Sangakara denies the victory for Pak as the match ends in a draw!

In the end, neither team wanted it badly enough. Sri Lanka couldn't quite summon up the courage for one final dash, and Pakistan spent much of the afternoon merely going through the motions. When play was called off with the 15 mandatory overs to be bowled, Sri Lanka were 101 short of the 492-run target, and Pakistan had toiled all day for just one wicket. Kumar Sangakkara's 19th Test century was the story of the day, but even his performance was overshadowed by an utterly placid pitch. After 21 wickets fell in the opening two days, the bowlers on both sides could manage just 12 in the next nine sessions.

When Angelo Mathews struck a couple of boundaries soon after reaching his half-century after tea, there was the prospect of a Twenty20-like thrash in the final hour, but ultimately Sri Lanka decided to settle for the 2-0 series win.

With Sri Lanka resuming from their overnight 183 for 3, Pakistan would have fancied their chances of pulling off a consolation victory. But with Sangakkara remorselessly grinding the bowling into the SSC dust, and Thilan Samaraweera contributing a classy 73 to a partnership of 122, Younis Khan was left to forlornly shuffle a tiring bowling pack.

As he showed in Hobart not so long ago, Sangakkara is capable of dazzling counter-attacks in pressure situations. This, on a day when survival rather than urgency was the priority, was all rearguard and little flair, with occupation of the crease the main mantra. The odd languid drive through the covers, or the precise sweep to the spinners would occasionally reveal some intent, but by and large, circumspection was the name of the game.

With Angelo Mathews showing omly brief glimpses of his shot making potential,the runrate slowed up a bit after Samaraweera's removal.He was suffering from cramp in his leg and also got a blow on his helmet by a bouncer from Mohammed Aamer before he was trapped by a doosra from Saeed Ajmal.

Apart from a brain-fade where he nearly handled the ball after digging out a yorker from Younis, Samaraweera had constantly challenged the bowlers, never allowing them to settle into a rhythm. Danish Kaneria, the scourge of Sri Lanka's first innings, was attacked and only Ajmal managed to exercise any real control.

Younis was also badly let down by Umar Gul, who struggled with no-balls and served up dross with the second new-ball. Each mistake was pounced on by Samaraweera, whose classical drives invoked another age. Pakistan still had a slight edge, but with no Flintoff-like talisman to turn to, Younis' brow became increasingly furrowed as the afternoon wore on. Sangakkara's smile only grew wider

Aussies in trouble as they face record chase to win

Australia were left needing to set a new world record if they were to win the second Test against England at Lord's.

England, when rain forced an early close on Saturday, the third day, were 311 for six, a lead of 521, with two days remaining.

Whether they declared on that total overnight, as seemed likely, or batted on, it meant Australia would have to set a new world record for the highest fourth innings total to win a Test, surpassing the 418 for seven made by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03.

Both totals were well in excess of the corresponding record for a Test at Lord's, the 344 for one made by the West Indies against England in 1984.

England, bidding for a first Test win over Australia at Lord's in 75 years, were indebted to a stand of 86 in 74 balls between Paul Collingwood (54) and wicket-keeper Matt Prior (60).

Their innings had stalled during the second session but Prior, who faced just 42 balls with nine fours, regained the initiative, and helped justify captain Andrew Strauss' decision not to enforce the follow-on, before he was run out by Marcus North's direct hit.

Collingwood, who'd batted for over six hours to help England secure a draw in last week's series opener in Cardiff, posted his third fifty in four innings in a brisk 72 balls.

They were contrasting innings but each ideally suited to England's task at hand.

Collingwood was eventually out for 54, having shared a stand of 51 in 50 balls with Andrew Flintoff, who ended the day on 30 not out.

Flintoff took England's lead past 500 with an off-driven four off struggling left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson, who at one stage completely lost all semblance of line and length.

Much of Australia's fielding was unusually shoddy, with several fumbles, a dropped catch by captain Ricky Ponting no less and a scruffy display by wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, who conceded 16 byes, aiding England's cause.

Neither Ravi Bopara nor Kevin Pieterson were at their best during a third-wicket stand of 73.

Bopara's scratchy innings of 27 finally came to an end when he turned off-spinner Nathan Hauritz straight to Simon Katich at short leg.

Pietersen, who had been regaining some of his old fluency, fell for 44 when caught off the inside by Haddin off persevering paceman Peter Siddle.

Bopara had made just nine when he edged Siddle only for Ponting, at second slip, to stun his side by dropping the seemingly routine chance.

At lunch, England were 57 without loss after Strauss, who made 161 in the first innings, had opted not to enforce the follow-on.

But off-spinner Hauritz, whose selection for this tour was much derided in Australia, brought his side back into the match with two wickets for no runs in eight balls as both Strauss and fellow opener fell for 32.

Cook was lbw before Strauss edged a well-flighted, turning, delivery to M Clarke at first slip.

Johnson had bowled poorly during England's first innings and his problems showed no sign of easing when his second delivery after lunch barely landed on the cut strip, forcing Haddin to dive in front of first slip to take the ball.

Earlier, Graham Onions finished off the work started Friday by James Anderson with two wickets as Australia, 156 for eight overnight, were bowled out for 215, 11 runs shy of the follow-on avoidance target of 226, after England had made 425.

