It was another predictable day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where West Indies played out its final preparatory match before next week’s first Test against Australia.As the tourists completed their third sub-200 total from four first-class innings played on this tour so far, a spectator fanned a banner pleading “Bring back Viv”. But the great Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards was nowhere in sight. And just as last week was Western Australia’s opportunity to upstage these once-feared tourists, so this week became Victoria’s chance to annihilate them.The result for the Windies: a seven-wicket loss in Perth, followed by today’s innings and sixty-three run drubbing inside three days by the bottom-ranked Australian domestic side. And both coach Roger Harper and captain Jimmy Adams are at a loss for explanations.”I have no explanation. It has been a disappointing performance to put it mildly. I’m not one to get angry but I’m very very disappointed,” said Harper.”It is very very frustrating because I know we are capable of a lot better cricket than we have displayed here and as we displayed in Western Australia. But it’s difficult to put an exact finger on it as to what will bring out the consistency we’re still striving for. Physically, I have no doubt that we’re working a lot harder, a lot better in terms of preparation. We’re still trying to get the precise, definite answer,” he said.Asked about what went wrong with the team’s batting – they were bowled out for 167 in the first innings and 114 in the second – Adams was direct.”I won’t take very long to describe, it’s just not good enough,” he said. “The bottom line is that we’re just not batting as well as we should be batting. We’re just not doing the basic consistent things. It’s just not happening.”For Victorian captain Darren Berry on the other hand, the match couldn’t have gone better. His bowlers began well in the first innings under overcast conditions on a helpful pitch, his batsmen continued the good work by amassing 7/344, and the Bushrangers finally tasted their opening first-class victory of the season. To top it all off, Berry himself claimed his four hundredth first-class catch today.”I think everything went right for Victoria. I think the toss was the start because it was a difficult wicket to bat on. I thought our bowlers bowled well and it was a good team effort. I don’t think it’s my position to comment on how the West Indies played, I’m more concerned about how Victoria played and I was extremely happy with our performance,” he said.The stars for Victoria were twenty-year-old paceman Mathew Inness (9/73 for the match, including career best figures of 6/26 in the first innings) and twenty-five year-old batsman Brad Hodge (134*), who was forced to retire hurt overnight after a Courtney Walsh delivery left his thumb severely bruised.There were other positives too. The patient batting of Jason Arnberger (99) in the first innings. The bowling of first-class debutant Ben Oliver (2/13 off six overs in the second innings, including the crucial wicket of Brian Lara). The successful return from injury of Damien Fleming (2/27 off tenovers today). And of course, the clever bowling of Test spinner Colin Miller (3/26 off 15.3 overs).After losses in the opening two Pura Cup matches, Berry believes today’s win will give the Victorians the confidence and inspiration they need for the next round of domestic matches.For the West Indians, the result simply exacerbates their woeful start to this Australian tour. With the first Test just four days away, the search is on for that elusive answer to their problems.Adams thinks the answer lies within. “I don’t think it’s so much a technical problem. I think what we have to do is to do whatever we can amongst ourselves to reinforce to the team that the players here are good players, quality players. I think they’re players that have done enough often enough, and ones who you figure will always carry that self belief. There might be a few younger players where it’s up to the rest of us to keep reinforcing that ‘You are good enough and you’re here because you’re goodenough’.”Adams says the most important thing is for the team to come together to solve the problems. “I think everybody has a role to play. I think even players who are struggling and might be young players, they still have a role to play. It’s not going to happen because one man stands up, it’s going to happen because the whole team comes together. And as well, you can’t get away from the fact that it is going to require discipline.”At the same time, coach Harper says the team still has time to realise its potential. “I still think we have it in us to play good cricket and precisely because of our unpredictability, it’s possible for us to getthrown out there and string it together. And hopefully we can achieve it come the Test match,” he said.

