Australia to go ahead with new referral system against West Indies and Pakistan

London, Nov.18 (ANI): Despite refusal of several countries, Australia has decided to go ahead with the new video review system for umpires in the coming season.

While both India and South Africa have rejected the International Cricket Council's (ICC) approved referral system, UDRS, Australia would use it in this summer during the Test series against Pakistan and West Indies.

According to the new system, players can ask on-field umpires to consult a colleague with access to ball-tracking technology before making the final decision.

In addition, either the fielding captain or dismissed batsman will be able to request a review of a decision.

The third umpire will need a 'high degree of confidence' that a decision is incorrect, otherwise the original decision will stand. Each team will be allowed two unsuccessful reviews per innings, down from three when the system was first used for trial.

The ICC, however, has backed the system saying it would help eliminate the 'glaring' errors.

"They are the ones that cause the most problems with player behaviour and media comments and they are the ones that are most embarrassing for umpires when they see them later," an ICC spokesperson said

Mahela century helps Sri Lanka take lead at tea

Ahmedabad, Nov 18 (IANS) Former captain Mahela Jayawardene scored a classy century as Sri lanka opened up a 57-run first innings lead against India at tea on the third day of the first cricket Test here Wednesday.

At the break, Sri lanka were cruising at 486 for five, in reply to India's 426, with Mahela batting on 142 and Prasanna Jayawardene 43 at Motera's Sardar Patel Stadium here.

It was Mahela's 27th Test century, his fifth against India. He inspired Thilan Samaraweera (70) and Prasanna to stitch two century partnerships and see Sri lanka briskly accumulate 211 runs in the first two session after resuming at 275 for three.

Jaywardene and Samaraweera dominated the first session with a 138-run stand for the fourth wicket. And Mahela added 108 runs with Prasanna in the second session as India captain Mahendre singh dhoni ran out of ideas.

India picked up the wickets of Samaraweera and Angelo Mathews in the first session as the Lankans added 100 runs in 27 overs.

Dhoni started the proceedings with spinners, but both Jayawardene and Samaraweera hardly had any difficulty milking off-spinner Harbhajan singh and leggie Amit Mishra for easy runs.

India took the new ball in the 10th over of the day. Ishanth Sharma struck soon to remove Samaraweera, who mistimed his pull. Yuvraj took a good catch leaping to his right at square-leg. Samaraweera hit nine fours in his 145-ball innings.

Indians were lucky to get Mathews just before lunch, adjudged caught bat-pad, but the television replays showed the ball brushing the flap of the pad on its way to Gautham Gambhir at short-leg.

In the post lunch session, Mahela continued to bat fluently and was severe on leg-spinner Mishra. He got to his century with a four and a single off Mishra. It was second century in the innings for the visitors, after opener Tillekaratne Dilshan scored 112 on the second day.

Sreesanth surprise pick for Sri Lanka Test series

Mumbai: Pacer S Sreesanth today staged a surprise comeback into India's 15-member Test squad for the first two cricket Tests against Sri lanka starting November 16 in Ahmedabad.

Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan returned to the squad after recovering from a shoulder injury, which had kept him out of India's recent assignments.

The team to be captained by Mahendra singh dhoni also includes Tamil Nadu players opener Murali Vijay and middle-order paceman S Badrinath.

Ashish Nehra, who did reasonably well in the ongoing One-day series against Australia, failed to get the selectors' nod.

Pacer Munaf patel, batsmen suresh raina and Virat Kohli, who are playing in the series against Australia, were not consisted for selection for the three-match Test series.

As expected, the veteran batting duo of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman retained their places.

MCC study reveals Test cricket is losing popularity

Melbourne, Nov 17 (IANS) A study conducted by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodian of the game, has raised fresh doubts on the future of Test cricket.

The study revealed that only seven per cent of followers in cricket-crazy India nominate Tests as their preferred form of the game.

The poll commissioned by Lord's-based MCC covered fans in three countries where Test crowds have declined - India, South Africa and New Zealand.

On the basis of the results, MCC's World Cricket Committee have requested the administrators to give the longest form of the game the 'loving care and attention' it deserves.

'It's not as if the game is falling apart, but it has been scooped by Twenty20 and I think we would be foolish if we didn't think it was universal,' former England captain Tony Lewis, who chairs the committee, was quoted as saying by The Age.

MCC is trying to push its cause for Tests to be staged at night and the global Test championship.

