India playing like schoolboys' teams: Gavasker

 Batting great Sunil Gavaskar on Thursday blamed poor technique for India’s dismal show in the Test series in England, saying the tourists looked like a ‘schoolboys’ team’.

“India were totally outplayed by England in the second Test so much so that it looked like a contest between a professional team and a schoolboys team,” the former opener wrote in The Hindu newspaper. “The batting has failed to get to 300 in four innings and the bowling in both Tests has faded away after a bright beginning.”

India trail 2-0 in the four-Test series following a 196-run defeat in the first match at Lord’s and a 319-run loss in the second at Trent Bridge.

Drawn games in the last two matches will enable England to dethrone Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Indians as the top-ranked Test team.

“India’s lower order is just not technically good enough, and if a player knows he is technically struggling then mentally too he stops fighting,” wrote Gavaskar, the first batsman to score 10,000 Test runs.

“Not that the top order has shown any great technique, especially the youngsters who plunder millions of runs on Indian pitches getting onto the front foot and then suddenly find that when it comes to overseas pitches and the quicker bowlers, they just don’t know how to play off the back foot.”

Rahul Dravid has looked the best Indian batsman on the tour with two hundreds, while Vangipurappu Laxman has made two half-centuries and Sachin Tendulkar one.

“The guys scoring the runs are those who have honed their technique on the longer version of the game,” Gavaskar wrote.

“Those others who are destroyers of bowling where the ball does not come above the waist are finding how tough Test cricket is.

“There will be talk about preparation etc, but even if this Indian team had played five first-class games before the Test series they would have struggled as the technique is not there.”

India played just one warm-up match before the Test series

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Pakistan announce squad for Zimbabwe tour

 Pakistan on Thursday named Misbah-ul-Haq as captain for the test, one-day and Twenty20 teams against Zimbabwe.

The selectors also picked three uncapped players – middle-order batsman Ramiz Raja, legspinner Yasir Shah and fast bowler Aizaz Cheema – in a 16-member squad.

Chief selector Mohsin Khan said senior players Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz and Abdur Rehman have been rested for the tour of Zimbabwe in September during which Pakistan plays one test match, three ODIs and two Twenty20 games.

“We have to bring in young players along with seniors so that they could be groomed,” Khan said.

Left-arm fast bowler Sohail Tanvir, wicketkeeper Adnan Akmal and opening batsman Imran Farhat, who all missed the series against West Indies, have been recalled.

Shoaib Malik was named among six standby players, but Khan said the former captain has to get clearance from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s integrity committee.

Malik had been sidelined since playing his last test against England in August 2010 and was reportedly asked to submit details of bank accounts and assets from the last three years to the integrity committee.

“We will welcome any player if he gets clearance from the PCB and performs well in the domestic first class competitions,” Khan said.

“If Malik gets clearance we will welcome him.”

Left-arm fast bowler Tanvir impressed with his fitness and form during Pakistan’s Twenty20 event last month and led Rawalpindi to victory in the final against much experienced Karachi.

Tanvir has not played a test match in four years and had been struggling to regain fitness from his knee surgery which also ruled him out of the World Cup.

Khan said all 16 players had gone through a fitness test before being named for the Zimbabwe tour.

Squad:

Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Taufiq Umar, Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Rameez Raja Junior, Adnan Akmal, Saeed Ajmal, Yasir Shah, Sohail Tanveer, Sohail Khan, Junaid Khan, Aizaz Cheema

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India opt to field in second England test

India won the toss and elected to bowl on the first day of the second test against England at Trent Bridge on Friday, as the hosts recalled paceman Tim Bresnan for the injured Chris Tremlett.

India were forced into making two changes to their side as fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth replaced hamstring injury victim Zaheer Khan, while batsman Yuvraj Singh came in for Gautam Gambhir, who was still feeling the effects of a bruised arm from the first test on Monday.

Tremlett was also ruled out because of a hamstring injury added to a back spasm sustained on Thursday. It handed Yorkshire fast bowler Bresnan his first test start since January.

Bresnan claimed 11 wickets in his last two tests, when England twice won by an innings against Australia.

