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South Africa’s coach, Micky Arthur, has said that the gameplan will be to score at least 300 if they bat first in the third one-day international at Chennai on Tuesday. He is also well aware of how crucial the toss could be in the day/night encounter.”The toss will be crucial due to the dew factor. We will bat first, if we win the toss,” said Arthur. “A total of around 300 will be the goal to achieve a win.” However, he would be drawn on the make-up of the South Africa side, “the team will be decided after seeing the conditions on Tuesday morning.”After the defeat at Bangalore Graeme Smith said he had given his spinners a decent bowl as they could play a vital role later in the series. But Arthur says the balance of the attack is not yet settled and isn’t ruling out changes.”We have to discuss it depending on the conditions on the day of the match. It all depends on the weather conditions and accordingly we will pick a bowler or a batsman under the super-sub facility.””Ours is a side that is trying to look up but the players are young and are learning… Each one of them has the potential to do his business according to what he is toldWhen comparing the two teams Arthur pinpoints the Indian team’s depth in batting as a key factor. In the first ODI at Hyderabad they recovered from 35 for 5 to post 249 – although South Africa still managed to chase them down. In the second match India shuffled their batting and Virendar Sehwag guided them to victory from No. 4.”Our team is not as experienced as India,” Arthur said, “but we are creating a good atmosphere for the youngsters who are shaping up superbly. They are working very hard. It is all about team culture and philosophy. The players know what is expected of them and they deliver.”

ScorecardKaru Jain struck a brilliant maiden one-day century as India completed a 4-1 series win over England with a convincing 38-run victory at Kolkata. Jain’s 103 formed the backbone of India’s impressive 243 for 4 – the highest total of the series – and although England made a valiant attempt they fell well short.After being put into bat, Jain and Jaya Sharman launched the Indian innings with a stand of 139 in 28 overs. Jenny Gunn was the only bowler to escape the punishment as her ten overs cost just 23. Arran Brindle eventually broke the stand but Jain marched on. She was run out by Brindle after facing 147 balls and striking 15 boundaries.Anjum Chopra provide some late impetus to the innings with 26 off 21 balls, while the England attack will have disappointed with the 16 wides they gave away.In the fourth match of the series England were dismissed for just 50, and a repeat was on the cards when they sank to 26 for 4 in the 13th over of the chase. Jhulan Goswami, who took 5 for 16 in the last match, was again outstanding with the new ball. Her ten overs cost a miserly 11 runs, putting England well behind the required rate.However, Brindle and Lydia Greenway showed some impressive fight by adding 89 in 19 overs. Brindle stroked seven boundaries in her 52, while Greenway hit three in her 57-ball 40. But they couldn’t overcome such a poor start and the tail was left with too much to do.

