Taylor assault makes it New Zealand's day

New Zealand 328 for 6 (Taylor 113, van Wyk 63*, Guptill 53, Ojha 4-90) v India                                             A sizzling counterattack by New Zealand captain Ross Taylor produced a high-speed century that sparked an improved display from the visitors on the opening day of the second Test against India. At stumps, New Zealand, who had elected to bat, were 328 for 6. Led by Taylor's incandescent 113, New Zealand's batsmen had, in the course of a single day, scored more runs than they had in both innings in Hyderabad.

Play was stopped due to bad light and eventually called off for the day about half an hour before the scheduled close, the umpires offering light to the batsman after Umesh Yadav bowled half of his first over with the second new ball. Kruger van Wyk and Doug Bracewell strode off, van Vyk batting on a deftly engineered 63 and Bracwell on 30. The two had found themselves at the crease after Taylor's departure, and within an hour had put on 82 for the seventh wicket.

Taylor's seventh Test century formed the bulk of the New Zealand batting effort. It was buffeted by two fifties, one by Martin Guptill at the top of the order which ended in dismay and the other by keeper van Wyk. It ensured that New Zealand could dismiss the innings and 115-run defeat in Hyderabad as a nightmare that need not be repeated.

After the departure of New Zealand's top three batsmen before lunch, Taylor let his aggression and intent take over. It was a fearless innings, the runs scored both robustly and in fine style. Taylor slog swept Ashwin for six before the lunch interval and when he returned, cranked the scoring up a gear. The India bowlers were hit all around the Chinnaswamy Stadium, with lusty slog sweeps, crisp straight drives and spanking shots through cover. New Zealand, or rather Taylor, was scoring at nearly seven runs an over in the hour after lunch. The hardworking Ojha was punished with four boundaries in his second over after lunch, Zaheer for two including a disdainful straight drive in his second spell, Ashwin was guided fine down to the boundary past leg slip. Taylor got to his century in 99 balls, cutting Ojha to the point boundary and two balls later, hit him down the ground for his second six over long-off.

For a captain who had a miserable first Test - losing the toss, dropping catches in slip and scoring nine in two innings - Taylor's innings on Friday was a more just exhibition of his batting abilities. On New Zealand's miserable tour of the West Indies in July, it was Taylor who had scored the sole New Zealand century, in thefourth ODI in St Kitts. New Zealand's previous Test century had come six months ago from Kane Williamson in a drawn Test against South Africa in Wellington.

Taylor's innings lit up the Bangalore crowd that grew through the day; his aggressive mode of batting had also been welcomed at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, when he had played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. The reception he received after his hundred against India, also, didn't lack in either enthusiasm or warmth.It was vital for New Zealand that their batting continued forcefully, after Martin Guptill had shaken off the early dismissal of Brendon McCullum in the morning. Guptill played the aggressor in his 63-run second-wicket stand with Kane Williamson. After being troubled by Ojha and dropped off Zaheer on 17, Guptill found his groove, his innings resolute in judgement and positive in strokeplay. He struck three boundaries off Yadav in a single over and two off Zaheer, including a cracking backfoot drive through extra cover. Less than half an hour before lunch though, Ojha pulled in the fielders, tossed one up and lured Guptill. It was the perfect bait: the ball didn't turn, Guptill's intended shot on the on-side ended up in Gautam Gambhir's hands at midwicket. Despite India's slow bowling tradition, Ojha was the first specialist India spinner to open the bowling in a Test match, and took four of the six New Zealand wickets to fall today.

Taylor, who owned the second session, was out in the fifth over after tea, forced to sweep against Ojha with the off side plugged. The ball was tossed up and Ojha hit Taylor in front of off and middle. His innings of 113 off 127 balls had slowed down only at the fall of Daniel Flynn's wicket, bringing to an end New Zealand's biggest partnership on this tour: 107 runs for the fourth wicket. Flynn had hung on gamely over an hour for 33, but for the third time in three innings, was leg before trying to sweep Ashwin. The loss of James Franklin - he hit a full toss from Ojha to a diving Suresh Raina at midwicket - had New Zealand stuttering at 215 for 5.

