India won ther Series Against WI by five Wickets

Dhawan 5th ODI century, possibly his 1st without the assistance of a ‘life’, was the feature of India series-clinching win over the West Indies in the third and final fixture at Kanpur, on Wednesday. Dhawan’s rollicking 119 (95b) helped the hosts chase down the 264 they were set to win on a pitch that aided seam bowling early in the day, but speedily settled down into a decent batting track as the sun came out.

The West Indies to 263, in an innings of marked imbalance. Once Johnson Charles was bowled by vicious Bhuvneshwar Kumar in swinger, the visitors rebuild through a big, if somewhat chance, 117-run partnership in 24.3 overs between opener Kieran Powell and Marlon Samuels. India trio of young seamers gained perceptible movement and several edges in hazy conditions, but were unable to get through again.

Ashwin removed them both. Powell perished to a top-edge on the sweep, while Samuels bowled on the third ball of the batting Power play. A phase of quiet came to be, as the West Indies lost Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo, but good things were just around the corner.

K Powell (70), M Samuels (71),Darren Bravo (51*) and Sammy (37) clubbed two sixes apiece in a breakneck 6th-wicket stand of 67 in just 8.1 overs, the last 3 yielding 41 runs. The late flourish took the Carribbeans to a total that may have been competitive for a side other than India playing at home.

The chase was dealt a double blow when Ravi Rampaul dismissed Rohit Sharma (4) and Virat Kohli (19) early. But Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj (55) added 129 for the 3rd wicket in what turned out to be the decisive phase. Just like the Windies, India too lost their first in the 5th over of the innings.
Narine bowled 33 deliveries for just 18 runs to Yuvraj, who clearly struggled to read him. Just when it looked that the Chandigarh left-hander would eventually give in to relentless pressure, Sammy relieved it through a string of short balls that were duly dispatch to where they deserved to be dispatched to. Yuvraj Singh lived on to reach a laborious 5ty in 68 balls, and was lastly out to the man who deserved his scalp the most.
Victory arrived on the back of yet another good performance by Suresh Raina (34) and Dhawan eventual fall Neither, however, had too much of a bearing on the outcome. Finally India won the series 2-1.

Zaheer back, Gambhir ignored again for South Africa tour

Zaheer Khan has made an expected comeback to India team Test squad for the tour of South Africa, but Gambhir has failed to force his way back despite scoring a century for Delhi in his team's Ranji Trophy win against Haryana.

Zaheer Khan last appeared for India in a Test match against England at Kolkata in December 2012. The 35-year old Zaheer Khan has taken 13 wickets in the Ranji Trophy so far for Mumbai. Fascinatingly, Zaheer Khan, who has played 88 Tests for India, wasn't handed a central contact by the BCCI. Despite scoring 372 runs from 6 innings for Delhi, 32-year old Gambhir has been ignored by the selectors. Dhawan phenomenal run with the bat has ensured that one half of the opening slot remains untouched.
 
On the bowling front, Ishant manages to retain his place on the roster, following a 9-wicket haul against Haryana at the Ferozeshah Kotla. What he does with the long rope handed to him, is a question that only he can answer. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav will also be donning both the whites and the blues. With conditions ideal for pace bowling, the bowling grouping will be a no-brainer. But with R.Ashwin, Ojha and R.Jadeja also in the squad, Dhoni has a good problem on his hands.

The All-India Senior collection Committee that met in Vadodara also picked Ambati Rayudu, who makes his first appearance in India Test squad. Wriddhiman Saha has been picked as the 2nd wicket-keeper. 

This is India 1st Test series without the recently retired Sachin Tendulkar. The Test series between 1st-ranked South Africa and number 2nd India, which was at first scheduled for 4 matches, was curtailed to two to accommodate a farewell home series for him.

India tour starts with a 3-match one-day series, the first of which will be played on December 5. The 2-match Test series starts on December 18th at Johannesburg.

Well Starting Stuart Broad Ashes Tests Series

England's Stuart Broad hit back at booing fans with a devastating 5-wicket haul Thursday but Australian Brad Haddin’s fighting knock kept Australian hopes alive in a forceful start to the Ashes Tests.