Less than twenty four hours after the national selectors decided to wield the axe on Sourav Ganguly, the Indian board started desperately pursuing damage control. What triggered the panic button was not the extent or intensity of mass protests, which were predictable, but outrage expressed across the political spectrum.Sharad Pawar, the BCCI president, who categorically claimed that he was not party to the decision, told the , “As a cricket lover, I am hurt and shocked over the exclusion of Ganguly. In the Delhi Test his performance was satisfactory. Also, he was a victorious captain and we feel proud of him”.Already, moves are on behind the scenes to review the issue and to, if possible, provide Ganguly with a more dignified exit. Pawar has let it be known that it is “my prerogative” to sit with the selectors in the next “two or three days” to “understand” what actually happened. The scheduled selection committee meeting on December 22 and 23 thus assumes considerable significance.Principal among the various `rehabilitation’ measures being discussed is the one whereby Ganguly will be included for the upcoming tour of Pakistan as one final appearance for the national side. This is to enable him a “Steve Waugh-like exit” and even if he were to score two consecutive hundreds there it would make no difference.After the defeat of the Jagmohan Dalmiya camp – believed to have solidly stood behind Ganguly on all occasions – in the recent board elections the latest selectorial decision is being widely seen as vindictive on the part of the new incumbents.Pranab Mukherjee, India’s defence minister and Pawar’s cabinet colleague, and Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, West Bengal’s chief minister, were among those who criticised the dropping of the former captain from the team.”I think we should not play politics in cricket. He is a good player and should be in the team,” Mukherjee was quoted by AFP. Bhattacharjee supported his state’s most successful cricketer ever, saying: “This is unjust … It is an insult to Sourav and to all of us.””Extraneous factors are deciding all these things, and a dirty game is on,” said Mohammad Salim, the Marxist member of parliament, whose party is an ally of the central government. Gurudas Dasgupta, the Communist Party of India MP, said, “throwing out Sourav is the worst kind of politics”. He has also shot off a letter to the board president on the issue.The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s Arun Jaitley, the Samajwadi Party’s Amar Singh and the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Laloo Prasad Yadav too complained in parliament about the “unfair” treatment meted out to Ganguly. Somnath Chatterjee, the parliament speaker, has reportedly spoken to Praful Patel, a Pawar confidante and central government minister, on the issue and the need to make amends for Ganguly.Prominent people from other walks of life have also joined the chorus against Ganguly’s ouster. Soumitra Chatterjee, legendary hero of many a Satyajit Ray film, claimed that, “It’s an act of treachery to cricket that has polluted the sport’s atmosphere”.Ganguly had scored 40 and 39 in the second Test against Sri Lanka at Delhi. After the match the selection committee met and announced the squad for the final Test at Ahmedabad. The selectors explained Ganguly’s exclusion on the grounds of retaining the in-form Yuvraj Singh in the playing XI as part of the team’s nurturing of younger talents and its build up to the 2007 World Cup. But, according to critics, this position contradicted the selectors’ earlier promise not to tamper with winning combinations.The selectors, on their part, have said that the decision was “not motivated or made in a hurry”. Kiran More, the chairman of selectors, said that “our decision is final. We will not change it”.

England’s Ashes winning squad are all set to be named in the New Year’s Honours List when it is announced tomorrow. It is expected that Michael Vaughan and Duncan Fletcher will receive OBEs while the rest of the squad will get MBEs.This would follow a similar pattern to the rugby World Cup winning squad from 2003, when the whole team was honoured including a knighthood for Clive Woodward. This latest recognition would continue the stream of accolades which have come the way of the team since they regained the Ashes at The Oval in September.Andrew Flintoff was named Sports Personality of the Year while England took the team award. Duncan Fletcher has also been previously honoured for his coaching efforts.

