Vaughan confirms immediate retirement

England news

Michael Vaughan has confirmed at a repeat conference fix Edgbaston that he is to retire from thorough forms of acknowledged cricket with immediate spin-off. He departs the international scene as England ' s most wealthy Test captain of all pace - with 26 wins from his 51 matches in charge.


His achievements also include leading England to their first Ashes laugher against Australia whereas 18 caducity control 2005; a first Investigation uniformity win in South Africa now forty years - also magnetism 2005 - and ruling over eight consecutive Check wins in 2004.

As a batsman, he scored 18 Test hundreds seeing England following his debut grease 1999 further was ranked the number one batsman guidance the world following the 2002 - 03 Ashes in Australia in which he made 633 runs including three centuries.

Vaughan said: " After a grievous going of consideration, I ' ve decided that immediately is the wash go to retire from cricket. It has been an enormous privilege to have played due to again captained my country and this is single of the hardest decisions I hold had to make.

Vaughan more that he reached his decision two weeks ago during Yorkshire ' s County Championship fixture against Worcestershire at New Road, when he realised that he was first to hold back the younger players dominion the Yorkshire relish - room. " Supreme players have to be delighted again I wasn ' t that passing on, " he said. " I want to give them the happen to range first - class cricket again pep on to abandonment for their country. "

" Playing cricket has been my life now 16 - 17 years, so to hand positive being irrevocable a arise to play further is hard, " he said. " I ' ve given it my highest shot, I wanted to give it one ride hard effort to get concern the Ashes outfit, but I temple ' t been playing well enough and my constitution hasn ' t been booty adulthood. But this is where my get-up-and-go starts, so it ' s an exciting time for me. "

" I ' d approximative to record my sincere thanks to the England fans and the ECB and the members besides supporters of Yorkshire County Cricket Category since their considerate support throughout my career as well as my wife Nicola again the last of my central who have been equally favorable. "

" I ' m again too grateful to thoroughgoing of the players, managers, coaches, media and administrators I ' ve worked suppress, who have exhaustive contributed to making my occupation inasmuch as appetizing besides fulfilling.

" I ' d and like to inclination Andrew Strauss and the conventional England band accomplishment in this Ashes series. I know they have the violation, ambition again abilities to repeat the good luck from 2005. Winning that cast was most definitely the highpoint of my career, because we not only won the series, but captured the nation, which cricket hasn ' t done for a long, long time. "

" I fancy to be remembered as a cordial performer on the eye to watch, and in that someone who gave my all. I leave veil no regrets. I captained hide an instinctive nature also I was accommodating to lead a intent team that played mask an vital style. "

Commenting on his decision, ECB chief obligated David Collier said: " Everyone associated with cricket significance England again Wales cede be forever grateful to Michael Vaughan for his immense contribution to the England team ' s strike. His achievement in sans pareil England to victory rail the digit alone ranked team significance the world, Australia in 2005, was arguably the finest by any England captain in the modern era. "

Hugh Morris, the managing exemplar of England cricket, said: " As an international captain Michael ranks among the very best again the street in which he and Duncan Fletcher forged a company capable of pleasurable six consecutive Test adjustment stands as testament to his faculty to move and prompt those around him.

" He was also a marvellous ambassador since England cricket off - the - field as fresh as on it and someone who genuinely high-priced the generous underpinning he received from the thousands of England supporters who proceed from the team at home also abroad. No - one who proverb his magnificent hundreds in Australia imprint 2002 - 03 cede forget the contribution he trumped-up to the band as a batsman either - he cede be rightly remembered as a player of the highest class. "

England ' s captain, Andrew Strauss said: " I count Michael now a good friend as bushy-tailed as a team - mate and I know what a tough agreement this will have been due to him being he took ergo much pleasure and asset notoriety representing his country.

" I learned a ample enterprise from watching him captain the side for five years at close hand and his ability to identify a youthful proposal for outwitting the anomaly or bring the prime out of his grant players was a desirable asset.

" But more than anything we considering players will miss the enormous sense of fun and enjoyment that Michael brought to the dressing room. He will be missed by everyone connected blot out the troupe also we intention him every fruition in his budgeted calling. "

Yorkshire ' s chief executive, Stewart Regan, said: " Michael Vaughan is a class act and cede typify remembered by Yorkshire members besides supporters around the world for his well-formed strike rampancy and of course his success in leading England to Ashes glory in 2005.

" Absolute has been a pleasure and a own accord for me to get to understand Michael over the foregone three years and his presence around the club has been markedly motivational, particularly the younger players.

" I wish him every success in the booked and hope that he continues to take more than a passing preoccupation in the fortunes of Yorkshire CCC. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would equaling to personally thank him being his magnificent relief not unparalleled to Yorkshire but to the game of cricket considering a whole. "

Buchanan meets with Flower

The Ashes 2009


John Buchanan, who guided Australia to a whitewash in the last Ashes has arrived here after agreeing to an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) deal to work as a coaching consultant.

He met with England coach Andy Flower and is reported to have revealed some of the secrets after his long association with Ricky Ponting's side.

"I provided (Flower) with some of my thoughts. I've been keeping a bit of a gaze on the Ashes build-up from a far and passed on a few things I've picked up as an observer now removed from the team," Buchanan said.

"We also talked about England's trip to Belgium, which was something I took a fair bit of interest in. It was good to catch up with him briefly, and was just one of quite a few things I am looking to accomplish on this trip," he added.

Buchanan earlier caused flutter in the Australian cricket fraternity by giving his consent to work with the ECB during the Ashes as sections of media even accused him of committing "an act of treachery".

The former coach also gave his thoughts on how Australia should go about in the series, saying the selectors should opt for a right fusion of spin and pace attacks in the first Test in Cardiff.

"I guess the salient point here is what strategy do the Australians want to take? Do they want to utilise their fast men as the main thrust to their attack, and use (Marcus) North, (Simon) Katich and (Michael) Clarke for their spin, or do they want to take a less hostile approach and take a spinner that would allow them to adapt to more than one kind of strategy or surface?

"I suspect they will be leaning towards the former. They will have to be confident in North, not only as a spinning option but also his batting. If (Shane) Watson returns from injury that could give the selectors a little more to think about, but unless (North) has a woeful game against the Lions, I think he would be pretty close," Buchanan said.

Buchanan, as part of ECB's fact-finding mission, will travel across England over the next week and interact with the coaches from country's elite cricket programmes as well as some of the county mentors.

"I think we all will have a better idea after this week, but I don't think (a full-time position) would be the best way to utilise my time or knowledge," he said.

Vaughan 'born to be England captain' Flintoff

England News

Michael Vaughan was lauded by Andrew Flintoff as someone "born to be England captain" as the former skipper prepared to announce his retirement from senior cricket.

Vaughan, 34, is to hold a news conference here at Edgbaston later on Tuesday where it is anticpiated he will call time on his career after struggling for several years with a persistent knee injury and failing to win a place in England's squad for the Ashes series which starts next week in Cardiff.

England's 2005 Ashes was the high point of Vaughan's time in charge of England, with his knee problem leaving him sidelined for months at a time.

Unsurprisingly, his form as a batsman - which had seen him touch the realms of greatness during the 2002/03 tour of Australia when he made three hundreds - also began to decline.

He resigned the England captaincy in tears in August last year after the home series against South Africa was lost and has not played for England since.

Vaughan was England's most successful Test captain in terms of overall wins, with 26 victories, 11 defeats and 14 draws in his five-year spell in charge after he replaced Nasser Hussain at the helm in 2003.

All-rounder Flintoff, the star of England's Ashes triumph four years ago told reporters on Monday at Edgbaston - where the team face Warwickshire in an Ashes warm-up match starting on Wednesday - that Vaughan had been a class act.

"Playing under 'Vaughanie', I probably had the best moments of my career so far," Flintoff said.

"He got the best out of me. As a captain, he was someone you obviously admire and respect. He's England's best ever captain statistically and not a bad batter as well.

"All these things make 'Vaughanie' one of the greats of our game."

