

South Africa omit Morne Morkel from Champions Trophy squad

South Africa omitted paceman Morne Morkel from their squad on Thursday for the Champions Trophy which starts next month.

Morkel was a member of the party which played Australia in a one-day international series in April.

"South African cricket is blessed with an abundance of fast-bowling talent with the emergence of (Lonwabo) Tsotsobe and Wayne Parnell as outstanding new prospects and Charl Langeveldt becoming available again," said convenor of selectors Mike Procter in a statement.

"Langeveldt is not fit enough yet to be considered after his shoulder surgery and Morne Morkel is the unlucky one to miss out. He (Morkel) is very much part of our long-term planning and has a major role to play but we would like to see more consistency from him."

The 24-year-old Morkel has played in 21 ODIs, taking 31 wickets at an average of 30.16.

Left-arm swing bowler Tsotsobe, who has recovered from a long-term injury, and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson are the only new players in the squad.

"Planning for the 2011 World Cup is very much part of our thinking but there is a lot of cricket to be played before then," said Procter. "We must take our selections series by series and not get ahead of ourselves.

"We have four quality spin bowlers and two all-rounders in Jacques Kallis and Albie Morkel to back up the seam attack. There is also batting potential most of the way down the order."

The Champions Trophy takes place in South Africa from Sept. 22 to Oct. 5.

Squad - Graeme Smith (captain), Johan Botha, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Albie Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Roelof van der Merwe.

Delhi and Disputes Cricket Association

Virender Sehwag's revolt against the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), alleging nepotism and corruption in the selection of state teams and continued interference by the sports committee has seen more players, both former and present, voicing their displeasure at the manner in which cricket's governing body in the Capital runs the sport.

This, however, is not the first time that Delhi players have taken on the administrators over "injustice" done to them. There have also been precedents where senior cricketers have threatened to leave the state.

In 1980, Bishan Singh Bedi led the first major revolt against the then DDCA president, Ram Prakash Mehra. Delhi had won the Ranji Trophy two seasons ago and captain Bedi wanted the association to give more money to the players.

Mehra refused and a defiant Bedi was dropped ahead of the match against Haryana in Rohtak. In a hurry, Vinay Lamba was asked to lead the team but he was left with only four-five players on the field after the likes of Madan Lal, Rakesh Shukla and Sunil Valson, among others, walked out in support of Bedi. The management hastily summoned uncapped players — Sudhir Pathak, Arun Khurana, among others — from the Capital to play, before deciding to concede the match. Madan Lal and Shukla, though, rolled back on their decision later and joined the Delhi team for later games.

However, the players' opposition did eventually bring the Mehra regime to an end. Interestingly, Sunil Dev, who is now the DDCA sports secretary, played a major role in that episode, siding with Bedi and other senior players.

After that incident, DDCA witnessed a series of protests, though none on a big scale.

In 1984, former Delhi opening batsman and skipper Venkat Sundaram took a delegation of players to the then Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, seeking his intervention in setting things right at the DDCA, which at the time was led by Kamal Nath. The players wanted the prevailing proxy system of voting — under which a member can nominate another person to vote on his behalf — to be done away with. Later, Bedi and other players, including Manoj Prabhakar, also led an agitation against the system. There was little success this time and proxies still rule at the DDCA.

In 1990, Madan Lal and a few former cricketers, including Kirti Azad, Surender Khanna, Venkat Sundaram, started 'Operation DDCA Clean-up'. "The present DDCA officials have had a long innings. It is time for them to quit. We have had enough of their nonsense," Madan had said. He expressed his displeasure at the factionalism in Delhi cricket. The former India all-rounder holds the same views even today.

The latest revolt by Sehwag is mainly against the sports committee, which is a medium to appease 114 DDCA-affiliated clubs. In the early 1990s, players and members from those clubs held a big demonstration in front of the Ferozeshah Kotla, seeking involvement in the running of the game in the Capital. In its meeting on October 26, 1994, the DDCA executive had given some power to the sports committee, on an experimental basis. Initially, its main task was to manage the DDCA league and the hot weather tournament and co-ordinate with the administrators in running the game. But the sports committee kept gaining clout and now even picks the panel of selectors, managers and coaches.

In the past the discontent had led to players like Ajay Jadeja, Murali Kartik, Gursharan Singh and Amit Mishra leaving for other states and now Sehwag and Co are threatening to do the same.

Sri Lanka clinch 202-run win after New Zealand slump

Sri Lanka clinched a resounding 202-run victory on the final day to take a 1-0 lead in their two-match test series against New Zealand on Saturday.

The hosts set New Zealand an unlikely 413-run victory target and dismissed them for 210 in 71.5 overs shortly before tea on the final day.

Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan claimed three for 88 for a match haul of seven for 161, to mark an impressive return to test cricket after a knee injury.

Skipper Daniel Vettori, battling a stomach bug in scorching heat, provided some resistance with a gritty 67, but the next highest score was Brendon McCullum with just 29.

Left-arm fast bowler Thilan Thushara, Sri Lanka's leading paceman in this match, struck early when play started on time, for the first time in this rain-interrupted game.

