Third ODI between India and Australia called off

Margao: A damp outfield caused by overnight rains delayed the start of play in the third and final ODI between India and Australia for more than three hours here on Sunday.

On-field umpires Billy Bowden and Amish Saheba, accompanied by ICC match referee Chris Broad, had an inspection of the entire Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium ground, including the bowlers’ run-up and the wet areas on the outfield at 11 am before deciding to have another inspection at 12:15 pm.

With more than three hours of play already lost due to inclement weather, the match is expected to be a truncated one despite sunny conditions this morning.

The ground was covered by tarpaulins overnight which protected most parts of it but still there were some seepages at the outfield. Super sopper was employed to suck up the water from the covers.

The wicket itself looked dry and fit for play.

India are 1-0 up going into the deciding clash after winning the second match at Visakhapatnam on October 20 by five wickets. The series opener in Kochi last Sunday was washed out.

To make matters more difficult for the organisers, Goa Cricket Association, the sightscreen at the north end of the ground collapsed half an hour before the second umpires’ inspection.

The screen, mounted on wheels, simply tilted over and fell down leading to more headaches for the ground authorities who had worked hard to try and make the conditions playable after the unseasonal rains lashed this Goan town in the last few days.

Slots still open for the World Cup: Dhoni

KOCHI: India have just 13 ODIs in hand, eight on home soil, in the run-up to the World Cup which is just five months away. With the talk veering around the line-up to be fielded in the Cup, it's crunch time for the probable candidates in the 15-member squad here.

Indian captain MS Dhoni conceded that at least six spots are up for grabs in the Indian squad for the Cup.

"There are quite a few slots that are open. A fast bowling slot, one or two depending on injuries, one batsman's slot (are available). We don't have a world-class all-rounder which means that place is also up for grabs. Besides, one more big-hitting batsman who can fit down the order (can be accommodated). The top five-six batsmen and in total eight to nine players are almost sure to be there if injuries don't bother them," said Dhoni.

The Indian captain defended the selectors' decision to rest some of the key players for the ODI series against Australia, adding that it has given a youngsters a golden opportunity. "You have to see that they are safe (fit) because they had been playing quite a fair amount of cricket. It is better to rest the players if they have small niggles. This also gives an opportunity to younger players."

Several names came up for discussion in the pre-match press conference vis-à-vis their prospective role in the side. The first was on Dhoni's state-mate Saurabh Tiwary. "We want to make him play. He has been part of the side for the last few series, which means he has got a look at international cricket. He is ideally suited for No. 6/7 positions. He is aggressive."

Dhoni wants Ravindra Jadeja to improve upon his batting contribution to make it to the World Cup. "For a player like him, it is very important to contribute with the bat and ball. He has to do a bit more with the bat."

Warner looking to mirror Gilchrist's batting

Australia opener David Warner says he's looking to model his one-day batting on that of Adam Gilchrist as he looks to prove his 50-over credentials ahead of next year's World Cup.

Warner has only played seven one-day matches since making his debut early last year, and although he made 69 against South Africa in his second innings, he's managed just 37 runs in the other six.

The left-hander has been prolific in Twenty20 cricket both at international and franchise level, leading many to label him as a Twenty20 specialist - something Warner is eager to prevent.

The decision to rest Shane Watson for the one-day series against India has given Warner the opportunity to showcase his skills in the slightly longer game, and although he'll look to rein in his instincts at times he still aspires to echo the batting of a legendary attacking batsman.

"I see myself as similar to Adam Gilchrist, more of an X-factor player, where I go out there and try to mimic his role as he played," Warner said. "He was aggressive, he might've come off one in five innings as well, but he changed the course of the game.

"Everyone was talking about, 'We've got to get Adam out, if we don't get him out then he could put 100 on in 10 overs'. I look up to him as that kind of player, an impact player, where if I can get off to a good start, I can put the other team on the back foot and make them worry about how they're going to get myself out, instead of the other players they should be worrying about as well."

