India's tour of West Indies

Fourth Test, St John's, Antigua, day four:
India 1st innings 513-9 declared; West Indies 1st innings 405-5.

Carl Hooper's fine form continued as the West Indies captain blasted his third century of the series against India on Monday.

The home side reached 405-5 at the close of the fourth day of the fourth Test in Antigua in reply to India's first innings total of 513-9 declared.

Hooper smashed 136 in a partnership of 186 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (80 not out) as the West Indies took advantage of weak Indian bowling at the Recreation Ground.

Scorecard | Match report

Kumble's injury

Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble will undergo surgery to his broken jaw on Wednesday in his hometown of Bangalore.

"The surgery has been scheduled for Wednesday morning, soon after he returns home," Indian team physiotherpist Andrew Leipus said on Monday.

"We did not want him to wait for much longer."

Kumble been ruled out for the rest if the series after being hit by a rising delivery from pace bowler Mervyn Dillon on Saturday but came on to bowl wreathed in bandages on Sunday, sending down 14 overs and picking up the prize wicket of Brian Lara.

Australia's tour of Pakistan

Australia's top Test cricketers have stated they will refuse to go to Pakistan - even if their board decides to proceed with the tour planned for late August.

Captain Steve Waugh and bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne believe it is too dangerous to tour following last week's bomb attack in Karachi.

A total of 14 people were killed in the outrage and it also forced New Zealand to fly home on the morning of the second Test.

Sri Lanka in England

Former England captain Michael Atherton believes the current side hold the edge over Sri Lanka ahead of the first Test at Lord's on Thursday.

Atherton feels the Sri Lankans have not adapted well to English conditions during their warm-up matches.

The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in England, in August 1998, they recorded a crushing 10 wicket win against the home side.

But Atherton, who retired from cricket at the end of last summer, thinks the result will be different this time around as Sri Lanka prepare for their first ever Test series in England.

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Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who is in Australia recovering from a shoulder injury, is due to join the Sri Lanka team in England later this week, cricket officials said Monday.

Muralitharan, 30, suffered a slight dislocation and torn ligaments to his left shoulder during the Sharjah Cup final against Pakistan last month.

"A decision on when he will be available to play has not yet been taken," the cricket board said in a statement.

Sri Lanka are scheduled to play a three Test series in England followed by a triangular one-day tournament involving England and India.

New Zealand's tour of West Indies

New Zealand's cricket tour of the West Indies will go ahead as planned, officials said on Tuesday.

The tour, in June, was in doubt after the New Zealand team were caught up in a bomb blast last week during their tour of Pakistan.

NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said there was no reason why the New Zealand squad would not meet their obligation to tour the Caribbean, which starts on 3 June.

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New Zealand batsman Nathan Astle has an outside chance of being fit for the forthcoming tour to the West Indies following a scan of his injured knee.

He does not have a torn patella tendon as was first feared and does not require surgery. The problem has been put down to normal wear and tear and he is now being treated at New Zealand Cricket's High Performance Centre.

"The pain that caused the initial concern has settled considerably," NZC medical officer Warren Frost told CricInfo.

Vodafone Cricketer of the Year

England captain Nasser Hussain has been named Vodafone Cricketer of the Year. He will receive a cheque for £15,000 and an engraved bowl as reward for his displays in leading England over the last 12 months.

"I am proud to be selected as the Vodafone Cricketer of Year," said Hussain.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank my team and the management for all their hard work over the past 12 months and I look forward to building on the progress made in the winter over the coming season." England women's captain Clare Connor took the women's award.

Miscellaneous

After carefully laying out plans for the announcement of a new national selection panel, the United Cricket Board on Monday postponed the announcement of the names for the panel.

The UCB are now set to announce the names of the new panel later this week, but the delay could set back preparations for next year's World Cup.

When the names of the 14 candidates for the panel were announced 10 days ago, the board outlined a detailed process which would be followed and see that figure whittled down from six to four.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is to adopt emergency financial measures following the bomb attack in Karachi and subsequent cancellation of the second Test against New Zealand.

"The financial implications of the Karachi events last week are severe and far reaching for Pakistan Cricket," PCB director Brigadier Munawwer Rana told BBC Sport Online.

The Board reviewed the current situation and future implications at a meeting in the capital, Islamabad.

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