But inspired by Taylor's bold batsmanship, the undefeated 82-run seventh-wicket partnership between van Wyk and Bracewell added 32 runs in five overs following the captain's departure. Van Wyk's was an innings almost patented by chirpy, pocket-sized keepers; he was only 12 when Taylor was out and took charge, happy to have the quicker bowlers bowling at one end. Zaheer Khan was guided past slips, van Wyk taking 13 off the 16 balls he faced off him, and the quick-but-struggling Yadav went for 14 runs in six balls, including two fours an over. The partnership took New Zealand past 300, but they will be sobered by the knowledge that in the previous Test held in Bangalore in 2010, Australia had scored over 400 in their first innings and still lost.

Morgan sparkles in dull England win

England 212 for 6 (Morgan 73, Trott 71) beat South Africa 211 (Amla 43, Elgar 42, Anderson 4-44, Dernbach 3-44) by four wickets                                                                                                                                        Eoin Morgan swore allegiance to England's Test team this week ahead of all other temptations. In the current climate he would be foolish to suggest anything else. There may be suitors from the IPL who do not entirely believe it and their appetite to find out more will only have been whetted by his dashing intervention at The Oval which took England back to the top of the ODI rankings.

England beat South Africa for the first time this summer as their four-wicket victory with two overs to spare levelled the series at 1-1 with two to play. They also reclaimed the title of the No. 1 one-day side in the world, although this accolade could be short-lived. South Africa's reign lasted three days and they may reign again by Sunday evening. Fortunately, the players keep these things in perspective. Some of the more rabid fans would be well advised to follow suit or their emotional highs and lows may prove terminal.

Morgan made 73 from 67 balls, but he had a rock to lean on: Jonathan Trott, met by a target well within his comfort zone and bent upon batting through the innings. When the game was in the balance, at 64 for 3 in the 18th over, it would have been a toss-up which batsman South Africa most wished to dismiss next. Morgan could fearlessly slash and burn but Trott was the smouldering menace.BY the time they removed either of them - Morgan offering a return catch to Robin Peterson, aiming over midwicket - England's alliance of opposites had garnered 108 in 20 overs and the match was almost spent. The only surprise was that Trott did not see it through. He was out with England five runs short, 71 from 125 balls, as Wayne Parnell had him caught at the wicket. Parnell completed a niggardly spell but for Dale Steyn, back in the side, the pitch offered little encouragement.

England's chase had never looked entirely comfortable against a persistent attack and on a low, holding surface. But Trott created order out of discomfort; approaching his task like a librarian, ticking off every ball and stacking it neatly in alphabetical order. South Africa, probably 30 runs shy, could do little about it. "We were hoping for 250-odd," said AB de Villiers, South Africa's captain. "Most of the senior players got in and got out. That was the big sin."

Ravi Bopara was not so composed. He left to the sound of booing from the crowd, adjudged by umpire Kumar Dharmasena to be caught at the wicket for nought off Morne Morkel. He immediately turned to the DRS and the crowd only witnessed the fact that Hot Spot showed no edge. But the sound as the ball passed the bat was clearly audible - convincingly so - and the third umpire, Simon Taufel, correctly concluded that he had no clear evidence to overturn the on-field umpire's decision.

Bopara had bowled his bothersome medium pace skilfully in South Africa's innings, conceding only 31 runs and claiming the wicket of Faf du Plessis in only his second completed bowling stint for England, following a full shift against Bangladesh at Edgbaston two years ago.

It has been a fraught period for Bopara, his cricketing summer affected by domestic issues, and this will have helped to persuade him that much of his England career, especially at one-day level, remains ahead of him, but his pressing need in the last two matches is runs.Until Morgan shook the duvet, the cautious nature of England's reply was summed up in the dismissal of Alastair Cook, who reached 20 from 47 balls when he pulled Peterson gently to deep midwicket, an nondescript delivery but a wicket achieved through a gradual build up of pressure.

South Africa had to put in a workmanlike performance to post anything like a competitive total. Jade Dernbach held them back. His opportunities for England in limited-overs cricket this summer have extended no further than south London, but the moment he dismissed Hashim Amla, England's scourge all season, ensured him of an influential day. South Africa's last eight wickets slipped away for 91. England were sharper than they had been at the Ageas Bowl.

Fresh from his 150 in the second ODI in Southampton, Amla made unflustered progress to 43 from 51 balls before Dernbach took advantage of limited footwork in his first over to bowl him between bat and pad. Until then, he had batted with tranquillity and purpose, his runs advance unnoticed like a night-time tide. One whip behind square against James Anderson was so wristy that you could swear he played it with the back of the bat.

