Late wickets spoil England fightback

It started India's way and ended India's way. Kevin Pietersen's 15th Test hundred, reeking of swaggering brilliance, had combined with Andrew Flintoff's determination to bail England out of trouble on an absorbing day in Mohali but their dismissals in fading light swung the advantage right back to the hosts. Pietersen blended solid defence with trademark flashes of audacity to steer England out of choppy waters after two wickets had fallen in five balls. Then, in a manner eerily similar to how they started the day, India nipped out two wickets in successive overs, capping a thrilling end to an entertaining day's cricket.

The morning began sensationally. Andrew Strauss, the man in form, fell walking across the wicket to Zaheer Khan, and Ian Bell, the man out of form, had his middle stump uprooted by Ishant Sharma. But a scoreline of 1 for 2 was the inspiration Pietersen needed to score his first Test hundred in India.

Hardly putting a wrong foot forward - or across the line - Pietersen retaliated with a bold innings. He started, as he always does, with a scampered single off the first ball, and mounted a confident assault, reeling off four fours in the next four overs. But when two more wickets fell - Alstair Cook trapped leg-before by Zaheer and Paul Collingwood snapped by Amit Mishra in a classic legspinner's dismissal, luring him forward and taking the edge with sharp turn - he settled down to rebuild the innings again.

A potentially match-turning partnership followed. England's two match-winners had failed to come good in Chennai, but they weren't about to surrender here. A flurry of shots singed the outfield in chilly Mohali.

Flintoff started with a bristly clip for four off Mishra, and then produced a sashayed drive past mid-on. The runs started to flow, courtesy a sweep here and a flick there and some dismissive clubs down the ground from Flintoff. Words were exchanged between Pietersen and Yuvraj Singh, amid a sublime six from Flintoff, prompting the umpire to step in and have a word.

Pietersen's driving was excellent, and the flicks and swaggered pulls he played showed few signs a cracked rib. And against the spinners, Mishra in particular, he unleashed a shot that bears his unmistakable stamp: the switch-hit.

Harbhajan Singh, after a listless showing in Chennai, was hardly a threat and Pietersen confirmed it with a breathtaking switch-hit six over midwicket in a 13-run over. Pietersen refused to let Harbhajan settle and raised a splendid century, his 15th in Tests, from 126 balls. In his 45th Test, Pietersen went past 4000 runs, including 1000 for the year. It was, truly, an innings from a champion.

The 100-run partnership needed only 139 balls but after a gripping session between lunch and tea, England's tempo slowed in the final passage as India employed a defensive, one-day field. Having coasted to 36 from 53 balls at tea, Flintoff applied the brakes, taking 43 balls to reach his fifty. Both batsmen knew England's chances of squaring the series depended on their approach. Flintoff applied himself commendably, the only blip coming on 29, when he survived a confident lbw appeal against Mishra. It was his first fifty since Sydney in January 2007.

As the shadows lengthened across a tangerine sky, the game changed on its head. Harbhajan returned to trap Pietersen lbw, thus giving India leverage. Like he had against Australia in Mohali, where he got Michael Clarke with the last ball of the day - and what a turning it point that had been - Mishra got Flintoff. This was a googly as well, and Flintoff's defensive prod was exceptionally snapped up by a crouching Gautam Gambhir a forward short leg.

Like another solid partnership, worth 102, this too had dazzled only to fizzle. Pietersen and Cook came together with England in disarray after the innings began 90 minutes behind schedule due to thick fog. Strauss was wonderful in sunny and humid Chennai with a pair of centuries but found cricket to be a great leveller in murky Mohali as he missed a full delivery that angled in. An out-of-form Bell lasted two Zaheer Khan deliveries before his technique was exposed first-ball by Ishant Sharma - feet moving late, bat pushed away from pad and clipping a full ball that curved back in to take out middle stump.

Pietersen, however, refused to take a backward step, straight-driving and clipping Zaheer for fours while Cook's delicate driving eased the nerves. Cook was fortunate on 44 when Sachin Tendulkar flinched at first slip but a searing yorker from Zaheer cut him off on 50. Cook continued his frustrating trend of not making a big score - he has eight half-centuries in 2008 but no century - and India hit back further to leave England 131 for 4.

Through Flintoff and Pietersen, England had managed to break the shackles and gain ground on a track likely to aid batting for at least another day. That day, after the last ball this evening, looks to be a daunting one for England.

Late wickets spoil England fightback Kevin Pietersen's 144, reeking of swaggering brilliance, had combined with Andrew Flintoff's determination to bail England out of trouble on an absorbing day in Mohali but their dismissals in fading light swung the advantage right back India's way Read more Email

Gayle and Nash revive West Indies

Chris Gayle scored his first Test century in three years as the West Indies scrapped to a 160-run lead with four sessions remaining in the deciding Test of the series. Gayle mixed flamboyance with patience in his 117 not out, which included 11 fours and five sixes, and combined in a vital 118-run stand with Brendan Nash that lifted the visitors to 224 for 4 at tea.

It was an important partnership after Jeetan Patel's double breakthrough left West Indies in severe danger at 106 for 4 half-way through the first session. Gayle's eighth Test hundred was brought up with a nervous single to backward point after he spent 40 balls in the 90s. Gayle pushed to Patel and called yes before Nash sent him back. However, Gayle slipped on the pitch just before Patel got to the ball, but the fielder fumbled and Gayle was able to waltz through to complete his century from 189 balls.

Gayle was outstanding with his shot selection and judgment, keeping out the testing deliveries from both finger spinners and launching into some lusty blows into the stands on the legside. This was his first Test hundred since scoring 317 against South Africa in Antigua in 2005, an amazing 25 Tests and 47 innings ago.

Nash built on his well-compiled 74 in the first innings with an equally important 60 not out. While his captain scored predominantly straight down the ground, Nash pushed and prodded square of the wicket, making life difficult for the New Zealand attack to adjust to each batsman.

After leaving so consistently outside his off stump, Nash was gifted width on numerous occasions and made the hosts pay by punishing them through point. He also worked off his pads nicely, collecting at will as well as picking up a couple of boundaries. He brought his fifty up off 137 balls with a sweetly timed cover drive off Patel.

New Zealand brought their seamers back on through the middle session to give the finger spinners a rest but they were unable to produce a much-needed breakthrough. Patel remained the hosts' key destroyer with 3 for 83 while Daniel Vettori was miserly with 1 for 47 from 29 overs.

Ponting ponders Hilfenhaus or Bollinger for Melbourne

Australia's inability to defend 414 in Perth has left Ricky Ponting considering bowling changes for next week's Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Mitchell Johnson collected 11 wickets for the match but Brett Lee, Peter Siddle and Jason Krejza managed only one each and their lack of penetration allowed South Africa to record the second-highest run chase in Test history.

"We have to look at that," Ponting said after the defeat. "We have to think about the style of bowlers we've got in the side at the moment, with the conditions that we're going to be confronted with in Melbourne and Sydney work out if we think they're the best guys to win us the next two games. If they're not then we have to make some changes."

The left-armer Doug Bollinger, who went on this year's tours of West Indies and India, is a chance to be promoted after completing a perfectly-timed six-wicket haul for New South Wales just as Australia lost the Test. Ponting was also keen to chat with the chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch about the Tasmanian swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus.

"Maybe a Hilfenhaus or someone like that who can definitely use a new ball," Ponting said. "I think he'll come into calculations. Bollinger will definitely come into calculations because he was so impressive with all the work he did in India and I believe he's got wickets today. We'll talk about all those guys."

Neither Siddle nor Lee produced any swing of note and it left too heavy a burden on the dangerous Johnson. Lee was also down on pace, although he is not in immediate danger and has credits in the bank for his 310 Test wickets, including nine against New Zealand in Adelaide this month.

"He'll be in the squad," Ponting said. "There's no doubt he's under a little bit of pressure at the moment. I think if you asked him he'd probably be a little bit disappointed with only taking one wicket this week as well. I'm sure he'll be in the squad."

