Take cue from Indians: Younis Khan

KARACHI: Pakistan's senior batsman Younis Khan wants his team to take a cue from India's aggressive attitude in Australia to beat the World Champion side when they tour the sub-continent in March-April this year.

"The Indians went at Australia aggressively during and after the Sydney Test and the attitude has paid dividends for them," Younis said.

India surprised Australia in the third Test in Perth after losing the first two Test matches. They finished on 309 for five on the first day of the Adelaide Test on Thursday.

"I don't think you can beat Australia by adopting a defensive or middle road policy. We will have to go full throttle at them to upset them."

Younis said he would push for an all attack policy against the Australians when they play three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match on their tour.

The senior player also lauded India's attitude despite two big defeats in Melbourne and Sydney.

"I think India had the edge over Australia because of their varied bowling attack and because of their spinners. We must also field a varied attack against them."

Younis said the Australians had clearly been rattled by the Indian attack on them during and after the Sydney Test.

"They were not expecting to be scrutinised like they were and they faltered in Perth."

Younis said India's biggest advantage was it had a very experienced and strong batting line-up which had clicked down under.

"I am looking forward to playing against Australia and doing well against them. To beat them would be a dream come true for me and our team," he added.

"We came close to beating them in 2002 at Colombo but missed out because they were more aggressive and hungry for success. That is the attitude we have to adopt as well," he said.

Mukesh Ambani, Mallya, SRK win IPL bids

The high-profile Indian Premier League on Thursday received overwhelming response as India's top industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Vijay Mallya, and film stars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta won bids to own teams in the Twenty20 venture.

After much suspense, Board of Control for Cricket in India vice-president and IPL governing council chairman Lalit Modi named the winning bidders, who shelled out staggering amounts to become owners of the Mumbai-based teams.

Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani pipped Vijay Mallya in the bid for the Mumbai team, for US $111.9 million.

The liquor baron, however, won the bid for the Bangalore team, for US $111.6 million.

Actor Shah Rukh Khan, joining hands with Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, won the bid for the Kolkata team, for US $75.09 million.

Fellow-actor Preity Zinta and her boy friend Ness Wadia won the bid for the Mohali team, for US $76 million.

Among others, GMR Holdings was successful in bidding for the Delhi team (US $84 million), while India Cements bagged the Chennai team (US $91 million), Deccan Chronicle the Hyderabad (US $107.01 million) outfit and Emerging Media the Jaipur team, for US $67 million.

The bids of ICICI, Sahara and Futures Group were disqualified, Modi said.

"We can say that all the hard work fructified and the IPL is here to stay," Modi said.

Asked if Shah Rukh was bidding just to use cricket as a means to promote his films, Modi replied, "Shah Rukh loves cricket and that's why he invested his money. It has got nothing to do with film promotion.

"We have heard a similar complaint in the past but the Board never endorsed those views," he added.

He also dismissed suggestions that there was a conflict of interests in Indian Cements, which has BCCI treasurer N Srinivasan as a shareholder, becoming a team owner.

"Mr Srinivasan is just a stakeholder there and he is not the owner. So there is no such conflicts of interests," he said.

Modi admitted that some of the contracted international players would skip the twenty20 tournament, which begins on April 18 owing to national commitments, but said the pool of players is big enough.

"A team needs only four players from abroad and we already have a huge number of them contracted with us. You will have enough of them from the day one," he said.

In all, 59 matches will be played over 44 days, with ICC umpires officiating the games that will be broadcast live on SET Max.

"We already have 80 contracted players and their auction would start soon. Each franchise will consult with the IPL Governing Council before naming the teams and discussing revenue sharing," Modi said.

ICC's anti-doping and anti-corruption units will also keep an eye on the Twenty20 league, he added.

Asked if the base price of US $50 million was too high, he replied, "It's up to the bidders to decide if the base price was high. Since the winning bid proved much more than the base price, you can't really say that it was too high."

Schedules and operational guidelines of the league will be announced later.

Stung by the Essel Group-backed Indian Cricket League, the BCCI had announced the IPL to counter the rebel venture, which has left many state teams depleted.

New Zealand has also suffered a lot as six Kiwi players joined the ICL and pace spearhead Shane Bond too is ready to take the plunge.

The following are the bid amounts:

Vijay Mallya - US $111.6 million, for the Bangalore team.

Shah Rukh Khan - US $75.09 million, for the Kolkata team.

GMR Holdings - US $84 million, for the Delhi team.

Mukesh Ambani - US $111.9 million, for the Mumbai team.

India Cements - US $91 million, for the Chennai team.

Deccan Chronicle - US $107.01 million, for the Hyderabad team.

Emerging Media - US $67 million, for the Jaipur team.

Preity Zinta - US $76, for the Mohali team.

IPL franchisee will not make money initially

As the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Ambani brothers and others from India Inc bid to become franchisees of the Indian Premier League on Thursday in Mumbai, sources in the industry say that the Twenty20 league will not be a profitable venture for at least the first two years.

Like any other business, it will take at least two to three years to break even, if the calculations are done on the base bid price of $50 million for 10 years. "But, thereafter, it has huge potential in the Indian market," the source said.

According to the IPL tender document, the franchisee revenue is divided into two sections. The first is centralised revenue under which falls the title sponsorship, media right and official umpires' sponsorships.

The second is franchisee revenue which primarily deals with team naming rights, team shirt sponsorship and ticketing revenues. Based on the calculations of the media rights, some of the bidders have reached the conclusion on Wednesday evening that earnings from the sale of different rights are not going to exceed more than $8 million (Rs 320 crore).

Hence, the franchisee will really have some spending to do in the first year after winning the bid.

The tender says that the franchisee will have to bear the minimum cost of the players' salary that's between $3.2 million to $4 million. Then, there are other expenses like travel, accommodation, office and support staff, team management, coach, training and preparation, insurance, ground expenses and floodlights, marketing and promotional cost.

Moreover, the bid amount, which will be paid to the IPL, will also be accounted for expenditure. This means that if a franchisee buys a team for $60 million for 10 years, that team will have to shell out an amount of $6 million per year. In all probability, the expenditure will go up to $12 to $13 million.

Sources close to the bidders reveal that a franchisee is willing to undergo losses worth at least $4 million in the first year. Hence, to make it lucrative for the franchisee, the IPL has granted a 10-year ownership initially. From the 11th year, team owners will have to pay a certain percentage of their revenue to the BCCI to get the license for life.

"It is natural for any business to break even in a couple of years. IPL is a big venture and it's certainly going to do wonder to the world of cricket," a top IPL official told TOI on Wednesday. If that happens, Indian cricket will surely benefit from the 10-year event on and off the field.

Sachin Tendulkar slams 39th test Century

ADELAIDE: Sachin Tendulkar was doing the spadework as India were dealt two further blows in the second session by Australia on the opening day of the fourth and final cricket Test at Adelaide Oval here on Thursday.

The visitors took tea at 187 for 4 as they lost Virender Sehwag (63) and Sourav Ganguly (7), missing out on a golden opportunity to put early pressure on hosts in the crucial match.

Sachin Tendulkar was intent on making his probably last Test in Australia count as the little master serenely crossed his half century and was unbeaten on 55 from 134 minutes of vigil at the crease during which he faced 89 balls and hit five fours and a six.

Sehwag chose to cut a rising delivery from Brett Lee, too close to his body, and offered a straightforward catch to Matthew Hayden at first slip.

However, the television replays suggested that it was a big no ball from the Australian speedster.

Sehwag batted for two-and-a-half hours and hit six fours from 90 balls.

Ganguly, probably still reeling at his shock omission from the one-day squad, made seven before he missed a sweep and was ruled out leg before wicket off Brad Hogg by umpire Asad Rauf.

There was no hint of such reverses at the start of the session when Tendulkar first thumped Lee down the ground and then smacked Mitchell Johnson for three fours in one over.

Tendulkar also looked to attack left-arm spinner Brad Hogg and once picked him from outside the off-stump for a massive six over midwicket.

VVS Laxman looked good in his short stay during which he made 16 runs.

No issues with Afridi, says Malik

KARACHI : Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik on Wednesday denied growing rumours of a possible rift in the team, saying he had no issues with seasoned all-rounder Shahid Afridi. Some newspapers reported that Malik and coach Geoff Lawson didn’t want Afridi in the team and he had not attended a training session in protest and gone to Islamabad without their permission.

The media also reported that other senior players were unhappy with the way they were being treated by the captain and the coach. There have also been newspaper stories about Malik and Lawson clashing with the national selectors. Malik said all the reports were based on misunderstandings.

Afridi is a senior player of the team. The fact is he went to Islamabad after taking permission from the team management and the Pakistan Cricket Board. So there is no question of him leaving in protest, Malik said.

Sources say a particular lobby involving team manager Talat Ali might be responsible for floating stories about Afridi and other senior players. Papers have reported that Talat has filed a negative report on Afridi, Younis Khan and Shoaib Akhtar in his post-Indian tour review.

Malik insisted there was complete harmony in the team and all the players were just focused on their cricket and winning the series against Zimbabwe. He said having a difference of opinion with the selectors over some selection issues was nothing serious. It is natural to have a difference of opinion. We argue but it does not mean we dont get along with the selectors, he said.

The young Pakistan captain said he was in control of the team and the players were giving him support. There is no disharmony or rifts in the team. Just let us concentrate on our cricket, he added. Malik said he was aiming for a whitewash of the five-match series against Zimbabwe with the second match due to be played tomorrow in Hyderabad.

But we are not taking Zimbabawe lightly at all. They remain a good One-day side and can have a good day. We can’t relax at any stage of the series. Malik said while he was happy with the prolific performers on domestic circuit being given chances in the series but cautioned not to overrate a player on the basis of one or two performances.

Nasir Jamshed played well in the first match but let us give him more time and allow him the opportunity to be more consistent.

The Niaz stadium in Hyderabad is being revived as an international venue after 12 years with India playing the last match at the venue in 1997. Since than it has been used for every purpose but cricket until the board revived it as a main centre last year.

Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya said he wanted his bowlers to stand up and be counted in the series. We can avoid a whitewash but our bowlers need to do better. We can’t allow the opposition to party against us in every other match. We need to be more consistent in our all-round performances, he said.

Team announcement compelled by logistics: BCCI

Test skipper Anil Kumble may not find the timing of the Indian ODI squad’s announcement ideal, but the BCCI on Wednesday defended the move saying it was compelled by logistics to name the team ahead of the crucial Adelaide Test.

“It is because of the logistics issues that the team is announced early. We also need to give the players some time to mentally prepare for the tour,” BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said reacting to Kumble’s comments.

Seniors like Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman have been left out of the squad for the tri-series, also involving Australia and Sri Lanka, leading to criticism that it might affect the trio’s morale ahead of the fourth and final Test against Australia.

“The selection is not in their hands. I have gone through it, it’s not ideal but that’s the way it is. It’s a bit disappointing,” Kumble said on the eve of the Test.

“It’s not easy on senior players. Having said that, we would keep our focus on this Test,” the veteran leg-spinner added.

Shukla said team selection was done taking into account the availability of selectors.

“The convener of the selection committee Niranjan Shah decides the dates of the selection committee meeting taking into account the availability of the selectors,” he explained.

However, Shukla promised to take note of Kumble’s comments.

“This has been the practice all along. We will definitely take note of the captain’s views on this matter,” he said.

I'll think about future after Adelaide: Ganguly

MELBOURNE: His axing from the Indian one-day squad for the tri-series might have created a furore back home but Sourav Ganguly is unfazed and determined to stay focused on the crucial fourth and deciding Test match against Australia starting in Adelaide on Thursday.

"I haven't given things a thought beyond this Test. It's an important match and I've got to stay focused. I'll think of the future once it gets over," Ganguly was quoted as saying by the 'Herald Sun' newspaper on Wednesday.

The former skipper has been in superb form since his comeback and continued his good run in the ongoing Test series but his fielding skills or rather lack of it cost him the ODI berth.

Rival skipper Ricky Ponting was also surprised not to see the Bengal left-hander in the one-day squad.

"I am surprised and shocked that he is not in the side because right through this Test series, he has certainly looked good with the bat," he told.

Selectors had also wielded their axe on former captain Rahul Dravid and stylish right-hander VVS Laxman to pave the way for youngsters to come in for the one-day tri series, also involving Sri Lanka, beginning February 3 after a one-off Twenty20 tie.

Ponting felt one-day cricket was gradually becoming a youngster's game.

"That's the way, one-day cricket is becoming a younger person's game and fielding has become such an important aspect.

"They (Indians) are looking at a more youthful sort of approach," he said.

Timing of the selection was wrong: Anil Kumble

ADELAIDE: Indian skipper Anil Kumble on Wednesday admitted that the timing of announcing the one-day side was far from 'ideal' but hoped his axed senior players would shrug off the disappointment to stay focussed for the crucial fourth Test against Australia, starting here on Thursday.

"(The selection) is not in their hands. I have gone through it, it's not ideal (the announcement of the team before the Test) but that's the way. It's a bit disappointing.

"It's not easy on senior players, having said that we would keep our focus on this Test," the ace leg spinner said.

Kumble said the senior players were mature enough to take the exclusion in their stride.

"It's a challenge (to get them around). People (not selected) would be disappointed but they have played enough cricket to understand, why this (Test) is important for Indian cricket and to stay in the series," he said.

Shockingly Sourav Ganguly, and to a lesser extent Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have been left out of the one-day squad for the tri-series, by the selectors.

Kumble was statesman-like while speaking on the importance of the final and deciding Test.

"It all started here (in 2003-04), it's a special venue for me for India as the last four years have gone well for Indian cricket. Now the opportunity is there for us to level the series."

Kumble also looked at his own revival, starting from the Adelaide game in 2003-04, and conceded this time around it's definitely going to be his final match.

"They said the same (about my last visit to Australia) in 2003. But this time I am sure it's the last time. It's been great so far, we came with a purpose of winning the series in Australia.

"We have held our head high and hopefully we would perform which would (inspire) the Indian teams in future to do what we couldn't achieve here," he said.

Kumble, unsurprisingly, stood up for his tribe -the bowlers-- and spoke glowingly about their contribution.

"Before we came here, we were asked if we could pick 20 Australian wickets in the series. As a senior most experienced bowler, I am delighted that our young bowling attack has stepped up the plate."

The Indian pace trinity-- R P Singh, Irfan Pathan and Ishant Sharma -- outshone their counterparts at Perth and Kumble admitted they were undecided on including Harbhajan Singh on a pitch, which is tipped to help spinners too.

"There are a few possibilities but we would like to take another look at the pitch. It (five bowlers) is an option and that is something we will definitely assess," Kumble said.

Kumble hopes for a memorable farewell to Australia

India captain Anil Kumble said on Wednesday he was hoping to end his Test career on Australian soil on a high note with a series-equalling win in the fourth and final Test at Adelaide Oval.

The 37-year-old veteran of 124 Tests is certain the Test starting on Thursday will be his last in Australia, as it is also likely to be for star batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid (both 34), Sourav Ganguly (35) and even VVS Laxman (33).

"For sure, this will be my last one in Australia so it'll be nice to go back with a victory," Kumble said on Wednesday.

"It's been fantastic, this is my third trip to Australia and I've really enjoyed all three visits."

Adelaide holds a special place in Kumble's heart, for both personal and team reasons.

It was here India won by four wickets in 2003 to level the series, and that a recalled Kumble produced his breakthrough performance on Australian soil with six wickets.

He said that match was a turning point in a career that has now produced 603 Test wickets, the third highest tally ever.

"This is indeed a special venue because it all started here in 2003-04," he recalled.

"It was important that we won that Test match and the last four years have been fantastic for me personally and also for Indian cricket."

Although India will lose a wealth of experience and talent when the senior players retire, the performance of its unheralded young attack in the series has given Kumble great confidence for the future.

"It is difficult to replace anybody, we can possibly see that in the Aussie team itself," he said.

"Every team will undergo the transition and how we do that transition is going to be the key.

"India is definitely talented in what we have back home, it is just a matter of ensuring they get the confidence and in four or five years' time we'll have a good set of players who will be able to ensure that Indian cricket moves forward."

Down 2-1 after their shock win in the third Test in Perth, Kumble wants his team to win here and square the series for the second time in as many Australian tours.

Although they can't regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Kumble said a win here would provide a further shot in the arm for Indian cricket.

He is confident an Indian team will soon create history and win a series in Australia.

"In terms of results, the last visit was fantastic and even this one as well," he said.

"As a senior group we came in with the purpose of winning a series in Australia, we haven't been able to achieve that, but at least we can go back with our heads held high.

"Future Indian teams that come here will look at the performances from the past and I'm sure they'll do what we could not achieve here, so that's something I'm really proud of."

Team unaffected by Ganguly ouster: Dhoni

ADELAIDE: Indian vice-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Tuesday dismissed any notion of disquiet in the dressing room over the furore which has followed the team in the wake of Sourav Ganguly’s omission from the one-day squad.

“I think it has affected journalists more than it has us. We are back in the practice session, we trained in the morning, it has not affected us anyway,” said a defiant Dhoni on whether the team’s preparation for the crucial fourth and final Test had been disrupted by the supposed disharmony after the Ganguly ouster.

Dhoni did not want to field any question on Ganguly as he said the Adelaide Test was the team’s priority and the one-dayers could wait. He gave enough indications on the kind of leader he wants to be, as well as the batsman and wicketkeeper he was hoping to be in his yet fledgling career of 25 Tests.

“What Anil (Kumble) has stressed is that there should be a lot of communication between us. If somebody hasn’t been picked for the side you have to go there and convey it to him,” he said.

Dhoni said there should not be any communication gap between the player and the captain.

“As a captain, I believe and go by instinct. It isn’t as if I don’t plan, I make it very clear to the bowlers because it’s ultimately they who would bowl according to the field.”

Dhoni, as a flamboyant batsman, appears to be rearranging his game and is more intent to stick around and spend time at the crease.

“Generally, they have tended to bowl quite outside the off-stump to me. Only Stuart Clark who looks to bowl an off-stump line, otherwise the rest want you to chase the ball, if it’s not moving a great deal.

“When you get in, you don’t want to chase the ball outside the off-stump. That’s what I followed in England in other Tests also.”

We can be number one, declares Ganguly

With a resurgent India gunning for glory, Australia's stranglehold as the numero uno Test playing nation is under threat, said former captain Sourav Ganguly.

According to him, Australia are not the same force since bowling greats Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne called it quits. So while the Aussies are still on top of the table, India is closing in on the gap, he said.

"Australia is still the No. 1 team in the world but I think we have a very good side that could be No. 1," Ganguly told Australian daily Herald Sun.

Ganguly believes India played better cricket throughout this summer and sounded confident of levelling the four-match series by winning the final Test in Adelaide.

"We have a side which has played better against Australia than any other side in the world, which is a good sign for us.

"To be honest, we have played better than them [this summer]. I don't want to talk about the past but I feel we were very unlucky not to win in Sydney," he said.

"We were happy to win in Perth and we think we can level the series," Ganguly added.