Thushara's burst left New Zealand reeling at 39 for three after Martin Guptill (18) was bowled by a beautiful leg-cutter and Tim McIntosh was caught low down at slip for a duck.

Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara then sprang a surprise, throwing the ball to part-time spinner Mahela Jayawardene.

However, the unorthodox tactic worked, Jayawardene snaring Ross Taylor (16) thanks to a fine leg-side catch from wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Leg spinner Ajantha Mendis then had Jacob Oram trapped leg before for 21, reducing the visitors to 125 for five at lunch.

After the interval, Vettori and Jesse Ryder (24) battled hard with a 48-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Muralitharan eventually had Ryder caught behind with a flighted off break that spun sharply.

The bowler followed up with the wickets of Jeetan Patel (22) and Iain O'Brien (five) and Mendis had Vettori caught behind, dashin New Zealand's hopes.

Thushara finished with two for 37 from 14 overs and Mendis claimed two for 50 from 18.5 overs.

Trott puts England on top

Debutant Jonathan Trott scored a mammoth 119 to help England set the Aussies a challenging target of 546 runs to win.

Bangladesh won by 49 runs

bangladesh won by 49 runs

Team India hit the ground running

Mahendra Singh Dhoni had the words 'Have feet, will dance' emblazoned in silver across his black sleeveless t-shirt, and while breaking into a jig would've been the last thing on his mind at the end of a gruelling three-hour session at the Ferozeshah Kotla on a searingly hot Monday afternoon, he did have enough left in the tank to want a round of badminton at the indoor courts (unfortunately, he and RP Singh couldn't play for the lack of shuttlecocks).

The players hit top gear for a brief while even as the sun beat down upon them during a Team India fitness assessment session before another hard season ahead. It didn't take long for Ashish Nehra and Praveen Kumar to shed their tops in an attempt to counter the heat, while Gautam Gambhir, Ishant Sharma, RP, Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh decided to stick to their Team India training gear.

The eight players completed the sprint-repeat schedule - running six sets between cones placed at variable distances - and the core training programme of push-ups, pull-ups and squats inside the gymnasium under the watchful eyes of coach Gary Kirsten, strategy head Paddy Upton and physio Nitin Patel even as fitness trainer Ramji Srinivasan noted down their Body Mass Index, heart rate and endurance levels. Nehra was spotted wearing a bandage on his bowling arm but the left-arm seamer is expected to be fit. Sources confirmed it was nothing serious and Nehra had suffered a slight bruise during fielding practice about a month back.

Kirsten, Upton and Patel arrived straight from the airport after a delayed flight even as players trickled in way past noon. The remaining players, including Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh, will be sweating it out on Tuesday in Mumbai.

"The players had enjoyed a long break and we wanted to assess their physical condition," Kirsten said. "We have conducted an assessment that we will keep as reference material. We will have more such tests in future and compare it with the results we have here. This is the beginning of our preparations for the coming season.

While the conditions bordered on the brutal - the maximum temperature in Delhi was 38 degrees Celsius on Monday - Kirsten said he didn't really mind that. "The heat might appear a bit too much but the more players stretch themselves, the more they will be tested. Hopefully when they give the next test in the cooler climes of Bangalore, they will shock me with their fitness levels," Kirsten, who even put himself through the sprint test along with Ishant and Nehra, said. "I must say that I am really happy with the players' physical condition," he added. Dhoni, meanwhile, only said that it was a "routine affair" before leaving for the airport.

Training camp from Aug 27

Team India will have a four day training camp at the National Cricket Academy from August 27. The camp is expected to focus on both physical conditioning and skills before the players disperse on August 30 to participate in the BCCI Corporate Cup. The team is expected to regroup on August 7 before leaving for the Sri Lanka tri-series.

Younis Khan hopes of winning major titles in next two years

Notwithstanding rumours of rift in the Pakistan cricket team and match fixing allegations during the just concluded Sri Lanka One-Day series, captain Younis Khan has said his team would win major tournaments in next two years.

Interacting with media persons after winning the fifth and final match of the ODI series, Khan said he had a pool of 20 cricketers in mind who will win 'either the Champions Trophy this year or the 2011 World Cup.'

He expressed hope that if selectors and team management supported him and players perform according to their capability, Pakistan can surely pocket major tournaments in near future.

"The pool of players includes some talented players and if things go well and everyone including the board, selectors, team management and players fulfill their roles properly I am sure we can win one of the two big tournaments coming up," The Nation quoted Khan, as saying.

Khan said he would have loved to have the same authority that former captain Imran Khan enjoyed during his days.

"When Imran was captain things were different. There were fewer people running the board, there were just a few selectors. So I don't think it is possible to get the same authority that Imran had. But if it can happen I would love to have that authority and call the shots," he said.

Khan rejected reports that he is in favour of dropping vice-captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf from the team.

He also criticized former players for fanning rumours about fissures in the squad and match-fixing.

"If we perform badly I don't mind being criticized but the criticism should be logical and based on facts and figures it should not be personal. That only hurts the team. Some of our former players need to realize that," Khan said.