The key findings were presented to the International Cricket Council (ICC) earlier this month in Dubai and both groups reaffirmed their commitment to preserving all three forms.

Taylor century defies Bangladesh

50 overs Zimbabwe 221 for 9 (Taylor 118*, Shakib 3-29, Razzak 3-43, Mahmudullah 3-65) v Bangladesh

Brendan Taylor's maiden international century bailed Zimbabwe's fragile batting from yet another embarrassing display. Bangladesh's spinners proved too crafty for most of the visitors' batsmen again, and a familiar story seemed set to play out again when Zimbabwe were 113 for 7 in the 29th over. However, Zimbabwe's lower order showed more spine than most of their specialist batsmen, supporting Taylor well to lift the target beyond 200.

Full report to follow

Toss Bangladesh chose to field against Zimbabwe

Bangladesh won the toss and chose to field in the fifth and final ODI in which they are striving for a fourth straight victory. On a Chittagong pitch that was expected to have more in it for the quick bowlers than the one on Tuesday, the home side went in with only one fast bowler - Nazmul Hossain - sticking to the combination that has worked so well for them so far in this series.

Zimbabwe are reeling from the loss of two of their senior players, Tatenda Taibu and captain Prosper Utseya, to injuries, leaving them with only 13 fit men in Bangladesh. They made the maximum possible two changes: replacing the erratic seamer Kyle Jarvis with Chris Mpofu, who gets his first game of the series, and Charles Coventry gives way to Forster Mutizwa barely months after equalling the record for highest individual score in ODIs.

Teams
Zimbabwe: Hamilton Masakadza (capt), Mark Vermeulen, Chamu Chibhabha, Brendan Taylor (wk), Forster Mutizwa, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Ray Price, Malcolm Waller, Chris Mpofu

Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Raqibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Enamul Haque jnr, Naeem Islam, Abdur Razzak, Nazmul Hossain

West Indies upset England for surprise victory

West Indies Women 235 for 6 (Jack 81*, Lavine 49) beat England Women 195 (Edwards 58, Nation 3-22, Lavine 3-26) by 40 runs

Cordel Jack and Pamela Lavine delivered England a surprise defeat as West Indies cruised to a 40-run win in the first ODI in St Kitts. Jack made an unbeaten 81 in West Indies' 235 for 6 and was well supported by Lavine, who also picked up three wickets in England's chase.

The visitors battled to cover for the absence of Claire Taylor and Sarah Taylor and it was left to Charlotte Edwards to guide the chase. She top scored with 58 opening the innings and while Lydia Greenway (41) remained at the crease England had hope of a victory.

But Lavine removed Greenway and then picked up two more wickets in her next two overs to expose the England middle order, before Chedean Nation chipped away at the lower order. Nation grabbed 3 for 22 as the visitors sunk into a hole as the required run-rate ballooned to 13, and they were all out for 195 in the 48th over.

The strong West Indies performance had been set up by their top order. Lavine and Stefanie Taylor built a 75-run opening stand before Lavine and Jack continued to apply the pressure to England's bowlers.

Lavine's 49 combined with her 3 for 26 made her a contender for the Player of the Match, but that prize went to Jack. She struck ten fours and one six in her unbeaten 81, which gave West Indies a formidable total.

England's coach Mark Lane said: "I'm bitterly disappointed with the result today. We were outplayed in all three disciplines and in all honesty we just weren't good enough. We need to show plenty of character tomorrow, we're a great team so we'll dust ourselves down and I'm confident that we'll perform far better tomorrow and play at the level we know are capable of."

The teams return to Warner Park on Thursday for the second ODI before the third and final match on Saturday. Three Twenty20 internationals, also in St Kitts, follow the one-dayers.

Victory would be 'amazing effort' - Ponting

Ricky Ponting has said that if Australia could scrape through for a series victory in India it would be "an amazing effort" given the squad's horrible run with injuries. Australia will begin Thursday's ODI in Hyderabad with the seven-match series locked at 2-2 but with only 13 fit men to choose from.

"If you consider everything that's happened to us over the last couple of weeks, it would be an amazing effort if this group of players were good enough to get over the line," Ponting said in the Age. "I think we showed the other night that if we play even somewhere near our best we're a really good chance of winning the series.

"But with five or six guys - probably more than that - out of our starting XI that aren't here at the moment, we're going along nicely. And we haven't played our best. With our batting we probably left 30-40 runs out there the other night so, hopefully, that all clicks tomorrow, and if it does we know we'll be well in the contest again."