Dernbach, whose only other one-day appearance came against Australia , also on his home ground, was given an opportunity after England left out Tim Bresnan and overlooked the man who might have been viewed as his most like-for-like replacement, Chris Woakes. Dernbach has twice the forearms - as muscular and tattooed as a coal miner - but he is not twice the cricketer.

Away from The Oval, it would have been a debatable choice. But on this slow surface he was in his element. He dismissed Dean Elgar for 42, an innings that never really took shape, with a delivery bowled out of the back of the hand leaving the batsman motionless and bowling him through the gate. He later had Parnell caught at the wicket in an over when the batsman had twice nicked him for boundaries through the vacant slip cordon.

As the ball softened, South Africa laboured. Six players in all were bowled, emphasising that this was a pitch that rewarded a wicket-to-wicket attack. JP Duminy held things together until he fell at long off as he went big against the offspin of James Tredwell, who had also accounted for de Villiers as he sought out his favourite flick to deep midwicket.

With Parnell on the card at No. 7, recovery was always liable to be painstaking for South Africa and they never broke free, Anderson wrapping up the innings with the last three wickets in seven balls to leave 20 deliveries unused.

Jamshed and Ajmal help Pakistan level series

Pakistan 249 for 3 (Jamshed 97, Azhar 59*) beat Australia 248 for 9 (M Hussey 61, Ajmal 4-32, Junaid 3-52) by 7 wickets                                                                                                                                                   Nasir Jamshed batted across two months to deliver Pakistan a series-levelling victory in Abu Dhabi, where the extreme humidity left Australia's players dripping, and in some cases dropping, by the time the match finally finished at 2.27am local time. Despite being confounded by Saeed Ajmal again, Australia's batsmen posted a reasonable total of 248 for 9, but Jamshed and Azhar Ali helped Pakistan secure a seven-wicket win that meant the series would be decided in the final match.

Jamshed fell just short of a century, lobbing a catch to mid-off when he had 97 and Pakistan needed a further 82 runs, but Azhar and the captain Misbah-ul-Haq ensured Jamshed's fine work was not wasted. Facing Mitchell Johnson after 2am should be a daunting prospect but the humidity appeared to sap Australia's bowlers of all their energy - at one point Mitchell Starc hunched over and left the field exhausted during his over - and Azhar and Misbah were able to cruise to the target with 38 balls to spare.

Azhar finished unbeaten on 59 and Misbah on 35 and for them as well as the Australians, this match, which started at 6pm on August 31 and ended well into September 1, was a feat of endurance. The outfield was so dewy that the Australians all carried large towels in the back of their trousers as if they were off to a sauna, but in fact they were already in one. The bowlers struggled to grip the wet balls and Michael Clarke was left wondering why on earth he chose to bat first.

But none of that can take away from the performance of Jamshed, who batted in a helmet for 98 balls in those same conditions, and scored at a run a ball. Jamshed found runs all around the ground, forcing off the back foot through the off side, finding the gaps through - or over - the leg-side fieldsman, and later in his innings he sought to drive in the air down the ground.

His half-century came up off 59 balls and with solid support first from Mohammad Hafeez and then from Azhar, it gave Pakistan precisely the start they needed. The Australians thought they had Jamshed in the second over of the innings when he was adjudged lbw to James Pattinson, but the batsman asked for a review and replays showed the ball had pitched outside leg stump.

The opening stand ended at 66 when Hafeez pulled a short ball from Daniel Christian straight to Michael Hussey at deep midwicket for 23. The shot was timed sweetly but didn't have the elevation Hafeez wanted, though a pair of similar pulls from Jamshed off Christian did have the height and cleared the boundary.

Eventually it was Johnson who got rid of Jamshed and Pattinson picked up a wicket when he bowled Asad Shafiq for 9, but Pakistan were never in serious danger after the strong start from the openers. At the halfway point of the match the target looked like it would be a real challenge, and the Australians had Michael Hussey to thank for getting them to 248 as Ajmal again caused problems throughout the top and middle order.

Pakistan did not help themselves in the field, dropping catches and missing run outs, and it could have been worse had the Australians capitalised more on the five free hits given up due to no-balls from Sohail Tanvir. It was left largely to Ajmal to keep Australia in check and he was not only dangerous but also economical, slowing the scoring rate towards the end after removing Hussey for 61 and the dangerous Glenn Maxwell for 28.