“We would probably have had a bowl as well but I don’t think it is a bad pitch to bat on,” England captain Andrew Strauss said in a television interview at the toss. “I don’t think there are any demons in it.”

England lead the four-match series 1-0 after winning by 196 runs at Lord’s on Monday.
India fared well in Nottingham four years ago when they won by seven wickets, a result which eventually won them the series.

England: Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Graham Swann, James Anderson, Tim Bresnan.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Abhinav Mukund, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.

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India not good enough to worry England: Boycott

Geoffrey Boycott has said India’s defeat by England in the first Test at Lord’s marked the ‘beginning of the end’ of their time as the world’s No 1 Test team.

England, who won the first Test by 196 runs, will replace India at the top of the ICC’s Test Championship table if they win the ongoing four-match
series by a margin of at least two Tests.

Former South Africa fast bowler Allan Donald believes Andrew Strauss’s side ‘deserve’ to be at the summit of Test cricket.

Boycott, writing in The Daily Telegraph, said the tourists’ bowling was “not good enough to worry England”.

Zaheer Khan, India’s strike bowler, broke down early on at Lord’s with a hamstring strain and is struggling to be fit for the second Test.

Former England opener Boycott was not surprised, saying: “Zaheer Khan is a quality bowler but even before the series started I never expected him to survive bowling in four Test matches in five weeks.

“His ability has never been in doubt but his fitness has always been a worry,” he added.

“The great thing for England is they have two good back up seamers queuing up to take places.

“Tim Bresnan has done wonders when he has played. He has surprised me and probably deserved to play at Lord’s. And then there is Graham Onions who is back bowling for Durham and was a raving success against Australia in England.

“India do not have back up seamers like that and that is where England’s advantage lies.

“Now they all have self-belief as well. They have confidence in each other and they also know if they don’t perform somebody else will get their place.”

Donald told BBC Radio: “England deserve to be the number one, there’s no question about it.”—

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ICC lacks ledership:Flower

England coach Andy Flower on Wednesday accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of lacking leadership over its failure to issue clear rules about the use of the Decision Review System.

Under existing rules, either side in a series can veto the use of the DRS to determine lbw decisions, something India has elected to do in its ongoing series against England, who defeated the tourists at Lord’s on Monday.

However the lack of the DRS during the first Test has cast the spotlight on umpiring in the game, with Billy Bowden twice denying Stuart Broad plumb lbw decisions which would have snared Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina.

Although the decisions did not prove costly for England, Flower believes the absence of the DRS in the remaining three Test matches could fan the flames of controversy.

Asked if he was concerned about the possibility of trouble in the remainder of the series Flower admitted: “Yes, I am actually. We almost saw it happen in this Test match.

“It would have been wrong if the outcome of the game had been seriously affected by a couple of those decisions and it was quite right that, luckily, we did continue to create chances. It’s unsatisfactory the way it is, there is no doubt about that.”

Flower pointed the finger at ICC chiefs for allowing the current situation to arise, where DRS is used in some Test series but not in others.

“I don’t think there’s anything we can do, but I think the ICC should be stronger in taking a lead on these issues,” said Flower.

“They are the world governing body and they should lead. I don’t think it’s unfair to say they haven’t led on this topic.

“We all know that it is not going to be 100% accurate, but we also know you get more right decisions using it, so let’s not quibble about millimetres here when we know you get more right than wrong. That’s why most Test-playing nations want to use it.

“(Umpiring) is a very difficult job. We all know that, and I think they would be happier with it too.”

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Doubts about Keneria's integrity remain:PCB

Pakistan test spinner Danish Kaneria will not be considered for national selection until the Pakistan Cricket Board have no remaining doubts about his integrity, the PCB told tbe Sindh High Court hearing (SHC) on Tuesday.

The board’s legal counsel, Tafazzul Rizvi, made the statement at a hearing of the SHC that is hearing a petition filed by Kaneria against the PCB’s refusal to clear him to play international cricket.

Kaneria claims the PCB should not consider him ineligible.

The leg-spinner had his contract terminated by English county Essex last season after he had come under investigation in a spot-fixing case involving a Pro-40 match.

Essex police cleared Kaneria, 30, who submitted letters to the PCB from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and his  county team to prove he was not under investigation.