The Victoria allrounder Andrew McDonald and the New South Wales fast bowler Burt Cockley are flying in to boost the squad before the sixth ODI in Guwahati on Sunday. For Thursday's game, the selectors need to choose one of the batsman Adam Voges, the fast bowler Clint McKay or the spinner Jon Holland, and the coach Tim Nielsen said on Wednesday McKay would play "in the next couple of games, if not tomorrow".

"He's a big kid that's done well over here and he brings the ball down from a height," Nielsen said. "We'll hopefully see him get a bit of bounce in the conditions."

The Australians began the series without Michael Clarke (back), Brad Haddin (finger), Callum Ferguson (knee) and Nathan Bracken (knee). As the tour has worn on they have also lost Brett Lee (elbow), Tim Paine (finger), James Hopes (hamstring), Peter Siddle (side stiffness) and Moises Henriques (hamstring).

Australia look to defy odds again

Big Picture

Australia have no business being 2-2 in this series. Seven first-choice men out, followed by two of their replacements (Moises Henriques being the latest). Foreign conditions. Back-to-back matches, spread across the length and breadth of India, suggesting more a sightseeing tour than one of the cricketing variety. Bowlers struggling at the death. Big hitters absent. Horror of horrors, Andrew Symonds is being discussed again by the fans. Conventional wisdom suggests that cannot be a good sign for the Australian team. Look at the scoreline, though - Two wins each. Who told Australia they could compete once their players started going down one by one after the first ODI?

Two-all doesn't mean this becomes a fresh three-match series, as MS Dhoni would suggest. Australia have simply lost too many players, which has made India the favourites though the Mohali loss puts the pressure back on the hosts. They will know losing the series in home conditions against an under-strength Australia will be an embarrassment; a 4-3 result won't be much better received. All of which gives Australia added incentive to win on Thursday and take a step closer to the grand heist.

India have had their share of injury troubles, with Zaheer Khan out for the series and Gautam Gambhir missing the fourth ODI. But the selectors' retaining the existing XV for the final three games suggests Gambhir's injury is not serious, nor is Virender Sehwag's. India need a win in Hyderabad to start their march towards 5-2, anything less than which should disappoint them. By the look of things right now, there are no excuses in sight either.

Soccer Bullies Come Out To Play

Aggressive coaches, players and even parents can be referred to as bullies. But what I find funny is that most bullies would be horrified to be called a bully.

Even funnier, for most of them, it would come as a total shock.

Everyone has been exposed to some form of bullying. Bullying at home, school and even at work.

But does it exist in soccer?

Bullying is an abuse of power by someone who is stronger physically, verbally, mentally and even socially. This abuse usually targets someone younger or someone who can’t block the bully’s mind games or cruel intentions. It usually targets someone who is regarded as mentally or physically weak.

So why does bullying exist? Why do so many youth coaches find the need to use intimidation and aggression as a means of control? Why are some kids subjected to bullying within the dynamics of their team?

Do you know the answer?

The main reason coach’s bully is because they’ve been allowed to get away with it. Over a period of time it has been condoned by players and to some extent parents.

Over the years I’ve encountered two sorts of coaching bullies. The first one, an x-player of the team had a very anti-social personality. During his playing days he would bully the younger players and this continued when he was given the chance to coach. This person, I will not disclose a name for obvious reasons, enjoyed bullying and for some strange reason expected everyone else to enjoy it as well.

The other type of bully is the arrogant, “mr know it all” and egomaniac that doesn’t even realise he is doing it and has no idea that this behaviour is unacceptable. This type of coach doesn’t know how to coach and is often frightened about the stability and safety of his coaching position.

Lets use an example for demonstration.

The coach deliberately leaves Mark out of a training drill and continues to yell at Gerry in front of the entire team. These coaches know what they are doing is wrong but don’t think they will be caught. Nor do they think it’s bullying.

Soccer bullying exists but has not been properly identified. Have you experienced bullying at soccer? If so, what have you done about it?

Players will talk about it, think about it but very rarely report it or do something about it. If your coach is a bully he needs to be put back in his place.

So what happens to the victim, the bully and the teammates?

Can this situation produce a successful soccer team?

The victim feels neglected, hurt and loses confidence. The coach feels superior, powerful and in control. The teammates no longer enjoy the game because they fear the abuse and do not want to be singled out.

So how do you stop this abuse?

Believe it or not, it’s very easy.

