New ball wickets help England's cause

Lunch Pakistan 257 and 198 for 7 (Ajmal 11*, Rehman 10*) lead England 327 by 128 runs

Monty Panesar got England's first breakthrough of the day.
England pressed strongly for victory in the second Test on a cool and misty morning in Abu Dhabi. It was more akin to Manchester in October and, although such climatic conditions are not universally hailed as salubrious, they perked up England's bowlers as they took three Pakistan wickets in the first session.

Australia wrap up 4-0 whitewash

Before the Sydney Test, Glenn McGrath gave his typical prediction that Australia would win the series 4-0. Few people truly expected it to happen. But such has been the gulf between the two sides that four weeks later, Australia wrapped up a whitewash within 59 minutes on the last day at Adelaide Oval, the only Test in the series that India managed to take to a fifth day.

'We also won 2-0 in India'

India continue to keep bringing up their home record in response to their back-to-back 0-4 whitewashes in England and Australia. The moment the question about the whitewashes was asked, Virender Sehwag shot back even before it could be finished, "We also won 2-0 in India."

Ross Taylor reached sixth Test hundred

Ross Taylor reached an unbeaten sixth Test hundred just before stumps on day one to put New Zealand in command in the Test against Zimbabwe in Napier. Having been inserted on an unusually green Mclean Park deck, New Zealand collected 331 largely trouble-free runs for the loss of five wickets, with half-centuries to Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill helping set up a strong total.

Australia in control despite Kohli ton

Australia 7 for 604 dec and 3 for 50 (Clarke 9*, Ponting 1*) lead India 272 (Kohli 116, Siddle 5-49, Hilfenhaus 3-62) by 382 runs

Peter Siddle finished with 5 for 49.
Peter Siddle's haul of 5 for 49 is his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests and his first against India. This is the second time Siddle has taken 20 or more wickets in a series after the Ashes series in 2009.

England cautious after Pakistan make 257

Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss have experienced much during the 100 occasions they have stood together as England's opening pair, but rarely anything like this - a trial by spin in the desert, an examination against Pakistan's slow bowlers on the world's driest Test ground.

Yuvraj Singh ruled out of IPL

Yuvraj Singh, the India batsman, could be ruled out of cricket for as many as six months due to the ongoing treatment of his non-malignant lung tumour. This means he will at least miss the Asia Cup and the IPL, where he captained the Pune Warriors last year.

England encouraged by early turn

As double acts go, Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar do not appear together very often but they renewed acquaintances in Abu Dhabi today to give England a satisfying first morning against Pakistan at the start of the second Test.

Clarke and Ponting double-tons keep Australia on top

Michael Clarke entered this Test with a whitewash on his mind. After two days, he could hardly have hoped for Australia to be in a stronger position to push for it. A day that started with Clarke and Ricky Ponting both bringing up double-centuries and producing the highest Test partnership ever recorded at the Adelaide Oval ended with India two wickets down, and still 543 runs in arrears.

Ponting and Clarke grind India down

Ricky Ponting was in sight of his second century of the series at tea on the first day in Adelaide, where Australia rebuilt strongly after losing three wickets in the opening session. Ponting and Michael Clarke batted through the second session without much trouble and at the break, Australia had reached 3 for 335 with Ponting on 137 and Clarke on 140.

Sehwag not ruling out move down the order

Virender Sehwag, the India opener, has not ruled out shifting down to the middle order once some of the senior batsmen retire. Sehwag began his career as a middle-order batsman, scored his first Test century there, but had to naturalise to the opener's position because the middle order was packed.

Australia aim for 4-0 whitewash

Four weeks ago, the first Test started in Melbourne on Boxing Day amid great expectations of a closely-fought tour and India's best chance of pulling off a series win in Australia. Now after three Tests, none of which have lasted five days, the best India can hope for is a consolation victory in Adelaide.

Jayawardene to lead SL in Australia

Hours after Tillakaratne Dilshan resigned as Sri Lanka captain, Mahela Jayawardene was appointed in his place to lead the ODI squad to Australia for the tri-series in February involving the hosts and India. Angelo Mathews was named vice-captain of the 15-member squad which also included Dilshan.

Bowlers, Maddinson help Sixers reach final

A spot in the Big Bash final, and qualification for the Champions League T20, was left in the hands of 32-year-old Ian Moran, who had only played four Twenty20 games and 13 List A games before the semi-final. The Sydney Sixers' Moran, who has represented Scotland, held his nerve in the last over as the Hobart Hurricanes' Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Michael Hogan failed to find the 18 runs required to win at the Bellerive Oval.

Defeat a 'good slap in the face' - Prior

Matt Prior, the England wicketkeeper, has described defeat at the hands of Pakistan in the first Test in Dubai as "a good slap in the face", as England arrived in Abu Dhabi adamant that they can recover to square the series.

Marsh to be replaced by Ford as coach

Sri Lanka Cricket are set to replace current coach Geoff Marsh with Graham Ford, the former South Africa coach, ESPNcricinfo has learned. The decision, which is expected to be announced after the one-day series against South Africa, is the latest by the board to revamp the set-up around the national team - the selection panel was replaced last week and it is believed the captaincy is also set to change hands.

