India in South Africa

Rain brightened India's chances of saving the "officially unofficial" Test at Centurion. The Indian openers, Das and Williams, saw out a crucial two and a half hour pre lunch session before rain intervened. When play was finally called of for the day after heavy showers ruled the outfield unplayable. India were 118-2, with Dravid and Tendulkar at the crease. India needs to bat out the entire day to try and save the match.

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The Shewag episode took one more twist after the ICC reacted to the BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya's statement that Virendra Sehwag would be eligible to play for the first Test at Mohali.
The ICC has reportedly informed the official match referee of the England-India series DT Lindsay of South Africa that since the Centurion match was stripped of its official status Shewag would not be allowed to play the Mohali Test.

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South Africa's left arm spinner Nicky Boje is unlikely to make the all-important tour of Australia. Boje who was operated upon a while ago on his knee made a come back in the ongoing series against India.
He has reported a recurrence of the problem and is likely to consult a specialist at the end of this Test. Claude Henderson has been kept on standby for the tour if Boje cannot make it.

Zimbabwe in Bangladesh

Nasser Hussain said he was more or less clear about the composition of his team for the first Test beginning at Mohali on December 3.
England play a three day game at Jaipur today against India A. Lancashire's hard hitting all-rounder Andrew Flintoff arrived in India a couple of days ago and is expected to play the game.
Flintoff was enthusiastic about his sudden summons to join the team in India said he was willing to do anything including opening the bowling, to be in the side.

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The England skipper Nasser Hussain said the preparations of his team in India has been hampered by the controversies raging off-field over the Mike Denness affair. He said he felt embarrassed over the entire episode and that cricket had been the looser in the entire fiasco.

New Zealand in Australia

Rain helped New Zealand to a draw on the final day of the second Test against Australia at Hobart yesterday. The final Test begins at Perth on Friday and the Australian skipper said all the pressure would be on the visitors to save the game. Waugh said his team was playing well and there was not reason why his team would not win the third Test at Perth.

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The New Zealand team currently in Australia have reportedly sent an SOS to Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee to assist with their pace attack.
Lillee has been providing coaching for many years from Western Australia and has already been sent a tape of Chris Cairns's bowling and been spoken to, by the Kiwi tour management.
Fleming said he was concerned about the bowling department and felt it needed a big overhaul. After nearly upsetting the applecart of Australia in the first Test and holding out to a rain affected draw in the second the New Zealand skipper said he was confident of putting on a good show in the third and final Test of the series.

Zimbabwe in Bangladesh

Zimbabwe completed the rout of Bangladesh by winning the three match one day series 3-0 as they coasted to a 7 wicket win in the third one-day at Dhaka yesterday.
Batting first the home side managed only 215, which the visitors overhauled in the last over helped largely by to a first wicket stand of 107 between G Flower (40) and D Ebrahim (84).
Skipper Carlisle was unbeaten on 55. Zimbabwe will leave to Sri Lanka to participate in a tri-nation one-day tournament featuring the hosts and West Indies that begins on 8 December.

Miscellaneous

The PCB that had appointed a panel of experts to look into the mechanics of the fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar's right arm.will be sending footage to the University of Western Australia that will show there is "nothing wrong" with his action.
The bowler was reported for a suspect action recently one-day final in Sharjah. Former Pakistan bowlers Iqbal Sikander, Ejaz Fakih and Mohsin Kamal, along with a PCB appointed panel of doctors, had viewed the Sharjah footage and would submit a written report soon.

SCORES AT A GLANCE

India vs South Africa (3rd Test Unofficial, Day 4)
Played at Centurion
Toss: South Africa
India:

232-9 (SS Das 46, D Dasgupta 36, A Kumble 27, Harbhajan Singh 29; Hayward 4-74)
118-2 (SS Das 48, CC Williams 42)
South Africa:
566-8 decl (H Gibbs 59, G Kirsten 90, J Kallis 110, N McKenzie 33, S Pollock 113 not out, M Ntini 34 not out; J Srinath 2-94)

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Australia vs New Zealand (2nd Test day 5)
Played at Hobart
Toss: New Zealand

Australia: 588-8 decl (J Langer 123, M Hayden 91,Ponting not out 157, A Gilchrist 39, SK Warne 70; D Vettori 5-138)
New Zealand: 243-7 (M Richardson 30, S Fleming 71, C McMillan 55; J Gillespie 3-45)
Result: Match Drawn (Play was called of on the fifth day after heavy rains)
Man of the match: RT Ponting (Aus)

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Bangaldesh vs Zimbabwe (3rd ODI)
Played at Dhaka
Toss: Zimbabwe
Bangladesh: 215 in 48.1 overs (Javed Omar 54, Al Shariar Rokon 59; HH Streak 3-26)
Zimbabwe: 219-3 (G Flower 40, D Ebrahim 84, S Carlisle 55, Enamul Hoque 2-52)
Result: Zimbabwe won by 7 wickets
Man of the match: DD Ebrahim (Zim)
Man of the series: DD Ebrahim (Zim)

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