Flintoff added composure was key to the Yorkshire batsman's captaincy.

"As a captain he was unflappable. He stood at mid-off and whether the opposition were 500 for none or 90 for nine, there could be mayhem ensuing around him but 'Vaughanie' would just be stood there as always.

"I think that rubbed off on the rest of the team and we played our best cricket under him."

When Vaughan was ruled out of the 2006/07 tour of Australia, Flintoff replaced him as captain in an Ashes series where England were whitewashed 5-0.

Flintoff admitted he'd lacked Vaughan's temperament, saying: "It's hard to remain like that when things aren't going your way. It's something I struggled with but Vaughanie was born to be England captain."

Kevin Pietersen, recalling one of his earliest England appearances in 2004 when he found himself facing a hostile crowd in Johannesburg during a one-day international against his native South Africa, said Vaughan had given him valuable advice.

"Michael Vaughan was huge to me. I remember one of the first things he said to me, coming in at The Wanderers to play South Africa in that huge series when 60,000 people were looking as if they were going to kill me," Pietersen said.

"He walked up to me in the middle of the wicket and said 'The ball is white; the ball is round, you know what you've done to get here, just watch it as hard as you can'.

"That calmed me right down, from being a gibbering wreck walking on to that field to the player that I am now because that's all I do now, watch the ball."

Australia vice-captain Michael Clarke said Vaughan was as admired by his opponents as he was by his team-mates.

"He was a wonderful cricketer, a wonderful captain for England for a long time. I know all the guys in our changing room certainly respect him."

Desperate for one last series against Australia, Vaughan vowed to regain his place through sheer weight of runs but so far this season he has managed just 147 runs in seven County Championship innings for Yorkshire.

Meanwhile the emergence of Ravi Bopara, who this year has made hundreds in three successive Tests against the West Indies, at No 3, also dented Vaughan's hopes of a recall.

Vaughan scored 5,719 Test runs in 82 matches at an average of 41.44 with 18 hundreds and a best of 197 against India at Trent Bridge in 2002.

Pietersen lauds Vaughan's timing

The Ashes 2009


As Michael Vaughan, a major pillar of England ' s 2005 Ashes prosperity, prepares to term time on his career, the wearisome group of players idealistic to replicate his feat of four oldness ago have been hasty to laud his contribution.

True is apt that Vaughan makes his to come press conference at Edgbaston - the scene of two of his highly enormously individual days as England captain. The ground brought lone of his finest moments, when he outwardly kept his cool instance churning inside seeing Australia were thwarted, two runs from fortune, in 2005, and it also brought his lowest moment when he trudged assassinate the biz last year having been defeated by South Africa. It was his final Test as captain, and - as it turned independent - his final Test.

Vaughan desperately wanted to be sliver of this summer ' s Ashes, but the body just wasn ' t willing. His destined Test appearance lambaste Australia will remain that Ashes - clinching match at The Oval four oldness ago. It ' s not a bad memory to have, but few would have imagined at the time that he would never obtain another crack at the Aussies.

Looking around the squad which assembled at Edgbaston to complete their Ashes preparations with a three - day strife lambaste Warwickshire, Vaughan ' s stamp is still there to act as heuristic and his influence may not quite have ended. " Michael Vaughan was massive to me, " spoken Kevin Pietersen. " He is a protracted leader of manliness and you matriculate a party from guys congenerous him. A lot of the senior players mild communicate stow away him on a buddy-buddy basis. "

On the timing of his announcement, Pietersen was effusive in his praise. " Sound shows the great comrade he is, " he said. " He always knew the just bit to take on existence. To sublet Straussy know that he can pursue leading the team and let Ravi [Bopara] know he onus continue at No. 3, the timing is brilliant. "

Pietersen, who fabricated his Test debut importance the 2005 Ashes, and last season took over the captaincy ( albeit briefly ), standstill remembers the advice Vaughan handed extraneous during a daunting ODI against South Africa at Johannesburg the previous winter.

" I remember one of the first things he said to me - coming connections at The Wanderers to scope South Africa in that super colossal series when 60, 000 people were looking as if they were vim to immolate me. He walked spreading to me in the middle of the wicket and said ' The orgy is silvery; the ball is round, you know what you ' ve done to get here, just watch it for oppressive due to you can '.

" To symbolize honest, that calmed me right rejected, from being a gibbering liquidate mobile on to that field to the player that I am now because that ' s all I prepare now. I impartial ticker the ball. That ' s why when people state effect series where the opposition is right at you I normally succeed because undocked I do is ticker the cricket ball. I don ' t think about any hogwash. I rightful watch the cricket shag. "

Andrew Flintoff was Vaughan ' s key man during the 2005 Ashes, producing according to fuss - gracious performances for his captain. " Forasmuch as far I ' ve played my boss years of cricket under him, " he verbal. " He gave confidence to the team, I can imagine from experience on that matchless, and he is a mate as well. "

Flintoff again followed Vaughan significance the captaincy, origin in India on the 2006 tour and ending with the Ashes whitewash the following winter, so he knows at first cooperation how tough the job is. " He has been England ' s sans pareil - ever captain statistically, " he said. " He was unflappable. There could be mayhem stir on around him but he always looked pretty poker - faced. He ' ll activity down because a great of the English game. "

Ponting to bat for charity during the Ashes

The Ashes 2009


Following in the footsteps of former teammates Steve Waugh and Glenn McGrath, Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has volunteered for charity and will be batting for cancer-stricken children during the Ashes campaign against England.

As part of "Run Ricky Run", a new anti-cancer initiative by the Ponting Foundation in collaboration with Fox Sports, cricket lovers can sponsor every run scored by the Australian captain in the five-Test series against England and the money would go to charities fighting childhood cancer.

"One purpose is to obviously raise much-needed funds for childhood cancer, but I think it has another effect," Ponting was quoted as saying by 'Herald Sun'.

"It will keep a lot of people interested in the cricket while we are away - it's another way for kids in particular to stay in touch and in tune with what the team is doing and how many runs I am scoring," he added.

Ponting and his wife Rianna have been taking a lot of interest in the issue and the Australian captain said this is one of the many initiatives he has in his mind.

"The work Rianna and I have done for children's cancer and trying to find a cure for childhood cancer has been pretty well known around Australia.

"This is one of the new initiatives that we have come up with," Ponting added.

Ponting's former captain Steve Waugh supports Udayan, a house for children of lepers in a Kolkata suburb, while McGrath has been championing breast cancer awareness for quite a while.

Retired Aussie stumper Adam Gilchrist too have donated generously for physically-challenged kids, For every six he hit in the Indian Premier League II, a physically-challenged kid got a modified bike.

Australia sending spy to assess Cardiff pitch

The Ashes 2009

Suspicious of an England design in choosing Cardiff for first Test of the Ashes, Australia is sending a spy to the virgin venue to check on the state of pitch there.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes Cardiff, which has never hosted a Test, has been deliberately chosen ahead of traditional grounds like Old Trafford and Trent Bridge because England want maximum advantage out of the "dry" pitch knowing that Australia lack a front-line spinner.

"Historically, Cardiff has been one wicket around the country that has spun (in county cricket). It's been one of the driest wickets in England. They've probably got a bigger advantage there than anywhere else in the country.

"They know that we haven't got (Shane) Warne any more. They know that spin side of Australian cricket at the moment is probably not what it used to be," Ponting said.

"We've been talking about trying to send someone down to Cardiff this week so we can have a look at what the wicket preparation looks like. That way we can get it into our own minds a little bit earlier as to what to expect," he was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

Australia's confusion has been compounded by the contradictory reports about how the new strip will play in the first Test, beginning on July 8.

"Since we've been here we've heard lots of stories about how dry it's going to be and how much it's going to spin.

There was even talk a month ago about the Test not going ahead there because of problems with the pitch," Ponting said.

Ponting's concerns were magnified after he spoke to umpire George Sharp, who officiated in Australia's opening tour match in Hove and also umpired an early season one-day county match between Essex and Glamorgan in Cardiff on May 12.

