Standard Bank Triangular series in South Africa

India flattered to decieve yet again losing by 46 runs to the sleek and professional South African side at East London yesterday. Electing to bat first the home side posted a formidable 282 and poor chasers that India are, it was a daunting total.
But yet another hundred opening stand between Tendulkar and Ganguly raised a glimmer of hope that was soon to die out.
A couple of suicidal run outs, and some irresponsible shot making saw the Indians being bowled out for 236 still 46 runs short of the South African total.
After having lost to Kenya in Port Elizabeth, India's next match against them next week virtually becomes a knockout. If India falters again, Kenya will go through to the final.

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The Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly is reported to have dashed off small notes to his team telling them what was expected of them. It was the Australian skipper Steve Waugh who first did this when he sent small notes to his team just before the 1999 World Cup Final.
"I want a hundred from you in the final" said his note to Sachin. Some of the other notes to the other team members went like this.
"Why aren't there enough runs from you in one dayers" to Harbhajan
"We need bigger innings from you, be prepared to take up the job behind the stumps at any time" to Dravid
"Concentrate more in the slog overs, the team needs more runs of the bat from you" to Srinath
"Where are those unplayable leg cutters" to Prasad.

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The panic buttons have been pressed hard and so VVS Laxman will be on his way soon to join the Indian team for the last two one dayers in South Africa.
India's debacle against Kenya probably hastened the call for Laxman who was scheduled to leave only in time for the Tests. Laxman just came up with a very special knock yet again to take the Rest of India side who were staring at defeat to a comfortable win against Baroda in the Irani Trophy.

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The bad news however for the Indian team is that S Ramesh, the left handed opening bat from Tamil Nadu, has not recovered well enough to make it for the three Test matches in South Africa.
Das and Ramesh were settling into the role of openers reasonably well having given the side good starts on almost all occasions in Sri Lanka.
The BCCI is awaiting the fitness reports of Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra who are also hopeful of making the tour.

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

Nasser Hussain said team members would be given a chance to decide whether they want tour India.
Hussain said he had taken this decision after all rounder Craig White said he was not happy about making the tour.

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The Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has done his bit to reassure England that they will be safe while in India.
He said he hoped the players could be persuaded to tour assuring them that the best possible security would be provided to the visitors.

New Zealand in Australia

Adam Parore's blazing hundred rescued the tourists from a near defeat after being 110-5 in the second innings on the last day of the four day match against the Queensland Academy of Sport at Brisbane yesterday.
He was involved with a 158 run rescue operation with Stephen Fleming who followed up his century in the first innings with a brave 68.
The visitors declared their second innings at 296-6 setting the home side an improbable 327 for a win that they played out. The match ended in a draw with the home side reaching 114-2.
New Zealand: 297-8 d (S. Fleming 133 not out, M. Richardson 40; D. Mackenzie 4-54) & 296-6 (A. Parore 100 not out, S. Fleming 68, M. Sinclair 57; J. Hopes 2-25)
Queensland Academy of Sport: 267-7 d (J. Hopes 75, D. Payne 57; D. Nash 2-36, D. Tuffey 2-72) & 114-2 D. Payne 51).

Miscellaneous

In a decision that could affect the fortunes of Indian cricket as well, the ICC has approved the use of neutral venues for those countries that stand to be affected by the situation in Afghanistan.
The ICC agreed to support those Boards that are likely to be affected by the events following air strikes by the US.
Countries opting out of tours stand to face a fine of USD 2 million if they did so. Sharjah and Morroco have been proposed as possible venues for Pakistan to host any future home series.

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The ICC also concluded that if India were unable to host the 2002 ICC Knock-out tournament, the tournament would be delayed till 2004.
While India still remains the preferred venue for the next tournament Sri Lanka, Australia and UAE are also being seen as viable options. England has confirmed to host the 2006 Knock-outs.

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Former Somerset skipper Peter Roebuck faces a suspended jail sentence after he admitted to caning three youngsters he had offered to coach.
Roebuck was also asked to pay £820 as legal costs as he abused his power and influence over the boys who were away from their parents and their home.
All the boys were aged 19 and had been invited to stay with Roebuk while he coached them. The punishment he gave them was for breaking his house rules he said.

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Australia's all rounder Ian Harvey claimed a hat-trick for Victoria in the interstate game against South Australia. One of Harvey's victims included Test batsman Darren Lehmann who was batting on 103. His final figures read 3-65 from 23 overs.

Scores at a glance

Standard Bank Triangular Series
India vs Kenya (7th match)
Played at East London
Toss: South Africa
South Africa: 282-4 in 50 overs (B Dippenar 81, H Gibbs 47, J Kallis 49, J Rhodes 40 not out, L Klusener 38 not out)
India: 236 in 44.4 overs (S Ganguly 85, S Tendulkar 37, R Dravid 71 not out; A Nel 3-45)
Result: South Africa won by 46 runs
Man of the match: S Ganguly (Ind)

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POINTS TABLE

Teams	P	W	L	T	Points	Bonus	Total
South Africa	5	4	1	-	16	1	17
India	5	2	3	-	8	1	9
Kenya	4	-1	3	-	4	1	5

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