The left-hander, left out of India's ODI team for the tri-series that follows the Adelaide Test, is not sure if Australia's young attack could handle the pressure.

"They are finding out that players can't go on and play forever," he said.

"Obviously they have less experience now. Their young players need to step up," Ganguly said.

Ganguly fans block rail tracks

Train services in two sections of Eastern Railway were affected on Monday as irate supporters of Sourav Ganguly put up a blockade at Barasat in North 24 Parganas protesting against the left-hander's exclusion from the ODI squad for the upcoming triangular tournament in Australia.

The protestors, comprising mainly young men, started the blockade at 1005 hours local time, raising slogans demanding that Ganguly be reinducted into the team, according to an Eastern Railway spokesman.

"We want Dada back. It's a conspiracy," the protestors shouted.

As a result, train services between Barasat-Bongaon and Barasat-Hasnabad sections were affected.

The Indian selectors on Sunday dropped Ganguly and also left out two other senior pros, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, while announcing the squad for the tri-series in Australia, also involving Sri Lanka.

Incensed at Ganguly being kept out of the team, around 40 cricket buffs gathered near his residence in Behala on Sunday and raised slogans against the selectors and BCCI president Sharad Pawar.

They set fire to an effigy of Pawar and beat it with shoes and chappals.

No place for Dravid, Ganguly in ODI side

It was MS Dhoni all the way. The ODI and T20 captain's imprint on the 16-man squad chosen on Sunday for the ODI Tri-series in Australia is loud and clear.

The selectors went along with Dhoni's judgement - after consulting Test captain Anil Kumble - to pick a young squad with a major focus on fielding abilities because the bigger grounds in Australia require strong throwing arms and swift movers. It meant that both Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid find no place in the team, as reported by TOI on Sunday.

The think-tank says it's trying to learn from the ODI series loss to Australia at home which it believes was lost due to poor fielding and slog-overs bowling.

Also, Dhoni's deputy Yuvraj Singh has got a reprieve for now, but his attitude and fitness will be under the scanner. Manoj Tiwary, Munaf Patel and Yusuf Pathan have been named as standbys.

From the team that last played an ODI series, Ganguly and Murali Kartik were left out while an unfit Zaheer Khan was not considered. In their place come Suresh Raina and Piyush Chawla while Ishant Sharma, who bowled well in the Perth win, gets another ODI call. Dinesh Karthik was added as a back-up 'keeper to make it a 16-man squad.

Fast bowler Sree Santh retained his ODI spot after being cleared to play after a shoulder injury.

Sachin Tendulkar, the last of the senior pros holding onto a place in the ODI team, is expected to be played sparingly due to the fatigue factor. At the most, the 34-year-old would be playing in five out of the eight league games.

Once Dhoni expressed his thoughts, the selectors on tour, Ranjib Biswal and V Raju, decided to make things clear with the senior pros. On Sunday morning, the duo spoke to VVS Laxman (never an ODI regular) and Ganguly and explained the reasons for their omission.

'Sir Sachin' if Brown has his way

NEW DELHI: Can Sachin Tendulkar join the honoured ranks of Sir Don Bradman or Sir Gary Sobers? Well, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown certainly seems to think so. If he had his way, he would recommend the little master for a knighthood.

"I would like to see some of the great players of the modern era — like Sachin Tendulkar — proposed for honorary awards so the British nation can salute their achievements in these sports."

If Brown's remarks come true, we could be looking at the first Indian sports knight. In between courting trade and investment from India and China visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown showed where his heart really lay — at the WACA stadium in Perth.

Complimenting India on its test victory over Australia, Brown shed his normally grave countenance.

"I congratulate India on a famous victory - beating an Australian side who have won their last 16 games and doing so away from home."

England's long cricketing feud with Australia clearly fuelled Brown's enthusiasm for India's historic win. Cricket has long been one of the great binders of Indo-British ties. And until some time ago Commonwealth cricketers were honoured by the UK.

As Brown said, "I believe it was a good tradition to celebrate the achievements of the great Commonwealth cricketers. Obviously these are issues for the independent honours committee, but - hope they will consider it."
So we can hope to see a 'Sir Sachin'.

Perth win assures India of second place in test rankings

India is certain of moving up to second spot in the test championship table following their remarkable victory over top-ranked Australia in the third test in Perth on Saturday.

An International Cricket Council (ICC) statement on Sunday said India would move ahead of second-placed Sri Lanka regardless of the outcome of the final test in Adelaide next week.

India will move two ratings points ahead of Sri Lanka if the final test ends in a draw and by four points if they manage to square the four-test series which they trail 2-1.

"Even if Australia wins the match in Adelaide, India will sit above Sri Lanka when ratings points are calculated beyond the decimal point," the statement said.

The table is updated at the conclusion of each series.

India's 72-run victory brought Australia's world record-equalling 16-match winning run to a stunning end.

It was Australia's first test defeat since the fourth Ashes match against England at Trent Bridge in Aug. 2005.

The last time Australia lost a test at home was against India at Adelaide in Dec. 2003.

Jayawardene hails India's victory, looks forward to tri-series

Colombo - Sri Lankan cricket captain, Mahela Jayawardene, has hailed India's historic victory in Perth against Australia and said he looked forward to facing the rejuvenated neighbours in the tri-series starting on February 3.

"It is an excellent win for India," Jayawardene said, adding the game was played in a good atmosphere after the unsavoury incidents in Sydney.

"After the setbacks in Sydney, the (Perth) game was played on a much better note, and we are happy that we will be there in this atmosphere," he said.

Sri Lanka join India and Australia in the Commonwealth Bank tri-series starting on February 3 and the Lankan skipper said the shorter version of the game was much different from the Test cricket.

"One-day international cricket is quite different from the established Test cricket and both India and Australia will be using different combinations of players and we are looking forward to join in the fray," he said.

"Like the Aussies or any other side, India will definitely come strong at us, and we just have to be prepared for it," the Lankan captain was quoted as saying by Sunday Observer.

The Lankans toured Australia in November last year for a two-match Test series, which they lost 0-2.

India will take on Australia in the series opener on February 3, while the Lankans play their first match against India at the same venue on February 5.

The team leaves for Australia on Thursday.

India drop Ganguly for Australia tri series

MUMBAI, India, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Indian selectors have dropped experienced batsman Saurav Ganguly for next month's triangular series in Australia, which also includes Sri Lanka.

Rahul Dravid was also left out as selectors opted for youth in a 16-man squad on Sunday, with left-handed batsman Suresh Raina earning a recall after a year out of the team following some fine domestic performances.

The same squad will play in the sole Twenty20 international against Australia on Feb. 1 before the one-day series.

"Looking towards the future team of India the selection committee has provided the youngsters who have done well in domestic cricket an excellent platform," India board (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement.

The 35-year-old Ganguly has performed well after he was dropped from the one-day and test sides in the wake of a public spat with then coach Greg Chappell two years ago that led to the batsman losing the captaincy.

However, the selectors decided to revamp the one-day squad following the team's first round exit in the one-day World Cup and a surprise victory by a young squad captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the Twenty20 version last year.

Former captain Dravid was the first to feel the heat of the shake-up late last year.

Fast bowler Ishant Sharma earned a recall on the basis of his impressive performances in the ongoing test series while Shanthakumaran Sreesanth returns after an injury break to bolster the pace attack that includes all-rounder Pravin Kumar.

Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Piyush Chawla and Pravin Kumar.

Gavaskar leads Indian praise after Perth win

India hailed their team's superb win over Australia in the third test in Perth on Saturday, with former batting great Sunil Gavaskar dubbing the performance as one of the greatest in the nation's test history.

India, the last team to beat Australia at home in 2003, won by 72 runs to dash the hosts' bid to break their own world record of 16 consecutive test wins.

"To win over here, this has got to be without doubt the greatest win Indian cricket has had over the last 35-40 years." Gavaskar, who was commentating on the match, said.

Australia, chasing 413 for victory, folded with over a day to spare. The victory was particularly sweet for the Indians as it was achieved barely a week after the second test in Sydney ended in controversy.

Gavaskar rated the performance, India's fifth win on Australian soil, ahead of memorable 1-0 series victories in West Indies and England in 1971.

The Indian cricket board praised the team and pacers Irfan Pathan, RP Singh and Ishant Sharma, who shared 14 wickets.

"It was a great team effort with each member contributing to the win, particularly the efforts of the young and inexperienced pace attack is laudable," board president Sharad Pawar said in a statement.

"(Skipper) Anil Kumble led the team with dignity and honour both on and off the field and marshalled his resources well."

The leg spinner would be felicitated on his return after becoming only the third bowler in test history to claim 600 wickets during the match.

Fans gathered in small numbers in many Indian cities for impromptu street celebrations with many reaching teenaged paceman Sharma's New Delhi residence to congratulate his family.

Sharma provided the first breakthrough by removing Australia skipper Ricky Ponting in the morning session on the fourth day.

KUMBLE'S GAMBLE

Another former skipper, Ajit Wadekar, told Reuters: "It is a really great win. Against the backdrop of what happened in Sydney, to come out of that and to play so positively is fantastic."

India had almost pulled out of the series after their defeat in Sydney. The second test was marred by many umpiring errors and the Indians were further angered when a three-test ban was imposed on spinner Harbhajan Singh for his alleged racial abuse of all-rounder Andrew Symonds. Harbhajan has appealed against the decision.

Wadekar praised Kumble's gamble to bat first on a pitch expected to favour fast bowling and his inspired move to introduce occasional off-spinner Virender Sehwag after lunch on Saturday.

Sehwag bowled the dangerous Adam Gilchrist round his legs in his first over as he picked two quick wickets to firmly turn the game India's way. "We showed so much positive attitude," Wadekar said. "Kumble showed tremendous controlled aggression.

"Every session was almost ours," he said. "This has restored the confidence of the players."

The fourth and final test starts in Adelaide on Thursday.

Australia will bounce back, says Ponting

PERTH - Australia are confident they will regroup from the 72-run defeat by India on Saturday to win next week's fourth and final test in Adelaide.

"Australian teams historically have been able to bounce back," captain Ricky Ponting told a news conference. "If we lose a game or have things not go our way we can turn things around pretty quickly.

"That's what our whole focus will be now. We played some great cricket in Melbourne, we played some great cricket in Sydney. We've let ourselves down a little bit in this game but it's about how we bounce back from that now."

Ponting said the visitors deserved to win the third test here and keep alive their hopes of squaring the series 2-2 in Adelaide but warned Australia would learn from their errors.

He said the home team were not at their best at the WACA, misjuding the pace of the pitch and making a string of fundamental mistakes.

"It was a tough four days, India deserved to win the game the way they did. They outplayed us for the majority of the game," said Ponting.


CRITICAL MOMENTS

"A lot of our skills have let us down more than anything this week. I thought our preparation was great and it was just little critical moments in this match we faltered and it's been a long time since we've done that."

Saturday's defeat was Australia's first in a test for nearly two and a half years and their first at home since 2003.

It also ruined their chances of setting a world record of 17 consecutive test victories.

"Sixteen matches in a row is a great achievement, it would have been great to win one more...but we haven't been good enough in this game," said Ponting.

"The run was always going to come to an end at some stage, we just haven't played a brand of cricket that has been good enough to win this match."

Ponting said he was not surprised at how strongly India rebounded from the disappointment of losing the first two tests and said he was expecting his side to do the same in Adelaide.

"The Indians are a very good team," he said. "We never underestimate any opponent and certainly not the Indians because we know they, particularly their batting, can be a formidable opponent and their bowlers did a terrific job here."

Pakistan's Inzamam says controversies got to Australia

KARACHI - Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq said Australia were affected by the controversies from the second test when they lost to India in the third match of the series in Perth on Saturday.

"I think the Australians were unnerved by the criticism they came under after the Sydney test. They were not at their best in this test," Inzamam told Reuters after India's 72-run win reduced their series deficit to 2-1.

Inzamam, who retired last year after playing 120 tests and 378 one-dayers, said India deserved credit for bringing down captain Ricky Ponting's team at the WACA, one of the fastest pitches in the world.

"I think what happened in Sydney, the poor umpiring decisions and the (alleged racial abuse) complaint against spinner Harbhajan Singh, united them and made them more determined to beat Australia," he said.

"The final test in Adelaide (next week) will be a cliffhanger because the Indians have now smelt blood and know this Australian team is fallible."

Pakistan's chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed said Australia's first test defeat since they went down to England in 2005 was good for world cricket.

"The domination of Australia was overwhelming and this result will make other teams, including Pakistan, believe the Australians are not invincible," he said.

Pakistan are due to host the world's top-ranked team in three tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match in March-April.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif said India's bowlers deserved a lot of credit.

"They bowled superbly under pressure against a strong batting line-up," said Latif.

"Australia missed the experience and confidence of Matthew Hayden, who scored hundreds in the first two tests."

But former Pakistan captain and coach Intikhab Alam backed Ponting and his players to come back strongly.

"They did so after their 2005 Ashes defeat and they can do it again," said Intikhab.

Australia come crashing down at Perth as India clinch glory

Very few teams come to the Western Australian capital and inflict heavy defeat on the Australians. The West Indies did that, 16 years ago, when Curtly Ambrose' inspired spell of 7 wickets for 1 run destroyed the Aussies. But, that was a different era. India, came into this match with a big point to prove. Bruised and battered in the previous two Test matches in the series, they left the baggage of controversy behind and moved on to Freemantle territory to put up a spirited performance in the Third Test and clinch a historic victory by 72 runs.

The Indians had a single digit number in the minds as they took the field in the morning - 8 i.e. the number of wickets needed to claim victory. And eight, they got after some inspired captaincy decisions by Kumble, superb bowling by the quicks and luck. Their charge to victory came to a pause, when the ninth wicket partnership between Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson had other intentions for a while, but it only looked as though they were delaying the inevitable.

Of patience and perseverance

The Aussies were chasing something they tried six years ago and faltered against the same opposition. This time, there were larger stakes in the consecutive-Test wins record, and that looked to have got the better of the hosts. They got off to a confident start, thanks to Ricky Ponting's early flurry of boundaries, but intertwined among those were moments where the Australian skipper looked all at sea against a young, lanky paceman from India - Ishant Sharma. His footwork was tested severely as the Sharma constantly resorted to big inswingers to unsettle Ponting. He kept pegging away, till he got his prey finally for 46. That, was a moment of inspiration as Sharma had toiled hard for six overs going wicketless. In the mid-over conference, Sehwag made his point clear to Kumble asking the young man to put one last effort. That worked instantly, as Sharma produced an edge to first slip which Dravid made no mistake to pouch safely.

Hussey kept going in his usual pace - rotating the strike and stroking the odd boundary. Michael Clarke joined him after Ponting's fall and looked like a man with points to prove, after taking flak for his dip in form. He began on a positive note, displaying nimble footwork to Kumble as much as putting loose deliveries from the pacers. He and Hussey strung together a good partnership, before RP Singh produced another one to send the left-hander back. That perhaps set the ball rolling for the Indians as the Aussies lost their set batsman. Andrew Symonds walked into bat, in an untested territory - a pressure cooker scenario in the second innings, and set off on his usual bludgeoning style - a six and a four. But, that was all he could achieve as Billy Bowden took off his fingers in a flash. Life came a full circle for Symonds, as replays showed there was an inside edge as the ball thudded into his pads.

A moment of sheer inspiration

There was a short partnership mushrooming between Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist - but it took nothing short of an inspired chess-like move by Anil Kumble to set India going. He brought on Virender Sehwag for what turned out to be a massive period of play - with the man castling the dangerous Adam Gilchrist round his legs in his very first over. Then, the next over, one became two - as Sehwag snapped up Lee, Laxman holding on to a short-low catch at silly point. Australia jolted in the middle-order. Australia from 227/5 to 229/7.

Clarke then steered the lower-order with some handy shots, but couldn't do much as he ran out of partners. He kept scoring from one end, scoring a defiant fifty. Mitchell Johnson showed why he is no mug with the bat as he used the good old slog to grand effect. Clarke departed the scene for a superb 81 though in vain, as he was stumped by Dhoni off one that turned away from the right-hander.

A sting in the tail

India were flirting with a growing reputation of not being able to finish off the tail and that came to haunt them back again. As much as them, the Aussie tail has had its own image of strong tail-wagging since Ashes 2005. And it was one of those days when they almost lived up to that image. Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson came into bat with only one thing in their minds - defeat. But, what we saw was the bowlers having fun - going for every delivery, with an intention of clearing the ropes. They added a superb 73-run partnership to just about shake-up India's hopes. Johnson raced to a brilliant fifty filled with chancy-strokes and some stellar drives. Clark's stay in the middle came to an end when he edged one from Pathan to Dhoni and it came to an end at 31.

The finishing act

Just as everyone around was asking, "Whatever happened to the good old yorker !", RP Singh produced a nasty one to produce the moment for the visitors. It beats the bat totally and zoomed into middle and off-stump. What looked impossible and unlikely before four days, finally came true as India wrapped up the Test by 72 runs. Irfan Pathan, was quite righteously named the man of the match for his stellar all-round effort, that first ensured India removed the openers early twice - contributed some significant runs lower-down and as "nightwatchman" and just as the tail started wagging around, took that important wicket of Clark to seal the victory for the visitors.

All in all, a historic win for India - much in the mould of Johannesburg 2006. The Aussies, conscious of their image looked like playing as saints - and it wasn't just that the bully image was missing, but also Ricky Ponting's long lived ambitions to achieve the 17-consecutive Test wins. Now, the cricket bandwagon moves to Adelaide, where the Aussies will look to bounce back from this defeat, while India must be all keyed up to drag the momentum into the fourth Test and level the series 2-2.

India set Australia 413-run target

RP Singh played what could be regarded one of the significant innings in India's second innings after he helped the Indian lead swell over 400. He came out attacking right from the word go and his cameo might have given India just the right kind of target to defend. His innings consisted of three lofted boundaries and one huge six, which gave India some momentum after the twin-strike before tea.

But, he was undone by a nasty one from Stuart Clark, which reared off a length and zooted off to Gilchrist at a height. The damage for Australia was already done as the duo added a brisk fifty run partnership. In his persuit of quick runs and extending India's lead, VVS Laxman sacrificed his wicket after Ishant Sharma stroked a boundary in the previous over. Laxman tried a back-foot cut, only to edge it to Gilchrist, ending India's innings at 294, with 412 runs ahead. Laxman dismissed for 79 after some brilliant strokeplay, filled with boundaries all over.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man - thats one adage that perfectly fits VVS Laxman. He came at a time when the Australians could just have ran and steadied the ship superbly. Amidst the rescue act were some stupendous shots, the on-drives the flicks that had nothing but wrists - a la Laxman. Dhoni started on a scratchy note, but later pulled the trigger with a huge six and that put rest to his defensive intentions. Laxman reached his fifty off 97 balls and didnt look like getting out. However, the Dhoni-Laxman partnership yielded

Andrew Symonds struck twice in an over to restrict the Indian charge towards a reasonable lead. He first removed Mahendra Singh Dhoni who tried to play a cheeky paddle sweep. The ball skimmed the bat and ballooned up his shoulder and wicketkeeper Gilchrist kept his eyes on the ball, covers a good distance before grabbing it diving forward. After some serious consideration, the umpire raised his finger. Dhoni again fell in thye 30s, scoring 38. After Dhoni, followed Kumble - who edged one to slip, went without scoring. India were 236/8 when he departed.