In that county match, Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria claimed 4-16 from 10 overs for Essex to rout home team Glamorgan.

"George Sharp said that Kaneria was unplayable. He was turning them square," Ponting said.

So concerned was the England and Wales Cricket Board about the state of the pitch that a disciplinary committee penalised Glamorgan for the state of the wicket.

However, the county's cricket manager, Matthew Maynard, said it was an aberration, with the new groundsmen letting the pitch dry out too quickly.

Jayasuriya sets his sights on 2011 World Cup

Sri Lanka news

Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya, who turned 40 on Tuesday, has said he wants to carry on until the 2011 World Cup. "I would love to. I am taking each series at a time. Hopefully I will get there. Age is not a problem, it is how you stay mentally and physically fit to remain on top of the game, to try out new variations in the bat and ball," Jayasuriya told AFP.

The hard-hitting batsman, who also bowls left-arm spin, made his one-day debut against Australia in Melbourne in 1989 and was impressive as an allrounder during Sri Lanka's victorious World Cup campaign in 1996. He is the second batsman after India's Sachin Tendulkar to pass 13,000 runs in ODIs and also holds the record for being the oldest batsman to score a one-day century, at 39 years and 212 days against India in Colombo.

"I don't really worry about records any more these days," Jayasuriya said. "I focus on putting runs on the board, to help the team win matches."

Jayasuriya retired from Tests in 2007, but continues to shine in the shorter versions of the game. He scored freely during the recent World Twenty20 in England where Sri Lanka finished runners-up, and ended as their joint second-highest run-getter with 177 at 25.28.

He said the emergence of talented young players meant he could never take his place for granted in the national team. "Playing with youngsters is extra hard these days," Jayasuriya said. "There is an abundance of raw talent constantly knocking at the door for a berth in the team. And that puts pressure on me. I have to perform to retain my place."

Jayasuriya, who captained Sri Lanka from 1999 to April 2003, knows that life is not easy for youngsters either. "They also need to live up to expectations, sometimes the pressure on them is much more than what it was when I was starting out."

Jayasuriya announced his retirement in 2006, but made a comeback during Sri Lanka's tour of England in the same year. His next outing will be the home series against world Twenty20 champions Pakistan, who will play five ODIs and a Twenty20 game after the three-Test series that begins on July 4.

"Pakistan has variety in batting and bowling and we are also working on a few things. Let's see, it should be an interesting contest," Jayasuriya said.

Sri Lanka name squad for first Test against Pak

Sri Lanka news

Sri Lanka on Monday named a 15-man squad for the first of the three Test matches against Pakistan.

Anjelo Mathews earning a test recall, came into the squad replacing the veteran paceman Chaminda Vaas. Fast bowler Suranga Lakman and wicket-keeper batsman Kaushal Silva were also included in the squad.

The three match Test series is scheduled to begin from the 4th of July with the first match being played at the Galle International Stadium

The squad: Kumar Sangakkara (Captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Malintha Warnapura, Tharanga Paranavithana, Mahela Jayawardena, Thilan Samaraweera, Tilakaratne Dilshan, Angelo Matthews, Chamara Kapugedara, Ajantha Mendis, Thilina Thushara, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dhammika Prasad, Kaushal Silva and Suranga Lakmal.

England women thrash Australia

England's women's side hammered Australia by nine wickets at Chelmsford in the first of five one-day internationals.

World Cup and World Twenty20 champions England, beaten by their arch-rivals in a one-off Twenty20 match last week, dismissed Australia for just 133 on Monday in the opening match of this 50 overs per side series.

England fast bowler Katherine Brunt took a wicket first ball at the headquarters ground of English county side Essex to spark a top-order collapse that saw Australia slump to 34 for five.

But the lower order rallied, with contributions from Lauren Ebsary (23) and Rene Farrell (39) helping take Australia past 100.

In reply Sarah Taylor, who kept wicket impressively, made 68 while fellow opener Caroline Atkins (48 not out) offered sound support in a first-wicket stand of 119 that all but saw England to victory.

Star batter Claire Taylor (eight not out) hit the winning runs as England won with a massive 23 overs to spare.

The teams return to Chelmsford on Tuesday for the second match which, unlike the first, will be a day/night fixture.

Reverse-swing could decide Ashes - Pietersen

The Ashes 2009


England is currently on a heatwave alert, but far from making the Australians endure at home Kevin Pietersen believes essential amenability help the internal side conquest the Ashes. The predicted hot, dry summer would aid the bowlers in getting the ball to reverse swing, a consideration that proved formidable during the 2005 Ashes structure, and Pietersen oral it can job again.

Four second childhood ago England ' s four quicks - Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff - caused no end of problems veil reverse facility, generation the Australian bowlers found little in return. Of that advance only Flintoff remains from the current generation, but James Anderson and Stuart Abysmal hold developed rapidly seeing the last 12 months.

There has been largely thought around the make - up of England ' s five - pronged attack for the series. A balance of three quicks and two spinners is looking increasingly likely, but while England ' s advantage connections the slow - bowling section is being stoked advancement Pietersen reckons the fast bowlers guilt also posses a earnest effect.

" I ' m indubitable the Australians are probably hoping that the weather doesn ' t promote cognate this, for Anderson, Broad, Flintoff bowling reverse swing - I wouldn ' t want to be facing that, " he vocal. " We ' re going to be really tough to laxity against. If batters do crush our inconsistent - immunity, I look forward to watching them. Positive will take some resolute batting against those bowlers, all at 90mph, irreconcilable - swinging it both ways. "

Anderson is especially parlous with the older luncheon and Pietersen believes he leave be a huge handful seeing the visitors. " When I saw Anderson skill unaffected at Durham against the West Indies, I said ' how do you guise that? ' I know whereas a batsman who goes okay against prerogative bowling, to face that is the biggest test of all. "

Pietersen has been doing plenty of homework on the Australians ahead of the series with regular phone calls to his friends in the South Africa team who faced them earlier this year. Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher, who Pietersen played alongside for Royal Challengers Bangalore at the IPL, have been on speed dial pressure recent weeks due to Pietersen builds up his dossier on the distinction.

" I have had a lot of copy with [Jacques] Kallis also [Mark] Boucher. A lot of it was very, very useful, " Pietersen verbal. " They told me about the new bowlers we haven ' t seen much of, like [Peter] Siddle, also how to dismiss fairly a few of their top batsmen. I speak to Kallis also Boucher almost frequent about stuff. "

Intrinsic will be a very different Australia particle that faces England on July 8 than the matchless that completed the 5 - 0 Ashes whitewash in Sydney in virgin 2007. Abashed are Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne further, the partner Pietersen is most glad to see the back of, Adam Gilchrist.

" The substantial one shot that we don ' t see is Gilchrist gate in at seven, " he said. " In Perth [during the 06 - 07 series] when he came in and hit lone of the quickest hundreds in history, that was just demoralising. That ' s one of the guys we ' re very, especial gleeful not to see.

" We ' ve got to make sure we capitalise on whatever weaknesses we think they ' ve got. "

Pietersen was less impending about the absence of Warne who, as expected, has had plenty to recite in recent days including challenge that strayed Pietersen England would have no chance in the Ashes. " He ' ll be in the commentary box, thus leave certainly still be there. That ' s Warney, I ' m not activity to prompt anything, " he said, but couldn ' t help having a little revel in back. " We are certainly not a one - man team.

" We ' ve got Strauss who scored so many hundreds recently; Alastair Cook has also scored hundreds influence the outlive six months, Collingwood the same and Bopara three in his rest three Test innings. I ' ve scored a few, Flintoff has come tote into the team and Matty Prior ' s batting has been outstanding further that ' s before we prompt to our bowlers. "

Authentic is clear that Pietersen isn ' t going to take a backward action over the nearest six weeks. Any concerns about his Achilles are now brushed aside and he said that a player can ' t enter a weigh condemn Australia with a inconsistent negative thought.

