NatWest series (India, Sri Lanka and England)

One-day match, Leicester:
India 315-7 (50 overs) beat Leicestershire 261-7 (50 overs) by 54 runs.

India survived a fiery start from Leicestershire's openers to secure a 54-run victory in the final warm-up match before Saturday's NatWest Series opener against England.

Trevor Ward and Iain Sutcliffe emulated the firepower seen from counterparts Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag as they set India on their way to 315 for seven.

But a home side resting several senior players could not continue that momentum, needing to consistently score at more than a run a ball.

Trevor Ward's dismissal, holing out to short extra cover for 95, effectively ended Leicestershire hopes.

Yuvraj Singh produced just enough turn with his part-time left-arm spin to have three batsmen caught in the deep.

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England's cricket legend Ian Botham adviced India against shifting Sachin Tendulkar to number four position in the batting line-up for the one-dayers saying it could prove disastrous for the side.

"I think it is a big mistake", Botham said ahead of the start of India's one-day triangular series against England and Sri Lanka.

"Why fiddle with a successful theory?" Whereas he says that, Andrew Flintoff should bat at three in England's one-day team, according to former all-rounder Ian Botham.

Flintoff has matured as an all-rounder in the last year and Botham feels England will get the best out of the Lancashire star if he is promoted up the order.

It would mean captain Nasser Hussain, who opens the batting for his county side Essex and bats at three for England, would have to drop way down the order.

"I think all of us would like to see Flintoff bat at three," said Botham.

"I think Nasser Hussain should bat down the order in one-day cricket.

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England's bowlers face a baptism of fire when they take on Sri Lanka in the opening match of the NatWest Series.

The tournament hosts are beset by injuries to their pace corps ahead of the day/night match at Trent Bridge.

Darren Gough has suffered a recurrence of the knee trouble that kept him out of all three Tests against Sri Lanka and will not be risked at least early in the series.

England are already without Andrew Caddick, who is sidelined for around a month after sustaining a side strain in the final-Test victory over Sri Lanka at Old Trafford.

And they are monitoring the fitness of Andrew Flintoff after he sustained a slight groin strain in the humiliating eight-wicket defeat by Wales.

Triseries in Pakistan

Pakistan has suggested England as a possible venue for its tri-series in August against Australia and New Zealand.

The move comes as the ongoing threat of terrorism, and tension with India, continues to rule out any international cricket in Pakistan.

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia told: "We have suggested to Australia to play the tri-series in England in early August, and we will talk to the England and Wales Cricket Board,"

Pakistan are left with few options after Australia all but ruled out its tour for the tri-series, also involving New Zealand, and a Test series in October.

New Zealand in West Indies

West Indies fast bowler Mervyn Dillon has been ruled out of the second Test against New Zealand, which begins in Grenda on Friday.

Dillon aggravated an injury in his lower back during the second innings of the opening Test against the tourists in Barbados.

New Zealand took the 1-0 lead in the two-Test series with the 204-run victory - their first ever win in the Caribbean.

He was unable bowl for more than six hours in the New Zealand second innings as the Kiwis set an unreachable target of 474.

Dillon's absence will leave a big hole in the West Indies fast bowling, increasing the burden on the shoulders of Cameron Cuffy and left-armer Pedro Collins.

Miscellaneous

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering obtaining the services of Australians Trevor Chappell and Richard Dunn to coach promising young cricketers.

PCB development manager, the former Pakistan cricketer Zakir Khan, confirmed the board was in contact with the two Aussies.

But nothing concrete has been agreed. "No final decision has been taken to hire the services of the two former players for the young Pakistani cricketers," Zakir told.

He said the two coaches, if hired, will not be stationed at any particular place for the whole period of their contract.

"Rather we are planning to utilise their expertise to the maximum extent as roving coaches for all the regional academies the PCB is organising at the moment," Khan said.

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