Resuming after lunch at 158/5, India lost the important wicket of set batsman Irfan Pathan for 46. He pushed at one pitched on a nagging line on off-stump line from Clark, edging it to Ponting, who completes a low catch at slip. India were 160/6 when Pathan departed.

Mitchell Johnson then struck a decisive blow as he removed Sourav Ganguly for a duck. He got that on the right spot, pitching just outside the off-stump and there was a hint of curl away. Ganguly did get his feet out to it, with his frontfoot in line with the middle as he smashed a thick edge off a drive. Clark at first slip made no mistake. India in trouble at 127/5.

And standing tall amidst the ruins was the nightwatchman Irfan Pathan. He played some amazing strokes off the Australian bowlers and did not look like a No.7 in any form whatsoever. Some of his strokes were high on timing and placement. Another aspect of his innings was that he did not get bogged down after the wickets fell around him.

Sachin Tendulkar then came in to stabilize things. He played some delightful strokes, but unfortunately could not extend his stint in the middle as Brett Lee trapped him leg-before wicket for 13. Tendulkar was decieved by the pace of a good-length delivery which ripped back in from outside the off-stump. The ball hits him plumb in like as Tendulkar tried to work the ball on the on-side. India were 116/4 when Tendulkar went.

Next over, Dravid followed the Indian opener as he was out caught behind off Brett Lee. The ball started to swing away from the moment it left Lee's hand. Dravid came out forward to play the cover-drive, but could only manage a faint nick as his bat was away from his body. Dravid was out for 3 and India were 82/3.

Clark produced what was a perfect inswinger to bowl Sehwag. It was a good length delivery which nipped back in from off-and-middle to rattle middle-and-leg. Sehwag was bowled off the pad as he shaped up to play the drive for the outswinger. Sehwag departed for a well made 43 with India at 79/2.

Earlier, India made a confident start on Day 3, resuming from where they left off the previous evening. Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan strung together a handy partnership before Australia brought themselves back into the game with Sehwag's wicket. Hussey dropped Sehwag in the earlier over from Lee, but could not make use of the opportunity as he was castled by Stuart Clark.

India paying back Australia in their own coin: Ranatunga

Having been a thorn in Australia's flesh during his playing days, former Sri Lanka skipper Arjuna Ranatunga cannot hide his glee as India gives Ricky Ponting and his men a taste of their own medicine.

"I think this is the first time after I gave it back that Australia is now being paid back in their own coin," an amused Ranatunga told reporters on Thursday.

Although he felt being head of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), he should be diplomatic and politically correct, Ranatunga looked amused with Australia getting a tit-for-tat from the visiting Indian team in the ongoing series Down Under.

Sri Lanka's World Cup winning captain said over the last decade, there have been issues with the Australian cricket team but he advised India not to get distracted by their on-field antics and leave it to the boards of both the countries to resolve contentious matters.

"Whatever happened in Sydney was unpleasant but the Indian team should not lose their focus. They should leave it to the Board to sort out all these issues.

"When this kind of incidents happen, I think boards should step in to make things smooth," he said.

Although he himself once almost walked out with his team in the 1999 Adelaide Test when Muttiah Muralitharan was no-balled in the contentious match, Ranatunga said India did the right thing by continuing with the tour despite being the victim of some poor umpiring and the racism row involving Harbhajan Singh.

"I don't think pulling out would have been the right thing. I'm not a fan of that, though I almost did it in order to protect a colleague," he said.

The former captain said ICC should work closely with the Cricket Boards to address these issues. Ranatunga was happy that India was not taking it lying down, but he insisted sledging had no place in cricket.

"Now even Australia is also complaining. I think it's important for the administrators to clean up the game. I think they should stop shouting and sledging in the ground.

"Everyone should play the game in true spirit. Cricket has been a gentleman's game and it should remain so," he said.

His former teammate Aravinda de Silva felt some of the players from both sides did not look mature enough in the ill-tempered Sydney Test.

"I think they behaved like kids. The best way to prove a point is to respond with a solid performance. India should focus on the job at hand and forget everything else," he said.

The former middle order mainstay felt Australia had become unpopular champions of the game.

"I think their arrogance is to be blamed for that," said de Silva, who, along with Ranatunga, was in the capital as ambassador of Sri Lanka tourism. Ranatunga, meanwhile, advised all to take a cue from Lanka and involve former players in the running of the game.

"I always felt more and more cricketers, once they are through with their playing careers, should join the administration. We have Aravinda heading a cricket committee, comprising all former captains, which decides on cricketing issues. We don't allow officials take those calls.

"It's not just administration. I would like to see more and more former players as umpires and even curators," he said.

Wickets continue to fall for India

Mitchell Johnson then struck a decisive blow as he removed Sourav Ganguly for a duck. He got that on the right spot, pitching just outside the off-stump and there was a hint of curl away. Ganguly did get his feet out to it, with his frontfoot in line with the middle as he smashed a thick edge off a drive. Clark at first slip made no mistake. India in trouble at 127/5.

And standing tall amidst the ruins was the nightwatchman Irfan Pathan. He played some amazing strokes off the Australian bowlers and did not look like a No.7 in any form whatsoever. Some of his strokes were high on timing and placement. Another aspect of his innings was that he did not get bogged down after the wickets fell around him.

Sachin Tendulkar then came in to stabilize things. He played some delightful strokes, but unfortunately could not extend his stint in the middle as Brett Lee trapped him leg-before wicket for 13. Tendulkar was decieved by the pace of a good-length delivery which ripped back in from outside the off-stump. The ball hits him plumb in like as Tendulkar tried to work the ball on the on-side. India were 116/4 when Tendulkar went.

Next over, Dravid followed the Indian opener as he was out caught behind off Brett Lee. The ball started to swing away from the moment it left Lee's hand. Dravid came out forward to play the cover-drive, but could only manage a faint nick as his bat was away from his body. Dravid was out for 3 and India were 82/3.

Clark produced what was a perfect inswinger to bowl Sehwag. It was a good length delivery which nipped back in from off-and-middle to rattle middle-and-leg. Sehwag was bowled off the pad as he shaped up to play the drive for the outswinger. Sehwag departed for a well made 43 with India at 79/2.

Earlier, India made a confident start on Day 3, resuming from where they left off the previous evening. Virender Sehwag and Irfan Pathan strung together a handy partnership before Australia brought themselves back into the game with Sehwag's wicket. Hussey dropped Sehwag in the earlier over from Lee, but could not make use of the opportunity as he was castled by Stuart Clark.

Kumble claims 600 Test wickets

Anil Kumble became the first Indian bowler and the third in the world to reach the milestone of 600 wickets on day two of the third Test against Australia in Perth on Thursday.

Kumble achieved the record just after the tea break when he had Andrew Symonds caught by Rahul Dravid at first slip.

Symonds (66) edged the ball which hit Dhoni’s gloves and went up in the air before Dravid pouched it safely.

Symonds stood his ground while umpire Asad Rauf took some time to raise his finger even as the appeal grew louder. When the decision finally came in India’s favour, Kumble heaved a sigh of relief amidst the applause from the crowd.

In a friendly gesture, Adam Gilchrist shook hands with Kumble and congratulated him.

Kumble’s 600 wickets came in 124 matches at an average of 28.68. He is the third bowler after Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (723) and Shane Warne (708) of Australia to reach the milestone.

Interestingly, in his career Kumble has captured most number of wickets against Australia. He has taken 104 Australian scalps in 17 matches at an average of 27.5.

Rogers to open as Australia pursues record-breaking 17th test win

PERTH - After days of waiting and batting, and waiting and batting, Chris Rogers finally got the handshake he had been craving from Australian cricket coach Tim Nielsen.

On standby since Sunday to replace Matthew Hayden in case the burly Queenslander failed to recover from a hamstring injury, Rogers has trained, and batted in the nets and for his club without any clue whether he would be playing or not.

But after Hayden's run of 86 successive test appearances was officially ended in a pitchside meeting with Nielsen, skipper Ricky Ponting and trainer Alex Kountouris, Rogers was told he would be making a test debut on home soil, against India at the WACA ground today. Ponting confirmed that Hayden - who has not missed a test since 2000 - had not sufficiently overcome soreness in his right hamstring and that he was too great a risk to take into the match, where Australia chase a record 17th successive win.

"I am really excited at the moment, and hope I do the baggy green proud," Rogers said.

"You couldn't script it better to play in front of your home crowd, and that is something you will always remember. I probably thought maybe I had missed the boat, but also I thought there could be an opportunity.

"You never want to wish an injury on anyone, but there is always a chance that might happen. It is unlucky for Matt and I feel for him, but it is a great opportunity for me."

A miserable start to the season saw Rogers miss out to Phil Jaques as the replacement for Justin Langer, in part because of an appendix operation which kept him out of action at a crucial time.

A mystery stomach virus then curtailed his action, but since returning, a Pura Cup haul of over 300 runs at an average of over 40 has again proved his credentials.

However, Ponting said it was an innings Rogers played against the Australians for county side Leicestershire, during the Ashes Tour of England in 2005, that had stuck in his mind.

"I was very impressed with what I saw that day, and this is his opportunity, there's no doubt about that," Ponting said.

During that knock, Hayden told Rogers he should consider getting out to aid the side. But yesterday Hayden said he was delighted for Rogers, despite his personal disappointment at missing the chance to complete a world record 17 test wins in a row.


"Obviously I am very disappointed missing this test match - it is going to be a really special," Hayden said

Quickie Shaun Tait will come into the side, as Australia opted for an all-pace attack for the first time since 1992. Brad Hogg is the 12th man.

India Reaches 297-6 Against Australia in Third Cricket Test

India lost two late wickets to close on 297-6 against record-chasing Australia on the opening day of the third cricket Test in Perth.

Rahul Dravid appeared set for his 25th Test century before top-edging Andrew Symonds while on 93, the 10th time he has been dismissed in the 90s. VVS Laxman was then caught on 27.

India had earlier rallied from 59-2 with a 139-run partnership from Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar. It lost four wickets in the last session after reaching 198-2 after tea.

The Australians are seeking a record 17th straight Test win. Ricky Ponting's top-ranked team tied the mark of Steve Waugh's Australian side by taking a 2-0 series lead in Sydney.

Mitchell Johnson made the breakthrough, removing Virender Sehwag for 29 when the batsman edged to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist. India added only two more runs before Wasim Jaffer edged a Brett Lee delivery to Gilchrist for 16.

Dravid and Tendulkar, who made 71, steadied the innings before Lee struck again, trapping Tendulkar leg-before-wicket from a short ball which television replays showed may have gone over the stumps.

Mike Hussey took a diving catch to dismiss Sourav Ganguly and give Johnson his second wicket. Lee finished the day with 3- 64 after Laxman hit the ball to Shaun Tait.

Pace Attack

Australia made two changes to the side that won the second match in the penultimate over. Chris Rogers made his debut in place of injured opener Matthew Hayden, while Tait replaced spinner Brad Hogg, giving the Australians an all-pace bowling attack.

India recalled attacking opener Sehwag at the expense of Yuvraj Singh, with Dravid dropping to No. 3.

Harbhajan Singh, whose appeal against a three-Test ban is scheduled after the four-match series, made way for paceman Irfan Pathan, even though the spinner is eligible to play until his appeal is heard.

Harbhajan's ban for making a racist remark was disputed by Indian officials, who also accused Australia of unsporting behavior and criticized umpire Steve Bucknor after the second Test. Bucknor was later replaced for this match.

India two days ago dropped a complaint against Hogg, whom it had accused of using offensive language during the second Test. The team said the move would ``help create a congenial atmosphere'' for the remainder of the series after friction between the sides.

Sehwag may open at WACA

PERTH: Had Gary Kirsten been in charge of the Indian team in Australia, Rahul Dravid would not have had to open the innings in Melbourne and Sydney. The former South African opener, who linked up with the team here on Sunday, will be advising the team management as a consultant and though he may not have the last word in selection matters, his voice will be heard with respect by skipper Anil Kumble.

Asked whether India should go in with makeshift openers, Kirsten said: "Obviously, we have options in that. At a very informal level, after today we will have little more discussion about what to look at, but my personal opinion is that specialists in specialist positions is the way to go."

Kirsten hinted that Sehwag, who got a hundred in the last game, may get the nod to open the innings, especially as he has the respect of the Australians in the way he plays. "I guess, Sehwag will become a factor and Rahul is certainly suited and more comfortable in the middle-order," Kirsten said.

The South African was not sure whether India would go in with two spinners on a fast and hard WACA wicket: "Two spinners are unlikely at WACA but Harbhajan is one of the strengths of this Indian team. We have identified that members of the lower order should contribute more with the bat and Harbhajan did it well in Sydney. So it will be a tough decision to keep him out."

Kirsten will also be working very closely with bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad in advising the bowlers about the right length to bowl on the Perth wicket. He will also be talking to the pacers about bowling into the wind.

Australia, on the other hand, is still sweating over the fitness of opener Matthew Hayden, who was put through his paces by physio Alex Contouris on Monday. Aussies have called up Chris Rogers as a cover for Hayden, but want to give the latter more time to get fit for a match that could go into history books as Ricky Ponting men look to notch up their 17th successive Test win.

Adam Gilchrist reckons Hayden has more than 50 per cent chance of playing. "It must be pretty frustrating for him. He is 100 per cent fit to do most of the things he may be required to do in a match, but there are only a few things he still can’t do properly yet, so we will give him maximum time to recover," Gichrist said.

One thing is almost certain, though. Australia will go into the Perth Test without a frontline spinner with Brad Hogg likely to make way for speedster Shaun Tait, who was seen bowling at full tilt in the nets.

Captains’ peace talks end on a happy note

Team India captain Anil Kumble and Australian skipper Ricky Ponting met for peace talks in Perth on Monday before the third Test kicks off.

Kumble said the two had a healthy discussion during the meeting, as reported by news channel Times Now.

“It’s time to move on. We are looking forward to good cricket,” said the Indian Test captain.

Ponting said, “I am happy with the way the discussion went about.”

The ICC match referee, Ranjan Madugalle said that the two captains are satisfied with the meeting.

Madugalle called the two captains for a ‘cool off’ session after a controversial Sydney Test soured the relationships between the Indian and Australian cricket teams.

Show courage against Aussie pacers, Kirsten advises Indians

India's coach-designate Gary Kirsten has prepared a document for the team to counter the bouncy track at the WACA where the conditions will be "mentally more demanding" for the batsmen.

"It takes a lot of courage to get into position on bouncy wicket to be successful. More than the technical it's the mental side and I am sure Indian batsmen are aware of it," said Kirsten as he faced his first press conference in India colours.

The former South African opener revealed that he has prepared a document for the Indian team where he has put down his experience of travelling to this part of the world.

"I have put together a document on touring Australia...It is how to go about doing it. There is a definite style of playing technically on bouncy wickets.

"At WACA, it's a very tough cricketing environment. There is never an easy game and it's mentally very demanding. But the Australians also say it's the best place to bat. One needs to brace the challenge and give everything you have got.

"I guess it's a case of looking at the glass that is half full and not half vacant," he said. Kirsten believed that more than any other nation, Australia tests the character of a cricketer to the fullest.

"It's a mental battle. When you come to Australia you could be sure they would leave no stone unturned. It tests you as a person, yes you got to have skills but it you can go by skill only up to a point," Kirsten said. "You need to have a strong character. In Australia, you are fully examined."

From what he has seen in a brief interaction with the Indian team, the visitors want to put the controversy of recent days behind and get on with the game.

"They are two cricket-mad countries, there is a lot of emotion flying around, lot of intensity. Whatever has happened in recent days has been sad. "The game has changed so much in recent years. It's all about performance, all about winning and sometimes players step outside the line. "Sometimes under pressure you can make wrong choices. However, it is brave to stand up and accept it. At the end of the day it's the players who can sort this issue out. They are the custodians of the game which is bigger than team, individuals."

On India's choice of batsmen for the openers' slots, Kirsten said Virender Sehwag should open the innings while Rahul Dravid should go back to his reputed middle order position.

"I do feel there are specialist positions...Sehwag has just hit a big hundred and has the respect of the Australians. Rahul Dravid on the other hand has been hugely successful as a middle order batsman," Kirsten said.

Ponting admits to making mistakes in Sydney Test

The Australian team made a couple of mistakes on the field in the controversial second Test against India, Australia captain Ricky Ponting has admitted.

The fallout from the Test, which Australia won by 122 runs, included India captain Anil Kumble accusing the Australians of not playing within the spirit of the game, while Ponting faced calls for his sacking.

The Australian team have received support from numerous other international players for their hard-nosed attitude to the game, though Ponting said the team had examined aspects of their behaviour and reaffirmed their pledge to the spirit of cricket.

However Ponting, writing in his column in Monday's Australian newspaper, said there had been two incidents on the field that his side could have handled better.

"I know when I was given out in the first innings in Sydney I should have left straight away instead of hanging around for a few seconds, and I know I should not have lobbed my bat into the dressing room," Ponting wrote.

"Michael Clarke also knows that he should have gone straight away too, after cutting the ball to first slip.

"He knows he did the wrong thing but at the time he was just shocked at how he had got out first ball.

"I believe there are no glaring issues we need to address, but when they are all added together in the heat of such a tense and dramatic final day, they caused a reaction, so we need to tighten up on how we play.

"We are very keen to ensure we get the balance of how we play the game right so we can focus clearly on another very big match coming up."

Ponting said he was disappointed the result in Sydney, where Clarke took three wickets in the penultimate over to snatch an improbable victory, had since been overshadowed by the fall out.

Afterwards, India spinner Harbhajan Singh was banned for three matches for a racist remark, umpire Steve Bucknor was sacked from standing in the third Test and the Indian Cricket Board threatened to abandon the tour.

The third Test begins on Wednesday in Perth. Australia have a 2-0 lead after winning the first Test in Melbourne by 337 runs and the match in Sydney by 122 runs.

Sreesanth claims he is fit for One-day series

MELBOURNE : Paceman S Sreesanth on Monday claimed he has recovered fully from a shoulder injury and was confident of playing in the triangular limited overs tournament, also involving Sri Lanka, which follows the India-Australia Test series.

The Kerala bowler is confident that with a few matches under his belt, he would be fully prepared for the hectic One-day series.

"It is my dream to play in Australia, and I hope God will allow me to do that. I am ready to play," he was quoted as saying by 'Sydney Morning Herald'.

"I am heading to Mumbai and I will play a match for my company team. With a few games, I will be ready for the One-dayers," Sreesanth said.

The bowler had a much talked about confrontation with Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds during the One-day series in India last year, but did single out the burly Queenslander for special attention.

"I am not scared of anybody, and I am hoping to show that in Australia. When I am playing my best cricket, I don't really care who the batsman is," Sreesanth said.