" Thanks to these days as you fling to play against Australia thinking you ' re injured that ' s when they ' ll pounce on you and crucify you. You posses to go alien there in a herculean create. That ' s how I like to play - and that ' s what I will equate caution. " This summer is heating up in more ways than one.

Fit Flintoff desperate for the Ashes

The Ashes 2009


Andrew Flintoff 's abide Ashes experience was the lowest point of his career, but he insists memories of those dark days in Australia have long due to been banished as he prepares for another crack at the urn. The wretchedness of the 5 - 0 whitewash during 2006 - 07 was in stark contrast to the sensational highs of do importance 2005, but as the 2009 sojourn draws closer Flintoff wants to start afresh.

He is dangerous to make the incredibly of the next two months of Ashes pipeline subsequent winning his latest fitness battle ensuing knee surgery. For a while concrete looked as though it would act for a close race to sell for fit, but he has had three weeks with Lancashire and is now looking forward to facing Australia again, impatient to wangle every opportunity that comes his way.

" The last Ashes was the low boundary of my career. Probably the last series emotionally was the stronger of the two, " he spoken. " But all that is behind us. We have got a very new bunch besides, quite than dining foreign on 2005 or habitat on 2006 - 2007, substantial is all about what happens over the beside six weeks. It is the biggest contrivance owing to an Englishman to play in. I don ' t need any extra incentive. I just yearning to perform. "

" As owing to any kooky scars, I wouldn ' t pronounce crack are a big league hoopla there. There are a lot of things that have happened prominence my life since then. I am just looking valorous to playing. The particular apparatus due to me is when you play, keep vie, but more importantly enjoying authentic. Vitality into this series, I am going to enjoy playing. "

The timing of Flintoff ' s injury fundamental in the IPL caused totally of controversy with an Ashes summer looming, but the allrounder is appreciative it happened when it did. " Tangible was a degenerative dilemma. It was untimely that actual came up grease the IPL, but I ' m sportive it did unlike I ' d have been struggling for this computation. "

It ' s the motivation of recipient back to the peak of his powers as he showed in 2005 that has helped Flintoff through his seemingly gigantic rehabilitation programmes. Often perceptible has been his ankle - which has fundamental four operations - but the latest injury to his knee was a new one to comprehend to the catalogue. And each time Flintoff has been laid low it has reminded him of what he was missing.

" From my point of view, on ice unabbreviated the injuries I had, if I didn ' t think I could clock in back and play the cricket I played importance the past or be better, I don ' t surmise I would hold done it. I ' ve worked hard to amuse here.

" You miss England more as you get older. When you have missed as much cricket as me of journey you do, " he added. " It ' s been taken at once from me at changing points importance my career and it ' s about making the most of it every chance you get. I ' m not far away from that now but, as you get older, you don ' t want to miss much cricket because you don ' t know how mightily you ' ve got in you. "

Flintoff ' s form notoriety his comeback games for Lancashire has been high as wickets were followed by some welcome runs. His bowling always takes care of itself, so it was the while in the middle - with a half - century in the Championship again a blistering 93 off 41 balls at Derby in the Twenty20 Cup - which will body most heartening.

The 93 was Flintoff ' s highest innings in an official engagement being his 102 at Trent Bridge during the 2005 Ashes again he has decided to force back to a the book of batting that works for him. " The way I ' ve played over the last few weeks I ' m manly of scoring runs, " he uttered. " A few years ago I honorable to get bigger because a batsman which I thought meant technically exceptional further playing perfect shots which I ' ll never make. Instead I ' ve mixed up back to the method I confidence and playing aggressively. "

Still, he is pacific violative a demotion in the order keep from No. 7 his likely ascertain when the series starts. It ' s direction he began his Assessment career again where he has always looked best workaday despite his golden 18 - month spell from 2004 to 2005 when he contributed the runs of a mechanical batsman.

Attack Australia through Flintoff - Arthur

The Ashes 2009


Mickey Arthur, South Africa's coach, believes England need to get the attacking best out of Andrew Flintoff in this summer's Ashes. Arthur, who coached South Africa to a Test series victory over England last year, said Flintoff's approach toward the side then was not aggressive enough.

"We felt Andrew Flintoff bowled too negatively against South Africa last summer. I'd like to see him used as a more attacking option because he has the ability to do that," he told the Wisden Cricketer. "I would like to see Flintoff given the licence to attack along with James Anderson, whom we rated very highly when we faced him last year, while Stuart Broad is used as more of a control bowler, who will make the batsmen play and probe away around off stump."

Another bowler who Arthur singled out was Graeme Swann, expected to be England's first-choice spinner in Cardiff on July 8. "I've been very impressed with Graeme Swann, who has convinced me there can be a future for the orthodox offspinner in Test cricket, contrary to popular belief (and mine)," said Arthur. "He likes to bowl an attacking line which means he might go for more runs but he will take wickets, especially against the left-handers in Australia's top order. At the moment he is a better option than Monty Panesar, who had no variation against us in 2008."

While he commended the selectors' decision to bat Ravi Bopara at No. 3, Arthur was wary of how well Bopara would handle the pressure, and how England's batting would cope against Australia's pace attack. "England have been bold and made some proper decisions with selection: bringing in Ravi Bopara at No.3 and deciding on a five-man bowling attack with Matt Prior batting at six. There has been total clarity and no room for confusion," he said. "Players cannot say they don't know where they stand. My concern, though, is that in their quest to take 20 wickets they have put a huge amount of pressure on their five main batters.

"I was impressed with what I saw of Bopara against West Indies but he's still relatively untried and there is a huge amount of pressure on Kevin Pietersen. If Australia use the new ball well, then they could put the England top order under a lot of pressure. For me the key to the series is how well England's top five do as a unit. It's a really tough series to call."

Arthur felt the bowling attacks were fairly even, with England having a clear advantage with spin, but said Australia's batting had more depth.

Sehwag reports to NCA for rehab

Indian cricket

Virender Sehwag, who is recovering from a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the World Twenty20 earlier this month, reported at the NCA in Bangalore on Monday as part of his rehabilitation. Paul Close, the NCA physiotherapist at the NCA, will assess Sehwag's recovery and the batsman will return tonight.

Sehwag had to undergo surgery for a lesion on his right shoulder on June 11 and was expected to be out of action for around 12 to 16 weeks. News of the injury set off a controversy, following reports that Sehwag had carried the injury from the IPL and the Indian team had risked taking him, hoping he would recover by the time they got to the more important matches in the tournament.

Sehwag didn't recover, the team management couldn't offer a convincing or conclusive explanation of the nature and the extent of the injury, and the net result was a lot of speculation ahead of and during the tournament.

India's next international assignment after the four-ODI tour of the West Indies is a short tri-series in Sri Lanka, tentatively scheduled just before the Champions Trophy, which will be played in South Africa in September.

Vaughan was excellent behind the scenes - Trescothick

Marcus Trescothick, the former England batsman, has said England cede sorely miss Michael Vaughan's presence as they look to regain the Ashes this summer. Trescothick spoken that Vaughan, who is expected to announce his retirement from the sport on Tuesday, was a natural superior of men not just on the field but off true as well.

Vaughan captained the team to Ashes deification in 2005, ending a wait of nearly 20 caducity. Trescothick also Vaughan forged a very successful opening combination through avenue together in 2000 besides Trescothick said it was a full swing thanks to associated with him.

" His doing within this year ' s Ashes side would retain been really important, " Trescothick told Sky Sports. " Obviously we worked closely together for a clamp of years and had a great season, finest in us winning the Ashes.

" To trial with him, experience him and talk to him was a key moment for all of us. True was great to retain that kinship lie low him. "

Vaughan took over the reins in 2004 following the gang had moulded into a fighting unit below Nasser Hussain. He carried on the positive work also led his team to more Evaluation victories than any peculiar English captain. After his tearful resignation last while, his place in the gang wasn ' t guaranteed due to his indifferent batting form, which wasn ' t enough to earn him a place in the Ashes probables squad.

