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How they were out

Muttiah Muralitharan celebrates his 600th Test wicket © AFP

Muttiah Muralitharan became the second bowler in history to claim 600 Test wickets during the third afternoon of the Bogra Test as Sri Lanka seized control and paved the way for a certain 2-0 series win. Set a modest 120-run target after a disciplined allround display in the field, Sri Lanka finished on 77 without loss when, bizarrely, the umpires left the field for bad (but not dangerous) light with seven overs still to be bowled.When Sri Lanka return on Saturday morning, Upul Tharanga (48 not out) will aim to follow his marathon first innings century with another half-century, having unleashed a string of beautifully timed offside strokes in the final session. For the third successive night, he walked off the field unbeaten. His partner, Michael Vandort, was more crabish and uncertain on 22 not out when the umpires called it quits.As was the case in the Chittagong Test, Bangladesh wilted in the second innings having conceded an 82-run lead – not mountainous but useful on a pitch offering the kind of pace, bounce and turn that makes Muralitharan almost impossible to hold at bay. When the day started, he appeared destined to join Shane Warne’s 600 club and the only surprise was that he claimed only two more scalps to his five in the first innings, finishing with 7 for 141 in the series.His latest milestone came after lunch as Khaled Mashud (6) top-edged a sweep to Lasith Malinga at deep square leg. Muralitharan watched the ball like a hawk and then broke out into the widest of smiles as his team-mates – well-versed when it comes to the celebration of Muralitharan milestones – engulfed him. Muralitharan appeared delighted but not psyched. His jubilation at ending the Bangladesh innings, allowing him to put his feet up, was perhaps even more pronounced.Muralitharan’s bowling efforts (2 for 62) were overshadowed by the bowling of the new ball pairing, Malinga and Dilhara Fernando, both of whom finished with identical figures (3 for 51). Malinga Bandara, as he has throughout the tour, provided a steady supporting hand with two important wickets after lunch to break through the middle order and into the tail.

Lasith Malinga successfully appeals against Nafees Iqbal on the third day at Bogra © AFP

The only substantial Bangladeshi resistance was provided by Habibul Bashar, who led from the front, following his first innings 69 with another skilful and positive 73. Mohammad Rafique, a loyal servant for Bangladesh cricket with his complete commitment and allround skills, raised the spirits of the crowd with a swashbuckling 64 from 78 balls – a hard-hitting display that included three sixes and heavy punishment for Muralitharan.Unfortunately, for Bangladesh, Bashar and Rafique’s budding partnership of 52 was cut short by a poor lbw decision – not quite as bad as Sangakkara’s the previous morning but still sliding down the legside. The pair, after the fall of the prodigiously talented Mohammad Ashraful, were Bangladesh’s last realistic chance of setting a competitive target. Despite some late Rafique fireworks, they duly ended well-short of what was needed.Earlier, Bangladesh needed to dismiss Sri Lanka early in the morning and they did just that as Malinga fended off a nasty Shahadat Hossain bouncer to short leg. The breakthrough ended what had been a frustrating 42-run ninth- wicket stand for Bangladesh. It also enabled Shahadat to end with a five-wicket haul, the first by a Bangladesh fast bowler in Tests. Tharanga’s long vigil came to an end shortly after as he glanced down the legside and was acrobatically caught one-handed by a diving Khaled Mashud. Tharanga finished with 165 from 304 balls having hit 19 fours and two sixes.Back in the field, Jayawardene used Fernando instead of Farveez Maharoof with the new ball, adding extra teeth to the attack and putting the Bangladesh openers under early pressure. But it was Malinga, swinging the ball away, that struck first as Nafees Iqbal gloved a lifting delivery. Javed Omar was also surprised by the extra bounce and was caught down the legside.Muralitharan needed only two warm-up overs to take wicket- number 599 as Shahriar Nafees, for the second time in the match, threw his wicket away with a wild legside hoick, a dreadful shot that would have left his coach, Dav Whatmore, fuming back in the dressing room.After lunch, Ashraful edged low to slip where Jayawardene took a sharp reflex catch – the 100th of his career. Two balls later, Sangakarra clung onto a thick edge after a juggling act to dismiss Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck. Muralitharan was then drafted back into the fold, quickly taking his 600th scalp. After that, it was just a matter of time before Sri Lanka polished off the lower order.