He has had an eye on the controversy-marred Sydney Test and conveyed his displeasure in the manner in which Sourav Ganguly was given out in the second innings off a contentious catch by Michael Clarke after captain Ricky Ponting indicated to the umpire that the ball carried to the slips on the full.

"It is not up to players to make the decisions, so it was OK (for Ganguly) to wait for the umpire," Sreesanth said.

"What Ponting did was not right. He knows it is up to the umpire. Before you point the finger, you should know there are four fingers pointed back at you."

ICL planning to add all-star Pak team

Karachi : The rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) is planning to add an all-star Pakistani side to its list of competitors for the second edition scheduled in March-April.
After hosting its inaugural twenty20 tournament last year, the breakaway league is considering adding two more teams with one of them being an all stars side from Pakistan.

"There has been discussion on having either a Karachi or Lahore team from Pakistan take part in the next event along with an all stars ICL eleven," Former Pakistan skipper Moin Khan, who is ICL's main representative in Pakistan and also on their coaching panel, said.

The former wicketkeeper said a clearer picture would emerge in next two weeks and did not rule out the possibility of an ICL official coming to Pakistan to sign up more players.

Pakistan had six representatives in the ICL's inaugural edition with pacer Shabbir Ahmed getting man of the match award in the final.

Moin said he was disappointed by the vindictive measures taken by Pakistan and other cricket boards against players and coaches contracted to the ICL, which is not recognised by either the ICC or its member boards.

He said the decision to ban ICL players in Pakistan from playing domestic cricket was unjustified.

But asked whether the ICL would help its players and coaches, Moin said the the league was already backing its recruits financially.

"That is the best it can do. It has given financial benefits to its players and coaches which is their best compensation for what they are facing. The kind of money we are earning now from ICL is very good," he said.

Sehwag blasts his way into Test contention

CANBERRA — Explosive opener Virender Sehwag made a strong case for a Test recall with a typically swashbuckling century on the final day of India's three-day tour match against an Australian Capital Territory XI here.

And the man Sehwag is likely to replace in the third Test at the WACA Ground, Yuvraj Singh, again failed to reach double figures as his form woes mounted.

The match ended in a draw, India declaring its second innings at tea at 281 for four, an overall lead of 314, with the ACT 60 for 3 in reply when both teams agreed to an early stumps.

After making a scratchy 24 in the first innings, Sehwag capitalised on a flat pitch and modest attack to reach his hundred in well under a session, facing just 73 balls in the process.

Sehwag, who was considered close to a recall for the controversial second Test in Sydney but hasn't played at the top level for over a year, made his intentions clear when he opened the day by belting three boundaries from the first over.

He continued in that vein before being caught behind just minutes before lunch for 113, ending a frenetic 158-run opening partnership with Dinesh Karthik, who narrowly missed a century.

Sehwag hit 18 fours and two sixes and faced only 78 balls to finally give the Indians something to smile about at the end of a testing week on and off the field.

"It was good I spent quite some time in the middle," Sehwag said. "I just focused on being positive and wanted to perform well. I feel I am in good touch and timing the ball very well.

"I have got my rhythm back. I have got everything back," he added. "I think the Perth wicket is good for me and good for batsmen because the ball comes on (with) pace and bounce so you can play your shots."

The 29-year-old brought up his century by flicking a ball to the fine leg boundary, and then celebrated by smashing a four and six from the final two deliveries of the over.

Sehwag has played 52 Tests, with 12 centuries and an average of 49.46.

The entertaining knock dramatically increased the pressure on Yuvraj, who later in the day failed again.

He made just three after scoring only two in the first innings, and his spot in the side for the third Test, starting Wednesday, must be in grave doubt.

Yuvraj has not only struggled with the bat, making just 17 runs at 4.25 in the first two Tests and offering some soft dismissals, he has been disappointing in the field and his attitude has been criticised.

Opener Wasim Jaffer, also under pressure, fell cheaply for 21, but made 92 in the first innings.

Karthik, dropped on 19, also put a case for Test selection by making a polished 97 from 152 balls, including 12 boundaries.

The ACT declared its first innings at the overnight score of 292 for eight, young paceman Ishant Sharma the pick of the Indian bowlers on the second day with 26 for three.

In the ACT's second innings, West Australian Test hopeful Chris Rogers missed another chance to impress when he made just 17, caught behind from the bowling of Irfan Pathan.

With their threat to cancel their tour in the wake of Harbhajan Singh's three-match suspension still lingering, the Indians now head to Perth to prepare for the third Test.

A date is yet to be set for the appeal against Singh's three-match suspension for racially abusing Andrew Symonds, while Indian captain Anil Kumble and Australian counterpart Ricky Ponting have both expressed a desire to clear the air with a meeting before the Perth match.

Australian spinner Brad Hogg's code of conduct hearing for allegedly calling Kumble a "bastard" will be heard in Perth on Monday.

Don't make cricket robotic: Hayden

Test opener Matthew Hayden says it's important that emotion remains a part of cricket because he doesn't want the game to become robotic.

Hayden, who is in a race against time to overcome a hamstring injury before the third Test against India starting in Perth on Wednesday, defended the actions of Australian captain Ricky Ponting and his teammates who celebrated wildly after pulling off the last minute victory in Sydney.

"When I finish cricket I don't want to have to be in a game where everything is robots and robotic," he told journalists in Brisbane.

"I want to see Ricky Ponting going like that when he wins and plays for Australia.

"That's the heat of the battle, that's Test cricket, that's the enormous passion and enthusiasm that gets played from all games of cricket, you see it even in backyard cricket."

Fellow opener Phil Jaques agreed there was nothing wrong with the way Australia played cricket and was looking forward to the focus returning to on-field matters in next week's third Test.

Australia have an opportunity to set a new world record with a 17th consecutive Test victory in Perth and Jaques was hopeful that would become the main talking point after a week of off-field dramas.

"It's been a bit of a shame this week because it was such a great Test match in Sydney and I think that was lost in all the stuff that has gone on," he said.

"I'm ready to just get back into playing some cricket and I'm sure the other guys feel the same.

"We really just want to get back into the winning side of things and get that record."

On Monday the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended the tour after Harbhajan Singh's three-Test ban for racial abuse against Australia's Andrew Symonds.

The BCCI has lodged an appeal against the finding and the suspension.

India finally left Sydney on Wednesday for a three-day match against an ACT XI which ends on Saturday, after the International Cricket Council replaced umpire Steve Bucknor with Billy Bowden for the Perth Test.

The ICC are likely to hear Harbhajan's appeal after the third Test, paving the way for him to play in Perth.

The developments came after a fiery end to the second Test in Sydney, when Indian captain Anil Kumble claimed only his side played in the spirit of the game following Australia's last gasp victory.

Debate has raged since the Sydney Test about the conduct of both teams, but Jaques feels the situation has been totally blown out of proportion.

"I don't think there's been too much wrong with the way we play cricket," he said.

"And I'm sure going forward we'll conduct ourselves in a competitive matter and a winning attitude, but we'll play the game in the right spirits.

"I don't think the recent events warrant us drastically changing the way we play the game.

"They're entitled to their opinion, but we know the way we play and in our hearts we play as fairly as we can."

Despite the sniping between the teams, Jaques believes relations will be civil in the third Test.

"It's been really good in the past so I don't think it's going to change too much," he said.

"Obviously a few things have happened over the last couple of weeks but we're still two very good cricket teams out to win the series and I'm sure it'll be played in the right spirit."

Umpire Benson could have consulted Bucknor: Ganguly

Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly said on Friday that umpire Mark Benson could have consulted square leg umpire Steve Bucknor before adjudicating him out on the controversial catch taken by Michael Clarke during the second innings in the Sydney Test.

"I thought he (Benson) could have done a better job if he had consulted Bucknor. The moment I nicked it I turned back and saw it didn't carry. But that's the way it is. It was agreed to stick by the captain's word and we have to stay with that," Ganguly told the channel Star Cricket during the second day of the warm-up game against the ACT XI in Canberra.

The former captain was batting on 51 when he edged Brett Lee low to Clarke at second slip who immediately claimed the catch and the Australians celebrated before awaiting the umpire's decision.

Ganguly was convinced that the catch hadn't carried and waited at the crease. And to everyone's surprise Benson instead of consulting Bucknor asked Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who said the catch was legitimate.

It was among the several decisions that went against India in the Sydney Test and resulted in their 122-run loss to Australia in the match.

In fact at the start of the series, it was decided by both the captains that low catches would be left to the captains instead of referring them to the third umpires.

Ganguly said that playing conditions should be respected if agreed upon before the series. "If it's a decision by the captains then I think in modern day cricket it's fine. But the umpires have a responsibility too. You can leave it to the fielders but the umpires have to make a judgement. I think the umpires should interfere if they feel it's a 50-50."

Besides erroneous umpiring, the match was also marred by unsporting behaviour of the Australian team and charges of alleged racism on Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

"Sometimes things happen at the heat of the moment. But I also admired how desperate they were to win. That's not a bad thing in sport. Some decisions didn't go our way. It hurt us. On the other side, it showed why they win so many Test matches," said Ganguly.

India are trailing 0-2 in the four-Test series, but Ganguly was confident that the team will bounce back in the third Test in Perth starting Wednesday.

"It's a happy team. We had a good year before this series. I spoke to the Indian board and said one warm-up was not enough. We should have had two. We had the Pakistan home series so it was difficult to fit in another game," he said.

India will struggle to last five days at WACA: Chris Rogers

CANBERRA: Visiting Indians have been warned that they would struggle to last five days at the WACA pitch in the third Test at Perth, starting January 16.

"I would hate to face the Australian quicks on that sort of wicket," said Chris Rogers, who is tipped to replace the injured Matthew Hayden as opener for the next Test.

Rogers, who indicated he was ready for the job with a confident half-century in the tour match here on Friday, said it was difficult for guys at the top of the order to face the Aussie attack on a really quick wicket.

"My best at WACA has been 60 this season and I belong to Western Australia," remarked Rogers "The ball really flies through after the first day."

The left-handed opener said because of the moisture on the first day, the pitch is not as hard as it usually becomes on subsequent days.

"You really have to play your best innings ever to survive on the WACA this season," opined the 31-year-old Rogers, who has an average of 47.93 in 104 first class games with 22 centuries.

"I would be surprised if the game goes into the fifth day."

His words would be a warning for the Indians, who are 0-2 down in the series and need a win in Perth to remain in the series.

Rogers believed spinners have no role to play in WACA this year.

"Kumble because of his style could make use of the WACA pitch but otherwise, spinners haven't got much help."

He rated Irfan Pathan as the bowler who could get good help from the WACA surface though he wondered who amongst the tourists would be asked to bowl into the wind from the other end.

"Pathan swung a good deal here and at WACA, when the Freemantle Doctor is blowing, he could be a huge factor.

"Ishant Sharma was also impressive here because he hit the deck hard as was VRV Singh who appears to have huge potential. But it would be interesting to see who bowls into the wind for the Indians. It's such a huge factor at WACA," he said.

Rogers believed if he was given a chance, his familiarity with opening partner Phil Jacques, would be to Australia's advantage.

"I have opened with him for Australia A team in Pakistan so I am pretty familiar with his style of batting. If given a chance, I would try my best."

I found Indian cricketers as gentleman: Bird

Indian cricketers can take pride for carrying the tradition of maintaining the spirit of the game with legendary umpire Dickie Bird saying he has always found them "gentleman" and all past Indian players have been a credit to the game.

"I have always found Indian team going back to Gavaskar, Chandrasekhar, Prasanna, Wadekar, when I umpired them, as gentleman and I mean in all sense of the term. They all have been credit to the profession and credit to the game of cricket," Bird said.

Bird said the Australian players of his era also played the game with spirit.

"Players like Lillie, Johnson, Marsh, Chappell brother, in that Australian team and they played hard but always played with the laws and the spirit of the game. And if I thought things are getting out of control, I used to have quite word with both captains," said the English umpire.

Bird said the incidents which marred the Sydney Test could have been avoided by the timely intervention of the two umpires.

"The two umpires would realise when they look back on it that they should have got the two captains together. In a proper manner, in a nice way probably cracked a joke with the two captains and a smile and laughter, that's what I used to do," said Bird, a veteran of 66 Tests.

"Its very sad when I saw what was going on in this Test match in Sydney. It is sad for the game but I do hope we can rise from this. Cricket has got to be the winner"

"Lets play the game in a proper manner within the law and spirit of the game."

"With all the technologies available they can go to the third umpire and I think now the third umpire is more important. The umpires with whom I have been brought up is finished because now the electronic age has taken over and I think It is a sad day for cricket."

On Steve Bucknor, Bird said "I did advise him and I did had a long chat with him a while ago and said look, If I can give you any advice is to retire while you get a lot of respect," he said.

Asked whether umpires should be judged on the basis of their performance, Bird said it was certainly a practice during his days.

"In my days, they were (judged). Even if you make odd mistake, I have seen umpires English umpires who made odd mistakes being removed from the Test match panel. Well, that does not seem to happen today. They get long contracts as umpires," he added.

Anil Kumble says Australia triggered crisis

In an exclusive article, the India captain writes that Australia started the teams' row by showing a disregard for the spirit of the game.

I would like to begin by pointing out that someone [Michael Clarke] clearly edged the ball to the slips in the second innings of the Sydney Test and stood there even when there was not an iota of doubt over the dismissal. The same player then claimed a catch that showed more than reasonable doubt and said he was 100 per cent certain it was clean.

At this point, a few days before the Test in Perth, I can tell you that that sort of behaviour will play a big role in my decision whether to continue the agreement that Ricky and I had made before the series began.

We had decided that in the case of a disputed catch we would take the word of the fielder concerned, if he was certain. But that agreement was based on the premise that, come what may, whatever the situation, the fielder concerned would be completely straight on what happened. Now, there will obviously be a big question mark about that in future matches.

On the other events, I can only say that I spoke to Ricky that day [of the row between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds] and having heard from Bhajji and Sachin Tendulkar before that, I was convinced that there had neither been any racist remark made, nor intended. I asked Bhajji why he started it and he said he hadn’t; Symonds did and goaded him, so he responded. But he insisted he made no racist comment.


Ricky, meanwhile, was just not willing to listen, nor see my point. When I offered to apologise as Bhajji’s skipper, it was only to smooth things over, at no stage did I admit that he had made a racist remark; in fact, I said he had not.

Unfortunately, these days, when someone apologises, it is seen as either a sign of weakness or an admission of guilt. I am neither unnerved nor are we guilty. In the larger interests of the game, if an apology could help to build bridges and smooth things over, then it is better made than left unsaid because of egos.

In my book, it’s really important that when somebody is accused of being a racist, whoever that someone is, the charge is not made lightly, is not followed up just to prove a point and is not deemed as proven unless there is absolute evidence. Unfortunately this did not happen in Bhajji’s case.

Then again, he is a colleague and I have a responsibility towards him as his captain and as a fellow Indian. It is a serious allegation, calling someone a racist. You are not just accusing a cricketer, but the ramifications of this accusation, unproven in the eyes of almost everyone, were bound to be huge. India’s cricketers are the country’s ambassadors when we travel and, by making such serious charges without proof, it becomes a question of honour for the individuals concerned and the country.

There is obviously a sense of outrage in India. I cannot comment on what I thought of the proceedings, but the fact that we have appealed should make things self-evident. I’m really grateful for the overwhelming support the team have received from Indians in India and abroad and from people from other parts of the world, equally upset by the turn of events.

I’m also really thankful to the BCCI for their unstinting support of us on the matter. They have backed us right through and are doing all they can to make sure the players will be OK.

We’re going to try to do our best in Perth, a place where no one expects much from us. We are disappointed that we couldn’t force a draw in Sydney. We had a great opportunity when [Mike] Hussey and [Matthew] Hayden were batting to try to restrict their second-innings score, but Hussey batted really well to put the game beyond us.

Still, we should have at least tried for a draw despite that. We really need to get our batting in order. Too often, of late, we’ve struggled batting in our second innings to save a game. Here, we were three down at tea and then lost seven in a row. Yes, the rub of the green went against us, but we still should have stuck it out.

Finally, it’s important that the game goes on. Cricket is larger than any individual. One of the reasons I have tried to put the game and other things in perspective is to ensure that we move on and play good cricket. I’ll do my best but it takes two to tango and ensure that things move smoothly. I can only hope it happens.

Removing Bucknor was the right thing to do, for match and series : Speed

I love the fact that people in India are so passionate about cricket and their national team. It is proof to me that the game is strong and that people have a genuine sense of belonging to cricket and also that cricket belongs to them. That has to be a good thing.

It means that when things go right for India, like during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, the country celebrates as a group in a wash of colour and excitement. It also means that when things go wrong, the country mourns as one.

The events of the current series between Australia and India have triggered an enormous reaction in India and I’m sure the readers of the Hindustan Times have been keeping a close eye on proceedings Down Under.

In relation to the replacement of Steve Bucknor as umpire for the third Test, we recognised from the outset that the umpiring in the second Test was below the very high standard we have come to expect from our Elite Panel and we noted with concern the public backlash to it and realised that we could potentially have a serious international diplomatic incident on our hands.

By providing a fresh on-field team of officials for the third Test we have successfully defused the situation, at least for the time being, and so what was a sporting issue has not become a political crisis.

We could easily have been inflexible and gone toe-to-toe with those who were calling for Steve’s withdrawal, but instead we chose to adopt a more diplomatic and reasonable approach. And on balance, it was the right thing to do, for the game and for the series.

Nobody wants the focus of a match to be on the umpires but the reality of the situation is that if Steve had stood in the third Test, he would have been under unbearable scrutiny even before a ball had been bowled.

This would not be fair on him, on the players or on the spectators. We have now created an environment whereby the match can now be played without undue attention and added pressure being heaped on the match officials.

No team has the right to object to an appointment and the decision to replace Steve with Billy Bowden for the third Test was taken by the ICC alone.

Now, to address an entirely separate issue — the Harbhajan Singh Code of Conduct hearing. I do not want to say anything that might be seen as prejudicial to that appeal, but it’s true that the process is still ongoing and will run its full course.

Harbhajan has the right to appeal and he is exercising that right. The appeals process has been part of the ICC Code of Conduct for seven years so there is nothing new or unusual about that. We have appointed the very well-respected New Zealand High Court Judge, Justice John Hansen, to hear the appeal and the entire process will be carried out in an open and transparent way.

In all the time we have held appeals to Code of Conduct hearings, no side has ever refused to accept the findings of the independent adjudicator. Whatever the result in this appeal I fully expect that all parties will acknowledge the fairness of the process, accept the result and move on.

In the mean time, let’s try to get back to what we really want to — and that’s watching and enjoying cricket. Australia and India are blessed with some truly great players and it’s high time we let them take centre stage and remind us what they can do with bat or ball in hand.

(The author is Chief Executive of the International Cricket Council)

‘Justice’, ‘Truth’ prevail; New India has its say

Who rules world cricket? Not the ICC and not even the Indian Board. Going by the events of the past few days, which has left the sport in tatters and reputations bruised, exposing the ugly underbelly of the sport, the one entity that feels “vindicated” and is in a celebratory mood is the “Indian Nation”.