Flintoff to retire from test cricket

Andrew Flintoff has announced that he will retire from Test cricket at the end of this Ashes summer, although he still intends to make himself available for Twenty20 and ODI cricket, and is expected to be fit for tomorrow's second Test against Australia.
Flintoff, who has missed 25 of England's last 48 Tests through a variety of injuries, suffered another fitness scare on the eve of the Lord's Test, when he reported soreness and swelling in the same right knee that required surgery back in April, after he tore his meniscus while playing in the IPL.
"It's not something I have just thought of overnight, it's something that's been on my mind for a while regarding this series," said Flintoff. "With the knee flaring up again and getting the injections on Monday, now is a time I felt comfortable with doing it. There's been a lot of speculation over my future for the past few weeks, so I wanted to get it out there, and concentrate on playing cricket.
"I've had four ankle operations and knee surgery, so my body is telling me things, and I'm actually starting to listen. I can't just play games here and there while waiting to be fit. For my own sanity, and for my family's, I've got to draw a line under it. I've been going through two years of rehab in the past four, which is not ideal."
Prior to England's practice session on Wednesday morning, Flintoff gave the team talk in a sombre atmosphere, and afterwards Paul Collingwood immediately came up and shook him by the hand. "Freddie simply said that these four Tests would be his last in Test cricket," a team insider told Cricinfo. Andrew Strauss, the England captain, said the team were saddened, though not surprised, about Flintoff's decision to stand down from Test cricket.
"As players we've had a feeling this would come sooner rather than later," Strauss said. "We feel sad he's had to make this decision at his age, but we're sure it will motivate him even more for this series."
The knee injury that has threatened his participation at Lord's followed a spirited performance in the first Test at Cardiff, in which Flintoff bowled 35 overs but was once again under-rewarded with figures of 1 for 128. Strauss was optimistic on Wednesday that Flintoff will come through a fitness test and make himself available for selection, and he was seen skipping during England's warm-up in the indoor nets, before padding up for batting practice, then sending down a few pacey overs on the outdoor nets.
"The indications are that he's going to be fine," Strauss said. "He had a good bowl today, we just need to see how he reacts to what he did today before we can be 100% sure. At this stage we are hopeful but we can't be sure.
"When you go in with three seamers, you've got to expect all three to bowl a lot of overs. Fred understands that, but this week in all likelihood there will be four seamers and maybe [they] won't have quite as big a workload. We'd never play any bowler in a Test match who we didn't think could contribute as fully as anyone else."
Though he acknowledged that Flintoff's overall statistics do not bear greatness, Strauss lauded Flintoff's effect on the modern game.
"He's had a dramatic impact in English cricket over the past few years, in the style with which he's batted, and for a long period he's been one of the bowlers in world cricket that batters least like facing, although the figures maybe don't show that," Strauss said. "And also as a personality, he's done a huge amount for cricket in the way he's played with a smile on his face. Test cricket will miss him, there's no doubt about that. I'm sure he'll go out in a style that befits his quality, with a bang, with big performances, and with some stories to tell at the end."
Regardless of his immense stature in the England dressing-room, the statistics of Flintoff's recent form and impact on the Test side are not flattering. Since the 2005 Ashes, he has averaged 28.25 with the bat and 34.68 with the ball in 23 Tests (both figures down on his overall Test record of 31.69 and 32.51), and he has not managed a century or five wickets in an innings in any series since then.
Moreover, he has been unable to impose himself on matches in the same way that he did in his 2005 pomp. Although some leeway has to be made for the quality of the opponents he has faced - Flintoff has often been recuperating during low-key series in preparation for the marquee events - the statistics paint a sorry tale. In the 25 matches that Flintoff has missed since 2005, England have won 12, drawn 10 and lost on only three occasions. In the 23 matches in which he has been present, those numbers are almost exactly reversed - won 3, drawn 7, lost 13.
"I would have liked to have stamped my mark more, but I had three years from 2003 to 2005 when I had everything going my own way," said Flintoff. "I got a few Man-of-the-Series awards on the bounce, and I tried wholeheartedly and gave my best every time I went out there.
"Since 2005 I have just been plagued with injury so I've got the opportunity now to finish on a high by helping England to win the Ashes and it will give me great pleasure if I can play my last Test at the Oval and we can win the Ashes - it doesn't get any bigger than that."
Flintoff received a cortisone injection on Monday, and is sure to play through the pain if he has to. "For the next four Test matches I'll do everything I need to do to get on a cricket field and I'm desperate to make my mark," he said. "I want to finish playing for England on a high and if you look at the fixtures going forward, the way my body is suggests I won't be able to get through that."

Bangladesh register a historic win against the Windies

The shortcomings of West Indies' second-string line-up were harshly exposed as the hosts slumped to a 95-run defeat against Bangladesh.

The home side were missing all their regular starters due to a contract dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board but gave themselves a fighting chance after setting a victory target of 277 by dismissing Bangladesh for 345 in their second innings on Monday morning.

West Indies' run chase failed to crank into life, however, David Bernard's dogged unbeaten 52 the best the hosts could manage as they were skittled for only 181 in the 71st over on the final day of the first Test in Kingstown.

Bangladesh's spinners proved the difference on a turning pitch, Mohammad Mahmudullah leading the charge with five for 41 while Shakib Al Hasan weighed in with three for 39.

But it was man-of-the-match Tamim Iqbal's impressive knock of 128 on Monday that ultimately put the game beyond the hosts as Bangladesh claimed a first overseas Test triumph.

The hosts' run chase got off to a shaky start as they lost two wickets in 18 overs bowled before lunch.

Dale Richards reached 14 before he was run out attempting a quick single while fellow opener Omar Phillips fell for the same score three overs later when he was trapped lbw by Shakib.

Travis Dowlin and Floyd Reifer both made 19 before they were dismissed within two overs of each other after lunch, while Chadwick Walton made 10 before he was trapped lbw by Mahmudullah.

Darren Sammy, the hero earlier for the hosts when he claimed a five-for, also fell on 19 to leave the Windies six wickets down after only 40 overs.

Nikita Miller went for five after tea, and, despite the best efforts of Bernard, the rest of the Windies' tail swiftly followed.

Ryan Austin departed for a duck when trapped leg before by Mahmudullah while Kemar Roach (3) and Tino Best (9) offered little resistance as Mahmudullah and Shakib mopped up the tail.

Resuming on an overnight score of 321 for five, Bangladesh had earlier failed to get to grips with the bowling attack of Sammy and Roach as the tourists' strong second innings petered out.

Sammy in particular looked in fine fettle, completing a five-wicket haul that included the key scalp of Shakib, who added only four runs to his overnight total of 26 before he was caught at mid-off.

Shakib's overnight partner, Mushfiqur Rahim, fared little better, adding only nine more runs before he was bowled between bat and pad by Roach for 37.

The remaining four batsmen fell for only nine runs as Bangladesh lost their heads.

Mahmudullah added eight before he was trapped lbw by Roach, Mashrafe Mortaza was out for a duck while Rubel Hossain became Sammy's fifth victim, trapped leg before.

Sammy's five-for came at the cost of 70 runs while Roach claimed three for 67, but the Bangladesh total always looked ominous and the tourists duly delivered a historic victory.