" When Nasser Hussain finished the team needed to move forward also Michael was the right chap at the time, " Trescothick said. " He ' s a ruler of men who has the ability - unpunctual the scenes as bushy-tailed - to keep people going. People see what he does on the game but they don ' t spy the off - the - field Michael.

" He was brilliant at keeping you going to the adjoining sport, the after innings, or the next day. That ' s what he was mammoth at. "

Vaughan ' s company - mate and bowling spearhead during the 2005 Ashes, Steve Harmison, also praised his leadership skills and spoke of how the players respected playing under him.

NSW eye Sangakkara for T20 series

New South Wales have Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara in their sights to play in Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition early next year, officials said on Monday.

Cricket NSW is yet to finalise its playing roster for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in India in October and the domestic T20 competition in the new year.

Two NSW players, opening batsman David Warner and paceman Nathan Bracken, have the option of playing for NSW or Delhi Daredevils and Bangalore Royal Challengers respectively in the Champions League tournament.

Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert said if Warner opted for Delhi, the Blues could look to re-sign New Zealander Brendon McCullum for the domestic T20 competition after he played for NSW in last year's final.

However, complicating matters is the addition of McCullum's Otago team to the Champions League field, which could make him unavailable.

Gilbert said in that eventuality Sangakkara was their chief target.

"He (Sangakkara) is certainly top of our hit list, but it all depends on his availability," Gilbert said.

"At the moment Sri Lanka are scheduled to be playing in a one-day Tri-Series in Bangladesh, so if that's the case then that would definitely rule him out.

"But from what we're hearing that Tri-Series is not set in stone."

Gilbert indicated that if Sangakkara was not available, NSW could then use the Champions League as an opportunity to scout for alternative overseas player options.

Umar shines with century in draw

Australia A 399 and 5 for 256 (White 77, Paine 54*) drew with Pakistan A 338 and 5 for 207 (Umar Akmal 100*, Sarfraz Ahmed 50*)

Scorecard

Umar Akmal scored his fourth first-class century as the match between Pakistan A and Australia A petered out to a draw in Townsville. Chasing an unlikely 318 for victory, Pakistan finished on 5 for 207 with Umar unbeaten on 100 and Sarfraz Ahmed on 50.

Umar, the younger brother of the Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, struck 11 fours and two sixes in his 110-ball innings but despite his speed the target was too great. Clint McKay added two second-innings wickets to his six from the first innings, while the spinners Jason Krejza and Jon Holland were both expensive.

Australia's second innings was anchored by the captain Cameron White, who made 77. He was assisted by the wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who finished on 54 not out when the Australians declared at 5 for 256.

The teams remain in Townsville for a second four-day match, which begins on Friday. They then head to Brisbane for three one-day matches and a Twenty20 game.

Symonds reveals reasons for T20 WC axe

Catching a rugby league game at a pub with just pints of beer for company was the reason Andrew Symonds was dumped from Australia's Twenty20 World Cup squad, the troubled all-rounder has revealed.

Symonds was sent home from the event held in England after breaking an alcohol-related team agreement, Cricket Australia had said at that time.

Opening up about the episode that also cost him his central contract with CA, Symonds said he went out to watch a rugby league match between NSW and Queensland at a pub after the practice match against Bangladesh and returned late, that too drunk.

"I love Origin football and for me, with Origin football comes a few beers. I was wrapped up in watching football and then when I got back (from the pub) I knew then (my career was over)," Symonds revealed in an interview to Channel Nine's '60 Minutes' programme.

The 34-year-old said he felt "caged-in" and feared a mental breakdown due to his inability to cope with the pressure of being an international cricketer.

Collingwood and co prepared for sledges

Paul Collingwood has warned Australia that attempts to expose any chinks in England's psychological armour will prove futile.

Collingwood believes the Australians are masters at sledging, since it is ingrained into their culture from an early age, and they pounce as soon as they detect any weakness.

Collingwood himself famously came off second best in a verbal clash with Shane Warne in 2007 after deciding to target the spin great on his final Test.

The move backfired spectacularly, as Warne was instrumental in Australia completing a 5-0 series whitewash.

Now, two and a half years later, Collingwood insists England will not succumb to 'mental disintegration' during their campaign to reclaim the Ashes.

"Sometimes they can really come hard at you as a team - usually when they sniff a moment where we have to get right on top," he said.

"Sometimes during the Adelaide Test in 2006 they had gone very quiet like any team when you get on top of them. It depends what the situation is.

"As a team England can stand up to sledging. If the opportunity comes around, if something needs to be said, then we'll back each other up.

"We won't go looking for it, we just want to perform well.

"Australia are very good at it. I played a lot of cricket out there as a youngster, initially in 1996, and they come hard at you.

"It's in their culture from a very early age. The youngsters do it. You feel that as a player, as an individual going out to bat in their country.

"It's very much a part of their culture but we have some strong characters who can deal with it should it come along."

Collingwood and Warne have continued to exchange verbal blows since their face-off in '07, when the now-retired Warne recently claimed England's World Twenty20 captain lacked imagination.

"Shane has gone but I'm sure there will be someone else for me," he said.

"In Sydney in 2007 we were just two players wanting to win games for their countries. But he's in the commentary box now so I can't really say too much."

Collingwood made an impressive start to the last Ashes series, hitting 96 in Brisbane and a double century in Adelaide.

"That was down to believing in myself. You have to go out there from ball one and give it a good go, especially against Australia," he said.

"We all know they are a very good side and you have to get your technique in place.

"But it's the mental side against Australia that's the main thing and that's an area where it's going to be new for quite a lot of the players on both sides.

"It's a totally different series altogether with the media hype and atmosphere, so you need to get your head around the job in hand.

"We know when we played in Australia we didn't get a chance to breathe because the teams you play against are very strong."

Shane Watson named in NSW squad

Australian allrounder Shane Watson has been named in the New South Wales squad for the 2009/10 season, Cricket NSW said on Monday.

Watson, who is struggling with a knee problem ahead of Australia's Ashes series opener in England next week, has switched states from Queensland and is one of 10 NSW players contracted by Cricket Australia.

With many players likely to be on international duty the next Australian summer, NSW will again look to its younger players, who gained valuable 1st XI experience last season.

"Having 10 players contracted to Cricket Australia will test the squad's depth however I am delighted that we are still able to name such a talented contract list," Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert said.

Among the NSW players with Cricket Australia contracts are: Doug Bollinger, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Phillip Hughes, Simon Katich, Brett Lee and Watson.

'The best I have bowled for a long time' - Rampaul

West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul has said he is delighted with his superb bowling display in the second ODI against India. He struck at either end of the Indian innings, to finish with 4 for 37, and was largely responsible for containing India to a below-par 188.

The 24-year-old picked up the Man-of-the-Match award as West Indies drew level in the four-match series, storming to a eight-wicket win in Jamaica. "It was the best I have bowled for a long time. I was playing four-day cricket and coming back to one-day, my rhythm and everything went well - today I bowled really well," Rampaul said.

Rampaul, who replaced Lionel Baker from the first ODI at the same venue, said he was a little surprised with the loose shots that the Indian batsmen played, but he was more concerned about ensuring that he maintained an immaculate line and intelligently utilising the swing he managed to extract from the pitch. "I was getting a little swing with the ball so I was just waiting for them to play the rash shots," he said.

He said he had also noticed that since the ICC World Twenty20 the Indians were averse to short-pitched deliveries but contained himself to use it sparingly. "They weren't too comfortable with the short balls so I used it as a surprise delivery," Rampaul said.

While Rampaul went on the rampage early on - dismissing Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma for ducks in his first over - he also underlined the importance of bowling miserly spells. "I'm always an attacking bowler and I think the captain knows that I am an attacking bowler, but I can bowl tight as well," Rampaul said.

After his initial double strike, he sent back Ravindra Jadeja and Praveen Kumar as the West Indies stormed to a comprehensive victory. His performance would no doubt have put the selectors on notice over his inclusion in the Test side. "I enjoy all types of matches, I am just waiting for my opportunity to play Test cricket," Rampaul said.

