India in Sri Lanka
The first Test match between an injury struck, depleted India and a buoyant Sri Lankan side begins in Galle today. Both teams have a point to prove to themselves. The Indians are looking for that ever-evasive series win outside India while the Sri Lankans have also been guilty of not having won a Test series in the past 16 months. Injury ills hamper the Indians from fielding a full strength team, without Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Ashish Nehra and Anil Kumble. The hosts certainly looks stronger on paper. Sanath Jayasuriya hurt his ear and required a stitch after he ducked into a bouncer but is doing fine and will play today. It is worth noting that Sri Lanka have won three of the five Test matches played here by an innings.
Australia in England
With Nasser Hussain coming back to lead the England side for the fourth Ashes Test, stand-in captain Michael Atherton went out of the way to offer continued support to Craig White and Ian Ward, who have been dropped from the side after lacklusture performances. Ward has been replaced by the skipper Nasser Hussain and White by Nottinghamshire batsman Usman Afzaal. England are likely to go into the fourth Test with seven batsmen and four seem bowlers to try and stop the Aussies from grinding the English to dust and sweeping away the Ashes.
Miscellaneous
Sachin Tendulkar is the only cricketer from the subcontinent and the only contemporary cricketer to figure in the late Sir Don Bradman's all time "Dream team". The team was apparently selected by Sir Don with the understanding that it would be revealed only after his death. The full team is as follows in batting order:
1. Barry Richards South Africa (Right hand - Opener)
2. Arthur Morris Australia (Left hand - Opener)
3. Don Bradman Australia (Right hand - Middle Order) (Capt)
4. Sachin Tendulkar India (Right hand - Middle Order)
5. Gary Sobers West Indies (Left-hand - All rounder)
6. Don Tallon Australia (Right-hand - Wicket-keeper)
7. Ray Lindwall Australia (Right arm - Fast Bowler)
8. Dennis Lillee Australia (Right arm - Fast Bowler)
9. Alec Bedser England (Right arm - Medium fast swing bowler)
10. Bill O'Reilly Australia (Right arm - Quickish Leg spinner)
11. Clarrie Grimmett Australia (Right arm - Leg Spinner
12. Wally Hammond England (Right hand All rounder) (12th man)
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The South African team to tour Zimbabwe next month will be announced today. There are however concerns being raised regarding the composition of the team considering the volatile political situation in Zimbabwe. Aging South African fast bowler Alan Donald is likely to play against Zimbabwe and later on against India in an attempt to get fit enough to play the Australians at home. The other fast bowler Mfuneko Ngam is not likely to figure in the team as he is still recovering from injury.
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Pakistan's dashing opening batsman Shahid Afridi single handedly endured that his county Leicestershire made it to the final of the C&G Trophy. He slammed a 95 off just 58 balls that was studded with 8 fours and six sixes to take his side to win with 20.1 overs to spare despite at one stage being 9-2. Leicestershire will now meet Somerset in the final at Lord's on 1 September.
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The ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) will be sending two of its members to Sharjah later this week to discuss the best way to implement comprehensive security measures for all future Sharjah tournaments. This follows the recommendations of the ACU report that calls for extra security at neutral venues. The ACU members will also visit Sharjah during the next tournament to oversee the implementation of the measures agreed upon.
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New Zealand's dashing all rounder Chris Cairns will be unavailable to tour Pakistan later this month. Cairns is cooling his heals after undergoing knee surgery and is likely to be fit only by October-November tour to Australia.
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The Australian Cricket Academy housed at Adelaide is looking for a replacement to its head coach Rodney Marsh who has taken up the assignment to head the Academy in England. The Academy reportedly is likely to approach the Sri Lankan coach Dave Whatmore with an offer of the same.
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Former Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar reportedly met the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh with a request to change the conditions of allotment of a plot in Bandra, a suburb of Mumbai that was assigned to him nearly 10 years ago. The plot was allotted to Gavaskar to enable him to begin an indoor cricket academy, but the ex-cricketer now wants to add a plush clubhouse to the academy as well. A club house means permission from the government to set up a bar. The chief minister is said to have assured the little master that a decision on the same would be made soon. Gavaskar has however violated the government norms since he has failed to use the plot within three years of allotment.
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The Pakistan Cricket Board has extended an invitation to the Indian U-19 to play a home series as a preparation for the youth world cup that is to be held next year in New Zealand. A similar invitation has also been sent to the Sri Lankan U-19 team.
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The sacked President of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board Tilanga Sumathipala was granted bail yesterday at Colombo. Sumathipala was wanted by the police following allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement.
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