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Conventional wisdom says the fourth one-day international at Old Trafford was one India would rather forget; it was a scrap India had got on top of by creeping under the skin of the opposition, and losing from there would have brought a sense of hopelessness. Yet it was also a game they can take a lot of heart from.For one hour in the field – the first period of the run-chase – India displayed more positives than they had over several hours in earlier games. This was, without a shadow of a doubt, their best effort on the field in a long while – throwing punches fearlessly, catching eagerly and mouthing off with abandon. Their ground fielding was only marginally better than earlier but the buzz was unmistakable. Led by Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik, the younger players took it upon themselves to pump up the volume and inject the side with much-needed energy.One moment, when Kevin Pietersen was new to the crease, summed up the high-voltage approach. Rahul Dravid, after a chat with the umpires, asked Yuvraj, at point, to cool off; Karthik, standing at cover, immediately came to his rescue and shot off an explanation. Nothing, not even their captain, was going to shut them up.Dravid too was more energised than in recent days. The modest total of 212 forced him to set attacking fields right through England’s innings and crucially Dravid did not hesitate to put men around the bat, providing the spinners all the support they could ask for.It was, as Nasser Hussain in the commentary box reiterated several times, the aggression India have been missing. They hardly landed up at Southampton and Edgbaston and even the victory at Bristol came with a sense of fatigue. Old Trafford may have thrown up an alternative path: with three matches to go, and the series almost out of their reach, India could transfer their aggression to the bat as well. Their batting, Bristol excepted, has been jaded and there cannot be a better time to start expressing themselves freely.”We came to 212 with some good contributions lower down the order from Zaheer [Khan] and Piyush [Chawla],” Dravid after Thursday’s match. “In the end, though, I thought we should have scrapped a lot harder and got to 240. That was certainly gettable.” A lower-order scrap would have got them there but what about a top-order breaking free of the shackles?

The line-up may still need tinkering – Karthik at No. 3 does not seem to be the answer – but it is the mindset that needs to change. India are approaching these games as if they are Tests, getting into their stride and building innings, but caution can only take you so far. That approach worked well in the Test series, gradually grinding out the opposition, but the one-day game demands a more proactive approach.Lively young men such as Karthik and Mahendra Singh Dhoni have pottered around at the crease. They are facing good bowlers on home turf but doing very little to rattle them. Up against a predominantly back-of-a-length attack they are finding it tough to break the shackles. Yuvraj’s clean-striking has been the most refreshing sight and he needs to be rewarded with a push up the order. Keeping him at No. 5 is only adding to his burden. It is this younger batch that will carry India through the next few years and into the next World Cup. Four or five of the current team will not be around for the event and it is up to the rest to form the nucleus of a side for the future. India are currently in no-man’s land, neither winning games nor building for the future, and run the risk of sliding further.It is time for the next generation to be thrown in the deep and told to back their aggressive instincts. The series might be decided in Headingley but India need to look at this as the start of a new chapter.

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Cathryn Fitzpatrick starred with a six-wicket haul including a hat-trick as Victoria Spirit levelled the best-of-three finals series with a comfortable win over New South Wales Breakers at Melbourne. Rachael Haynes dominated the Victoria chase with an unbeaten 83 as the Spirit easily overhauled the Breakers’ 144 in 43.2 overs.Fitzpatrick, who finished with the stunning figures of 6 for 22 from ten overs, ended the New South Wales innings with four wickets from five balls in the 49th over. She began by having Michelle Goszko caught in the deep for 24 and two deliveries later began the hat-trick when Sarah Aley was trapped lbw. Fitzpatrick bowled Julie Hayes and Rene Farrell each for a first-ball 0 to complete the late demolition.The visitors had been unable to build big partnerships after winning the toss and despite Leah Poulton’s 39 and 36 from Sarah Andrews, their 144 was always going to be tough to defend. Haynes, the opener, showed her class with her second half-century of the season to carry the Spirit home.The Breakers clinched a tight one-wicket victory in the first final on Friday and the series will go to the deciding third match at Melbourne’s Central Reserve on Sunday.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has confirmed that Habibul Bashar will lead the side until the end of the World Cup next April.”We believe Bashar can lead the team well in the coming World Cup,” a senior board official told Reuters. Bashar said that he was happy with the board’s decision and that it would help him chalk out the plans for the World Cup.The announcement followed a meeting of the BCB in Dhaka at which a number of other issues were addressed.At the forefront of these was confirmation of the tour of Zimbabwe in December. The BCB said that they would play seven ODIs. The tentative schedule was for two matches to take place at Bogra, one at Khulna, two at Chittagong, two at Dhaka and a Twenty20 match, also at Dhaka. Mahmudur Rahman, the BCB’s CEO, said: “The venues at Dhaka have not been finalised but in all probability there could be one match at Mirpur and one at Fatullah.”The board also confirmed a previous resolution taken by the working committee condemning the incident in which a number of journalists were injured at Chittagong during the second Test between Bangladesh and Australia in April 2006.