Sri LankaLasith Malinga c Iqbal b Hossain 12 (305 for 9)
Upul Tharanga c Mashud c Hossain 165 (316 for 10)
BangladeshNafees Iqbal c Sangakkara b Malinga 2 (15 for 1)
Javed Omar c Sangakkara b Fernando 13 (29 for 2)
Shariar Nafees c Maharoof b Muralitharan 6 (46 for 3)
Mohammad Ashraful c Jayawardene b Banadara 13 (95 for 4)
Mushfiqur Rahim c Sangakkara b Bandara 0 (95 for 5)
Khaled Mashud c Malinga b Muralitharan 6 (110 for 6)
Habibul Bashar lbw Malinga 73 (162 for 7)
Shahadat Hossain b Fernando 8 (187 for 8)
Enamul Haq c Sangakkara b Fernando 3(198 for 9)
Mohammad Rafique c Muralitharan b Malinga 64 (201 for 10)

How will the Mohali pitch play this time around?© Getty Images

A year on from an epochal Test series across the border, India and Pakistan will commence the latest episode of the most storied rivalry in all of sport. With all apologies to supporters of Celtic-Rangers, Barcelona-Real and Yankees-Red Sox, this is as good as it gets in the competitiveness-and-needle stakes. And while Sourav Ganguly admitted that it was “more than a series and part of a bridge-building process”, such altruistic motives will be far from players’ minds when they step out onto the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium turf at 10am tomorrow morning.The pitch, lovingly tended by Daljit Singh, has a deceptively verdanttinge, prompting thoughts of a fast-bowling Eden. But the curator insists that this is a surface that will have something for everyone, saying: “It will be an absolute belter on the second and third days.”The last Test at Mohali, against New Zealand 17 months ago, was as dreary as any played out in the snore-draw 1950s, but since then, there has been a lessening of the clay content and a switch to Bermuda grass, intended to restore Mohali to its mid-1990s heyday when the pitch was the most sporting in the country. This surface has been watered regularly, and could yet spring a nasty surprise on those expecting a bat-a-thon.Apart from the weather conditions, cool and sunny with spring in the air, a major factor will be the new SG ball, with the leather stretched tighter and the seam even more prominent than before. With Irfan Pathan and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan capable of extravagant swing, both sides will fancy their chancy under overcast skies. Inzamam-ul-Haq, who walked into the press conference with a typically somnolent air, reckoned that it would be a good pitch that would last the whole duration, and help the fast bowlers.

Danish Kaneria will hog the limelight in Shoaib Akhtar’s absence© Getty Images

However, he was also hopeful that Danish Kaneria, his trump card inShoaib Akhtar’s absence, would have a prominent part to play. “It should take some turn from the second day,” said Inzamam. “And Danish will be dangerous.” History though suggests that Kaneria has an onerous task – Pakistan’s greatest legspinner, Abdul Qadir, managed just six wickets in as many Tests on Indian soil.Pakistan’s full complement of bowlers has fewer wickets than Anil Kumble, and that lack of experience remains a concern. But Inzamam refused to accept that he was leading a weak team into a contest against a foe that inflicted innings defeats at Multan and Rawalpindi last year. “India have more experience, but we are not a weak side,” he said. “We may not be favourites, but my boys are capable of winning this series.”There was also praise for Bob Woolmer, whose tenure has been marked by constant sniping from the Pakistani media. “He has done new things, he’s more friendly with the boys,” said Inzamam. “He works hard with them in the nets. It’s only been five or six months, but if we give him time, he can go a good job.”