Brydon Coverdale is a staff writer at Cricinfo

Johnson's magnificent seven stun South Africa

Mitchell Johnson ruined South Africa's brave pushes for safety with a dramatic seven-wicket haul that included five late breakthroughs as the visitors spluttered to 8 for 243 at stumps. Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers had almost put South Africa in a comfortable position when Johnson surged to career-best figures and put Australia, who posted 375, on top during another fascinating arm-wrestle for ascendency.

In an incredible finish to the day Johnson grabbed 5 for 2 in 20 balls to wow his new home crowd and stun the visitors, who were happy until he arrived to deliver five venomous overs. de Villiers and Kallis had both raised half-centuries and thoughts had turned to the size of South Africa's lead. Johnson stopped all that with 7 for 42 off 18 overs and ensured it was Australia who finished the second day of a gripping contest on top.

South Africa were 3 for 234, following a 124-run stand between de Villiers and Kallis, but they both departed to edges to Brad Haddin in consecutive overs to start the nail biting in the visiting dressing room. Soon there were uncontrollable shakes as the debutant JP Duminy was unlucky to be ruled caught behind off his arm and Morne Morkel and Paul Harris fell to takes by Jason Krejza. This is a game that changes as quickly as a child's mind.

The South Africans have had dreams like this before, where they walk into gardens of success and don't notice the only cliff. How they recover from these brutal blows will determine how successful they are for the remainder of the series. They were not the only ones who were shocked.

Perth is a fitting venue for a performance like this. It was Dennis Lillee, the WACA hero and association president, who spotted Johnson as a teenager in Townsville and started his representative journey. They spoke before the match about how to bowl on the surface and Johnson listened. In the off-season Johnson, a Queenslander, moved to Western Australia so he could be closer to his girlfriend. Now the ground has another hero of speed.

He was operating well above 140kph, gaining bounce and tricking the right-handers with his subtle arc away. de Villiers and Kallis both fell for that, while the fending Duminy was undone by speed. Showing he wasn't all brawn, Johnson used a slower ball to Morkel that was popped to Krejza and then forced Harris to clip to leg gully. Exhausted by his effort, he needed the trainer for some muscle problems, but his body was probably overwhelmed by such instant success.

Once again the day swayed like a swing, with Australia starting and finishing with whoops of joy. In between South Africa were the ones having most fun, especially with de Villiers and Kallis combining so well. Following the loss of Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla in nine deliveries, which cut South Africa to 3 for 110, the middle-order pair first hit back before tea, and then consolidated after the break.

Johnson's first dismissal, of Neil McKenzie, relied on a horrible error and an ugly pull, but South Africa moved forward with confidence. Smith and Amla seemed to be setting the perfect platform until the trend of the opening day repeated when Australia hit back with two wickets before lunch. Krejza provided the speed bump to the 90-run partnership when Amla tried to turn a well-flighted, spinning delivery to the legside and was bowled for a breezy 47 from 67 balls.

In the next over Smith, who was battling a nagging left elbow problem, was attempting to continue his acceleration by driving at a wider delivery from Johnson, but he played on to his leg stump for 48. Both settled batsmen departed in quick succession, something that de Villiers and Kallis copied.

The pair went in the same way for the same score of 63. Separating de Villiers and Kallis was difficult as they played similar innings, mixing solid defence with punishment of loose balls. While they appeared subdued at times, they were always managing to switch the strike in a combination that looked unbreakable until Johnson intervened.

de Villiers flexed early by swiping Krejza, playing his first Test at home, for six to midwicket and in the period before tea Kallis was also more expansive than Australian audiences were used to seeing him. Kallis lofted Krejza over his head and after tea welcomed Andrew Symonds' medium pace with back-to-back cover drives. He also belted Krejza over the rope and was responsible for some of the treatment that led to the offspinner's 1 for 102 off 25 overs.

Following a burst of boundaries, the batsmen would switch back into a more cautious mode and it was an effective ploy. Krejza was loose at times and occasionally severely threatening, but mostly the Australians were thankful for the regular sprints provided by the tireless and enthusiastic Johnson. Using sliding deliveries and benefiting from the surface, Johnson provided the danger that neither Brett Lee nor Peter Siddle could produce. He will remain a crucial man throughout the series.

Pakistan's missed opportunity

India and Pakistan are creatures of extremes: only yesterday they were all set to get betrothed; today they are at each other's throats. At one moment in transports of joy, at another in transports of grief. Sadly, such has been their brief.

Is the India-Pakistan cricket relationship on the verge of a break-up or will it survive the latest turbulence? Can bat and ball act as balm for the pangs of hurt?

In this tug of war of opinions and emotions, there are sections of society on both sides that are pulling against cricket diplomacy in favour of a show of antagonism toward each other. The other side is keen to give cricket a chance to break the stalemate of hate and promote the live-and-let-live theme. Conditions are in such a state of flux that it is difficult to commit too deeply in this affair. What about the PCB, though? Has it taken a position yet?

Reports confirm that while India is reticent, Pakistan is bending backwards to lure them into a contest, even at a neutral venue. I guess the prospect of a cash stimulus has got Pakistan thinking excitedly. Agreed, an Indian series is too lucrative to pass over, but is making overtures and running after India with a begging bowl the way to conduct cricket business? Doesn't the PCB get the message that India is not yet emotionally ready to play Pakistan?

This desperate state of dependency on others for funds is not a new phenomenon. Years of unimaginative and passive management have reduced Pakistan cricket to permanently searching for funds at the cost of honour and pride.

Isn't it madness to pin your hopes of getting rich on a source of revenue that you do not control? The odds of getting rich are as favourable as those of a blind man being able to walk a rope without falling down. Why, till today, has the PCB not unearthed a winning plan that would make it self-sufficient?

Over the years Pakistan's cricket administrators have had opportunities to position Pakistan cricket powerfully in the world theatre. Throughout the 90s, when the Pakistan team was the cynosure of all eyes, its administrators could have milked the advantage to develop international clout. They didn't.

In this regard, it is wrong to say that it is the size of your market alone that gets you respect and status. In fact, it's your cricket strength that provides you power and effectiveness. Australia is a cricket powerhouse today not because of its cricket commerce but because of its cricket performance. West Indies in the 80s used to demand exorbitant amounts of cash to tour countries on the basis of its great team. And during that period no country or law was able to challenge West Indies' slow over-rate tactics. On the other hand, Pakistan's glorious period was lost due to mismanagement that allowed player politics and player power to manifest. During all this internal strife, the value of voice and presence at cricket forums was lost.

	Is making overtures and running after India with a begging bowl the way to conduct cricket business? Doesn't the PCB get the message that India is not yet emotionally ready to play Pakistan?

It is time for Pakistan cricket to wake up and smell the coffee. If India and the rest of the world are to be engaged on equal terms as partners, and not as masters, the PCB will have to get its priorities right. To earn respect it has to develop a strong cricket team, an independent cricket mind, and a tough presence at the ICC. It must look inwardly to create a domestic revenue stream that it can have control over. For instance, a Pakistan Premier League can help to not only generate funds, the money may also induce international players to play in Pakistan. It may in the process unlock doors for bilateral series to resume in Pakistan.

Right now, India-Pakistan cricket is caught in a whirlwind of emotions and politics. For cricket between the two countries to resume, there has to be time and space. Let the clouds of mistrust lift and the dust settle before we broach the subject of cricket.

During cricket matches there are moments when tempers flare and hot-headed players on both sides clash with each other. But at the end of the day the handshakes arrest the angst, and teams make up. Cricket always wins.

Clark ruled out of first Test

	Stuart Clark says his injured elbow flared up in the past few days © Getty Images

Stuart Clark's summer could be over after he was ruled out of Wednesday's first Test against South Africa in Perth due to the recurrence of an injury to his right elbow. Clark will fly home to Sydney and have the problem assessed by an orthopaedic surgeon and if an operation is required his season might be finished.

