Kapil Dev asks ICC to take the cue from smart Modi

Former Indian captain Kapil Dev sprang a surprise by sportingly appreciating Lalit Modi, the chairman and commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) yesterday.

It was Modi, through the IPL that virtually caused Kapil's Indian Cricket League (ICL) to die a slow death in India. The legendary allrounder, who is here for the Laureus World Sports Award, said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should learn from the success of IPL.

Success

"Modi has come out and promoted the game so beautifully and made it successful. The ICC should similarly put their time into it and try and market Test and One-day cricket in the right manner," said Kapil.

"He [Modi] is one who took the step and gone ahead before anybody could. He is a private businessman and he has done it beautifully than anyone could imagine. We never thought 15 years back that somebody can take cricket to this level. He has not only taken cricket to a different level but also the cricketers to a level that the players can be proud happy and say look we can make a better life out of this. So authorities should learn from Modi and his group," Kapil said.

Want my son to bat like Sachin: Brian Lara

When you are talking of Sachin Tendulkar almost any parent whose son plays India's most popular game would say they would hope their son would bat like Sachin Tendulkar and guess what, an ace cricketer like Brian Lara hopes for the same if he had a son!!

"We've sat on many occasions. We've been on tour together, played on the same team on some occasion, against each other, been out in India with him, he's been out in the Caribbean with me. We speak a lot about cricket and about batting techniques. And I think we have a very quiet and discreet appreciation of each others talent. That is something well known around the world. And of course, we do feed on each other. In the past I have picked up many DVDs on Sachin and looked at the way Sachin bats and his composure. And if I had a son, I would definitely want to see him bat like Sachin", says the West Indian cricketer Brian Lara.

Congratulating batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar for becoming the first person to hit a double hundred in one day internationals, West Indies cricket great Brian Lara said on Thursday that he would be happy if the Indian went on to surpass his score of unbeaten 400 in Test cricket.

"The feat is an outstanding achievement. He is the first person to score a double hundred in ODIs. Sachin still has the strength, character, and physical fitness to achieve the feat," Lara told reporters.

"I'd be happy if Sachin breaks my record of 400 not out in Test cricket," said the stylish southpaw, who scored 400 not out against England in 2004 in Antigua.

Sachin has been playing cricket since the tender age of 16 years. Still he retains the same enthusiasm and energy, he added.

Lara said that Sachin's feat faced a threat from the current generation of cricketers.

"Records are meant to be broken and there are many young talented cricketers who are capable of breaking this record," he said.

Many cricketers like Ponting, Sehwag and Gayle are all capable of breaking the record, he said.

Commenting on Sachin's comparison with cricket legend Sir Don Bradman, Lara said such comparisons were unnecessary.

"Its an unnecessary comparison of players of different eras. One needs to appreciate a player's performance rather that comparing," he added.

Lara said that Sachin had the capability to do well in the 2011 ODI World Cup to be held in the Indian sub-continent.

Asked whether he would like to make a comeback through the IPL, Lara replied in the negative.

"I haven't played cricket in the last two-three years and I don't intend to play cricket now."

Sourav Ganguly turns 37 today

Sourav Ganguly turns 37 today. Sourav Ganguly, a household name in India, was born on 8th July,1973 in Calcutta( now known as Kolkata). He was second of the two sons born to Chandidas and Nirupa Ganguly. He has been blessed with a luxurious lifestyle right from his childhood being son of a printing baron of Asia with palatial house of more than 45 rooms all well decorated in affluence. Nicked named as “Maharaja” by his parents, he has been carrying the airs of his nick name which means a prince.

His elder brother Snehashish Ganguly is five years older to him and played first class cricket for their State of Bengal. Snehashish had a big influence on the little Maharaja. It is said that Sourav who is a natural right hander had to practice as a left hander just to use his left handed brother’s cricketing equipments. Sourav’s mother never wanted to risk him playing cricket. It is only brother Snehashish who laid the foundation of Sourav as a cricketer.

This gifted cricketer had the luxury of having a concrete pitch laid at their home in Behela. The two brothers started their cricketing journey with rigorous practice sessions at home. The elder was the mentor of the little kid. Sourav’s batting talent was first noticed in an under-15 match against Orissa where he scored a century. Probably that innings made him the St. Xavier’s School team captain. But the little kid had the arrogance to the dissatisfaction of his teammates.