“Kaneria cannot be considered for selection unless he produces the documents and material related to his questioning by the police last year,” Rizvi told the court after Kaneria asked the court to direct the PCB to consider him for next month’s tour of Zimbabwe.

“I told the court we don’t want to mislead anyone but after the embarassment Pakistan cricket faced last year in the spot-fixing case involving three of our players we are taking no chances at all on this issue,” Rizvi later told Reuters.

Rizvi said he had told the court the PCB had formed its integrity commitee as per the new anti-corruption laws of the ICC and until the player submitted transcript and tapes of the statement he gave to Essex police the commitee would not clear him.

“He was investigated in a spot-fixing case and the committee wants to be absolutely sure he is in the clear once for all,” Rizvi added.

Kaneria, who has taken 261 wickets in 61 tests, last appeared for Pakistan against England in Nottingham in August 2010.

The court set a date of Aug. 18 for the next hearing.

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Sharma demolishes England-middle order at Lord's

India opening bowler Ishant Sharma turned the first test against England on its head on Sunday with three wickets in the space of 16 balls on the fourth morning at Lord’s.

Bounding in from the Nursery end, Sharma accounted for Kevin Pietersen (1), Ian Bell (0) and Jonathan Trott (22).

Altogether four wickets fell in 32 balls for eight runs and at lunch England were 72 for five in their second innings, an overall lead of 260, with five sessions remaining.

Pietersen, England’s first innings hero with an unbeaten 202, edged a steepling delivery to Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps. The same combination accounted for Bell in the same over, nibbling fatally outside the off stump.

Openers Andrew Strauss (32) and Alastair Cook (1) also succumbed in the morning session after England had started the day well placed on five for no wicket after dismissing India for 286 on Saturday evening in reply to their 474 for eight declared.

Strauss, who has had a lean test run in the English summer so far, looked in good order, taking 10 runs off a Praveen Kumar over including consecutive leg-side boundaries.

But he lost Cook with the total on 23, caught by Dhoni off Kumar from a delivery moving just enough to catch the edge of the left-hander’s bat. It was only the second ball Cook had faced from Kumar and his first on Sunday in 43 minutes at the crease.

Trott hooked Sharma to the boundary and Strauss slashed Kumar for another four but there was still plenty in the pitch to interest the bowlers and both batsmen were forced on occasion to hurriedly adjust their shots.

Strauss, who had scored only 49 runs in his previous five test innings in the English summer, was dismissed lbw by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh trying to sweep a ball which would have hit middle stump.

Pietersen and Bell departed in a double wicket maiden from Sharma who then knocked Trott’s off stump back as the batsman went to drive.

Eoin Morgan, who failed to score in the first innings, and wicketkeeper Matt Prior were both on five at the interval.

Zaheer Khan, who left the field in England’s first innings with a hamstring strain, was still missing on Sunday morning while Sachin Tendulkar was also absent with a virus infection.

Scoreboard:

England first innings 474-8 declared (K. Pietersen 202 not out, M. Prior 71, J. Trott 70; Praveen Kumar 5-106)

India first innings 286 (R. Dravid 103 not out)

England second innings (overnight 5-0)

A. Strauss lbw b Harbhajan Singh 32
A. Cook c Dhoni b Kumar    1
J. Trott b Sharma 22
K. Pietersen c Dhoni b Sharma 1
I. Bell c Dhoni b Sharma 0
E. Morgan not out 5
M. Prior not out 5

Extras (b-3, lb-1, w-2)    6

Total (five wickets; 31 overs)    72

Fall of wickets: 1-23 2-54 3-55 4-55 5-62

Still to bat: G. Swann, S. Broad, J. Anderson, C. Tremlett

Bowling (to date): Praveen Kumar 12-1-39-1 (1w), Ishant Sharma 13-6-15-3 (1w), Harbhajan Singh 6-0-14-1

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Lorgat hits back at Waugh's betting claims

International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat has hit back at Steve Waugh’s claim that 56 cricketers reported illegal approaches by bookmakers to the sport’s governing body last year.

Former Australia captain Waugh recently claimed that the number of illegal contacts reported had risen dramatically over the last two years.

