Warne wants Lehmann as Australia's coach

	Shane Warne has weighed in to Australia's coaching debate, promoting his former team-mate Darren Lehmann © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links News : Clarke to play role in selecting coach Players/Officials: Darren Lehmann | Shane Warne Teams: Australia

Shane Warne believes Darren Lehmann would be the perfect coach for Australia as the search continues for Tim Nielsen's replacement. Lehmann is in his first year as Queensland's mentor but Warne believes his old-school approach would be perfect for either the vacant head coach role or a position on the selection panel.

"I think Darren Lehmann is absolutely outstanding - as a coach or in some senior role involved in the team or as a selector," Warne told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday. "I think he's got a really good understanding of the young guys, he's got a great understanding of old school and what's required to perform.

"[There's] old-school '70s and '80s - sit down and don't say a word and let the experienced people talk - to the new way where you play one game you think you've played a hundred and you're part of the furniture. Somewhere in the middle is about the right way."

Warne was famously critical of John Buchanan during his team at the helm of Australia's side, believing that Buchanan complicated things unnecessarily. Warne once said that international teams should not have coaches, but rather team managers to act as a facilitator for the captain, and he believes "old-school toughness" is a key requirement for whoever gets the job.

"That hard work, get in the nets and train hard for two hours, forget the ice baths, physios, calories, stretching," he said. "All those sort of things, which are important in modern-day sport, and you should have them, they have a place - [but] I just think you need someone with old-school thoughts - a bit of hard work, a bit of the new stuff and mix and match.

"It doesn't matter how many computers you want to look at, pie charts or all those rubbish things, you have to physically do it. Whoever they appoint, hopefully it's someone like a Darren Lehmann if it's not a Darren Lehmann."

Cricket Australia has started a global search for the new head coach, who will also have responsibility for directing the coaching strategy down through the states. Steve Rixon, the Australian team's fielding coach, is considered one of the front-runners due to his strong relationship with the captain Michael Clarke.

Ashraful says he wasn't given a fair chance

	Mohammad Ashraful has been in woeful form in ODIs © Associated Press Enlarge
Related Links News : Ashraful must perform to play - Law Players/Officials: Mohammad Ashraful Series/Tournaments: West Indies tour of Bangladesh Teams: Bangladesh

Mohammad Ashraful, who was dropped for the two Tests against West Indies, has said he has not been given a fair chance by the Bangladesh selectors. Ashraful said chief selector Akram Khan had told him that he would sit out the second and third ODIs against West Indies, but would return for the Tests. Ashraful ended up playing the second one-dayer, but was dropped for the third.

"Akrambhai told me ahead of the second ODI that I should sit out the next two and play in the Test," he was quoted as saying in the Daily Star. "I told him that I want to play the remaining games and earn my way into the Test side. How can there be a guarantee in cricket? I wanted to play out the ODI series and take it from there."

Khan, though, said he had not made any promises and whatever he said to Ashraful had simply been encouragement. "I don't know what Ashraful has said but I talk to players all the time and I say a lot of things to encourage them," he said. "These issues get ignored when they do well but not so when things are not right."

Ashraful scored a patient 73 in Bangladesh's last Test, against Zimbabwe in August, but had not scored a half-century in 16 Test innings before that. His form in ODIs has been woeful: his last ODI half-century was in January 2010, since then he has averaged 10.11 in 18 one-day innings with a highest score of 31. He defended that record saying he had not been given an extended run and his form had suffered from being in and out of the side.

"I know I haven't scored a half-century in 18 games," he said. "Players have careers that don't last that long but I have played those matches intermittently, where I would get dropped after one or two matches. I never got a full stretch. Here too [in the ODIs against West Indies] I was going to be dropped after the first game, which has happened often in the past."

Akram Khan also rubbished rumours that Ashraful's exclusion had been due to pressure from higher-ups in the Bangladesh Cricket Board. "This is absolute rubbish," Akram said. "He was omitted only on account of his ordinary performance. If we had acted upon pressure or sentiments from different quarters, then he would not have been in the one-day team.

"We were not getting what was expected from Ashraful. He bats at No. 3 but he wasn't contributing in several ways so we want to go with the other option, Shahriar Nafees."

Bangladesh's coach Stuart Law had reacted to the decision by saying it was a necessary one to send players the message that they needed to perform consistently to be picked, though he said Ashraful's career was not over.

Gayle to be considered if he retracts statements

Chris Gayle played some devastating innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore through the IPL and Champions League T20 © Associated Press Enlarge

Related Links News : Gayle meets board chief but future remains unclear News : Government to intervene in Gayle-WICB standoff News : Gayle antagonistic and unrepentant - WICB News : Gayle to 'explore opportunities' but won't quit News : The Chris Gayle statement News : Gayle ready to apologise if claims were excessive News : Gayle's future in doubt after heated meeting Players/Officials: Chris Gayle Teams: West Indies

Chris Gayle will only be considered for selection for West Indies if he retracts statements he has made about the West Indies board and its officers, the WICB has said in a statement. The board will appoint a facilitator to assist Gayle in complying with their requirements. The decision comes after the last meeting between Gayle and WICB chief Ernest Hilaire, on August 25, had more positive results then previous interactions between the parties.

Relations between Gayle and the board had broken down after he gave an interview in April to a radio station during which he was scathing about both the board and coach Ottis Gibson. After attempts at reconciliation failed, and Gayle was left out of the squad for the whole of the home series against India, he released a long and emotional public statement, in which he traced the evolution of the dispute back to 2009, when, he said, Hilaire had cast doubts on his ability to captain the team.

The board has now said it recognises that Gayle can "contribute meaningfully" to the West Indies team, but will only select him if he withdraws his criticisms. The WICB said they had told Gayle of their decision and were waiting for his response.

Clive Lloyd, the former West Indies captain and now WICB director, said it was important to get a senior player like Gayle back in the West Indies setup and that it would be wise for Gayle to comply with the board's requirements.