A little arrogance could not stop this born leader to climb up the cricketing ladders. He entered the Ranji Trophy arena in the year 1990-91 and became a prolific run getter. As a matter of fact, he replaced his brother Snehashish in the Bengal Ranji Trophy team. As if the elder said carry on my brother and the destiny will take you where you belong. He got the first opportunity to play for India in an ODI at Brisbane against West Indies in 1992. He could not impress in that match and only scored 3 runs. His arrogance again came in to play. He was talked about more for his wrong attitude and disrespect as the little cricketer use to refuse carrying drinks on the field for his seniors. He managed only to get the sacking order perhaps more due to his inherent arrogance.

Thus he was asked to go back to the domestic cricket again. But his determination backed by his talent was enough to dumbfound his critics. He became hungrier for runs and scored heavily in the Ranji Trophy in 1993-94 and 1994-95. His scintillating innings of 171 runs in a Dulip Trophy match in 1995-96 brought him back in to the national squad. He was in again for the tour of England in 1996. He was not considered worthy for the first test match. This time Navjot Sidhu did him a favor. Sidhu’s returning back to India aftermath a spat with the then Indian Skipper Mahammed Azharuddin provided a golden opportunity to Sourav. And he embraced the opportunity in both hands. He scored a century on his debut test match at the Mecca of cricket called Lords. His hunger did not stop there. He scored back to back century at Trent Bridge in the next test match. Can anybody criticize such performances?

Sourav Ganguly’s ascendancy was unstoppable. He became part and parcel of the Indian team. His natural ability on the off side and his lifts coming out of the crease for a sixer became spectators delight. His style of play suited the most in the ODI format. Sourav did not take much time in proving his worth in the ODIs and scored a blistering 113 runs against Sri Lanka in 1997. He found an able partner on the opposite side of the wicket in Sachin Tendulkar thus formed the most destructive opening pair in ODIs the game has witnessed.

Sachin Tendulkar’s sudden announcement to relinquish the captaincy made Sourav to take over the reins in 2000. This happened just after the infamous match fixing scandal. This little arrogant but tough, intuitive and uncompromising leader was destined to take India in to the cricketing glory. His impartial and non-parochial leadership got the best out of each and every player in his team. Sourav is undoubtedly the most successful Indian captain winning 21 test matches out of which 7 have been overseas. He has a success rate of 42% much to the envy of others. He is an eloquent speaker and his match summary to the media has been to the point of precision.

But the little arrogance……yes…..the little arrogance has put him in to trouble time and again. The humble and simple demeanor of Sachin Tendulkar makes him the most lovable cricketer in the country. He only managed to pick up a row with Coach Greg Chappell in early 2006 for his arrogance. But he came back all guns blazing in the test series against South Africa later that year. What can be the reason for Dilip Vengsarkar & Co to drop him for the Irani Trophy when the same player has amassed 1000 runs last year at an average of 61.44? When everybody failed in the Sri Lanka, he failed too. The so called Fab Four all failed.

Off late, I see a democratic BCCI backed by an impartial Selection panel. Who knows Kris Srikkanth’s team of selectors have overruled Vengsarkar’s for a better cause of Indian cricket. Let’s hope this left handed rooky will come out with some fascinating stroke play against the awesome Aussies in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He has done this in the past on getting every shock treatment.

Dhoni's honeymoon period is over: Steve Waugh

Legendary Australian captain Steve Waugh rates Mahendra Singh Dhoni as a fantastic leader but feels the Indian skipper's "honeymoon period" is over and he is in dire need of a break.

"It seems Dhoni's honeymoon period is over. He should take some days' break now," Waugh said today.

Dhoni, who led India to unprecedented glory in a short span of around two years, failed to impress in the Twenty20 World Cup in England as the team was ousted after failing to win a single Super Eight match.

Asked who was a better captain -- Sourav Ganguly or Dhoni, Waugh though tried to evade the question but ended up saying "Dhoni is a fantastic captain".

Waugh, however, felt much should not be read in the early exit of two top teams like India and Australia in the T20 World Cup.

"Twenty20 has got many more surprises due. You've got to be sharp and alert on that day. Anyone can lose in this format," he said at a press conference to launch the India chapter of the Steve Waugh Foundation Global.

Waugh, regarded as one of the most successful captains in cricket history, admitted that Australia's aura of invincibility was over but felt it was a good sign for the game.

Tendulkar was greater than even Don Bradman: Hadlee

Sachin Tendulkar may not boast a Bradmanesque average but his ability to adjust to all formats of the game makes him the greatest batsman ever, legendary New Zealand all-rounder Richard Hadlee said here on Friday. Hadlee, who was inducted into the International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame, was in absolute awe of the Indian run-machine and said he had no doubt that he was the greatest batsman ever to grace the game.