Gather around kids and I’ll tell you a secret.

To stop a coach bullying, players must be united. They must develop a friendship and a common language that will eliminate this behaviour and its pervasive effects. As a collective group you can warn the coach that his behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Remember this, a coach cannot coach without his team. Trust me when I tell you, the coach needs his team more than the team could ever need the coach.

The most important thing you can do as players is to acknowledge that bullying is occurring. Stick together and put a unified front.

Although times have changed dramatically since my playing days and awareness has increased, bullying isn’t going to go away. So remember to stick together like warriors and set your own rules within your gang.

Coaches are a dime a dozen, never put up with abuse!

Soccer Pre-Season: The Baptism Of Fire

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It’s 6.00 am and you’re roused from sleep with blisters and sore legs.

Have you experienced this? Do you know what I’m talking about?

Let me give you some more clues.

The heat hangs in the morning air and the day is ready to begin with the rising sun. You grab your runners and wake up your roommate along with 25 other guys. The smell of pain is in the air while the faces of your teammates paints a picture of misery.

The coach takes a head count and everyone’s here. No one has escaped and you don’t feel fully awake yet. Any ideas?

Does Pre-season Camp ring a bell?

The coach and the assistants are probably no more awake than you, but they will not feel the pain. Pre-season with the addition of heat has the ability to crush you. Chances are you’re already losing your mind and conjuring up excuses why you shouldn’t train. My blisters hurt. My hamstrings are tight or I’m feeling sick.

Sound familiar?

If it does put your hand up and keep it up. For those of you reading this with your hand down, I’m sorry but you’re lying.

Training begins and the pain sets in. You struggle through another brutal session and return back to your hotel room.

The cloak of night closes in and sends you and your fellow teammates to bed. You are sore, the legs are heavy and you wonder how you ever got so unfit during the off-season. The thought of tomorrow and the increased drills and doggies haunts you as you try and sleep.

The sun rises even stronger and the heat has accumulated from the day before. You look up at the sun and you could swear that it’s smiling down on you, laughing at the pain that awaits you.

The moans and groans increase as the coach announces the training drills and the never ending sets of “doggies”. For those of you that don’t know what a doggy is, it’s a sprinting workout which has 5 cones separated by about 5 feet. You sprint to the first one and return to the starting position. The next group begins. When they finish you begin again, but this time you run to the first cone and back and then continue to the second cone and back. Next group starts again. Before you know it, you’re repeating this drill 5 times with each set becoming longer and longer.

By the 5^th set your lungs are about to burst and your legs no longer listen to your brain. Simple running patterns become difficult and the motion of left foot before right foot becomes brain surgery as you gasp for that oxygen.

Although I paint a picture of pain, pre-season must be challenging and painful. Everyone has heard “no pain, no gain” but how many of you have really felt the pain.

Do you know the pain?

The pain when your hands are on your knees and every breath you take feels like the last breath you’ll ever take. The pain that doesn’t let you drink water because the heart is pounding so hard on your chest that you think you are going to die.

That my friends is the pain you need to embrace and hunger for. A great coach once said to me after an exhausting session that pre-season isn’t designed to hurt you or punish you.

“It’s designed to hurt and punish your opponent”.

After a solid pre-season you have the confidence, strength, fitness and the ability to crush your direct opponent. You will look at him and laugh because the pain you felt 2-3 months ago will become his nightmare.

The pain you felt 2-3 months ago will now be inflicted on your opponent as he tries to keep up with you. After the 90 minutes the only thing your opponent will remember is the number on your back and the colour of your heels.

So next time you’re bent over gasping for air, push yourself even harder and enjoy the pain. This same pain will become your ally and will never let you down.

So before you run out for your next match, look to the sun and smile back as you welcome the visitors to a baptism of fire.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars”.

Milan confirm Beckham return

AC Milan have confirmed David Beckham will be returning to the Italian club in January. The 34-year-old helped Milan to fourth place in Serie A last season with two goals in 18 league appearances before going back to LA Galaxy in May.

GettyImages

David Beckham will be returning to the San Siro.

Former England captain Beckham had been strongly linked with a second loan spell with the Rossoneri to improve his chances of making Fabio Capello's World Cup squad.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani claimed last week an announcement was imminent - and it has been confirmed on the club's official website this evening.

Beckham moved to the San Siro during Major League Soccer's off-season last January, initially on a three-month loan deal, but impressed so much his stay was extended until the end of the Serie A campaign.