The abandonment of the first one-day international in Kochi due to rain has given Warner more time to think about how he will change his approach.

Although he wants to attack plenty of deliveries to get in the bowler's head, he's also realised that he has more time than he would in a Twenty20 game and must adapt accordingly.

"I felt that I had to keep going the same pace and one tempo, and that's where I reckon I've matured now and I've learned to adapt," Warner said of his previous one-day experience.

"There were little things there where I wasn't in the right position, so that's the thing that was out, but if I go back into the same situation I'm going to do the same thing because it was there to hit.

"But in the end I was probably feeling a bit of pressure because I wasn't scoring runs. I'm still going to play the same way I play, but not trying to go after every ball - I've got 50 overs, not 20. Now I reckon I'm mature enough that I can try to last 50 overs."

The second one-dayer is scheduled for Wednesday in Visakhapatnam, and the final match will take place in Margao on Sunday.

Rubel helps Bangladesh sweep NZ series

Dhaka: Rubel Hossain grabbed four wickets as Bangladesh completed a sweep with a thrilling three-run victory over New Zealand in the fifth and final one-day international on Sunday.

The fast bowler finished with 4-25 off 9.3 sharp overs as New Zealand, chasing a 175-run target, were bowled out for 171 in the last over.

Bangladesh clinched the series 4-0, their first sweep against a major team. The second match was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to rain. New Zealand needed eight runs to win in the final over with just one wicket in hand but Rubel, who had taken three wickets in his opening three overs, sparked celebrations in Bangladesh's camp when he bowled Kyle Mills (33).

He jolted New Zealand in his first over, dismissing openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder in the space of five deliveries. He then had Kane Williamson caught at second slip by Raqibul Hasan in his third over. Bradley-John Watling was run out, while Ross Taylor was bowled by left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak as New Zealand's top five batsmen failed to reach double figures.

New Zealand were in danger of falling below their lowest one-day total of 64 after being reduced to 20-5, but skipper Daniel Vettori (43) and all-rounder Grant Elliott (59) added 86 runs for the sixth wicket. Vettori, dropped by Junaid Siddique at first slip off spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah when on 12, hit one six and one four in his 78-ball knock.Elliott cracked seven fours in a 105-ball knock for his fourth half-century in one-dayers, but Mills kept alive his team's hopes before falling in the final over.

Mills hit two sixes in his 47-ball knock. Left-arm spinner Vettori (3-32) and fast bowler Mills (3-36) earlier bowled tight to restrict Bangladesh to a modest total. New Zealand did not allow the hosts to build a big partnership after the hosts elected to bat on a slow pitch. The highest stand was 55 for the fifth wicket between skipper Shakib Al Hasan (36) and Mushfiqur Rahim (29).

Vettori removed opener Imrul Kayes (34) and Raqibul (six) before accounting for Mahmudullah (19). Kayes was trapped leg-before while attempting to sweep, hitting two sixes and three fours in his 50-ball knock. Andy McKay and Elliott each finished with two wickets.

NZ slip to seventh in ODI rankings

Dubai: The shocking 0-4 drubbing at the hands of Bangladesh on Sunday pushed New Zealand to the seventh spot behind Pakistan in the latest ICC one-day rankings issued here.

On the other hand, the upset series triumph helped Bangladesh earn 13 rating points but the team remained ninth alongside the West Indies.

Bangladesh are still placed behind the Caribbean side when the ratings were calculated beyond the decimal point. The West Indies have 67.06 ratings points while Bangladesh have 66.68 ratings points.

Bangladesh had started the series on 53 points.

New Zealand have plummeted to 96 ratings points after starting the series on 112.

Bangladesh next hosts Zimbabwe in a five-match ODI series from 1-15 December and can aim the number-eight position as the West Indies will play five ODIs against Sri Lanka from December 9.