"I played against Sachin on his tour here in 1990 when he got that 80 or 90-odd at the McLean Park in Napier. You could see then as a youngster he was a player of immense ability and talent.
"We didn't see at that time and you cannot visualise 20 years down the track what the player is likely to do in the context of the history of the game. He clearly he has been phenomenal," said the 57-year-old, arguably one of the finest all-rounders of all time.

Justifying his high regard for the Indian, Hadlee said, "When you score as many runs as he has in Test and one-day cricket and score as many centuries and half centuries as he has done, it makes him arguably the greatest player ever in the history of the game. Statistics speak volumes of his contribution to Indian and world cricket. He is a phenomenal player."

Asked if it meant Tendulkar was greater than even Don Bradman, Hadlee said, "Well, Sir Donald Bradman has been regarded as the greatest player ever. He played just Test cricket. He hasn't played any other forms of the game. Clearly that is understandable.""But to see Sachin and other players actually adjust to different forms of the game and different conditions all around the world, even though the average is fractionally more than half of the Don's is in itself incredible. You got to respect it and write those performances," he explained.

Hadlee also felt comparisons should drive a player.

"At the end of the day it doesn't matter who are compared with. It is what you actually do yourself. I don't think anyone can dispute the contributions that Sachin and (Rahul) Dravid have made. The contributions of these players have made to Indian cricket are outstanding."

Matthew Hayden is a sore loser?

Pace legend Wasim Akram has called Matthew Hayden and Team Australia "sore losers" for terming India a "third-world country" and said the Aussies always get personal when they lose.

"The thing about the Aussies is that they are sore losers. They get personal when they get beaten. It is all a matter of sour grapes and after going home, they’ve started calling India a third-world country.

"India is a superpower now; it is a hundred years ahead of Australia, which is no more than a village, as compared to India. You don’t blame sightscreens for poor overrates. Even Allan Border was critical of Australian tactics on the pitch," Akram told Mobile ESPN from Karachi.

Hayden, who had a below par run in the recently concluded four-Test series, Thursday termed India a "third-world country" where people around the sightscreen led to delays resulting in slow over rates.

The BCCI has also reacted strongly to his comment saying it was "completely uncalled for".

"If slow-over rate is your habit, why blame India for that and call India third world? We are a very prestigious nation and it was not a nice comment by him," BCCI Finance Committee Chairman Rajiv Shukla said.

Steve Waugh joins list of Ponting critics

Steve Waugh, the man who Ricky Ponting succeeded as Australia's Test captain, has said Ponting made a mistake by using part-time bowlers instead of his main strikers on the fourth day in Nagpur. Ponting has been widely criticised for the choices he made after tea on Saturday, when a quick string of wickets could have given Australia a realistic chance of victory.

But Ponting was concerned about Australia's dismal over rate and rather than handing the ball to his fast men, he went for the part-time slow offerings of Michael Clarke, Cameron White and Michael Hussey, with the frontline spinner Jason Krejza at the other end. India built a sizeable lead and went on to win the match and the series.

"I am sure Ricky would regret the decision," Waugh told the Herald Sun. "Winning the Test match is what mattered. You have just spent six weeks in the subcontinent. You just don't take your foot off the gas."

After the match Ponting was fined because Australia were behind on their overs but they had hustled enough for him to avoid a possible suspension for the first Test against New Zealand next week. But Waugh had some sympathy for Ponting and said everyone involved in Test cricket needed to keep the game moving quickly.

"There are far too many stoppages," he said. "I remember when I played it was considered a badge of honour not to have a drink in a session [apart from the scheduled drinks break]. And no one died from dehydration. These days there are far too many drinks breaks. It's ridiculous. But it is just not the captain's fault. It is up to coaches, referees and umpires to keep the show moving."

James Sutherland, the chief executive of Cricket Australia, has voiced his concerns about slow over rates and he will take the matter up with the ICC. But for now, Ponting is the man under fire after Australia handed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy back to India.

Australia's former captain Allan Border was commentating on television during Saturday's post-tea session and, despite usually being very restrained in his commentary, he could not hide his frustration at Ponting's decisions. Another ex-captain, Ian Chappell, also queried Ponting's tactics but said he remained the best man to lead Australia.

Ponting was publicly backed by his coach Tim Nielsen, who said after play on the fourth day that he felt Australia had still pushed for a win. Stuart MacGill, the retired legspinner, wished Australia had "gone for the jugular" but he said Nielsen's comments proved Ponting was not entirely to blame.

"It's not the captain's fault and this was clearly a decision at the weekend made by four or five people," MacGill said. "That became obvious when the coach backed his captain and there were a number of people who would have made the decision."

