News Bits

1. Jaysurya's shoulder injury not serious.
2. Formula 1: Hungarian Grand Prix
   Raikonen wins the Hungarian GP. Schumacher finished 2nd. Alonso was 11th.
3. Match 2 of the Indian Oil tri-series. India won by 6 wickets.
4. England retain the same squad for the 2nd Ashes Test.

Live From Dambula

Latest from the Tri-Series
Live
Sri Lanka won by 3 wickets

Pakistan's new sensation.

Pakistan have a batsman for the future. Shahzad Malik hit 403 in 137 balls, while playing for the Langleybury cricket club in Hertfordshire county, England. There were 38 sixe's. He achieved this against the Middlesex Tamils. In 2004-05 season, in first class cricket, he hit 1008 runs at an average of 72. Watch out for Shahzad Malik the new sensation......

Vacancy (two matches)

The Indian think tank has to decide who will open with Sehwag. The second openers slot is free and wide open. There are a few takers, it could be Dhoni, Laxman, Raina or Yuvraj. According to the current form it would be right to send Dhoni with Sehwag to open the innings.

Dhoni's style of batting is similar to Sehwag, but that should not hamper the thinking of the Indian think tank, as he is solid at the top of the order. If Sehwag goes for his shots, Dhoni can just stay at the wicket and continue his work. If Dhoni goes for his shots, Sehwag can provide the anchor. He would be the be ideal partner for Sehwag.

Laxman never seemed to like the openers slot, he is very good in the middle order. Laxman can rotate the strike in the middle overs. Laxman has to watch out, not to try too many things in the middle. Just play calm and take the runs that comes his ways and rotate the strike.

Yuvraj can be useful in the end to increase the run rate, he would be the ideal batsman for the last 15 or 10 overs of an innings. He doesn't need much time to settle down.

Raina is too young to put him in the openers position and put pressure on him. Although he might do well, it is too early to try someone in his first match. He should be given some time to settle down into the team, you should nuture an young man, not put undue pressure on him directly.

When Ganguly returns, the other slot will be shut, as he is to return after the first two matches.

Check out for more...............

Form book

Players struggle after a long break, as we have seen with the Australians in the NatWest Series, where they struggled with their form in the beginning of the series. Indian Players currently in Sri Lanka are feeling the same thing, they are struggling to find some form. Dhoni in the batting department and Pathan with the ball are only two who have hit form, all the others are searching here and there for something.

Dhoni and Kaif played well in the first warm up match and Dhoni and Raina in the second match. Pathan picked up wickets in both the warm up matches.

Indians have to pick themselves up before they play Sri Lanka in the opener of the Indian Oil Cup. India's performance in Sri Lanka has not been good and with the players in poor form, it will be a real struggle, unless they get back into form. India in the second warm up match failed to play the full 50 overs, they were all out in 42.2 overs, although they won the match, it must worry them.

Verdict: India's bowling is heading in the right direction, it is the batting that seems to trouble them.

Watch out for more....

News Bits

England's tour to Pakistan, the official schedule.

Ganguly 6 match ban has been reduced to 4 matches.
He will miss the first 2 matches of the tri-series.

Dambula Situation

India have played two (D/N) matches here, won one with UAE in the Asia Cup and lost the other against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup.

The last time India played Sri Lanka was in the Asia Cup, where India lost by 12 runs. Dravid and Yuvraj did well. Sri Lanka scored 282, this was the highest score in the first innings of a day night game and India chasing scored 270.

A total of 7 (D/N) matches were played here and on five occasions team winning the toss and batted first have won the match. As chasing underlights is more difficult. So win the toss, you bat.

India plays its first match of the tri series on Saturday against Sri Lanka.
watch out for more.

News Bits

In a development of sorts, Ten Sports has rejected Doordarshan’s contention on the issue of simulcast of the upcoming triangular cricket series involving India, Sri Lanka and West Indies.
For More

News Bits

Sri Lanka won the second Test by 240 runs against the West Indies.
Sri Lanka won the series 2-0
The Man of the Match was Sangakara. The Man of the Series was Vaas.

Why England Lost the First Test

Full scorecard
England started of well in the First Ashes Test. Some hostile bowling from Harmison saw three batsmen get hit on the body, the top 3 Australian batsman were hit, Langer on the elbow, Hayden on the helmet and Ponting too on the helmet, who had a scratch on the cheek as the Helmet jammed into the face. He required 8 stitches on his face. Harmison was the key bowler who took 5 wickets in the first innings. 17 wickets fell on day 1. Australia were all out for 190 in their first innings.

England had a bad start to their innings, they lost quick wickets, they were 21/5. McGrath the main destroyer. Only Pietersen with 57 runs was the top scorer, who played well. In one over of McGrath he hit a four to long-off , a six over the long-off fence, a cover-drive to bring his 50 in style. He was finally out off the bowling of Warne, Pietersen slog sweeping to the deep midwicket, Martyn runs and takes a great diving catch in the air. England were all out for 155. McGrath took 5 wickets. Australia lead by 35 runs.

