The rankings might suggest a cosmic difference between the two sides, but, as the first one-day international showed, West Indies had it in them to fight tooth and nail. Despite their poor effort on the field, and despite stuttering in the middle overs, they managed to take the game to the penultimate ball. India’s much-vaunted batting line-up was no doubt tested and it ultimately boiled down to a few lucky breaks at the death.Brian Lara admitted as much after the match. “I don’t think we’re getting the respect we deserve. We might be No.8 in the rankings but we still have a very good game. It’s just that we need to deliver more consistently. India needed every last ounce of energy to beat us. We need to take our game one level up.”West Indies need to address two maladies urgently: the multitude of extras and the shabbiness on the field. India overwhelmed Sri Lanka and Pakistan mainly because of their superiority in the two departments. They conceded 28 extras yesterday, but that can confidently be termed an aberration. Greg Chappell admitted that the players were caught unawares in the morning: “We thought the chances of getting play were zero. Once it started the players took some time to adjust to the conditions. It was really hot and humid out there and we struggled because of that.”India will acclimatise soon. “We’ve done a lot of work on that area,” said Chappell about guarding against the dehydration of players. “Even as recently as the last few weeks, we’ve done a bit of work on finding out the best research, spoken to a few world leaders and discovered a few things that might make a difference. We’ve started testing the players from a few days up, making sure they’re keeping their fluids up. There are few other products available these days that weren’t available earlier. We’ll experiment with a few of those and come up with a few answers.”The two big positives for India came in the form of Harbhajan Singh and Mohammad Kaif. The first troubled the likes of Lara and Chris Gayle with turn; the second produced his first fifty in 15 games. One has often failed while bowling away from home, when he doesn’t have his favourite SG ball; the other, with nine single digit scores in the last 15 innings, would have seen the axe looming. “We see Kaif as an important member of our side while planning for the World Cup,” Chappell stated, “and we knew he would come out of the bad run. He’s a very experienced player and this will help his confidence.”On the eve of the game, West Indies had optional nets while the Indians, who were scheduled to have a light stint, were forced to have a pool session. Rain and sunshine alternated, keeping everyone guessing about the forecast. Weathermen predict Saturday to be another day with scattered thunderstorms in Kingston. One certainty, though, is that it won’t take too long for Charlie, the groundsman, and his boys to get Sabina Park ready for the clash. The lukewarm spectator response – the ground was hardly half full – disappointed the local authorities but they expect a larger turnout for Saturday’s contest.With another royal sweatfest on the cards, don’t forget to bring your handkerchiefs and towels.TeamsWest Indies (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Runako Morton, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Brian Lara (capt), 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Marlon Samuels, 7 Dwayne Bravo, 8 Carlton Baugh (wk), 9 Ian Bradshaw, 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 Fidel Edwards.India (probable) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Rahul Dravid (capt), 3 Yuvraj Singh, 4 Mohammad Kaif, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), 7 Irfan Pathan, 8 Ajit Agarkar, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Sreesanth, 11 Munaf Patel.

Ben Hilfenhaus, the Tasmania fast bowler, will replace Mitchell Johnson for the match against India A on Saturday at the TIO Stadium in Darwin. Cullen Bailey, the South Australia legspinner, has also been included in the squad.”Ben Hilfenhaus will be given an opportunity in this game with Mitchell Johnson being rested,” said Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors. “Ben is an exciting young bowler from Tasmania and we see this as a great opportunity to have a good look at him.”The 12th man will be announced on the morning of the match.Australia A
Phil Jaques, Travis Birt, Brad Hodge, Mark Cosgrove, Brad Haddin (capt), Shane Watson, James Hopes, Ben Hilfenhaus, Daniel Cullen, Brett Dorey, Cullen Bailey, Shaun Tait

ScorecardDwayne Smith and Tino Best picked up three wickets a piece as West Indies A trounced Durham by eight wickets on the final day at Chester-le-Street.Best was in the wickets early when Gordon Muchall edged him behind to Patrick Browne for 5 and James Lowe succumbed in the same fashion to leave Durham in the sticky position of 35 for 4. Garry Park, the 23-year-old middle-order batsman then put on 31 for the fifth wicket with Dale Benkenstein, before Smith collected the first of his three wickets when Benkenstein was caught by Wavell Hinds for 26.Enterprising though Park (34) and Graeme Bridge (43) were, their challenge proved too great as Smith wrapped up Durham for just 148. This left West Indies the simple task of knocking off 95 for victory which, though they lost Smith and Sewnarine Chattergoon, they achieved with comfort and overs to spare.