"First of all it is disappointing that the matter has gone on for as long as it has," Lloyd said in the board statement. "What we need now is closure and, to be fair, anyone of whom those comments were made would have a right to take umbrage.

'Withdrawing the comments would be the intelligent thing to do to get the issue resolved and have everyone move on. We need senior players to be in the setup to drive the progress forward and any team would love to entertain Gayle, but under the right circumstances."

Gayle has not played for West Indies since the 2011 World Cup. Since then, he has been an integral part of Royal Challengers Bangalore's squad in their IPL and Champions League Twenty20 campaigns, finishing as the leading run-getter in the IPL.

His saga with the board had escalated to a level where the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of government had become involved. West Indies are currently touring Bangladesh, after which they will go to India to play three Tests and five ODIs.

Debutants Nicol and Bracewell give NZ 1-0 lead

New Zealand 232 for 1 (Nicol 108*, Guptill 74) beat Zimbabwe 231 for 6 (Taylor 128*, Mutizwa 69, Bracewell 3-55) by nine wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	Rob Nicol became the seventh batsman to hit a century on ODI debut © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Matches: Zimbabwe v New Zealand at Harare Series/Tournaments: New Zealand tour of Zimbabwe Teams: New Zealand | Zimbabwe

New Zealand's debutants - Rob Nicol and Doug Bracewell - played starring roles in a nine-wicket steamrolling of Zimbabwe that gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the ODI series. Nicol hit a fluent century and his opening stand of 153 with Martin Guptill made short work of Zimbabwe's inadequate 231 for 6.

That Zimbabwe even got that far was down to a stirring rearguard led by their captain Brendan Taylor, whose unbeaten 128 lifted them from the shambles of 21 for 4 in 11 overs. Zimbabwe's bowling woes, however, continued unabated as they allowed New Zealand to take their tour tally to a prolific 546 for 4 off 75 overs, one of those rare breakthroughs coming courtesy a run-out.

Faced with a middling target and a tame attack, Guptill and Nicol wasted no time in putting the nature of the pitch into perspective. Zimbabwe's easy lengths, delivered at amiable pace, sat up nicely for Guptill to launch the chase with a raft of drives. He repeatedly moved into line to punch Kyle Jarvis and Chris Mpofu through the off side. Nicol, fresh from a century for the Mashonaland Eagles in the domestic Pro50 Championship, backed up Guptill with a series of leg-side fours as New Zealand rolled past 50 in six overs.

The introduction of Ray Price slowed down the scoring a touch, before it was more a case of the batsmen pacing themselves. Elton Chigumbura troubled Nicol briefly with a couple of spirited legcutters but, almost on cue, the bowling Powerplay was taken in the 16th over and released the pressure. Jarvis was reintroduced, and Guptill resumed his belligerence over the off side, while Nicol kept turning the strike over.

Zimbabwe were going through the motions by the time Guptill deposited Prosper Utseya over midwicket in the 26th over. Guptill's expression when he holed out for 74 suggested the agony of a batsman who had let go a hundred that was there for the taking. But Nicol persevered to become the seventh batsman to hit a century on ODI debut, a list that includes Guptill's name. An early batting batting Powerplay and the presence of the in-form Brendon McCullum at the crease meant New Zealand were home with plenty to spare.

Despite their toothless bowling, Zimbabwe lost the game in the first quarter of their innings. Broad shouldered and tattooed, with muscular arms, Bracewell strode in with a streamlined open-chested action and hit perfect lengths from the outset. He dislodged Vusi Sibanda and Chamu Chibhabha with exemplary away seamers, but the wicket that stood out was Hamilton Masakadza's.

Bracewell worked him over with a string of ten dot balls consisting largely of length deliveries that landed on the seam, interspersed with a pacy yorker and a well-directed short ball. The eleventh was full, Masakadza's eyes lit up as he lurched forward to drive, and the ball grazed the inside edge to uproot middle stump. Tatenda Taibu was then consumed by Kane Williamson's acrobatics at cover, as Zimbabwe stumbled out of control.

Though crease-occupation was their prime objective, Mutizwa and Taylor managed to pump adrenaline into the innings from the outset. They were cautious initially, and release came in rare spurts, predominantly against Andy McKay. Taylor cracked him square and carved him through the covers, while Mutizwa slammed him over midwicket.

Defence, misses and singles remained standard fare until the introduction of spin eased the pressure. Taylor and Mutizwa handled the offspin duo of Nicol and Nathan McCullum with relative ease to chug past their 50-run stand. The pressure began to show on New Zealand, with Nathan McCullum spilling a return chance and McKay parrying Taylor over the long-off boundary for the first six.

Taylor celebrated the miss by clattering McCullum for six more as Zimbabwe ushered in the batting Powerplay on the ascendancy. Taylor and Mutizwa pulled off a series of audacious laps over fine-leg to take 32 off the five-over block, which meant momentum was coursing through the Zimbabwe innings when the slog overs commenced. Though Mutizwa fell in the 42nd, Taylor was primed for assault.

He remained subdued until he reached his 100 in the 47th over, but exploded in Bracewell's final over. Bracewell served Taylor a full toss, a slow length ball and a short delivery, all of which were gleefully deposited into the leg-side stands. One debutant had endured a ragged finish to his day, but another was about to more than make up for it.

Innings Dot balls 4s 6s PP1 PP2 PP3 Last 10 overs NB/Wides Zimbabwe 166 13 6 19-3 20-0 32-0 73-2 0/1 New Zealand 135 19 3 62-0 22-0 38-0 14-1 2/7

Got a lot of years left in me - Johnson

Mitchell Johnson on his dealing with his slump in form on the Sri Lanka tour and what lies ahead as he nears his 30th birthday

	Mitchell Johnson: "I am happy with the way I am bowling." © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Mitchell Johnson Series/Tournaments: Australia tour of South Africa Teams: Australia

For about eight minutes on December 10, 2005, time stood still for Mitchell Johnson. He was 24-years-old, making his debut for Australia against New Zealand, and is not embarrassed to admit that he was completely overawed.