Ian Chappell calls for cricket law change

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell on Sunday called for a revision of the laws of cricket to prevent a repeat of the soporific tally of 166 runs on day three of the final Test between India and Australia.

Chappell said the dreadful spectacle, watched by only a handful of spectators at Nagpur's newly-built Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, had to be addressed by the game's lawmakers as Test cricket fights for relevance in a world turned upside down by Twenty20.

Having been stunned by an Australian counter-attack on the second afternoon, Indian captain Mahendra Dhoni resolved to strangle the tourists' scoring on the third morning, setting fields where only one man roamed the legside while his bowlers pursued a line well wide of the off stump.

In response, Simon Katich and Mike Hussey chose to "wade it out" and try to attack later in the day, resulting in a first session where just 42 runs were scored.

Neither Katich nor Hussey were able to survive long enough to fulfill their objective, and the hole dug in the morning could not be avoided by the incoming batsmen, meaning three wickets fell for 49 in the post-lunch session and the match tilted firmly to India.

The 166-run total for the day was the 12th smallest achieved in a full day of Test cricket.

"It is not the sort of cricket I like to see," Chappell told website Cricinfo.

"Administrators have got to think about suggesting that perhaps no more than two-thirds of the fielders can be on one side of the wicket.

"It really isn't a lot of fun watching the bowlers bowling well wide of the stumps and batsmen putting their bats on their shoulders."

Chappell said that while such tactics were allowed to be employed, captains would invariably go back to them whenever it was expedient to do so.

Australia, too, have worked to an essentially defensive battle plan all series, placing men on the ropes to limit the flow of boundaries while also eschewing the conventional slips cordon for catchers and run-savers in front of the wicket.

Their strategy has been heavily criticised by the Indian team, and in truth never worked anywhere near as well as Dhoni's choker hold on Saturday.

"India dominated the day's play and it was really up to the Australians to get moving," Chappell said.

"India employed tactics that probably don't make for good viewing but I guess Dhoni will say 'at the end of the day, we're leading by 86 runs and I don't care what you think of my tactics'."

Katich was clearly steamed up about the issue, rebuking a local journalist for asking why he and Hussey had gone into their shells during the morning.

"You're kidding, aren't you?" Katich remarked.

"We were defensive with an 8-1 field?"

Indian quick Ishant Sharma bowled with tremendous discipline to follow Dhoni's plan, and said it had been satisfying to bore the Australians out.

"We had to wait for our chances," he said.

"We tried to attack but went for a few runs. So our plan was to be defensive, because this was the only way we could have come back in the game.

"They are an attacking team and they tried to attack but just couldn't. It feels great when you restrict the No.1 side in the world to 166 runs in an entire day."

Shane Warne puts to bed comeback

Shane Warne says embattled Australia will bounce back in the Test series in India, and there's no need for him to come out of retirement.

The Australian great, who played his last Test in January 2007, says he's confident Ricky Ponting's side will make amends for their 320-run defeat in the second test at Mohali.

It was a struggle for the Australian bowlers, reviving speculation that Warne might consider making a comeback.

But, speaking at the MCG on Monday, Warne said he was confident his former teammates could still salvage something from the four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

"I think Australia will bounce back, I think that really hurt them, that last Test match, and I'm sure they'll fight back in the Aussie way," he said.

The senior players, led by Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and hopefully Matthew Hayden, would start getting more runs, said Warne.

Those three senior players, he said, would stand up.

"Hopefully they win the toss and put some big runs on the board," said Warne.

"I think it's been a fantastic series so far and I'm sure the Aussies will fight back.

"But as far as I'm concerned, I am very happily retired."

Warne on Monday launched a new exhibition at the National Sports Museum which focuses on his career, and also his latest book, a list of the 100 best cricketers he played either with or against.

The third Test starts in Dehli on Wednesday.

Gilly just being silly

There are only two Adam Gilchrists. The one who masquerades as the caretaker of all cricketing principles, and the one we recognise as being just as underhand and opportunistic as the next player.

You never know which one you'll hear from next, these days. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde had nothing on this bloke.

It was the latter who erupted into print last week, not only questioning the honesty and integrity of Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar, but also suggesting that Australian cricketers demonstrated far better sportsmanship than their Indian counterparts.

Why? Because the 'straines knew how to shake hands after on-field dramas and leave any ill-feeling behind.

He was being serious, by all accounts; not a hint of tongue-in-cheek or self-deprecating humour in sight. I know: an Australian not only acknowledging the existence of the spirit of the game, but accusing the opposition of not playing within it.