The defending champions Pakistan have plenty of hard work ahead of them if they are going to retain their Under-19 World crown in Sri Lanka next month.History is against them, for a start: no team has ever won back-to-back titles. In fact, only one team has ever won the tournament more than once; Australia taking the title in 1988 and 2002.Pakistan are about to discover that to be the defending champions is to be hunted rather than the hunter – every other side will be eager to claim their scalp. That is a pressure the players will have to cope with in every match.On top of that, Pakistan’s form coming into the tournament has been modest as they finished a disappointing fourth behind India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the Afro-Asian Under-19 Cup in India last November.However, the last thing any pundit can do is to write them off before a ball has been bowled in anger because there are also several factors that will count in their favour in Colombo.The tournament is, after all, taking place on the sub-continent and that should be a help to the Pakistan players whose experience will be based almost exclusively on playing in extreme heat on dry, turning surfaces.They have a decent draw too, as although Bangladesh (who beat them by one wicket in a thrilling encounter in the Afro-Asian U19 Cup) are in their group, so too are New Zealand – whose players will be in alien conditions – and the Associate side Uganda.Also in Pakistan’s favour is the fact they still have the nucleus of the side that won the trophy in Bangladesh two years ago. The experience those older players have, especially if they make it to the latter stages, could prove crucial.And while history says no team has ever successfully defended the title, it also shows Pakistan have a proud record that will be the envy of several other teams taking part.After reaching the final of the first tournament in 1988 when a side including Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mushtaq Ahmed lost to Australia by five wickets, they have reached the Super League stage on every occasion since, something only India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka can match.And as a further positive for the side, they will arrive in Sri Lanka with high-quality match-play under their belts thanks to a five-match series against the West Indies that is currently taking place in Pakistan.Pakistan will be expecting plenty from Muhammad Ibrahim with the bat. He is a righthander who batted at No 3 in the first two matches of the West Indies series, scoring 65 and 56. He also bowls some medium pace which gives his side extra options in the field.Two other key performers with the bat are hidden away in the middle order – the left-handed duo of captain Safaraz Ahmed and Ali Asad.Both made runs in that disappointing Afro-Asian U/19 Cup campaign with Safaraz, who also keeps wicket, scoring fifties against South Africa and Bangladesh while Ali Asad made an unbeaten 79 in that match against South Africa.That innings saw his side to one of only two wins they enjoyed in the tournament and Ali Asad showed his abilities to finish off a match again this week with an unbeaten 70 from 77 balls to take Pakistan to victory over the West Indies in Karachi.All-rounder Ali Khan and the left-handed Nasir Jamshaid have opened against the West Indies while Riaz Kail, Rameez Raja and Laiq Muhammad will all be vying for middle-order berths.Left-armer Jamshaid Ahmed and Anwer Ali Khan, a right-arm fast bowler, have taken the new ball in the early matches against the West Indies with seam support from Muhammad Ibrahim and Laiq Muhammad.There are no frontline legspinners in the Pakistan squad, although Riaz Kail and Muhammad Malik (off-spin) and Syed Wasim and Muhammad Fahim (left-arm) can provide slow-bowling options.There is no doubt Pakistan’s task to win the title again is a tough one but if they can get through the group stage then anything is possible, especially as the draw means they will avoid both favourites India and the hosts Sri Lanka in the Super League quarter-finals.Pakistan squad Safaraz Ahmed (captain), Nasir Jamshaid, Jamshaid Ahmed, Ali Asad, Akhtar Ayub, Muhammad Fahim, Riaz Kail, Ali Khan, Anwer Ali Khan, Muhammad Malik, Ibrahim Muhammad, Laiq Muhammad, Rameez Raja and Syed Wasim.