Tennis elbow or not, Sachin Tendulkar is preparing to do battle© Getty Images

Ganguly brushed off the favourites tag, saying that all teams wouldharbour the same nerves before the first Test of such an eagerly anticipated series, but accepted that he was in charge of the more worldly-wise team. “It’s a balanced side that’s been together for quite some time,” he said. “Many of the guys are at the peak of their game. But you must remember that no match is ever played on paper.”Yuvraj Singh, in blistering form on the domestic circuit, has been left out of the 12, as has Ashish Nehra, leaving Laxmipathy Balaji, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh to tussle for two spots alongside the likely new-ball pairing of Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan. Pakistan have yet to decide on whether to risk the mercurial talents of Shahid Afridi, or stick to the more prosaic qualities that Asif Kamal brings to the middle order. With Naved still a spring chicken at Test level despite his relatively advanced years, Abdul Razzaq’s allround quality will certainly merit inclusion, especially given his penchant for skidding the ball at pace off the pitch.Ganguly, who walked in with the confident strut of a man secure in his job despite recent indifferent results, reckoned that the rivalry had long since surpassed the Ashes in the popularity stakes. And he admitted that one-day cricket had played a major role in altering the mindsets in both India and Pakistan, after decades of matches where the prime aim was to avoid defeat. “Cricket has changed, with far more decisions over the past few years. It’s played at a much faster pace, and one-day cricket has been responsible for that,” he said. However, he refused to give any weightage to the four ODI defeats that Pakistan have subjected India to since Woolmer took charge of the side. “Tests are a different game,” he said pithily.The Indian team management watched Pakistan’s performances in Australia, with an accent on the Tests where they did so poorly, and will also draw on memories of last year’s series when Pathan andBalaji comprehensively outbowled their Pakistani counterparts. This time round, Harbhajan will provide an additional edge, and despiteInzamam saying that his callow side could cope with the pressure of expectation – “conditions at the ground and the atmosphere are pretty much the same in India and Pakistan” – this could well be a bridge too far and too soon for a team that will undoubtedly miss the shock value, searing pace and maverick presence of a certain Shoaib Akhtar.India (likely) 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 6 VVS Laxman, 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Irfan Pathan, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Anil Kumble, 11 Zaheer Khan.Pakistan (likely) 1 Salman Butt, 2 Yasir Hameed, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Yousuf Youhana, 5 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asim Kamal, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Kamran Akmal, 9 Mohammad Sami, 10 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, 11 Danish Kaneria.

After an action-packed week of Test cricket, Brian Lara and Rahul Dravid rose to the top of the PwC Ratings due to their double-hundreds, while Ricky Ponting dropped a notch after scoring 242 in a losing cause. Matthew Hayden fell off his perch at the top after an indifferent showing in the Adelaide Test. Jacques Kallis(+8), Michael Vaughan(+7), and VVS Laxman(+5) were the biggest gainers after their significant hundreds assisted the team’s cause.Sachin Tendulkar drops out of the top ten for the first time since 1993, following a poor run of form since the Test series in New Zealand in 2002-03. But his fall coincides with the stunning form of batsmen around the world. Adam Gilchrist, Graham Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Lara, Dravid, Hayden, Ponting, and Vaughan have all been prolific on the international circuit.

Rank(change)	Player	Points
1(+1)	BrianLara	903
2(+2)	RahulDravid	880
3(-2)	MatthewHayden	870
4(-1)	RickyPonting	863
5(-)	Inzamam-ul-Haq	792
6(+1)	MarkRichardson	765
7(-1)	AdamGilchrist	759
8(+7)	MichaelVaughan	757
9(+1)	HHGibbs	754
10(+8)	JacquesKallis	751

Muttiah Muralitharan and Shaun Pollock continue to occupy the top spots after good showings against England and West Indies. Makhaya Ntini returns to the top ten list after a nine-wicket haul against West Indies, while Ajit Agarkar rises 16 places to 41, and achieves his PwC high of 389 points after a splendid bowling performance in the Adelaide Test.Stuart MacGill’s drop from the list can be attributed equally to poor bowling and good batting by India. Unable to take advantage of a fifth-day track that turned viciously, MacGill was taken apart by the batsmen on their way to a famous victory. It was the kind of batting that provoked MacGill to say, “It’s not as if they know what I am bowling, it’s almost as if they don’t really seem to care what I am bowling.”