The 46-year-old said only five reports had been made by players in 2009, while 56 were logged in 2010.

But Lorgat believes the increase does not reflect greater corruption.

Instead he insists Waugh’s figures cannot be proved and even if they are correct, it would only show that players are now more aware of their responsibility to report those illegal approaches.

Lorgat told Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: “I’m not sure where Steve Waugh gets that figure from because we do not publish any such information.

“In fact there’s one individual in the anti-corruption and security unit that maintains such records and he does not even know the figure himself, simply because he had not compiled it. So I’m not sure where Steve Waugh gets that figure from.

“What I can say is that we have substantially more players coming forward and reporting approaches made to them and I think that’s a result of the education process, the awareness that we’ve created amongst all of the international players and that’s a good thing.

“Who’s to say there were not as many in years gone by that were not reported?

“The fact is players are far more conscious today. The vast majority certainly play the game in the right spirit and they have the integrity to play the game properly and they are coming forward and reporting such approaches so that’s a good thing.”

Waugh, a member of the MCC’s world cricket committee, has controversially called for players to take lie-detector tests in a bid to root out corruption from cricket and wants to discuss his proposal with the ICC’s anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU).

He was spurred into action following last year’s revelations by Britain’s now defunct News of the World tabloid that former Pakistan captain Salman Butt, and bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif, were all involved in the deliberate bowling of no-balls during a Test against England at Lord’s as part of a betting scam.

The Pakistan trio were suspended for a minimum of five years’ each by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s global governing body, and are now awaiting a criminal trial in England due to start in October

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PCB to reduce selection committee's role in awarding central contracts

In a significant move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to lessen the role of the national selection committee in awarding the central contract to players for the new tenure.

The selection committee used to not only pick 40 to 45 players for the central contract, but also classify them in categories ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ besides including some names in the list of retainer.

However, Dawn has learnt that now the selectors will only be allowed to hand over the list of recommended players, who are eligible for the central contract, while the PCB management will decide the category of each and every player.

So far the selection committee has not taken any step to finalise the list of the players for the next tenure which has already started from July 1.

Hopefully, the selection committee will start working on the new pattern after receiving instructions from the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, currently on leave.

Since a paid selection committee has been working for the last several years, it is feared that this cut in its power will make the selection body nothing but a dummy.

The selectors already lack authority in their work. Their job is just to pick a 15- or 16-player squad for a series while finalising the playing XI is the domain of the touring selection committee comprising coach, captain and manager.

Not to forget a tussle-like situation already exists between selectors and touring selection committee on selection matters.

It may be mentioned here that during Pakistan team’s tour to the West Indies earlier this year, chief selector Mohsin Khan was about to bring the same matter to light by announcing to address a news conference in Karachi.

However, Mohsin later received a strict PCB warning of severe consequences in case of any press talk, ultimately resulting in the chief selector abruptly cancelling his scheduled conference.

But sources said the selection committee is still not happy with the sweeping role of the touring selection committee in finalising playing XI.

The selectors complain that the touring selection committee failed on many occasions in the past in picking the right playing XI, as they don’t consider the playing conditions at a specific venue.

Interestingly, there have been media reports of disagreement over team selection matters even within the touring selection committee — between former limited-overs captain Shahid Afridi and head coach Waqar Younis — in recent past

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Waqar plays dawn Afridi's retirement decision

Pakistan’s head coach Waqar Younis, while playing down Shahid Afridi’s decision of retiring from international cricket, has said every cricketer has to retire one day.

“All retired players are missed. Similarly, Afridi will also be missed. It was the case even with me and many other renowned players like Imran Khan and Wasim Akram.

“But there are always other youngsters who can replace the retired players,” Waqar said while talking to reporters at the National Cricket Academy, where he joined the Fast Track Camp’s second phase, after missing the first one, which ended on July 18.

Afridi had announced his retirement over differences with the team management, including Waqar, manager Intikhab Alam and PCB chairman Ijaz Butt after leading the national side in the last one-day series against the West Indies.

He had also said he would not reverse his decision until the present PCB management was working.

However, Waqar, while ignoring Afridi’s retirement, had suggested to the PCB in his report of the West Indies tour to search for a young captain and groom him as ageing Misbah-ul-Haq could not remain fit for a long time.