The Victoria fast bowler Peter Siddle was recalled to the 12-man squad to replace Clark and he will likely battle with the allrounder Shane Watson for a spot in the starting line-up with the offspinner Jason Krejza almost certain to play. Siddle made his Test debut in Mohali in October when the same elbow problem kept Clark sidelined.

"I don't think it's a secret that I've had a bad elbow for a while," Clark said after withdrawing from the squad in Perth. "It's flared up. It's not acceptable to play. I had a bowl on Friday and it was pretty sore but I had to come here and try it.

"I think it's a throwing issue that has just got worse over time. It's something that hasn't affected me until recently, until I suppose the Indian series. I've got to go back to Sydney or Melbourne and get the [surgery] process rolling. I hope there's another scenario but I don't really know."

Alex Kountouris, the Australian team physio, said the pain Clark experienced on Sunday in Perth was significantly worse than in recent times. Kountouris said it was still unclear how long Clark would be out of action.

"Based on the ongoing nature of his injury and the information available to us, it's been decided that he will see an elbow surgeon early this week with a view to having arthroscopic surgery," Kountouris said. "His return to cricket will be determined once he sees the specialist and a decision is made on the best course of management."

The loss of Clark could be a major blow for Australia on a fast and bouncy WACA pitch. Clark struggled for impact on the recent tour of India but returned to form with six wickets against New Zealand at the Gabba.

Taylor ton turns the tables on NZ

New Zealand 365 and 44 for 2 (Powell 2-17) lead West Indies 340 (Taylor 106, Chanderpaul 76, Gayle 74) by 69 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Jerome Taylor's previous best effort in a first-class match was just 40 © Getty Images

Jerome Taylor was the unlikely hero with the bat as his frenetic century at No. 8 altered the course of the match and upset New Zealand's plans after they held the edge in the morning. Taylor bettered his previous best first-class score of 40, pounded the attack after it drifted into complacency and finally showed glimpses of his potential as a useful lower-order batsman.

He added a priceless 153 for the seventh wicket with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who scored a workmanlike 76, and the pair took West Indies within 25 of New Zealand's total. They all but extinguished the home team's hopes of victory and with a day remaining a draw loomed as the most likely result.

New Zealand began their second innings confidently with the openers adding 33 but a double-strike by Daren Powell, off successive deliveries, rounded off a poor finish to the day. Jamie How lost his middle stump and the experiment with the nightwatchman failed as Kyle Mills inside-edged on to his stumps.

It completed an eventful day on which a terrific period of scoring by Taylor and Chanderpaul was bookended by disappointing efforts from most of the other batsmen. After West Indies pushed the self-destruct button in the opening session, the second witnessed a fightback by the pair.

Taylor had the license to attack and his body language and willingness to use his feet, particularly against Daniel Vettori, infused much-needed life into the innings, which had meandered after Chris Gayle's half-century earlier in the day. Vettori had led New Zealand well by building the pressure with his accuracy and attacking field settings but after Brendan Nash and Denesh Ramdin departed without offering Chanderpaul much support, Taylor stepped on the gas.

It was Chanderpaul who set the ball rolling with three on-side boundaries in an over from James Franklin, who failed to get his trademark swing going. Taylor immediately launched into Vettori the following over, hitting two fours and a six flush on the sightscreen. He later peppered the midwicket region for two more sixes, the first off Vettori and then off Mills. Those hits helped him outscore his partner, and Chanderpaul was more than happy to play second fiddle.

No bowler was spared and the one who suffered the biggest pasting was Mark Gillespie. In his unusual role as spearhead he endured a torrid time, first against Gayle and then Taylor. Gillespie did not help himself by over-pitching far too often, like his fellow seamers, and Taylor crashed three boundaries off him in one over, which included an elegant square drive past backward point. Taylor's batting was far from fluky: he hit through the line and rarely played a rash stroke.

His innings progressed at more than a run a ball and despite a couple of plays and misses in the 90s when Franklin angled the ball across him, he brought up his ton in emphatic style with a square-driven boundary off Franklin. Vettori, who conceded half of his total runs when bowling to Taylor, was the first to congratulate him. He eventually dismissed Taylor for 106, off 107 balls, and amazingly, 86 of those runs came in boundaries.

Chanderpaul had the more difficult task at hand, negotiating a difficult period with Nash for a brief while after lunch, which included four consecutive maidens. Nash, in his debut Test, edged to gully for 23 while Ramdin was trapped lbw for 5. The umpire Amiesh Saheba initially adjudged him out to a ball that went on with the arm and might have slid down leg side. Ramdin appealed against the decision and after a delay of more than three minutes, Rudi Koertzen was unable to give Saheba any concrete evidence either way and the decision stood.

The wicket brought Taylor to the crease and when he went on the attack, Chanderpaul was willing to bide his time and wait for the bad ball. Iain O'Brien returned and Chanderpaul crashed him past point before delicately gliding him to third man shortly before tea. Taylor brought up his maiden fifty with a boundary wide of mid-on at the stroke of the break.

It was a relief for West Indies, who in their effort to push the scoring and turn this Test into a contest, lost four wickets in an extended opening session at the University Oval. Gayle led the charge with a typically aggressive half-century and the seamers were guilty of bowling too full in trying to search for swing. Gayle punished the loose balls and he wasn't afraid of playing across the line.

Sewnarine Chattergoon, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Xavier Marshall made starts and failed to convert them. Gayle looked to push on after reaching his fifty with a pulled boundary off Gillespie, but got a little too ambitious against O'Brien. A short delivery sat up for Gayle to cut but instead he hooked it down fine leg's throat and departed for 74 off 103 balls.

A result in this Test still looks distant but at the end of the day, the visitors enjoyed the bragging rights thanks largely to Taylor's enterprising approach.

Strauss sets up strong England lead

Andrew Strauss continued his outstanding Test with an unbeaten 73 © Getty Images
This Test series only consists of two matches, but Andrew Strauss has already batted for longer than some players manage in full-length contests. He followed up his first-innings century with a composed, unbeaten 73 on the third day in Chennai as England built a strong lead of 247, leaving them superbly placed to push for one of their unlikeliest Test victories. Paul Collingwood helped him add 129 for the fourth wicket and by the close India were walking around without much energy or purpose.

The home side face a huge challenge to try and salvage the game. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh added 75 to limit the first-innings deficit, before the last four wickets fell for 29. Even though the equation was evened up when England slipped to 43 for 3, the crucial moment came in the over after Kevin Pietersen had fallen to Yuvraj Singh's first ball. Strauss, on 15 at the time, went to cut Amit Mishra, a shot that has brought him so many runs in this match, and a thin edge was spilled by Dhoni. It would have made the score 43 for 4 with the Indian spinners bounding in.

Apart from that blemish, Strauss was again in complete control at the crease, playing himself in against the early pace and then playing to his strengths against the spin. He has barely produced a shot down the ground during more than 10 hours at the crease, scoring most of his runs with well-controlled sweeps and his favourite cut. Batting in the subcontinent is a draining experience, both mentally and physically, so to back up a first-innings century puts Strauss on course for his finest Test. If he converts this start into a second hundred it will surpass Port Elizabeth in 2004-05 when he scored 126 and an unbeaten 94.

After Ishant Sharma, who struggled with no-balls and overstepped seven times, removed Alastair Cook with a thin outside edge it was the spinners who provided the major threat, although Harbhajan was a disappointment. The pitch offered encouragement, but it also looked worse that it played. As in the first innings Mishra was introduced in the ninth over and produced one that bounced more from a length to take Ian Bell's glove to short leg.
Then came the latest Dhoni masterstroke. As soon as Pietersen walked in Yuvraj was brought into the attack. All of England's batsmen have struggled with Yuvraj, both in the one-dayers and this Test, but as much against his sliders as his spin. His first delivery angled in with the arm, trapping Pietersen in front and the England captain knew his fate before the finger went up.