"The first time I played international cricket, I couldn't breathe for the first two overs," Johnson said in Centurion after Australia completed their 93-run victory over South Africa late on Wednesday night. Air was not the only thing he struggled for that day in Christchurch. His nine overs were bashed about for 64 runs. He was not the most expensive Australia bowler - Mick Lewis was - but it was still a stumbling start.

While Johnson was manning the mid-on and mid-off regions at SuperSport Park during the game against South Africa, he remembered his debut and looked over at Patrick Cummins and Mitchell Marsh to see if they had jangling nerves, like he once did. Johnson had already watched them grow impatient in the change room through the Australia innings and a four-and-a-half hour rain delay, and had a few soothing words to ease their tensions. "I sort of let the boys know that they are not alone," he said. "I think they did really well in those conditions. Sitting around waiting on your one-day debut is a little nerve wracking, but they did an exceptional job."

Cummins, in particular, continued to hog the headlines and Johnson was excited about the possibility of bowling with him in future. "It was the first time I've been in a game with him and seen him bowl. I've seen a couple of Twenty20s and he bowled quickly there." Johnson was not concerned about the fast-track Cummins has sped along and said, "You have to use a guy like that when you can."

With his extra pace, the risk of injury is increased and Cummins already had a back niggle earlier his year. Johnson could empathise with that. "I had some stress fractures and back fractures [so I know what it feels like to be out with a back injury]," Johnson said. "I'm not saying he is going to get those though, he may not have any injuries. Glenn McGrath was one of those guys who didn't get back injuries."

While the young talent gave Johnson a fair amount to be excited about, he was also pleased with his own showing. Johnson produced one of his better performances in recent months and showed glimpses of the man who terrorised South Africa's batsmen on home soil two years ago. He beat the bat and swung the ball, and was "happy with the way the ball came out".

Johnson has been under some pressure recently, after looking off colour during Australia's tour of Sri Lanka in August. He took the small slump in form in his stride. "I didn't get the wickets that I wanted, but I thought bowled well there," he said.

His wicket-taking ability roared back to life when he took 5 for 69 for Western Australia against Tasmania in Perth little more than a week ago, a performance that he says was important for his preparation for South Africa. "I went back home after Sri Lanka and I played a bit of grade cricket and a Shield game, and got wickets there. There were good signs in this game tonight. Hopefully, I can get more wickets but if it doesn't go my way, I am happy with the way I am bowling."

The pitches in South Africa have been kind to Johnson and to be back in the country where he made such an impact is sure to spur him on, although he played down any expectations. "It's totally different, things have changed with different players and maybe even different conditions. But, I do enjoy bowling here and maybe I can get a bit of confidence out of how I did perform last time."

It's in the Test matches that Johnson will be watched most closely, after he broke Graeme Smith's hand and drew blood from Jacques Kallis' chin when he last donned the whites in South Africa. By the time the first Test starts, Johnson would have turned 30 and he has heard whispers that he may be seen as entering the senior phase in the life of a cricketer. Although he is happy to accept more responsibility, he does not see it as a turning point that could spark the end of his cricket career. "I've got a lot of years left in me. There was a lot of talk earlier in our camps in Brisbane that I'm approaching 30 and almost over the hill. But I'm fit and strong, and I'll keep being positive."

Asif blames Butt's swearing for his no-ball

	Mohammad Asif has attributed his infamous no-ball in last year's Lord's Test to the abuse he received in the over from his captain Salman Butt © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links In Focus: The spot-fixing case Players/Officials: Mohammad Asif | Salman Butt Teams: Pakistan

Mohammad Asif attributed his infamous no-ball in last year's Lord's Test to the abuse he received in the over from his captain Salman Butt, a court heard in London on Thursday.

Butt's lawyer Ali Bajwa QC hit back at those claims, though, by counter-accusing Asif of fabricating his story to justify the no-ball. In fact the 90-minute exchange between Asif and Bajwa sometimes brought laughter from the court as Asif stuck to his story against Bajwa's grilling. Asif, speaking in broken English, often required the services of his Urdu interpreter.

Asif was appearing in the witness stand for the first time on the 12th day of the alleged spot-fixing trial, and his lawyer Alexander Milne QC followed an introduction of his career with the nitty-gritty moment about the no-balls in question.

Butt and Asif are facing charges of conspiracy to cheat and conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments following the Lord's Test last year when they allegedly conspired with agent Mazhar Majeed, teenager Mohammad Amir and other people unknown to bowl pre-planned no-balls. Butt and Asif deny the charges.

When discussing the tenth over at Lord's in which Asif's one questionable no-ball was delivered, on the sixth ball of the over, Milne asked his client if anything was said to him during this over. He responded by revealing how captain Butt had abused him when moving into a "suspicious" short, straight mid-off position.

"He said run faster f*****, and went on to say something like 'haven't you slept'? Somebody kept shouting. I think Butt was saying things; that made me lose concentration."

Milne replied to that answer by asking Asif whether Butt's comment was said in a funny way, pointing out that swear words can sometimes be used in a humorous, friendly way.

"No, it wasn't friendly," Asif said. "It was unfriendly for a captain to speak like that to me, especially with my position in the rankings." Asif went on: "I thought to myself that I had slept well last night so why is he saying these things. He was desperate for wickets but so was I."

Bajwa quizzed Asif on why he did not give this explanation in his initial police interview last year, when he told police officers that he had not been put under any pressure to bowl the no-ball.

"I'm going to suggest to you that Mr Butt never referred to you as a f***** at that time or any other time," Bajwa said. "Why didn't you say at this point (in your police interview) that 'my captain was putting me under pressure and that's why I bowled the no-ball'."

Bajwa, who also accused Asif of "untruthfully downplaying" his relationship with the Majeed brothers, further said of Asif's no-ball excuse: "That, Mr Asif, is a desperate invention by you because you fear that the jury won't accept your story for bowling a no-ball."

