India in South Africa

Rahul Dravid and Deep Dasgupta managed to stay calm for the crucial couple of hours on the final day of the second Test and guided India to safety.
Dasgupta and Dravid saw out the entire morning session on a bright and sunny day with the batting made much easier by the good weather. The storm however was raging out side the field of play and is seen by many as South Africa's revenge for the entire Hansie Cronje episode.

Cronje was a sporting icon in the country, and the South Africans have taken an eye for an eye by slurring the name of Tendulkar.
Dravid fell 13 runs short of a hundred and Dasgupta for a hardworking 63. Tendulkar and Dravid survived some tense moments before play was eventually called off for the day.

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Indian officials have in the meanwhile demanded the replacement of Mike Denness as match referee for the third Test that begins in Centurion in two days time.
The team thought of pulling out of the match and tour and were only persuaded by the BCCI chief to go on in the better interest of the game.
Detailed Scorecard

England in India

The English cricketers have been advised to have regular cold water baths and examine their urine for dehydration levels frequently. Players have been advised to drink 100-150ml of water every 20 minutes during play and to re-hydrate progressively in the recovery period. Tea, coffee and alcohol are strictly prohibited.

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England's assistant coach Graham Dilley was kept overnight in hospital under observation after he developed low blood pressure. Dilley was taken ill during the tourist's first game in Mumbai against an MCA Presidents XI. He was kept in hospital; over night just as a precautionary measure.
The England tour party moves over to Hyderabad where they play a Board President's XI on Thursday.

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Andrew Flintoff will fly down to India to join the 16 member strong party in an attempt to bolster the bowling. England are looking to field five bowlers in the first Test and with Craig White not at his best after his recent injury and operation on the knee the team management felt the need to strengthen the bowling.

West Indies in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka meet West Indies for the second Test at Kandy today. Sri Lanka have lost the last three Test matches that have been played at this venue against South Africa, England and India.
In fact, astrologers had advised that the second match not be staged at Kandy but the efforts to swap the venues of the second and third Tests at Kandy and Colombo were of no avail.
Sri Lanka will be hoping that history does not repeat itself a fourth time when they begin the second Test today

Miscellaneous

Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will not face any disciplinary action over his outburst against Mahela Jayawardene in Sharjah recently.
The PCB disciplinary committee, met in Lahore and discussed the incident and later said no action would be taken against Akhtar. Akhtar exchanged words with Jayawardene during the game on November 4, won by Pakistan by five wickets, after the batsman hit his first ball for a six.
When Shoaib dismissed him in the same over, Wasim Akram had to step in and calm the excited bowler. Akhtar had later on publicly apologised to Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene for causing him any hurt in the heat of the moment

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John Buchanan has been given a two-year extension as coach of the Australian cricket team. This means he will be in charge until much after the 2003 World Cup, where Australia are the defending champions. Buchan has been coach since 1999 when he took over from Geoff Marsh.

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Former players and members of the South African media are putting pressure on the former South Africa batsman Jhonty Rhodes to come out of his retirement from Test cricket to play against the home and away series against Australia. The former players feel his experience would be invaluable

SCORES AT A GLANCE

South Africa vs India (2nd Test, day 5)
Played at Port Elizabeth
Toss: India

South Africa: 362
(H Gibbs 196, H Dippenaar 29, M Boucher 68 not out; J Srinath 6-76)
233-5 decl (Kallis 89 not out, S Pollock 55 not out; J Srinath 2-28)
India: 201
(S Ganguly 42, VVS Laxman 89, A Kumble 28; S Pollock 5-40)
206-3 (D Dasgupta 63, R Dravid 87; M Hayward 2-58)

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