Former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh and renowned American fielding guru Mike Young have signed on to be a part of the coaching staff at the ICC Americas selection combine to be held at Indianapolis World Sports Park in September.”I’m really excited by this opportunity to help identify and work with some of the best talent in the Americas,” Walsh said in an ICC press release. “It’s great that the ICC and the WICB are working together on this initiative that can only help cricket develop in the region.”Applications for players who are eligible to play for countries within the ICC Americas region were due to close on Friday, but the deadline has been extended an additional week through to July 24. Up to 100 players from around the region will be invited to phase one of the combine from September 18, as they compete for spots in a regional squad to participate in the WICB 50-over domestic tournament next January.A select group of players from phase one will then be invited back to phase two from September 24, where they will join pre-selected players based on performances from the ICC Americas championship in May, and the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier currently taking place in Ireland and Scotland. After the conclusion of phase two, a final squad will be chosen and top-performing players may also receive invitations to trial for teams in the 2016 Caribbean Premier League.Walsh is currently a WICB selector and bowling coach for the Jamaica Tallawahs. In 2011, he served as tour manager for the West Indies U-19 team in Florida where they swept the USA U-19 team in a four-match 50-over series. Young, a Chicago native, has been a specialist fielding coach serving on and off with Australia for the last 14 years, including at the 2015 World Cup.

Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, has insisted that England can still become the best team in the world, despite the 2-0 loss to Pakistan earlier in the winter. England head to India today to India for a three-Test series, with the first Test starting at Nagpur on March 1, followed by seven one-dayers.England will be without Ashley Giles, their senior spinner, and will rely on Shaun Udal and Northamptonshire’s Monty Panesar, who has yet to make his debut, along with Ian Blackwell. Michael Vaughan has recovered from his knee injury and Simon Jones, who was sorely missed for the tour of Pakistan, is also fit.”Forget what happened in Pakistan, we can still be the best Test side in the world,” Fletcher told the . “We can still be No.1 in the world during my time as coach. I firmly believe that. It will help if we can stay clear of injuries to key players. But if we can do that from now on, then we can achieve that aim.”First, however, it’s very important that we go to India and win the series. I don’t care who you’re playing, winning is extremely important.”It’s also hard – no matter what the situation. That’s why it’s wrong to suggest that one tour is more important than another. All games have different pressures. That’s why we’re thinking only about the trip to India. We want to beat them in their own backyard.”Beating any team in their own backyard is an admirable feat; beating India, at home, is considered mission impossible by most touring sides. Australia were the most recent to achieve it, in 2004, and Hansie Cronje’s South Africa managed it in 2000. England haven’t won an away series against India since David Gower’s side in 1984-85. However, Fletcher is confident his current squad have what it takes:”India is one country we have not won in since I became coach and that’s a real target for the team to achieve this time,” he said. “What effect it will have regarding our next Ashes campaign is difficult to assess. But from my point of view winning is vital. I don’t think motivation was the problem in Pakistan and it certainly won’t be in this time.”We’ve beaten Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa and Sri Lanka away. So it would be nice to add India to that list.”