Asif pointed out, referring back to his police interview, that he meant he was not pressured into bowling an intentional no-ball as opposed to the circumstances leading up to what he regards as an accidental no-ball.

Bajwa, using a replay of the over, pointed out that Asif checked his spikes and had sawdust scattered on the crease afterwards and if he was blaming his captain he would have reacted differently by "glaring" at Butt and telling him how he felt.

During the morning's proceedings Milne also established through his answers from his client that Asif had minimal contact with Majeed. In fact although his older brother Azhar Majeed acted as his unsigned agent from 2006, bringing him two unpaid assignments in that time, he did not even meet Mazhar until May 2010 during the Twenty20 World Cup in West Indies.

Asif told how Majeed frequently contacted him to sign a contract with his management company and would promise him sponsorship agreements with companies like GM (Gunn & Moore). Asif said he tolerated him because "GM was a big brand". Apart from those conversations Asif also told of how he frequently rejected offers either from Butt or Majeed to go to dinners with them, as he preferred to dine with friends from outside of the team.

Asif also denied ever having any knowledge of taking any money for the no-balls or even having any knowledge that other people had "an interest" in his bowling a no-ball.

The fast bowler also claimed that News of the World journalist Mazhar Mahmood met him on two separate occasions after scandal broke, even though Mahmood denied any such meeting during the presentation of his evidence. Asif claimed that Mahmood introduced himself as solicitor Imran Sheikh, offering to help him and asking him many questions about the scandal.

The defendant said that Sheikh later met up with him in Lahore and tried again to probe him for more answers of the scandal.

The case continues.

India seal series in stiff run-chase

ndia 300 for 5 (Rahane 91) beat England 298 for 4 (Trott 98*, Patel 70*) by five wickets
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

	MS Dhoni finished the match off in typical style © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Jade Dernbach | MS Dhoni | Gautam Gambhir | Ravindra Jadeja | Virat Kohli | Jonathan Trott Matches: India v England at Mohali Series/Tournaments: England tour of India Teams: England | India

MS Dhoni was India's matchwinner once again, as he marshalled an asking-rate approaching ten an over to seal an unassailable 3-0 series lead in the third ODI at Mohali. With Ravindra Jadeja alongside him, he clubbed Tim Bresnan for consecutive boundaries in the final over of the match to finish unbeaten on 35 from 31 balls, as England's best total of the series - 298 for 4 - proved insufficient to keep the series alive.

It was a sloppy fielding display from England in a match they could and should have won. Their own total had been built on another sheet-anchor performance from Jonathan Trott, who finished unbeaten on 98 from 116 balls, but the point-of-difference innings had been played by Samit Patel, whose career-best 70 from 43 balls enabled England to add 91 runs in their final ten overs. Given the history of chasing at Mohali - only five teams had previously managed it in 19 matches at the venue - their route back into the series was awaiting them.

Instead, they produced a listless defence, with Ajinkya Rahane cruising along to 91 from 104 balls in a second-wicket stand of 111 with Gautam Gambhir. They managed just one wicket in the first 34 overs - a marginal lbw against Parthiv Patel, which broke an opening partnership of 79 - and though they rallied well to claim four wickets in an eight-over spell of dominance, their failure to take their chances cost them dear in the closing stages.

The most culpable man was the wicketkeeper, Craig Kieswetter, who missed an early chance to remove Gambhir on 17, before dropping Virat Kohli off a Jade Dernbach bouncer at a crucial juncture. Kohli had been struggling to impose himself and should have gone for 4 from 12 balls, only for Kieswetter to spill the catch as his elbows hit the turf. Worse was to follow, however, when he trod on the stumps while attempting to run out Jadeja with 12 balls of the match remaining, and 17 runs still needed.

That final error unsettled the under-pressure bowler Dernbach, who had earlier shown his frustration when Tim Bresnan let a four fly through his legs at backward point. He finished his spell with a wide and a no-ball beamer in an over that went for 10 runs, moments after Steven Finn - who had bowled superbly to concede 31 runs from his first nine overs - had been battered for 13 runs in his tenth.

Regardless of England's shortcomings, it was another hugely impressive display from India's batsmen, with Rahane setting the game up superbly with the second half-century of his fledgling career. He picked off six fours in his innings - mostly through deft steers behind square - but the most telling feature of his innings was the ease with which he and Gambhir rotated the strike in the fallow middle overs. England were powerless to react as the gaps in their field were pinched at will, and it wasn't until a rare misjudgement from Gambhir led to an impressive one-handed catch from Kevin Pietersen at cover that they found a foothold in the game.

That wicket was due reward for another probing and pacey spell from Finn, and he doubled his tally three overs later when Rahane's quest for a maiden hundred ended in a leading edge to Alastair Cook at mid-off. Suresh Raina then drilled Bresnan to cover for a third-ball duck to tilt the balance of power firmly in England's direction, and when Kohli was trapped lbw by a sharp turner from Graeme Swann, India had slumped to 235 for 5 with nine overs remaining, and that target of 299 suddenly seemed a long way off. In the end though, Dhoni and Jadeja picked it off with aplomb.

England owed their shot at victory to another solipsistic performance from Trott, whose tempo is immoveable regardless of the format of the game. This was his first significant innings since being named the ICC Cricketer of the Year, and it was a reprisal of the role he had played at the World Cup in March. He picked off eight boundaries after coming to the crease in the fourth over of the innings following the loss of Cook for 3, and was denied his fourth ODI hundred by a sharp piece of fielding at short fine leg, when he paddle-swept the penultimate ball of the innings for a single. Though he missed out on his milestone, the net gain was England's, as Samit Patel blazed Vinay Kumar's final ball of the innings into the long-on stands for six.

The debate will rage about Trott's approach to one-day cricket, but seeing as England collapsed in a heap in the first two matches, the backbone he provided to this performance was self-evident. Both of his major partners - Pietersen, who made 64 from 61 balls, and Patel - thrived on the right to go for their strokes, with Patel instrumental in belting 43 runs from the final 24 deliveries of England's innings. With his place under threat after two inconsequential displays in the early part of the series, this was a timely reminder of his combative qualities, as he was pushed up to No. 6 ahead of Jonny Bairstow.

