India's tour of West Indies

As India prepare to leave on Monday for the West Indies, veteran fast bowler Javagal Srinath is just one player who believes it is time the team won a series away from home.

"We have been talking about winning abroad but have not been able to do it. Not in my tenure at least, which now spans almost 10 years," said Srinath.

"We have been close to winning on a couple of occasions but the bottom line is that we haven't. And we are ourselves responsible for it."

India will play five Tests and as many one-day internationals on the two-month tour.

England's tour of New Zealand

Third Test, Auckland, day three:
England 12-3 v New Zealand 202 all out.

Only 27.5 overs were possible on day three, but this final Test in the series has taken an unexpected twist with New Zealand's bowlers enjoying the new ball.

In a sensational first over, Daryl Tuffey dismissed Marcus Trescothick and Mark Butcher for ducks in the first over of England's reply to New Zealand's 202 all out.

And the crisis deepened when Nasser Hussain edged Chris Drum straight to slip as England slumped to 11-3.
Scorecard

New Zealand's tour of Pakistan

Chris Harris and Robbie Hart have been named in New Zealand's 14-man squad for the Test tour of Pakistan later in April.

Hart replaces Adam Parore behind the stumps, after the 31-year-old's retirement from cricket.

Harris keeps his all-rounder spot after hitting an impressive 71 for the Kiwis in the final Test against England.

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori was included, but must pass a fitness test on a back injury.

Vettori has, however, been excluded from the one-day squad for Sharjah, which precedes the Pakistan tour.

For the Tests, Vettori will be backed up by the Auckland legspinner Brooke Walker.

Richard Hadlee, chairman of selectors, said: "Dan's exclusion from the one-day side is part of the proactive management of his back injury, which the medical team indicated would be necessary some time ago.

Miscellaneous

Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan, righted a wrong on Saturday thanking his teammates for their endeavours in the 1992 World Cup.

Speaking at a celebratory dinner to mark the 10th anniversary of Pakistan's historic win, Imran paid tribute to his players, after failing to properly congratulate them on the day itself.

"Many people still say to me that when we won the cup I failed to thank my teammates so today I thank my players for that stupendous win," Khan said.

On being handed the trophy 10 years ago from then International Cricket Council (ICC) president Colin Cowdrey, Imran glaringly forgot to mention his teammates in his speech.

However, Imran excused himself saying he had been taken aback by Pakistan's shock win over England, after they had been humbled earlier in the tournament by the same opponents.

"I was not ready for that speech because we came from nowhere to win the cup," he said.

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England's chairman of selectors, David Graveney, has given every indication that Alec Stewart could still appear in next year's World Cup.

Graveney, in an interview with the Mail on Sunday, said he had spoken to Stewart at the memorial service for Ben Hollioake in Perth.

"He re-affirmed his desire to get back in the national team in both forms of cricket," said Graveney of the Surrey man who will soon be 39.

"Alec is in the frame, no doubt about it. The operation he had on his elbows was a success.

"James Foster is a young guy, just starting his career. We not only have to plan for the long term and the short term, but we also have to give England the best opportunity to win every game."

Australia's tour of South Africa

Gary Kirsten has been axed from the South African squad for the final three one-day internationals against Australia.

The long-serving opener has been replaced in the squad by 22-year-old all-rounder Jon Kent.

The call-up is a first for former Under-19 player Kent who has enjoyed a modest season in domestic cricket with KwaZulu-Natal.

Nevertheless, Kent, who bowls medium-pacers, still averages over 40 in first-class cricket.

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