Glenn McGrath, the Australian fast bowler, has declared himself ready for the final Ashes Test at The Oval beginning on September 8 after missing the fourth Test at Trent Bridge because of an injured elbow. He had also sustained an ankle injury that made him miss the second Test at Edgbaston.”It’s back to business as usual for the fifth Test. I’ve made a full recovery and will definitely play at The Oval,” McGrath said in . “It’s been frustrating sitting out two of the first four Tests, but now I can get at England in the decider.”Conceding that his prediction of a 5-0 Australian win was incorrect, McGrath was confident that Australia would regroup to win at The Oval. “I concede I got my figures wrong in predicting that England would collapse to a 5-0 whitewash. My statement has proved to be way off beam, but I’ve lost none of my confidence in backing Australia’s ability to retain the Ashes. Come the end of The Oval Test, I believe the precious urn will remain where it belongs – in our hands. Our focus is only on winning the fifth Test. Nothing less than a total triumph will do.”Australia have lost both the Tests that McGrath missed, giving England an unbeatable 2-1 lead. A drawn series will mean that Australia retain the Ashes. McGrath underwent training on Friday without his elbow causing any problems but sat out of the tour match against Essex as a precaution.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Andrew Strauss and Shane Warne were the star performers on the opening day of the deciding Ashes Test at The Oval. It was only right that the start of such an important match produced another see-saw day, which left the destination of the Ashes as delicately poised as when play began. Strauss’s seventh Test century was the mainstay of England’s stop-start innings and Warne’s 5 for 118 meant Australia were always in contention as he again manfully carried the attack.Everyone at The Oval, and the millions watching the action around the world, hoped for a day that would stand the test of this amazing series and begin a fitting finale – they were not disappointed. There was something for all; from the watchful accumulation of Strauss, the stunning strokeplay of Andrew Flintoff, the mastery of Shane Warne and the sheer determination of Australia not to let go of their little urn.Each of the sessions was its own mini-drama. Following a rollicking start by Strauss and Marcus Trescothick, Warne began yet another master class of legspin. Then Strauss and Flintoff built their brilliant fourth-wicket stand of 143 as England took control in the afternoon. But, Australia weren’t finished and with three late wickets they claimed the final-session honours.Following the opening stand of 82 the major contribution to England’s innings was the partnership between Strauss and Flintoff, which produced two contrasting knocks from two contrasting players. Strauss has not always been at his most fluent during this series but had his game in top working order from the start of play.His judgment of what to play and what to leave was excellent, as was his shot selection. He played carefully against Warne and was content to pick his runs off the quicker bowlers as England consolidated following their mini-collapse against Warne where they lost 4 for 49. Flintoff played well within himself – aware of the importance of his wicket to both teams – but still timed the ball with effortless ease.

Ricky Ponting was faced with a familiar problem of who to bowl in place of McGrath and Warne. Brett Lee was not at the top of his game – firing too many balls down the leg side – and for every impressive delivery Shaun Tait produced there was another four-ball just around the corner. Strauss and Flintoff waited for these looser deliveries and generally found the boundary despite the now-obligatory defensive fields. Even when England were four wickets down, following their midday wobble, Ponting often resorted to one slip and only had the confidence to attack the batsmen while Warne was bowling.Confidence is something that exudes from Flintoff and he opened his shoulders after playing himself in, taking three consecutive fours off Warne to reach his fifty before launching him into the stands for a majestic straight six. Strauss moved along in more measured fashion and reached his second Ashes century off 150 balls.But then another shift in momentum took place. McGrath removed Flintoff, with Warne again in the thick of the action – but this time with his catching. Flintoff prodded at a ball outside off stump and Warne took a sharp, low catch stood at the solitary slip. Paul Collingwood, England’s only replacement player throughout this Ashes series, did not last too long as he attracted one of the few balls from Tait that would have threatened the stumps. Collingwood was beaten for pace by a yorker, although replays showed the ball struck him just outside off stump. The Australians won’t care about that – they will think they are owed a couple of decisions in their favour.Warne claimed his fifth wicket when he removed Strauss half an hour before the close thanks to a brilliant piece of anticipation from Simon Katich at silly point, holding on to the pad-bat chance inches from the ground. It was fitting that Warne claimed the final wicket of the day as he was the man who ignited Australia during the morning session.Although it had all been plain sailing in the opening hour for Trescothick and Strauss, Warne said, before this match, how determined he is to make a mark in his final Test in this country and again he let his actions to the talking.

With the seamers being taken at over four-an-over Ponting was again forced to throw the ball to Warne inside the first hour. The outcome – certainly on the form of this series – was predictable. There has hardly been a moment when Warne hasn’t been having an influence on the situation. On almost every occasion when Australia have needed a wicket Warne has put his hand up. He came to the fore again as he removed Trescothick – courtesy of a stunning catch by Matthew Hayden at slip.He struck again to remove Michael Vaughan, who clipped a catch to Michael Clarke at midwicket before capping a great morning fightback when Ian Bell was trapped lbw for a duck by the slider. Warne was producing all his variations, including the rarely seen googly and Australia had suddenly grabbed the advantage out of nowhere. Their position was further enhanced when Kevin Pietersen fell shortly after lunch to a poorly judged and executed whip across the line. It was not the consolidation that England required.But any thoughts that England may start to think about playing for draw were rapidly banished by Strauss and Flintoff, and any thoughts that Australia were going to lose their grip on the Ashes without the toughest of struggles was dispelled by their subsequent surge of wickets. The series deserves a fittingly thrilling and gripping finish and on the evidence of today that is what it will get.

EnglandMarcus Trescothick c Hayden b Warne 43 (82 for 1)
Michael Vaughan c Clarke b Warne 11 (102 for 2)
Ian Bell lbw Warne 0 (104 for 3)
Kevin Pietersen b Warne 14 (131 for 4)
Andrew Flintoff c Warne b McGrath 72 (274 for 5)
Paul Collingwood lbw b Tait 7 (289 for 6)
Andrew Strauss c Katich b Warne 129 (297 for 7)

Inzamam-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, has made it clear that spin-friendly conditions would play a decisive role in combating England’s aggressive batting.”The home team has only one advantage, the wickets you play on,” Inzamam was quoted as saying by . “Danish Kaneria has been our main bowler for the past year and we intend on giving him wickets which will offer assistance.”Under Inzamam and Bob Woolmer, the coach, Pakistan has often chosen Shahid Afridi as the back-up spinner. Afridi’s under-rated legspin has been seen as a suitable foil to Kaneria, but with veteran Mushtaq Ahmed’s name doing the rounds two conventional legspinners may take the field. “Mushtaq has plenty of experience,” Inzamam said. “I am not in favour of blooding anyone in a series of such pressure.”Pakistan has not played international cricket since June, a fact Inzamam rues. “A lay-off for four to five months is unthinkable nowadays. I think England start as favourites. We must play positively to dent their confidence.” He also stressed the importance of good teamwork. “All eleven have to contribute; one or two players will not be able to swing it for us.”The relationship between Inzamam and Shoaib Akhtar, the fast bowler, has been publicly debated ever since Inzamam suggested that Akhtar had feigned a wrist injury to avoid bowling against India 18 months ago. Inzamam was keen to challenge any rumours of a rift between the two. “Let me clarify that I don’t have a problem with Shoaib. If he’s fit, it’s in my interest to have him in the side.” Both players were part of the World XI tour to Australia this month, though Shoaib was not selected for the Super Test in Sydney. “He has to return home and play the practice first-class matches,” Inzamam added.

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.