Pietersen, meanwhile, produced his best one-day innings for many a month. He and Trott came together with England wobbling on 53 for 2, but the pair soon settled into a comfortable accumulative rhythm. Pietersen glanced his second ball through fine leg for four, and later launched a calculated assault on the swing of Praveen Kumar, who was bludgeoned for four fours in consecutive overs. He had a familiar aberration when the left-arm spin of Jadeja entered the attack, and would have run his partner out for 32 had the shy from midwicket been anywhere near Dhoni's gloves. As it transpired, however, it was England's own failure to run out Jadeja later in the game that would prove to be the decisive error.

Innings Dot balls 4s 6s PP1 PP2 PP3 Last 10 overs NB/Wides England 128 30 4 40-1 35-0 (15.1-20) 30-1 (35.1-40) 91-0 0/2 India 114 22 1 57-0 31-1 (15.1-20) 33-2 (35.1-40) 71-1 2/7

Somerset best placed to make the cut

With only three matches to go, Group B is still wide open, with all teams having a theoretical chance of making the semi-finals. Here's what each team needs to do (and what they need other teams to do) to qualify for the last four.

	Royal Challengers Bangalore haven't won a single game so far, but two big wins might yet give them a shot at the semi-finals © Associated Press Enlarge
Related Links Matches: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Somerset at Bangalore Series/Tournaments: Nokia Champions League T20 Teams: England | India | Royal Challengers Bangalore | Somerset

Warriors
They're currently sitting on top of the group with four points, but whether they make the next stage or not depends largely on what they do in their final game, against Somerset on Wednesday.

If they win, they're through. If they lose, it could get complicated: they'll have to hope that South Australia lose to Royal Challengers in the last match; else Somerset and South Australia will both have more points and will qualify. Even if South Australia lose to Royal Challengers, Warriors will have to ensure they don't lose to Somerset by a margin that will pull their net run rate below that of Kolkata Knight Riders, who have four points and a NRR of +0.306. Warriors are currently on +0.592, but they don't have much room to manoeuvre: if they're chasing 140 against Somerset and lose by eight or more runs, their NRR will slip below that of Knight Riders.

The weather in Bangalore has had most teams fretting, but the one side which will welcome rain is Warriors. One point in the last game will leave them with five, which means Somerset will be the only side that could go past them. South Australia could reach five points as well, but their NRR is languishing at -0.775: they'll have to beat Royal Challengers by at least 67 runs (if they bat first and score 160) to go past Warriors' NRR.

Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata have played all their matches and their fate rests entirely on the hands of the other teams (and the weather). If all three matches produce decisive results, Knight Riders' best chance is this: Somerset lose both their matches, while Royal Challengers win theirs. In such a scenario, Warriors will move to the top of the table, with Knight Riders and Royal Challengers tied in second place on four points. If Royal Challengers don't win by huge margins, Knight Riders will stay ahead on NRR.

Knight Riders will also go through if Somerset beat Warriors by a margin that is enough to pull the Warriors' NRR below that of Knight Riders (see the write-up for Warriors above). In this case, South Australia will have to lose to Royal Challengers so that they stay on three points.

Somerset
Somerset are the only unbeaten team in the tournament so far, and with three points from two games, they have an excellent chance of making it to the next stage. One win in their next two games will almost certainly get them through. Even if they beat Royal Challengers and lose to Warriors, and if South Australia win their last game, Somerset and South Australia will be level on points, with Somerset currently far ahead on NRR.

South Australia
With three points in three games and a terrible NRR, South Australia's equation is fairly simple: they must win to give themselves any chance of making the semi-finals. Even if they win, they'll have to hope other results go their way. If Warriors beat Somerset, who in turn beat Royal Challengers, then South Australia will most likely miss the cut even if they win their last game.

Royal Challengers Bangalore
They're the only team not to have won a match in the tournament so far, but if they win their last two matches, Royal Challengers may yet have a chance of qualification. To do so, they'll have to go past the NRR of Warriors or Knight Riders (depending on the result of the Somerset v Warriors game). Royal Challengers' NRR is currently -0.648, but if, for instance, they score 140 in their last two matches and win them by 25 runs, they'll sneak ahead of Knight Riders' NRR.

However, if either of their two games is washed out, then Royal Challengers' Champions League campaign will end before the semi-finals.

Nokia Champions League T20 2011/12 / Points table

Group A

Teams	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
Mumbai Indians	4	2	1	0	1	5	-0.280	358/59.5	357/57.0
New South Wales	3	2	1	0	0	4	+0.038	375/57.0	375/57.2
Cape Cobras	3	1	1	0	1	3	+0.443	281/37.2	281/39.4
Trinidad & Tobago	3	1	2	0	0	2	+0.183	360/60.0	349/60.0
Chennai Super Kings	3	1	2	0	0	2	-0.181	415/59.4	427/59.5

Group B

Teams	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	N/R	Pts	Net RR	For	Against
Warriors	3	2	1	0	0	4	+0.592	405/49.0	376/49.0
Kolkata Knight Riders	4	2	2	0	0	4	+0.306	584/66.3	582/68.4
South Australia	3	1	1	0	1	3	-0.775	309/40.0	340/40.0
Somerset	3	1	1	0	1	3	-1.133	319/39.4	367/40.0
Royal Challengers Bangalore	3	1	2	0	0	2	+0.438	547/60.0	499/57.3

We haven't tampered with the ball - Cook

	Alastair Cook came out in defence of his bowlers at Heathrow © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Alastair Cook | Umar Gul Teams: England

England's one-day captain Alastair Cook has rubbished claims by Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul that James Anderson and Stuart Broad were involved in ball tampering. Cook said if Gul did have any concerns he should have gone through the proper channels.

Gul hit the headlines after giving an interview in Karachi, where he suggested he had seen examples of ball tampering and mentioned seeing Anderson and Broad using various techniques. However, he later tried to step back from controversy by saying he was only talking about the England pair in relation to natural wear that develops on a ball by throwing it across the outfield.