To a question, Waqar dispelled the impression that he was working like a dictator as he could not maintain smooth relationship with various captains in the past.

He admitted that grooming a strong opening pair was still a problem and asked prominent openers to come forward to help him in this regard.
“We have been facing problems in the opening department since long and I request former opening players like Mohsin Khan, Mudassar Nazar, Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar to come forward to help us,” he said.

Waqar also urged former great Javed Miandad to help youngsters, particularly at the top of the order.

“I believe anyone who can help me should come forward because we have to take Pakistan cricket forward in the right direction,” he said.

Waqar endorsed the decision of chief selector Mohsin Khan by saying a good number of young players would be tested in the upcoming one-day series against low-rated Zimbabwe, which is going to be held in August this year.

He said the decision of holding the fast track camp was good and hoped players would overcome their flaws.

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Waqar urges pakistan to groom young captain

Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis on Friday urged Pakistan to groom a young captain, worrying that age may catch up with the national squad’s current leader Misbah-ul-Haq.

Pakistan developed a mini captaincy crisis after Shahid Afridi abruptly quit Test cricket on a tour of England and his replacement, Salman Butt was banned in a spot-fixing scandal.

Afridi then quit international cricket over differences with Waqar, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to select Misbah. Although he has performed well, a younger leader needs to be found, Waqar said.

“Being 36-37 is not very young,” said Waqar. “He (Misbah) is very fit and has done very well as captain but age usually catches up, so we need to groom a young captain.”

With Afridi refusing to return under current PCB chairman Ijaz Butt, Misbah is set to lead Pakistan in all three forms of the game on a tour of Zimbabwe next month.

Pakistan plays one Test, three one-day and two Twenty20 matches. Waqar admitted Afridi will be missed.

“Every cricketer who leaves is missed, like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and then myself were missed and, of course, Afridi will also be missed but there are other youngsters who will take their place,” said Waqar.

He urged former greats such as Javed Miandad to help youngsters develop.

“Whatever help can come is good because we have to take Pakistan cricket forward,” said Waqar, who admitted that the team still suffers from batting problems, especially at the top of the order.

“Our problems in opening are old ones and we are trying to overcome these problems and I would urge former openers like Mohsin Khan, Saeed Anwar, Aamir Sohail and Mudassar Nazar to come and help the openers,” said Waqar.

Youngsters will be given a chance on the Zimbabwe tour, he added.

“Hopefully some new players will develop,” said Waqar who took charge as coach last year

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Harbhagan spoof ad pulled

A controversial advertisement in which India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni ridiculed team mate Harbhajan Singh has been yanked from the air, the alcohol company which ran the ad has said.

Harbhajan’s mother Avtar Kaur sent a legal notice to the Vijay Mallya-headed UB Group, which used Dhoni to poke fun at Harbhajan’s catchphrase from another ad promoting a rival brand.

“In the interest of the game of cricket, Mallya has graciously chosen to replace the current commercial,” the UB Group said in a statement on Friday, claiming Kaur had been misled by “vested interests with mischievous intent”.

“This gesture…is based on the larger national cricketing interests, particularly at time when the Indian team is engaged in a crucial cricket test series in the United Kingdom,” it added.

Spirit and airline magnate Mallya, who had earlier ruled out withdrawing the commercial, said on a micro-blogging site he has asked for a modified advertisement in the spirit of cricket

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Zaheer absense rock india

India suffered a major setback in being without spearhead fast bowler Zaheer Khan when play began on the second day of the first Test against England at Lord’s here on Friday.

Left-arm fast bowler Zaheer was the pick of India’s attack on Thursday’s first day with two wickets for 18 runs in 13.3 overs, when he suffered a hamstring injury and slowly walked off the field when England were 107 for two.

An India statement released before play started Friday confirmed Zaheer’s hamstring strain and said he was undergoing treatment by the team’s physiotherapist.

India are optimistic Zaheer will, at the very least, be fit to bowl come the second innings but, with Lord’s bathed in sunshine Friday and conditions for batting improving markedly from Thursday, the course of the match may have been determined by the time he returns.