The final match in the the two-Test series gets under way in St George's on Friday.

A special win for Srilanka

Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara hailed his players for "stepping up and taking responsibility" against Pakistan in Colombo.

The home side won inside three days by overhauling their victory target of 171 with seven wickets to spare to clinch a series triumph with one game to go.

It marked an astonishing turnaround on a day which Pakistan started in the ascendancy.

The visitors looked in complete control in the morning session with debutant Fawad Alam and skipper Younus Khan amassing runs with ease.

But Younus' dismissal shortly before lunch prompted an astonishing collapse with the remaining nine Pakistan wickets going down for just 35 runs.

Alam can be excused as his sparkling 168 was the highlight of a largely disappointing display from the tourists while, for Sri Lanka, it was nearly all positives.

Nuwan Kulasekara finished with match figures of eight for 58 while Rangana Herath took five for 99 in Pakistan's second innings.

Sangakkara hit 87 in the first innings and a vital 46 in the run chase and was delighted with the way his team responded to the fluctuating fortunes in the match.

 

"It's a very special win and something that all of us wanted. But we didn't expect to win in this fashion," he said.

"They have been two very absorbing Test matches with the balance swinging this way and that between the two sides.

"But I think the key for us was that whenever we needed someone to step up and take responsibility there was always someone to put his hand up.

"So this series triumph belongs to everyone in the side because everyone chipped in and performed very well.

"We've had our opportunities in the past against Pakistan, but I remember Shoaib Malik saving the game for them at the SSC a few years ago.

"This time I'm glad we took the opportunity when it came."

Sangakkara was particularly impressed with Kulasekara and Herath, adding: "It was hot, the wicket wasn't offering much in either turn or pace, but the two of them really turned the tables.

"It just goes to show if you have heart and if you bend your back and put in the effort, the rewards will come."

Younus put his side's failure down to their recent lack of Test cricket due to safety issues in the Asian nation.

"It wasn't the first time we have collapsed," he said.

"The problem I think is the fact that we haven't played much Test cricket in the last couple of years.

"Everyone knows Test cricket is a massive test of skill.

"In the first game too we were in a good position and then we collapsed. The same thing happened here.

"The bounce was low on this wicket and think we have to tailor our game according to the situation.

 

"This wicket required a change in technique and style."

Younus refused to admit his team had a weakness against quality bowling.

"I don't think it's a problem of weakness against either spin or pace," he said.

"In the morning the story was exactly the opposite with Alam and I putting on that 200-run partnership.

"It was a fantastic comeback after being bowled out for 90 in the first innings and then conceding a 150-run first-innings lead.

"It looked as if we would get a lead of 300-plus, but in the end I think we fell short by about 100 runs."

Younus reserved special praise for 23-year-old Alam, who became the first Pakistan player to score a century away from home on debut.

"Alam was fantastic and one of the positives for us," he said.

"He was very doubtful about opening because he has played all his cricket in the middle order.

"There was an opportunity and I asked him if he would open. I told him he could become a big star.

"His response was fantastic and he is one for the future."

Chappel plays down Ponting accusations

Australia had England on the mat in Cardiff on all five days till Paul Collingwood stepped in with a gritty 74 and the last pair of James Anderson and Monty saw off a desperate effort by the Aussie bowlers to eventually work out a draw.

However, Australian skipper Ricky Ponting accused England of employing delay tactics to force a draw.

"I don't think that was required," Ponting said. "He had changed his gloves the over before and his glove is not going to be too sweaty in one over.”

England all-rounder Bilal Shafayat ran onto the field during the 69-ball last wicket stand between Anderson and Panesar to offer the former batting gloves while physio Steve McCaig had to retreat after angry Australian players asked him to go off on the second occasion.

Chappell does not agree with Ponting

Former Australian captain Chappell, however, disagreed with Ponting: “I don’t think any team should complain about the tactics. It is best left to the umpires to handle such situations and the umpires were not strong enough to deal with the situation in Cardiff.”

Meanwhile, Chappell, who is now one of the most respected cricket brains and commentators in the world, said it was high time Australia came out of missing Glen McGrath and Shane Warne, when asked if the team missed the two legends more so after the way the two tail-enders frustrated an intense bid by the men from Down Under.

“Warne and McGrath have retired and they are not going to come back. It is irrelevant now to think of what they could have done. The others have to be good enough to step up.

All teams lose good players at some point of time and they have to recover.”

Despite Australia missing out on a certain victory to the last two England batsmen after getting rid of their more established players, Chappell did not seem to agree with former Australian tearaway Jeff Thompson, who had said that Ponting was “crap as captain.”

“Well, it is not easy to get rid of Ponting. If you want to get rid of him, you have to look at who is better than him.

As far as the current Australian team is concerned, no one is better than Ponting and it is not easy to replace him.”

"I was wrong about England"

Chappell said he thought England had the better bowling attack going into the first Test but he had to change his views after he saw their bowlers bleed runs and allow the Aussies to amass 674 for six (declared), with four of their batsmen scoring hundreds.

Chappell was also critical of the way England swashbuckler Kevin Pieterson threw his wicket away in the first innings after looking all set to score a big one.

“The kind of shot Pietersen played in the first innings was ridiculous. He has got to work out for himself what kind of shot he wants to play.”

Pietersen played a horrible shot against Nathan Hauritz on 69 and has since drawn the ire from former players from Australia as well as England.

The two teams clash for the second Ashes Test on July 16 at Lord’s.

England pull off a sensational draw

         The last wicket pair of James Anderson and Monty Panesar battled hard to register a tense draw when it all but seemed headed for a victory for Australia.

Mitchell Johnson has got rid of Andrew Flintoff, who had just dropped anchor for England in Cardiff.

Nathan Hauritz hit back at his critics to claim two key wickets as England slumped towards a comprehensive defeat on the final day of the opening Ashes Test.

The Australian off-spinner, dismissed as a potential threat in the build-up to the start of the npower series after suffering mixed fortunes in the warm-up matches, played a key role in England's slide towards defeat on the final morning.

