England in India

England cricketers have slammed their practice facilities in India ahead of a six-match one-day series starting next week.

England coach Duncan Fletcher said on Sunday the team was frustrated because of the lack of proper arrangements at the Calcutta Cricket and Football Club (CCFC), where the side has been asked to practice.

"We're very frustrated because we expected better facilities," Fletcher told reporters.

"Excuses are being given in the name of security. The Deputy Commissioner of Police told us there would be no problems if we played at the Eden Gardens but the Indian board said we'd be more secure here," he said.

Triangular in Australia

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming has threatened to take his players off the field if missiles are thrown during his side's one-day international against South Africa in Hobart on Tuesday.

More than 250 people were arrested when spectators threw objects onto the field in the Black Caps' 23-run victory over Australia on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Similar scenes followed during Sunday's game between South Africa and Australia, where 200 members of the crowd were evicted from the MCG for rowdy behaviour.

"There's been too many close calls for us to accept it's part and parcel of the one-day game," said Fleming.

"A player is going to get hurt and if it's a bottle in the head, which was close to us the other night, that's going to be serious.

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South Africa beat Australia by four wickets in the triangular series one-day cricket match at the MCG.

After being whitewashed 3-0 in the recent Test series, South Africa hit back to win the triangular series match at the MCG by four wickets and inflict a second straight loss on Australia.

For the second time in as many matches, the home team suffered a major collapse, losing its last six wickets for 34 runs to set the Proteas a modest target of 199 which they reached with nine balls to spare.

Rhodes' unspectacular, unbeaten innings of 43 took 101 balls and 138 minutes and did not contain a single boundary, but it was just what his team needed on a tour where, until now, very little had gone right.

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Glenn McGrath, on official notice to behave himself for the remainder of the one-day series, is the latest Australian player to bemoan a lack of transparency surrounding the game's disciplinary hearings.

But like his captain Steve Waugh before him, McGrath claimed he had suffered an injustice because of ICC rules which prevented players from passing public comment on referees' decisions. "While I would love to come out and tell you what was going through my mind and tell you how I feel about missing (yesterday's) game, I can't," McGrath said.

"I've essentially been gagged."

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He was supposed to be Shane Warne's new bunny. He was batting in Daryll Cullinan's position and he was supposed to be hopeless against spin bowling. At least, that's what the Aussies thought - and said.

But Neil McKenzie has been competent and, at times, even superb against Warne throughout a difficult tour and once again frustrated the stout leg-spinner on Sunday night during a match winning stand of 64 with Jonty Rhodes.

"I spoke to a couple of guys before we left South Africa and discussed ways to play him," McKenzie said on arrival in Hobart on Monday.

"I chatted to Sachin Tendulkar during the India series and he basically said you need to open your stance and try to hit him through cover. It was working well yesterday...until I tried a hoo haa shot!"

"I was just backing myself to play nice and straight when I wasn't hitting through cover and then, that shot. I'm not even a big sweeper of the ball so I don't know where that one came from. I haven't been practising it," a bemused but ultimately relieved McKenzie said on Tuesday

Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka

Tilan Samaraweera and Upul Chandana have shared a Sri Lankan record eighth wicket partnership of 146 as the hosts reached 418 all out in the first innings of the third and final Test against Zimbabwe here.

By the close Zimbabwe, needing 201 to avoid a follow-on, had scored 0-18 in 19 overs. On a slow turning pitch, where the odd ball stays low, they face a tough task to get those runs.

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Sri Lanka’s five-member selection panel has been sacked, after their decision to drop Marvan Atapattu for the second Test against Zimbabwe. Former captain Michael Tissera will head a new committee, which will also include the former Test cricketers Mahesh Goonatilleke, Don Anurasiri and Roger Wijesuriya.

Sports minister Johnston Fernando reinstated Atapattu, whose schizophrenic Test career includes five double-centuries and 17 ducks, at the last minute, after a player revolt was threatened.

“The selection was done over the phone without a look at the pitch,” said Fernando, “and without even consulting the captain and the coach.

Three of the selectors resigned immediately after the furore, but Fernando was unequivocal about the need for change.

“It is not fair to allow the previous committee to continue following their controversial decision.”

Atapattu went on to score just nine runs in the second Test, but Sri Lanka, inspired by Muttiah Muralitharan’s 13-wicket haul, overwhelmed Zimbabwe by an innings and 94 runs.

Challenger Series

India 'A' beat India Seniors by eight wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. After all the bowlers had contibuted to bowl out the Seniors for a mere 154, the batsman made sure there were no alarms. Sangram Singh top scored for the India 'A' team with 75 runs.

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