Sri Lanka lose openers after solid start

75 overs Sri Lanka 150 for 2 (Sangakkara 40*, Chandimal 9*) need another 163 runs to beat South Africa 312 for 4 (de Villiers 125*, Smith 125)

Lonwabo Tsotsobe dismissed the well-set opening pair to even the score © AFP
Enlarge
Related Links
Players/Officials: AB de Villiers | Graeme Smith
Matches: South Africa v Sri Lanka at Johannesburg
Series/Tournaments: Sri Lanka tour of South Africa
Teams: South Africa | Sri Lanka

Mohsin Khan merits a long run as Pak coach

Pakistan's comprehensive ten-wicket victory over England in the first Test in Dubai would have filled their loyal supporters, who stuck with the team through thick and thin, with immense joy. It would have also given them a chance to divert their attention from the ongoing political rumblings in the country to something they have always loved and enjoyed passionately.

Time to groom Kohli as captain

it's easy to pick up a guitar and twang the cords, easy to sit down at a piano and pound on the keys. Both instruments will produce sounds, but to produce the composition you desire, a lyrical tune, is something else. For that, the right key needs to be pressed and the right chords strummed at the right time. And that only comes with having a sense for music, combined with training and thorough practice. Indian cricket needs a similar train of thought to find its next captain.

'Sachin century inevitable'

Tendulkar's wait for the 100th century has only got extended to 10 Tests and 19 innings so far

"Tendulkar's footwork, the time he has and the straight bat, he's playing really well." said Hussey

Completely enamoured with Sachin Tendulkar in the present series, Australian batsman Michael Hussey feels it's "inevitable" that the Indian icon would get his 100th century in due course.

Mitchell Marsh and Gibbs power Scorchers to final

Perth Scorchers became the first team to secure a place in the finals of the Big Bash League, and the Champions League T20, after a convincing victory over Shane Warne's Melbourne Stars at a packed WACA ground. Herschelle Gibbs and Mitchell Marsh provided the fireworks at the start and end of the Scorchers' innings, before a double-wicket maiden from Ben Edmondson sucked the momentum out of the Stars' chase. Marsh also chipped in with two wickets and two catches to walk off with the Man-of-the-Match award.

Twente thump RKC on McClaren return

Steve McClaren enjoyed a winning return to the FC Twente helm this evening as his side stormed to a 5-0 Eredivisie victory over RKC Waalwijk. The Englishman, who was appointed head coach of the Enschede outfit for a second time earlier this month, looked on as his team cruised past their visitors tonight without ever really getting out of second gear.

Ganguly, Donald join Pune Warriors coaching staff

Sourav Ganguly and Allan Donald have been added to the Pune Warriors coaching staff ahead of the fifth season of the IPL. Donald will be the team's bowling coach, while Ganguly will play a dual role as player and mentor. The Warriors will be without a head coach - Geoff Marsh left to coach Sri Lanka - and Donald and Ganguly will join Paddy Upton, the mental and conditioning coach, and Praveen Amre, the batting coach.

Final chance for Dilshan the captain?

The Big Picture
It is hard to believe that less than ten months ago, Sri Lanka were World Cup finalists. After the heartbreak of April 2, 2011, they have lost series to England, Australia, Pakistan and now South Africa. Tillakaratne Dilshan's helpless, yet inwardly hurting, visage has been a common sight in all those defeats. Sunday's game could be Dilshan's last as Sri Lanka captain. There have been calls back home to sack him as leader. Some even want him to be dropped from the side. They want change.

Prepare 'rank turners' for visiting teams - Gambhir

Prepare 'rank turners' for visiting teams - Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir has called for "rank turners" when teams visit India after India have lost seven consecutive away Tests on pitches that he reckons had lot of grass on them. He said the real test of a team was to win overseas, and that Indian curators shouldn't hesitate to make it as tough as possible for visiting teams

Brett Lee has warned Cricket Australia against the temptation to "baby" the nation`s fast bowlers with a rotation system.

Melbourne: Veteran pacer Brett Lee has warned Cricket Australia against the temptation to "baby" the nation`s fast bowlers with a rotation system that was designed to protect them from injury, saying the selectors` job was to pick the best players to spearhead the Test attack.

Nadal Sails Into The Second Round Of The Japan Open

Nadal Sails Into The Second Round Of The Japan Open
Top-seeded Spaniard, Rafael Nadal won his first round match against Go Soeda of Japan 6-3, 6-2 today, to make it to the second round of the Japan Open tennis tournament at Tokyo.  In the match at Ariake Colosseum, Nadal’s victory came in an hour and 30 minutes.  Nadal wrapped the first set with a perfect lob and won the second set even more easily.

Sania Loses In Second Round

Sania Loses In Second Round – French Open Super Series Badminton
India’s ace shuttler Saina Nehwal has lost her second round match against China’s Jurui Lee in straight sets on Thursday in Paris. Thursday was a bad day for India.  India’s Ajay Jairam lost his match in men’s singles while Commong Wealth Games’ gold medallists Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa lost their second round doubles matches too.  With these losses India’s campaign in this tournament comes to an end.

Anything less than 4-0 will be disappointing: Clarke

Anything less than 4-0 will be disappointing: Clarke
Adelaide: Australia captain Michael Clarke on Saturday stated that his team wouldn't be satisfied with anything less than a 4-0 whitewash in the ongoing Test series against India.