Ajmal finished with 4 for 32 after he picked up both Hussey and Maxwell in the same over, Hussey bowled attempting a tired slog and Maxwell advancing down the pitch, missing the doosra and finding himself stumped by a matter of metres. But Hussey and Maxwell had done their job, continuing the rebuild started by Hussey and George Bailey after the top order wobbled to 87 for 4.

Maxwell launched two consecutive sixes off Abdur Rehman, one a slog sweep and the other a drive over long-on, and that was followed by six more from the next delivery when Hussey pulled a short ball from Junaid Khan. As usual, Hussey was good at finding the gaps and rotating the strike, and he brought up his half-century from 59 balls.

Maxwell helped keep the scoreboard ticking over, although he should have been caught on 21 when he top-edged a slog sweep off an Ajmal doosra and was put down by Asad Shafiq running in from deep midwicket; the ball had sailed so high the batsmen were able to run two. Maxwell had come to the crease after Bailey departed for 39 from 46 balls when he pushed a catch back to the bowler Rehman.

But Bailey, through a calm 66-run stand with Hussey, had played a key role in Australia's recovery after the top order struggled against the spin of Ajmal and Hafeez. After the early loss of Matthew Wade, Michael Clarke and an unconvincing David Warner moved the score along to 74 for 1 before three quick wickets set back their progress.

Warner, who never looked comfortable and had taken 19 deliveries to get off the mark, was lbw playing back to Ajmal and looked almost relieved that his ordeal was over. Clarke followed soon after, lbw to Hafeez for 37 and David Hussey was lbw to Ajmal for a duck shortly afterwards.

It was a shaky period for the Australians, who had rebuilt after the early loss of Wade, who drove at a wide ball from Junaid and played on for 7, one ball after he was dropped by Umar Akmal at point. Junaid returned in the dying overs to pick up two late wickets and finished with 3 for 52, but this night belonged to Ajmal and Jamshed.

Innings Dot balls 4s 6s PP1 PP2 PP3 Last 10 overs NB/Wides Australia 172 14 4 44/1 15/1    31/1             73/4 5/5 Pakistan 154 22 2 53/0 38/0    26/0              24/0 0/20

ODI Squad better prepared - De Villiers

The Proteas' One-Day International (ODI) unit have used the lull between ODI's to prepare more efficiently, ahead of the second match of the Natwest series against England in Southampton. Proteas captain, AB de Villiers feels the abandoned first match gave the majority of the Test players an extended period to ease into the limited overs format after the euphoria of the Test victory. 

"The previous ODI was quite frustrating," De Villiers said about the rained out match. "If anything we are a little bit better prepared this time around. It happened so quickly after the Test series and I think both teams were a little bit in the Test mix so it's nice to go into the second ODI fully prepared and refreshed." 

South Africa has only played one match at the Ageas Bowl, and have fed off the experience of former batsmen Neil Mckenzie, who plays for the home team the Hampshire Royals. De Villiers expects slightly different conditions to those in Cardiff, with statistics suggesting an even incline towards batting or bowling at the toss. 

"It's pretty even, we've looked at the results and it's a tossup between batting and bowling first. We have to focus on the basics and make sure that we have a good start, it's all about the momentum. It might take a bit of turn so we'll will think of that when we pick the team tonight." 

Albie Morkel and Dale Steyn are still unavailable for selection after failing to recover from the injuries which kept them out of the line-up for the first ODI. Morkel is struggling with a left ankle impingement injury and Steyn is still recovering from a stiff neck, they are both being carefully managed with the ICC World T20 starting in less than three weeks. 

"We are still having trouble with Albie and Dale, we want to get them ready before the big tournament," de Villiers concluded. 

New Zealand bowling coach Wright steps down

New Zealand's bowling coach Damien Wright will step down after the World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka next month after just a year in the job, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Tuesday. 

Australian Wright said prolonged absences from his family was behind the reason to leave. 

"I have really enjoyed working with the New Zealand team and it was a tough decision to leave the position," Wright said in a NZC statement. "The decision is related to time away from my family and a need to be based closer to home." 

Wright replaced Allan Donald last September after the South African returned home to join Gary Kirsten's coaching setup with the national side. 

The 37-year-old Wright played first-class cricket for 15 years, taking 406 wickets in 123 matches before retiring in 2011. 

"It has been a privilege to work with current crop of bowlers and I'm proud of the progression they have made over the past year," he said. 