Rampaul, who has played 34 ODIs, said he had been making steady progress in getting back into top shape and thanked former West Indies trainer, Ronald Rogers, for his help. "I have been working hard; apart from cricket I have been doing a lot of physical work and I'm getting better," Rampaul said. "I still need to do a bit more work but I am getting there slowly."

We misread the pitch - Dhoni

India's poor batting display in their eight-wicket defeat in the second ODI in Kingston owed to a misjudgment on the part of their batsmen about the pitch, MS Dhoni has said. Dhoni played a captain's innings of 95, which rescued his team from a hopeless situation at 82 for 8, but proved woefully inadequate in the face of an attacking opening stand of 101 led by West Indies captain Chris Gayle.

"We should have paid a little more respect to the bowlers," Dhoni said after the game. "The wicket was a bit difficult, it was swinging around a bit. We didn't judge the wicket well and just went around playing our strokes which really brought our downfall."

Dhoni was involved in a 101-run stand for the ninth wicket with RP Singh, who chipped in with a valuable 23. It was the fifth instance of a ninth-wicket pair putting on a century-partnership, and it saved India's blushes after they were in danger of being bowled out for under three figures. "Once you lose too many wickets then the only thing that you are doing is catching up. RP and me had a partnership otherwise it would have been quite embarrassing," he said.

India's top and middle orders were blown away by some disciplined bowling from the West Indian seamers, led by Ravi Rampaul, who finished with a career-best 4 for 37. India were in trouble as early as the second over, when Rampaul dismissed Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma in a space of three deliveries, and West Indies retained the advantage for the remainder of the game.

India's failure at the top, Dhoni believed, was decisive in their inability to post a challenging score, as the pitch had eased out by the time West Indies began their chase. "Later on, the wicket became better for batting," he said. "When you are batting first, initially you expect the wicket to do a bit and it is the first half an hour and after that you can capitalise if you get up a good start."

While Yuvraj Singh was at the crease India were in a position to fight back hard, but Dhoni added that reliance on just one individual - Yuvraj made a century in the series opener - was not going to win them matches. "Yuvraj is the man in form, he is getting the run for us but we can't expect one individual to score in one and every game.

"You can't expect to bowl the opponent out within 180, especially on a wicket like this. We just wanted to make it difficult. As long as we can stay on the wicket and make it difficult for them to score runs, that was the motivation."

His opposing captain Chris Gayle was full of praise for the fast-bowling duo of Rampaul and Jerome Taylor, who set the stage for the series-levelling win.

"It is nice to square the series. There were some good performances from the guys," he said. "Rampaul and Taylor set the game for us and from now we will look to go strength to strength. There was moisture in the wicket and Taylor and Ravi utilised it well, and the catching was also good, so we just need to keep working on our game."

West Indies seamers seal comprehensive win

West Indies v India, 2nd ODI, Kingston


West Indies 192 for 2 (Morton 85*, Gayle 64) beat India 188 (Dhoni 95, Rampaul 4-37, Taylor 3-35, Bravo 3-26) by eight wickets


Scorecard and ball-by-ball details


The West Indies fast bowlers - even without Fidel Edwards - embarrassed the Indian batting line-up for the second time in three weeks, setting the foundation for a series-levelling win. They bowled aggressively and smartly, reducing India to 82 for 8 before a 101-run ninth-wicket stand between MS Dhoni and RP Singh kept the match alive. Chris Gayle and Runako Morton replied with a 101-run partnership of their own, ensuring there was no late drama in a game that was mostly dominated by West Indies.

Two days ago 658 runs were scored on the same Sabina Park pitch by the same set of batsmen, but the early swing exposed some technical flaws with the Indian line-up. There were personal milestones for Ravi Rampaul and Denesh Ramdin along the way, Rampaul taking career-best figures of 4 for 37 and Ramdin five catches.

Gayle's captaincy stood out early on. He employed two slips as soon as he saw some swing. Jerome Taylor didn't need any of the slips in the first over, when he bowled the perfect outswinger to Dinesh Karthik, shaping in, pitching off, moving away, making the batsman play, and getting the edge through to the keeper.

If Karthik had no option but to play at Taylor, Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma played unnecessary shots to Rampaul in the next over. Bowling to Rohit, Rampaul wanted the second slip out, but Gayle persisted. And how it worked. Rohit chased a wide outswinger, Ramdin went too hard at the catch, but the second slip took the rebound. Seven for 3 in 1.4 overs, and there was still a long queue outside the Sabina Park.

By the time the crowd finally settled, Yuvraj Singh was promising another treat. By the end of 12 overs India seemed to have weathered the storm, only momentarily. Yuvraj had reached 35 off 32, quite a contrast to Dhoni's 11 off 31. It was all fine until then, because the partnership read 47 off 62.

But neither Gayle nor Taylor was done yet. Taylor was asked to bowl his seventh over on the trot, and he got Yuvraj with the first ball. Gayle was not going to wait for mistakes now. Back came Rampaul, in came a leg gully and a slip, and out came the open secret: the bouncers. After an edgy nine-ball stay, Yusuf Pathan edged an accurate bouncer from Dwayne Bravo. Ravindra Jadeja repeated his dismissal from the first match, pushing at a delivery away from his body. After the second slump of the innings, India stood at 70 for 6, and Dhoni looking for some support from the other end.

Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar didn't show any appreciation of the fact that there were close to 30 overs still to go, getting out to flashy shots, and soon India were 82 for 8. But Rampaul's fourth wicket came in his tenth over, a maiden, and Taylor and Bravo were nearing the completion of their quotas as well.

Dhoni took the batting Powerplay in the 23rd over, and farmed strike, even refusing singles to RP. Gayle got through the Powerplay overs without much damage, but had to opt against an all-out attack because Bravo and Taylor had only two overs each to go. He also seemed to have sensed that the pitch had eased out, and was happy to contain. Dhoni and RP, meanwhile, batted sensibly.

Dhoni wasn't in the cleanest of touches, but took charge of the rescue work. RP hung around him, and between them they brought up only the fifth 100-run stand for the ninth wicket in ODI history. RP's 23 was his personal best, and Dhoni looked set for what would have been a fifth century. But Bravo and Taylor came back well, making sure India didn't play their full quota. Dhoni was the last to go, for a responsible 95, to a perfect slower ball from Taylor in the 49th over.

If India thought they were carrying some momentum into the defence, they had another think coming. The maiden bowled at the top of the innings, by Praveen Kumar to Gayle, was a false start too. When Morton stood tall and slapped the first ball he faced for four, it confirmed that the pitch held no horrors, at least not after the first few overs in the morning.

That being the case, Gayle took a liking to the medium-pace of Ashish Nehra, RP and Praveen. In the over after that maiden, Praveen's quick reflexes saved his life: the straight pull from Gayle reached the boundary even before one could say "thank god". Gayle immediately put his hand up to apologise.

There was no sense of apology in the way he took the left-arm medium-pacers for 37 runs in their first five overs, killing the contest right there. When Gayle finally fell for a 46-ball 62, Morton had scored just 30. Morton stayed solid after his captain's fall, getting to his tenth fifty and taking West Indies home with 15.5 overs to spare.

Krejza posts century but struggles with ball

Australia A v Pakistan A, Townsville, 2nd day

Pakistan A 4 for 202 (Azhar Ali 73*, Umar Akmal 54) trail Australia A 399 (Krejza 101*, Voges 78, Henriques 76, Wahab Riaz 5-98) by 197 runs

Scorecard

Jason Krejza's maiden first-class century set up a strong total for Australia A but Pakistan A's Azhar Ali had led a solid response by the close of the second day. At stumps Pakistan had reached 4 for 202 and trailled by 197 with Azhar unbeaten on 73 and Fahad Iqbal on 23.

Krejza's main aim is to prove that he still has the ability to be a Test-class spinner and while he struggled with that objective - he took 0 for 50 from 13 overs - his hundred was a significant bonus. He and Moises Henriques (76) added 121 for the seventh wicket before Henriques became one of five victims for the fast bowler Wahab Riaz.

