India's tour of West Indies

India, attempting to solve their problems at the top of the batting order, have decided to rest six of their top players for the three-day tour match against a Busta XI side which starts on Friday.

Vangipurappu Laxman will lead the tourists in the absence of captain Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Javagal Srinath and left-arm pacemen Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan.

India won the second Test in Port of Spain by 37 runs earlier this week to take a 1-0 lead over West Indies in the five-match series.

"We have decided to rest some of the top players after the Trinidad win," Ganguly told Reuters on Thursday.

"The other players need to get some real cricket and we'd like to address some of our areas of concern here -- the opening slot for one."

New Zealand's tour of Pakistan

Pakistan are considering changes for the final one-day international against New Zealand after taking a 2-0 lead in the series with a three-wicket victory in Rawalpindi.

Waqar Younis' side have now won six of their last seven one-day games against the Kiwis and are keen to maintain their current form through to the World Cup next February.

But skipper Waqar has indicated that it is now time to give one of two youngsters their chance. Batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, all-rounders Yasir Arafat and Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Mohammad Sami are all waiting in the wings.

"I hope a couple of youngsters will be given a chance to play in Lahore since we have already won the series," said Waqar.

Muralitharan's shoulder injury

Sri Lankan spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan has arrived in Australia for treatment on his injured shoulder - and voiced the aim of taking 600 Test wickets before he retires.

Muralitharan suffered a slight dislocation and torn ligaments in his left shoulder during the recent Sharjah Cup tournament and has flown to Melbourne to consult surgeon David Young.

The rest of the Sri Lankan squad are keeping their fingers crossed that he will recover in time to play some part in the forthcoming three-Test series in England.

Miscellaneous

Having finally proved himself at international level, Andrew Flintoff is determined not to let a permanent place in the England side slip from his grasp.

He is one of the 11 players given central contracts by the England and Wales Cricket Board and is now preparing for the Test series against Sri Lanka.

"I have got a start now, and I aim to build on my place in the team," Flintoff said. "I have worked hard throughout the winter as well as now that I have come back from the tours."

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