Wright's resignation comes on the heels of former New Zealand captain John Wright's decision not to extend his contract as head coach after the tour of the West Indies ended earlier this month. 

John Wright was replaced by Mike Hesson, who is leading the side on their tour in India, with the second test against MS Dhoni's side beginning on Friday. 

NZC said they would advertise for a new bowling coach later this week.

Preview: England v South Africa, 2nd ODI

The picturesque Rose Bowl in Southampton would be the perfect setting for the second ODI between England and South Africa on Tuesday. With the first match at Cardiff being a washout, the series has effectively been reduced to four matches and both the teams would be keen on a good start to take the early advantage. The context to the match assumes significance as the No.1 Ranking is again on the line. If South Africa win at The Rose Bowl, they become the No.1 ranked team across all 3 formats. England would try their best to retain their status as the best ODI side but given how the summer has so far panned out for them- losing their Test No. 1 status to the Proteas and the controversy surrounding the whole Kevin Pietersen saga, they have their task cut out! They need to win this series desperately, not only to boost their morale but to show the world that they can win without the flamboyant Pietersen. The two teams have never encountered each other in Southampton. 

Stats: Teams batting 1st average 211 on this ground. A total of 14 ODIs have been played at the venue with the team batting first victorious on 6 occasions. It has been a happy hunting ground for the home team having won 6 of their 8 matches here and 5 of their last 6. South Africa have won their only match at the venue against Zimbabwe in 2003. 

Ian Bell would have good memories of this ground having scored a fluent century against West-Indies in the last ODI played at the venue earlier this year. Tim Bresnan also starred with 4 wickets in that match. 

England: England would be hoping that Eoin Morgan, Craig Kieswetter and Chris Woakes who are not suffering from the blemishes of the Test-series humiliation would add a new spark and turn their fortunes around. Ravi Bopara would be the key in the middle order along with Bell. In Jimmy Anderson, Graeme Swann and Steven Finn, they have a good bowling unit. 

South Africa: South Africa, on the other hand would not want to relent the pressure and the dominance they have had over England. The motivation to be the No.1 team across all formats would spur them on and they would come out all guns blazing. Gremem Smith, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers would provide the backbone to their batting while Morne Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe would lead the bowling attack. Both the countries are expected to retain the same sides that took the field in Cardiff. 

England: (probable 11): Cook, Bell, Trott, Bopara, Morgan, Kieswetter, Bresnan, Woakes, Swann, Anderson, Finn 

South Africa: (probable 11): Amla, Smith, Elgar, de Villiers, Duminy, du Plessis, McLaren, Parnell, Peterson, Morkel, Tsotsobe. 

MS Dhoni launches his bike racing team

New Delhi:India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is known for his passion for bikes, launched his racing team in July which is now competing in FIM Supersport World Championship.

The championship is a support race for the World Superbike championship, which will make its debut in India in March 2013.

The team, named as MSD R-N Racing Team India, entered the 17-race championship in the 10th race at Brno, Czech Republic. It is expected to compete full season in 2013.

The team has two bikers in Florian Marino of France and Dan Linfoot of Great Britain.

Marino is a four-time Superstock 600 race winner, and was a full time Honda WSS rider last year. Linfoot had won two Superstock 600 races in 2008. 

The squad has its base at Yeovil in the UK. 

Team principal Amit Sandill said the they aim to popularise and grow the game in Asia.

"We are looking at it from the long term perspective. Trying to grow the sport in Asia. The sport itself is in a pretty nascent stage in Asia so this is a first step," Sandill had said at the launch of the team in July.

"Trying to get to the championship and making a kind of mark in the championship and then take the sport to India and then other countries in Asia. We would also like to start a Racing Academy. Behind all this is the passion, which comes as a bonus," he said

Tough contest looms in UAE heat

Big Picture

Australia's one-off entrée against Afghanistan now complete, it's time for the main course in the UAE: a three-match ODI series followed by three Twenty20s against Pakistan. That the series is even going ahead is a credit to both countries, for finding a venue and a suitable time proved harder than anyone could have imagined. Initially, Sri Lanka was to host the matches but the scheduling of the SLPL at the same time scuppered that plan. Malaysia was considered, with the heat in the UAE at this time of year making it unsuitable for day-time play, but in the end the boards agreed to play in the UAE with a 6pm start for the ODIs, to avoid the hottest part of the afternoon.