"We certainly haven't tampered with the ball and if he did have any complaints he should have gone to the ICC over that," Cook said at Heathrow airport ahead of England's departure for their one-day series in India. "I think he has almost said himself that it has been a bit of a mountain out of a molehill."

In a statement to Pakpassion.net, where Gul's original comments first appeared, he clarified his remarks. "I was explaining that the ball gets scratched when it is thrown against the rough surface or hits the advertisement boards along the boundary rope. In this manner, I said, every bowler can be accused of doing it."

Gul made his earlier comments in an interview where he talked about the art of reverse swing and how various elements of ball tampering shouldn't be included with the laws. "Leave cricket with its traditional ways rather than making changes that would take all the charm out of it," he said.

The recent change to using a separate ball from either end during one-day internationals, which will be implemented for the first time when Bangladesh play West Indies, could impact the role of reverse swing during 50-over matches. Under the previous regulations the ball was changed after 34 overs and the period shortly before the switch was when the fast bowlers would sometimes start to get the ball to reverse. However, with neither ball having no more than 25 overs of wear it will be harder for the natural deterioration to take place.

Mohsin Khan appointed interim coach

	Mohsin Khan is both a selector and a coach © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Mohsin Khan Series/Tournaments: Sri Lanka tour of United Arab Emirates Teams: Pakistan

Mohsin Khan, Pakistan's chief selector, will serve as the team's interim coach for the series against Sri Lanka beginning later this month. Mohsin steps in to fill the vacancy created by Waqar Younis' departure after the tour of Zimbabwe as the PCB is in the process of appointing a full-time coach. Ijaz Ahmed will be the team's assistant coach.

The PCB committee tasked with finding the new head coach had shortlisted five names for the position out of a list of thirty-seven applicants. Twelve foreign and 25 local coaches had applied for the job. Those in contention for the top job reportedly include Dean Jones, Dermot Reeve and Aaqib Javed. The committee hadn't finalised on a candidate, though, in time to take over before the Test, ODI and Twenty20 matches against Sri Lanka in the UAE.

Mohsin was appointed chief selector in March 2010 and was also involved in the PCB's fast-track coaching program at National Cricket Academy, where he coached batsmen. Colonel Naushad Ali will take charge as associate manager for the Sri Lanka series and the tour of Bangladesh. He will function as manager for the Tests against Sri Lanka, though, in the absence of Naveed Akram Cheema, who will take over as manager for the limited-overs leg. . Cheema, a PCB governing board member and also the managing director of WAPDA, was appointed manger for the Zimbabwe series, replacing Intikhab Alam.

The Pakistan squad will assemble in Lahore for a pre-series camp between November 10 and 13.

Pietersen part of 2015 plans - Cook

	Kevin Pietersen faces an important four weeks as he tries to re-establish a place in England's one-day team © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Alastair Cook | Kevin Pietersen Series/Tournaments: England tour of India Teams: England

Alastair Cook believes Kevin Pietersen can be part of England's 2015 World Cup side and sees it as one of his key roles as captain on the tour of India to help guide a one-day revival for the batsman. Pietersen has returned to the squad for the upcoming series, but doubts remain over his long-term future in the 50-over side after a lean two years in the format and the emergence of talented young batsmen pushing their claims.

Pietersen was rested, officially at least, for the one-day series recent ODIs against India in England, and the two Twenty20 internationals against West Indies that concluded the home season. His place in the Twenty20 team isn't in doubt - he played the game against India at the end of August and was Man of the Series when England won the world title in West Indies in 2010 - but that security doesn't extend to the longer limited-overs format.

"I see Kevin as a huge part of this one-day side, especially in the 2015 World Cup," Cook said at Heathrow airport shortly before the squad departed for India. "He's had huge success in Australia, but we need to manage him well so he can get there."

After he controversially flew home injured from the World Cup, reports emerged that he was planning to retire from ODIs although he subsequently denied those and remains available for all three formats. However, if there was a change of heart from Pietersen it is more likely to have been because he wouldn't have been eligible for a central contract if he quit one-dayers.

His availability, though, doesn't come with a guarantee of selection, as Andy Flower has been at pains to point out, and Pietersen's one-day form of the last two years raises questions as to whether he warrants a place in the side. Since March 2009 against West Indies, his first one-day series since losing the captaincy, he has averaged 22.86 from 32 matches with two half-centuries. His last hundred came against India, in Cuttack, in October 2008 and three of his seven tons came in his first 11 matches. However, he does average 51 in ODIs on Indian soil, which shows he enjoys conditions.

"He's had a tough 12-18 months with his form, this happens when you spend a huge amount of time at the top of the game. It's tough to keep your standards high," Cook said. "I think he still averages very high 40s in Test cricket, so it's amazing to think we are talking about a drop. His last couple of years in one-day cricket haven't been as good as they were in the first part of his career and part of our job as England management is to try and get him back there.

"A KP averaging 50 and striking over 100 is a huge element of an England side and we can't ignore talent like that. He loves proving people wrong."

England have tried various roles to reinvigorate Pietersen's one-day career including using him as an opener during the World Cup. That tactic was short-lived due to the hernia he picked up, but it did provide some momentum to England's innings alongside Andrew Strauss. A return to opening is unlikely with Cook and Craig Kieswetter establishing their partnership, but Pietersen's exact position in the order hasn't been nailed down with Cook hinting at flexibility.

"At No. 3 or 4 is where he's had most of his success," Cook said. "Towards the end of the Sri Lanka series [in June] we talked about being more flexible in our batting line up and we've got the right to do that."

The pressure on Pietersen to retain his place is coming mainly from his own form, but also the emergence of a group of new batsmen pushing for international honours. Jonny Bairstow, who impressed on his debut against India, is part of this tour, while Jos Buttler will join in for the Twenty20 at the end of trip along with Alex Hales. Eoin Morgan, who has taken the mantle of England's key one-day batsman from Pietersen, is out if action until January but will slot straight back in when he's fit and Cook is thrilled with the competition for places.