Hard-hitting top order batsman Andrew Hore has been brought into the State Otago Volts for the opening rounds of the State Shield one-day series.Hore replaces Jordan Sheed in the side from that which has secured a win, a draw and a loss in the opening third of the State Championship first-class competition.Coach Glenn Turner has called for two limited overs matches this week as the players change their mindset to the requirements of the one-day game. The Volts will play an A side tomorrow and again on Wednesday on Alexandra’s Molyneux Park back ground.The State Otago Volts for the State Shield matches against Wellington and Auckland in Alexandra on December 28 and 30 respectively are: Craig Cumming (captain), Mohammad Wasim, Andrew Hore, Brendon McCullum, Robbie Lawson, Marcel McKenzie, Warren McSkimming, Jeff Wilson, Nathan Morland, Shayne O’Connor, James McMillan, Kerry Walmsley.

ScorecardAfghanistan’s fairytale run of success finally crashed down to earth with a chastening four-wicket defeat to Canada in the second match of the series in Sharjah. They never recovered from a disastrous start that saw Khurram Chohan destroy the top order, leaving Afghanistan floundering at 4 for 3 by the third over, on his way to match-winning figures of 4 for 43.It was due reward for Chohan who’s four wickets in the opening fixture so nearly took Canada to victory. He started the day by claiming Shafiqullah Shafiq and last game’s centurion Mohammad Shahzad in his first over, before following it up with Nowroz Mangal and debutant Shabir Noori to leave Afghanistan 38 for 5 and in utter disarray.He was well supported by Rizwan Cheema and Umar Bhatti, who took two wickets each with their nagging seamers. It was only a 51-run sixth-wicket stand and Mohammad Nabi’s well-constructed 62 that gave Afghanistan any semblance of respectability. Nabi played in the way he does best, belting five sixes and three fours during his 57-ball stay. Dominating a last-wicket stand with Aftab Alam, the pair added 49 to take Afghanistan to 177.It didn’t look enough and despite being reduced to 35 for 2 after 10 overs Canada were careful not to undo their good work. Sandeep Jyoti and captain Ashish Bagai, who richly deserved a win after making an unbeaten 91 in the first game, worked the ball around nicely during an 82-run stand that all but sealed the game. Jyoti made a patient 38 before he fell to Aftab Alam, while Bagai continued his good form striking five boundaries during his 59-ball 52.Nabi threatened to cause a late scare when he took two wickets in the 35th over, reducing Canada to 144 for 6, still 34 runs short of the target, but Jawad Dawood came out and immediately arrested the momentum and any hopes of a fightback. He crashed 25 from 19 balls to give Canada their first win of the series.

ScorecardGurinder Sandhu cleaned up India A’s lower order to finish with 4 for 76•K Sivaraman

The senior Australian team faltered against England in the third Investec Test at Edgbaston but the Australia A team romped to a ten-wicket win to complete a 1-0 series victory at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Chasing 61, openers Cameron Bancroft and Usman Khawaja ran down the target in 6.1 overs.

Khawaja lauds bowlers

Australia A captain Usman Khawaja toasted the team’s success, which was built on a collective effort.
“Very happy. I haven’t been part of a team here that had come to India, won a four-day game,” Khawaja said. “It was really good win. Credit to all the guys for doing well in Chennai in the heat.”
While Cameron Bancroft’s 150 led the batting charge, Steve O’Keefe and Ashton Agar took nine wickets overall. Gurinder Sandhu also impressed with his offbreaks: each of his four wickets in the second innings came through spin. Khawaja also lauded the seamers for disciplined bowling, which had allowed the spinners to make the incisions.
“Bancroft batted beautifully, that kind of stuff wins games for you,” Khawaja said. “The bowlers have been excellent throughout both games. The fast bowlers have put pressure, the spinners have taken a lot of wickets, but without the fast bowlers doing hard work, I don’t think that would have been possible.”
Motivated by the slow pitch, Khawaja said he had started with spin from both ends on the final day. Sandhu then ripped through the tail with three wickets in a decisive spell that read 3-2-2-3.
“I know the wicket was turning and it was tough work yesterday [for the batsmen] and we would get out wickets with spin. G [Sandhu] bowled well and at the other end Steve O’Keefe bowled really well too. Fortunately, it worked out and we got the wickets quickly.”