Top Curve
Smart Stats

* India will almost certainly need to break the record for the highest chase in India to win this Test. The current record is 276, by West Indies in Delhi in 1987. The highest chase in Chennai is 155, by India against Australia in 2001.
* England scored 30.23% of their runs in boundaries in their second innings, and 34.17% in the first - the figure is the third-lowest in a completed innings in India since 2000. In India's first innings, nearly 49% of their runs came in boundaries.
* The 129-run fourth-wicket stand between Strauss and Collingwood is the first century partnership between the two. In ten previous partnerships, the pair had scored 208. They kept the scoreboard ticking constantly - their maximum dot-ball streak was 11.
* The post-tea session today was a departure from the wicket-filled final sessions on the first two days. England lost four wickets for 65 on the first and took three Indian wickets on the second, but Strauss and Collingwood added an unbroken 104 on the third.
Bottom Curve

Collingwood was the perfect man to walk into a dicey situation which needed some grafting. He was the ideal partner for Strauss, someone to work the gaps and run hard between the wickets. India's fielding has improved out of sight in recent times, but they still carry a few passengers and the England pair harried them on occasions.

Mishra became a touch expensive as Strauss put him off his line and Collingwood came down the pitch. It was pleasing to see an England batsman advance, and although Collingwood didn't always convince - he lofted one narrowly over Yuvraj at mid-off - it was a statement that some of the first-innings batting lacked.
Alongside spin, reverse swing was the other trump card Dhoni would have banked on. However, Sharma was struggling for rhythm and Zaheer couldn't replicate his first-innings threat. It was noticeable that the two Indian players to show most frustration as the partnership grew were the strike-bowling pair of Zaheer and Harbhajan.
Harbhajan had been much more feisty during the morning session as he and Dhoni rattled up 75 in 17 overs and it appeared India would make a decent fist of getting level with England. Dhoni played a very mature innings and the more flamboyant shots came from Harbhajan, who has an individual style to his batting. When Monty Panesar went over the wicket, Harbhajan brought out the reverse sweep which left the bowler with a rather bemused smile.

Panesar provided the breakthrough when Harbhajan got an inside edge to short leg. It was a confidence-boosting strike for Panesar, who had again seemed at odds with his game. Pietersen sensed the opening and almost immediately returned to Andrew Flintoff. Once again he was rewarded with a first-over breakthrough as Zaheer was trapped on the back foot by one that shaped in.
Dhoni played within himself and brought up a half-century off 77 balls despite the pain of a twisted ankle which he picked up while running a three. However, with the final two tailenders in, he felt it was down to him to reduce the deficit and attacked Panesar, only to find Pietersen stationed two-thirds of the way back at mid-off. Panesar's trademark smile was returning and his spirit will be vital when England defend their fourth-innings target. Thanks to the remarkable efforts of Strauss he should have plenty of runs to work with.

States push for Champions League compensation

Victoria will have to reach the final of Australia's Twenty20 competition for the fourth year in a row if they are to get any of the Champions League riches © Getty Images
Western Australia and Victoria believe they have missed out on a minimum of A$600,000 and will ask Cricket Australia for compensation after being told they must requalify for the postponed Champions League Twenty20. Tournament officials decided on Friday to stage the event, which was cancelled due to the Mumbai terrorist attacks, in India next October.
The eight sides were in line to battle for US$6 million in prize money before the contest was called off less than a week before it was due to start. Both the Australian states admitted they had spent at least A$50,000 on taking part in the tournament and were unhappy at missing a chance for a seven-figure pay day.

Tony Dodemaide, the Victoria chief executive, said it would be "reasonable" to discuss compensation with Cricket Australia, which is one of three shareholders in the event. "There are hard costs involved, there's also opportunity costs involved," he told AAP. "On our estimates of participation fee and the minimum prize money that was going to be on offer and also a couple of sponsorships we've been able to pick up associated with the tournament, we thought it was in the region of around $600,000 that was going to be a minimum return to the association.

"And that was for losing - not going through to the second round. So to go all the way and win the tournament, which we were hoping to do, then you are getting up into the millions."
Victoria, who have been champions three years in a row, and Western Australia will have to reach the final of the domestic Twenty20 tournament over the next month to gain a spot in the 2009 Champions League. "We are unsure as to what revenue will flow through to Cricket Australia as a result of the cancellation," Graeme Wood, the Western Australia chief executive, said. "Once that is known then we'll certainly sit down as part of the cricket family and try to come to some resolution."

Johnson backs Australia in pace race

Mitchell Johnson has no doubt Australia will win the exciting battle of speed with South Africa at the WACA from Wednesday. Five of the world's top ten bowlers will be on display in the opening Test of the series on what should be the quickest pitch of the contest.

"I back our attack," he said in the Australian. "There's obviously going to be a little bit of niggle there with their pace, our pace, their top order, our top order. They can talk as much as they like but we're just going to go out there and bowl like we've been bowling."

Johnson, who is ranked No. 8, said the attack improved during the 2-0 win over New Zealand and was comfortable in home conditions. "I'm looking forward to the contest," he said. "I know it's going to be a great series. They've been talking up their bowlers a little bit but I think our attack is something to look forward to as well. You've got Brett Lee and Stuart Clark - two classy bowlers."

Clark is third on the Test rankings, two spots ahead of Lee. The South Africans have Dale Steyn, who is in second, and Makhaya Ntini (fourth) alongside Morne Morkel, who picked up an ankle injury in the tour opener against Western Australia.

The WACA is now Johnson's home ground after an off-season move from Queensland to Western Australia and one of his new bosses is Dennis Lillee, the man who spotted him as a teenager in Townsville. Johnson saw Lillee on Thursday and asked for advice on dealing with the pitch.

"We just spoke about how things have been going for me at the moment and also just bowling at the WACA," he said in the Sydney Morning Herald. "It's somewhere where you've got to make the batsmen play. If you're bowling outside the off stump, it's pretty easy to leave here. We just spoke about a few little things like that."

It will be the first time Johnson, who has played 15 Tests, will face South Africa in the long form of the game. "I guess it's going to be pretty exciting for me to bowl to their top order," he said. "They've had some good performers there. It's a bit of a look-and-see for them. They've only faced me in the one-day [arena]."

Rain washes out second day

Umpires Tony Hill, Amiesh Saheba and Mark Benson inspect the wet outfield © Getty Images


Heavy overnight rain topped up with a series of daytime showers meant that there was no play possible on the second day of the opening Test at Dunedin's University Oval.

Prospects were always poor after a prolonged torrential downpour left the outfield sodden, and after the most cursory of inspections, the umpires called for an early lunch with a view to starting in the middle of the afternoon. But despite an energetic mopping-up exercise, early clear skies gave way to more rain and the groundstaff were always fighting a losing battle with the elements. An almost token inspection confirmed the worst and the day was abandoned shortly after 2.30pm with pools of water still visible on parts of the outfield.

Even though the last three days will start half an hour earlier to try to make up for lost time, New Zealand will need to press for quick runs tomorrow and then look to let loose their seam attack on a pitch which, although well covered, could yet be spiced up by the rain. If today's cloud cover also continues, West Indies will find themselves batting in conditions far removed from those they expected.

England falter despite Strauss ton

This Test looked like it might never go ahead, and some still argue it's too soon to be playing cricket, but in the end the opening day produced a fascinating start to the short series. Despite a fine century from Andrew Strauss, a brace of wickets apiece for Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan reduced England to 229 for 5 at the close although the surface is threatening to break up later in the game.

Against the odds England controlled the first two sessions and were 164 for 1 at tea after an opening stand of 118. However, India hit back strongly, led by another outstanding display of reverse swing from Zaheer. He removed Ian Bell with the second ball after tea and bounced-out a scratchy and skittish Kevin Pietersen. Andrew Flintoff did well to survive his early trial by spin and swing, and faces a huge role on the second day with nightwatchman James Anderson for company.

