England in India

Troubled England batsman Graham Thorpe has until Boxing Day to decide on his availability for January's one-day tour of India. Marital problems forced the Surrey left-hander to return home from the Test series just as the second match of three began in Ahmedabad on 11 December.

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England's cricketers have returned home to spend Christmas with their loved ones. Although they failed to avoid defeat in the Test series in India, they have emerged with plenty of credit and the policy of blooding youngsters has paid off a treat.

"The only thing we were underprepared for was facing Harbhajan and Kumble on a flat wicket - and you don't get that in a warm-up game," Nasser Hussain said.

South Africa in Australia

Captain Shaun Pollock was careful not to blame anybody in particular, and also careful not to exonerate himself. But he was quite clear that nerves had played a crucial role in Adelaide. "There was a lot of tension and it didn't do the team any good," Pollock admitted after Christmas Eve practise at the MCG.

"Atleast now the guys know the worst thing that can happen is that they can lose a Test match. Hopefully the team will feel a lot more relaxed and able to express itself."

Miscellaneous

It has been a difficult year for Shoaib Akhtar. Struggling for form and fitness and twice having his bowling action reported to the International Cricket Council, he is hoping for better things in 2002.

"Greats like Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson and Imran Khan have told me there is no problem in my action but people keep on questioning it, it's strange," he said.

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