At the end of the third day, Australia A captain Usman Khawaja had said: “It is pretty simple from my point of view.” It turned out to be simple, so much so that the visitors needed only 51 minutes to wrap the game up with over two sessions to spare.India A, who had begun the day at 267 for 6, added only seven runs to their overnight total before being wiped out for 274 in 88.3 overs. Gurinder Sandhu, who opened the attack on the final day, bowled three overs of offspin and took as many wickets to run through the tail.Shreyas Gopal was the first to depart as Sandhu generated alarming bounce with his fifth ball, having the batsman lob the ball to Bancroft at forward short leg for a duck. Varun Aaron raced down the track and was stumped for 1 before Baba Aparajith was also foxed by the extra bounce.Aparajith had received a lifeline when he was dropped on 29 at forward short leg off left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe but could not convert his start into a substantial contribution. He was caught by Khawaja at backward short leg after adding one more run.India A’s innings ended when O’Keefe had Shardul Thakur tamely chipping to mid-off. Each of Sandhu’s wickets in the second innings came through offspin while O’Keefe finished with four of his own.Khawaja and Bancroft batted with purpose and intent, again. Khawaja laid down the marker when he ventured down the track and whipped Pragyan Ojha’s fifth ball over mid-on for six. The next ball was firmly reverse-swept to the third-man boundary. Khawaja also banished Pragyan Ojha to deep midwicket with a powerful slog-sweep while Bancroft showed off his adept footwork like he did during his 150 in the first innings, which had set the game up.Bancroft put the seal on a thumping win when he came down and launched Pragyan Ojha over long-off, which summed up Australia A’s domination throughout the second unofficial Test.

Mitchell Starc’s ankle injury flared up again during the Ashes and subsequent ODI series in England, but ‘surgery will be a last resort’ according to Australia’s physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.”Our plan is to continue manage Mitchell [Starc] and monitor how his ankle responds. Whilst surgery has been discussed, like most other situations, it is a last resort, particularly as it will involve a lengthy lay off from playing (3-5 months),” Kountouris said.Having featured in 26 of Australia’s 27 games in all formats this year, Starc has had to contend with a heavy workload. He was rested for the fourth ODI against England at Headingley after taking a cortisone injection. Starc also needed painkillers to get to the bowling crease in the Cardiff Test.”During the recent Ashes Test and ODI series in the UK, there have been times when Mitchell has struggled and required cortisone injections to treat the inflammation within the joint”, Kountouris said.”As part of his management, we have had regular MRI scans that have confirmed the presence of some bone spurs, that cause the inflamed joint.”Starc, however, returned for the decider, which Australia won emphatically, and the most recent scan did not show any ‘significant deterioration’. He will have a 10-day break before the Bangladesh tour, starting October 9.Australia also have a packed schedule ahead with home series against New Zealand, West Indies, and India, before tours to New Zealand and South Africa. The schedule culminates with the World Twenty20 in India, starting March 16.Cricket Australia chairman of selectors Rod Marsh hoped that Starc would continue bowling and lead the attack in the World T20:”We have got some pretty important cricket coming including the T20 World Cup and we would like to see Starc lead the attack for that. But if he can’t, he can’t. But at the moment the plan is for him to keep going.”Starc, who had already gone under the knife twice for his ankle issues, had earlier missed the start of the IPL this year because of a knee niggle.