Haddin and Mitchell Johnson came to the rescue after Broad, loud boos ringing in his ears at Brisbane Gabba ground, ripped through Australians top order on opening day one. The pair combined in a counter-punching 114-run stand for the 7th wicket before the outstanding Broad bowled Johnson (64) with the second new ball for his 5th wicket of the innings. Just before stumps, Australia lost another wicket when Peter Siddle was caught in the slips for 7 off James Anderson 14 balls. 

At the close, Australia were 273 for 8 and well short of what captain Michael Clarke would have expected after winning the toss, with Haddin unbeaten on 78 and Ryan Harris not out 4 runs. It was Haddin's 13th Test 50 as runs came easily in the last session. Johnson racked up his 8th Test 50 with a booming boundary before Broad had the last word.

If not for Haddin and Johnson's fight back, Australia would have been in a parlous state after Broad had struck twice in the morning session and twice more after lunch to have the home side teetering at 132 for 6. Broad, who was vilified in the build-up for not walking at a key moment during the recent Ashes Tests in England, reveled in his bad-boy role.

The boos rang out when Broad, branded a smug Pommy cheat by a local newspaper, stepped up to bowl but he fast snared opener Chris Rogers for one in his second over. Broad also accounted for Shane Watson (22) just before lunch, and he then took the prized scalp of Australian captain Michel Clarke in the second over after the first break.

Clarke looked uncomfortable against a short-pitched delivery and popped a gentle catch to Ian Bell at short leg for one, in what was a fast and tame end for Australia premier batsman. Opener David Warner had smashed Broad's first ball of the day for 4 but his determined innings ended with a whimper as he became the tall quick fourth victim just short of his half-century.

Warner looked disgusted at himself as he drove lazily at a short ball from Broad and spooned a catch in the covers to Kevin Pietersen, celebrating his 100th match, for 49 off 82 balls. The innings continued to unravel for Australia and debutant George Bailey edged Anderson to Alastair Cook for three, leaving the home side 100 for 5 in the 36th over.

Bailey only lasted 15 balls and he could have been out earlier if a snick off Anderson had carried to Cook at first slip. Steve Smith looked successful with his unconventional shot-making, but perished when he played away from his body and sparred Chris Tremlett to Cook at slip for 31.

It was not the start Australia needed as they bid to avoid losing four successive Ashes series for the 1st time since 1890, and defend an unbeaten record at the Gabba stretching back 25 years.

Broad had a fascinating duel with the pugnacious Warner, who hooked his 1st ball to the boundary and then dabbed an audacious upper-cut high over the slips for four. But Broad then prised the key wicket of Shane Watson, who needlessly played outside his off-stump and was snapped up by Swann in the slips.

India vs WI ODI Series India Squad


India vs WI ODI Series India Squad
MS Dhoni (capt) Shikhar Dhawan Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli Yuvraj Singh Suresh Raina
Ravindra Jadeja R Ashwin Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Mohammed Shami Ambati Rayudu Amit Mishra
Jaydev Unadkat Dhawal Kulkarni Mohit Sharma

Roach and Pollard out Against India tour

West Indian pace bowler Kemar Roach has returned home to the Caribbean with a shoulder injury. Shannon Gabriel has been announced as his substitute for the 2nd Test against the West Indies at Mumbai which begins on November 14.

The 25-year old had missed the 1st Test in Kolkata because of the injury, and will miss the ODI series as well. Darren Sammy boys are trailing 0-1 in the 2-match Test series, after losing the first match at the Eden Gardens by an innings and 51 runs.

CJ Clark, the West Indian team physiotherapist said, Kemar Roach has not made the expected recovery from the shoulder injury that kept him out of the 1st Test. He is returning to the Caribbean for ongoing management and subsequent physical rehabilitation, according to an ESPN Cricinfo report.

In another setback, all-rounder Kieron Pollard too was ruled out of the limited overs leg with an injury. Ravi Rampaul, Denesh Ramdin, Kieran Powell, Veerasammy Permaul and Narsingh Deonarine have been included in the squad. The 3-match ODI series starts on November 21st at Kochi.