Bangalore, Mohali venues for Test matches against Kiwis

Bangalore and Mohali would be the likely venues for the two-Test match series against the visiting New Zealanders during their tour of India in September-October.

Cricket Board secretary S K Nair told PTI on Thursday that the fixtures committee was expected to meet this month end to finalise the dates and venues, but on rotation basis Bangalore and Mohali are the likely venues.

"The Indians will also play a triangular one-day series with New Zealand and Australia. The tri-series will involve ten matches including the final. The dates and venues are yet to be decided," he said.

Nair said the Board was satisfied with the dates and venues selected by the Australian Cricket Board when the Indian team tours Australia next year.

Meanwhile, the selection committee chaired by Brijesh Patel would meet in Bangalore on May 19 to pick the India 'A' team for its 75-day tour to England, Nair said.

Zimbabwe captain Streak suffers back injury

Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak suffered a back injury during their tour match against Worcestershire at New Road, Worcester on Friday with less than two weeks before the first Test against England.

Streak left the field having bowled just two overs in what represents a setback for the southern African side's build-up to the Lord's Test starting on May 22.

After the first day's play, Zimbabwe were on 69 for 3 after 30 overs in reply to the 262 all out in 60.5 overs by Worcestershire.

The 29-year-old is unlikely to feature in the rest of this four-day fixture meaning he will only have one fixture, against Sussex next week, to warm up for Lord's.

Coach Geoff Marsh said: "He's got a bit of a back problem which he got in his first over. I don't think he's likely to play much of a part in the rest of the game which is a big disappointment for us."

"He's done quite a bit of bowling before we came to England so he doesn't really need the practice and we'll be monitoring him over the next few days - he might wake up in the morning and everything's fine."

Ponting illness not yet identified by Australia

Doubts still surrounded the flu-like infection that struck down Australia vice-captain Ricky Ponting and forced him to miss the fourth and final test against West Indies at the close of the first day's play on Friday.

Team physio Errol Alcott said Ponting, who made a century in each of the first three tests against West Indies, had visited local doctors and been put on antibiotics, but that the illness had not been identified.

"We're not quite sure what Ricky has got," Alcott told reporters. "He's had headaches, fever, joint aches, sweating and he's lost his appetite. I think we'll have to call it a flu-like medical condition.

"He probably picked up a bug somewhere in Barbados."

Alcott added that Ponting's temperature had dropped in the last 24 hours and that he was showing signs of improvement.

Ponting had spent five days in bed suffering from flu-like symptoms and his place in the team was taken by Martin Love, who makes his third test appearance and his first of the series.

Australia, 3-0 up and attempting to hand West Indies their first series whitewash at home, were bowled out for 240 in their first innings on Friday.

In reply, West Indies were 47 for two at the close.

Lawson says 3rd Test hat-trick set up career-best haul

Jermaine Lawson said his hat-trick in the third Cable & Wireless Test in Barbados geared him up for his outstanding bowling performance against Australia on the first day of the fourth and final Test match at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) on Friday.

"Barbados helped my confidence a lot," Lawson told reporters during the post-play press conference after capturing seven for 78 against the Australians.

"Coming here and seeing a bit of grass, I said `well something should be in the wicket for me'. I went out there and put the ball in the right spot," Lawson said after registering the best ever bowling figures at the ARG in only his seventh Test.

The 21-year-old Jamaican almost single-handedly dismissed the Australians for 240.

He was particularly devastating in his second spell grabbing four for 15 in four overs after taking the first three wickets.

"I just told myself we were at the tail and I just ran in and produced."

When told that his performance was the best at the ARG, Lawson responded: "I'm feeling good about it."

He is now encouraging the batsmen to go and emulate him.

"I just hope the batsmen go out there and do their best tomorrow so that at end of the day we can come out victorious," said Lawson, whose effort topped his previous career-best six for three against Bangladesh  in Dhaka last December.

Lawson was quizzed about his bowling action, which some observers believe is suspect, but he said no one has spoken to him about.

He singled out ex-West Indies great fast bowler Courtney Walsh, the world recorder, and his coaches in Jamaica for his progression to date.