When India collapsed against spin in Galle, they were suffocated by the in-and-out fields set by Sri Lanka. The fours were not available because of the boundary riders, and the batsmen played themselves into a shell by blocking for too long. This four-or-nothing tendency is not just India’s problem; many international batsmen struggle against in-and-out fields these days.It also finds resonance in lower levels of cricket, as Rahul Dravid, who coached India A in series against Australia A and South Africa A, found out. India A lost one four-day match to Australia A on a dry Chennai pitch and against the spin of Steve O’Keefe before coming back with a victory over South Africa A in Wayanad.While impressed with the young batsmen’s ball-striking against spin, Dravid said they needed the ability and patience to build innings around singles when that is all that is available.”In terms of shot-making ability against spin, this generation is incredible,” Dravid told ESPNcricinfo. “The shots they play against spin, like stepping out and hitting sixes, and some of the creativity, is terrific. They have got that. One of the areas that could be a concern for Indian cricket is that there is a lack of balance; people are either defending or hitting big shots and it easy to set fields to that as you can set in-out fields.”The ability to rotate the strike and construct a partnership when people have put men on the boundary line, and not hitting cover or point all the time, being able to hit to long-on or long-off and playing risk-free cricket, and building an innings against spin on tracks that are slow and turn a bit – I think that’s a skill that needs to be worked on and developed, because a lot of the young batsmen are either defending or trying to hit big shots, and there is no in-between. That puts pressure on you because in a high-pressure situation, it becomes hard to play a really big shot and if you keep blocking balls, the pressure builds up on you.”Something very similar happened to India in the Galle Test, but they were not alone. Dravid saw the same with his team too.”That happened a few times to us [A team] in the last series, where we got ourselves stuck by not rotating the strike and the pressure came on and we lost two-three wickets quickly. That is a skill that definitely needs developing.”We are not bad players of spin suddenly, but maybe the fact that these boys play a lot of T20 cricket, where the value of the single is not so much, and you can play big shots means that the ability to create the single like VVS Laxman or Mohammad Azharuddin is a skill that needs to be worked on.”Rahul Dravid is confident that the current crop of players can develop the ability to rotate the strike efficiently•Getty Images

The problem didn’t restrict itself to batting against spin, Dravid said. Some bowlers find it difficult to create an impact when the batsmen are not going after them. “The same goes for spin bowlers as well, the ability to block people from taking singles and bowling consistently in one area when people are not going after you is a challenge for some of the cricketers in this generation.”With the amount of T20 cricket, this remains a challenge. “I don’t think they are struggling to play long-form cricket,” Dravid said of the younger players. “There are a lot of long-form players as well. AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli and Steven Smith are tremendous T20 players, and they are playing long-form cricket as well as anyone in any generation or any era. It would be unfair to say that none of them can play long-form cricket. The challenge has changed.”You are a product of your environment, and now the environment has changed, with there being a lot of one-day and T20 cricket. It is high-pressure T20 cricket. You are practising two months of T20 cricket day in and day out, and suddenly three weeks later you have come to play an A series on a super-dry wicket in Chennai, where you have to learn how to rotate the strike and can’t play the same shots. It takes time to adjust. To be fair, as the series went on, the players worked on it and they adjusted and got better at it.”Dravid did not see a lack of love for long-form cricket in the youngsters, but he realised that unlike in his day, succeeding in long-form cricket is not a must today.”Definitely, just as keen [as I was when I was their age],” Dravid said of the youngsters. “When I look at them, they are very keen to play Test cricket and succeed in four-day cricket at the Ranji level. They all want to do well. I think what has changed is that they don’t necessarily need to do it. Today, a living can be made off the sport even if you don’t succeed in long-form cricket.”I think that opportunity never existed to cricketers of my generation. When I was growing up, if you wanted to make a career off the sport and wanted to make the sport you love a profession for a long period of time, you just had to succeed in long-form cricket. Today with T20 cricket, the opportunities have changed.”You can have a pretty decent life without succeeding in Test match cricket. That has changed, but the desire is still there. They definitely want to do it till they possibly can. They also realise that there is another form we can focus on and do well and make a life for themselves. Why should anyone deny them that?”Read and watch the full interview here