Fuelled by endless ammunition from the all-powerful TV channels, backed by the print media, the Indian public has felt so outraged that its opinion and judgment mattered more than what anyone else thought was right or wrong.

There was justified anger. There was self-righteous indignation. There was reasoned argument and there was illogical, irrational understanding of the sport itself. It went on and on. Emotions got exploited and the Nation felt betrayed. How dare the cricketing world treat us, who control the economic levers of the game, like an orphaned child whose cry for justice is being ignored? How dare anyone mess up with New India?


In the end “Justice” and “Truth” prevailed. It had to when 90 per cent of India, according to various polls conducted through SMSs, wanted nothing but the removal of the umpire and withdrawal of all charges against Harbhajan Singh. That it was a genuine anger is proved by the fact that people were willing to spend money on SMSs to express their angst.

Victory for democracy. Victory for the mob.

Poor BCCI and its mandarins. What choice did they have? The decision had been made; they just had to validate it. If they had not, they could have even been “lynched”.

The Board, in any case, has those unbridled powers, like that of a child who in galli cricket owns the only bat in use and if given out can disrupt the game by walking away from the match itself.

And the ICC? Caught in their own inefficient, bumbling world, unable to come to terms with the new cricketing world, which wants a foolproof interpretation of the laws of the game, it has now collapsed. Collapsed under its own weighty contradictions where its corporate governance is controlled by the officials of its Board members, who from time to time demand their own pound of flesh.

And one of its members happens to be India, whose president will soon be the president of the ICC as well. Sharad Pawar must be squirming at the thought of having to one day decide on a similar contentious issue as the head of the international body, where his ruling could hurt the Indian Nation. Imagine having to deal with an issue where an allegation against an individual for a racist slur is being treated as if a country has been accused of being racist.

The Board’s response to this accusation also dealt at length with how India is not a racist country and has been at the forefront of the fight against discrimination on the basis of race, caste, and religion internationally.

Rejoice Harbhajan. There can be no greater honour than to be told that Harbhajan is India and India is Harbhajan.

Where does this leave us on the cricketing front?

With the pride of India being at stake now, the Indian cricket team will have to respond to its call and fight the next two battles on Australian soil with all its might and power.

You better cover yourself with glory, even if it may cost you your lives. Otherwise the same SMSs that vindicated your honour could as well…

Kumble says he still respects Australian players

SYDNEY (Reuters) - India captain Anil Kumble says he harbours no ill feelings towards Australia's players after last week's bad-tempered second test and wants to meet with Ricky Ponting to clear up any differences.

Kumble admitted he was upset at some of the actions of Australia's players during the match but did not hold any grudges.

"It was only meant for the Sydney game," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. "I have great respect and regard for all the players who play for Australia.

"It was just one of those incidents which everybody has seen."

Kumble accused the Australians of breaching the spirit of cricket in a comment that evoked memories of Bill Woodfull's claims against the English in the 1932-33 Bodyline series.

The Australians have defended their actions, saying they played the game hard but fair, and have been backed up by Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland.

The International Cricket Council has appointed a mediator to speak with Kumble and Ponting before the next match but the Indian said he was more than happy to meet with him.

"It's important that Ricky and I get together and address it," he said. "On behalf of my team, I can assure that we will play in the right spirit.

"It will be a hard-fought match. It's important that whatever cricket that we play is remembered."

Calls for Ricky Ponting to be sacked grow Down Under

National embarrassment about the bad behaviour of the Australia players in the Sydney Test has led to unexpected recriminations and soul-searching in the normally jingoistic home press. The Harbhajan Singh affair, together with the issue of the Australia players’ gamesmanship in the second Test, is such a big story here that it is not only front, back and inside-page news, but also general feature and leader material.

“Victory without honour” was the damning headline on The Sydney Morning Herald’s opinion page yesterday. Even more challenging was the headline at the top of the paper’s front page: “For the sake of our integrity, the arrogant Ponting must be sacked.” Underneath, Peter Roebuck, the former Somerset and England A captain who is a naturalised Australian citizen, wrote: “If Cricket Australia cares a fig for the tattered reputation of our national team in our national sport, it will not for a moment longer tolerate the sort of arrogant and abrasive conduct seen from the captain and his senior players.

“Beyond comparison, it was the ugliest performance put up by an Australian side for 20 years. That the senior players are oblivious to the fury they raised among many followers of the game in this country and beyond merely confirms their own narrow and self-obsessed viewpoint.”

Ponting maintained in his column in The Australian newspaper that “I am satisfied we stayed within the boundaries of the spirit of the game”.

Roebuck’s piece attracted so much attention that it made national TV news programmes. Channel Nine commissioned a phone-in poll to which 50,000 had responded by 6pm local time, with as many as 20 per cent agreeing that Ponting should be sacked as captain. Before the events of Sydney, the merest mention of such a notion would have been not so much risible as treason here.

Elsewhere in The Australian, Ponting’s team are lambasted. “Ugly Australians” a big headline screams over an article by Mike Coward, the respected New South Wales cricket writer. “It has become apparent in recent years,” he wrote, “that the attitude and behaviour of Australian players worsens the moment their superiority is seriously challenged. Ponting and his charges may not like it, but this is a commonly held view. While they consider themselves fair, if hard-nosed and aggressive professionals, a growing number of observers see them as exceptional cricketers given to boorish, arrogant and ungracious behaviour.”

A clear majority of the letters on the Test sent to The Sydney Morning Herald took the same line. Under a headline, “Unsporting conduct leaves stain on the baggy green”, one reader wrote: “The Australian Test team prides itself on playing the game hard. To my mind, the tactics adopted by Ponting should be described by one word: cheating.” A female reader asked: “Does this latest Australian victory, laced with unsporting behaviour and displays of adolescent petulance, leave anyone feeling it was worth celebrat-ing? The words of Shakespeare come to mind: ‘Thou hast it now . . . and, I fear, thou play’dst most foully for it.

Never mind the ‘Bollyline’, this is one of the great Australia sides

It is never nice to see cricket in the headlines for the wrong reasons. In a lot of ways I thought the Sydney Test between Australia and India was a fantastic game with an exciting finish. Not too many go down to the wire like that but, unfortunately, I guess it will be remembered for other events.

I am not getting involved in the “Bollyline” controversy because it would not help a difficult situation. People need to calm down. Suffice to say that it was not the first time that umpires have made mistakes, and it will not be the last. I hope that everything can be sorted out so we have another great game in Perth next week.

If Australia win that one, it will stretch the successful run to 17 Tests. When we went up to 16 wins in 2001, I never thought that the record would be equalled. Apart from having to play really well, there are just so many potential factors out of your control – poor pitches, injuries or heavy rain at the wrong time.

Back then it took something special to bring the sequence to an end: V. V. S. Laxman scored a brilliant 281 in Calcutta after we made India follow on 274 runs behind. You couldn’t have seen that one coming. V. V. S. showed his class again in Sydney last week, but I would expect Australia to keep the run going this time.

It is unfair to compare one team with another from a different period. My guess is that, in 50 years’ time, the sides from 1999-2001 and 2005-07 will merge into one in most memories. In fact, there is only one guy - Ricky Ponting - who played in that first match nine years ago and was still there last week.

A few of us played some part in both periods, but I think it is a tribute to the strength in depth of Australian cricket that new players can come in and some great players leave without results going downhill. I can remember only two series defeats in that time – to India in 2001 and to somebody else in 2005.

Since losing the Ashes, Australia have won 20 matches out of 21. Incredible. The present side are playing a really exciting brand of cricket and one significant reason for the number of wins is the speed of run-scoring from the openers downwards, which gives the bowlers time to take wickets. Ultimately, though, it comes down to personnel.

Matty Hayden has rediscovered his touch, Ricky has had the best two years of his career, Michael Clarke has developed into a very mature player, Mike Hussey has been like a machine and Andrew Symonds is finally realising his potential. At the top, Phil Jaques has simply reproduced his form at state and county level.

Brett Lee is bowling better than ever. I think he is the second-best pace bowler in the world right now. Stuart Clark is just above him for me, having taken over the mantle of Glenn McGrath in the past 18 months. I still think that Shaun Tait will be a significant figure because he can bowl at 99mph. He may play in Perth.

I do not agree that it is bad for cricket to have one side a long way ahead of the rest. The challenge is for the likes of South Africa, England and India - who can actually take a few positives from Sydney - consistently to reach the same levels of performance. If they can do that, then the overall standard will rise.

Players should want to challenge themselves against the best. There are similarities with Tiger Woods in golf and Roger Federer in tennis. They have set very high benchmarks, but what a challenge for a rival to go 18 holes at Augusta with Tiger, or to meet Federer in a grand-slam tournament final. That is what sport is about
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Lee, Hussey in Bollywood drama as controversy rages

SYDNEY: As the furore over the Indian cricket tour raged on Tuesday, Australian stars Brett Lee and Mike Hussey were playing out their own Bollywood drama at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Lee and Hussey are among some 20 international cricketers playing themselves in the Indian movie 'Victory' being shot in Australia.

As Lee fielded for the cameras at the site of the controversial second Test which ended in acrimony on Sunday, the Australian team was fending off harsh questions about their sportsmanship.

India narrowly lost the Test, giving the Australians a 2-0 lead in the four match series, and captain Anil Kumble afterwards complained that 'only one team was playing with the spirit of the game'.

The tour was thrown into jeopardy after Indian officials ordered Kumble's team to stay in Sydney as they appeal against Harbhajan Singh's three-match ban for allegedly calling Australia's only black player, Andrew Symonds, a 'monkey'.

Lee would not comment on the controversy, saying only: "We are here to talk about the film." But the film's Indian producers said they were not worried about the dispute.

"If anything, people will be more willing to watch a cricket film," Australian line producer Anu Sharma said.

"The two religions in India are cricket and Bollywood and this is a combination of the two," he said, adding that the expected audience for the movie was more than one billion people.

The $7-8 million production is the story of a young, impoverished cricketer who realises his dream of playing cricket for India.

"The whole film is about his journey. From a poorest, struggling cricketer to the richest cricketer," Sharma said.

"And even through this journey, as you will see when the movie is released, the discovery is that it's about cricket and nothing else. It's all about sport, it's all about sportsmanship."

Sharma shrugged off the latest controversy, which has seen the Australian cricket team described in the media as 'a pack of wild dogs' and a call for captain Ricky Ponting to step down.

"As someone who's done more than 150 Bollywood films in Australia, and I have a story for each one of them, I have to say: this is a typical Bollywood project. Something always happens," he said. And he denied that the Aussies would play the bad guys in 'Victory'.

"Why would Australian cricketers play villains? Australian cricketers, they are the most popular guys in India," he said.

'Victory' will not be a musical, but the producers were tight-lipped on further details. Lee, whose pop ballad with Bollywood actress Asha Bhosle last year hit number one on the Indian charts, gave the biggest hint, saying he had filmed some scenes in which his deliveries were smashed for six.

"Well, it's called 'Victory' so I'm sure you can work out how things go," he said. Meanwhile, as the Australians were making their Bollywood debuts, the Indians were sampling Australian life with a trip to Sydney's famous Bondi Beach.

ICC will not be held to ransom, says Malcom Speed

Malcolm Speed insists the International Cricket Council will not be held to ransom by India over the Harbhajan Singh affair.

India have threatened to pull out of their current tour of Australia if spinner Harbhajan is not cleared of racial abuse on appeal.

The spin bowler has been banned for three Tests after being found guilty of calling Australia’s Andrew Symonds “a monkey” during an ill-tempered second Test in Sydney last week.

India initially suspended their tour schedule while they lodged an appeal but yesterday announced their programme would “continue for the present” after being placated by the removal of umpire Steve Bucknor, after a number of controversial decisions went against India in Sydney.

Harbhajan will be permitted to play while his appeal is pending but that could be heard before the end of the series and Speed, the ICC chief executive, insists India will have to abide by any ruling. “I am very pleased the tour is going ahead, there is a process in place for appeals and Harbhajan Singh has appealed,” he said. “India have signed off on the appeals process. They were there when all the discussions took place.

“We can’t have one set of rules for the India team and another set for everyone else. We will follow the process and and I hope whatever the outcome all parties will be able to say they have had a fair hearing.”

There had been suggestions Harbhajan’s appeal could be delayed until after the series but Speed insists it will be held as soon as possible. He claims the logistical issues of gathering all the required players to give evidence is the only matter of concern, denying suggestions the ICC may want to put off the problem until after the lucrative Test series is over. The case will be heard by Justice John Hansen, the New Zealand High Court judge, at a venue still to be determined.

“We may have the hearing before the third Test. If not, we are hopeful we can have it before the fourth Test,” Speed said.

Harbhajan was found guilty by Mike Procter, the match referee, on the weight of evidence given to him by Australian players. Neither umpire heard the alleged comment and the only other Indian player in earshot, Sachin Tendulkar, has denied it was said.

“The evidence heard by the match referee was the evidence of Australian players who say they heard this comment,” Speed said. “That is denied by Harbhajan Singh. As I understand, no other player was in the vicinity and no other player claims to have heard the conversation which took place. These are matters for the appeals commission to go into. There will be a full hearing and anyone who wants to give evidence will be able to do that.”

Speed has also reaffirmed the ICC’s reasoning for replacing Bucknor with Billy Bowden for the Perth match, insisting the decision was made for the good of the game, not to appease India. “We could have taken a confrontational tone but we took a diplomatic approach,” he said. “We have got an international sporting incident where countries are polarised. What we are seeking to do is avoid having that turn into an international crisis.

“We have taken away one of the points of issue that has caused this passionate response in both countries. If Steve Bucknor had been umpiring, commentators and public would have pored over every decision Steve made.”

ICC asks Cricket Australia to rein in Ponting & Co

MELBOURNE: The ICC has urged Cricket Australia to reign in Ricky Ponting's men in the light of all-round criticism of their on-field behaviour during the ill-tempered second Test against India.

ICC CEO Malcolm Speed said CA needs to take notice of the criticism being directed at its team by the public, former players and commentators.

"The team is being criticised, members of the team are being criticised and they need to to be aware of that -- they need to respond to that," Speed was quoted saying in the 'Herald Sun'.

"All national teams should play cricket in the right spirit. We need to be clear what that means," he said.

Speed said he was relieved that the replacement of umpire Steve Bucknor prevented an international crisis.

"We could have gone in banging the table and playing `who blinks first', we could have turned what is already an international incident into an international crisis." "What we have elected to do, and we have given some serious thought about this, is to take one of the issues out of play," he said.

Speed said the Sydney Test was played in an atmosphere riddled by racism claims, player behaviour issues and umpiring controversy, but expressed confidence that after Bucknor's replacement and roping in of Ranjan Madugalle to work with the two captains, the unprecedented crisis would tide over.

"There was unhappiness about the umpiring, we put a new umpiring team in place. And we start again from the umpiring perspective in Perth and, hopefully, focus on the matters on the pitch rather than exacerbating the crisis," he said.

Cricket Australia defends Ponting & Co, says sparks are bound to fly

Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday threw its weight behind Ricky Ponting and his teammates against accusations of unsporting behaviour and said sparks are bound to fly when the game is Test cricket and not "tiddlywinks".

CA chief executive James Sutherland looked unperturbed by the barrage of criticism that has been hurled at Ricky Ponting and his teammates for their arrogance and unsporting behaviour that marred the Sydney Test against India.

According to Sutherland, Ponting and his men might have mouthed a word or two in the heat of the moment but they never overstepped the line. "Test cricket is what is being played here. It's not tiddlywinks," said Sutherland, asserting Australia always played the game hard but fair.

"It's a tough game and out there from time to time emotions will bubble over and perhaps some of the words that are said will not be acceptable in genteel company. But they are said and that is what happens," he told reporters.

He said Ponting's team was just continuing the tradition of playing tough cricket and this was what they were expected to do. "The Australian cricket team plays the game tough, tough and uncompromising. It's the way Australian cricket teams have played the game since 1877 under all sorts of different captains. That is the way Australians have expected their teams to play," he said.

ICC will not be held to ransom, says Malcom Speed

Malcolm Speed insists the International Cricket Council will not be held to ransom by India over the Harbhajan Singh affair.

India have threatened to pull out of their current tour of Australia if spinner Harbhajan is not cleared of racial abuse on appeal.

The spin bowler has been banned for three Tests after being found guilty of calling Australia’s Andrew Symonds “a monkey” during an ill-tempered second Test in Sydney last week.

India initially suspended their tour schedule while they lodged an appeal but yesterday announced their programme would “continue for the present” after being placated by the removal of umpire Steve Bucknor, after a number of controversial decisions went against India in Sydney.

Harbhajan will be permitted to play while his appeal is pending but that could be heard before the end of the series and Speed, the ICC chief executive, insists India will have to abide by any ruling. “I am very pleased the tour is going ahead, there is a process in place for appeals and Harbhajan Singh has appealed,” he said. “India have signed off on the appeals process. They were there when all the discussions took place.

“We can’t have one set of rules for the India team and another set for everyone else. We will follow the process and and I hope whatever the outcome all parties will be able to say they have had a fair hearing.”

There had been suggestions Harbhajan’s appeal could be delayed until after the series but Speed insists it will be held as soon as possible. He claims the logistical issues of gathering all the required players to give evidence is the only matter of concern, denying suggestions the ICC may want to put off the problem until after the lucrative Test series is over. The case will be heard by Justice John Hansen, the New Zealand High Court judge, at a venue still to be determined.

“We may have the hearing before the third Test. If not, we are hopeful we can have it before the fourth Test,” Speed said.

Harbhajan was found guilty by Mike Procter, the match referee, on the weight of evidence given to him by Australian players. Neither umpire heard the alleged comment and the only other Indian player in earshot, Sachin Tendulkar, has denied it was said.

“The evidence heard by the match referee was the evidence of Australian players who say they heard this comment,” Speed said. “That is denied by Harbhajan Singh. As I understand, no other player was in the vicinity and no other player claims to have heard the conversation which took place. These are matters for the appeals commission to go into. There will be a full hearing and anyone who wants to give evidence will be able to do that.”

Speed has also reaffirmed the ICC’s reasoning for replacing Bucknor with Billy Bowden for the Perth match, insisting the decision was made for the good of the game, not to appease India. “We could have taken a confrontational tone but we took a diplomatic approach,” he said. “We have got an international sporting incident where countries are polarised. What we are seeking to do is avoid having that turn into an international crisis.

“We have taken away one of the points of issue that has caused this passionate response in both countries. If Steve Bucknor had been umpiring, commentators and public would have pored over every decision Steve made.”

Bhajji, and everyone else, on the beach

On Monday night, at the end of yet another day of uncertainty and tension, with the siege of Sydney entering its second day, it was decided that the Indian players here needed to do something different on Tuesday.

“There had been no practice, no physical activity to get the body moving, get them involved,” said assistant manager MV Sridhar. The day had gone by in people walking around waiting for news from the Board, which could come anytime. “We thought it was important to do something that would also get them involved, lift the mood, get them out of the hotel.”