Jones, now fully recovered, recently spent some at Dennis Lillee’s academy in India which, Fletcher feels, will stand him and England in good stead.”It was handy for Simon to go out early to India because he’s gathered some useful information about various things,” he said. “I’ve had a chat with him. He’s quite happy that the ball did swing out there and he already has an idea what to do with the ball when we play.”Simon is a major component in our bowling attack because he has that added variation of reverse swing. He’s good for those sub-continental wickets because he skids the ball through at a quick pace.””I’ve often said that it’s a huge advantage to have a second change bowler who can hit 90mph. He will be a major player in India, just as he was during the Ashes series.”Giles failed to recover from his hip injury in time for England’s tour, leaving England’s spin attack bereft of experience. Udal, who turns 37 in March, has just three Tests to his name and made his debut in Pakistan last year. While it will be an invaluable learning curve for both Blackwell and Panesar, Fletcher is understandably anxious that the pressure on their young shoulders will become burdensome, in what is one of the hardest tours in the international schedule.”It is asking a lot to send them in against India and players who play spin-bowling very well,” he told BBC Radio. “Ashley Giles is going to be a huge loss. We need a left-arm spinner and those two are the next best in the country.”

In a dramatic finish, Auckland and Northern Districts somehow conspired to tie a game no team deserved to win. Daniel Vettori, the ND captain, ran out Chris martin for a duck on the penultimate ball of the match with the scores level at 275. For the second time in less than a fortnight, Paul Hitchcock scored a century against Northern Districts in the State Shield. Unlike the last occasion it was not enough to see his team win. Hitchcock’s 107 from 102 balls was the highlight of Auckland’s chase for 275 set by the home team, but he failed to find any significant support. Bruce Martin was the most effective ND bowler, taking 3 for 42 off his 10 overs. It was a great allround double for Hitchcock who took 4 for 45 earlier in the day. ND would have been disappointed it did not make better use of the 135-run opening partnership provided by Vettori (84) and BJ Watling (50). James Marshall provided a useful 42 while others made starts they failed to capitalise on.

Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain, has laid to rest all speculation of a power-struggle for captaincy by saying that he had no issues playing under Rahul Dravid, the current Indian captain. He has said that his top priority was to score runs for the team.”I have played under other captains, so it should be no problem. I am happy to play anywhere, whatever suits the team, Rahul [Dravid] and Greg [Chappell],” Ganguly told PTI. “I have been selected in the team to perform, as was the case when I was picked for the first time. You have to perform at this level.” He was banned for six one-day internationals by the ICC for slow over-rates when Pakistan toured India in April. The ban was reduced to four ODIs by Albie Sachs, an ICC-appointed arbitrator, following a BCCI appeal on Ganguly’s behalf. He spent the last two months playing for Glamorgan and has regained some form on the English county circuit. “I have been in touch with the game and it would be good to score runs and help India win the trophy,” said Ganguly. “As I can see if we bat well in the competition we have a good chance of winning.”The pitch at Dambulla has not been conducive to prolific run-making and Ganguly said that he had a fair idea of how to negotiate the wicket. “It is a kind of wicket where you have to grind for your runs. You don’t get easy runs here. I am not too sure about the pace; perhaps it is two-paced.”After all the attention he received for five-and-a-half years as the Indian captain, Ganguly said that a break from the spotlight would be appreciated. “Actually, I don’t mind it [lack of attention]. I had a lot of attention for five years. If for the next three or four games, or whatever happens in this series, I am not too worried. Whatever will happen, will happen.”Ganguly said that his wealth of experience would always be available to Dravid if required. “As I see it, it will be hard work for Rahul. It always is for the captain. There are a lot of things which are on mind and if I feel something could benefit the team, I will definitely pass on the suggestion to him.”Ganguly, who is 33 short of 10,000 runs in one-day cricket – a feat achieved only by Sachin Tendulkar and Inzamam-ul-Haq, said that he was looking forward to the milestone. “It is something I am looking forward to,” said Ganguly “but more than personal marks, I am keen to do my bit for the team to win the trophy.”