Hauritz claimed the key scalps of captain Andrew Strauss and wicketkeeperMatt Prior as England lost three wickets for 39 runs and slumped to 102 for five at lunch - still needing a further 137 runs just to avoid an innings defeat.

Resuming the day on 20 for two and 219 runs adrift knowing they needed to bat out the day to prevent Australia claiming victory, England suffered a desperate start with influential batsman Kevin Pietersen falling in the fourth over of the morning.

Pietersen had already survived one close call in the previous over when he shouldered arms to a full-length ball from swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus which was rejected by umpire Aleem Dar.

But Pietersen failed to heed the lesson of that narrow escape and fell in Hilfenhaus' next over when he left a similar delivery and this time it knocked out his off-stump.

Having removed England's most influential player, Australian captain Ricky Ponting turned to the spin of Hauritz, who struck in his second over to remove Strauss's 79-minute stay at the crease.

He had already gone some way towards answering his critics by out-bowling England's two spinners earlier in the match and after Strauss cut him for the first four of the morning, Hauritz struck next ball with a delivery which bounced a little more and the England captain edged behind attempting the same shot.

New batsman Paul Collingwood was fortunate not to become Hauritz's second victim of the morning when he pushed forward and gloved the ball off his pad just out of Simon Katich's reach at short leg.

Collingwood also had to stop the ball rolling on to his stumps off Hauritz's next delivery by halting it with his right boot, but it was wicketkeeper Prior who became his next victim and sent England plunging towards defeat.

Prior had already had one close shave when he edged seamer Peter Siddlethrough gully for his only boundary, but was completely deceived by Hauritz as he rocked back attempting a late cut, was surprised by the extra bounce and steered the ball to Michael Clarke at slip.

It left Collingwood and all-rounder Andrew Flintoff with the responsibility of surviving the remaining 34 minutes until lunch, which they achieved but they still have a further two sessions to survive if Australia are not going to claim an early Ashes advantage.

Happy to be back-Dravid

Former India skipper Rahul Dravid on Friday said he is happy to be reconsidered for a spot in the one-day side.

Dravid has been named among the 30 probables for the Indian team for the ICC Champions trophy.

"I'm happy"

"I'm happy, it feels nice to be back in the mix," Dravid told reporters on the sidelines of a promotional event.

The eight-nation tournament will be played from September 22 to October 5 in South Africa this year.

The middle-order batsman, who has scored 10,585 run in 333 matches, last played an ODI against the Australians in Nagpur in October 2007.

Talking about the status of other sports which get overshadowed by Cricket, Dravid said the only way to bring them under limelight is to attain more success in that discipline.

"A lot of sports do suffer from the magnitude of cricket in India. But there is no point complaining about it. As more and more people get success in other sports, they will get the desired attention," he said.

"It has happened with (Abhinav) Bindra at the Olympics and recently with Saina (Nehwal)," Dravid said.

On NBA's initiative to promote basketball in the country, he said the move will encourage kids to play the loop game.

Admitting that he was not good in basketball, Dravid said that he occasionally kept track of the game.

"I've never played basketball as a kid, I follow it though. I've watched Michael Jordan play a lot, followed Kobe Bryant," he said.

Asked about India's chances in the NBA, Dravid hoped that it would happen soon.

"We would have to find a few six-and-half feet guys though," he quipped.

The former Indian skipper also congratulated legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar on his 60th birthday.

"I wish him well. He has done a lot for the game and for us," he said.

North gets his maiden Ashes ton

                     Michael Clarke is destined to follow Ricky Ponting as captain of Australia and he took the lead of the current skipper on the third day in Cardiff to guide the visitors ahead by 44 runs. Clarke and Marcus North added 143 for the fifth wicket after England had threatened a fightback during the morning session, but any hope the home side had of remaining on level terms was remorselessly pounded into the Welsh dust.
Clarke appeared set to become the third century-maker of the innings before gloving a pull off Stuart Broad, during the first period of Test cricket in England and Wales played under floodlights, after the players returned following a two-hour rain break. More wet weather is forecast for Saturday and could yet have a major say in the route and outcome of this match. However, the more time that is lost means makes Australia the only side that can take a positive result from this opening encounter.
Ponting and Katich carried their second-wicket partnership to 239 before Katich fell for 122 and when Ponting dragged Monty Panesar into his stumps for 150 Australia were still more than 100 behind. England harboured hopes of first-innings parity, but they couldn't break through during the afternoon session as the attack laboured on a surface that made the five-man unit appear unthreatening.
Clarke is Ponting's heir apparent in so many ways and his innings bore many similarities with that of his captain. There was a swiftness of footwork against the spinners and conviction of strokeplay especially with his driving. He lofted Panesar straight over long-off for six and brought up his half century from 100 balls when he drove the Graeme Swann past mid-off before repeating the dose from the next delivery.
North settled into his first Ashes innings and the talk of his uncertain early-tour form now seems a long time ago. Buoyed by the 191 he made against England Lions last week he watchfully negotiated the early part of his stay before expanding his range. He slog-swept the spinners through and over the leg side and when they tried to go wider outside off he cut through the covers.
   Clarke took Australia into the lead with a meaty pull off Flintoff and North reached his half-century from 107 balls. Apart from when the ball was new England's attack posed little threat with Broad leaking runs at more than four-an-over and the spinners unable to build sustained pressure. At least Broad's mood brighten in the evening gloom when he enticed Clarke into a pull that brushed the glove, two overs before the players were off again, but it was another concerning day of hard toil for the home attack.
   There were nine overs until the second new ball when play began and if Andrew Strauss was in any doubt whether to take it his mind was soon made up as Panesar and Swann leaked boundaries. Ponting's swift footwork created scoring opportunities against Panesar who had a tendency to bowl too short, while Swann continued to pitch too full with two full tosses racing to the boundary.
The harder ball immediately provided more of a threat although it also raced off the bat as Ponting drove supremely through cover. Finally, after 70 overs, England found a way through as Anderson speared in a yorker at Katich and most importantly for the bowler the ball swung late to end a superb display of concentration and application.
The intensity lifted as Flintoff steamed in and struck Michael Hussey on the helmet, while Anderson was now moving the ball in both directions. Anderson's second scalp came with another full delivery which lured Hussey into a flat-footed drive and Matt Prior took a low catch. England now had the advantage of bowling at two right-handers and Anderson gave Clarke's technique an early probing, but until the 2005 version he withstood the test impressively.
    Ponting was continuing along his classy path, only occasionally being discomforted by Anderson's late swing and a beauty from Flintoff that beat the outside edge, although he did top-edge a six over Panesar at long-leg as went to 150 from 221 deliveries.
With the ball still hard Panesar was recalled for another spell and the move paid off handsomely when Ponting got a bottom edge into the stumps. He had played so solidly that it was almost a shock to see him walking back, but it was far from the end of England's problems.