Australia in their second innings started cautiously, lost Langer early to a brilliant piece of fielding by Peitersen, who hit the stumps directly to run him out. Australia were 100/3. Clarke joined Martyn, Clarke was dropped by Pietersen, a simple catch at covers, when he was on 21. He and Martyn had a partnership of 155 runs for the 4th wicket. Clarke went on score 91 and Martyn scored 65. Australia were 279/7 at the end of 2nd day. Katich played well to extend the lead of Australia to 419, he in partnership with the tail. Katich was the last man to be out. Australia were all out for 384. England required 420 runs to win with more than 2 days left.

England started off well, with Ponting setting an attacking field. Runs were scored quickly, they lost their first wicket at 80. After that wickets fell regularly. At the end of day 3, England were 156/5 with Pietersen and Geriant Jones at the crease. Day 4 was delayed due to continous drizzle, it was only a matter of time that Australia would win this. Play was only possible later in the day. Austrlia required 10 overs to finish England off. Nobody gave support to Pietersen, who remained not out on 64. McGrath was the main destroyer on day 4, he and Warne picked up 4 wickets each in the second innings. England were all out for 180.

Australia did well in the batting department in the second innings, bowling was very good.
England's catching was too bad, they dropped 6 catches in all in the Test. Pietersen dropping 3 catches, Geriant Jones dropping 2 and Flintoff dropping one. Batting was not good, bowling was ok. Catching was terrible. England main reason for losing the match I felt was their not taking catches, not taking the opportunities that came their way.

News Bits

Australia wins the first Ashes test by 239 runs.

Alonso wins the German grand prix after Raikonen had to retire after a mechanical failure.

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Check for Live Formula 1.

First Ashes Test
Picture from Lords Day 4

It is unlikely that play will start before tea.
The start is delayed on Day 4 due to steady drizzle.

Day 3 Stumps Sri Lanka vs West Indies update
Sri Lanka 340/7 (lead by 342 runs)

Preview day 4 Ashes first test

Australia's victory is almost certain unless Pietersen has some ideas or some miracle happens.
The match would most likely end before lunch.

Summary day 3 Ashes first Test

Australia were all out for 384 after they resumed today morning at 279/7. England require 420 runs. They lost 5 wkts after tea. They are 156/5. Lee picking 2 wickets, Warne 3 wickets. Pietersen with 42* is at the crease. Good day for Australia again.
Keep checking for all the updates.....

News Bits

Listen Live Ashes First Test
England are 65 for no loss at Tea.
Australia 384 all out. England require 420 to win this, it would be one of the world record chases.
Australia lead by 407 runs. Australia are 372/9 at Lunch on day 3. check cricinfo for more details.
Sri Lanka 150 & 146/2 (41.1 ov)West Indies 148
Sri Lanka lead by 148 runs as day 2 ended as the rains came down and stopped play before stumps.

Preview day 3

Australia are sitting pretty with a lead of 314 runs. They would look to extend their lead to 350. England will look to take the last 3 wickets as quickly as possible, so that they do not have to chase over 350. All in all an interesting play today.

Day 2 summary of the Ashes test

England scored 63 runs this morning to be all out for 155. Pietersen scored his first 50 after a terrific display of batting. In an over of McGrath, he hit the first ball to the long off fence, the second ball he lofted the ball over the long off fence, the third ball he hit a splendid cover drive to bring his fifty in style. Australia in their second innings were 279/7, leading by 314 runs. Hayden and Langer started at a fast pace before Langer got run out by a brilliant piece of fielding from Pietersen. Then Hayden bottom edged one onto his stumps. Ponting then mistimed a drive to be caught at backward-point. Aus were 100/3, then Clarke and Martyn were involved in a partnership of 155 runs. Martyn and Clarke started slowly. Martyn scored 65 and Clarke scored 91. All in all good batting by the Australians and are in a strong position with a lead of 314.

News Bits

7000 Test runs for Ponting, 7th Australian to get that figure.
For more details check Cricinfo.
Australia are 47/1 at Lunch and lead by 82 runs. They are looking good for a big lead.
Graham Thorpe retires from International cricket.
England are all out for 155. Australia lead by 35 runs.
Sri Lanka was all out for 150 and West Indies are 92/5 at stumps on day 1, still trailing by 58 runs.

Day 2 preview Ashes first test

Australia will try to consolidate their position in the first test by removing the last 3 wickets. England will try as much as possible to reach Australia's score of 190. If Pietersen gets the support from the tail, they should be able to get close. The pitch is keeping a bit low, we saw how Flintoff got bowled by a ball that kept low. It may be another tough day for the batsmen as the fast bowlers are doing well.

Check for updates........

News Bits

Latest from Kandy
Sri Lanka are struggling at 98/5 at Lunch. Sameraweera is the not out batsman at the crease.