India to South Africa

Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly finally gets his wish - a full strength Indian squad for the long and arduous tour of South Africa. Sachin Tendulkar, J Srinath, A Kumble, VVS Laxman, Ashish Nehra all come back from injuries to join the squad once more. Test opener Shiv Sunder Das has been rewarded with a place in the one-day side for his consistent Test batting performances. A new wicket keeper in the form of Bengal's Deep Dasgupta joins the team replacing Sameer Dighe.
The full team announced in Mumbai yesterday is as follows: Sourav Ganguly (Bengal, Capt), Rahul Dravid (Karnataka, Vice Capt), Deep Dasgupta (Bengal, wk), Sachin Tendulkar (Mumbai), VVS Laxman (Hyderabad), Anil Kumble (Karnataka), Yuvraj Singh (Punjab), Virendra Sehwag (Delhi), Harbhajan Singh (Punjab), Javagal Srinath (Karnataka), Ashish Nehra (Delhi), Reetinder Singh Sodhi (Punjab), Shiv Sunder Das (Orissa), Zaheer Khan (Baroda), Venkatesh Prasad, (Karnataka).

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The BCCI has denied all reports appearing in the media that the Indian skipper was recovering from an injury sustained in the final Test of the Sri Lankan tour. The team physio who reportedly diagnosed Ganguly's condition as a pelvic ligament tear/strain said it would require two weeks to heal. The chairman of selectors Chandu Borde however vaguely touched upon Ganguly's injury saying it was just a simple stomach ailment and would be all right in two weeks time.

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Meanwhile the selectors have put five players on standby just in case any of the players selected for the South African tour are found unfit when the BCCI conducts a fitness test on September 23. The players will assemble in Mumbai and will be examined by Dr Anant Joshi.

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It has been reported that a hostile reception awaits the Indian team in South Africa as it is generally felt that India was responsible for the fall Hansie Croje, one of the country's sporting hero.

Asian Test Championships

Bangladesh are facing the prospect of being handed their second defeat in three days in the second (ATC) match against Sri Lanka in Colombo. The home team declared their first innings closed at 555-5 after two of their batsmen Marvan Atapattu (201) and Mahela Jayawardene (150) "retired out" after their respective milestones were reached. Bangladesh in reply were 100-4 fighting to stall off the dangerous Muthiah Muralitharan (3-31) and yet another Test defeat. Meanwhile, Atapattu scored the fifth double hundred of his career, only Don Bradman (12), Wally Hammond (7) and Javed Miandad (6) have scored more double hundreds than Atapattu in Test cricket history.

South Africa in Zimbabwe

The South Africa batsman badgered a hapless Zimbabwean bowling side piling up 414-1 on the first day of the first Test at Harare yesterday. A double century from G Kirsten (202 not out) and HH Gibbs (147) put on an opening stand of 256 runs before Gibbs was out. The agony for the home side continued with Kallis joining Kirsten and remaining unbeaten on 56.

New Zealand to Pakistan

Adam Parore's inconsistent form in Sri Lanka has resulted in him being axed as the keeper for the three match one -day series against Pakistan beginning next week. Chris Nevin who is currently playing for the New Zealand A side in a club tournament in India will be tried instead. All rounder Glen Sulzberger has been included in the side in the place of Grant Bradburn.
The full side for the three one-dayers, to be played on 19, 21 and 25 of this month are as follows.
Stephen Fleming (Capt), Chris Nevin (WK), Nathan Astle, James Franklin, Chris Harris, Craig McMillan, Kyle Mills, Dion Nash, Jacob Oram, Mathew Sinclair, Glen Sulzberger, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori, Lou Vincent.

Miscellaneous

Former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding believes that the current all conquering Australian side are not a patch on the great West Indian team of the 70's and 80's.
Holding said that 12 of Australia's 16 wins came at home, while the West Indians won 15 years on the trot both away from home and at home and that too much before the advent of neutral umpires. However among the current lot of teams playing international cricket the Australians are by far the best team, he said.

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Former England batsman Graeme Hick and now the Worcestershire skipper moved on par with the great Sir Don Bradman when he scored his 117th first class hundred. He made 200 not out against Durham in the division two match at Chester le Street to bring up an unique record. Hick is also the only player ever to score a hundred against every county side both home and away.

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Darren Gough reportedly informed the England's chairman of selectors David Graveney that he wished to opt out of the Indian tour and was informed by the latter that Gough's opting out would not affect his place for the following tour of New Zealand. But Gough was not included in the team to New Zealand following his decision not to tour India. Gough said he had informed the selectors well in advance of his decision not to tour to enable them to pick some one else for the tour of India.

SCORES AT A GLANCE

Asian Test Championships (2nd match)
Sri Lanka v Bangladesh at Colombo (SSC) 2nd day
Toss:Sri Lanka
Bangladesh:90 (Mohd Ashraful 26; Muralitharan 5-13, Vaas 3-47)
100-4 (Javed Omar 40; M Muralitharan 3-31)
Sri Lanka: 555-5 decl (M Atapattu 201 rtd, S Jayasuriya 89, K Sangakara 54, M Jayawardene 150 rtd; Naimur Rahman 2-117)

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South Africa v Zimbabwe (1st Test)
Played at Harare (1st day)
Toss: South Africa
South Africa:414-1 (H Gibbs 147, G Kirsten 202 not out, J Kallis 56 not out).

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