    Now Marcus North has got his maiden ashes ton as Australia cruise on to a lead of 142 at end of first session of day four.North remains unbeaten on 101 and Haddin made a good looking 50.

Bhajji hits back at Buchanan

Harbhajan said he was habituated to being criticised by Australians but surprised at the pot shots on the likes Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar.
Buchanan:Sachin not fit for t20s:
In his newly released book titled 'The Future of Cricket: The Rise of Twenty20', Buchanan has taken swipe at some of the big names of Indian cricket including Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, and also business tycoon Vijay Mallya.
"I read through the comments on an online news portal.
The great coach indeed had some great comments to make, just like his great coaching methods," Harbhajan wrote in his blog from UK where is holidaying with his family.
"I am not surprised at this. In fact, anything coming out of Australia does not surprise me anymore. It just shows how much they love me and keep thinking about me in their minds and hearts. This is not the first time an Australian has showered his praise on me and I am pretty certain he won't be the last one either.
Using controversies to sell books:
"What surprises (offends) me are the well crafted and framed comments on proven legends like Mr Gavaskar and Sachin by someone whose coaching credentials were doubted by the acclaimed and most respected Aussie legend leg spinner (Shane Warne). The coaching credentials were tested waters again at an IPL team this year," he added.
The temperamental off-spinner, who has a dubious record of run-ins with Australians, went on to suggest that it might be a tactic on Buchanan's part to publicise the book.
"There used to be a time when action used to speak louder than words but now its vice-versa. Words draw more attention that action. At times, I wonder why all these things appear just before the launch of the book.
"Good luck to them," Harbhajan said.

How dare you Aussies..............!

From time to time in cricket, Aussies 've always been involved some controversies.Even though they 've been a formidable side for decades,they always involve in verbal battles with their opponents.In 80s and 90s,they used to sledge their rivals England in their books and use the controversies created to sell their book.But now, Indians are targeted by the Aussies.This started when Steve Waugh criticised Saurav ganguly's attitude in his book 'Out of my comfort Zone'.The book, not surprisingly, sold quite a few copies in India.This ugly action by the Aussies is a pandora's box,not just for the journalists all over the world but also for the cricketers.In the previous year it was Adam Gilchrist who accused Sachin Tendulkar for lying and later took a U-turn after the comments raged a controversy in India.The name of that book is 'True Colors'.Even after the 2007 T20 world cup, Ricky Ponting said that Team India's T20 world cup victory has got more to do with luck than skills.

Then it was Symonds who criticised everyone for letting Harbajan Singh.The name of his book is 'Roy on the Rise'.And now it is John Buchanan, who is saying that Sachin and Rahul are not suited for t20s and he adds that Sachin Tendulkar,one of the greatest batsmen ever is neither inventive nor fearless.He was the one who said before the 2007-08 India's tour of Australia ,that Sachin would struggle against their left arm pacer, Mitchell Johnson and added that he'll struggle in that tour.But Tendulkar answered Buchanan's stupidity by going on to score 2 centuries and 2 brisk fifties in the test series.Infact,he is the highest run getter in that series for India.In the ODI tri-series he scored a century in the first finals following that with a 90 in the second.

Mathew Hayden is the only exception who wrote a book on cooking.After 2007 WC Ponting told Sunny to look after then struggling Indian Team,now its time for us to tell the Aussies ,''Mind your own business''

Aussies - contrversies' children

Controversies sells. So who are the other Australians who have tried to ruin Indian cricketers' image to rake in moolah?
This ugly incident was a pandora's box not just for the journalists across the world but also for the cricketers. First it was Adam Gilchrist who came out with his book named -- 'True Colours'. He accused Sachin Tendulkar of lying but immediately took a U-turn after the comments raged a controversy in India.
Soon after Andrew Symonds himself came out with a book called 'Roy on the Rise' - a year of living dangerously and criticized everyone for letting off Harbhajan Singh.
Finally it was skipper Ricky Ponting's turn to touch the subject in Captain's Diary 2008 - A year of Tests, turmoil and T20. Punter also took a hit a MS Dhoni saying that Team India's T20 victory in 2007 World Cup has got more to do with luck than skills.
So, John Buchanan's latest book and comments on Sunil Gavaskar, Yuvraj Singh and then his denial is yet again a repeat of the unhealthy trend that Aussies have been following for selling their books.
"Aussies are outspoken, they always present their views quite frankly. I don't agree with John Buchanan on Yuvraj Singh, but like everyone else John has right to express his opinion," Chetan Chauhan, former India player, said.
In fact, the trend of India bashing by the Aussies started in 2004 when Steve Waugh took a dig at Sourav Ganguly in his book 'Out of my Comfort Zone'. The book, not surprisingly, sold quite a few copies in India.
Even in 1980s and 1990s Australians used controversies to sell their books by taking a hoe at the Englishmen, their rivals for 100 years. May be, all the Australians should just take a word of advice from Matthew Hayden, who resisted the temptation of adding spices to his book, and wrote a book on using spices to cook good food.

A good beginning for the Ashes first test as the match remains even

K P
Kevin Pietersen had an eventful day with the bat. He began manically, pumped to the gunwales with Ashes adrenalin, before settling into a more measured approach, aided in a peculiar way by the Achilles-related calf injury that forced him to chill out and play each ball on its merit. Alas, that sanity couldn't hold sway forever, and on 69, he climbed into perhaps the most atrocious sweep-shot he has yet unfurled in his career. His feet did not move as Nathan Hauritz tossed the ball out wide, and Simon Katich back-pedalled gleefully from short leg to cling onto what might yet prove a match-turning dismissal.