The conditions and the likelihood of turning pitches will give Pakistan a good chance of breaking their ten-year drought without a one-day series win against Australia. Not that Pakistan have been in particularly good one-day form: they lost a series to Sri Lanka in June and to England in the UAE in February. Australia are similarly struggling in the 50-over format; having been soundly beaten by England they slipped to fourth on the ICC one-day rankings, and could fall further if they lose to Pakistan, who are sixth.

Both sides are without some senior players: Pakistan have dropped Umar Gul and Younis Khan, and Australia are missing Clint McKay due to injury and Shane Watson, who is being rested to allow him more time for strength and conditioning work ahead of a busy schedule. Pakistan are expected to use a spin-heavy attack in this first match, while Australia have decided to rely on pace, having seen the ball swing in their win against Afghanistan.

Form guide (Complete matches, most recent first)

Pakistan LLLWW
Australia WLLLL

Watch out for

It's nearly 18 months since Kamran Akmal last played for his country in any format, in the World Cup semi-final loss to India. Since then, Pakistan have rotated through four different wicketkeepers in ODIs, including Kamran's brothers Adnan Akmal and Umar Akmal. Now it is his turn again. Kamran's batting is always a threat, although in 15 ODIs he has only once scored more than 50 against Australia, but it's his glovework that often lets the team down. As part of the squad for this tour and the ICC World Twenty20, he needs to find his best form with both bat and gloves over the next month.

By promoting himself to No.3, Michael Clarke has said that he is the man to fix Australia's batting black hole. In the past year, Australia have used Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Peter Forrest, Shane Watson, Matthew Wade and George Bailey at first drop, for a combined average of 23.37. Against Afghanistan Clarke made 75 and it was a positive sign, and he will be aiming to keep that form going against Pakistan. Batting high up also gives Clarke a chance to bat for a long period against what is likely to be a spin-heavy attack, and he is the best equipped of Australia's batsmen to handle such bowling.

Team news

Pakistan have taken a 16-man squad for the ODIs but there was no room for Umar Gul or Younis Khan, while Kamran Akmal was brought back into the side. The exact make-up of the attack remains uncertain, but the coach Dav Whatmore indicated they would rely largely on the slow bowlers. "We are going to bowl more spin than the quicks," Whatmore said, "and it's important that we do that well."

Pakistan (squad) Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Aizaz Cheema, Saeed Ajmal, Imran Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Abdur Rehman, Junaid Khan, Anwar Ali

Australia have made one change from the side that beat Afghanistan, leaving out their frontline spinner Xavier Doherty. The allrounder Daniel Christian will take his place, meaning plenty of seam-bowling options for Michael Clarke, while the spin duties will be shared by Glenn Maxwell, David Hussey and Clarke himself. It remains to be seen whether Matthew Wade will open or be moved down the order to give him some respite from the heat.

Australia 1 Matthew Wade (wk), 2 David Warner, 3 Michael Clarke (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 George Bailey, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Daniel Christian, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 James Pattinson

Pitch and conditions

The humid conditions allowed Australia's fast bowlers to extract plenty of swing at the same venue against Afghanistan, but Pakistan's spinners should also find the conditions to their liking. The temperature, even late at night, is not expected to fall below 33C.

Stats and trivia

• Shahid Afridi needs three more wickets to reach 350 in one-day internationals; now that Brett Lee has retired, Afridi is the leading wicket taker among current ODI cricketers
• The last one-day international Australia played against Pakistan in the UAE was just over three years ago, yet only one member of that Australia side - Michael Clarke - will take the field in this game
• Should Australia lose the series 2-1 they won't move on the ICC one-day rankings, but if they lose 3-0 they will drop from fourth to sixth, swapping places with Pakistan

Morgan to put Tests above IPL

while the riches on offer in the IPL may have turned the head of Kevin Pietersen, Eoin Morgan insists he will turn his back on the most lucrative competition in world cricket if it helps him regain a place in England's Test side.

Morgan, who was dropped from the Test team after a grim series against Pakistan in the UAE, is contracted to the Kolkata Knight Riders for the 2013 IPL season, but said that international cricket will always take priority and that he would prefer to play county cricket next April and May if it helps him win back a Test place.

While Morgan would, under the terms of his England and Middlesex contract, be entitled to miss the first four or five weeks of the English domestic season in order to play in the IPL, he knows he will need to impress in first-class cricket if he is to force his way back into the Test side. Certainly Morgan's chances of impressing during the 2012 IPL season were limited as he failed to make it into the Kolkata side, though he has previously gone on record to credit the experience of training alongside players from around the world as hugely beneficial to his learning experience.