Strauss's effort was a remarkable show of concentration. Barring three short innings during the Stanford week, this was his first knock since the end of the English season. He brought up his 13th Test century off 191 balls, but his dismissal late in the day, offering a low return catch to Amit Mishra, put India firmly ahead on points. The four sessions splits confirm how India fought back: 63 without loss, 101 for 1 and 65 for 4.

Zaheer's first ball after tea slanted across Bell, then the second arched back in and was heading for middle when he was trapped in front. Dhoni hadn't used Zaheer between lunch and tea, but when called upon played a vital part. Pietersen has had more to deal with in recent days than most, so it was unsurprising that he struggled at the crease. He was tested by Zaheer's swing but also Yuvraj Singh's left-arm sliders. Yuvraj caused as many moments of discomfort as Harbhajan, who was introduced in the ninth over, or Mishra and had a very close lbw shout turned down against Pietersen. Zaheer, though, claimed a deserved second wicket as Pietersen top-edged a pull which the bowler claimed in his follow-through.

Paul Collingwood retained his place in the side ahead of the in-form Owais Shah, and when your spot is being debated it doesn't help to get a rough decision. Billy Bowden thought he'd got a glove to short-leg off Harbhajan, but he missed it by at least six inches. A lot of the players have spoken about how events in Mumbai have given them a greater perspective, but once the contest is resumed in the middle, instincts take over and the disappointment was easy to detect.

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Strauss feasts on spin

* Andrew Strauss' 123 was his second century in consecutive Tests in India, where he averages 51.42.
* The 118-run opening partnership between Strauss and Alastair Cook was their sixth century-partnership - the pair now average 40.39 in 53 innings - and their fifth in 2008. They've added 883 runs together this year at an average of 55.18 - among opening pairs in 2008 they're second only to Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith who've added 1395 in 19 innings at 77.50.
* Strauss scored 79 of his 123 runs on the leg side. The sweep shot, which he used on 26 occasions, and the flick, each yielded 34 runs.
* 95 of his runs were scored off spinners - a pretty high percentage of 77.23 - at a run-rate of 3.75. It's the most he's scored against spinners in a single innings, the previous highest being 94 against New Zealand in Napier earlier this year. He was far more restrained against Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, scoring 28 off 81 balls at a rate of 2.07.
* England have never lost a Test in which Strauss has scored a century. They've won eight and drawn four.

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To put England's position in further context, the last Test on this ground, when South Africa played India, produced first-innings totals of 540 and 627, plus an individual contribution of 319 by Virender Sehwag. The visitors, though, have the advantage of bowling last on a surface that is likely to break up after hurried preparation.

There were reminders of what had gone before - a minute's silence before play and black armbands on show - however in the middle the cricket was about as intense as could have been expected. The expectations on England's top order were low after a frantic build-up that included just two days of practice in Chennai and that may just have allowed then to settle. As Alastair Cook said before the game a large part of the battle is mental and both he and Strauss appeared unburdened.

It has taken time for Strauss and Cook to perform together and, while they are still too similar to be an ideal combination, the results are starting to improve. This was their fourth century stand of the year. Cook was the only casualty before tea, falling to an expansive slog-sweep against Harbhajan as he attempted a rare moment of aggression. It was the sort of lapse in concentration the heat and humidity can cause, but was also an indication as to why Cook has only hit one six in his international career.

Strauss showed how to play the sweep, using it as a regular option especially against Mishra, who was the man England attempted to target. It was a smart tactic, Mishra is the least experienced of the frontline bowlers, and meant that runs were steadily ticking over from one end although Mishra made a late impact.

Strauss didn't score a run through the off side before lunch, a mark of how he has tightened his game since returning to the side. After the break Harbhajan dropped short and allowed him room for his favourite cut although moments of acceleration were few and far between. With Zaheer's probing line he found it hard work through the nineties before reaching his century with a glide to third man.

If he'd stayed until the end, England could have claimed honours were even, but India's late roll means they have made considerable strides towards controlling a match that is important for so many reasons.

FLYNN SHORES UP SHAKY TOP ORDER

The changes made by New Zealand's new coach, Andy Moles, in the wake of the batting disasters in Australia ensured the team held the edge over West Indies on a truncated opening day at the University Oval. His decision to push Daniel Flynn to No. 3 and slot Jesse Ryder down at No.5 proved a masterstroke of sorts as both managed half-centuries before bad light forced an early finish with more than 16 overs remaining.

Flynn was one of the few performers in Australia; his strength then was his durability at the crease but today he revealed a classier side to his batting, looking to push the scoring and peppering the off side with boundaries. A hundred was there for the taking against a bowling attack lacking penetration but he fell - to an umpire referral - five short of it. Ryder played his part in a stand of 61 with Flynn and remained unbeaten on 54 before the players walked off the field.

The consensus before the match was that whoever won the toss would bowl. But with clear skies and a strong breeze drying things out, and with the brown but grassy pitch offering little to the bowlers, the brains trust changed their mind and Daniel Vettori's choice was generally approved of.

As if inspired by the Obama theme of 'change', New Zealand reassessed themselves after the 2-0 drubbing in Australia. Tim McIntosh was brought in as an opener for Aaron Redmond but New Zealand's 18th opening pair in the last 36 Tests had put on 10 runs when Jamie How perished off an uppish slash to point.

It was a blessing in disguise as it brought Flynn early to the crease and his positive energy compensated for McIntosh's nervous start. McIntosh took 38 balls to get off the mark and when he did it was with a desperate slash an inch over the hands of gully. He survived more than a few alarms before finally calming his nerves with a sweet pull. His confidence thereafter built visibly, although he looked technically flawed against anything aimed at his head, taking his eyes off the ball and trusting in swipes.

Flynn, on the other hand, was a picture of confidence. His free-flowing drives through the off side were an indication of his form and he was comfortable against seamers and the offspin of Chris Gayle. At one point Gayle looked to stifle him with two short extra covers. It worked for a while but, as the ball lost its shine and the bowling its direction, Flynn found runs easy to come by. Shortly after getting his fifty, with a nudge off Gayle to square leg, he picked Edwards for two boundaries through the off side, slapping the second one over cover.

It was not the best day for the four-man pace attack. They tended to persevere with a line outside off stump that betrayed a defensive mindset. Sensing their ineffectiveness, Gayle brought himself on and picked up three wickets.

However, one of those was a giveaway. McIntosh tried to open up after lunch but fell while trying to loft Gayle over mid-on and a tumbling catch by Lionel Baker sent him back for 34. Ross Taylor, after a breezy start against the seamers, tried to launch Gayle over fine leg but was deceived by one that didn't turn and the slog sweep landed down Xavier Marshall's throat.

With Franklin and Vettori still to come, New Zealand bat deep and a big total looms. Play will start half an hour early tomorrow to cover for lost time.

ECB clears Mohali for second Test

The PCA Stadium in Mohali has been confirmed by the ECB as the venue of the second Test between India and England, to be played from December 19-23. The announcement follows two days of inspections by board officials, including Reg Dickason, its security advisor.

Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, ended the speculation over the shifting of the match to another venue by saying they were "very satisfied" with the security arrangements.

"Reg Dickason has been here for two days now and we rely on him as far as security is concerned," Morris said. "We have received fantastic cooperation from not just the officials, but from the local security authorities as well. We are also satisfied with the security plans that have been put into place and we are looking forward to the second match being played here.

"The safety of both the management and the team is of paramount importance to us, so we just wanted to make sure that everything is in place when our team arrives. The response from the local authorities and police has been very good."

The terror attacks in Mumbai a fortnight ago cut short the seven-match ODI series and cast doubts on the two-Test series, the second of which was originally to have been played at the city's Brabourne Stadium. Ahmedabad, which had witnessed serial bomb blasts three months ago, was the original venue for the first Test but subsequently ruled out given its proximity to Mumbai.

A revised itinerary saw the BCCI proposing Chennai and Mohali as possible replacement venues for the two matches. Chennai was given the go-ahead for the first match, beginning Thursday, after security inspections by Dickason. The ECB had asked for a southern Indian venue instead of Mumbai for the second Test, possibly because it would have a lower threat perception from a security point of view.