Escape of the day
Pietersen is carrying an aching Achilles and calf in his right leg, and after the first day he must have a sore left shin and foot as well. He was the target of a couple of strong lbw decisions at the start of his innings, but both were shown to be heading over the stumps. After tea, with the batsman on 61, Ben Hilfenhaus swung one in instead of taking it away and Pietersen was struck right in front on the shoe. Hilfenhaus is new on the scene and his appeal did not carry the power of Brett Lee or Glenn McGrath. There was only quiet support from the slips and Billy Doctrove was not convinced. Five runs later Hilfenhaus was upset further when Michael Clarke dropped a sharp chance at cover.

Catch of the day
The morning was drifting along until Michael Hussey sparked the contest with a leaping take to his right at gully to remove Alastair Cook. It wasn't quite Andrew Strauss flying to grab Adam Gilchrist's nick at Trent Bridge in 2005, but Hussey was mid-air for a special catch that spurred the Australians to another two breakthroughs before lunch. Hussey has been standing in the gully since Matthew Hayden moved to first slip after Shane Warne's exit at the end of the previous Ashes contest. Michael Clarke now plants himself next to the keeper, and his collection of Andrew Strauss was much simpler.

Welcome of the day
With his bustle and aggression from an apparently innocuous set-up, Peter Siddle is Australia's modern-day answer to Merv Hughes, and the second-ball bouncer with which he introduced Ravi Bopara to Ashes cricket was merely a moustache short of an exact replica of Hughes' huff-and-puff at Old Trafford in 1993. The ball was short and angry, like a disenchanted midget, and carried on climbing and climbing until a flat-footed Bopara had no place to hide. With his defences breached, he dropped his gloves and took his licks, as the ball cannoned off his breastbone, and up into his Adam's apple.

Anthem of the day
It is common knowledge that the Welsh love a good sing-song, and on the opening morning of their long-anticipated Test debut, their collective lungs were bursting with pride. As the teams lined up in front of the Really Welsh Pavilion (topped off, incongruously, by a gently fluttering St. George's Cross), the mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins - more commonly spotted down the road at the Millennium Stadium - belted out Land of our Fathers, before some random reality TV winner led the charge through Advance Australia Fair and God Save the Queen. Still the musical montage wasn't finished, however. With minutes to go until the start, Jenkins returned to belt out Jerusalem. And then finally the Ashes could begin.

Miscue of the day
Paul Collingwood deceived everyone, including himself, when he climbed into a Mitchell Johnson bouncer in the final over of the morning session. The ball skidded onto him, as is Johnson's wont, and zipped, pelota-style, down the blade and away through midwicket for four. Collingwood's head and body motion gave the impression, however, that he had just slapped his shot uppishly to fine leg, where Ben Hilfenhaus was waiting, hands at the ready, for the catch that never came.

Medal of the day
Not content with introducing a new venue to the Ashes annals, the ECB decided to revamp the all-important coin toss as well. Instead of the traditional nugget of currency, a specially minted gold "medal" was rolled out, one of a limited edition of 150 apparently, with a defending batsmen on one side, and a swooshing npower logo on the other. In the circumstances, it was hard to know exactly what to call at the toss - although Ricky Ponting eventually settled, incorrectly as it turned out, for "heads". Mike Atherton, overseeing the event for Sky Sports, had to wait for the match referee to confirm which side was which before broadcasting the result to the nation.

West Indies players threaten Boycott

West Indies' home series against Bangladesh, due to begin on Thursday with the first Test, has been thrown into chaos following a boycott announced by the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA). A statement from WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine said the players would boycott the series "with immediate effect" because of a long-running contractual dispute with the home board.

Ramnarine said the decision to pull out of the series came after the latest talks with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) failed to resolve several issues, including retainer contracts. "The players have played their last four tournaments without a contract," Ramnarine said. "They are now being asked to play their fifth consecutive series without a contract, which is highly unacceptable."

"When a player called me last week and asked what was the position with regards to his injury while playing cricket for the West Indies in the just concluded Twenty20 World Cup, my response was that was there was no written contract in place and therefore any action that would have to be taken would have to be taken in that context. Professional sportsmen should not be allowed to play any sport that has such a high risk without the necessary protection."

Emerging reports from the Caribbean say that a second-string West Indian squad has landed in St Vincent, where the first Test is scheduled to start tomorrow. When contacted, Ramnarine said he hadn't heard the reactions from the WICB and could not comment at this stage. Tony Howard, the WICB's cricket operations officer, also told Cricinfo he had not heard of such any move, but that a statement would be released on the status of the series.

WICB president Julian Hunte, however, was confident the series would go ahead as planned. "As far as we are concerned [there] will be a Test match on Thursday," he told Reuters.

Rabeed Imam, the Bangladesh Cricket Board's media manager, told Cricinfo that as far as they were concerned this was an internal issue of the WICB and their players and that Bangladesh were focused on the match tomorrow and had been training accordingly.

This is not the first time in recent memory that the players and WICB have been involved in a stand-off. Earlier this year West Indies' spring tour of England was nearly severely undermined after it emerged five senior players had threatened to withdraw from the series to play in the IPL. That crisis was averted, only for more talk of a boycott of the fifth and final ODI between West Indies and England after Chris Gayle indicated his team may not take the field if outstanding issues with the WICB remained unresolved. That too was averted.

A similar dispute arose in 2008 prior to Australia's tour of the West Indies. Several senior West Indian players considered withdrawing from the first two Tests of the series to remain in the IPL, but returned after the WICB allowed them to skip a pre-series training camp.

The last time West Indies players actually took action, ten players - including then captain Brian Lara - boycotted the 2005 tour of Sri Lanka against a background of unprecedented controversy and confusion. A bitter, protracted row between the WICB and the players' association over sponsorship led to the late withdrawal of ten of the original squad of 13, including Lara, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan. Replacement players were called up for the Test series, which West Indies ended up losing 2-0.