Milan have announced a six-month deal on this occasion, meaning Beckham will remain in Italy up until the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

"We are very happy to see again David Beckham with the Rossoneri jersey after the splendid experience of last season," AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said on the club's official website.

"We are certain that this time in Europe will help the player take part in the next World Cup and to continue after his career in Los Angeles Galaxy, to whom we thank for their time.''

His first Serie A game this season could be against Genoa at the San Siro on January 6.

Ponting mulls opening batting for rest of India-Australia ODI series

Mohali, Nov 2(ANI): Australian skipper Ricky Ponting’s decision to open the batting in the third ODI of the seven game series against India may develop into something more lasting.

Ponting has indicated that he would maintain the spot for the rest of the series, starting with the fourth game in Mohali.

“The reason I opened in the game was for team balance. I’m obviously the most experienced player in our side and to put one of the other guys up to open the innings I thought would have been more of a challenge for them than it would be for me,” The Daily Telegraph quoted Ponting, as saying.

“If it looks like everyone’s fit and ready for the next game there’s probably every chance that I’ll open again,” he added.

The 34-year-old made 59 runs in a painfully slow conditions at the Ferozshah Kotla, but his contribution will give the selectors cause for thought ahead of the 2011 World Cup, also on the subcontinent.

Ponting has previously opened only once in his career, against Zimbabwe at Harare in 1999. (ANI)

Australia survive Harbhajan scare, win by 24 runs

Let down by the batsmen, India slumped to a 24-run defeat in the fourth one-dayer that not only allowed Australia to level the seven-match series 2-2 but also prolonged the hosts' wait to become the number one ODI team in the world here on Monday. Chasing 251, India got off to a flier with Virender Sehwag (30 off 19 balls) looking eager to wrap up the issue and Sachin Tendulkar (40) going great guns. But their undoing was no less spectacular as the middle and lower could not forge a single significant partnership and the team folded for 226 in 46.4 overs. Earlier put into bat, Australia stitched together half-centuries from Ponting (52) and White (62) and cameos from Shane Watson (49) and Michael Hussey (40) to reach 250 before wilting in 49.2 overs. India's chase got off to a blazing start with Sehwag displaying the kind of power-hitting on which he has built his career around. The first ball raced to the fence off his blade faster than it had arrived and it was a bad omen for Mitchell Johnson. The hapless birthday boy copped three boundaries in his next over and an encore of the treatment meant the Australian spearhead had hemorrhaged 34 runs in his first three overs before Ponting spared further trauma by withdrawing him from attack. It was too good to last for long and relief for Australia came soon when Sehwag fell to Doug Bollinger in the seventh over and Virat Kohli (10), replacing Gautam Gambhir, squandered yet another opportunity to impress, leaving India at 78 for two. With Sachin Tendulkar in pursuit of yet another batting milestone - 47 runs separated him from the 17,000 mark when he walked out - and looking in good nick, the crowd had enough to look forward to till an Ashoka de Silva howler spoiled their party. Fluent initially and aware of the imminent milestone as he approached it, Tendulkar was hit on the pad by an innocuous Nathan Hauritz delivery that was missing the leg stump but de Silva raised his dreaded finger to send groans across the chock-a-block stadium. At 94 for three, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (26) and Yuvraj Singh (12) had a task uncannily similar to the one they had accomplished in the previous match in Delhi but this time their association was nipped in the bud by a Ricky Ponting direct throw that sent back Yuvraj. Dhoni then became Bollinger's third victim, Hauritz castled Suresh Raina (17) and Ravindra Jadeja (7) ran himself out, leaving India gasping at 177 for seven in the 39th over. Down the order Harbhajan Singh's 25-ball 35 - like the series opener in Vadodara - was entertaining but not clinching.

'We failed as a batting unit' - MS Dhoni

	MS Dhoni: 'We should have batted the full 50 overs but that was not possible because we kept losing wickets at regular intervals.' © Getty Images

India's powerful batting line-up has often had to compensate for errant bowling and slack fielding in the past but the tables were turned in Mohali. MS Dhoni praised his bowlers for restricting Australia to 250; he said the fielding effort was India's best in the last one-and-a-half years; but he criticised the batsmen for a lack of partnerships which ultimately led to a 24-run defeat in the fourth ODI.

"It was a good effort by the bowlers to restrict them to a total like 250," Dhoni said. "We got a decent start to our chase also. But subsequently, we failed as a batting unit. We should have batted the full 50 overs but that was not possible because we kept losing wickets at regular intervals."