Scorecard
How they were out

Gautam Gambhir, the discarded Indian opener, made an emphatic statement with a fluent hundred that powered the Board President’s XI to a handy lead against England at Vadodara. England fought back through its lead fast bowlers – Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff – with the second new ball, but suffered a setback losing Andrew Strauss in the dying moments of the day.The day, however, belonged to Gambhir, who had been overlooked on Thursday by the Indian selectors who favoured Wasim Jaffer, his opening partner in this match. Gambhir led the Indian charge right from the start – his 62-run association with Dheeraj Jadhav (20) having blunted the attack – and in the company of Suresh Raina he marched on with authoritative drives and unflinching defense. In his career so far, Gambhir has shown himself to be a clean striker of the cricket ball, but when partnered with Virender Sehwag he has found himself playing second fiddle. It is a situation where impetuosity can creep in – the result being a tendency to get out prematurely – but today he played in a manner that would have given his critics considerable pause. Watchful against the quicks and confident against spin, Gambhir paced his innings well. Matthew Hoggard was driven with class, Flintoff was negated, and when Ian Blackwell tossed it up, Gambhir drove down the ground. When the bowler dropped it short, he cut and pulled.The nineties, as they do for many an accomplished batsman, proved a testing period but at 1:38 pm in the stifling Vadodara heat, Gambhir cut Monty Panesar past point to reach three figures and the crowd echoed their praise for an innings of fortitude. Gambhir’s innings was cut short by the resilient Flintoff 39 minutes before the interval, but by then he had taken the Indians to a position of security.Powered by Gambhir, the Indians had overhauled England’s total but their collapse had threatened to undo the good work by their centurion. Raina, who had played so well for his 62, started the collapse by giving Panesar the charge and skying it to Blackwell, moving to his right at mid-off. Twelve minutes later Flintoff gave England further success by castling Subramaniam Badrinath for a 10-ball duck. Following these strikes, England came into their own and looked the Test-match side that they are. Venugopal Rao, who had stuck around for 25 from 98 minutes, was made to play at an outswinger from Harmison and was snapped up by Flintoff at slip. Dinesh Karthik, who had endured a hostile spell from Flintoff, surviving five raucous appeals for lbw and one life through the slips, fished at Harmison and was well held by Trescothick at first slip. Vikram Singh was the last to go, cleaned up by a Flintoff yorker and forcing the declaration at 342 for 8. Ramesh Powar, the stocky allrounder, rode his luck to hit a breezy 25 from 17 deliveries and frustrate Harmison, who at one stage picked up the ball in his follow-through and hurled it back towards Powar, flattening the stumps.The bowling, if not at top gear, was consistent. Hoggard was lively and managed good carry through to the `keeper. He beat almost every batsman, on occasion – probing, cutting – and garnered that little hint of swing that kept them on their toes. Harmison strived for bounce early in the day, without undoing himself, but with Jadhav and Gambhir confident in leaving the rising balls alone his effect was negated easily. Taking the new ball however, he looked more the Harmison of Sabina Park (where he took 7 for 12) and was rewarded with key wickets. Flintoff was his usual self, testing the batsmen with some well-directed lifters and holding his nerve thoughout, while Panesar – with his high-arm action, bowled with control. Raina’s wicket was just reward for the bowler, who bowled untiringly and unwaveringly throughout the day.Kiran More, in announcing the India squad for the first Test against England yesterday, said that India were looking to their rich pool of youth to lead the way ahead. In 64.3 overs since the chairman of selectors made that statement, Gambhir and Raina did much to prove that India indeed have the firepower to guide them into the next day, and in the setting sun, Munaf Patel gave further example of his durability.”If you work with determination and with perfection, success will follow” read a painted banner atop the pavilion at the IPCL Cricket Stadium. The perfection may take a while in getting here, but the determination cannot be faulted.How they were outEngland XI
Andrew Strauss c Raina b Patel 2 (3 for 1)
Indian Board President’s XI
Dheeraj Jadhav c Jones b Harmison 20 (157 for 2)
Gautam Gambhir c Strauss b Flintoff 108 (243 for 3)
Suresh Raina c Blackwell b Montesar 62 (274 for 4)
Subramaniam Badrinath b Flintoff 0 (279 for 5)
Venugopal Rao c Flintoff b Harmison 25 (306 for 6)
Dinesh Karthik c Trescothick b Harmison 19 (313 for 7)
Vikram Singh b Flintoff 13 (342 for 8)

England were given an extra reason to celebrate following their series-levelling win against India when the ICC confirmed they had qualified for the second stage of the Champions Trophy, due to be staged in India during October.Only sides in the top six of the ODI table on April 1 automatically reach that stage and England will now be at least sixth on that date thanks to Sri Lanka’s four-wicket loss to Pakistan in Colombo.They faced the prospect of an additional three one-day matches in India being crammed into an already congested fixture calendar had they finished outside the top six. Teams ranked seventh to tenth taking part in a round-robin series of matches before the Champions Trophy proper starts. England will now have a valuable extra couple of weeks break before the intensive period of the tournament followed straight afterwards by the Ashes series.Sri Lanka’s defeat in Colombo dropped them to 105 points and it means that even if England lose their two ODI matches against India before the cut-off date they cannot drop out of the top six. If that scenario happened, England would slip to 105 rating points but would still retain sixth place when the ratings were recalculated to three decimal places.

