England in India

England's performance in the second one-day international in Cuttack has left Nasser Hussain and Duncan Fletcher with a selection dilemma.

The team's 16-run win may persuade captain and coach to leave well alone for Friday's day-night game in Madras.

But that would mean leaving batsman Graham Thorpe and fast bowler Andrew Caddick on the sidelines again.

Thorpe's untimely stomach bug in Calcutta gave Michael Vaughan his chance and the Yorkshireman made 63 in the second game. Caddick, meanwhile, has had to watch Matthew Hoggard share the new ball with his regular partner Darren Gough.

"It's the first time I've been in this position with England where we've had two quality players sitting on the bench," said Fletcher.

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Indian captain Sourav Ganguly could miss the third one-day international against England in Madras.

"Sourav pulled a hamstring when he bent to pick up a ball during a routine fielding drill. He is most unlikely to play "The physiotherapist seems to believe that Sourav's out of this match. He's having tests conducted as I speak to you," coach John Wright told reporters.

The selectors will meet with Wright and his senior players on Friday morning to decide who should lead the team in Ganguly's absence.

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble is an obvious candidate, but they could revert to former skipper Sachin Tendulkar.

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Darren Gough is nursing a shin injury ahead of England's third one-day international against India on Friday.

If the fast bowler doesn't make it, Andy Caddick is likely to step in.

"Darren Gough's got a slight shin stress," said coach Duncan Fletcher.

Pakistan in Bangladesh

2nd one-day international in Dhaka:
Pakistan 281-5 (50 overs) beat Bangladesh 209-8 (50 overs) by 72 runs.

Crowd trouble, which resulted in Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar being hurt by a flying brick took the shine off their series-clinching win at the Bangabhandu Stadium.

Bangladesh were 77 for two in the 17th over of their innings when Akhtar was hit while fielding at cover.

He was taken to hospital for treatment and the game was held up for several minutes before resuming with 12th man Shoaib Malik taking his place.

A brilliant 112 not out off 108 balls by Yousuf Youhana paved the way to a big total by Pakistan, but 18-year-old Tushar Imran's 65 offered promise for the home side as they fell well short of their target.

Pakistan's tour comes to an end on Saturday when the two teams meet again for the final one-day game.

Triangular in Australia

Australian captain Steve Waugh has been accused of insensitivity over a remark he made about South African Steve Elworthy.

The fast bowler was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Glenn McGrath during Tuesday's one-day international in Sydney.

He later underwent a precautionary brain scan and no serious injury was discovered. But as South African skipper Shaun Pollock told journalists about Elworthy's condition at a post-match news conference, Waugh was overheard to say: "Yeah, and I bet they didn't find a brain either."

The remark, made to Australian Cricket Board media manager Brian Murgatroyd, angered members of the South African media, who accused Waugh of being callous.

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New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming believes the arrival of all-rounder Nathan Astle has given them a major boost as they face up to three one-day games in the space of four days.

"He's our best one-day batsman," said Fleming. "He was in form before coming over here and offers a lot - opening the innings aggressively, and also with the ball. We're delighted to have him back."

The Kiwis currently head the VB Series table and have the chance to clinch a place in the final this weekend when they play Australia and South Africa in Adelaide.

Miscellaneous

England batsman Usman Afzaal has signed a new three-year contract with Nottinghamshire. His new deal will run until the end of the 2004 season.

"After improving my cricket so much under Clive Rice at Notts and getting into the England team, I was only too happy to sign for the next three years," the 24-year-old said.

"It's going to be an exciting time ahead at Trent Bridge and I aim to be part of the team that gets this club back in the First Division of the County Championship where we belong and hopefully lifts a few trophies along the way."

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Michael Slater is taking full break from cricket and won't be returning to his club side this weekend as planned.

Slater's Sydney club, the University of New South Wales, has announced the former Australian opening batsman would not be appearing in first grade this weekend despite being named in the side earlier in the week.

A statement said Slater would take some time off after being dropped from the NSW state side earlier this week.

Under-19 World Cup

Group A:
Bangladesh 78-8 (32.2 overs) beat India 77 all out (32.4 overs) by two wickets

The third major surprise of the Under-19 World Cup on Thursday saw Bangladesh upset holders India in a low-scoring encounter in Auckland.

The result follows Nepal's defeat of Pakistan and Namibia's beating Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

India began their defence of the title with convincing wins over Canada and South Africa to qualify for the second round Super League.

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Group B:
Sri Lanka 206-9 (50 overs) beat Zimbabwe 143 all out (44.2 overs) by 63 runs.

Sri Lanka qualified for the second round though, at the expense of Zimbabwe, thanks to record-breakers Sumalka Perera and Jeevan Mendis.

Leg-spinner Mendis took seven wickets for 19 runs - an Under-19 World Cup record - after Zimbabwe had made their way to a comfortable 102 for three, pursuing 207 for victory.

Wicket-keeper Sylvester made four stumpings, all of them from Mendis, and four catches in the innings - also a tournament record.

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Group D:
West Indies 115-1 (21 overs) beat Kenya 114 all out (49.3 overs) by nine wickets.

Already through to the next round, the West Indies continued their domination of Group D, defeating Kenya by nine wickets at Dunedin.

Kenya were all out for just 114, leg-spinner Ron Matthews wreaking the damage taking four for 17.

England Women in India

India 182-4 (46.4 overs) beat England 180-6 (50 overs) by 5 wickets.

England's highest score of the series was not enough as Shinde Amrita's first international half century enabled India to complete a 5-0 triumph.

Clare Connor's side have now lost nine one-day games in a row since beating Sri Lanka at the 2000 World Cup in New Zealand.

But once again there was consolation in the performance of Arran Thompson and Caroline Atkins. They both made half centuries and shared a stand of 134 after setting a new women's world record for the first wicket with a partnership of 200 in the Test match at Lucknow.

A total of 180 gave England a chance to apply some pressure in the field but Amrita hit 11 fours in her 78 before she was dismissed with India just 15 runs short of their target.

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