Rank(change)	Player	Points
1(-)	MMuralitharan	903
2(-)	ShaunPollock	883
3(-)	GlennMcGrath	815
4(-)	ShoaibAkhtar	791
5(-)	JasonGillespie	756
6(+6)	MakhayaNtini	695
7(-1)	DarylTuffey	692
8(+1)	AnilKumble	676
9(-2)	HarbhajanSingh	668
10(-2)	JacquesKallis	652

For the full rankings, click here.

New Zealand may have more of Chris Cairns’ services than originally thought as a result of his playing for Nottinghamshire in the county championship this winter.When he signed with the county there was an agreement Cairns would be available for 21 days for New Zealand, a figure based largely around the anticipated New Zealand tour of the West Indies.However, the rescheduling of New Zealand’s tour of Pakistan in April, could mean that Cairns could be available for longer.That depends on negotiations between Cairns and New Zealand Cricket, and then Nottinghamshire.Cairns’ manager Leanne McGoldrick said today that until firm dates were received after Jeff Crowe’s visit to Pakistan to inspect security provisions for the side, nothing could be certain.”When we know that Chris and I will have to sit down with Martin Snedden and sort out what New Zealand’s requirements are and then go back to Nottinghamshire.”They will look at the county itinerary and work out their requirements,” she said.”We are working towards him playing as many New Zealand games as he can,” she added.A best case scenario would see Cairns available for most of both the Pakistan and West Indies tours.New Zealand’s obligation to tour Pakistan would increase pressure on players this year but captain Stephen Fleming is confident the side can handle it.Fleming said today he had no problems with the tour to Pakistan being rescheduled.”I’m satisfied NZC are doing everything they can to get the safety issue in place. We’re sending people over there before hand.”Pakistan need us to tour and if it is safe enough we are happy to go,” he said.It had placed greater intensity on players but every year was pretty intense nowadays.”There’s obviously concerns that we will lose players along the way but we have a good stock of players and we just have to be smart with our selections.”There is a lot of cricket to be played. That’s what we enjoy doing so if we can keep players on the park, keep them reasonably fresh then there’s no real issue.