Sri Lanka have suffered a triple blow ahead of their opening one-day international against Pakistan, on Friday, with Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas and Ruchira Perera being ruled out.Jayasuriya had originally been cleared to play in the match, but aggravated a thigh problem during practice and it was felt that he shouldn’t be risked. This is the latest injury to hit Jayasuriya, who missed a large chunk of the VB Series with a damaged shoulder.Vaas and Perera are carrying shoulder strains, which will put pressure on the inexperienced Sri Lanka seamers in their absence. Farveez Maharoof and Dammika Prasad, who were given opportunities on the recent tour of Bangladesh, could now be given a further chance to stake their claim for a regular place.However, Michael Tissera, the Sri Lankan team manager, said: “We have yet to decide as to whether any replacements are to be called. The chairman of selectors Lalith Kaluperuma should finalise it after consultation with the team coach Tom Moody.”

ScorecardIreland showed they aren’t to be taken lightly in the C&G Trophy as they pulled off the first upset of this year’s new-style tournament, downing Gloucestershire by 47 runs at Bristol. They were led to victory by an outstanding performance from two of their spinners – the well-known Shahid Afridi and not-so-famous Kyle McCallan.The pair bowled 12 overs between, with nine maidens, conceded just 11 runs and took six wickets. They induced a Gloucestershire collapse from 124 for 4, proving almost unplayable. Afridi, who earlier contributed an unusually sedate 36 to the Ireland innings, was playing his first match of the season after arriving late due to family illness. What a way to start.His figures were exemplary – of the type rarely seen in one-day cricket – but McCallan’s performance was equally impressive. He claimed two wickets in his first over, the vital strike of Chris Taylor then Mark Hardinges first ball, before nailing the final scalp of James Averis – fittingly caught by Afridi.Adrian Birrell, the Ireland coach, was understandably thrilled: “This is a great confidence boost for us….there is no doubt we were under a bit of pressure after the disappointment of last week [defeat against Hampshire]. We know there is room for improvement in all areas of our play but that is what this campaign is all about.”We lost our way in the batting after a good stand between Shahid and Eoin Morganbut then Dave Langford-Smith and Peter Gillespie batted with great heart to takeus to a respectable total and how invaluable those runs proved to be. Inaddition, Andre Botha came back from a double duck to take two top order wicketsand put us back in the game and Kyle McCallan bowled superbly along with Shahid.”The spirit of the team never dropped but these two guys, [Afridi and Saqlain Mushtaq],have electrified the atmosphere in the dressing room.”Ireland had struggled for serious momentum after being put into bat but Morgan confirmed his enormous potential with a gutsy 40, adding 72 with Afridi. However, at 118 for 7, the innings was on the verge of a premature end before Gillespie and Langford-Smith played very sensibly in an eighth-wicket stand of 61.A Pakistani Test player may have led the way, however it was also a day for your everyday bloke to be a hero. But Ireland can’t celebrate too hard – they play Glamorgan at Cardiff tomorrow, that’s the world of professional cricket.

England’s selectors will have to wait until the end of the week before finding out whether Steve Harmison will be fit for the second Test which starts at Edgbaston in eight days.Harmison will play for Durham against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge today, but Duncan Fletcher, England’s coach, has made it clear that he will not rush him back from his shin injury.”Hopefully he’ll be fit for the next Test but we just have to be careful about his fitness,” said Fletcher. “There is a lot of cricket ahead and if we rush him and there is a problem we’re only going to have to rest him again later on. He’s only played one one-day game so far after two months off, so we will have to see how fit he is. There’s a good chance he’ll be called up into the squad and we will analyse him, but he’s only got one four-day game to get himself right.”Unless England go with an all-seam attack, Harmison’s return will mean that either Sajid Mahmood or Liam Plunkett misses out. Fletcher was keen to praise both. “I thought Plunkett bowled really well after his first spell, when he was probably nervous,” he said. “Mahmood showed us he had raw pace, which is what we’re looking for. He reverse-swung it and gives the attack a bit of balance if players like Simon Jones aren’t there.”