England v/s Sri Lanka -Muralitharan Bowls Sri Lanka To Victory:

Kandy, Wednesday December 5, 05:05 PM: Sri Lanka beat England by 88 runs on the fifth and final day of the first Test on Wednesday.Ian Bell top-scored with 74, as England chasing 350 to win were bowled out for 261.England fell to an agonising defeat as Sri Lanka secured an 88-run victory with only 25 minutes of play left in a dramatic first Test in Kandy.Both Prior and Bell played exceptionally well. Prior's 63, off 147 balls, was certainly one of his finest innings in an England shirt. He appeared accomplished and at ease throughout, defending well and occasionally striding out to strike a cover drive. Struck on the head by a bouncer from Dilhara Fernando, he batted on seemingly unflustered. Tellingly when he reached his fifty his runs had been divided equally between the leg- and off- sides.And then everything changed. Muralitharan took the new ball off Malinga and produced a spell of 5-2-5-3. Having been held at bay throughout the day, this was the true mark of one of history's greatest bowlers, able to produce a match-winning spell at the crucial moment, turning the new ball like a top on an unhelpful surface.Prior was undone by a doosra that spun past his bat and clipped off stump. Bell was bowled in the next over by an off-spinner, and Ryan Sidebottom fell in the over after that, unluckily given out lbw despite a palpable inside edge. From 248 for six, England were now 253 for nine and the game was over.England looked to have lost the match much earlier than that, defeat never seeming more imminent than when Paul Collingwood slapped a catch off Fernando to Kumar Sangakkara at short extra cover. That left England 90 for five in just the 20th over of the day.

Adam Gilchrist `s snatched ball back:

John-a cricket lover who snatched Adam Gilchrist's record-making cricket ball has given it back.
Melbourne midwife John decided to return the ball -- which Gilchrist last month smashed out of Hobart's Bellerive Oval to become the first batsman to achieve 100 Test sixes -- for the good of the game.He met Cricket Australia officials last night.span class="fullpost">They plan to exhibit the ball in cricket museums.Cricket Australia spokesman Peter Young said John had asked for nothing in return, despite Gilchrist's offer of a signed bat."He is very happy to give it back unconditionally," Mr Young said."He is very comfortable with the idea that the ball will go on public display as something the public will enjoy."On November 17, John chased Gilchrist's ball out of the ground, retrieving it about 200m from the stadium.He had been in hiding since the Herald Sun published a picture showing him running outside the ground clutching the ball.Gilchrist and Cricket Australia had publicly appealed for him to return the $100 item.The ball may tour cricket museums over summer and has been deemed so important it may even have a place in the Long Room at Lord's."John said he had always dreamed of owning a Test cricket ball ... but just didn't like the thought of being responsible for an empty exhibition case.''

Muralitharan `s world record 709th Test wicket:

Sri Lanka off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took his 709th test wicket on Monday to move to the top of the all-time list above Australian Shane Warne.Muralitharan bowled England's Paul Collingwood for 45 shortly before lunch on the third day of the first test, sparking wild celebrations in Kandy.England kept Muralitharan at bay during his first spell of the morning but he struck immediately in his second, bowling Collingwood from around the wicket.The wicket, greeted with fireworks from Sri Lankan supporters, completed Muralitharan's 61st five-wicket haul in tests.Muralitharan had previously held the world record after surpassing West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh (519 wickets) in 2004, but he was subsequently overtaken by Warne after suffering a shoulder injury that year.Muralitharan holds other bowling records in test cricket including the most five-wicket (61) and ten-wicket hauls (20).The 35-year-old is renowned for extracting prodigious turn from his unique rubber-wristed bowling action.Muralitharan has also developed a special delivery called a "doosra" that spins in the opposite direction to his usual off spinner.

Sri Lanka's Jayasuriya to retire from Test cricket:

Sri Lanka batsman Sanath Jayasuriya said he would be retiring from Test cricket after the series opener against England in Kandy."This is the best opportunity for me to retire from Test cricket," Jayasuriya told Sky Sports News. "I decided that this is my last one."
The 38-year-old, who was dismissed for 78 on Monday in his 110th test, has scored 14 centuries since making his debut against New Zealand in Hamilton in 1991.He said he would continue to play one-day cricket. He has made 403 appearances for Sri Lanka in the limited-overs game.He was a member of Sri Lanka's World Cup winning team in 1995, and is the only player in the world to score over 12,000 runs and take over 300 wickets in the 50-over format.