John Wright’s relations with Sourav Ganguly might have turned bit rocky towards the end of his stint as the India’s coach but he retains lots of respect and appreciation for Ganguly.”He [Ganguly] was a special man,” Wright was quoted as saying in the . “He wore his heart on his sleeve and there was an arrogance that used to get up people’s noses. But I think that was good for us, it was good to have that feistiness as the country learned it was becoming such a powerhouse in world cricket.”I tested him [Ganguly] and he tested me but there was an inner trust between us. He would often do things which were the opposite to what we had talked about, which always kept me on my toes, but there was a bond that grew, despite how different we were. And we were always a really happy side.”Wright makes a rather surprising revelation about the Indian team’s attitude to fielding. “It took me about a year to convince them that running between the wickets and fielding were quite important in one-dayers,” he said. “We had a pretty strict regime when it came to training and I was probably almost too tough on them.” Did he ever attempt to coach Sachin Tendulkar, the master batsman? “I didn’t coach Sachin Tendulkar,” said Wright. “I gave him gentle advice when he asked for it.”He reveals that he didn’t have a contract for nearly half his tenure but was well supported by the management in BCCI. “I actually didn’t have a contract for about 40% of the time but it didn’t really matter because they were honourable people. I got paid every three months so that was the length of time I’d allow myself to look ahead. It was satisfying that I lasted so long, I certainly didn’t expect to walk away on my own terms, but I proved I could survive and proved that a foreigner could do the job.”Wright looks back at his Indian stint with lots of fondness. “It was probably the biggest adventure I will ever have in my life,” he gushed. “I miss that thrill of getting on that team bus and going to a big game, with the crowds clapping you all the way to the ground …”Talking about his future plans and in particular about coaching New Zealand, Wright said, “People always ask me about coaching New Zealand,” he said. “Who knows? I wouldn’t rule it out. I would like to help New Zealand Cricket in some way and be involved in competitive sport, whatever code that might be. It depends what crops up.”

New South Wales are looking to expand their international coaching contingent by attempting to lure Waqar Younis to the SCG. Waqar is currently working with the Pakistan squad in England and is contracted to the country until the World Cup, but David Gilbert, the Cricket New South Wales chief executive, said he was interested in signing him as the state’s bowling coach.”He was such an artist with his reverse-swing, and the outswing he would get with the new ball,” Gilbert said in the . “We would be crazy not to be interested in someone with those kind of skills, particularly when he lives in Castle Hill [in Sydney].”A bowling coach vacancy has appeared with the loss of Anthony Stuart, who took a one-day hat-trick against Pakistan in 1996-97, on a three-year deal with Wellington. The New South Wales ranks also include Graham Thorpe, the former England batsman who will become the side’s full-time batting mentor. Thorpe was a part-time appointment last season and his friendship with Waqar from their Surrey days may help strengthen the state’s support staff.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) may ask the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to pay damages up to $1.5 million for losses the ECB incurred because of the cancellation of the fifth day of The Oval Test. In the next few days the PCB is likely to receive formal notification from the ECB on this matter, reported.After Pakistan refused to come out of the dressing room to resume play following the tea interval on day four because of being penalised for unproven ball-tampering charges, the match was awarded to England. The spectators who turned up on day four have been refunded 40% of their ticket price and those who bought tickets for the fifth day have been refunded the entire ticket amount by the ECB.On their part, the Pakistan board feels that Darrell Hair, the umpire at the centre of the controversy, and not the PCB, is to blame for the abandonment of play at The Oval. “We consider it not our responsibility that this Test was abandoned in the way it was,” Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman told .Given the cordial relations that exist between the two boards it is unlikely that either of them would risk confrontation on this issue. Meanwhile, the PCB plans to ask the ICC that the charge of bringing the game to disrepute be brought upon Hair. This would make the ICC responsible for reimbursing the ECB for the monetary losses suffered.”The situation won’t be left as it is,” said Waseem Khokhar, of the Pakistan board’s lawyers DLA Piper. “There is the strength and resolve to see that the right course of action is taken. There is an immense amount of hurt and sense of grievance.”Earlier, after the ICC’s hearing into The Oval fiasco, Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, said he would not seek legal action against Hair. “Our religion Islam teaches us to forgive and forget, so I forgive Hair and will not take any action against him,” Inzamam told AFP on Friday. Inzamam was declared not guilty on ball-tampering charges, though he was penalised for bringing the game to disrepute and placed under an immediate ban of four one-day matches.

Judah Reuben, who umpired ten Tests in India between 1969-70 and 1976-77, has died at his Mumbai home after a fall. He was 84.Reuben’s international career started and ended amid controversy. His debut, in the India-Australia Test at Eden Gardens, came in a match marred by rioting, and his last match at Madras is best remembered for being the one where England’s John Lever was accused of cheating after using a gauze strip soaked in Vaseline to counteract sweating.Reuben worked as a finger print expert in the Mumbai police.