The costly drops and missed run-outs in the Galle Test have spurred West Indies to renew their focus on fielding in the approach to the second Test, captain Jason Holder said. The visitors had reprieved Sri Lanka batsmen on at least six occasions – the costliest of which was the drop off Dinesh Chandimal on 11. The batsman went on to hit 151.After that match, Holder had suggest Sri Lanka’s total of 484 would have been significantly reduced if his team had held their chances. It is the area they have focused primarily on, during the four-day gap between games, he said.”In the last few days we’ve done a lot of analysing – we’ve looked at a lot of footage. We’ve come in the practice sessions in the last few days and paid a lot of attention to our fielding.”From my point of view, I think practice does a lot for fielding. When you get in the habit of doing something repeatedly it becomes the norm. That’s something we try to stress in the dressing room – to practice properly and do it in a sense that fits a game scenario. We try to replicate a match scenario in our fielding drills. We’ve picked up the volume of our fielding over the last few days, so hopefully we’ll be in better stead for this game.”West Indies batting had also faltered in Galle, with only two batsmen passing fifty across two innings. The visitor’s first-innings performance had been particularly disappointing, partly because each of the top 10 moved into double figures, but only Darren Bravo went on to hit a half-century. Holder said his top order had been urged to improve their shot selection.”We’ve done a lot of talking in the dressing room and different of batsmen come up with different things. I think it boils down to guys just digging a little deeper. We saw that we all got starts. It’s an opportunity for guys to put their heads down and dig a little deeper. I think that’s needed in the second Test match.”I think we’ve got to be selective and just to play to your personal game plan. Just said to the guys, ‘Be positive, but be selective.’ Once you’re selective and you’re patient enough you will get runs. It’s all about occupying the crease and spending as much time as possible.”Among those who did not spend time at the crease was Marlon Samuels, who collected 11 and a first-ball duck from his two innings in Galle. Samuels was also reported for a suspect action after the Test. Holder said Samuels’ role as a top order batsman who bowls offspin does not change for this Test, and backed him to come good with the bat. All reported bowlers can bowl in internationals until their action is found to be illegal.”Marlon’s just had a bad game – that’s Test cricket,” Holder said. “What’s important is for Marlon to come back stronger. He’s one of the guys who digs deep when his back is against the wall. I’m not saying that his back is against the wall now, but he obviously got two low scores in the last Test match. He’s quite eager to get in this second Test match and get a score for the team.”Garfield Sobers has arrived in the country ahead of the second Test, and will attend the match alongside former Sri Lanka captain Michael Tissera. The series trophy is named for both men. Holder hoped Sobers’ presence would spur his side.”I personally saw Garfield Sobers yesterday in the hotel lobby. It was inspiring to see him come all this way just to watch the series. I’m sure most of the guys know of his presence and know that he’s here. I hope we can go ahead in this Test match and win it for him.”

ScorecardFile photo – Todd Astle took the second ten-wicket haul of his first-class career•Associated Press

Legspinner Todd Astle took 7 for 78 on the third day to dismiss Sri Lanka A for 234 in their second innings, leaving New Zealand A with only 19 to chase, which they did to secure victory with a day to spare in Lincoln. Astle’s performance gave him match figures of 11 for 133, his second ten-wicket haul in first-class cricket.The stage for Astle had been laid by a strong batting performance from New Zealand A in their first innings. Not only did they score big, they also scored quick. Dean Brownlie made 113 off 151 balls, and Henry Nicholls 137 off 152, to go with half-centuries from Jeet Raval, Will Young and Derek de Boorder. Sri Lanka A legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay ran through the lower order to finish with 5 for 128, but not before the hosts had amassed 519 at 4.37 per over to take a first-innings lead of 216.The Sri Lankans were steadily eating into that deficit in their second innings, with Minod Bhanuka and Kithuruwan Vithanage adding 110 for the second wicket. From 134 for 1, however, the visitors collapsed, with Astle and fellow legspinner Ish Sodhi running through the middle and lower order. Sri Lanka A were dismissed for 234 in 59.1 overs, and New Zealand A chased the target of 19 with nine wickets in hand.Astle had also taken four wickets in Sri Lanka A’s first innings, spinning through the middle order to help dismiss the visitors for 303, when they looked like getting more at one stage. His performance ensured that New Zealand A won all the matches in the series.