Mohali presented different problems for security experts and the fans. One perceived drawback was its proximity to the border with Pakistan. The other was its lack of an international airport - the nearest is in New Delhi - which meant that, with the match due to finish on December 23, England fans travelling to Mohali would face difficulties finding a connection to get them home in time for Christmas

Top 45

If you read only one cricket book in your life, which one should it be? A biography, a tour book, an autobiography, a diary, a coaching manual, fiction, history, a collection of essays, or Beyond A Boundary, which is all (well, most) of the above? Put like that, the choice is easy. But what if we go outward in ever-widening circles, to two, four, ten, 20, 35, 45 books? Strangely, it becomes more difficult.

Cricinfo's "Must-Read Books" series sounds intimidating. I can understand "Please Read" or "Read if Possible" or "Read When John Grisham is Not Available", or even "Read So You Are Not Left Behind", but there is a finality about Must Read that makes it seem solemn, worthy and a Zeus-like commandment from on Mount Olympus. But frankly, it is impossible to pick an alternative 45 - any such selection must have its Neville Cardus, its John Arlott, its Ray Robinson, its Robertson-Glasgow, its Jack Fingleton and so on.

Choosing a list of must-read books is rather like picking an all-time Earth XI to play a Mars XI - in any group of people there will always be a few names in common, a few surprises, and a couple of personal favourites who are not on anybody else's list.

I think it was the former Australian prime minister and cricket lover Robert Menzies who said that in summer you played cricket, in winter you read about it. Of all sports, with the possible exception of boxing, it is cricket that has inspired writing that verges on literature day in and day out. Like the game itself, cricket writing accommodates the delicate touch of an Alan Ross, the passion of an Arthur Mailey, the quirkiness of a Gerald Brodribb, the well-reasoned arguments of a Mike Marqusee, the humour of a PG Wodehouse, the orthodoxy of a Ramachandra Guha, and the youthfulness of a Rahul Bhattacharya without any strain.

All these writers are represented in the list, some more than once. History is a leading sub-genre, with as many entries as biography and autobiography put together. Of the half-dozen odd tour books, three feature trips to the subcontinent, captured by writers with a sense of history and a nuanced understanding of the people. Cricket Wallah is the most remarkable of these, for it is about the 1981-82 England series in India, by common consent one of the most boring, with six Tests of such stunning insipidity that mere mention of them is guaranteed to inspire a rash of yawns even today. Phil Edmonds, the England spinner, later said he was certain "a number of players went to South Africa [then banned] not just for the money but because they were bored to the soul with Test cricket after that tour".

Yet it produced one of the finest tour books ever written - a work of research and imagination, of reportage and insight, of personalities, of the smells and sights of India. Somehow through all the dullness, Scyld Berry was able to perceive a future when India would be ruling the cricket world.

There cannot be better books on coaching than the two in the list. Don Bradman's The Art of Cricket has authority, common sense, and probably tells us more about the author than even his autobiography did. Mike Brearley's The Art of Captaincy stands alone for much the same reason. Whether cricket is an art form or not - both Neville Cardus and JB Priestley have a simplistic answer, but we must turn to CLR James and the brilliant essay in his book for a fuller understanding - cricket writing is certainly an art.

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Must-Read Books: the List

* Beyond a Boundary by CLR James
A Corner of a Foreign Field by Ramachandra Guha
On Top Down Under by Ray Robinson
The Art of Captaincy by Mike Brearley
Cricket Crisis by Jack Fingleton
Sir Donald Bradman by Irving Rosenwater
Between Wickets by Ray Robinson
Autobiography by Neville Cardus
The Development of West Indies Cricket by Hilary Beckles
The Summer Game by Neville Cardus
Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development Throughout the World by Rowland Bowen
Straight From the Shoulder by Ian Peebles
Cricket Wallah by Scyld Berry
46 Not Out by RC Robertson-Glasgow
10 For 66 and All That by Arthur Mailey
Harold Gimblett, Tormented Genius of Cricket by David Foot
Mystery Spinner by Gideon Haigh
Bodyline Autopsy by David Frith
Next Man In by Gerald Brodribb
Fred: Portrait of a Fast Bowler by John Arlott
It Never Rains by Peter Roebuck
The Willow Wand by Derek Birley
Autobiography of an Unknown Cricketer by Sujit Mukherjee
The Archie Jackson Story by David Frith
Cricket Prints by RC Robertson-Glasgow
The Art of Cricket by Don Bradman
Brightly Fades the Don by Jack Fingleton
Farewell to Cricket by Don Bradman
Pageant of Cricket by David Frith
Tiger by Bill O'Reilly
Greg Chappell by Adrian MacGregor
WG Grace: A Life by Simon Rae
War Minus the Shooting by Mike Marqusee
The Cricket War by Gideon Haigh
Australia 55 by Alan Ross
John Arlott: a Memoir by Tim Arlott
Pundits from Pakistan by Rahul Bhattacharya
Can't Bat, Can't Bowl, Can't Field by Martin Johnson
Cricket Beyond the Bazaar by Mike Coward
The Fast Men by David Frith
Australian Summer by Neville Cardus
Wodehouse at the Wicket; Murray Hedgcock ed.
Anyone But England by Mike Marqusee
Beyond Bat and Ball by David Foot
Boycs by Leo McKinstry

* The Must-Read Books list was compiled based on votes from a jury of eminent cricket writers, who each submitted their list of essential cricket books. Among them were David Frith, Mike Marqusee, Gideon Haigh, Scyld Berry, Mike Coward, Simon Wilde, Peter Roebuck, Ramachandra Guha, Rob Steen and Suresh Menon

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The list shows a bias towards history, and it is not surprising that the finest modern historian of the game, David Frith, has four books on it. The Fast Men, Bodyline Autopsy and Pageant of Cricket are there by right, but there is, too, a charming biography of Archie Jackson, slated for greatness but dead at 23. It is written with the same delicate touch the genius is said to have brought to his batting.

David Foot's biography of Harold Gimblett and his ghosts (he finally took his own life), and Peter Roebuck's diary of a cricket season, It Never Rains throw light on an aspect of the game that is not generally commented upon, but is now becoming increasingly relevant with the emotional crises in the lives of such as Marcus Trescothick. Cricket can be a hard taskmaster. How often have players wanted to say: the hell with winning or losing, let me end it all here.

Wodehouse at the Wicket is the only work of fiction here. And, with Martin Johnson's Can't Bat, Can't Bowl, Can't Field, one of only two that can be filed under Humour. This is perhaps the biggest drawback of the list. Cricket is a game that lends itself to laughter. First of all there are the ridiculous postures one gets into (thus, someone has pointed out, cricket is like sex). Then there is the gap between the game played in the mind and the one played on the field. Officialdom tends to be pompous; tours at lower levels are often disasters. Marcus Berkmann's Rain Men is funny because it mirrors the experiences of players across the world. Berkmann's team is the Captain Scott XI (named after the polar explorer who is the symbol of the second-best). "To be treated with the respect you don't deserve," Berkmann writes, "is the dream of every talentless sportsman." He is not on the list, nor is Bernard Hollowood (Cricket on the Brain).

Gideon Haigh's book on Packer cricket, The Cricket War, is there, and so is Marqusee's Anyone But England. Also, Derek Birley's The Willow Wand, essays de-mythologising the game. Still, this still has the feel of an "establishment" list, with not too much boat-rocking or too many uncomfortable questions asked.

Sometimes it is good to begin with an author, and ask the question: if you were to read only one Cardus (or Robinson or Frith), which one would it be? The List gives you an idea of where to start. It also recommends books not as well known, but which are gems, like Sujit Mukherjee's Autobiography of an Unknown Cricketer. Again, like in a cricket team, what you are looking for is balance.

Reading is a lonely activity. Yet when the writing is evocative or provocative, and throws light on great players and great characters, you are never alone. Sport is also about fantasy - 11 men doing what 11 million want to do. When you read about a Bradman drive or a Trueman express, you become Bradman or Trueman. The best books transport you regularly between the cricket field at Eden Gardens, say, and the one deep in your heart where it never rains.