The fascinating allegations are made in Gilchrist's autobiography True Colours, serialised in newspapers this weekend, reportedly sparked by last summer's acrimonious series between Australia and India, during which Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh clashed at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

This was the Monkeygate affair in which Harbhajan was initially banned for three tests and then cleared on appeal, to the horror of the home side.

Gilly, The Batsman Who Always Walked, generously lays the entire blame for the controversy at the foot of Anil Kumble's tourists, and an Indian predilection towards being sore losers.

"In the Australian mentality, we play it hard and are then quick to shake hands and leave it all on the field," he says. "Some of our opponents don't do it that way.

Sachin Tendulkar, for instance, can be hard to find for a changing room handshake after we have beaten India. Harbhajan can also be hard to find."

Gilchrist also questioned Tendulkar's motive for changing his story about what he overheard during Symonds' exchange with Harbhajan, virtually accusing the batting ace of fabricating his evidence.

"The Indians got him off the hook when they, of all people, should have been treating the matter of racial vilification with the utmost seriousness."

The Indians "of all people"? Do Indians have to put up with more racial vilification than other ethnic groups?

Or is Gilchrist just saying they have to in Australia?

Whatever the case, book previews make no mention of the resulting disciplinary hearing, when Justice John Hansen effectively said that even if Harbhajan had called Symonds a monkey, it wouldn't have been out of order given the level of abuse he'd initially been subjected to: "Even if he had used the words alleged, an ordinary person standing in the shoes of Mr Symonds, who had launched an unprovoked and unnecessary invective-laden attack, would not be offended or insulted or humiliated ..."

Gilchrist, who despite walking never recognised anything inconsistent in supporting his team-mates' fraudulent appealing for wickets, could see little wrong with the conduct of any Australian player.

The visiting team's management acted "disgracefully", apparently; the International Cricket Council and Cricket Australia had "caved in", and the successful appeal against Harbhajan's initial ban had been "a joke".

But not a word of criticism for any of his mates, not even serial-offender and arch-stirrer Symonds, his barney-baiting best friend, Matthew Hayden, or the inflammatory manner of skipper Ricky Ponting.

In his recent book, Daniel Vettori described the trio as "the three most overtly aggressive players in world cricket", but only after dramatically toning down his language.

I doubt he's alone with this judgement. Hayden will not be remembered fondly outside Aussie, Symonds' reputation is in tatters and Ponting's captaincy has been as dull as his temperament has been unsavoury.

Add Michael Clarke, who was virtually dismissed as an unreliable witness during last summer's disciplinary hearing, and it's difficult to accept Gilchrist's claim that the Australians were innocent onlookers.

Sydney-based writer Mike Coward once authored a book that examined the lack of cultural understanding many of his compatriots had of the Indian belief and value system, and vice-versa.

From the sounds of Gilchrist's bleating, he could do worse than have a skim through it.

Although if he genuinely believes that all cricketers should genuflect to the Australian culture, leave all controversies on the field and simply shake hands afterwards, he's probably beyond help.

Hypocrisy? The Australians had it in for Harbhajan, for a start.

They didn't leave that on the field. Neither did they hold their tongues when the New Zealanders had a bust-up with Brad Haddin for running on the pitch during the third Chappell-Hadlee one-dayer last summer.

Ponting immediately spilled his guts to the local media, resulting in a blow-by-blow account of the incident in the following morning's newspapers. And when Gilchrist had a set-to with Craig McMillan over an umpiring decision at the Gabba in 2004, the Aussie gloveman didn't hesitate to publicly defend himself.

And just on that, why should the worst excesses be left on the field.

To protect who, exactly? I can't be sure, but I'd be surprised if Glenn Turner was available for a friendly chat with Ian Chappell after the historic 1974 test at Lancaster Park, during which the New Zealand opening batsman was subjected to a reportedly abusive tirade from the Australian captain, which may or may not have included comments about his wife.

And I wonder what Mathew Sinclair must think of some of his former New Zealand team-mates, particularly the most senior members who sledged him in a similarly nauseating manner during early provincial games.

From what we've seen, one version of Gilchrist would doubtless condemn such behaviour as being unacceptable, and in complete contravention of the spirit of the game.

Unless, of course, it was perpetrated by Australians. In that case, the other Gilly would probably egg on his team-mates.

Sunil Gavaskar takes ICC to task over Zaheer Khan fine

While much of India is still basking in the heavy defeat of Australia in Mohali on Tuesday, Sunil Gavaskar complained yesterday that Zaheer Khan, the fast bowler, had been picked on by the match referee.