"You have to perform to stay in an England shirt; like Kevin has to, like I have to, the whole team has to," he said. "You can see from the players who aren't coming on this tour, the competition there is for places and that's a very encouraging sign."

England have two warm-up matches, the first on Saturday, before the opening one-day international, in Hyderabad, on October 14.

Plenty at stake for all teams

Things are relatively clearer in Group A than in B, since only two matches are left, and they'll both be played in Chennai, a venue which is less likely to get affected by the weather. With two games to go, four sets of results are possible. Here's a look at which teams will go through in each case.

	Mumbai Indians lead the group with five points, but they aren't assured of a semi-final slot © Associated Press Enlarge
Related Links Series/Tournaments: Nokia Champions League T20 Teams: Cape Cobras | Chennai Super Kings | Mumbai Indians | New South Wales | Trinidad & Tobago

Matches left: Cape Cobras v Trinidad & Tobago; Chennai Super Kings v New South Wales

Scenario 1: Cape Cobras and Super Kings win
This is a simple case in which Cobras and Mumbai Indians will be the only two teams in the group with five points, and will go through to the semi-finals.

Scenario 2: Cape Cobras and NSW win
NSW will move to the top of the table with six points, while Cobras and Mumbai Indians will be level on five. Cobras have a much better net run-rate, and will hence make the cut at the expense of Mumbai Indians.

Scenario 3: T&T and Super Kings win
Mumbai Indians will be the clear leaders with five points, while three teams will be tied on four. Among these three teams, T&T have the best net run-rate at present, since their two losses have been such narrow ones. However, Super Kings aren't as far behind as it might appear on the points table: if they score 140 and win by, say, 25 runs, and if T&T win by a run, Super Kings' net run-rate will be marginally better than T&T's.

Scenario 4: T&T and NSW win
NSW and Mumbai Indians, with six and five points, will go through.

The rain factor
If the match between Cobras and T&T is washed out, then T&T will finish with three points and surely be knocked of the tournament. Cobras will finish with four (and a net run-rate of 0.443), and their progress will depend on the result of the last match. If NSW win, they will progress with Mumbai Indians, but if Super Kings win, three teams will be tied on four points, with Cobras almost certain to have the best net run-rate among them.

If the second match is washed out, then NSW will join Mumbai Indians on five points, and will go through if T&T have beaten Cobras in the first game. However, if Cobras have won, they'll go up to five points and edge ahead of Mumbai Indians on net run-rate. In that case, Cobras and NSW will progress.

If both games are rained out, then Mumbai Indians and NSW will make the cut.

Cobras aim to seal semi-final spot

Match facts

Cape Cobras v Trinidad & Tobago, October 4, Chennai
Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)

	Can the T&T bowlers choke the opposition again? © AFP Enlarge
Related Links Matches: Cape Cobras v Trinidad & Tobago at Chennai Series/Tournaments: Nokia Champions League T20 Teams: Cape Cobras | South Africa | Trinidad & Tobago | West Indies

Big Picture

After the last-ball and one-wicket loss to Mumbai Indians, and the Super Over defeat to New South Wales, one wondered what Trinidad & Tobago would come up with next. Along with MI, T&T did their best to infuse excitement into a tournament that has struggled to pull in crowds. They finally managed to get it right against Chennai Super Kings to give themselves an outside chance of making the semi-finals. T&T have one last opportunity, against Cape Cobras, to add more thrills to the Champions League. It is a must-win game for both sides.

While T&T's spinners will look to use the slowness of the Chennai pitch to their advantage, they would have also noted that the Cobras batsmen struggled more against the Super Kings' seamers in their only loss so far.

A win tomorrow will put Cobras at the top of Group A and ensure their qualification for the semi-finals. Victory alone will not be enough for T&T, though, as they will need the Super Kings to beat New South Wales to force a three-way tie for the second place.

Watch out for …

Unlike the T&T spinners, there is nothing mysterious about medium-pacer Kevon Cooper but he has gone for just over five runs an over in the tournament. Even fellow Trinidadian Dwayne Bravo could not go after him in the death. Cooper's 28 at a strike-rate of 280 was the difference against the Super Kings. T&T's next best strike-rate was 121. Cobras will have to be wary on both fronts.

You either get Herschelle Gibbs early or else he gets you. New South Wales didn't, and suffered. Super Kings did, and got a target that could be chased. Gibbs will go after all the sliders, wrong 'uns and flicked legbreaks that the T&T spinners try against him. Who will get whom?

Team news

Barring last-minute injuries, neither side has reason to change their XIs.

Stats and trivia

• Not surprisingly, slow and low Chennai is where batsmen have struggled the most. It has the lowest average per wicket, 21.22, and the lowest economy-rate, 6.80, of the three venues used in the tournament
• T&T's loss to MI was only the 11th instance of a Twenty20 being decided by the smallest margin of one wicket off the last ball.

New South Wales face must-win game

Match facts

Chennai Super Kings v New South Wales, October 4, Chennai
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)

	Will New South Wales' spinners baffle the Super Kings batsmen? © Getty Images Enlarge
Related Links Matches: Chennai Super Kings v New South Wales at Chennai Series/Tournaments: Nokia Champions League T20 Teams: Australia | Chennai Super Kings | India | New South Wales

Big Picture

Going into the last Group A match, the equation is simple for New South Wales, who have four points. Win, and they are through to the semi-finals of the Champions League T20 as the group's toppers. If they lose, they are out.

Super Kings, who are on two points, will need Trinidad & Tobago to beat Cape Cobras in the first match of the day. If T&T win, Super Kings can make the semi-final, so long as they register a big enough win to go ahead of NSW and T&T (whose net run-rates are presently marginally superior to Super Kings') on net run-rate. If the match is washed out - scattered thunderstorms are forecast - Super Kings will not progress, while NSW will need T&T to beat Cape Cobras.