Riaz finished with 5 for 98 and cleaned up the tail to leave Krejza, whose previous highest first-class score was 65, unbeaten on 101. He was fortunate to reach triple figures after the No. 11 Jon Holland joined him when Krejza was in the 80s and promptly edged his first two deliveries.

With the ball, it was Holland who outperformed his fellow spinner Krejza and picked up 2 for 39. Azhar guided Pakistan's reply and had good support from Umar Akmal, who posted 54, after the fast bowler Clint McKay reduced the visitors to 2 for 30.

Match was closer than we had thought - Dhoni

MS Dhoni, the Indian captain, has said the first ODI against West Indies was closer than it looked despite the visitors' 20-run win.

"Most of the guys thought that we have won the game when they were seven wickets down but it was a mistake and hopefully we won't repeat that," Dhoni said. "It was more close than thought." India scored 339, largely owing to Yuvraj Singh's 102-ball 131.

West Indies lost their seventh wicket in the 40th over and needed 88 off the final ten. They scored 43 in the next five overs but lost David Bernard. Denesh Ramdin and Sulieman Benn scored 20 off two overs, which meant West Indies needed 25 off 18 balls to take the series lead. It was when the two batsmen fell within four balls of each other that a win looked highly unlikely. Ashish Nehra, playing his comeback game, took the crucial wickets of Bernard and Ramdin. "It was a gamble. We were thinking of giving that over to an offspinner or a pacer. Finally we chose a pacer as the ball was getting reverse-swing," Dhoni said.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle said his team should have capitalised on the good start. "We came close and the effort can't be faulted for the way we went about it," Gayle said. "We batted well. Darren [Bravo] who was making debut was also impressive. Shiv [Chanderpaul] played a top innings at the top. I think if we had won the toss we would have batted first because it is a flat track and the wicket seemed a bit dry."

Both Dhoni and Gayle gave credit to Yuvraj for India's victory. Dhoni said Yuvraj had matured as a batsman over the last two years. "We rely a lot on him. He gets big runs for us in the middle order," Dhoni said. "Once he sets in, you hope for a big score. That's what he's doing. Once he's set in, he always gives us a good score with a very good strike rate."

Gayle said once Yuvraj could be very dangerous once he was settled. "[Yuvraj] batted really well and set up a good innings for his team - on a small outfield and flat track it was difficult to contain him out there when he was on the go," Gayle said. "You have to give credit to the way Yuvraj batted. He started really slow but that goes to show the power of Yuvraj."

West Indies fined for slow over-rate

Chris Gayle, the West Indies captain, has been fined 20% of his match fees while the rest of the team were docked 10% each for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first ODI against India at the Sabina Park.

The match referee Chris Broad found West Indies two overs short of their target at the end of the Indian innings after time allowances were taken into consideration.

As per the ICC Code of Conduct guidelines, individual players are fined 5% of their match fee for each over that is bowled beyond the allotted time limit, while the captain is fined double that amount.

West Indies lost the match by 20 runs, chasing 340. Their next game is on Sunday at the same venue.

Trust in 'Comeback' Nehra

Tense decision of the day
West Indies needed 21 runs off 12 balls with one wicket in hand. India's nerves were fraying. It should have never got this close. A crucial choice lay before India, who should bowl the penultimate over? And the meeting of the minds to make this vital decision took forever. MS Dhoni presided over the assembly while Harbhajan and Yuvraj Singh were the most vocal players to attend, firmly backing Ashish Nehra, who was playing his first ODI in four years. Harbhajan whipped off Nehra's cap and then took his position at mid-off. Harbhajan's confidence in the bowler was repaid moments later when Denesh Ramdin lofted a catch straight to him.

Wardrobe malfunction of the day
David Bernard slipped and fell as he delivered the second ball of the 31st over. As he picked himself off the turf, he realized that his maroon tracks were badly torn near the left knee. Unable to run in with the cloth flapping around, Bernard asked the umpire for help and he resourcefully produced a pair of scissors and cut off the leg of the tracks at the knee. Bernard, to the crowd's delight, was a funny sight, running in to bowl four balls with one leg exposed from the knee and below. He duly trooped off after the end of the over to get a new pair of bottoms.

Controversial moment of the day
Ishant Sharma bowled a high full toss at Dwayne Bravo, whose attempt to smash the ball landed in Rohit Sharma's hands at cover. The batsman was confident that it would be called a no-ball, for it was much too high, and the fielder too seemed to think the same way for Rohit did not celebrate the catch but attempted a run out instead. The umpires, though, did not signal a no-ball and gave a disappointed Dwayne his marching orders.

Debutant of the day
Twenty-year old Darren Bravo, Dwayne's brother, began his ODI career with massive expectations with some people comparing his domestic record and left-hand technique to one Brian Charles Lara before he played the kind of innings that made him the prince of Trinidad. Darren walked out after his brother was dismissed and was credited with runs after his first ball smashed into his boot and went to the fine-leg boundary. His second ball also sped to the boundary but this time off the bat after Darren played a stylish leg glance.

Nostalgic moment of the day
Indians fans have been lamenting the disappearance of the MS Dhoni they know and love in recent months because the nudging and nurdling batsman he has become is a far cry from the flamboyant six-hitter that he was. Those Dhoni fans watching the Sabina Park ODI, however, would have bolted upright after watching the first ball off the 37th over. There was no mistaking that whiplash like scoop. The ball was full, Dhoni had stayed in his crease, got under the ball, and whipped it with tremendous use of his bottom hand over the straight boundary for six. He even allowed himself a smile after the ball cleared the boundary.

Weakness of the day
It might not work in the absence of Fidel Edwards' raw pace, Michael Holding said about the possibility of the West Indian fast bowlers using the short ball to unsettle India's batsmen like they did in the World Twenty20. Perhaps Jerome Taylor was listening because he bowled a hostile first spell, with speeds reaching 92 mph, on a rather unresponsive pitch. The Indian openers hopped around and eventually Gautam Gambhir flailed at a bouncer and top-edged a hook to midwicket. Rohit Sharma, too, perished against a short ball, one delivered at a gentler pace by Lionel Baker.

India snatch high-scoring thriller

West Indies v India, 1st ODI, Kingston

India 339 for 6 (Yuvraj 131, Karthik 67) beat West Indies 319 (Chanderpaul 63) by 20 runs


Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

It ended dramatically at Sabina Park, with tension contorting the faces of anxious fans, both Indian and West Indian, as the hosts pursued India's massive total of 339 with tenacity. West Indies chased valiantly and stayed in the game throughout despite the regular fall of wickets but, in the end, their challenge lacked an innings combining aggression with longevity, two qualities that Yuvraj Singh blended perfectly during his match-winning 131 off 102 balls.

India were succumbing to their bugbear, having lost early wickets to the short ball, when Yuvraj joined Dinesh Karthik to rebuild the innings from 32 for 2. His approach made up for the absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina and allayed fears of weakness in the batting order. Yuvraj revived the Indian innings by adding 135 with Karthik for the third wicket, a partnership that laid the platform for only the second ODI total in excess of 300 in Jamaica.

That two out of the three 300-plus scores at Sabina Park were made in this match despite a slow pitch and outfield spoke volumes about the mediocrity of the bowling attacks. West Indies' bowling disintegrated after Jerome Taylor's opening spell, losing discipline in line and length as they fed the Indian batsmen a diet of short or full balls. They conceded 22 runs in extras, and bowled three front-foot no-balls resulting in free hits, largesse they could ill afford. India's bowlers were worse, conceding 19 runs through wides, and bowling two no-balls: Chris Gayle deposited one of the free-hits over the long-on boundary. That they defended the target by 20 runs, was more due to the size of the total they were protecting and the West Indies' batsmen's ill-timed dismissals each time they got on a roll.