After Chris Broad fined Zaheer 80 per cent of his match fee for an outburst against Matthew Hayden, the Australia opening batsman, Gavaskar suggested that the referee was being inconsistent by not also punishing certain Australians. “Let's not mince words here,” the former India captain said. “Every time, it is always an Indian or a sub-continent player who gets hauled up, never the Australians.

“There were a lot of incidents in the match. Do you remember Virender Sehwag was given not out when everybody appealed and Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, came from extra cover towards the umpire and kept on appealing? If that had been an Indian, the match referee would have taken him to task. The ICC needs to get its act together.”

Shaun Marsh, the Western Australia opening batsman and one of the leading players in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL), has been called up by Australia to replace Phil Jaques, who has returned home with a back injury. Marsh, the son of the former Test opener, Geoff, said that it was “a dream come true”. The third Test of the four-match series starts on Wednesday in Delhi.

V. V. S Laxman, the India batsman, will return to Lancashire next season once his commitments in the IPL are over. He spent a month with the county in 2007, scoring 380 runs in eight first-class innings, with two centuries.

Bangalore Royal Challengers, who finished seventh in the IPL this year, have appointed Ray Jennings, the former South Africa coach, as their new coach. Jennings will replace Martin Crowe, the former New Zealand captain, and will also work with the Karnataka state team.

Brian Lara tips Ponting as next record-holder

Brian Lara believes that Ricky Ponting can eventually take the Test run-scoring record from Sachin Tendulkar, who overtook Lara's mark of 11,953 runs on Friday. Lara said there was no better person he could have passed the mantle on to than Tendulkar, who he said had been "a great for so many years".

Lara held the world record for nearly three years, having passed Allan Border's milestone in Adelaide in November 2005. Tendulkar is nearly two years older than Ponting and has a lead of almost 2000 runs on him, but Lara expects Ponting to be the next man to top the Test tally.

"I would think that he [Ponting] still has 30 or 40 Tests matches [left] under his belt," Lara said while visiting Australia this week. "He has already gone past 10,000 runs, so it is one of those records that if you play long enough and you score runs consistently, you are capable of doing it."

Tendulkar, 35, overhauled Lara's total during the second Test against Australia in Mohali. Lara knew his record would not stand forever and he said he was pleased that it was Tendulkar who succeeded him as the greatest run scorer.

"[There is] no better individual or batsman in the world that could go past you, or maybe you can pass the mark on to, than Sachin Tendulkar," Lara said. "He has been a great for so many years and is someone who is deserving of such a record. So I just want to wish him the best.

"To have held it for a couple of years is good. [I have] a couple more records in the bag so I've still got a few to hold on to. But it's a feeling that I've had my opportunity. To get there first of all and to achieve it and hold that mark for a period of time is great in itself. There was no sadness at all."

No threat to Australia’s supremacy: Michael Bevan

Former Australia batsman Michael Bevan has said there is no threat to Australia’s supremacy, in spite of having not having experienced personnel in its ranks, thanks mainly to its competitive bench strength.

Bevan, who is India these days on a coaching assignment with the Indian Cricket League (ICL), said though he was involved in coaching, he was closely following the Test series between India and Australia.

He said he expected India to run Australia close in the four-Test series, but expected Australia to come up on top.

“Perhaps, the present Australian side is not as strong as it was five years ago. They will face challenges from teams like India, England and South Africa but with the bench strength being competitive, Australia will remain the world champions, barring a few hiccups here and there,” he added.

The 38-year old also added that the likes of Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson could all fit into the ‘big names’ category, because they had consistently been delivering match winning performances.

“Keeping in mind the performances given by Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey and Mitchell Johnson over a period of time one can say that they are the future of Australian cricket and have the ability to fit into the ‘big names’ category,” he said.

Ponting will surpass Tendulkar: Chappell

Ricky Ponting's flamboyant maiden hundred on Indian soil led Greg Chappell to foretell that the Aussie skipper will eventually pass Sachin Tendulkar's record of maximum Test centuries.

Ponting's 123 on the opening day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Thursday took him to sixth on the list of all-time run scorers with 10,222 in 120 Tests, surpassing India's Sunil Gavaskar.

Still 1731 behind Brian Lara's world mark of 11,953 from 131 matches, Ponting's real contest will ultimately be with 35-year old Indian batting maestro.

Tendulkar went into this Test 77 runs away from Lara's record, but Chappell is adamant that 33-year-old Ponting will play long enough to pass Tendulkar.

"His record's going to stand the test of time. He's now got runs everywhere in style," Chappell, who is now Australia's batting coach, was quoted as saying in The Australian Saturday.