Gujranwala beat Lahore-B by a narrow margin of three wickets in the Quaid-e-Azam Grade-I National Championship match played at the LCCA Ground, Lahore.The Lahore team went into the match looking stronger than its rivals, at least on paper, as it boasted of two one-day international players plus a number of others who have played side games against test playing countries visiting Pakistan.The Lahore captain, Muhammad Hussain, won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to exploit the spin-friendly conditions when his team went to bowl in the last innings.The Lahore batsmen, however, did not come up to the expectations of their captain, as the whole team became the victim of some rash stroke playing. Only Fareed Butt and Imran Yousaf could take their individual scores past 30. They made 39 and 35, respectively.For Gujranwala, the left arm spinner, Abdul Rehman, took 4 wickets for 54 runs and the left arm fast bowler, Sarfraz Ahmad, took 3 for 66.Gujranwala’s reply was not much different from that of Lahore, as they lost half of their batting line-up with just 120 on the board. However, useful knocks from Imran Abbas (37), Rizwan Malik (43), and Rana Qayyam-ul-Hassan (46) helped their side take a lead of 38 runs in the first innings.Muhammmad Hussain, the left-arm spinner, and Farhan Rasheed, the off-break bowler, took 5 and 3 wickets, respectively, for 54 and 66 runs. Imran Farhat, with his right-arm leg breaks, took one wicket for 6 runs.If Lahore’s start in the first innings was bad, it was disastrous in the second. Losing their first wicket with nothing on the board, they lost two more wickets by the time the score had reached 18.However, it was the innings of Fareed Butt, which helped a lot to bring respectability to the Lahore total. He held his innings intact while wickets at the other end kept tumbling. Despite taking several rising deliveries on the body (one of which forced him to take the services of a runner), he did not give until the ninth Lahore wicket had fallen.Fareed was the last man out as trying to hit one out of the ground, he gave a simple catch at mid-off. He made a patient 73 off 290 balls. Lahore were all out for 212 in their second innings.Sarfraz Ahmad was the most successful Gujranwala bowler taking 5 wickets for 36 runs, whereas Mubbashir Nazir and Abdul Rehman took 2 and 3 wickets, respectively, for 69 and 75 runs.Getting 175 in the last innings was not going to be easy for Gujranwala, especially when Hussain, the experienced left-arm spinner, had the ability to amply turn the ball.However, the Gujranwala openers, Imran Abbas and the debutant Attiq-ur-Rehman gave their team a very formidable start. Attiq, the first to depart, made a fine 36. Gujranwala lost their first wicket at the score of 58 and then, wickets just began to tumble. Some very tight bowling and good fielding soon saw them reduced to 108 for 6.It seemed at this stage that Lahore would be able to steal the match from the visitors. That was not to be, as Asim Munir and Kamran Younas, both under-19 players, shared a partnership of 53 to steer their side out of danger.The first ball of the second last over before lunch saw Hussain getting rid of the hard-hitting Karmran. However, the new comer, Hafiz Khalid, ensured that his team got no more jolts as he hit one four and two huge sixes in the same over to see his side through.

Fabrizio Romano has provided a key update on Tottenham target Franck Kessie.

The Lowdown: Spurs’ pre-contract offer

Spurs have been after the Ivorian for some time, with Antonio Conte giving the green light to a deal way back in November.

Kessie reportedly snubbed the chance to move to Tottenham in January as he wanted to see out the season in Italy, however, Fabio Paratici and co haven’t given up on bringing the 25-year-old to the club in the summer when he looks likely to be a free agent.

They have already made a ‘very powerful’ pre-contract offer but have now been joined by Barcelona in the race for his signature.

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The Latest: Romano’s post

Romano took to Twitter on Thursday morning to share a significant update on Kessie. He claimed that Barcelona are offering the player a €6.5m (£5.37m) salary in a five-year deal, with Kessie now ‘tempted’ over a move to the Nou Camp.

“Barcelona are offering Franck Kessie around €6.5m net per season as guaranteed salary on a five year deal. Kessie’s understood to be tempted – Xavi’s pushing for both Franck and Andreas Christensen.”

The Verdict: Paratici needs to be quick…

It seems as if Spurs have had their eye on Kessie for a long time, with midfield an area that could do with bolstering in the summer due to the fact Conte has just four options at this moment in time, two of which are currently injured.

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However, if they are to win the race for Kessie, they will need to be quick going off Romano’s latest update. Tottenham still have the chance to sign an experienced international valued at £43.2m for nothing, but time seems to be running out.

In other news, find out what other big Tottenham transfer update has now been dropped here!

	Marlon Samuels’ action will be scrutinised in England © Cricinfo Ltd

Marlon Samuels will undergo independent analysis of his bowling action at the National Cricket Academy, at Loughborough University in England on February 11, after he was reported for a suspected illegal action by the umpires in the third Test between South Africa and West Indies in Durban.Due to the injury to Dwayne Bravo and absence of Chris Gayle, Samuels, a part-time offspin bowler, sent down 21 overs in South Africa’s only innings of the game. On-field umpires Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar and third umpire Brian Jerling reported their doubts over his action, especially with respect to his “fast” deliveries. Roshan Mahanama, the match referee, subsequently informed both the ICC and the West Indies team management of the report, as per the ICC regulations governing the reporting process.Samuels’ analysis will be performed by Dr Mark King, member of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists. The outcome of the analysis is expected within 14 days after the tests, which was confirm whether the offspinner’s action is legal. Although only Samuel’s “fast” deliveries have been reported as suspect, the process requires his action, including the “fast” deliveries, to be analysed.If the analysis confirms that only Samuels’ “fast” deliveries are illegal, then he would be allowed to continue bowling in international cricket without using that delivery but subject to the warning that should he bowl his “fast” ball he would run the risk of being reported a second time.However, if this month’s analysis concludes that Samuels generally bowls with an illegal action, he will be suspended from bowling in international cricket until such time as he has corrected his action and submitted to a fresh independent analysis that concludes that his action has been remedied.Samuels has taken seven Test wickets at 127.00 apiece and 57 ODI wicket at 43.24.