The advantage both sides enjoy, as MS Dhoni pointed out after the defeat to T&T, is they are playing the last game in their group. Based on the Cobras-T&T result, these teams will know exactly what they need to do to progress. If Cobras win, however, the Super Kings are out before the game begins, and only NSW can progress.

NSW should be in a better frame of mind for this make-or-break match than Super Kings. They took advantage of the low, slow pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, keeping Mumbai Indians to 100, before overcoming a top-order wobble to chase the target on the difficult track. Super Kings, meanwhile, allowed T&T's Kevon Cooper to produce a late blitz and were then woeful in the chase, albeit against a bowling attack that was well-suited to the conditions.

Watch out for …

It's been a tough few months for MS Dhoni. Things have gone quickly downhill for him following India's 2011 World Cup win and Super Kings' successful defence of their IPL title. It was hard to relate the batsman who struck a commanding six to win the World Cup to the one who struggled to 7 off 22 balls, albeit on a very different pitch, against T&T. Dhoni will be eager to put to rest at least some of the questions arising on his form and fitness, especially ahead of a busy international season.

Left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe seemed to enjoy bowling on the Chepauk track against Mumbai Indians, claiming 2 for 18 in his four overs. He bowled Andrew Symonds and got R Sathish, who had settled in, to hole out. With more of the same slowness and lowness guaranteed to be on offer against Super Kings, O'Keefe could prove crucial to NSW's chances.

Team news

Super Kings' Shadab Jakati was hit on the finger on Sunday, when Lendl Simmons whacked the ball back at him in his follow-through. Later, during a television interview, Jakati said the finger was a bit swollen. If he is unable to play, offspinner Suraj Randiv could get a game, most probably replacing Albie Morkel as the fourth foreign player in the XI. Even otherwise, the nature of the Chepauk track might prompt playing three spinners.

NSW's three-pronged pace attack - Stuart Clark, Patrick Cummins and Mitchell Starc - have all put in decent performances. Given the conditions and Super Kings' previous performance, though, Simon Katich will have to decide if it's worth playing the extra spinner, to back up O'Keefe and Steven Smith. Nathan Hauritz is NSW's third spinning option, but he was quite expensive in the one match he played in the tournament.

Stats and trivia

• Only three New South Wales batsmen - David Warner, Shane Watson and Daniel Smith - have strike-rates above 100 in the tournament. Of these, only Warner has a strike-rate above 105.
• Apart from Michael Hussey, none of the Chennai Super Kings batsmen have gone past 50 runs in the tournament so far.

Watson to open in South Africa - Clarke

	Shane Watson's extra bowling load won't encourage Michael Clarke to move him down the order © AFP Enlarge
Related Links News : Watson could move down the order Players/Officials: Michael Clarke | Phillip Hughes | Shane Watson Series/Tournaments: Australia tour of South Africa Teams: Australia

Australia's captain Michael Clarke is adamant his deputy Shane Watson will open the batting in the Test series against South Africa, despite Watson's concession that his role in the team is changing.

Having bowled plenty of important overs for Australia in Sri Lanka, and seen his batting returns diminished as an indirect result, Watson is again toying with the concept of moving down the order, as he plays exclusively as a batsman for New South Wales in the Twenty20 Champions League in India.

However, Clarke has no intention of messing further with the balance of a batting order that underwent significant change in Sri Lanka, where Shaun Marsh staked a strong enough claim for the No.3 spot to push Ricky Ponting and Clarke himself down to Nos.4 and 5.

"My mind hasn't changed since Sri Lanka," Clarke said. "Right now I think he's best for the team opening the batting and that's certainly where he'll bat in South Africa."

Prior to the upheaval wrought by the Argus review, Watson and Phillip Hughes had been identified by the national selectors as Australia's preferred opening pair from now until the next Ashes series. Simon Katich was acrimoniously dumped in the process.

Hughes settled speculation about his place with a fine century in the third Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, and can now look forward to South Africa, where he first made his name as an unorthodox but destructive international opening batsman in 2009.

"When we left Sri Lanka he was excited he made some runs at the end of that tour and got another hundred for Australia which is fantastic," Clarke said. "He knows he's had some success over there, so I think he's pretty excited to get over there and bat in those conditions again."

Hughes' success on that tour was emblematic of Australia's unexpected 2-1 series victory over the South Africans, and those memories will now be fused with the confidence derived from a committed, organised and thorough team display in Sri Lanka.

"I think we can take a lot of confidence out of it, but we went there planning and hoping to win the series, whether it be the one-day game or the Test series," Clarke said. "So we weren't shocked but we knew it took a lot of hard work.

"That's probably what it did more than anything else, it showed us how hard it is to win in those tough conditions and I'm certain South Africa is going to be the same, a really tough test to have success over there.

"We won't be slackening off, if anything we're going to be working harder. We're trying to get better every day, so there's certainly no room for taking things for granted."

Australia's batsmen face the challenge of adjusting back up to the higher bounce to be found on the veld, after a succession of low wickets on the subcontinent, both in Sri Lanka and during the Champions League. To this end, Clarke and others will make the most of the next two weeks before departure ahead of the ODI series that precedes the Tests. Cameron White's T20 team will depart on Saturday.

"It's as big a challenge no doubt, conditions are a lot different," Clarke said. "I've had the opportunity to look at Sri Lanka and look at the pros and cons, the areas we need to improve, and that's really important for me over the next week to make sure planning with Troy Cooley and the other coaches, that we are trying to improve a few of those areas.

"But South Africa are going to be tough, their own conditions, I think the wickets will probably suit us a bit more, our own fast bowlers I know are looking forward to getting over there and seeing a bit more pace and bounce than there was in Sri Lanka. But it's going to be a really tough tour.

"I think the advantage we have for the guys that are home can now prepare in Australian conditions, which are very similar to South African conditions. The next week or so that'll be my plan, to do as much batting as I can, whether it be the SCG on outdoor wickets or indoor nets with the bowling machine, and hopefully that'll hold us in good stead."