Zimbabwe in India

Andy Flower fell just short of a century as Zimbabwe drew the opening match of their tour of India, against a Board President's XI in Vijayawada on Sunday.
And there were few positives for the tourists to take out of the match after Rahul Dravid's team reached 154 for one in their second innings before stumps were drawn on the third day.
While Zimbabwe had only slow left-armer Raymond Price and part-time off-spinner Trevor Gripper to rely on, India's spinners shared nine wickets between them.
Flower's dismissal for 94, edging off-spinner Sarandeep Singh to silly-point, saw Zimbabwe topple from an overnight 292 for six to 340 all out.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra took the last three wickets to fall for figures of six for 95, while Sarandeep finished with three for 83.
The complete squad

England in New Zealand

Mental difficulties rather than problems with technique may be to blame for England's embarrassing 155-run defeat to New Zealand on Saturday, according to coach Duncan Fletcher.
Fletcher ruled out making drastic changes to the side for the third one-day international in Napier on Wednesday.
But he warned that judgements on certain players would be passed at the end of the series.
By then, England will have played 16 one-day internationals in five months in a hectic period designed to hone a side ahead of next year's World Cup in South Africa.
"We have got to look at them and ask ourselves if we have over-cooked them," said Fletcher on Sunday.

Australia vs South Africa

Rain prevented new one-day captain Ricky Ponting from completing a century on the opening day of Australia's tour of South Africa.
The bad weather caused tea to be taken five minutes early in Potchefstroom, and no further play was possible in the three-day match against South Africa A.
Ponting was left standed on 93 not out from just 129 deliveries after helping Australia recover from a slow start to 218 for three
Openers Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden - prolific during the home series against South Africa - both fell to medium-pacer Andrew Hall after just 52 runs were scored in the first 20 overs.

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Steve Waugh's sacking has sent a shudder through the Australian cricket side with Shane Warne admitting confusion over his treatment by selectors.
The appointment of Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist as Australia's new leadership team has left Warne's supporters worried about his long-term future as a one-day player.
Only last month Warne was chosen as vice-captain ahead of Ponting for a one-dayer against New Zealand when Gilchrist rested.
Warne admits the axing of Waugh as one-day captain had been a chastening blow for the team.
"I think once you drop the captain it just proves the adage that no one is certain of a spot no matter what your record is like and how well you are playing," he said.
"If the selectors decide they want to go a certain path with certain players that is what they will do and you just have to cop it on the chin.
"I still think I have a big role to play. If they don't think I have, then so be it."

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Test captain Steve Waugh faces a pay cut of close to $250,000 over the next 12 months, following his controversial sacking as Australia's one-day skipper.
While Waugh's corporate backers are understood to have rallied around him in the wake of his axing this week, his contract with the ACB will automatically be slashed following his banishment from the one-day game.
With at least 21 one-day games to be played between now and next year's World Cup in South Africa, Waugh will lose more than $100,000 in match payments and captaincy bonuses.
He also faces a review of his current contract with the ACB.
Believed to be ranked second behind paceman Glenn McGrath among Australia's contracted players, Waugh is on a retainer of about $500,000 a year.

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As the debate over Steve Waugh's sacking continues amid the public and media here, even after the appointment of Ricky Ponting as his successor, Waugh's mother has said that the selectors have taken the backbone out of the Australian team.
"They have taken the backbone out of the one-day team and I hope the morale of the team does not suffer. Stephen and Mark are going to give 100 per cent. They will turn this disappointment into something really positive," Bev Waugh was quoted as saying by the Sun Herald.
She said that she has been overwhelmed by the public support for her son.
"The best thing to happen from this shocking news has been the strong public support. I feel so proud because the people of Australia are behind us.
"People matter. They have more understanding of the game than some of the experts."

Miscellaneous

Michael Slater's $200,000-a-year contract with the Australian Cricket Board is in jeopardy, with the board calling for a report on an incident involving the former Test opener in a Sydney grade match on the weekend.
A bloodied Slater lost his temper as he walked off the University of NSW ground after being hit by a rising ball from teenage fast bowler Aaron Bird.
"There's some news for you, you pricks," Slater shouted at the media before throwing his gloves and helmet at the gate just before leaving the field. A photographer alleged the helmet struck him.
ACB chief executive James Sutherland has called for a report from his NSW counterpart, David Gilbert, into the incident.
While Sutherland was not available for comment yesterday, ACB chairman Bob Merriman said the incident came under NSW's jurisdiction.

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Captain Carl Hooper's century led West Indies to a consolation victory by 110 runs over Pakistan in the third and final one-day international in Sharjah.
Hooper arrived at the crease with his side in desperate early trouble at 61 for four in the 14th over, but his 112 took them to a challenging 260 for five.
And, after Pakistan stumbled similarly, part-time off-spinner Chris Gayle took four wickets in 26 deliveries to bowl them out for 150.

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