"The bigger picture for me is playing Test cricket," he said. "As a 15-year-old I came across to England to play Test cricket. It's always been my priority. I've had a little sniff of it and I've absolutely loved it. I was in the side when we became No. 1 and I was on the Ashes tour as a spare batter. Nothing can ever come close to the stuff you experience as a winning Test-match side. If it came about that I was back in the Test team during the IPL I'd be the happiest bloke in the world."

Morgan's words will delight England coach, Andy Flower. Flower has previously stated that "you're not going to learn much about Test batting in the IPL" and blamed Pietersen's desire to play the entire 2013 IPL season and maximise his earning from his £1.2 million deal with the Delhi Daredevils, as "the catalyst" in unsettling the player over recent months.

Morgan, however, feels that the opportunity to play Test cricket is more important than the money on offer in T20 leagues. While he still harbours the hope that his improved form in limited-overs cricket - he looked back to his best in scoring an unbeaten 89 in 63 balls in the ODI against Australia at Lord's in June - will win him a Test recall, he knows that if he is to convince the selectors that he is committed to regaining his Test place, he may well need to prove himself playing for Middlesex in the County Championship. And if that means missing out on the deals available in the Big Bash and the IPL it is a price he is prepared to pay.

"Is Test cricket my priority? Absolutely. I've never doubted that. If I'm involved in international cricket, it always takes priority and if I'm within one or two positions of the Test team, then I'll probably make the decision myself to come back and play county cricket. If I'm in the frame for a Test place, then things might have to change [regarding IPL availability], definitely. I looked into it a small bit this year but, because I was three or four places off the Test side I left it. I don't think I can play Big Bash. If all goes well I'll be on the Test tour, if not I'll make other plans.

"When anybody gets dropped they need to show that they're in substantial form and that they've scored enough runs to justify their position in the side. They need to show they've come back a better player. Looking back I'm a better player than I was at the start of the year. I've proven that in spurts over the summer. Hopefully again I can do that again during this ODI series against South Africa."

Morgan's first-class record is modest for a man with aspirations of playing more Test cricket. He has not scored a first-class century since the Edgbaston Test over 12 months ago and, in his seven-year career with Middlesex, averages just 32.71. His record this season is even more disappointing: he has averaged only 18.16 in the five County Championship matches he has played. While he has scored nine first-class centuries, only three of them have come in the Championship and none have been in the top division.

Morgan's next chance to impress the England selectors comes on Tuesday in the second ODI of the series against South Africa in Southampton. While he is quick to clarify that he has never had any problem with Pietersen personally, Morgan did admit that the opportunity provided to other players in Pietersen's absence might have been beneficial.

"Kevin is a world class cricketer and any team around the world would want him in their side," Morgan said. "But there are issues surrounding him at the moment and it will take time to resolve them; the quicker that happens the better. Personally I didn't find him difficult but I've not been around the Test team a lot.

"The guys who have come in have done really well. Ian Bell has come in and been amazing and maybe the extra responsibility, in Ravi Bopara's case, has helped him blossom as a cricketer. I've practised with Ravi for years and it's now that he's really showing the cricketer is capable of being and that's great.

"The focus as a side to is to progress up the rankings and build towards the World Cup and Champions Trophy next year. We're making huge steps towards bringing in match-winners who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and move forward."

World Cricket will miss Laxman: Mahela Jayawardene

Colombo: Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene on Monday paid tribute to Indian veteran VVS Laxman, who recently retired from international cricket, saying that the game will be poorer without one of the finest players of this generation.

"Laxman was one of the finest players of our times and world cricket will miss him. He has contributed a lot to the game and to his country`s success," Jayawardene said in a media interaction here at the sidelines of Sri Lanka Premier League.

"I don`t know under what circumstances he retired but every international cricketer will have to take a call finally and he must have thought it was time for him to go. Rahul (Dravid) surprised people when he decided to quit. VVS must also have some plan for his future 

"But you cannot take away his achievements as a cricketer. As a person also he is a fantastic guy," added the Wayamba United skipper.

Laxman announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, even though he was selected for India`s home Test series against New Zealand, before the first match at his home town Hyderabad.

Shifting to SLPL, Jayawardene was happy with Wayamba`s performance as the team currently tops the points table with five wins from six league matches.