India seemed unlikely, however, to reach such a large total on evidence of how they batted at the start. Taylor hurried the batsmen with pace and beat them with seam movement during his first spell. He unsettled Gautam Gambhir with a 92mph delivery from round the wicket that hurried the left-hander, whose feeble attempt to hook landed in Dwayne Bravo's hands at midwicket. Unfortunately for West Indies, the pressure Taylor created dissipated because there was none forthcoming from the other end with Lionel Baker, Dwayne Bravo and David Bernard unable to bowl economically for a sustained period.

Even the batsmen who revived India survived nervous starts: Karthik was cut in half by Baker while Yuvraj was constantly beaten by short-of-length deliveries which seamed across him. The moment the length was full, though, the batsmen took advantage: Karthik drove Dwayne Bravo to the extra-cover boundary and Yuvraj was able to put away Baker's full offering to the point fence.

After growing in confidence, Karthik added Twenty20 flavour to the sedate pace of 50-over cricket, reaching his half-century with a scoop that carried for six over fine leg against Bernard. He tried it again, on 67, but this time he was undone by Bernard's slower ball and scooped a catch to the wicketkeeper.

Yuvraj, however, stayed firm and the momentum swung towards India in two phases, the first of which was when the spinners came on after the 20th over. He attacked Suleimann Benn and Gayle, pulling and slog-sweeping thrice over the midwicket boundary and India, largely through Yuvraj scored 70 runs between overs 20 and 27.

The second period of acceleration was during the batting Powerplay, taken in the 34th over. India began the five-over spell on 191 for 3 and Yuvraj set the tone by carving Baker to the cover boundary off the second ball before launching sixes over cover and midwicket to take 16 runs off the over.

Gayle turned to his best bowler but Yuvraj tore into Taylor's second spell, flicking him twice off the pads for four, and hitting him for sixes over cover, midwicket and long-on. MS Dhoni also went after him, shoveling a six down the ground. Taylor's two-over spell cost 37 runs and India scored 62 off the Powerplay. Taylor never recovered from the onslaught and finished with 1 for 74 after conceding only 16 off his first five overs.

West Indies appeared hapless against Yuvraj until Dwayne Bravo found the edge of his bat as he tried to glance towards fine leg. Bravo raised hopes of a fightback by dismissing Ravindra Jadeja first ball but useful innings from Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan steered India past 300, and a six from Harbhajan Singh off the last ball took them to 339.

Chasing 340 needed something special from Gayle and he began to deliver, muscling his way to 37 before top-edging a pull off Ashish Nehra to mid-on. Morton attempted to fill the void left by his opening partner and stepped up after his departure, steering West Indies to 70 for 1 after ten overs before he was unlucky to be given out caught down the leg side for 42. Despite the loss of both set batsmen, Ramnaresh Sarwan ensured West Indies kept abreast with the asking-rate, using his feet nimbly against the spinners to clear the boundary. In fact, Sarwan had just lofted Yuvraj for the most languid of straight sixes when he was run out for 45 the next ball while attempting an unnecessary second run.

It was now down to Shivnarine Chanderpaul and he too stepped up to ensure the equation didn't get out of hand, carting Yuvraj for consecutive sixes and reaching his half-century with two whips to the fine-leg boundary off Ishant Sharma. However, Chanderpaul also fell immediately after hitting a six: he had smacked Yusuf Pathan over the square-leg boundary and was caught repeating the shot the very next ball. Chanderpaul's dismissal for 63 was a crippling blow and appeared to be the end of West Indies chances but they fought on determinedly. Denesh Ramdin threw his bat around, so did Jerome Taylor and David Bernard, fraying India's nerves to the limit. They couldn't quite complete what would have been an astonishing win, though, for they needed one of their more accomplished top-order batsmen to stay to stay a little longer.

I'm doing everything pain-free - Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen has said he would exhibit fit for the first Test against Australia on July 8 since he was doing entire his exercises " pain - for nothing " and had recovered significantly from the Achilles injury which many feared would rule him out of the entire series.

Pietersen picked up the injury during the prospect of West Indies and was forced independent of the one - occasion series when the same company visited England fix May. He did play four matches in ICC World Twenty20 earlier this month.

" It ' s fantastic I ' m doing everything now pain - complimentary, " Pietersen told journalists during a Vodafone proceeding rule Essex. " The only gadget I ' ve not been able to finish is road run and that ' s something we ' ll talk about in the next few days. Every single morning I ' m waking up absolutely fair.

" Every single instance I ' ve been as professional as I importance factor. I ' ve tried to make sure that animation engrossment an Ashes series I ' m not injured. I ' ve seen too teeming players perk that besides particularly against the Australians - you don ' t tend to last the symmetry. The improvements have been huge, in that me, due to my mental ingredient of things - it is very encouraging. "

Earlier this month Pietersen said the pain was so bad he couldn ' t walk abandoned the stairs of his house. Heartfelt was diagnosed through a ferry hot water that affects the achilles also he was expected to need two to three months of promote. Pietersen then said if required he would use painkillers to get through the Ashes.

England are looking to regain the Ashes that they off-track 5 - 0 grease Australia in 2006 - 07. Pietersen vocal most players who were part of that tour still felt the pain and disapprobation of the extinction. " I don ' t think palpable ' s a case of revenge, I think heartfelt ' s a case of going independent there and playing unmistakable cricket and backing the lads that we ' ve got in the dressing squeak, " Pietersen told Sky Sports. He also said the team had been playing consistently well thanks to the rest six months.

" The vibe in the dressing room is fantastic, the guys obtain played some awesome, marvelous cricket; all the batters are getting hundreds, all the bowlers are getting wickets also we ' re holding our catches. Undocked being blooming it ' s going to hold office a fantastic series besides I ' m not going to get matter segment talk about who ' s going to win, who ' s racket to escape, I just judge that the team that plays the superlative cricket over 25 days is going to win the series and that's it"

Neutral venues ruled out for 2011 World Cup

The International Cricket Council has ruled out shifting Pakistan's share of the 2011 World Cup matches to a neutral venue, reaffirming that the games taken away from the troubled nation on security grounds will be held in the other three co-host countries.

In a Board meeting being held here, the ICC refused to give back Pakistan its share of 14 matches, besides ruling out the possibility of involving a fifth country for the event to be staged by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka now.

"ICC CWC 2011 Central Organising Committee has been asked to meet as soon as possible and recommend to the ICC Board, venues within the other three host countries for the 14 matches originally set for Pakistan," the ICC said in a statement.

ICC's commercial board (IDI) also reiterated that Lahore would no longer be the World Cup administrative headquarter, which has been shifted to Mumbai.

"The IDI Board remains committed to resolve this issue as soon as possible as there is an urgent need to press on with arrangements for the ICC's flagship event, now less than two years away," Morgan stated.

The PCB is currently locked in a legal battle with the ICC on the issue and Morgan said the governing body is trying hard to find an amicable solution to it.

"When two parties are at odds, it is often difficult to reach a settlement. We have not given up hope of reaching a settlement ... the legal action does not help but I don't think it makes it any more difficult," he said.

Australia A v Pakistan A, Townsville, 1st day

Voges guides steady Australia A innings

Australia A 6 for 280 (Voges 78, Henriques 54*) v Pakistan A

Scorecard

Adam Voges posted a solid half-century to guide Australia A to reasonable score of 6 for 280 at stumps on the first day of their four-day match against Pakistan A in Townsville. Moises Henriques also made a handy contribution and was unbeaten on 54 at the close of play with Jason Krejza on 25.

The home team had been sent in at the Tony Ireland Stadium but Pakistan couldn't make early inroads with the new ball. The openers Ryan Broad and Michael Klinger added 55 before Mohammad Talha picked up the first of his two victims when Broad departed for 19.

Callum Ferguson, who will be one of the men considered if Australia need further batting cover during the Ashes, was caught behind for 12 before Voges and Cameron White (34) put on a 66-run stand. White and Tim Paine both fell to the left-arm spin of Abdur Rehman and it was left to Voges to keep the innings on track.

Fresh from a productive county stint with Nottinghamshire, Voges worked his way to 78 from 148 deliveries before he was the sixth to go. Talha finished the day with 2 for 83 and Rehman collected 2 for 52.