The India statement said of Zaheer: “He may be unavailable to bowl (again) in the first innings but is likely to be fit to bowl in the second innings.”

Being without the 32-year-old Zaheer for any length of time would be a huge blow to India as he looked a class above fellow seamers Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma on Thursday.

And with India having selected just a four-man attack including off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer’s absence leaves India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni with few options in the field.

Zaheer removed both England openers, Alastair Cook and captain Andrew Strauss on Thursday.

But when he was off the field, England did not lose a wicket and resumed Friday on 127 for two.

Jonathan Trott was 58 not out and Kevin Pietersen 22 not out.

This match, the 2,000th Test of all time and the 100th between England and India, was also the first of a four-match series.

If England win the series by two clear Tests they will replace leaders India at the top of the ICC’s Test Championship table.

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Australia must change its ways: Haddin

Australia will have to change their ways if they are to avoid a third straight Test series defeat in Sri Lanka next month, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said on Friday.

Australia’s chances of qualifying for the ICC’s inaugural World Test Championship will dwindle further if they lose to the Sri Lankans.

Ranked fifth in the world, eight points behind fourth-placed Sri Lanka, Australia will slip a further five points from the top-four status required to qualify if beaten in the three-Test series.

But if they win the series, Australia will swap positions with Sri Lanka.

To gain a berth in the World Test Championship, Australia must be ranked in the top four by the cut-off date at the end of January 2013.

Australian cricket is in transition after the traumatic Ashes series loss to England at home last summer and away to India late last year.

Australia have made significant changes since those campaigns, appointing Michael Clarke as the new captain and bowling and fielding coaches in Craig McDermott and Steve Rixon respectively.

“We’ve just got to make sure we’re not doing the same things that we’re doing over the past 12 months, because we’re not getting the results,” Haddin told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“I don’t think it’s so much an important tour for individuals, it’s an important tour for our group.

“We’ve had a long break from Test cricket and everyone’s champing at the bit to get back involved.

“It’s important we get over there and make sure by the time that first Test comes we’re ready to play.

“We’re uncomfortable with the position we are in the rankings and we have to play some better cricket.”

The Australians leave next week for the ODI and Twenty20 leg of the Sri Lanka tour, while the Tests start at the end of next month

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India win toss and field against England

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to field against England in the first Test at Lord’s here on Thursday.

England left out fit-again seamer Tim Bresnan from a 12-man squad and selected the same side that drew the third Test against Sri Lanka to complete a 1-0 series win, with paceman Stuart Broad retaining his place.

India, opting to field in overcast, swing-friendly, conditions, including seamer Praveen Kumar and batsman Suresh Raina but omitted fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and World Cup-winning star Yuvraj Singh.

Abhinav Mukund played in the absence of injured India opener Virender Sehwag.

This is the 2,000th Test ever played and the 100th between England and India.

And it could see India great Sachin Tendulkar become the first batsman to score 100 international hundreds. He already has 51 in Tests and 48 in one-day internationals, both records.

If England, currently third in the ICC’s Test rankings, win this four-Test series by two matches they will displace leaders India at the top of the standings.

However, India are unbeaten in 10 series under Dhoni and have not lost a Test series against England since 1996, winning three and drawing two of the last five campaigns between the two countries.

Teams:

England: Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior (wkt), Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson

India: Gautam Gambhir, Abhinav Mukund, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wkt), Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma

Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL) and Asad Rauf (PAK)
TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)

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Another high point for the home of cricket

As England meet India in the first Test of the four-match series here, Lord’s — the home of cricket — reaches yet another landmark that of staging the 2000th Test of the game’s history which by coincidence also happens to be the hundredth traditional five-day contest between England and India.

It was in 1932 that India played their inaugural Test here at this venue, losing the match by 158 runs. The Indian team then besides their captain C.K. Nyadu had Jahangir Khan, Mohammad Nissar and brothers Wazir Ali and Nazir Ali and a man from Karachi Hindu Gymkhana Naoomal Jeeomal who made 33 as an opener and Wazir contributed 31 and 39.

Though in the losing cause the giant fast bowler Nissar who rattled men like Leslie Ames and Douglas Jardine and Eddie Paynter by taking five wickets for 93, Jahangir was no less effective when he claimed four for 60 in the second innings.

