Zimbabwe in India

"To win the series against Zimbabwe, we need to play good cricket for at least 10 days," said Indian skipper, Sourav Ganguly.

Zimbabwe will play two Tests before embarking on a five-match ODI series against their hosts. In their last two-Test series, India won 1-0.

Ganguly was not a certainty to lead the Indian team in the series against Zimbabwe, as India have not played consistently under his leadership. Furthermore, Ganguly's batting form in recent Test matches has been variable and stands in stark contrast to his ODI exploits.

"I've not played well in the last 10 Tests. I kept getting scores in the 30s and 40s, but I could not convert them into big knocks," Ganguly admitted in a news conference.

England in New Zealand

England patiently compiled 244, with Graham Thorpe hitting a rapid half century to build on the foundations laid by Nick Knight, Marcus Trescothick and Nasser Hussain.

Then, after Nathan Astle was unluckily given out caught off the toggles on his trousers, and two more early wickets fell, Paul Collingwood took 4 for 38 to claim the man-of-the match award.

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Patient batting and some genuine swing bowling were the keys to England's success in Napier, according to captain Nasser Hussain.

And he happily explained the decision to play an unchanged side from the eleven who were humiliated in Wellington.

"Eleven messed up so it was up to the same 11 to get it right," he said.

Miscellaneous

The England and Wales Cricket Board has nominated Mike Denness for the new elite panel of Test match referees.

"We have nominated Mike, among others," ECB spokesman John Read said.

"This is for no other reason than that we believe he is a good match referee who will do a good job.

"It wasn't done as a provokative gesture against India or any other country.

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Ian Healy thinks Ricky Ponting's appointment was a positive move, a gutsy call.

"Ricky Ponting is the youngest, at 27, of the three contenders for the job and that tells all of the younger players in Australia that there's a chance for them to come into the side."

Ponting has little experience of captaincy at senior level, having led Tasmania only this season, and skippering Australia in two tour matches during last year's Ashes.

But Healy does not see that as a problem, saying that Ponting's greatest ability was to keep his tactics simple.

"He's prepared himself," he said. "I've got no problems with his cricketing brain, his ability to stay composed under pressure and to think outside himself, looking after other members of the team.

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Australia's authorities said that a blackmail attempt did not influence their choice of one-day captain to succeed Steve Waugh. They said that Shane Warne, the subject of the failed attempt, had not been in the running for the job and that Ricky Ponting had been chosen ahead of the only other candidate, Adam Gilchrist.

Australia vs South Africa

Speaking of his undefeated 102 made against the South African A team in Potchefstroom, Steve Waugh said, "I felt really good from ball one, it was really encouraging. I felt comfortable - I clicked into gear straight away."

Australia declared on 366/8 in the first innings, prompting Waugh to say, "It is a difficult wicket to bat on, very up-and-down and two paced. It is probably a 250 wicket so we have done really well."

"I just feel nice and relaxed, I'm keeping things tight," he told The Sydney Morning Herald. "My back-lift is a bit shorter and tighter. I feel more secure and comfortable in playing my shots.

"Balance is a key to my batting and I felt well balanced out there."

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