Allan Border has stepped down as a Test selector for the second time in less than two years and only four months after re-accepting the position. Border, who is a Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket board member, stepped back into the role in June but has over-committed and will focus instead on his other interests, which also include commentary and media work.”My various commitments are far heavier than I had expected back in mid-year and I don’t think it is appropriate to do what is a really important job if I am not able to give it the full attention it deserves,” Border said. “I am really passionate and absolutely committed to making a continuing contribution to cricket through my board work and through my involvement in the CA committee that will decide the next national coach.”According to a report in The Age, however, the final straw for Border came down to a conflict of interests over a beer commercial. He has just taken part in an advert for XXXX Gold, alongside Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee, but Cricket Australia has just signed a far-reaching sponsorship deal with the rival brewery, Foster’s.”We think ambush marketing is fairly un-Australian,” said Geoff Donohue, the corporate affairs spokesman for the Foster’s Group. “I will leave you to decide whether what they [XXXX Gold] are doing with their current advertising campaigns is ambush marketing. I guess Allan has [resigned] in pursuit of his own commercial interests, and what he wants to do for personal gain is obviously his business.”Australia’s selection panel has changed significantly since April with the resignation of Trevor Hohns, the long-serving chairman, and the promotion of Andrew Hilditch into the top job. Merv Hughes, who replaced Border when he walked away after a seven-year stint in 2005, and David Boon are the two other current selectors.Creagh O’Connor, the Cricket Australia chairman, said the board would discuss possible replacements with Hilditch and Cricket Australia’s management before a meeting later this week.