Since then India have played 14 more Tests at Lord’s, winning only in 1986 and ten Test defeats at the prime venue does not speak much of their outing here.

What really is most interesting is the fact that their record-breaking batting genius Sachin Tendulkar is on the verge of reaching his one hundred centuries in international cricket. Would he do that in this landmark Test is the question because he averages a mere 21.28 at Lord’s and his highest score here is only 37.

Whereas Saurav Ganguly and even Ajit Agarkar have scored a century each here in Tests, run-making machines like Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid have failed. Fascinating however is the performance of ‘The Colonel’ Dilip Vengsarkar who remains the only batsman to have scored three Test hundreds at the venue. Not forgetting of course the first great Indian all-rounder Vinoo Mankad who in the 1952 Test made 72 and 184 at this venue.

Great feats and unforgettable deeds are all recorded for posterity and thousands of pages are required to describe all.

Therefore, I shall restrict myself to some of the things I watched and reported from Lord’s.

What I am proud of the fact is that I remain the only media man in the press box to have also covered the 1000th Test and at no other place than on my own home ground at the Niaz Stadium Hyderabad in 1984-85 against New Zealand where Pakistan won the Test by seven wickets. In this match, Javed Miandad scored a hundred in each innings besides a century each by John Reid and Mudassar Nazar and Abdul Qadir, Iqbal Qasim and Stephen Boock excelled with the ball with 5-108, 5-78 and 7-87 respectively. And where Jeremy Coney, the captain showed his displeasure on umpiring decisions.

Astonishing, isn’t it, that in the first 107 years of Test cricket 1000 matches were played and the next 1000 — with the 2000th Test starting today — in just nearly 27 years.

At Lord’s I made my Test debut as a full-time reporter in the 1974 England-Pakistan game, a Test which had to be abandoned as a draw after complaints by the Pakistan team manager Omar Kureishi about the wet pitch on which the match should never have been resumed after rain.

I also watched Pakistan’s first win at Lord’s under Imran Khan in 1982, a match in which Mohsin Khan made a memorable double century and Mudassar bamboozled England batting with 6-32.

Gavaskar’s 188, and century each by Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting in MCC’s bicentenary match in 1987 still remain etched.

In my mind as does a masterly 187 not out by Hanif Mohammad in 1967 which I watched as a spectator. Not forgetting other feats that of Mohammad Yousuf scoring a double century in 2006 and Australian Bob Massie’s 16 wickets in the 1972 Ashes Test.

And how can I forget the great run chase here at Lord’s by legendary Gordon Greenidge when he made a double century in quest of over 300 runs target in 1984. Nor would I ever erase the memory from my mind of Graham Gooch’s 333 against India in 1990, the only triple century in Tests at Lord’s 123 matches and Mohammad Azharuddin’s 121 in the same match.

And then of course Kapil Dev hitting four successive sixes off Eddie Hemmings to save India’s follow-on when 24 runs were needed to avoid it in the same match.

The Test at Lord’s starting on Thursday will be fifth at the venue for Sachin Tendulkar, and most probably his last

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Dhoni's World Cup final bat fetches $160,500

The cricket bat used by India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to hit a match-winning six in the World Cup final has fetched a staggering 100,000 pounds ($160,500) at an auction, media reported Tuesday.

The auction was held in London on Monday to raise funds for his charitable foundation that was launched in India last year, the Press Trust of India news agency said.

The Indian captain, who scored an unbeaten 79-ball 91 with the bat in his team’s six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the final in Mumbai in April, sealed the match when he smashed seamer Nuwan Kulasekara for six.

Dhoni said that the charity will work on “improving children’s accessibility to cricket by building a sports academy where children will be able to develop their talents across a whole range of disciplines.”

He is currently leading the side in England for a four-Test series starting at Lord’s on Thursday.

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PCB to consider 'constructive' Task Team proposals only

The Pakistan Cricket Board has softened its hard-line stance on recommendations proposed in an International Cricket Council (ICC) report on improving the organisation of the sport in the South-Asian country.

