Zimbabwe in India

India's captain Sourav Ganguly faces a nail-biting couple of days as the Indian cricket board decides on his fate on Wednesday.

Ganguly is thought to be clinging on to his job by a fingernail after allowing a 3-1 series lead against India in the recently-completed one-day series to evaporate.

Nasser Hussain's tenacious England side fought back to grab a 3-3 draw with exciting wins in Kanpur and Bombay.

India's exhausting schedule continues with two Tests at home against Zimbabwe starting on 21 February.

England in New Zealand

England captain Nasser Hussain has challenged his team to maintain the momentum gained in India when they begin a five-match one-day series against New Zealand on Wednesday.

Hussain's men came from 3-1 down to force a 3-3 draw in the sub-continent and he believes it is important they make a good start to the second leg of their winter programme.

"We are playing some good cricket and we want to prove that coming back in India was not a flash in the pan," he said.

"I'm pleased with the way we are gelling as a team and I'm pleased with the way we are showing character and fight, but there is a lot more we have got to learn about one-day cricket.

"You don't go from where we were ranked to becoming world champions in 11 matches and we are going to have to progress very slowly."

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England's hopes in the forthcoming one-day series have been boosted by an injury to New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond.

The emerging pace sensation was earmarked as a major threat to the tourists during the five-match series, which begins in Christchurch on Wednesday.

Bond had just returned from his first overseas tour having won man-of-the series for his 21 wickets in the triangular tournament against South Africa and Australia.

But he may miss the the remainder of England's New Zealand tour after suffering a suspected stress fracture to his left foot.

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England Coach Duncan Fletcher heaped praise on Andrew Flintoff and Owais Shah after they steered their side to a five-wicket victory over Northern Districts in Hamilton.

Flintoff returned to the line-up after missing the first one-day match against the same opposition on Friday that resulted in a three-wicket loss for England and made an immediate impact.

The 24-year-old took 3-20 to help skittle Northern Districts out for 160 then smashed an unbeaten 45 from just 25 balls to share in a 67-run partnership with Owais Shah as England collapsed to 96-5.

Shah showed enormous character playing a supporting role to Flintoff and scoring a crucial undefeated 29.

Australia vs South Africa

Australia are likely to keep faith with veteran batsman Mark Waugh in the forthcoming Test series in South Africa.

Waugh, the twin brother of skipper Steve, averaged 32.25 in the three home Tests between the two sides, and was also below his best in the VB Series one-day competition.

The pressure on him has been increased with the inclusion of Darren Lehmann in the touring party.

But selector Allan Border has indicated that Waugh is likely to play in next weekend's tour opener against South Africa A and the opening Test in Johannesburg.

Miscellaneous

The International Cricket Council are planning a meeting with the outspoken Sunil Gavaskar.

The former Indian batsman will be questioned about a possible conflict of interests between his newspaper column and serving the world's governing body as a committee member.

The ICC received an official complaint from England relating to comments he made in his newspaper column.

Gavaskar firstly criticised England as being "boring" during the Test series before Christmas and then claimed they were "champion whingers of the world", during the recent one-day international series.

England coach Duncan Fletcher was so incensed he broke with convention and issued a statement over Gavaskar's comments, questioning whether the chairman of the ICC's Cricket Committee (Playing) should be issuing public statements.

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Matthew Hayden has been named as the latest winner of the coveted Allan Border Medal, the award which recognises Australia's cricketer of the year.

The opening batsman polled 61 votes to finish ahead of spin bowler Shane Warne with 54 and third-placed Adam Gilchrist on 51.

Hayden, Queensland's stylish left-hander, had earlier won the Test player award and his consistency in the five-day format proved decisive in the overall award voting.

Images

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Pakistan captain Waqar Younis has set his sights on beating Australia after their 2-0 series win against the West Indies.

Waqar passed the milestone of taking 350 Test wickets as Pakistan won by 244 runs in the second match at Sharjah.

And he said that he now wants to crack the 400 wicket landmark. "This was a satisfying series win, but our real test will come when we meet Australia," Waqar said.

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England fans will have to pay "ridiculously low prices" to watch Nasser Hussain's men in next year's World Cup.

The package to follow England through their group matches of the tournament in South Africa will cost just 755 rand (£47).

Tickets will be available over the internet, through a dedicated telephone call centre and at the individual venues.

Dr Ali Bacher, executive director of the tournament's organising committee, said the economic realities in different geographic areas in South Africa had played a part in determining ticket prices for each venue.

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