SRI LANKA WIN A DRAMATIC TEST TO DEFEAT PAKISTAN IN THE FIRST TEST OF THE THREE MATCH TEST SERIES

Rangana Herath skittled Pakistan with his left-arm spin to hand Sri Lanka a dramatic 50-run victory in their first cricket Test.
Herath grabbed 4-15 as Pakistan, chasing a modest target of 168, collapsed from a seemingly impregnable 71-2 to 117 all out in their second innings before lunch on the fourth day.
Fast bowler Thilan Thushara and spinner Ajantha Mendis chipped in with two wickets each as a jittery Pakistan lost their last eight batsmen for 46 runs at the Galle International Stadium.
The brilliant win gave Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, the first between the two nations since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in the Pakistani city of Lahore on March 3.
The attack injured seven Sri Lankan players and killed eight local security men, prompting the sport's governing body to move 2011 World Cup matches out of Pakistan.
Pakistan, who beat Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 final in London last month, now have four days to ponder the loss before the second Test starts at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo on July 12.
Herath, who replaced the injured Muttiah Muralitharan for this match, struck twice in the day's second over when he removed the overnight pair of Mohammad Yousuf and Salman Butt in the space of four deliveries.
Yousuf, century-maker in the first innings, was given out leg-before as he padded up to a straight ball from the left-armer that was headed for middle stump.
Left-handed Butt, who looked in good touch while making 28 on Monday, appeared to lose concentration after Yousuf's departure and pulled Herath high to Tharanga Paranavitana at deep square-leg.
Sri Lanka earned another success in the next over when Shoaib Malik edged left-arm seamer Thushara to wicket-keeper Tillakaratne Dilshan before he had scored.
Pakistan found themselves in a deeper hole as Thushara, who exploited the early freshness in the wicket with lively pace, trapped Kamran Akmal leg-before for six.
The tourists' were soon reduced to 85-7 when Misbah (seven) stepped out of the crease after taking a Thushara delivery on his pads and an agile Dilshan threw down the wicket to run out the batsman.
Ten runs later, Ajantha Mendis claimed his second wicket of the innings when he bowled Umar Gul for nine.
Herath brought up the sensational win by having Abdur Rauf snapped up at first slip by former captain Mahela Jayawardene.

I'm angry and i'll take it out on Aussies:Flintoff

London: Angry with himself for yet another disciplinary transgression, England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff plans to take out the pent up frustration on Australia during the Ashes starting Wednesday.

Flintoff had missed a team bus during a weekend trip to Belgium recently which had upset the England management.

Flintoff himself is no less unhappy with his conduct but has vowed to make amends by tormenting Australia with both bat and ball.

"I'm angry with myself for messing up again, but I'll make sure I take it out on Australia. I don't need any further incentive to perform for England in the Ashes. But I am determined to try to make what happened in Belgium a distant memory," he said.

"I hope we can all move on and that this will not be something that affects our Ashes build-up, but it's something for which I have held up my hand and said sorry," Flintoff added.

Flintoff said he is determined to leave behind the episode and put all his energy to help England win back the Ashes.

Dravid included in Champions trophy probables

Mumbai: Irfan Pathan’s international career has suffered a big setback as the selectors omitted the Baroda all-rounder from the list of 30 probables for September’s Champions Trophy in South Africa. Meanwhile, former India captain Rahul Dravid, who last played a one-day international for India in October 2007, has been included in the list.

A veteran of 333 ODIs, Dravid has not featured in India's ODI squad since playing his last one dayer against Australia in Nagpur in 2007.

Senior cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who had opted out of the just-concluded West Indies tour, returns to the side as do the injured duo of Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan.

Explosive Karnataka opener Robin Uthappa was the other surprise exclusion from the list.

Hard-hitting Delhi batsman Virat Kohli, Bengal stumper Wriddhiman Saha, Tamil Nadu's R Ashiwin and Murali Vijay also found a place in the list of probables.

UP pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, lanky Rajasthan medium pacer Pankaj Singh and the Mumbai duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Dhawal Kulkarni also found mention in the list.

The All-India senior selection committee at its meeting held at M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai on Monday selected the list of probables for the mini-World Cup.

1. M S Dhoni (Captain)
2. Virender Sehwag (Vice-Captain)
3. Gautam Gambhir
4. Yuvraj Singh
5. Rohit Sharma
6. Sachin Tendulkar
7. Rahul Dravid
8. Suresh Raina
9. Yusuf Pathan
10. Abhishek Nayar
11. Ishant Sharma
12. Zaheer Khan
13. R P Singh
14. Praveen Kumar
15. Harbhajan Singh
16. Pragyan Ojha
17. Ravindra Jadeja
18. Dinesh Karthik
19. Munaf Patel
20. R Ashwin
21. M Vijay
22. Amit Mishra
23. Ajinkya Rahane
24. Dhawal Kulkarni
25. S Badrinath
26. Ashish Nehra
27. Virat Kohli
28. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Singh
29. Wridhiman Saha
30. Pankaj Singh

UMPIRE DEAD AFTER CRICKET BALL HITS HIS HEAD

British Umpire Alcwyn Jenkins died after he was hit by the cricket ball on his headwhen a fielder threw the ball.He was 72 years of age.He was airlifted to a hospital but he failed to recover.He was officiating a first class match between Swansea-Lagennech.

Pakistan going strong against Srilanka

Mohammad Yousuf marked his return to official fold with a half-century - and counting - to lift Pakistan from a precarious 80 for 4 at the first drinks break. His 139-run partnership with Misbah-ul-Haq had put Pakistan in a state of relative control by the end of the middle session.

Neither Misbah nor Yousuf looked like getting out in what was the most assured partnership of the match - except for a bat-pad catch off Yousuf in Rangana Herath's second over, which escaped the umpire's eye, after he was finally brought on to bowl in the 48th over of the innings.

Apart from that blip, Yousuf and Misbah provided the best batting of the match so far, negotiated Ajantha Mendis without incident, and took Pakistan towards Sri Lanka's total at a fair pace.

Such ease was not always the case for Pakistan. Their overnight batsmen, Younis Khan and nightwatchman Abdur Rauf, never looked in. Nevertheless they frustrated Sri Lanka for one hour. Playing and missing, prodding and nudging, they survived and put together a sizeable partnership. It was Rauf who, surprisingly, took the lead. By the time Younis cut Kulasekara for three in the sixth over - his first confident shot of the innings - he had faced the same number of deliveries as Rauf, 32, but scored 10 as opposed to Rauf's 19. Rauf showed the tendency to play inside the line of the ball, but the fatal edge came only after the two had added 50 for the third wicket, 31 of which Rauf contributed.