The day and the surface demanded unglamorous qualities; some toil, somegraft and liberal helpings of discipline. Happily for Brian Lara, the WestIndies provided precisely that, in restricting Pakistan to below threeruns an over and importantly, removing two-thirds of a heavy scoringmiddle-order triumvirate.”I was very satisfied with the bowlers,” Lara told reporters at the end ofthe day. “On such a pitch it was very tough for the bowlers and to keepthem under three an over was a very good effort. We had to bowl in theright areas, keep the runs down and take any chances that came our way. Wetook four of the five that did and I can’t fault the bowlers for theirefforts.”And some mammoth efforts they were. Corey Collymore might walk under aladder, break a mirror and let a black cat stroll across him repeatedlyand he’d still have more luck than has thus far come his way on this tour.Despite beating batsmen as if it were slipping out of vogue, he has thesolitary wicket to show for it and 16 overs today drew no reward butsympathy. He might try some of what Jerome Taylor is having, for though heeventually redeemed an iffy morning spell, his wickets came off widedeliveries Collymore would scoff at.

Cruel to begrudge him success though, especially on a surface Larareckoned was made for batsmen. “The pitch again is made for batting. Justone day gone and we expect, in this part of the world, for it to continuelike that. There will be some deterioration of course, from bowlers’footmarks but as far as I can see it is full of runs. We’re hoping on thispitch we can get some good runs.”One man who won’t have the opportunity is Ramnaresh Sarwan, not includedin the team for this Test to the surprise of some. Sarwan’s recent formisn’t prolific – 137 runs in six matches during the Champions Trophy and112 in five DLF Cup matches – but Lara argued it was a decision based onthe needs of the team. “It wasn’t designed as a drop. I think it was asituation where the best team combination was chosen to get a result. Wealso made another change in dropping Fidel Edwards.”Two fifties in his last two Tests earlier this year in New Zealand,coupled with some ODI form, meant though that Runako Morton was adeserving replacement. “Runako has also had a couple of opportunities overthe last 12-18 months and he’s produced in it. Unfortunately, he foundhimself out of the team so he has an opportunity now. But it is just amatter of picking what we feel is the best team and Sarwan still remainsone of our main players. He’s only missing five days of cricket,” Larareasoned.A couple of early morning wickets, especially of Inzamam-ul-Haq, and thelabours of today may yet bear sweet fruit. Even without Sarwan, thereis as much depth in this batting as there is flatness in the pitch.”Sometimes you get the results of it the following day and we have to comeback and wrap up the remaining six wickets,” Lara continued. “I was pretty happy with theposition of the match on such a pitch and when the opportunity comes forus to bat we have to make full use of it.”

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday found Navjot Singh Sidhu, the former India cricketer-turned-commentator, guilty of culpable homicide, not amounting to murder, in a case dating back to an incident in Patiala in 1988. The sentencing will take place on Wednesday; the maximum sentence under the law is 10 years’ imprisonment.In the case, Sidhu and an associate had been charged with assaulting Gurnam Singh in a dispute over the parking of vehicles outside the State Bank of Patiala. The victim later died of his injuries. In 1999, Sidhu was acquitted by the Patiala district court but the Punjab government and the victim’s son filed an appeal in the high court.At the time of the incident Sidhu was one of India’s frontline batsmen, on his way to establishing a reputation as a big-hitting opener. He played 51 Tests and 136 one-day internationals before retiring in 1999. His career post cricket has been as eventful; he first established a reputation as a TV commentator with his homespun “Sidhuisms”. In the last national general elections he contested the Amritsar seat in his home state of Punjab, winning easily as a candidate of the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party.Sidhu reacted to the news by offering to resign his parliamentary seat, which will come as a blow to the BJP. Punjab is due for local elections next year and Sidhu was its star campaigner.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) may be able to reinforce the ban against doping-tainted Pakistani pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, the anti-doping head of the first tribunal said.”According to the WADA code they can apply for provisional suspension,” barrister Shahid Hamid told AFP, quashing suggestions the pair were now in the clear.Hamid headed the three-member Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) tribunal which last month banned Akhtar for two years and Asif for one year, after the new-ball pair tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone.Both bans were overturned by a committee headed by a retired high court judge earlier this month, which ruled the pair had not been fully educated about doping matters. As a result, the PCB insisted the doping case was closed and that any action by WADA or the International Cricket Council (ICC) would not stop the pacemen from playing. Akhtar and Asif were included in their preliminary squad for next month’s tour of South Africa.However, Hamid said Pakistan was obliged to follow WADA rules. “It is a fact that the Pakistan government signed the Copenhagen declaration in 2003, like other 186 governments, including 38 countries in Asia,” he said. “The Pakistan government has paid to WADA the annual and subscription fee for the years 2006 and 2007.”This declaration, through culture and sports ministries, binds us to follow the WADA codes and under clause 13 of their codes, the WADA has the right of appeal against the decision of a national anti-doping commission whether it is done during the competition or out of competition.”WADA last week challenged the lifting of the bans in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, saying any overturning was against its code, a stance backed by the ICC. CAS was expected to hear the case in the new year.Hamid also disagreed that Akhtar’s decision not to sign a contract with the PCB could give him any leeway. “Akhtar has not signed the latest contract, but he has signed an identical contract before and that contract in its provision is identical and under clause 3 of the contract he was bound not only by the PCB but by the ICC anti-doping policies as well,” he added.Hamid, however, refused to comment on the decision to exonerate the players. “It is now for the CAS to decide,” he said.