England need Michael Vaughan: Shane Warne

Shane Warne believes England still need Michael Vaughan to bat at number three because he has doubts over Ian Bell.

Vaughan, who stood down as England captain after the Test series defeat by South Africa, has been left out of the forthcoming tour to India.

He scored just 40 runs in three Tests against South Africa and then only 41 in four County Championship innings for Yorkshire after handing over the leadership reins to Kevin Pietersen.

But Warne remains convinced England will be a better side in next summer's Ashes series with Vaughan back in at the top of the order.

Warne said: "I remember him coming to Australia in 2002 and he played unbelievably - right up there with Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar in the way he played against us in our conditions.

"He is still the best number three that England have got. I have still got some doubts about Ian Bell and a couple of others.

"Michael Vaughan needs to be back in the side for England to have their best side on the field. England will be a stronger side with Michael Vaughan in it, that's for sure."

Warne is in London to promote his new book - Shane Warne's Century - in which he lists the top 100 players he competed with and against through his career.

Vaughan was named 54th and Warne rates him the best English captain he faced.

"He was a very good communicator, the way he gelled the troops, and he got the best out of some players," said Warne.

Warned named India's 'Little Master' Sachin Tendulkar at number one, ahead the West Indies' Brian Lara and Curtly Ambrose. The leading Englishman was Graham Gooch at 14.

"Tendulkar was the hardest player I found to bowl to," said Warne.

"Graham Gooch was the best English player I played against. He could enforce himself on the game, there was class about the way he played and he was a competitor."

Shane Warne intent on writing off his old enemy

Shane Warne may not be able to punch a hole in England’s middle order any more, not now that he has retired from international cricket, but he is still quite capable of tearing into English pretensions.

Hosting the launch of his new book, Shane Warne’s Century, in London, Warne was asked whether he thought Australia were good enough to win the Ashes here next summer. From his outraged expression, you might have imagined that he had just received a personal affront.

“Of course they are,” he retorted. “England have just won a dead rubber, and suddenly everybody is saying that they are going to win the Ashes.

“Yeah, it’s exciting for England, I suppose, to have won a dead rubber. But South Africa had won the series. And South Africa have only got a couple of decent batsmen in their side.

If England keep losing series and winning dead rubbers, Australia will wipe the floor with them. It will be 5-0 again, just like last time.”

Despite appearances, Warne is not as much of a stereotypical Pommie-basher as his old mucker Glenn McGrath. He gives credit where credit is due, as he showed with his gracious response to defeat in 2005. But like most great sportsmen, he is allergic to anyone who starts making grand predictions without the results to back it up.

“The last couple of months have been encouraging for England,” Warne continued, his lip now fully curled. “But I wouldn’t get my hopes up too high: it’s been encouraging rather than 'We’re going to win the Ashes’.

“Kevin Pietersen brings confidence to the captaincy, he’s the best batsman they’ve got, and I think the other players will follow him. If England can keep that momentum up now, win the next series and the next one after that, then I’m sure they will give Australia a real shake and it will be one hell of a contest. Hopefully something to match 2005. Otherwise I think Australia will thrash them, because Australia are a really good side.”

The perception around the globe –and most particularly in England – is that the world champions have come back to the pack a little since the international retirements of McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Warne. Yet it would be a mistake to write them off.

Take 2005: Ricky Ponting was under huge pressure when he returned from England as the first captain since Allan Border to lose the Ashes. He responded by sweeping the board in the so-called Super Series against an underperforming World XI. Since then, Australia’s record is extraordinary: 21 Test wins, three draws, and a single defeat in three years’ non-stop cricket.

“I don’t think Australia are in decline,” Warne said. “I think we’re getting stronger. Go through the batting: it’s Jaques or Katich for No 1, then Hayden, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke. The all-rounder is Shane Watson: international cricket hasn’t seen anything like the best of him yet. Brad Haddin is a very good wicketkeeper. Stuart Clark will never let you down. Brett Lee has just had the best year of his career. Maybe Mitchell Johnson hasn’t quite established himself yet, but he still bowls at over 90mph and gives you the left-arm variation.

“The one thing we need is a spinner to come on the scene, but then that’s true of international cricket in general. People are looking at some of the international sides and saying, 'Where have all the spinners gone?’”

England have a rare advantage in this department right now – an advantage that might have been better exploited if the England and Wales Cricket Board had scheduled a Test at Old Trafford next summer, the ground where Monty Panesar has taken 25 wickets at 17. Instead, the first Ashes Test will be played at Cardiff, an unknown quantity in international terms, but a venue that will probably favour seam.

