Indian opener Virender Sehwag says he is looking forward to the up-coming Cricket World Cup in South Africa where he is hoping the quicker wickets will help him score some big runs.
"The few days I will get between the series against the West Indies and the departure for New Zealand, I will do some specific preparation for those tours," he said.
"I will bat against a wet rubber ball so that I can get used to the rising ball, something I would be encountering abroad, especially during the World Cup," he concluded.
The Indian Cricket Players' Association, which will be launched during the third Test against the West Indies here, will get in touch with the cricket associations of other countries soon after its formation. "That is a very important part of the agenda," said would-be secretary Arun Lal, who is currently working on the rules and regulation of the association.
"Once we have launched our association, we will inform the cricketers' bodies of other countries," Lal said. In fact, he hinted that they would even try to come together on a common platform. "We are not adverse to working with other similar organisations, or even joining the Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA), but that will be on our terms."
Pakistan have recalled batsmen Inzamam-ul Haq and Yousuf Youhana for the forthcoming tour of Zimbabwe after the pair recovered from injury.
But the selectors have resisted recalling veterans Wasim Akram and Saeed Anwar to the Test squad.
All four players missed the recent series against Australia, when a young batting line-up lost 3-0, including two innings defeats.
West Indies in India
Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly on Saturday said it was his dream to score a Test hundred at the Eden Gardens and was looking forward to fulfilling it in the third Test against West Indies starting here on Wednesday.
"If I can score a Test hundred here it will make my life, it is my dream," Ganguly said at a function to felicitate the medal winners from Bengal at the recent Busan Asian Games.
Ganguly also said that he was completely fit and there was no problem with his back that he injured on the last day of the Chennai Test when he had collided with teammate Anil Kumble.
England in Australia
Marcus Trescothick has made himself available for England's match against Western Australia starting on Monday despite suffering from a shoulder injury.
The opening batsman had to leave the field on Friday playing against the same opposition after the long-term injury flared up.
He is undergoing a series of injections and admitted his shoulder still feels sore.
But the 26-year-old denied suggestions that he might be doubtful for the first Test against Australia that starts on 7 November.
"It's not going to stop me playing. I'll be playing, if selected, in the next game and then we'll go from there."
Shane Warne has called for the Australian selectors to retain faith in beleaguered batsman Mark Waugh for the Ashes series.
Warne said he would feel happier with the 37-year-old in the slips, where he has taken numerous catches off the leg-spinner's bowling.
"Mark is very crucial to the side, I think stats can be a little bit misleading as to your worth to the side," Warne said.
"I know he took a couple of screamers off me in the recent series. Generally that's the sign of a good team, that you can carry one or two players."
England's troubled Ashes tour looks likely to get tougher from Monday, with Australia opener Justin Langer captaining the opposition in their three-day match in Perth.
A Western Australia side lacking eight first-choice players got the better of England in a two-day match that ended in a draw on Friday.
Langer said he was not surprised by England's slow start to their campaign.
"They have just got off the plane, and it is always difficult coming to the WACA," he said.
"All sides have problems at the WACA because it is a unique ground, with extra bounce.
But he promised to make England's preparations for the Test series as tough as possible.
Bangladesh in South Africa
South Africa hope to wrap up a second Test victory over Bangladesh by declaring early on the third day in Potchefstroom.
"I don't think we'll be batting on too long tomorrow," Kirsten said after ending the second day 154 not out - a record 16th Test ton for his country.
"We'll probably have a go for an hour or so and get the lead out to 240 or 250.
"There's a lot of bareness in the wicket and ... I think there'll be a lot of uneven bounce."
