India's tour of West Indies

Third Test, Bridgetown, day three:
India 102 & 169-4 (at stumps); West Indies 1st innings 394.

India slipped closer to an innings defeat in Bridgetown as they lost three quick wickets after a promising start.

Wasim Jaffer and Shiv Sundar Das for the first time in the series provided India with a good opening partnership in their second innings after the tourists were faced with a 292-run deficit.

But with the score 80 without loss and the West Indies pacemen wondering how they could force a breakthrough, Das fatally called Jaffer through for a quick single.

Scorecard | Match report

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West Indies batting prospect Ramnaresh Sarwan insists he is happy with his progress at Test level despite missing out once again on a maiden century.

The 21-year-old made 60 to help his side reach 314 for four at the end of day two in the second Test against India, a lead of 212.

It was the 11th time he has passed 50 since making his debut as a teenager two years ago, but has so far been unable to convert any of them into a three figures.

New Zealand in Pakistan

A week after ruling out prolific opening batsman Saeed Anwar from the two-match Test series against New Zealand, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named him in the squad of 16 players for the second Test at Karachi commencing from May 8.

Saeed had suffered a stress fracture in December last year and has been out of the game since then, having last played for Pakistan in Sharjah Cup in November 2001.

Last week PCB medical panel declared that the bearded left-handed batsman needed to train regularly for a period of 3 to 4 weeks before achieving the form and fitness required to play at international level.

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Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar expects to be fit for the second Test against New Zealand, which starts in Karachi on Wednesday.

Shoaib recorded career-best figures of six for 11 in the opening game, which Pakistan won by an innings and 324 runs, but was unable to bowl in the tourists' second innings.

He twisted his ankle during the second day's play in Lahore but insists it is not a long-term problem.

"It is swollen and I am using ice, but there is nothing serious to worry about and I will be available for the second Test," he told Pakistan's Dawn newspaper.

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Coach Denis Aberhart believes New Zealand must do more to increase the size of their talent pool following their worst ever Test defeat.

The Kiwis lost to Pakistan in three days by an innings and 324 runs in Lahore and now face the task of trying to restore self-belief in time for the final game of their tour.

Their squad has been decimated in recent weeks by injuries to Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle and Shane Bond and the retirement of Adam Parore, Chris Drum and Dion Nash.

It has left them short of potential match-winners and Aberhart said: "What New Zealand cricket needs is to keep trying to increase the depth for better results in the future because we are a small country and have limited resources.

Sri Lanka in England

England wicket-keeper James Foster will miss the first two Tests against Sri Lanka after breaking his arm during a net session.

Foster was practising for his first appearance of the season for Essex in Sunday's B&H Cup game against Hampshire when he was hit on the arm while batting.

"He has undergone an X-ray and the arm has been put in plaster and he is expected to be out for four weeks," said England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman Andrew Walpole.

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Veteran England wicketkeeper Alec Stewart could be in the frame for a surprise recall after Jamie Foster, the man who displaced him, broke his arm while batting in the nets on Saturday.

Foster is expected to miss at least the first two games of the three-Test series against Sri Lanka after breaking his left forearm while practising with his Essex team mates at Chelmsford.

An England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said: "He broke his left forearm while batting in the nets -- it's a stable break and he is expected to be out for four weeks."

Miscellaneous

Much-maligned South African cricket selection chief Rushdi Magiet is among the nominations for a new selection committee, to be finalised next week.

Nominations closed on Friday night for a four-man selection panel, reduced from the current six.

The move to change the selectors came after South Africa fared so poorly against Australia this past season.

Criticism of Magiet's six-man team has been that they are out of touch with the modern game and that communication between Magiet and the team was poor.

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