Whatever the conditions, Warne believes England would be well advised to stick with experience when they pick their Ashes XI. And that means going back to a certain former captain. “I rate Michael Vaughan very highly,” he said. “To me, he is still the best No 3 England have got, because I still have doubts about Ian Bell. England would be a stronger team with Michael Vaughan in it – that’s for sure.”

Gilchrist to play for All-Stars against Australia XI

Adam Gilchrist will return to play cricket against Australia. The batsman will feature in a team of returning greats against a full-strength Australian XI in a Twenty20 All-Star clash at Brisbane next month.

Gilchrist will headline the Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) All-Stars against the Australian XI at the Gabba on Nov 14.

But Cricket Australia (CA) is tight-lipped on the rest of the line-up, saying the names would be revealed in the coming weeks. However, it's expected recently retired duo Glenn McGrath and Darren Lehmann, who is ACA president, will be in the team.

Gilchrist will return to the ground where he officially played his last game for Australia - a one-day finals loss to India in March.

Kapil Dev joins Territorial Army

Former Indian cricket captain and all-rounder Kapil Dev, was on Wednesday commissioned into the Territorial Army (TA) as an honorary lieutenant colonel.

Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor piped the badges of the rank on the shoulders of Dev, at a ceremony at the Army Headquarters here this afternoon. He was later felicitated at the Territorial Army headquarters mess in the evening in the presence of host of dignitaries who been members of the Territorial Army for years and achieved major milestones in other careers. They included Major (retired) Subir Saha, the former Chairman and Managing Director of the ONGC, and Brigadier K. P. Singh Deo, a former Cabinet Minister, besides others.

"This is my second innings. Earlier I fought for the country in my white uniform. Now, I will do the same in my olive green army uniform," Kapil said proudly.

Kapil, 50, was commissioned into the 150 TA (Infantry) battalion of the Punjab Regiment.

"I am proud I have been given this rank. It took six months for the things to materialise, with the file moving from the home ministry to the defence ministry," said Kapil, as his wife and daughter looked on.

Kapil will also be the brand ambassador of the Territorial Army and help train golfers of the army.

Territorial Army sources said that his induction would help in attracting talent as the army is facing a major officer crunch.

Bradman bat sells for $145,000

Sir Donald Bradman's first Test cricket bat will stay in Australia after fetching a record price at auction.

Arguably the most famous piece of willow in Australian cricket history, Bradman's bat was snapped up by an Australian bidder for $145,000 - $25,000 more than the upper pre-sale estimate for the auction in Melbourne.

It had been feared the bat - which was signed by the entire 1928-29 Australian team as well as the conquering English who won the series 4-1 - could have ended up overseas.

But a spokeswoman for Melbourne's Leski Auctions said the bat would remain on home soil after being bought by a private vendor.

"This is a record price for a cricket bat and there were several bidders, all of them within Australia, hoping to win the auction," the spokeswoman said.

Despite being in the hands of Australia's greatest-ever cricketer, the bat did not see much action in that first Test in Brisbane in 1928-29, as the "Don" scored just 18 and 1 in Australia's 675-run thrashing by England.

Bradman was dropped after his inauspicious debut, and later donated the bat to a competition run by The Sun newspaper in Sydney to help raise money to endow a Don Bradman Cot for the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children.

ICC action against Aussies for showing "double standards" : Inzamam

Former Pakistan cricket captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has demanded of the ICC to penalize the Aussies for first canceling a series in Pakistan in March and then getting the ICC Champions Trophy postponed this month citing "security reasons", but going ahead with the India tour beginning later this month despite last Saturday's serial blasts in New Delhi.

The ICC's inaction on the matter was "encouraging" other teams to violate tour commitments, the Dawn quoted Inzi as saying.

He said: "Australia has been the only country which has refused to tour Pakistan steadfastly. And I don't think this is going to change unless other cricket boards and the ICC do something about it."

Inzamam, who is currently with the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL), said the ICC's inaction is the only reason why Aussies have violated tour commitments in Pakistan. Another tour cancellation by an international side would spell doom for Pakistan cricket and it was important that the ICC backed his country in such a situation.

"I don't think Pakistan cricket can afford to have another tour postponed or cancelled on security grounds. It would be a big setback for our cricket," Inzamam said and added: "I don't think there is anything wrong with our security arrangements and in Pakistan people are passionate about good cricket and want teams to come and play."

Inzamam also blamed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not doing enough to stage the Champions Trophy at home. He said the PCB needed to be more firm and put its foot down against postponement of the mega event. "Being apologetic for our cricket and security wont help, we need to stop it," he added.