Dhoni defended his decision to field, saying the dew factor would have made it difficult for the bowlers to grip the ball under lights. "Dew is a big factor that always plays on your mind. From overs 15-40, generally the spinners do the job for us. That would have been taking a risk. Of course, it can backfire as well, so it's difficult to choose. But we knew in Mohali, the wicket would not break much and ball would come nicely onto the bat with a bit of dew. I think our bowlers did a great job and 251 is something we should have scored."

India's chase had a terrific start with Virender Sehwag caning Mitchell Johnson for 30 runs off 14 balls. Australia began to fight back after Sehwag fell but India were on course while Sachin Tendulkar was batting. However, his dismissal for 40 - the highest score of the innings - was the beginning of the end as wickets fell frequently thereafter.

"We badly needed some partnerships going," Dhoni said. "We got the start but we could not take advantage of that. If at least one batsman got going, it would have made things easy."

Dhoni also said the younger batsmen like Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja and Virat Kohli would need to learn how to overhaul a difficult target. "Raina today got out to a beautiful delivery, while Jadeja was run out after a mix-up," Dhoni said. "Batting at No. 6 or 7 is not easy, since you don't get much opportunity to bat. You cannot pace your innings either, for you have to play according to the platform given to you. Sometimes, you have to accelerate or keep a partnership going. They are still inexperienced and I hope they learn from their mistakes."

On the decision to send Kohli at No. 3, Dhoni said: "The best way to give someone an opportunity is to let him bat higher. At No. 6 or 7, you score 20-30 in quick time or can get out for 10-12 also. I think it's important to give them a chance. Virat is a talented batsman, good on the field and brings in lot of energy."

India's defeat in Mohali prevented them from taking Australia's No. 1 ranking in ODIs and the gap between the teams is now three points. The next match is in Hyderabad on November 5.

Ponting hails 'outstanding' Bollinger

	Ricky Ponting was thrilled with Australia's bowling and fielding effort in Mohali

Ricky Ponting has credited his bowlers, and particularly Doug Bollinger, with rescuing Australia in Mohali to level the series 2-2. The Australians appeared to be in trouble when India were 78 for 1 in the 15th over, chasing 251 for victory, but in his fifth ODI Bollinger grabbed three wickets to set up Australia's triumph.

"I thought Bollinger was outstanding," Ponting said after the match. "He came on and his wickets probably brought us back into the game."

Bollinger finished with 3 for 38 from his nine overs and helped restrict the scoring while his fellow left-armer Mitchell Johnson leaked runs. Shane Watson grabbed three wickets in the lower order when India were threatening a late fightback, and combined with two sharp run-outs from Ponting it added up to a strong performance in the field.

"It was good to get a couple of run-outs," Ponting said. "Yuvi and I had a chat in the field and he called me a little bit slow, but I got one back on him tonight. We have worked hard on our fielding and I thought it has been at its best in the whole series tonight.

"It's surely a good win for us, coming up short with the bat, but bowling and fielding very well. Peter Siddle got only five overs in the game which means we thought things out really well. The series is level again, it has been up and down all the way through and no team has been able to grab the momentum."

Ponting said it was disappointing that Australia had failed to make the most of a strong start with the bat - four of their top five scored 40 or more. However, nobody else reached double figures and the innings fell away dramatically, with the final wicket falling for 250 in the 50th over.

"We felt we had missed out on a few runs out there with the bat," he said. "At one stage it looked like we would get close to 300, but we didn't capitalise on the Powerplay. We lost a few wickets leading up to our powerplay again and that's been a bit of a problem for us through the series so far. But the boys bowled exceptionally well tonight."

Inept Zimbabwe shot out for 44

Despite two big wins in the previous two matches Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan had been unhappy with his team's performance, demanding an improved show. He can have little to complain about after Bangladesh's bowlers demolished Zimbabwe for 44, the fifth lowest total in one-dayers. It could have been even more embarrassing for the visitors had Bangladesh not grassed three catches.

After three games in Mirpur the action shifted to Chittagong, where the pitch offered plenty of turn and bounce, but Zimbabwe can't use that as an excuse as most of the wickets were due to some poor shot selection from the batsmen rather than due to gremlins in the track.