Shoaib Akhtar is offered for Bollywood movie

Pakistani star fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar is offered from Bollywood to actin the movie. The star is considering the proposal."I have a piece of news for you. I have got an offer from Bollywood," Akhtar disclosed to media persons Kolkata on Sunday.Akhtar said the producer and director would meet him with the script during the December 8-12 third Test against India in Bangalore."I will decide whether to work with them once I listen to the script," said the Pakistan fast bowler.Akhtar said he has watched the two recent Bollywood releases - Sanjay Leela Bhansali 's Saawariya and the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Om Shanti Om .I have also heard about the movie Chak De India , he said.Shoaib Akhtar has some serious business lined up in Bangalore. The Pakistan paceman, having watched Aaja Nachle this weekend, was floored by the sensational return of Madhuri Dixit to the silver screen and is now all set to seriously enter Indian cinema.
Having completely recovered from a bout of chest infection and fever, Akhtar admitted that he was in a bad shape when the Kolkata Test started. “Honestly, I didn’t know how I bowled my first two deliveries. I was completely blank and felt dizzy. I didn’t even know where I pitched the ball and who I was bowling to. I couldn’t sight the batsman because my head was badly in a spin.”

INDIA V/s PAKISTAN-2nd test- pak loose half of the vickets:

Sunday, December 02, 2007 12.30 pm (pak time).
Pakistan was 203 for five Pakistan need 413 more runs to win ,on day three of the second Test at Eden Gardens on Sunday..Pakistan need 263 more runs to avoid the follow-on.Earlier, India chipped in with regular wickets to put Pakistan on the mat at lunch on the third day of the second cricket Test on Sunday.Resuming at 50 for loss of one wicket, the visitors failed to negotiate the Indian spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble to lose four wickets and reach 154 for 5 in their first innings at the Eden Gardens.Off spinner Habhajan Singh snared in-form batsmen Salman Butt (42) and Mohammad Yousuf (6) while Kumble foxed Faisal Iqbal as Pakistan still needed 263 runs to avoid the ignominy of
follow on.In between, pacer Munaf Patel got the prized wicket of stand-in skipper Younis Khan (43), who needlessly chased an away going delivery to gift a simple catch to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.Misbah was playing at59(89) and Akmal at 25(68).

ICC Illegal Bowling Actions Reporting Process(AN ARTICLE)

* ICC umpires and/or the match referee will report a bowler considered to have a suspect bowling action at the end of a Test or One day International. Umpires will retain the right to ‘call’ a bowler during a game, at their discretion. A report will initially be based on observations reached with the naked eye. The use of slow motion match footage will only be used to reinforce this initial impression. * The bowler’s team manager and the ICC will be notified of the report within 24 hours.

* Within a further period of 24 hours, a public statement will be issued by the match referee, confirming the reporting.

* The bowler’s Board will be notified by the ICC and copies of the relevant match footage supplied.

* Within a period of 21 days, the bowler will be required to work with an independent member of the ICC’s Human Movement Specialist panel. This will include the filming of his action under laboratory conditions and using latest technology opto-reflective techniques.

* The Human Movement Specialist’s report will confirm if the bowler’s action exceeds the permitted 15 degrees of straightening, or if he has been cleared to continue playing.

* If the action is found to be legal, the bowler can immediately resume his career, although the clearance does not constitute any form of exemption against being reported in future
If the report finds that the bowler’s action exceeds 15 degrees of straightening, he will be immediately suspended from international cricket. There are then two options available to him:
* To carry out remedial action to rectify his action to meet the ICC standard, or
* To contest the decision within 14 days and seek a hearing of the ICC Bowling Review Group (BRG) to make a final decision
* A BRG hearing will be held within 21 days and the outcome will decide to either uphold the decision of the expert report and suspend the bowler, or alternatively overturn the decision and clear the player to resume his international career

The ICC Bowling Review Group will consist of the following:
* A member of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission, chairman
* A current ICC Match Referee
* A former international player
* A former international umpire
* A member of the ICC panel of Human Movement Specialists
* ICC General Manager – Cricket, as an ex-officio member
A second report within the space of two years proving an illegal action would see the bowler suspended from all international cricket for a minimum period of 12 months.