‘The side has showed a lot of character before and hopefully they’ll do it again’ © Getty Images

Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, insisted all is not lost for England, despite losing comprehensively to New Zealand in their opening match on Friday.After restricting England to a modest 209 for 7, New Zealand raced to the target with nine overs to spare, in spite of slipping to 19 for 3 earlier in their innings. “It was an important game for us,” Fletcher said. “We realise we had to win four out of the seven games to get to the World Cup semi-final and having lost that one we’ve now got four out of six which makes our task a little bit harder.”To get an early win is a huge advantage but everything is not lost yet. We’ve lost before and come back strongly.”England showed impressive character in Australia, to come back and win the Commonwealth Bank series, but their middle-order has shown a worrying fragility in the warm-ups – and particularly against New Zealand yesterday; they lost their big trio of Paul Collingwood, Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff in the space of seven balls.”It’s crucial we don’t lose the middle order, especially that experienced middle-order we’ve got,” Fletcher said. “The side has showed a lot of character before and hopefully they’ll do it again.”England face Canada on Sunday at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia.

Brett Lee takes on greater responsibility with the absence of Glenn McGrath © Getty Images

Australia will play the same side that beat South Africa by 57 runs last Sunday in the first final against Sri Lanka at Adelaide on Friday. Ricky Ponting confirmed the squad at his pre-match press conference today and he will marshall a pace attack including Brett Lee, Stuart Clarke, Nathan Bracken and the Supersub James Hopes.There is no room for the fast bowlers Brett Dorey or Mick Lewis, who has replaced Glenn McGrath as he spends time with his cancer-hit wife Jane. Adelaide will host its debut finals fixture as the MCG is prepared for the Commonwealth Games, but the match was still not a sell-out on Wednesday.”It’s a great opportunity for South Australians to get behind this match, the first final we’ve ever had in Adelaide,” James Sutherland said in . “I know that the SACA are very keen to make a success of it to prove that the Adelaide Oval is a venue worthy of more international cricket.”Australia 1 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Michael Clarke, 7 Michael Hussey, 8 Brad Hogg, 9 Brett Lee, 10 Stuart Clark, 11 Nathan Bracken, James Hopes (Supersub).

Combined Easterns/Northerns XI 132 for 2 (Kuhn 47, Seymore 77*) trail Zimbabweans 206 (Chigumbura 40, Morkel 3-57, Abrahams 3-36, Harris 3-51) by 74 runs
Scorecard

Elton Chigumbura top-scored with 40 on a disappointing day for Zimbabwe© Getty Images

An unbeaten 77 from the captain Andre Seymore gave the Easterns/Northerns XI the upper hand on the first day of the tour match at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. After putting the Zimbabweans in and bowling them out for 206, the combined XI had reached 132 for 2 by the close.Seymore shared an opening stand of 125 with Heino Kuhn, before the uncapped slow left-armer Sean Williams took two quick wickets to brighten Zimbabwe’s day a little.When they batted, several of the Zimbabweans had made decent starts: seven of them reached double figures, but the highest score was only 40, by Elton Chigumbura, who eventually became one of three wickets for the Titans fast bowler Siraag Abrahams. Paul Harris and Morne Morkel also finished with three victims as Zimbabwe succumbed for 206.