Just before the first hour turned over, Kumar Sangakkara brought Angelo Mathews on and Younis played at a wide delivery to end an unconvincing innings. Mathews became the second debutant in the match to take a wicket in his first over, but that was the last bit of joy Sri Lanka were to have in a long time.

Yousuf and Misbah were more confident and comfortable than the men they replaced. Yousuf did have three shouts against him early on in the piece, but wasn't close to getting out to any. He looked to counter Thushara's swing by moving outside the line of off stump, and a couple of flashy shots there got him boundaries too. Misbah looked the most comfortable batsman on this pitch. He was neither beaten nor keen to hit the bowlers off rhythm. A statement of intent was issued to Mendis, though, when Misbah read a googly early and lofted him over midwicket.

Mendis didn't look like he had settled into any sort of rhythm, either side of lunch, and that proved crucial, with the pitch easing out and the fast bowlers tiring down. It was old-fashioned Test cricket from the Pakistan batsmen, who looked in no apparent hurry, and without taking any risks set the bowlers off their game. Mendis was hit for back-to-back boundaries to facilitate Yousuf's way to a fifty. By then, Misbah had reached just 26 off 83.

But post a 38-minute rain break, which extended the middle session by half an hour, even Misbah opened his shoulders. Herath, unfortunate not to get Yousuf, was lofted repeatedly to cow corner. One swivel pull off the same bowler later, Misbah reached his half-century. Herath got his aggressor seven minutes before tea, making sure Pakistan were not yet in a state to impose themselves.

Pakistan struggles after a good start

Pakistan had a day of typical Pakistani cricket. Two of their debutants got them off to a great start, but sloppy fielding and a failure to keep a lid on the scoring meant they hadn't run away with the game. The Sri Lankan batsmen, although never entirely comfortable in the middle, kept counterattacking, getting quick runs, making sure they got themselves a fighting total on a pitch that offered movement to bowlers of both variety.
If Pakistan were slightly ahead at the end of the innings, the last half hour, when Nuwan Kulasekara and Thilan Thushara took a wicket each, made sure the match was as balanced as it was when it started.
Like 17-year-olds should, Mohammad Aamer sprung suddenly on Sri Lanka, taking two wickets in his first two overs. Like hardened domestic sloggers should, the 30-year-old Abdur Rauf came back to do the repair work, taking out beneficiaries of early dropped chances - Tharanga Paranavitana and Mahela Jayawardene. Even before he surprised Sri Lanka by breaking two threatening partnerships, Younis Khan had read the pitch well, played three fast bowlers, and chosen to field first.
Aamer vindicated the decision right away, following his first-over success on Twenty20 international debut with the wicket of Malinda Warnapura in his first over in Tests. Right from the first over Aamer got the ball to move both ways, bowling regularly in the mid-130s.
Warnapura hadn't looked comfortable, lofting Aamer unconvincingly, barely over mid-on. The next ball was shorter, moving in sharply, cramping him, and taking the bottom edge onto the stumps. If it was the inward movement that got Warnapura, the away movement should have got Paranavitana in his next over. The batsman was on 1 then. That didn't deter Aamer from getting new Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara to edge through to third slip in the next over.
Between those two events Paranavitana got another life, ballooning Umar Gul to regulation short leg, but Khurram Manzoor was placed deeper. In Aamer's next over Kamran Akmal dropped a sitter from Jayawardene. The two looked like they would punish Pakistan bad. Their partnership moved swiftly, Paranavitana attacking off the front foot, and getting a couple of edges through the slip cordon. Jayawardene, though not always the elegant self, looked threatening.
Paranavitana was particularly severe. When he hit back-to-back boundaries in Aamer's fifth over, cutting one through gully and then whipping a half volley past midwicket, he had crossed his previous best of 21, with five fours. Longer spells from fast bowlers were not possible in hot and humid conditions, and Younis had to rotate his bowlers, even bowl himself.
Paranavitana got to his half-century with another big over, taking 11 off Rauf, and reached the landmark in just 67 deliveries. Rauf, though, had another twist up his cocked wrist, getting the ball to hold its line beautifully and getting an edge from a set Jayawardene, nine minutes from lunch.
Rauf's first spell had promised such events. He bowled with an upright seam, getting movement away from the batsmen, and also good bounce. He came back, and along with the third debutant, Saeed Ajmal, created pressure. Then came an effort ball, moving away from Paranavitana sharply, and getting big on him.
Younis came back for a second spell and bowled a beauty Rauf would have been proud of, to get an edge from Thilan Samaraweera. Tillakaratne Dilshan and another debutant, Angelo Mathews, known better for their limited-overs cricket, went on another counterattack. In the 5.4 overs leading up to tea the two added 34, but the first ball after claimed Dilshan. He looked to force Aamer through gully, and spooned a catch.
At 194 for 6, with Gul reversing the ball, Sri Lanka seemed in a precarious state. But the day was not meant for slowing dowhttp://cms.hq.cricinfo.org/cms/story/main.tt2n, and Kulasekara followed the scheme of things. Both the batsmen used their feet to the spin of Ajmal, and kept scoring at a brisk pace. Mathews, who has forced his way into the side with eight first-class centuries in the last 11 months, seemed to be justifying the move of sacrificing the specialist wicketkeeper to accommodate him. He looked comfortable against both pace and spin, seemed to be reading Ajmal's doosra, and Kulasekara fed off him.
Against the run of play, after the two had added 47 for the seventh wicket, Mathews was undone by a Gul bouncer that didn't quite come on. But more stiff resistance was in the offing. Kulasekara and Herath added 30 runs for the eighth wicket, a partnership during which Herath survived two difficult chances, with mid-off running back but failing to holding on. Younis came back to get a wicket in his first over again, taking Kulasekara for 38, whereupon Ajmal cleaned up the last two.
Kulasekara carried that confidence, and bowled Salman Butt with the second ball of the innings. Butt premeditated a leave, but the ball was too close to the stumps, and the inwards shape did the rest. During a shaky half hour that followed, Younis and Khurram Manzoor played and missed, ran with uncertainty, and it all culminated in Thushara getting Manzoor with 3.1 overs to go.