Standard Bank Triangular series in South Africa

A mellowed down Indian side will meet South Africa for the last time in the league phase of the Standard Bank Triangular series in East London today.
Shocked by their defeat against the underdogs Kenya at Port Elizabeth the Indians will be up in full strength against the mighty South Africans. Agarkar, Srinath and Sehwag are likely to come back to the side.
South Africa in the meanwhile have brought back Nantie Hayward to try and fill the huge hole in the South African bowling left by the absence of Allan Donald.

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Geoff Boycott and Dermot Reeve have been called upon to assist Kenya as special coaches in their lead up to the World Cup.
After two dismal performances in the opening matches the appointment of Bob Woolmer the ICC's new high-performance manager, has already sparked a dramatic improvement in their game, with two fighting performances both against South Africa and India.
Woolmer said Boycott and Reeve had agreed in principle to the assignment with the details yet to be worked out. The idea of the ICC is to get countries like Kenya, Holland, Namibia and Canada as competitive as they can by the World Cup.

New Zealand in Australia

After the entire second day's play was washed out by rain, New Zealand faced stern resistance from the Queensland Academy of Sports at Brisbane on the third day.
Skipper Fleming declared the first innings at 297-8 to allow his bowlers a work out before the first Test. The QAS quickly piled up 267-7 before they declared and immediately picked up the first Kiwi wicket when they came out to bat for the second time. A day still remains in the match.
Brief scores:

New Zealand :297-8 d (S. Fleming 133 not out, M. Richardson 40; D. Mckenzie 4-54) & 21-1
Queensland Academy of Sport: 267 -7 d (J. Hopes 75, D. Payne 57; D. Nash 2-36, D. Tuffey 2-72)

Tour uncertanity

English batsman and senior cricketer Graham Thorpe said he and his teammates were in a dilemma as to whether or not they should undertake the tour of India considering the political situation.
Thorpe said lots of sporting sides were showing uneasiness at traveling to the region and this is understandable

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In what could be seen as a boost to India's prospects of hosting England the West Indies have agreed to go ahead and make their tour of Sri Lanka beginning on the November 4.
West Indies play 3 Tests as well as a triangular series involving the hosts and Zimbabwe. The organizers have rescheduled certain matches that coincide with the elections and this has satisfied the West Indian Board.

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Ever since he pulled of the Zimbabwe tour even before it began West Indies batsman Brian Lara's come-back has been speculated.
Although included in the team to tour Sri Lanka it appears highly unlikely that he will make the tour as he is still bothered by the hamstring.

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WSG Nimbus in the meanwhile has refuted all the reasons stated by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) for terminating their contract.
They have threatened to seek compensation from the BCCSL for the loss of business and reputation alleging that they have at no time breached the agreement.

Miscellaneous

Australian leg spinner Stuart MacGill was fined AUD 1,500 dollars (US$750) after he was found guilty of breaching two clauses of the Australian Cricket Board's code of behaviour.
MacGill has been accused of crude and abrasive behaviour in the game between New South Wales and Tasmania where he displayed his anger at the umpire who turned down his appeal.

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One of cricket and Bollywood's most well-kept secret has been revealed. Sachin Tendulkar will feature in a 15-minute cameo role for the Karan Johar multi- starrer "'Kabhi Khushee Kabhie Gham'.
The film boasts already of stars like Amitabh & Jaya Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor. Tendulkar's 15-minute role in the film was shot when the team was in Sri Lanka and Tendulkar was resting his injured toe.

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The Bangladesh 'A' team began their tour of India on a winning note with a six- wicket win over the CCI Presidents XI at Mumbai on Wednesday.
The visiting team has 5 Test players in its ranks, shot out the CCI XI for 124 and rattled up the runs for the loss of just 4 wickets. The Bangladesh 'A' side play a series of a three-day and one-day matches in Mumbai, Pune and Baroda.

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The government of Goa has constituted a judicial commission headed by a former chief justice of Karnataka High Court Justice M L Pendse to look into the allegations of printing, marketing and selling of fake tickets for the India-Australia one-day international (ODI) held here on April 6 this year.
The Commission will ascertain whether any of GCA office bearers were involved in the printing, marketing and selling of fake tickets and other related matter.

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The Ashes of Australia's cricket legend Don Bradman were scattered over the oval named after him in Bowral near Sydney. Bradman's son John, three of his grandchildren and about 60 invitees participated in the special function. Bradman had passed away in February this year aged 92.

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