India trainer Greg King, charged with organising the project, came up with the idea of the trip to Bondi Beach. It made perfect sense: If the players had to bond, then why not do it somewhere that had sun, surf and sand?

Finally though, there wasn’t all that much sun, but the players had a blast anyway, playing beach volleyball, first among themselves and then against a team of lifeguards (both of who later claimed victory), training on the sand and in the water.

While all of them did not get into the chilly water, of those that did, close mates RP Singh and MS Dhoni stayed in really long, giving the lifeguards some tension by venturing too close to the danger zone markers.

When they were done, the duo joined the rest of their teammates and the others’ wives at a restaurant and bar called Nik’s across the street in the Bondi pavilion.

They attracted no little attention of course, trailed by fans and the media, but it didn’t seem to bother them this time, they were having too much fun.

“It’s great to be out of the hotel,” said a young player. “I was getting really bored and frustrated with not doing anything much, I hope we don’t have to wait too long for a decision, one way or the other.”

The players incidentally, seem far more peaceful on the day compared to Monday, when emotions were running high and players were just reacting instinctively.

“I thought it would be more like this today,” a senior Indian player told HT. “More calm, slightly irritated by the lack of any action. From what I can see, everyone wants things resolved at the earliest so they can go back to playing cricket.”

That they do, but not at the cost of not standing together or backing Harbhajan. This crisis has been wonderful for India in one way —- it has brought this band of men together as they had never been.

There is suddenly, a common cause, a sense of purpose, a wonderful sense of being part of a brotherhood. For the moment, whatever happens, the Indian players are revelling in that feeling.

Indian spin won't wash: Ponting

Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting on Wednesday said that the Indian team could say what they liked about his bowling line-up but they would still have difficulty against it.

India arrived in Australia on Tuesday for the four-Test series with captain Anil Kumble confidently targeting his opponent's bowling as their weakness following the retirement of leg-spinner Shane Warne.

But Ponting said left-arm spinner Brad Hogg, who was on Tuesday named in the squad to replace an injured Stuart MacGill, deserved his place in the side despite only having played four Tests.

"A lot of international players have struggled reading Hoggy in one-day cricket especially," said Ponting.

"He's brought a lot of guys undone with his variations in that form of the game and I can't see why it would be any different in Test cricket.

"If they (the Indians) want to go after him then good because that's probably the best way for us to take wickets as well."

"Hoggy is bowling very well, he's very confident, he's been talking up how well he's been bowling right through the summer... he'll do a good job."

Cricket Australia has named a 12 man squad, which also includes four fast bowlers, for the first Test which begins on December 26.

Officials have said they will decide the playing line-up based on conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but Hogg or fast bowler Shaun Tait are considered the most likely contenders to carry the drinks.

India, who have won just four of 32 Tests played in Australia, are aiming to become the first team to pull off a series victory down under since the West Indies triumphed in 1991-1992.

They will play their one and only practice match against the Victorian state side in Melbourne beginning on Thursday - something vice-captain MS Dhoni said did not give the squad much time to adjust to Australian conditions.

"It's always better to have a few sessions before you go into a big Test match," he said.

"We really don't have much time, this is the only session we have.

"It's very crucial now, not only for me but all the individuals."

Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting on Wednesday said that the Indian team could say what they liked about his bowling line-up but they would still have difficulty against it.

India arrived in Australia on Tuesday for the four-Test series with captain Anil Kumble confidently targeting his opponent's bowling as their weakness following the retirement of leg-spinner Shane Warne.

But Ponting said left-arm spinner Brad Hogg, who was on Tuesday named in the squad to replace an injured Stuart MacGill, deserved his place in the side despite only having played four Tests.

"A lot of international players have struggled reading Hoggy in one-day cricket especially," said Ponting.

"He's brought a lot of guys undone with his variations in that form of the game and I can't see why it would be any different in Test cricket.

"If they (the Indians) want to go after him then good because that's probably the best way for us to take wickets as well."

"Hoggy is bowling very well, he's very confident, he's been talking up how well he's been bowling right through the summer... he'll do a good job."

Cricket Australia has named a 12 man squad, which also includes four fast bowlers, for the first Test which begins on December 26.

Officials have said they will decide the playing line-up based on conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but Hogg or fast bowler Shaun Tait are considered the most likely contenders to carry the drinks.

India, who have won just four of 32 Tests played in Australia, are aiming to become the first team to pull off a series victory down under since the West Indies triumphed in 1991-1992.

They will play their one and only practice match against the Victorian state side in Melbourne beginning on Thursday - something vice-captain MS Dhoni said did not give the squad much time to adjust to Australian conditions.

"It's always better to have a few sessions before you go into a big Test match," he said.

"We really don't have much time, this is the only session we have.

"It's very crucial now, not only for me but all the individuals."

Ponting did not heed Kumble's peace plea

If Australia skipper Ricky Ponting had shown a little more sensitivity, an iota of the maturity that his opposite number from India has shown and perhaps, an understanding of the implications of what he was doing, there may have been no crisis in world cricket.

The Indian team here reportedly made every effort to prevent the ongoing emergency from becoming precisely what it has — the kind of incident that is testing the fabric of the game. Unfortunately, the Australians were not willing to play ball.

According to sources, India skipper Anil Kumble called Ponting up on the night of the Harbhajan-Symonds incident and asked him not to press for the charge of racism. Ponting (based on what Andrew Symonds alleged) had made the complaint to umpires Benson and Bucknor, who in turn had made the code of conduct violation charge at close of play on Day Three.

Kumble reportedly told Ponting that if Harbhajan had caused any offence at all, he was willing to apologise on his behalf as the captain of the team. The proffered apology was no admission of guilt — he was not saying that Harbhajan had done serious wrong — it was merely intended as a conciliatory gesture to smooth things over and get on with the business of cricket.

Kumble reportedly reiterated that things happened on a heated field of play and told Ponting that he well knew that Harbhajan had neither made a racist remark nor had intended any, and the racism charge was a serious one that should not be made like this.

Ponting apparently refused to see the point and was adamant that Harbhajan was a repeat offender, had made remarks in Mumbai (during the October ODI) and this time around, he (Ponting) would see the process through.

Kumble tried to reason with him, repeated that Harbhajan had made no racist remark, something Ponting knew, and no offence was intended.

He said it would be better for everyone concerned if they kept this out of the public domain.

But Ponting wouldn’t listen. Another attempt was made to convince the Aussies to drop the charge of racism, at Sunday night’s hearing, by all the members of the Indian Committee but to no avail.

“Apparently, Ponting was unwilling to see reason,” said a source, adding that Kumble was quite frustrated by the Aussie skipper’s inability to understand the sensitivity of the issue or its ramifications.

“He reminded Ponting, as did others at the hearing, that this went far beyond either of them and far beyond this Test, and the game of cricket.”

Apparently, none of the Australian players had a clue that the situation would explode like this or that it would lead to so much negative opinion on them as a team.

“The sad part is that the cricketers still don’t understand why they aren’t loved by all Australians, most of who believe in playing hard, but winning fair,” said our taxi driver as we returned from the stadium after India’s loss.

This conversation won’t help that image either.

Defiant Ponting refuses to admit wrongdoing

A defiant Australian skipper Ricky Ponting maintained that he did nothing wrong by reporting Harbhajan Singh for "racially abusing" Andrew Symonds and felt his Indian counterpart Anil Kumble has been unfair in his criticism of the host team's lack of sportsmanship.

"It is a shame that this issue has come to dominate the Test because from my point of view I believe that overall both the Melbourne and Sydney Tests were played in terrific spirit."

"This is not something we take lightly so it is surprising and disappointing to hear Anil Kumble suggest that we did not play within that spirit in Sydney," Ponting wrote in his column for The Australian.

"I like Anil as a bloke and admire him as a cricketer and now captain. I have always felt he played his cricket in the right way, hard but fair. And I believe that is what we do, too."

Ponting asserted that his world champion team was well aware of its responsibility in upholding the spirit of the game and said, "since I took over from Steve (Waugh) I have taken it on myself to personally ensure that each new member of the team is fully aware of his responsibilities to the game."

Ponting also rejected accusations that the Australians acted like cry babies by reporting Harbhajan to the match referee as they did not have the stomach for the sledging they so proudly dish out to the rival teams.

"In the spirit of playing hard but fair cricket, anyone who knows me and the way I play will be aware I do not make a point of running to umpires and making complaints," he said.

Ponting said he continues to stand by the agreement that he had with Kumble on going by the fielders' word on close catches.

"Anil and I decided that we would ask our fielders if they were 100 per cent satisfied they had taken a catch if it was not obvious," he recalled.

"This happened twice when we were fielding. In the first innings I took a low catch off Rahul Dravid but wasn't satisfied it carried so I told the umpire immediately.

"In the second innings Michael Clarke took a low catch off Sourav Ganguly. I went to him and asked if he was 100 per cent sure he had caught it. He said yes, so I relayed that to the umpires," he added defending his appeal for the dismissal.

Ponting reiterated that his side has been hard but fair in its approach to the game.

"It's my job as captain to make sure everyone stays within those boundaries and I am satisfied we have, not only in this Test and series but in recent years," he said.

"We want to keep it that way and we are looking forward to the rest of the series. In the end we're all cricketers who love the game and love to play it at the highest level against the best opponents. That is why we enjoy playing against India so much," he signed off.

Ponting said he continues to stand by the agreement that he had with Kumble on going by the fielders' word on close catches.

"Anil and I decided that we would ask our fielders if they were 100 per cent satisfied they had taken a catch if it was not obvious," he recalled.

"This happened twice when we were fielding. In the first innings I took a low catch off Rahul Dravid but wasn't satisfied it carried so I told the umpire immediately.

"In the second innings Michael Clarke took a low catch off Sourav Ganguly. I went to him and asked if he was 100 per cent sure he had caught it. He said yes, so I relayed that to the umpires," he added defending his appeal for the dismissal.

Ponting reiterated that his side has been hard but fair in its approach to the game.

"It's my job as captain to make sure everyone stays within those boundaries and I am satisfied we have, not only in this Test and series but in recent years," he said.

"We want to keep it that way and we are looking forward to the rest of the series. In the end we're all cricketers who love the game and love to play it at the highest level against the best opponents. That is why we enjoy playing against India so much," he signed off.

I am no monkey man: Symonds

MUMBAI: Was Harbhajan Singh aware why Andrew Symonds gets upset over the monkey word?

Well that's what sources claim when the whole issue blew up last week. According to sources in cricketing circles, Symonds explained to Harbhajan why his "sensibilities were hurt" when the word is used. The Indian off-spinner is believed to have assured Symonds that he would not use the word again.

This assurance was given outside the dressing rooms at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai at the end of the seventh and final ODI in another ill-tempered series in India in October 2007.

While the reasons for Symonds' objection is not clear, it is believed that the Aussie all-rounder was concerned that his parentage was being questioned. This promise was also quoted by Australian opener and witness Matthew Hayden at the hearing held on Sunday night in Sydney.

Also, during the ODI series in India, Symonds had a few run-ins with fast bowler Sree Santh. The duo had some heated exchanges which often turned ugly.

The duo however made up later at a night club in Mumbai. Symonds refused to socialise at first, hitting out at paceman for not knowing how to behave on the field. But later Sree Santh managed to make peace with the burly all-rounder and even partied with him.

Timeline: How the drama unfolded

As the Indian team camps in Sydney amid the infamous row over umpiring that cost it the second Test and the subsequent episode involving Harbhajan Singh, Kadambari Murali tracks the events.

Sunday, 6:45 pm

Ricky Ponting’s press conference. Ponting says he has full confidence in the umpires, gets angry when asked about the bumped catch he claimed, almost says that the questioner leave the room if he questions his integrity. Says the match was played in the spirit of the game. Says gentleman's agreement between him and Kumble to take a fielder's opinion at face value in the case of checking on whether a catch is clean.

Sunday, 7:30pm

Anil Kumble’s press conference. Kumble is distressed, very angry, but very calm. Repeatedly says he cannot comment on umpiring decisions but says enough to indicate the team's anger and displeasure over them. Says whatever happened was there for the world to see. Confirms the agreement, but says it was based on the assumption that players would be honest (what is left unsaid is hugely important). And then, the big one, says: "Only one team was playing with the spirit of the game".

Sunday, 7:45pm to Monday, 2am

Mike Procter hearing. The Harbhajan Singh race hearing with Mike Procter begins. Australia have six people: Ponting, Gilchrist, Symonds, Hayden, Clarke and manager Steve Barnard. Umpires Benson and Bucknor are there. India are represented by Kumble, Harbhajan, Tendulkar, manager Chetan Chauhan and assistant manager MV Sridhar. Procter is assisted by English lawyer Nigel Peters. Symonds makes a charge, Harbhajan denies it. Lengthy cross-examination follows. They watch the tapes, there is no audio-video evidence supporting Symonds. Yet, Procter indicates to the Indians that he is not favourable towards them. They still hope he will see their point.

Monday, 2:35am

Kumble, Harbhajan and Tendulkar arrive at the team hotel, driven back by local liaison Chris. They are exhausted and hungry. They have had just coffee, biscuits and fruit over the past few hours, no dinner. They've been out from early morning, played a match and lost it. Asked about how the hearing went, they say they are hoping it went okay. They are officially gagged and cannot comment on it.

Monday, 2:45am

Sridhar and Chauhan return to the hotel in a taxi and are met outside by team travel coordinator Russel Radhakrishnan. They speak in the taxi a while and then walk in. They have spoken briefly to the media camped at the SCG. Both are exhausted and depressed, quite angry with all that has happened. Both keep reiterating one point, "There is no evidence at all, so he has to be presumed innocent". They go up to the rooms, calls are coming in from BCCI officials in India, asking how it all went. Dinner is being ordered.

Monday, 3.30am

The calls start coming in from India, channels are running stories that Harbhajan has received a three-match ban. There is utter shock, because the team management here is yet to receive any official notification of the verdict. Chauhan says he'll call India, the BCCI confirms that it has been intimated by the ICC that Harbhajan will be banned. The calls from local channels begin too.

Monday, 4-4:15am

The manager and assistant manager go downstairs to address a surreal press conference. Everyone is exhausted and the atmosphere is tense, emotionally fraught. It's been a long, dramatic day. The management confirms that the BCCI has been notified of the ban and when the order is received, it will be appealed against immediately. Russel reminds everyone to have their bags down early, as the baggage will leave for Canberra in a separate bus. There is no talk of not going to Canberra then. The team is scheduled to leave at 10:30am.

Monday, 8am-11:20am

The news begins to filter through to players coming down for breakfast that Harbhajan has been banned. Most were asleep when the news was announced. There is an air of absolute disbelief all around. And shock and outrage about how he can be banned when there was no proof. It is decided that the players will meet to thrash out the issue and discuss a plan of action. Everyone is very certain they cannot take this lying down. They request that this be a meeting of only the players --- no coaches, managers, support staff.

The meeting begins in a room off the main hotel lobby, even while wives, friends, the rest of the Indian camp, settles down in the lobby itself to discuss what's happened. All across the lobby, there are little groups of people reading the papers, discussing the game, the umpiring, the ban. The meeting is stretching. Around 11am, Chauhan is asked to head to the meeting, he disappears too.

Monday, around 11:30am

The players stream out, looking solemn, somewhat tense. They are absolutely livid about the racist tag on Harbhajan. They say that if that is not sorted, it is something he will have to live with. They are solidly behind him and have decided something and are determined to see it through. Some meet their kids and wives and start walking towards the bus, the rest visit the rest rooms and follow. The media contingent outside has swelled. Flashbulbs go off as Harbhajan, flanked by Punjab teammate VRV Singh and rookie Pankaj Singh, walks out.

Monday, 12:30pm-2pm

The bus is still parked outside the hotel. Something's happening, though no one's quite sure why they haven't left. Then it becomes clear. The management is apparently waiting for word from the BCCI. Irfan starts racing around the lobby with Dravid's young son. Dravid and wife Vijeta are watching them indulgently. The players start coming out of the coach. They have said they do not want to travel to Canberra unless they have access to Procter's written order on Harbhajan. They want all the procedural issues sorted out and the appeal watertight. Some players go off to eat at a nearby foodcourt, leaving from the hotel's rear entrance. The hotel is reorganising rooms and key cards. It looks like a long wait.

Monday 2pm onwards

Most players, tired by now, go back to the rooms, even as the news of BCCI officials rushing to Delhi for a meeting comes in. Some opt to stay put upstairs, a few roam around. Harbhajan, hungry now but wary of the media following him, comes down with VRV and disappears from another entrance. He returns after a couple of hours. Ganguly is walking around with his wife and daughter, chatting with people.

After 3pm, news trickles in from Melbourne of the James Sutherland presser there. The CA chief has said he believes the tour will continue and that Ponting and Kumble must sit down and settle their differences. In the evening, Jaffer and Karthik come down with their wives, sit a while in the lobby, go back. RP is walking around with Pankaj Singh, very chuffed after getting the news of UP's reaching the Ranji final. No one has any news. At 6:30pm, Sridhar reads out a statement from the BCCI, protesting the umpiring decisions, the charge on Harbhajan and saying they will appeal it. We are informed that the players will stay put in Sydney till further instructions from the Board. The tour is on hold.

We will fight the false slur against our player: BCCI

NEW DELHI : Describing the ban on Harbhajan Singh as unfair and unacceptable, the BCCI on Monday made it clear that it will appeal against the order and fight the “false slur” cast on its ace spinner.

After a meeting of its top office bearers to take stock of the situation, the BCCI said it will also request ICC in its appeal to suspend the order of three Test ban against Harbhajan.

BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla said that president Sharad Pawar had convened the meeting which discussed all the developments which led to India’s defeat in the second Test against Australia and also the issue of Harbhajan Singh.

The Cricket Board came out with a statement, saying that it was committed to protect the country’s fair name.

Following is the statement by BCCI president Sharad Pawar.

“BCCI is filing an appeal challenging match referee Mike Proctor’s order on spinner Harbhajan Singh.

“Unfair allegation of racism against our Indian player is wholly unacceptable. The game of cricket is paramount but so too is the honour of India’s cricket team and every Indian.

“The BCCI is committed to protect the country’s fair name. India’s national commitment is against racism. Our national struggle is based on values which negate racism.

BCCI will fight this false and unfair slur cast on our player. BCCI will request the ICC and in its appeal to suspend the order against Harbhajan Singh till the disposal of the appeal,” BCCI President Sharad Pawar said.

Australian media comes out in support of Indian team

The beleaguered Indian cricket team got support from unexpected quarters with the Australian media terming the behaviour of their own players as "unacceptable" and calling the standard of umpiring as poor which left a bitter taste in the mouth.

In an unexpected show of solidarity, the Australian media rallied behind the Indian team, saying poor umpiring proved to be their nemesis and the least they deserved was a draw.

The Australian national newspaper criticised the behaviour of the home team and said Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson should be called to account for their poor umpiring.

"It is shameful this splendid test match, won in such a remarkable fashion by the indomitable Australians, has left such a bitter taste," wrote Mike Coward, veteran cricket writer.

"The standard of play often was outstanding and occasionally exceptional but the standard of player behaviour was questionable and, at times, unacceptable. And the standard of umpiring was poor.