Impressive Australia draw level

	Shane Watson took three lower-order wickets after scoring 49

It was India's game to lose after they restricted Australia to a par total of 250 on a good batting pitch, especially after the fiery start provided by Virender Sehwag. However, Australia won the vital moments during the chase to level the series in Mohali. Like in Vadodara, Harbhajan Singh and Praveen Kumar threatened to pull off a heist; like in Vadodara they failed.

It was a roller-coaster of a chase and whenever India appeared to be getting ahead, Australia fought back with a vengeance. It wasn't necessarily great bowling that did the trick but it was disciplined enough to force mistakes from under-pressure batsmen.

India were off to a cracking start. Sehwag looted 30 runs from 14 deliveries from Mitchell Johnson but no one took ownership of the chase and India slowly lost their way. The first turning point came when Ricky Ponting introduced spin in the 17th over. Nathan Hauritz stuck in his second over, earning an lbw decision against Sachin Tendulkar but the ball appeared to be missing leg stump.

The second blow occurred in the 24th over when Ponting fired a direct hit from cover to run out Yuvraj Singh. MS Dhoni took the score to 134 before he became the fifth wicket to fall, trying to clip a harmless delivery from Doug Bollinger down the leg side. Raina didn't last long, cleaned up by Hauritz when he failed to connect with an attempted dab to third man and finally, Ravindra Jadeja ran himself out, attempting a non-existent single.

There would have been a moment of apprehension for Ponting when Harbhajan and Praveen played cameos but Shane Watson, who leaked runs against the same pair in Vadodara, redeemed himself today. Harbhajan opted for the batting Powerplay after Jadeja's exit and pushed the score to 204 but fell, scooping a return catch to Watson, who later induced Praveen to edge behind. Game over.

How did India lose this one though? Sehwag and Tendulkar had provided them the ideal start and though Tendulkar's dismissal was vital, even then, India held the advantage. Or so it seemed. Dhoni and Yuvraj, the heroes from the last game, were still in, the wicket was still batting-friendly and the bowling wasn't too threatening.

This is where the Australia, battered and bruised with injuries, showed their famed fighting spirit. They needed a moment of inspiration and it came from their captain. Ponting swooped in on a push from Dhoni at short cover and swung around to hit a direct hit at the striker's end to catch Yuvraj short of the crease. It was the spark Australia were looking for and they began to hustle the Indians on the field. The fielding was sharp and the bowling, if not spectacular, was tight.

They still needed a slice of luck to swing things decisively in their favour and they got it when Bollinger returned for his second spell in the 32nd over. It appeared to be a harmless delivery, bouncing down the leg side, but Dhoni nicked the attempted glance to the keeper.

Suddenly, the momentum had shifted and India's lower order was put under severe pressure. An alert Ponting kept making the right moves; with two left-handers Raina and Jadeja in the middle, he brought in the offspinner Hauritz for another spell. Hauritz took out a nervous Raina in the very first over and Ponting made yet another move that almost backfired on him. He gave the ball to Johnson, perhaps hoping that the errant bowler would redeem himself, but Harbhajan and Jadeja slammed a couple of boundaries. However, the pressure got to Jadeja, who was run out by who else but Ponting, and the chase had all but derailed.

The final margin of victory - 24 runs - was all the more surprising because Australia appeared to have lost the advantage after being restricted to a par total. Four Australian batsmen went past 40 but none carried on for a big score and the innings meandered at times, especially in the last ten overs where they scored only 49 runs. Ponting and Watson couldn't build on their promising partnership and the same fate befell Michael Hussey and Cameron White's association.

White played responsibly to keep Australia in the game. He has a reputation for powerful shots, but adapted his approach and scored in singles and twos. The big hits have eluded him so far in the series, reducing him to being merely a useful contributor rather than one who can take the game away from the opposition. His best shot was a well-adjusted short-arm slog sweep against Yuvraj Singh: He leaned forward to seemingly push it away for a single but at the last minute just stretched out to swat it high over midwicket. He went on to unfurl more skilful shots, when he backed away a couple of times against Harbhajan to loft inside-out against the turn, but for the main part, he drove and flicked for singles to rotate the strike.

He found solid support in Hussey and the duo added 73 runs for the fourth wicket with the left-hander playing another typical innings: he was calmness personified, pushing the ball into gaps for singles and collecting an odd boundary with a cover drive or a sweep. Occasionally, he charged out to the spinners to loft them over the in-field and one such stroke off Yuvraj sailed over wide long-on for six. However, he too fell after getting a start, pulling Yuvraj straight to deep midwicket.