and much happier allroundFar from resembling the dejected side they were after their recent Testseries with England, Zimbabwe now exude confidence in their play and almost a swagger in their demeanour as they dominate the NatWest Series.It was a much happier team that returned to Canterbury two months after theirinnings defeat by Kent. Then they had much on their on minds, a pay dispute with their board – which has now been negotiated – and perhaps, more importantly, the dangerous political situation at home which, also, appears to have calmed after the elections.While England and Zimbabwe are in the middle of a Test series, which must,at least, be in the back of their minds during this intervention from limited-overs cricket, Zimbabwe are totally focused on just the one goal. That in itself must be an advantage, it must be said, without taking anything away from their splendid performance in this one-day tournament.Johnson’s career bestNeil Johnson, has hit the form that served him and his country so well in theWorld Cup a year ago. Following his unbeaten 95 last week in the opening game of the series, he hit another half-century today before being run out.By then he had given his side a fine start with a new opening partner, GuyWhittall who replaced Craig Wishart and played a most prominent role in Zimbabwe’s total of 256 for four after being put in to bat.His 83 was the top score of the innings and it also equalled the highestscore of his one-day career which he had reached in October 1997 against Kenya in Nairobi. The 89-run opening stand had given an excellent foundation to Zimbabwe and later when Whittall teamed up with Alistair Campbell in another big partnership which was broken just four runs short of a century, the two had put the side well on the path of a winning total.Campbell’s unbeaten 77, scored at practically the rate of a run a ball,followed his 80 against England three days earlier.Adventurous lower-order hittingWest Indies’ batting presented a most inadequate response to a fairlysubstantial target that was set. Having lost six for 57, it was the adventurous batting of the lower order that boosted the total to 186 for eight.Nixon McLean’s half-century from 70 balls and a hard hitting 38 from only 31balls from Franklyn Rose were the two noteable batting performances, although a slower 37 from Ridley Jacobs was also a help.By virtue of this comfortable victory, by 70 runs, Zimbabwe are through tothe final, making their remaining games of academic interest while England and West Indies must fight it out for the right to play Zimbabwe in the final.Kent’s “great opportunity”Despite the near wintery conditions, grey skies, a cold wind and even astoppage for rain, a cheerful Chief Executive of Kent County Cricket Ground, Paul Millman said: “We are thrilled to be included on the circuit for the one-day international matches. Even though we are not traditionally a Test match ground, it’s great to have this opportunity. We have done our best to put on a good day and hopefully everybody has enjoyed the day.”With more and more one-day internationals around the country, we are hopingthat what we are demonstrating is that we can do it and that we will be able to do it in the future as well.”He added: “The important thing is that the game is being taken round thecountry so that all supporters of cricket, wherever they are in the country, will get a chance to see the best and I think we are on the map from that point of view.Fantastic amount of good for local cricket“We have a capacity of ten thousand and we are today just over six thousandalthough we haven’t had the final count as yet. It is a Tuesday and a cold Tuesday, so that crowd isn’t bad. But I must say for local cricket it has done a fantastic amount of good.”Finally, Millman commented on a team which he had seen earlier in the seasonon his home ground looking rather despondent. ” Zimbabwe are transformed. The Kent side beat them by an innings and they looked very down. They have obviously had a chance to re-group, they look refreshed, they look hungry and it seems now it’s the West Indies who look on the wrong end of morale.”

A fine century by Rajeev Uniyal, followed by splendid bowling byYogesh Sachdeva and Vivek Khurana helped Delhi beat Himachal Pradeshby 24 runs after being forced to follow on the last day of the NorthZone Cooch Behar (Under-19) tournament at the Ferozshah Kotla Groundin New Delhi on Thursday. Delhi, who got eight points from this matchnext play Jammu & Kashmir at Jammu from Oct 22 to 24.Delhi were 246 for two overnight. Uniyal who was on 90 when he resumedduly completed his century. Shortly afterwards, he was out afterbatting 150 minutes. He faced 121 balls and hit eleven fours and asix. TT Dilip scored a fine 88 off 101 balls with the help of eightfours. Uniyal and Dilip added 129 runs for the third wicket off 22.5overs. Yashpal Singh slammed a breezy 33 off 32 balls and Delhi wereable to declare at 368 for nine, compiled off only 65 overs. ParasDogra with four for 80 was the most successful bowler.Delhi thus turned a first innings deficit of 160 into an overall leadof 208. Hemant Dogra, coming in at No three, hit a fine 58 to keepalive Himachal’s hopes of reaching the victory target. His youngerbrother Paras Dogra contributed 29. But the remaining batsmensuccumbed meekly to Yogesh Sachdeva (4 for 44) and Vivek Khurana (4for 63) and the side were all out for 184 in 49.5 overs.