Must Read - and not just Must Read Because I Say So.

Beyond the call of duty

A few weeks ago we ran a Cricinfo XI on batsmen who have played on despite being injured. We received a large number of mails asking why we had not included Bert Sutcliffe's innings against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1953-54. Not only was it a really gutsy effort, the circumstances surrounding the day were just as remarkable.

New Zealand, who hadn't won any of the 27 Tests they had played, started their tour of South Africa with an innings defeat in the opening Test in Durban, although they were unbeaten in the seven first-class matches preceding it. After a morale-boosting win against North East Transvaal, the New Zealanders headed down to Johannesburg for the second Test. On the opening day, Christmas Eve, New Zealand's seam attack bowled superbly to reduce the hosts to 259 for 8 at the close.

The New Zealand squad spent Christmas Day at their team hotel, but woke on Boxing Day to the news that there had been a train crash back home in which 151 people had been killed. Among the victims was the fiancée of fast bowler Bob Blair.

The team headed to the ground, anxious as the full list of casualties had not been released. Blair remained behind to grieve. It was announced that he had withdrawn from the match, and flags at the ground were lowered to half mast.

In the dressing room, Geoff Rabone tried to pull his side together and urged them to concentrate on the game. Sutcliffe recalled the general feeling was one of "what are we doing here?"

South Africa's last three wickets added only 12, but when New Zealand batted they found themselves peppered by the fast bowling of Neil Adcock, who had made his debut in Durban. On a fast track, he was a horrible proposition, and when Sutcliffe walked out to the middle, New Zealand were 9 for 2.

"From Adcock's first over it was clear that we were in for a warm time." Sutcliffe said. "Rabone and Chapple were both struck by balls which flew viciously from a good length. I had played only two balls from him when another flew at my head. I tried desperately to hook, but was hit on the side of the head and went out like a light." Blood pouring from a split in his ear, he was eventually led off to hospital, where he fainted twice more. It was not expected that he would take any further part in the game.

John Reid came out to replace Sutcliffe and took five blows from Adcock to the body in a short time, and Lawrie Miller, New Zealand's No. 5, was hit in the chest forcing him to head off to join Sutcliffe at the hospital after he coughed up blood.

Matt Poore made a few runs before he became Adcock's third victim, bowled via his ribcage, and at lunch New Zealand were 57 for 5 with two players in hospital and one more believed to be heading home.

Miller, against advice, resumed his innings after the break and added 24 with Frank Mooney before he was bowled by David Ironside. With a follow-on target of 121 still some way off, it was expected that Tony MacGibbon, the last man standing, would come in, but instead Sutcliffe, his head swathed in bandages and his face "looking like parchment", headed to the middle. "My head was heavily bandaged, so much so I felt like a Sikh, and should perhaps be carrying a hockey stick instead of a bat," he said. The 22,000 capacity crowd stood to applaud him all the way. "I must confess I was fortified to some extent by a generous helping of Scotland's chief product… and I don't mean porridge."

His tactics were simple - all-out attack. "I decided that with the pitch still dangerously unpredictable, and the score so unprepossessing, attack was the only answer. So I hit my third ball, from David Ironside, for a six." With Mooney, Sutcliffe saw New Zealand past the follow-on.

Shortly before tea, Mooney was dismissed by Ironside and MacGibbon soon followed for a duck. When Guy Overton became Ironside's fifth victim of the innings, "I joined the fieldsmen on the move towards the pavilion," Sutcliffe said. "We were halted, though, by the unexpected appearance of Bob Blair."

Blair had heard of his team's position and headed to the ground to help. Sutcliffe walked to meet him and Blair said: "I'd like to feel I can help." They returned to the middle arm in arm. Eyewitnesses recall that the full house stood in virtual silence. Noted New Zealand writer Dick Brittenden said: "Looking down on the scene from the glass windows of the pavilion, the New Zealanders wept openly and without shame; the South Africans were in little better state, and Sutcliffe was just as obviously distressed. Before he faced his first ball Blair passed his glove across his eyes in the heart-wringing gesture of any small boy anywhere in trouble but defiant."

Sutcliffe, who was dropped twice, then really cut loose, smashing Hugh Tayfield for three sixes in an (eight-ball) over, and six in all. Blair added to the bowler's misery by striking another, his only scoring shot, off the final delivery. Pearce Rood, who watched the innings, years later told the Independent: "The sixes were lofted into the thin segment of the stand behind long-on, which was reserved in those apartheid-cursed days for "non-Europeans", who traditionally gave vociferous support to the visiting team. Each of those soaring sixes was greeted by pandemonium."

Tayfield got his revenge in the next over when he had Blair stumped. Sutcliffe and Blair had added 33 runs in 10 minutes, Sutcliffe making 80 out of 105. "He had saved a follow-on, and he was quite entitled to regard the tumult of cheering as a tribute to his skill and daring," wrote Brittenden. "But he stood aside at the gate, allowing Blair to pass in first. They went, arms about each other, into the darkness of the tunnel, but behind them they left a light and an inspiration which several thousand lectures on how to play the forward defensive stroke could never kindle.

"It was a great and glorious victory, a story every New Zealand boy should learn at his mother's knee."

There was no fairytale ending. Even though South Africa were bowled out for 148 in their second innings, New Zealand were dismissed for 100 to lose by 132 runs. Adcock took 5 for 43.

The blow Sutcliffe sustained left lasting scars. "I lost my nerve after being hit by Adcock," he recalled. "I worked very hard to overcome it but the problem remained with me for the rest of my life. It was a mental block."

Speed regrets World Cup failure

Malcolm Speed, the former ICC chief executive, has admitted the World Cup in the West Indies last year was one of the more disappointing episodes of his seven-year tenure in charge. Speed, who said the ICC's failure to act on Zimbabwe was his biggest regret - a fallout on the issue ultimately led to his premature exit - also was unhappy with Bangladesh's performance "at the top level of the game".

Speed told the Sydney Morning Herald that what should have been a "celebration of cricket" will "always be looked upon less than favourably" for many reasons. The 2007 World Cup in the West Indies failed to attract full houses at newly-built stadia for the event, with overpriced tickets largely keeping out locals. The tournament also ended in a farce; Australia secured the trophy for the third time in a row, but the match in Barbados ended in near-pitch darkness after the umpires misinterpreted the rules regarding bad light. "Cricket has a chance to make amends in the West Indies with the ICC World Twenty20 in 2010," Speed said.

Speed also highlighted the plight of Bangladesh, who have won only one of their 57 Tests since making their international bow in November 2000. "Bangladesh has the world's seventh-largest population, and its people are passionate about the game. Its team has shown few signs of improvement."

Seeing Twenty20 as a huge opportunity rather than a threat, Speed said finding "the correct balance between Tests, ODIs and Twenty20" was the biggest challenge facing the game at the time of his exit, more so in a "very unstable and dangerous period" for the world. "No other sport has been presented with the opportunity to grow a popular and contemporary third form of its game," he said. "I expect that the current concern about Twenty20 and its impact on scheduling will settle down in the next two to three years, and each form of the game will find its place."

Speed revealed it was at his insistence - with the support of the then-ICC president Ehsan Mani - that he convinced the ICC board to support the inaugural World Twenty20. The tournament in South Africa was a big success, despite scepticism "among elements of the ICC membership - particularly India and Pakistan, the ultimate finalists".



It is quite easy to forget the pain inflicted on the game in the late '90s that saw the captains of three of the nine Test-playing countries banned for life and several other high-profile players implicated. Cricket has become a role model for other sports in the area of anti-corruption



Looking at the positives, Speed pointed out the integration of men's and women's cricket in most countries, and was pleased with the fact that the women's game was growing rapidly. "The ICC merged with the International Women's Cricket Council in 2005, and in the three years that followed, the number of ICC members with organised girls' or women's cricket quadrupled with a first Women's World Cup under the ICC banner in Australia next March and a World Twenty20 alongside the men's event in England in June.