"Test cricket is not robust enough these days to withstand these failings and the protagonists and umpires Steve Bucknor, in particular, and Mark Benson should be called to account," he said.

Peter Roebuck was more stinging in his write-up for the Sydney Morning Herald, saying only "rabid nationalist" would relish such a "rotten contest."

"India has been dudded. No one with the slightest enthusiasm for cricket will take the least satisfaction from the victory secured by the local team ... That entertained spectators, provided some excellent batting but left a sour taste in the mouth," wrote Roebuck.

Umpires too good for India

The Sydney Test will definitely be remembered more for consistently shoddy umpiring which cost India dear than for anything else.

After Ricky Ponting got a reprieve on the first day of the Test when on just 17, the next umpiring horror came when the Aussies were again in desperate trouble at 191/6. Symonds got a healthy nick to one from Ishant Sharma and Dhoni comfortably pouched it. The jubilation in the Indian camp quickly turned to stunned disbelief as Bucknor sagely shook his head to signal not out. Symonds was then on 30.

Worse was to follow. With Australia on 238/6, Kumble drew Symonds forward and beat him with the turn, allowing Dhoni to whip the bails off. Bucknor referred the appeal for a stumping to third umpire Oxenford, who ruled him not out when all the experts on TV, including Aussie great Ian Chappell were convinced he was a goner. Symonds, then on 48, ultimately finished on 162 not out. The seventh wicket, which should have fallen at 191 carried the score to 307.

Had there been no errors by the umpires in the Australian first innings, they would have struggled to get past 250.
Since no umpiring errors went India's way when they batted first, their score of 532 had no contributions from the true men of the match, the umpires. Of course, the total would have been bigger had the umpire no-balled Lee on the delivery that castled Wasim Jaffer's defences and rocked his stumps.

Lee had clearly overstepped. Even discounting that, India should actually have had a first innings lead of at least 239, perhaps closer to 280. As it is, India had to settle for a 69-run lead.

Switch now to the Australian second innings. With the home team on 133/2, just 64 runs in the lead, Benson struck again. Kumble spun one into Hussey who was deep into his crease and struck on the pads. The huge appeal was turned down with Benson deciding the ball was missing leg stump. TV replays showed it hitting the inside not the outside of leg stump. Hussey was then on 22.

A little later, with Australia on 188/2 and Hayden and Hussey threatening to take the game out of India's reach, Benson did his bit again. Hussey edged one RP Singh ball and Dhoni took the catch moving to the legside. But Benson had other ideas. Not out, he ruled. Hussey was then on 45. The third wicket which should have fallen at 133, finally fell at 250, when Kumble got Hayden.

Hussey went on to make 145 not out in Australia's 401/7 declared. Once again, take out the 123 extra runs granted to Hussey by Benson and the total should have been under 280. Put that together with the 290 they should have got in the first essay and their combined total for both innings should have been 570 with three wickets still in hand.

Against India's 532 that would have meant they would have just about averted an innings defeat, but still be staring down the barrel.

Let's get those Aussie scores again, the way they should actually read for both innings put together. Benson 161, Oxenford 114, Bucknor 18, the Aussie XI 571.

But so far in the match, the umpires had contributed only to the Australian batting. As part of the bowling effort, they had not pulled their weight. That was corrected in the Indian second innings.

With Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly batting sensibly and pulling India to safety, Bucknor got into the act. The score was 115/3, Dravid batting on 38. Symonds bowled one wide of the off-stump spinning in a little.

Dravid let it go by, tucking his bat behind his pads. The ball clipped his pads on the way through to Gilchrist. All the Aussies went up and Bucknor nodded and raised the finger. Suddenly the match no longer looked like meandering to a draw.

Team Umpires wasn't done with the match yet. At 137/5, Ganguly on 51 edged one from Brett Lee into the slips where Michael Clarke diving to his left grabbed the ball. Ganguly waited, unsure whether the catch had been cleanly taken. Benson, at the bowler's end didn't seem too sure either. Then he settled the issue by asking not his colleague Bucknor but Ponting whether the catch had been taken. No surprise, Ponting said yes, which was good enough for Benson.

Team India had by now seen the writing on the wall. Pitted against the invincible Benson, Bucknor and Oxenford team, they folded up after a brief fight.

Team still in Sydney hotel, waits for BCCI response

Even at this moment, the Indian cricket team bus is parked out the team hotel here and the Indian players are waiting to hear from the BCCI as to whether their Australia tour will continue or not. The players are furious about the events of the past few days, especially the racism charges on Harbhajan Singh and the three-match ban handed to the off-spinner on Sunday night.

The emergency team meeting this morning did not include the coach, the support staff or managers. The players wanted to talk about the dramatic events of Sunday night and reach a consensus on what their plan of action would be.

Most of the players were asleep by the time Anil Kumble, Harbhajan and Sachin Tendulkar returned to the team hotel after the hearing at 2:30 am local time. Many of them woke up to the news that Harbhajan was banned for three matches on racism charges. There was shock and disbelief write large on their faces as they gathered in the hotel lobby.

The team was supposed to leave by road by 10:30 am, but the time came and went. Even as their wives and families, among other people, waited in the lobby, the players had their “Council of War” in a room leading off the main lobby.

The players are waiting for a detailed written order from the match referee on what exactly all the racism charges were. A senior player told Hindustan Times in the hotel lobby: “After the initial heat of the moment when emotions were running high, we decided we would wait ad see what exactly the statement from the match referee was.”

He said that at this point, from what they gathered, the tour is likely to continue, but they were waiting to hear about certain conditions they had asked for. “In any case,” he said, “the decision whether tours will continue or not is not up to us, since the repercussions are bigger than cricket or this tour. The players are keen to play cricket because we want to play fair and square, and once things settle down in the next few days, we can go back to the game itself.”

Harbhajan Singh banned for three Tests

SYDNEY: Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was on Sunday banned for three Test matches after the ICC Match Referee Mike Procter upheld the Australian charge that he had racially abused their all-rounder Andrew Symonds, a decision against which the Indian team will appeal within 24 hours.

Procter gave a marathon six-and-a-half hour hearing to Harbhajan, who denied the charge and was supported by skipper Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, manager Chetan Chauhan and media manager MV Sridhar during the deliberations.

Procter also heard Symonds, who was backed by Australian captain Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke along with team manager Steve Bernard, who attended the hearing to testify against the Indian spinner.

After the hearing, there was no official word about the verdict but sources said that the three-Test ban was being slapped on Harbhajan, who is fully backed by the BCCI and the team.

The appeal will be made to the Commissioner of Appeals and pending the appeal, the off-spinner can continue to play.

After the hearing, Sridhar had said that they had not ruled out returning home, but the BCCI later played down the threat.

Meanwhile, the Indians have also filed a complaint against Australian spinner Brad Hogg for using abusive language during the ill-tempered second Test.

The Indian team lodged the complaint against Hogg during the hearing, giving a new twist to the simmering feud between the two sides.

BCCI officials promptly said that they would appeal against the three-match ban imposed on Harbhajan. Board vice-president Rajiv Shukla said they had not yet received any communication from the International Cricket Council regarding the ban.

"Nothing has been communicated to us yet. But if a ban is imposed, we will appeal against it within 24 hours. Harbhajan will appeal and the BCCI will also appeal," Shukla said.

BCCI's chief administrative manager Ratnakar Shetty said it was an "unfortunate" development.

"There was no evidence against Harbhajan so I don't know how they could arrive at such a conclusion."

When asked what the Aussies brought to the hearing which resulted in a verdict in their favour, Shetty said "we are not concerned about what the Australians think."

Harbhajan was charged under rule 3.3 of the ICC's Code of Conduct that deals with using language or gestures that insults a person on the basis of race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin.

The off-spinner vehemently denied saying anything racial during the altercation.

Sridhar said both sides were together during the hearing into the alleged racial abuse.

"We are extremely disappointed since we feel that there is no evidence against Harbhajan," Sridhar said after the hearing.

The three-match ban came as a surprise for the Indians as both the on-field umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson had gone on record as saying that they had not heard anything offensive being said. The hearing was originally scheduled for Saturday but Procter agreed to a request by the Indian management to defer it by a day.

Harbhajan was charged last night under Level 3 of the International Cricket Council's Code of Conduct following his run-in with Andrew Symonds at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The charge was laid by match umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor after the third day's play following a complaint from Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

The complaint was made by Ponting after the 116th over of India's first innings, prior to which Harbhajan is alleged to have made a racist comment directed at Symonds.

'As good a feeling as I've ever had on a cricket field' - Ponting

Steve Waugh used to complain when he was captain that Australia's major achievements were always overshadowed by some sort of controversy. Ricky Ponting is unlikely to protest about the issues of race, umpiring and spirit of cricket taking the attention away from his team's outstanding run of 16 consecutive victories, which equalled Waugh's world mark.

Ponting's main aim was winning the game rather than grabbing the record and the success was achieved with a gamble on Michael Clarke, who captured three dramatic wickets in the scheduled second-last over of the day. The 122-run win, which retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, was sealed with seven balls remaining and Ponting celebrated as joyously as during his Ashes and World Cup victories.

"My overall emotion and feeling at the end of the game was as good a feeling as I've ever had on a cricket field," Ponting said. "Winning a Test like that, coming down to the last eight or ten minutes on the fifth day, any Test you win then is going to be pretty special. For us to be able to do it after a 70-run deficit in the first innings, and probably not play our best until the second innings, makes this win as good as any that I've played.''

India were on track to seal a draw with two overs remaining, but Ponting's hunch on Clarke paid off in spectacular style. "He actually said to me when I gave him the ball: `I've got about just enough time to win us the game here.' He's always had a fair bit of confidence in himself.''

Harbhajan Singh edged to Michael Hussey at slip from the first ball of the over, RP Singh was given out lbw by Mark Benson to the next delivery and the match ended when Ishant Sharma prodded to Hussey. "The last 30 or 40 minutes were about gambling, about rolling the dice," Ponting said. "I tried most guys there in that last hour and a half. I had to do that just to see who the batsmen would find the hardest to play at that time. It looked like the faster bowlers were easier to play than the spinners."

Ponting delayed his declaration until 15 minutes before lunch and only when Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Anil Kumble were stalling the Australians during a 45-run stand did he worry about a draw. A nominal target of 333 in 72 overs had been set and Ponting wanted only one team to have a chance of winning.

"It was a pretty tough one to get right," he said. "I didn't know exactly what was the right amount of runs and the right amount of overs. I was conscious not to set anything that was going to be too easy for the Indians to chase."

Talk of the streak, which Australia will attempt to expand in Perth from January 16, was secondary - "There was no motivational talk about winning 16 straight - but Ponting was confident of collecting No. 17. "We go to Perth on a wicket and conditions that should suit us a lot more than the Indians," he said. "After two great wins like we've had we can obviously go to Perth pretty confident.'' Matthew Hayden is in doubt for the game with the right thigh injury that prevented him from fielding in the second innings.

Kumble accuses Aussies of bad sportsmanship

India captain Anil Kumble launched an astonishing attack on Australia's cricketers after his team were beaten in the second Test on Sunday, accusing them of breaching the spirit of the game.

Kumble was unable to contain his fury after his team were beaten by 122 runs in a thrilling and controversial end to one of the most absorbing matches ever seen at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Asked by Indian journalists about Australia's tactics, Kumble echoed something similar to the immortal line used by the Australian captain Bill Woodfull during the 1932-33 Bodyline series against England.

"Only one team was playing with the spirit of the game," Kumble said.

He also said he was prevented from elaborating on his specific complaints about the Australian players but indicated he was upset at the refusal of their batsmen to walk when they were clearly out.

The Indians were on the wrong end of a number of bad umpiring decisions throughout the course of the match but the most crucial occurred on the first day when Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds was given not out by West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor.

Symonds, who later admitted he had nicked the ball and should have been sent packing, was on 30 at the time but went on to make 162 not out and help Australia recover from a batting slump to make 463.

"We like to play hard on the field and we expect that from Australia as well," Kumble said.

"I've played my cricket very sincerely and very honestly and that's the approach my team takes on the field and I expect that from the Australians as well."

Kumble also bristled when asked about some of Australia's appeals after Rahul Dravid was controversially given out, caught behind on the last day when he had failed to make contact with the ball.

"We had decided that we will be honest and when a catch is taken the player says he's taken it, the captain nods his head and the umpire gives him out," Kumble said.

Strained relations

Relations between the teams were already strained after Ponting lodged a complaint about Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh for allegedly making a racist comment to Symonds, but the Australian skipper denied there was any lingering bad blood between the sides.

"(I have) Absolutely no doubt about this match being played in the right spirit," Ponting said.

Kumble did admit his team had batted poorly on the last day, collapsing to be all out for 210 when they needed to bat through the day to salvage a draw.

However, he insisted his team still did not deserve to lose. "The fair result would have been a draw," he said. "It's tough when you've played all forms of cricket over the last 25 years and end up on the losing side like this."

He added: "We could have probably showed a bit more fight and we could have saved the game."

Aussies win, by hook or by crook

Towards the end of this game, as wicket after Indian wicket fell at one end and Anil Kumble, magnificent in his defence, grimly held on to the other, many of us gathered at the Sydney Cricket Ground were praying for India to survive; practically willing Ishant Sharma to survive four balls before Kumble would face what would almost certainly be the last over of this match.

Ishant, young and tense, lasted three, giving Michael Clarke his third wicket in four balls and it was all over. India had lost this second Test by 122 runs, about five minutes before play would have ended on this final day.

Ricky Ponting’s Australia, whose players jumped, whooped and exulted all over the place with uncustomary exuberance, equalled the world record of 16 wins on the trot set by a Steve Waugh-led Aussie team seven years ago.

Not quite cricket

Most — other than the men screaming victoriously out there in the middle — did not think this 16th win did them proud. For what happened over this Test and this final day was not a good advertisement for the world champions, those who run the game or the game itself. It was just not cricket.

Many people were in tears by the end. Others were furious. All across the ground and outside, there was a sense of disbelief and shock, a feeling of injustice having being done to India.

There was just no way you could have been impartial. You wanted India to win so badly not because you were Indian, but because they had been cheated of a chance of a draw and a shot at keeping this series alive. As simple as that.

Yes, it can be argued, and it will be, that they could have batted far better in the fourth innings, shown more character and defensive technique. As Kumble would say later, “That is a concern”.

At the same time, with the exception of Wasim Jaffer and Yuvraj Singh (both of who have looked out of their depth), the remaining players had a role in helping India first fight back into this game after Australia put on 463 and then, be a heartbeat away from saving it after some atrocious decisions that went against them.

Shock and awful

On Sunday, India were done in by two terrible mistakes by the on-field umpires, Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson.

First, when Rahul Dravid was given caught behind off Andrew Symonds when the ball clearly went off the pad. It was a shocker, as the bat, placed behind the pad, was nowhere near the ball he was padding away.

Dravid, on 38, had been looking extremely solid, bar the one chance he gave on 18, when Symonds at first slip dropped an easy edge off Mitchell Johnson. He had been punishing the loose deliveries, running the singles hard, defending with ease and looking in no discomfort.

More important, at that stage, he and Sourav Ganguly had been involved in a vital 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket, one that, if it had continued in the same positive vein, would have saved the day for India or got them close.

Yuvraj fell immediately after but Ganguly, looking in light, lovely touch, was still there, with Dhoni at the other end seeming tense but standing true. And then, just as you thought it couldn’t get worse, came another bad ‘un. Ganguly edged Brett Lee to second slip, where Clarke got his fingers low to the ball.

Replays showed enough doubt that the catch had not been cleanly taken, the two-dimensional image showing that the ball was probably touching the ground, with his fingers on either side. In any case, the benefit of the doubt would logically have gone to the batsman — if it had been referred.

Ganguly stood his ground and asked if it was clean, Benson, unsure, looked at the celebrating Ponting for confirmation. Ponting nodded, held his index finger up and Benson, turning to Ganguly, did the same.

Out of control

Apparently, there was a gentleman’s agreement before the series between the captains that basically stated that in the case of contentious catches, the fielder’s word would be taken if he was 100 per cent sure. Ponting said later Clarke said he was. As it is, he was wrong. A very upset Kumble said after that that the agreement was based solely on players being “honest”. This game clearly showed several deviations from the truth.

So here are some questions: How could the word of Clarke, who stood his ground in the second innings after being clearly caught in slips, be taken? Two, how could Benson, the man in charge, take the word of Ponting, who had appealed for a bumped catch just a couple of overs earlier? And finally, given that this match has been controversial and combative, played out in a scrappy, tense atmosphere and the delicate stage at which the game was then poised, shouldn’t Benson have had the commonsense to refer it to the third umpire, overriding the players? He could have been excused on any ground.

Though Dhoni and Kumble, grim and gritty, bravely concentrated on sticking it out, with six close in fielders breathing down their necks for most of the 21 overs of their 48-run stand, it was a stage where one error would mess it up and expose the tail. It happened when Dhoni padded up to an off-break.

Harbhajan, booed as he entered, stayed for half an hour but then came that Clarke over. And the end.

Brilliant Tendulkar puts India in front

Sachin Tendulkar's belligerent 154 not out guided India to a 69-run first innings lead over Australia on Friday and extended his world record for most Test centuries.

Tendulkar was on 69 when India slipped to 345 for seven on the third afternoon of the second Test and he only had the tailenders to help him reach his 38th Test hundred and overhaul Australia's first innings of 463.

And help him they did. Harbhajan Singh score 63 in a 129-run eighth-wicket partnership and India's last three wickets added 187.

When No. 11 Ishant Sharma (23) top-edged an attempted pull shot to give Brett Lee a return catch and a fifth wicket for the innings, India was out for 532.

Lee finished with 5-119 to lead the Australian bowlers, while Mitchell Johnson and Brad Hogg had two wickets apiece.

Openers Matt Hayden (5) and Phil Jaques (8) survived the five overs before stumps, moving Australia's second innings total to 13.

Tendulkar resumed on the third morning on 9 and started to find his world-renowned touch while playing the anchor role in an 108-run fourth-wicket partnership with Sourav Ganguly.

He had just driven Brad Hogg for six straight down the ground two balls before the Australian wrist spinner broke the stand.

Ganguly, on 67 from 78 balls, stepped down the pitch and miscued a drive directly to Mike Hussey at mid-off.

The former India captain smashed his bat into the pitch in frustration, having wasted a start in perfect batting conditions.

Lee then took three wickets in quick succession to have India in trouble, trapping Yuvraj Singh (12) lbw just before lunch and having Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2) and Anil Kumble (2) caught behind just after the interval.

Those wickets gave Adam Gilchrist his 400th and 401st Test dismissals, making him only the second wicketkeeper to reach the milestone, and seemingly put Australia in control.

But keen to make amends for the 337-run loss in the first Test last week, Tendulkar had other ideas.

Tendulkar, who now has four more centuries than anyone in Test cricket, pushed a Stuart Clark delivery past cover point and ran two to reach triple figures just before tea.

He arched his back, raised his helmet and bat up, looked to the sky, then embraced Harbhajan in mid-pitch _ all to a standing ovation by the Sydney Cricket Ground crowd.