Meanwhile, the abandonment of the first ODI between India and Australia in Kochi on Sunday have given South Africa a chance to briefly move into second place on the championship table.

For this to happen, they will have to beat Zimbabwe in the second ODI in Potchefstroom.

However, if they lose the match, the Proteas will drop to as low as fifth, one point behind fourth-placed England.

Sammy replaces Gayle as West Indies captain

London: Darren Sammy was handed the task of rebuilding the fortunes of the once-mighty West Indies team when he was named as the new captain on Sunday.

Jamaican Chris Gayle had been in charge of the side since 2007 but after team slid to seventh in the test rankings and eighth in the one-day standings, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) decided to change the leadership.

"Chris Gayle led the West Indies during a challenging period and the board thanks him for stepping up then," WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire said in a statement.

"But it is now time to pass the mantle on as the West Indies rebuilds."

Selection committee chairman Clyde Butts added: "We are at the dawn of a new era in West Indies cricket and we have entrusted the challenging job of captaincy to Darren Sammy because it is believed that he has demonstrated the attributes of a leader of this diverse group of men."

The 26-year-old Sammy has played eight tests, 43 one-dayers and 19 Twenty20 internationals and will hope to help West Indies recapture the form that brought them 11 successive test wins during the 1980s.

The fast bowler's first task will be to lead the side during a six-week tour of Sri Lanka which begins on Nov. 15.

"Being appointed West Indies captain is an honour and distinction which I will treat with the highest regard and dignity," Sammy, who hails from St Lucia, said.

"I have always given my all when I prepare and play for the West Indies and nothing will change now. I know this will be a difficult challenge and I will take the torch from Chris and hold it high as we forge ahead."

Brendan Nash was named as vice-captain.

Squad for Sri Lanka test series: Darren Sammy (captain), Brendan Nash (vice captain), Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh Jr, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas

ICC warning to PCB shameful for every Pakistani

Karachi: Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan has called for an overhaul of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the International Cricket Council (ICC) warned the board to improve its governance and enforce anti-corruption measures.

“The ICC move to warn us and put us on notice is a shameful day for every Pakistani. It is a shame for Pakistan cricket and the reason is we don’t have any cricket institution in Pakistan,” a newspaper quoted Imran, as saying.

“Ejaz Butt’s governance has been a failure. He should have resigned the moment he apologized to the England board and withdraw his statement because they threatened him with legal action,” he added.

Imran further said that although the country had lots of talent, Pakistan cricket was in constant crisis due to the reason that there is no “meritocracy” in the cricket structure.

“Tell me in which country does the president appoint the chairman of the cricket board. Today we face problems because the cricket board never took action against players accused of match-fixing,” Imran said.

“In order to save itself and to ensure we didn’t lose key players, the administrators were reluctant to carry out and complete investigations against such players. The PCB itself should have taken action against the players instead of waiting for the ICC to step in,” he added.

Taking serious note of the continuing decline in the governance of cricket in Pakistan, the ICC in its two-day board meeting in Dubai gave out a clear message to the PCB that it should either buck up and sort out the game’s administration within a month or be ready to face the consequences, potentially in the form of sanctions.

“The PCB must act and be seen to be acting to uphold the zero-tolerance attitude to corruption in sport. In this regard, the PCB is required to conduct a thorough review of player integrity issues across all authorized cricket in Pakistan and report back to the Pakistan Task Team within 30 days,” the ICC had said in statement.

The ICC wants PCB to implement not only a competency-based education programme for all registered players, but also a proper, accountable and robust disciplinary process for the sport.

It has also asked for the introduction of a domestic anti-corruption code, which mirrors the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

“If the PCB fails to carry out the above to the satisfaction of the ICC Board, acting in consultation with the Pakistan Task Team, within the next 30 days, the ICC Board will consider what further action, including, if appropriate, sanctions, is required in the circumstances,” said the ICC statement.