Usha Uthup sings in the honour of visiting Pakistani team:

30-nov-2007-Kolkata-Usha Uthup was singing in honour of the visiting Pakistani team and journalists, Uthup, best known for her 'Ramba ho, ho, ho...' song of the 1980s film 'Armaan', said: 'I strongly believe that music and cricket can bridge the gap between our two nations. But music wins in the end because in cricket you still fight on the field.'The interesting moment of Thursday's function came when Uthup invited Pakistani journalist Shahid Hashmi to the stage and sang a popular duet - 'Pyaar karna bhi zaroori hai' from the film 'Vaardat' - with him.'This is a great combination. You have seen many partnerships but this is perhaps the best one - an Indian singer and a Pakistani journalist in a dosti duet,' said Usha.
'It was a great honour for me to share the microphone with one of the best singers of India. It was a nice experience,' Hashmi said.And before singing 'Yeh dosti hum nahi torenge' from 'Sholay', Usha said: 'This song is especially for our Pakistani guests. I believe the people of the two countries are still the same.'

Shoaib Akhter`s bowling action-Indians not easy !

Indian batesman complain against Pakistan’s express fast bowler Shoaib Akhter`s bowling action.This has increased the problem of Pakistani cricket team,already facing severe fitness problems.Indian batesman criticised the akhters bowling action at new Dehli test.indian batesman said that shoaib akhter has performed,some time, illegal bowling action.Specifically the ball whic hresulted the Rahul dravid out was illegal.The Indian camp is quite convinced that the ball that clocked 150kmph and cut back sharply could not have been legal.The secretary indian cricket board (BCCI),Mr.Naranjan shah has reacted carefully.He said international cricket board should consider the actions of the controvercial players.

Wasim Jaffer's bat sparkled brightest-1st day 2nd test: (+photos)

November 30, 2007-Kolkata:Wasim Jaffer hit a sparkling unbeaten century to take India to a healthy position on the 1st day of the 2nd Test at the Eden Gardens -Kolkata.
Jaffer scored up his fifth Test century and had faced 163 balls during the first two sessions of play. He got 23 boundaries adding 136 for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid (50).Dravid struck seven fours during his half-century before he was scalped by leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.Initially, India lost opener Dinesh Karthik early on after electing to bat. Sohail Tanveer inflicted the early jolt in the second over as Karthik failed for the third consecutive time in the series. But Jaffer and Dravid denied Pakistan any further success as the duo held the fort for the home side.At tea, India`s score was 206-2 with Jaffer unbeaten on 124 and Sachin Tendulkar giving him company on 26.
Tanvir, his initial success notwithstanding, was made to look more like a rookie by Jaffer than he has looked at any stage of his international initiation. And as Sachin Tendulkar helped up the pace nearer tea, with a swift fifty partnership, Kaneria's raggedness encapsulated that of his side's. Pakistan had their share of problems: Shoaib looked pretty unfit and struggled to complete his overs, Sami started off promisingly but drifted away and Tanvir, for some reason, kept feeding Jaffer on that middle and leg line. Younis Khan, the captain - Malik is injured and is not in the team - even turned to Yasir Hameed's leg spin and made Tanvir bowl left-arm spin but were thwarted by some fine batting from Jaffer and Tendulkar. Finally, Kaneria broke through with a googly to dismiss Tendulkar but Pakistan lacked intensity and had run of ideas as the day wore on. Finally,India decide to call it off for the day due to bad light.They werw at 352-3 (Jaffer 192*, Tendulkar 82, Ganguly 17*)
Indian team: Anil Kumble (captain), Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthik, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, V.V.S. Laxman, Mahendra Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel.
Pakistan team: Younis Khan (captain), Yasir Hameed, Salman Butt, Mohammad Yousuf, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Sami and Danish Kaneria.
Umpires: Rudi Koertzen, South Africa, and Billy Doctrove, West Indies.
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle, Sri Lanka.
TV Umpire: Amish Saheba, India.