The ICC ordered a Task Team to compile a report on Pakistan cricket in the wake of the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore and last year’s spot-fixing scandal but the PCB rejected a majority of the unit’s observations last week.

However, PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad told Reuters on Tuesday that the board had only dismissed the recommendations it felt were redundant or based on inaccurate information.

“The constructive recommendations and proposals by the Task Team which are good for Pakistan cricket are under consideration,” Ahmad insisted.

“We are looking at ways to implement them soon.”

The Task Team, headed by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Giles Clarke, put forward a number of reforms for Pakistan cricket and Ahmad dismissed suggestions that the PCB’s initial cold response had soured relations with the ICC.

“We appreciate the ICC and Task Team’s intentions to help and support Pakistan cricket.  Our relations remain very good and there is no confrontation on this matter,” he said.

One of the recommendations would see a democratic system of governance in Pakistan put in place, with the powers of the chairman being reduced and transferred to a chief executive.

The report also wants a reduction in the involvement of the country’s president, who is chief patron of board affairs and responsible for appointing its chairman.

Ahmad said the PCB’s main issue was that the Task Team did not visit Pakistan while compiling the report apart from ICC official Dave Richardson, who spent a few days in Karachi last year.

“We told the Task Team many times that they needed to visit Pakistan while compiling their report,” Ahmad said, adding that the board would still welcome any proposed trips by members of the panel to Pakistan.

Ahmad confirmed that PCB chairman Ijaz Butt would be at Lord’s for the 2,000th test celebrations this week when England host India and would hold informal talks with the ICC and Task Team members over the report and a proposed visit to Pakistan.

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ICC ponders 'timeless' Test

The new world Test championship could witness the first ‘timeless’ Test in more than 70 years, according to Haroon Lorgat.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive said the format, where matches are played to a finish, regardless of time constraints, could be revived for the final of a four-team tournament to determine the world’s leading Test side due to take place in England in 2013.

Currently Tests are limited to five days, usually with six hours’ playing time, but can end in a draw if bad weather interrupts the match or either side cannot bowl out the other twice.

“It is common knowledge that we hope in 2013 the top four teams will be involved in two semi-finals and a final to determine a world Test champion,” Lorgat said.

“The committee is currently working on it but it is not a good idea to end up with a drawn Test match.

“Whether (drawn games) are decided on a first-innings basis or on runs scored in the game we don’t know but they will come up with a viable formula to determine a winner.

“The final may be a timeless Test, at this stage we don’t know but we are looking into the mechanics.”

The last ‘timeless’ Test took place between South Africa and England at Durban in 1939 which was eventually declared a draw after nine’ days play spread across 12 days in all.

A draw ensued when the England team had to leave or they would have missed the boat home. England’s fourth innings total of 654 for five remains a record for a first-class match and the ‘timeless’ Test remains the longest yet played.

“Statistics tell us that most Test matches now produce a result inside five days, but it may yet be a timeless Test,” added Lorgat.

“It is a work in progress but I would favour finding a winner because you want a world champion,” the South African explained.

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Azhar says facing quick bowlers big challenge

Pakistan’s talented top-order batsman Azhar Ali has stated that facing genuine quick bowlers in the ongoing training camp in Lahore is a real challenge and good training for the batsmen.

Speaking to media at the National Academy, Azhar stated that batting in the camp was a test of nerves and skills as some of the quickest bowlers in the country were bowling full throttle in a bid to impress the national selectors.

The fast track camp includes bowlers like Mohammad Talha, Sohail Khan, and Aizaz Cheema amongst others. These three, in particular, can bowl at speeds around the 140km mark and Azhar said that the batsmen, including himself, were getting a proper workout against them.

Azhar added that the camp was proving very useful for the batsmen and the two batting coaches — chief selector Mohsin Khan and Ijaz Ahmed — were working very hard with the players.

“The camp has taught me how to build the innings in the five-day games and I have pretty much identified the reasons for my failure in converting the fifties into hundreds during the Test matches,” said Azhar.

The 26-year-old right-hander has been impressive in his Test career thus far, scoring 783 runs at an average of 38 including eight half-centuries in the 12 Tests that he has played since making his debut against Australia at Lord’s last year. His best score is a fluent 92 not out that he made against England at The Oval

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