South Africa has tied the inaugural Super Challenge 2000 series at Melbourne’s Colonial Stadium at one match apiece with a eight run win in the third and final match of what has proved to be a very innovative and enjoyable series.There were several heroes for the visitors, in particular the underrated left arm spinner Nicky Boje, who took 2/29 from ten overs of very accurate left arm spin and was awarded the Man of Series award. He proved difficult to get away in the mid to latter stages of the match and along with skipper Shaun Pollock (2/36 off eight) did some valuable damage during the run chase. Pollock proved again his great ability with the new ball getting the first two wickets while Adam Gilchrist (63 off 67 balls) powered away in the opening stages of Australia’s innings.Curiously right at the death Andrew Hall, who kept very well in the absence of the finger knife slicing Mark Boucher, was called up to bowl the second last over, with 22 needed. He started with a nervous wide but held up well under the pressure to concede only eight off the over and this left the Aussies needing 14 off the last.Jacques Kallis took the ball and after a smiling conversation involving he and skipper Pollock, South Africa wrapped up the match with a bit to spare.Earlier, South Africa were in desperate trouble at 4/19 in the seventh over, after great opening spells by Glenn McGrath (3/26 off ten overs) and Brett Lee (3/56 off ten).McGrath was first to strike, finding the edge of Andrew Hall’s (1) bat and Mark Waugh accepted the hot head high chance at second slip.At the Latrobe Street end, Brett Lee, who started to find his rhythm after an early speight of no balls, struck twice in his third over, having Kallis edge a lifting ball through to Gilchrist for three and then Daryl Cullinan went, bowled between bat and pad by a very sharp in dipper for a fourth ball duck. The veteran right-hander will come away from his Colonial Stadium experience was little fondness for it after a pair of noughts in the last two matches. South Africa were now 3/19 as Neil McKenzie walked out to join the experienced Kirsten.McGrath knocked over Kirsten (9) thanks again to the safe hands of Mark Waugh at second slip and at 4/19 the 15,000 odd that had bothered to make it for the 10am start were facing a free afternoon.South Africa have come from the depths of these positions before to win matches and today the men who rose to the challenge with the bat were Neil McKenzie (45) and Lance Klusener (49) who added 98 for the fifth wicket in 26 overs. They were the initial heroes with the bat, with Shaun Pollack (34) and Nicky Boje (28 off 28 balls) ensuring South Africa got past 200 after falling to 7/150 in the 43rd over after the initial recovery. The pair added an unbeaten 56 in seven and a half overs and with the Australians slow in bowling their overs and subsequently having their innings reduced to 48 overs, the South African total reached a level of respectability.This reduction to 48 overs was a real surprise, given the fairly liberal interpretation of the rule in the previous two matches.In Game one, South Africa were 21 minutes over time and on Friday Australia were around a quarter of an hour but neither were penalised in any way. Admittedly though on Wednesday, South Africa’s bowlers were continually cleaning their sprigs giving the damp nature of the surface.In the Australian reply, Shaun Pollock picked up the first wicket, with a fairly straight ball which Mark Waugh played around as he came forward to drive. Waugh went for a single and Australia were 1/21 in the seventh over.Adam Gilchrist was making the job of batting look very easy as he opened his shoulders to eventually hit nine fours and a pulled six over square leg off Roger TelemachusRicky Ponting would have been disappointed with his dismissal as he played an impatient shot which brought about his downfall, attempting to loft Pollock over the on-side on the up. The result – a catch to Makhaya Ntini at mid on and Australia were now tottering a little at 2/31.Gilchrist continued to make batting look easy but his batting partner Michael Bevan was doing anything but, as he struggled to find a gap in the field with thirteen balls being needed before he could get off the mark.Gilchrist’s entertaining hand came to an end on 63 in the 20th over as he attempted a pull shot off Ntini and top edged it as high and as close as any ball had been near the roof, to be caught by Neil McKenzie at backward point.Ntini, who had been working up some pace during his first spell, struck the Aussie skipper Steve Waugh on the left arm with his next ball which was a sharp, rising delivery. Waugh rubbed his arm vigourously and Ntini returned to the top of his bowling mark, intent to try and put his side on top in the match.The eventual loss of the Australian captain, was a big blow for South Africa, as Waugh lofted Lance Klusener to mid off after making 17 and in the 29th over Australia were reduced to 4/114.Bevan had now started to find the gaps but when he reached 33 off 80 balls, he was brilliantly run out by Neil McKenzie from backward point in the 35th over and Australia now needed right on a run a ball if they were to win the match and clinch this series.Shane Warne was elevated up the order and lofted a few deliveries to various points of the arena without being able to pick up a boundary.Damien Martyn eased the tension somewhat as he found the first boundary for nine overs by charging and lofting South African skipper over mid wicket to the fence but in the 38th over Warne attempted to take on Nicky Boje and holed out to a great catch by Gary Kirsten at a widish long-on for seven.Shane Lee played rebustly as the run rate required found its way to over six and he and Damien Martyn added 28 in six overs before Lee hoisted a ball to deep mid wicket where a good catch was taken by Neil McKenzie, Australia were 7/171.What eventually broke the back of the chase was the demise of Damien Martyn, who after making 31 off 42 balls, was bowled by a Telemachus yorker in the 45th over at 8/176, this left Australia needing 31 off three and a half overs and this, unsurprisngly proved too much for the remaining batsmen.

For some time, rumours have been circulating that all is not well within Team USA, and that the squad was not a happy place to be during the recent Champions Trophy in England.The man at the eye of the storm is Imran Awan, a fast bowler, who was replaced shortly after the USA arrived in the UK. The press release at the time cited “special circumstances” rather than injury as the reason for his early return home.Various reports have been circulating as to the circumstances which led to his replacement, most of them based on unsubstantiated rumour. But there does appear to have been a row of some kind when the squad were in Jamaica ahead of the tournament.A source close to the USA board said that a decision was made to deal with the matter after the side returned home. But Charlie Javed, a board member and part of the official tour party, insisted that the incident be addressed there and then. Awan returned home, but no mention was made on the official USACA website and details remain sketchy. Probably because of the vagueness of information, rumours have abounded ever since.The USACA are known to be concerned with the entire process and has said that it will look into all allegations, however spurious they might seem. But an unnamed official added that this was a complicated and sensitive issue, and would have to be handled with appropriate delicacy.At a time when the future of cricket in the USA is under the spotlight, this distraction is unwelcome and needs to be put to bed as soon, and as transparently, as possible.