"We knew that SLPL will start small and grow in future. I am happy with the way things have gone this inaugural year. Some good domestic players are coming out of this tournament. Young Indian players came through from IPL and I think this will happen in the SLPL also," he said. 


Jayawardene was all praise for young off-spin sensation Akila Dananjaya, who he felt should be fast-tracked into the national team.

"I was surprised by his performance in the SLPL. He is a raw talent and will have to be handled carefully," said Jayawardene about Dananjaya, who was included in Sri Lanka`s Twenty20 World Cup squad on the strength of his fine bowling performance in the SLPL.

The spinner had so far taken eight wickets from five matches for Wayamba.

Jayawardene, however, indicated that Dananjaya will not be straightway included in the Sri Lankan playing eleven.

"It`s early days for him. We have to see how things go on. We have to see the right time to introduce him. Fortunately, we have the options in the national side. We have Ajantha Mendis who played in the SLPL after a six months lay off due to injury," he said.

Kumar Sangakkara was selected in the Sri Lankan Twenty20 World Cup squad subject to his fitness in time and Jayawardene said the wicketkeeper batsman will be fit.

"Sangakkara will start practice next week. We have three weeks before the start of the T20 World Cup and he will be fit for the tournament. We have a reserve wicketkeeper in Dinesh Chandimal in case Sangakkara is not fit," Jayawardene said.

He also said that the team management has not decided whether he will open the Sri Lankan innings or not.

"We have not decided as yet whether I bat as opener or not. We will sit and decide. But I love to open innings. My conversion rate has been high and at the top of the order you can score big."

After Virat Kohli, Unmukt Chand is the batsman to watch out for

Playing against the Aussies in a World Cup final is no cakewalk, and scoring a ton against them after having a poor tournament is something which distinguishes an individual from others. But India’s Under-19 World Cup skipper rose to the occasion against the defending champions and proved why he is being considered an apt choice to represent India at the international level.
India had entered the final a little low on confidence as their batsmen, including the skipper himself, hadn’t performed to their abilities. The Australians were seeking a fourth U-19 World Cup victory and were led by in-form skipper, William Bosisto, who once again played a formidable knock off an unbeaten 87 runs after his side were reduced to 38/4 at one stage. But the innings was overshadowed by his Indian counterpart, who had saved his best for the crucial encounter.

Unmukt Chand played one of those innings which makes an immediate impact on the minds of the viewers and cricket experts. With almost all kinds of shots in his kitty, the right-hander opened the innings and even after losing opener Prashant Chopra for a duck, his concentration didn’t deteriorate as he continued to frustrate the Aussies with fine shots and a determined attitude.

Like most of the matches in the tournament, the Indian skipper began the innings on a careful note, edging a few deliveries initially but there was a rise in his confidence and strokes began flowing freely once Baba Aparajith came in to bat. 
Baba Aparajith, who had a great all-round tournament, didn’t show any signs of nervousness and hit some great strokes on the off-side. He took the pressure off his skipper, who too joined the party. Chand went after Sandhu in the ninth over where he played a cut shot for a boundary followed by a massive six over long off. Australia tried to hamper Chand’s concentration with Sandhu’s pace and the skipper gladly accepted the challenge as he smashed him for another six later in the innings. By the time Smit Patel arrived at the crease, Chand was back in the rhythm as both of them scripted another emphatic win for India.

Many might not know that Unmukt Chand is not new to batting under pressure. It was not for the first time that Chand proved his mettle in a final match. Just like his idol Virat Kohli, the U-19 skipper relishes batting under pressure. In the last three tournaments, he hit centuries in the final after having an average series. Keeping this record in mind, everyone knew that a big one was due from him and the 19-year-old once again came up with a spectacular knock when it mattered the most.

While MS Dhoni played a pivotal knock in the ICC 2011 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, Chand played a similar knock batting second in the Under-19 final. He showed nerves of steel against the Aussies and the youngster should be lauded for the manner in which he shaped his innings. His body language might not be as aggressive as Virat Kohli’s, but after his ton, he has certainly become one of India’s better future prospects.

Chand has had a habit of maintaining notes in his diary since the age of 9. The Under-19 victory will go down as the most special moment of his cricketing career. Following the victory, cricket pundits are predicting that the right-hander is ready for the next level. Let’s hope he is another batsman in making from India’s national capital who is all set to set the international stage ablaze.