"Another major area of focus was the fight against corruption," he said. "It is quite easy to forget the pain inflicted on the game in the late '90s that saw the captains of three of the nine Test-playing countries banned for life and several other high-profile players implicated. Cricket has become a role model for other sports in the area of anti-corruption." Speed was also pleased to see the game develop a "social conscience", with the ICC's efforts to spread AIDS awareness and the measures undertaken for raise funds for those affected by the tsunami in December 2004.

With the recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai impacting the game's biggest base - the Indian subcontinent - Speed said the sport could make a difference. "Sport has the power to bring nations together. Some of the discussions between the Indian prime minister and Pakistan's president over peace in Kashmir took place at cricket matches. It is clear these dreadful attacks will have a large impact on cricket in India. It would be great if cricket could be part of the healing process."

Franklin included in new-look Test squad

New Zealand's selectors have made sweeping changes to the squad that lost to Australia 2-0. Apart from fast bowler Chris Martin and batsman Aaron Redmond, those who have been dropped for the two-match series against West Indies include Tim Southee, Gareth Hopkins, Peter Fulton and Grant Elliott.

The allrounder James Franklin has been recalled after recovering from a career-threatening knee injury, while Tim McIntosh, the left-handed Auckland opener, has earned a maiden call-up. The 12-man squad also welcomes back Jacob Oram, who missed the Australia tour due to a back injury, and fast bowler Mark Gillespie.

Glenn Turner, head of New Zealand's selection panel, said the selectors felt Martin - who managed six wickets in Australia - would benefit from more cricket at the domestic level while rebuilding his fitness after injury. "We didn't feel we could play both Mark Gillespie and Chris Martin, particularly in Dunedin because in recent times it's gone from being a seamers' paradise into one that's very low and slow," he said. "Gillespie has shown good recent form, bowling a lot of overs and taking eight wickets in his last match - he becomes our strike bowler in this series."

He also said that Franklin was included for his impressive form on his return to domestic cricket. Franklin made his first-class comeback last month for Wellington, scoring 69 and taking 4 for 56 in his team's innings victory over Canterbury. Already this season he has made 448 runs in three matches with two centuries and a fifty, including a career-best 219 against Auckland at Eden Park. Franklin last played a Test in December 2006 and has not appeared in ODIs since the 2007 World Cup.

"James Franklin's return to form as an allrounder has also been good news. With Oram able to bat and returning after injury we're in the fortunate position of having both our leading allrounders available." Oram declared himself fit this week and his next assignment is a four-day match against Otago in Napier starting on Saturday.

McIntosh, 29, scored 78 on day one of Auckland's match against the West Indians to take his tally to 418 runs at 69.00 this summer. He replaces Redmond, who scored 115 runs at 28.75 in Australia, at the top of the order.

Jeetan Patel has been retained as the second specialist spin bowler. "His inclusion gives us the option of a stronger spin attack, depending on pitch conditions at University Oval," said Turner.

The first Test in Dunedin begins on December 11, with the second in Napier starting on December 19.

New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori (capt), Jamie How, Tim McIntosh, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Jacob Oram, Brendon McCullum (wk), James Franklin, Mark Gillespie, Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel.

Fletcher has 'fresh plans' to beat Australia - Kallis

Jacques Kallis has said Australia can expect a few surprises from a South African think-tank that includes Duncan Fletcher during their upcoming three-Test series. Fletcher was England's coach when they won the Ashes in 2005.

"We have worked well with Duncan and he has got some new ideas to beat Australia," Kallis told the Herald Sun. "He's got some thoughts from the 2005 Ashes . . . but he has quite a few fresh plans for Australia this time around "

England's victory during the 2005 Ashes revolved largely around a four-man pace attack, with the likes of Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff troubling the Australian batsman with reverse-swing, so much so that Australia hired Troy Cooley, England's bowling coach during the 2005 contest.

It was during Fletcher's tenure, though, that England were blanked 5-0 in Australia, in 2006-07, and Australia have not lost a home series since 1992-93, when they were beaten 2-1 by West Indies in a five-Test series. Their record since that series reads: won 26, drawn 2.

"I obviously can't say much more on that . . . but our bowling is going to be quite crucial for us," Kallis said.

"There will be key moments in this series and we want to take advantage of them," he said. "Australia have had a good couple of years and we are looking at this series as a huge challenge for us. We want to win any series but this one is particularly crucial for us.

"Australia have been the benchmark and really dominant for the past 12 or 13 years and that is something we aspire to." South Africa are yet to win a Test series in Australia, and have not won a contest against them since their readmission in 1991.

They head to Australia unbeaten in their last nine Test series - winning eight of those - and are currently ranked No. 2 in the ICC rankings. Their last series loss was in Sri Lanka in 2006, with their only draw since then coming away against India earlier this year. Australia recently lost 2-0 to India but are still No. 1, a spot Ponting is confident they will maintain even if they lose against South Africa.

The three-Test series begins in Perth on December 17, and will be followed by a return three-Test series from February.

Rain hampers England's preparations

England's preparations for the first Test against India were limited to just half a training session at their camp in Abu Dhabi owing to poor weather.

Heavy rain prevented the players from leaving their hotel until after lunch, curtailing their much-needed training and keenness to concentrate on cricket after a turbulent few weeks. With the first Test just five days away, there is precious little time for England to hone their skills.

Not only have they been on and off long-haul flights in recent days but it is also more than three months since England last played a Test. With the warm-up match in Vadodara scrapped the squad will have to make do with nets and some middle practice between each other.

Hugh Morris, the managing director of England cricket, has flown to Chennai to assess security ahead of the Test on Thursday, and a decision is expected on Sunday over whether the tour party will get the go-ahead to return to India. Morris and his namesake, Sean, the Professional Cricketers' Association chief executive, along with security advisor Reg Dickason, are due to report back to the team on Sunday evening. All being well, England will travel back to India on Monday.

Dickason has already inspected Chennai and is due to visit Mohali, the venue of the second Test, on December 8. While the BCCI says it has responded to all the ECB's requests for extra security measures, reports from India on Thursday about airport alerts means the situation remains fluid.

An expanded England party of 38 - including 24 players - arrived in Dubai in the early hours of Friday morning before travelling to Abu Dhabi. They didn't check into their hotel until 4.15am, but nine hours later headed to the Sheikh Zayed Stadium for a practice session.

"Obviously, the situation being the way it is, we have got to make best use of the facilities," Paul Collingwood told the Press Association on Friday. "Sunday is D-day, when we get the full security reports, and really, from a cricketing perspective, we have to be mentally right for starting on Thursday.

"We need to get the physical side back into our bodies - batting for long periods of time, for example - which is what we will get for the next three days here," he added. "What we've got to do as a group of players is be 100% mentally attuned to starting on Thursday, take all the distractions out of the way and when it comes to Sunday night, talk about it again and make a decision.

"It is not an ideal situation, but the facilities in Abu Dhabi are excellent and, all being well, all of us should be on the plane to India on Monday morning," Collingwood said. "We all have concerns for obvious reasons but we are leaving it in the hands of the people who know what is going on. We have to trust the guys at the top: Reg Dickason, the ECB and BCCI to come up with the right decisions to make it safe for us to go."

The Test party is light on bowling resources - Ryan Sidebottom is out of the series with a side injury and Stuart Broad ruled out of the first Test with the hamstring strain he picked up in the fifth ODI. Ten players from the Performance Squad have travelled to Abu Dhabi to help with preparations, including late addition Adil Rashid, the Yorkshire legspinner.

However, it is more likely that England will need to take an extra seamer to Chennai as currently there are just three fit frontline quicks - Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and James Anderson. Sajid Mahmood and Amjad Khan were added to the one-day squad after the fifth ODI but never had a chance to join up before the tour was suspended. They probably head the queue if reinforcements are required next week.