Australia's task was made harder by the discipline of all the bowlers except Ishant Sharma. The new-ball bowlers, Praveen and Ashish Nehra, found enough movement to keep the top order quiet and both returned to choke the batsmen in the end overs. The spinners, too, found enough bite to cover up for Ishant's wayward spells. Harbhajan put in his best performance of the series, slowing up the pace and flighting on off and middle stump line. Harbhajan tried with the bat too but it was always going to be a tough for him to pull off the improbable.

Are 50-over ODIs in danger actually?

Asking if the 50-over game is in danger sounds timely considering the following:

* I, and I suspect several others, yawned after realizing that two 50-over ODI tournaments will be in progress simultaneously (the 7 ODIs between Australia & England and the 4-match tri-series involving New Zealand, India & Sri Lanka.
* Sachin Tendulkar has a proposal to save the format from becoming irrelevant.
* The ECB announced that domestic games would be 40-overs a side from the 2010 season.

The ICC keeps bleating about how it is proud that there are 3 viable formats of the game, and that all three can co-exist. That's actually rubbish. If the scheduling of tours & tournaments doesn't change significantly, one form of the game (and I'm willing to bet that it won't be T20) will gradually disappear until there's nothing left of it, except for silly-looking administrators (to paraphrase Lewis Carroll).

Let's assume that there will be 3 formats of the game, and that a typical series would have 2 tests (sadly), 5 ODIs and 2 T20 games. Factor in ICC rules (can't locate it) that mandate at least 3 days gap between tests, 2 warm-up games (1 before the tests and 1 before the ODIs), at most 1 back-to-back ODI, 2 days gap between the other ODIs, 1 day gap between the T20 games and at least 1-2 days gap between each leg (Test, ODI & T20) legs of the tour. We're talking of something like a 40-day tour, with 21 playing days. Nearly half the tour's duration would be devoted to the 5-day game (either the actual playing days or the warm-ups or the time between first-class games). It definitely does seem like the softest target. Remove the tests from the tour, and you can easily squeeze in at least 5 more ODIs.

Now, on an average, each team plays around 3 test series during a year. Let's assume that all these series are 2-test, 5-ODI & 2-T20 affairs (which is a very simplistic & minimal assumption). So we're talking of a total touring time of 120 days, out of which just over half are playing days. If only it was so simple.

There are ICC tournaments to contend with, each lasting 30-40 days at least, on an annual basis. Then there are some series that don't fit in to the minimalistic 2-5-2 model. They may have 3 tests, 5 ODIs and 2 T20 games. Others like Australia's tour of England have 5 tests, 7 ODIs and 2 T20 games. That tour started on June 24 (excluding the T20 World Cup) and will end on Sep 20 - nearly 3 months, with nearly 50 playing days! Then there are some other meaningless tri-nation tournaments. Then there're the new leagues - IPL and Champions League.

So, players could be "on-the-road" for something like 220-250 days a year, playing on around 120-140 of those days.

Isn't it still obvious that if the ICC continues to harp on retaining 3 formats, something is going to give?

Yet, will it necessarily result in T20 driving the 50-over game out of existence? I suspect not, primarily for commercial reasons.

Assuming that other factors are identical across both the formats (i.e. teams play out the entire allotment of overs, and lose the same number of wickets), TV viewers watching a 50-over game would see 60% more ads than when they were watching a T20 game (figure it out - 49 over-breaks v/s 19 over-breaks per innings).

Even though you can squeeze in 2 T20 games within the duration of 1 50-over ODI, the number of ad-breaks between overs is reduced by 22% (49 v/s 2x19). We haven't even got to the possibility that more wickets are likely to fall across 50 overs compared to 20 overs, thereby increasing the number of ad breaks!

Even the ECB's (and Cricket South Africa's) moves to 40-over cricket will fail for the same reason - 20% less ad-breaks. The BCCI is unlikely to support the ECB & CSA on this. Cricket Australia moved away from the tri-series format only this year. So they're unlikely to take a plunge without having evaluated the benefits of staging 2 bilateral ODI series compared to the ODI triangular format. There's probably not too much of a point in discussing what other countries will do.

In any case, the ICC had already announced the venues for the next 3 World Cups over three years ago. This doesn't imply that a change in realities won't make them change the format of those tournaments. After all, the 2010 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy (hosted by West Indies) was converted into the T20 World Cup. Such a move would need the BCCI's backing (and by implication a few other boards that kow-tow to them), and that seems very unlikely at this point in time.