It was his third hundred at the ground, including an unbeaten 241 four years ago in the most recent Test for India here, and his eighth against Australia. He now averages 326 at the SCG.

He struck 14 boundaries and the six.

Singh was the first wicket to fall in the evening session, getting a thick edge off Johnson to Hussey in the gully.

RP Singh added 13 to continue Australia's frustration before Sharma's cameo, containing five boundaries, ended and left Tendulkar without anyone else to bat with.

With a deficit to make up and rain predicted for the weekend, Australia's prospects of a world record-equaling 16th consecutive Test win are starting to diminish.

Australia set the record streak between October 1999 and February 2001. India ended that streak in Calcutta in one of the great comebacks in Test cricket.

Bucknor should retire: ex-players

Steve Bucknor's horrendous decisions against India in the second cricket Test in Sydney on Thursday evoked calls for the 61-year-old West Indian umpire's immediate retirement from officiating in international matches.

Bucknor, the oldest ICC umpire in the world, has been India's bugbear in recent years but his three decisions which cost India hugely stood out.

The Australians were reeling at 134 for 6 before Bucknor gave a new lease of life to their innings by adjudging Andrew Symonds not out at 30 before the all-rounder went on to score an unbeaten knock of 162.

Bucknor also surprised on Thursday by deciding against referring a close stumping appeal against Symonds to the third umpire. Television replays suggested Symonds was outside the crease when the bails were dislodged.

Asserting that Bucknor is no longer competent enough to stand in international matches, former players felt the Jamaican was past his prime and his poor track record particularly against India has given rise to "skepticism".

"The quality of umpiring in the second cricket Test was very poor. Since Bucknor has repeatedly made mistakes against India, he should not have been deputed for such an important series," former India captain K Srikanth said.

Srikanth said poor umpiring can drastically change the course of the match as was evident on the opening day of the second Test against Australia when the hosts recovered from 134 for 6 to 376 for 7 courtesy some umpiring shockers.

"If it happens so often, Bucknor should be dropped from the ICC's Elite panel. He should not be deputed for matches involving India," Srikanth said.
Another former cricketer Abbas Ali Baig was highly critical of the veteran umpire and said it was high time that he called it quits.

"I think there is an age limit for umpires. He is 61 and why should he continue? Why make an exception for him?" Baig asked.

Baig said umpires were human and it was natural for them to make occasional mistakes but if it happens consistently with one team then it puts a question mark on his ability.

"It is not possible for umpires to be 100 per cent correct every time. There will be occasional mistakes but what is more surprising that India is always at the receiving end," he said.

Baig also said that the ICC should take the captain's report on umpires more seriously and also periodically evaluate the performance of its elite panel umpires.

"I don't think the captain's report is even read. No action is ever taken if the umpire has performed below par," he said.

Baig felt that if cricketers could be fined for breaching the ICC code of conduct, similar financial penalties should be imposed on umpires if their performance is not upto the mark.

"Why not punish the umpires if there are glaring errors. If the ICC can deduct match fees from the players, it should also do the same thing for umpires. They are also accountable," Baig observed.

He was also in favour of making use of technology to minimise umpiring errors in international matches. "Since technology is there, why not make use of it? It will be good for both the teams."

Former India captain Ajit Wadekar also urged the ICC to sack Bucknor at the earliest.

"It's high time Steve Bucknor is removed for his consistently poor umpiring. It's absolutely necessary that ICC brings in a uniform retirement age for umpires. Bucknor is 61."

"More importantly the errors are made because you start getting over-confident. It could happen to anybody and he starts floating (in the air) unconsciously," he said adding that there were many umpires waiting to replace aged ones like Bucknor.

He also called on the players to show some sportsman spirit and walk when they know that they are out.

"If the technology and the advancement of software on TV cameras is 100 per cent correct, why players do not walk when they are out?" he said.

Former stumper Chandrakant Pandit echoed Wadekar's views and said, "It can be considered as the eyesight and hearing capacity go down after a certain age. Retirement age for umpires need to be fixed by the authorities," he said.

Former India opener Navjot Singh Siddhu was also livid with Bucknor and said his persistent goof-ups could no longer be ignored.

"It is high time the umpires are made more accountable. Wrong decisions can ruin not only the prospects of a team but also a young player's career," he said.

"Just imagine what effect it would have had on Ishant Sharma. He would have been totally devastated. But if the appeal was upheld, he would have been a transformed bowler," he said.

Another former Test skipper Chandu Borde emphasised that competence not age should be the criteria in continuing with the services of an umpire.

"If a person is fit and doing a good job then I don't give importance to the age factor. Only if a person is not doing well and he's also old then I can understand removing him," Borde said.

"I want a person who is really fit and doing it efficiently. Even if that person is old it doesn't matter. I agree umpiring has been poor in the Sydney Test but that's because the competency levels have gone down," he explained.

The former middle order batsman also felt that increased use of the available technology was not the ideal answer to the problems of umpiring.

"The same umpires were doing well till recently. Only now their performance level has dipped. Even with the use of technology a wrong decision was given (Symonds being declared not out when a stumping appeal was refereed to TV umpire Oxenford)", he pointed out.

It is not just the fans and experts here who are fuming, even the Australian media has supported the Indian team on the matter.

In a hard-hitting column, Sydney Morning Herald cricket writer Peter Roebuck said Steve Bucknor spoilt what was a superb day of cricket yesterday.

Roebuck wrote that Bucknor should have retired after the World Cup in West Indies.

"Indeed, he was expected to retire after the World Cup. Those responsible for allowing him to linger were also partly responsible for a decision that changed the course of the day and possibly the match and series," he said.

India amass 532, lead by 69 runs

Harbhajan’s invaluable innings came to an end when he pushed at one from Mitchell Johnson. The ball took the outside edge which flew to gully where Michael Hussey made no mistake. Harbhajan made 63 and his innings was critical in India’s effort to go past the Aussie total. India were at 474/8 when he was dismissed.

There was almost a sense of deja vu at the Sydney Cricket Ground for India. Two test matches, two centuries and the same ground. Sachin Tendulkar joined VVS Laxman in the centurions’ list as he notched up his 38th career ton, 8th against Australia and 5th in Australia. India, who slumped at one stage after lunch, losing two quick wickets, recovered from that position to end at 424/7 at tea.

Tendulkar brought up his hundred when he played a drive off the backfoot through cover and ran hard for a couple. It was a special moment for a man who suffered from ninetyitis in 2007 and his celebrations showed it all. This was his third hundred at the SCG and a very special effort to give his team a good chance in the game. His innings was all about class and control. He played superbly with Harbhajan and one good thing about the partnership was that Sachin showed a lot of confidence in his partner, who is known to be a flash in the pan as far as batting is concerned. The duo have so far added 79 runs at a fair pace of nearly 4 runs an over.

India looked like handing away a big lead to the hosts, when Harbhajan came out to bat. A few streaky boundaries got him going and since then, his innings has just turned into an invaluable one for the tourists. Harbhajan showed signs of good temperament and ability as he applied himself well and kept the score moving over. He played some incredible shots, especially that short arm pull off Brett Lee, which gave the Indian innings some momentum.

Earlier in the session, India wobbled, losing two quick wickets. Dhoni was the first one to go after lunch when he edged the extra ball of the over to Gilchrist. Lee pitched the ball on a good length outside the off-stump and Dhoni with hardly any feet movement pushed at the ball. The edge went through straight to Gilchrist, who pouched his 400th dismissal. India were 330/6 when Dhoni went back to the pavilion. Reckless shot not needed at that juncture. And soon after, the skipper followed his deputy as Lee removed him for a just couple. Kumble moved back and wafted at one, getting a healthy edge in the process. From a handy start this morning, India lost their third wicket of the morning, wobbling at 345/7.

India went to lunch at 322/5 with the Aussies picking Yuvraj Singh, just at the stroke of the break. Yuvraj hung around for a while, but could not take his innings forward. He was caught plumb by a Brett Lee delivery, which trapped him on the back-foot low and straight. Yuvraj scored just 12. The tourists were 321/5 when Lee broke through.

After Ganguly’s dismissal, Tendulkar kept going in his usual pace, hitting the bad balls whenever they came. He played a busy innings especially as far as running between the wicket was concerned. He reached his fifty in 96 balls and showed no signs of throwing it away.

However, Ganguly succumbed to Hogg’s persistant bowling when he gave away his wicket at a crucial juncture. Hogg came round the wicket, an unusual line for a chinaman bowler and Ganguly advanced to drive off the legs, but only managed to hole out to mid-off. India were 293/4 when Ganguly left the action.

India began the day from where they left off this morning when Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly got together to string a brilliant partnership to keep their team’s hopes alive in the match. Ganguly scored a fluent 67 that came off just 78 balls. It included 7 glorious hits to the fence and one over it. Ganguly was particularly severe on the spinners Brad Hogg and Michael Clarke. Tendulkar and Ganguly brought up their hundred partnership, India’s second of the match.

To walk or not to walk is the question

ANDREW Symonds, the Australian cricketing all-rounder who made 162 runs not out against India in Sydney this week, is correct when he says he is not a cheat.

Symonds was defending himself against criticism that he stayed at the crease after he had clearly snicked the ball to the wicketkeeper when he had made only 30 runs and the Australian innings was at the point of collapse.

We know he snicked it, not just because it was so clear that you didn’t need the increasingly sophisticated technology now available to pick up the faintest of touches. It was a firm contact that was manifest to everybody except the neutral umpire, Steve Bucknor.

On a day when Bucknor, his British colleague Mark Benson and third umpire Bruce Oxenford managed to make one wrong decision after another, whose net effect was disastrous for India, this was the worst.

Symonds’ reaction that he’s not a cheat was, however, correct, because the rules of cricket formally leave these decisions to the umpire. What was interesting, though, was that, far from being uncomfortable or a bit sheepish about his subsequent score, Symonds was clearly offended at what he regards as the media - particularly the print media - unfairly attacking his behaviour.

He didn’t deny he had hit the ball or that he was out. Quite the reverse. He said he had hit it, that he should have been given out, but that’s just the luck of the game.

According to Symonds and many others, it all evens out. You sometimes get given out when you’re not. Indeed, this happened earlier to Australian captain Ricky Ponting, who was given not out early in his innings after he was in fact caught down the leg side, but was given out later when he was not out.

Well, it sure didn’t even out for India. If Ponting had been given out when he was out and Symonds had suffered the same fate, India would have destroyed Australia’s innings instead of looking at a commanding Australian first-innings score.

In the modern game of professional and overwhelmingly commercial cricket, the practice of walking - that is, leaving the field when you know beyond doubt you’re out, even if the umpire is uncertain - is no longer the norm, as it was in the past.

Indeed, the practice of walking is now rare. (I’m not talking about those cases where there’s a flurry of bat, pad, gloves and pitch with genuine uncertainty as to what hit what and when.)

Players insist that the rules don’t require them to walk (they’re right); that it all evens out in the end (they’re often wrong on this). They also argue that they have a responsibility to the other members of their team not to leave the field of contest before they’re formally required to do so by the umpire because it is not only their score that is affected, but also that of the team.

There are exceptions, of course, even in the modern game. The best player in the Australian side, Adam Gilchrist, is one. The great West Indian batsman Brian Lara is another. They’re aware that the letter of the laws of cricket doesn’t require them to walk even when they know, beyond doubt, that they are indeed out, as was the case in the Symonds incident this week.

I don’t know for certain why Gilchrist and Lara choose to walk in such circumstances when most players not only protest that they not have to do so but stoutly insist that it’s wrong to do so, and react angrily to any media suggestion otherwise.

I suspect it’s because Gilchrist and Lara know that any achievement by them that relies on exploiting a manifest error by the umpire is tainted and unworthy for them as well as for their sides and for the game.

For example, the rules have been changed to legitimise the bowling action of Muttiah Muralitharan but in the minds of cricket lovers Muralitharan’s world record for wicket-taking will remain questionable because of the nature of his bowling technique.

I suspect the belligerence of Symonds’ response to media criticism is driven by the inner knowledge that his 162 not out was, in fact, 30 out, and that if Australia wins this match to equal the record-winning sequence of Tests, it doesn’t really deserve it.

The responsibility for this win-at-all-costs approach doesn’t lie so much with Symonds, a wonderful cricketer, as with those who have been responsible in recent decades for the game becoming more and more driven above all by the dollar. The whatever-it-takes approach may lead to more victories on the scorecard but, in the end, it leads to a troubled spirit.

England captain Douglas Jardine adopted bodyline tactics in the 1930s to limit Donald Bradman and beat Australia. He succeeded.

But the fact that bodyline was within the letter of the laws of the game was not accepted as justification for it, nor did it save Jardine’s standing.

Sachin smashes 150 as India cross 500

Harbhajan’s invaluable innings came to an end when he pushed at one from Mitchell Johnson. The ball took the outside edge which flew to gully where Michael Hussey made no mistake. Harbhajan made 63 and his innings was critical in India’s effort to go past the Aussie total. India were at 474/8 when he was dismissed.

There was almost a sense of deja vu at the Sydney Cricket Ground for India. Two test matches, two centuries and the same ground. Sachin Tendulkar joined VVS Laxman in the centurions’ list as he notched up his 38th career ton, 8th against Australia and 5th in Australia. India, who slumped at one stage after lunch, losing two quick wickets, recovered from that position to end at 424/7 at tea.

Tendulkar brought up his hundred when he played a drive off the backfoot through cover and ran hard for a couple. It was a special moment for a man who suffered from ninetyitis in 2007 and his celebrations showed it all. This was his third hundred at the SCG and a very special effort to give his team a good chance in the game. His innings was all about class and control. He played superbly with Harbhajan and one good thing about the partnership was that Sachin showed a lot of confidence in his partner, who is known to be a flash in the pan as far as batting is concerned. The duo have so far added 79 runs at a fair pace of nearly 4 runs an over.

India looked like handing away a big lead to the hosts, when Harbhajan came out to bat. A few streaky boundaries got him going and since then, his innings has just turned into an invaluable one for the tourists. Harbhajan showed signs of good temperament and ability as he applied himself well and kept the score moving over. He played some incredible shots, especially that short arm pull off Brett Lee, which gave the Indian innings some momentum.

Earlier in the session, India wobbled, losing two quick wickets. Dhoni was the first one to go after lunch when he edged the extra ball of the over to Gilchrist. Lee pitched the ball on a good length outside the off-stump and Dhoni with hardly any feet movement pushed at the ball. The edge went through straight to Gilchrist, who pouched his 400th dismissal. India were 330/6 when Dhoni went back to the pavilion. Reckless shot not needed at that juncture. And soon after, the skipper followed his deputy as Lee removed him for a just couple. Kumble moved back and wafted at one, getting a healthy edge in the process. From a handy start this morning, India lost their third wicket of the morning, wobbling at 345/7.

India went to lunch at 322/5 with the Aussies picking Yuvraj Singh, just at the stroke of the break. Yuvraj hung around for a while, but could not take his innings forward. He was caught plumb by a Brett Lee delivery, which trapped him on the back-foot low and straight. Yuvraj scored just 12. The tourists were 321/5 when Lee broke through.

After Ganguly’s dismissal, Tendulkar kept going in his usual pace, hitting the bad balls whenever they came. He played a busy innings especially as far as running between the wicket was concerned. He reached his fifty in 96 balls and showed no signs of throwing it away.

However, Ganguly succumbed to Hogg’s persistant bowling when he gave away his wicket at a crucial juncture. Hogg came round the wicket, an unusual line for a chinaman bowler and Ganguly advanced to drive off the legs, but only managed to hole out to mid-off. India were 293/4 when Ganguly left the action.

India began the day from where they left off this morning when Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly got together to string a brilliant partnership to keep their team’s hopes alive in the match. Ganguly scored a fluent 67 that came off just 78 balls. It included 7 glorious hits to the fence and one over it. Ganguly was particularly severe on the spinners Brad Hogg and Michael Clarke. Tendulkar and Ganguly brought up their hundred partnership, India’s second of the match.

Sachin brings up No. 38, India inch closer

There was almost a sense of deja vu at the Sydney Cricket Ground for India. Two test matches, two centurious and the same ground. Sachin Tendulkar joined VVS Laxman in the centurions’ list as he notched up his 38th career ton, 8th against Australia and 5th in Australia. India, who slumped at one stage after lunch, losing two quick wickets, recovered from that position to end at 424/7 at tea.

Tendulkar brought up his hundred when he played a drive off the backfoot through cover and ran hard for a couple. It was a special moment for a man who suffered from ninetyitis in 2007 and his celebrations showed it all. This was his third hundred at the SCG and a very special effort to give his team a good chance in the game. His innings was all about class and control. He played superbly with Harbhajan and one good thing about the partnership was that Sachin showed a lot of confidence in his partner, who is known to be a flash in the pan as far as batting is concerned. The duo have so far added 79 runs at a fair pace of nearly 4 runs an over.

India looked like handing away a big lead to the hosts, when Harbhajan came out to bat. A few streaky boundaries got him going and since then, his innings has just turned into an invaluable one for the tourists. Harbhajan showed signs of good temperament and ability as he applied himself well and kept the score moving over. He played some incredible shots, especially that short arm pull off Brett Lee, which gave the Indian innings some momentum.

Earlier in the session, India wobbled, losing two quick wickets. Dhoni was the first one to go after lunch when he edged the extra ball of the over to Gilchrist. Lee pitched the ball on a good length outside the off-stump and Dhoni with hardly any feet movement pushed at the ball. The edge went through straight to Gilchrist, who pouched his 400th dismissal. India were 330/6 when Dhoni went back to the pavilion. Reckless shot not needed at that juncture. And soon after, the skipper followed his deputy as Lee removed him for a just couple. Kumble moved back and wafted at one, getting a healthy edge in the process. From a handy start this morning, India lost their third wicket of the morning, wobbling at 345/7.

India went to lunch at 322/5 with the Aussies picking Yuvraj Singh, just at the stroke of the break. Yuvraj hung around for a while, but could not take his innings forward. He was caught plumb by a Brett Lee delivery, which trapped him on the back-foot low and straight. Yuvraj scored just 12. The tourists were 321/5 when Lee broke through.

After Ganguly’s dismissal, Tendulkar kept going in his usual pace, hitting the bad balls whenever they came. He played a busy innings especially as far as running between the wicket was concerned. He reached his fifty in 96 balls and showed no signs of throwing it away.

However, Ganguly succumbed to Hogg’s persistant bowling when he gave away his wicket at a crucial juncture. Hogg came round the wicket, an unusual line for a chinaman bowler and Ganguly advanced to drive off the legs, but only managed to hole out to mid-off. India were 293/4 when Ganguly left the action.

India began the day from where they left off this morning when Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly got together to string a brilliant partnership to keep their team’s hopes alive in the match. Ganguly scored a fluent 67 that came off just 78 balls. It included 7 glorious hits to the fence and one over it. Ganguly was particularly severe on the spinners Brad Hogg and Michael Clarke. Tendulkar and Ganguly brought up their hundred partnership, India’s second of the match.