Tom Moody, the former Australian batsman who’s currently coaching Sri Lanka, has said the toss could turn out to be a vital factor in Friday’s crucial clash against India at Port-of-Spain. He added that his side wouldn’t take the game lightly, especially since the result would have a bearing on carrying forward points to the Super Eight stage.”The toss will be important, particularly given that the teams are evenly matched,” Moody said, taking into account a bout of showers that had washed the Queen’s Park Oval on match eve. “You can get away with losing the toss against a team not as good as you are, but in a game like this, the toss may be pretty important. We want to see the overhead conditions and the wicket before we decide on the final combination. There has been a bit of rain today and that may have a bit of a bearing, but I really can’t see massive changes to the side.”Moody was glad that his batsmen had adapted well to the sluggish Trinidad pitch, something which couldn’t be said of India’s batsmen in their opening match against Bangladesh. “We have had two good games, and are looking forward to finishing off positively. There is a lot of confidence within the team, and the one big advantage we have is that we have played good cricket on this wicket. It is not an easy one to adapt to, but we have done that with both bat and ball, gotten over some tricky hurdles.”.”It is not about India, as far as we are concerned. It’s about Sri Lanka, and what we can take out of this game. It is the biggest game of the competition so far for Sri Lanka. We need to carry forward points to the next stage, and whether it is at the expense of India is not important.”As India’s team management pondered over their spin-bowling options for the game, Moody felt that Anil Kumble, a bowler who’s gone wicketless in his last four matches against them, might be a bigger threat than Harbhajan Singh, the offspinner. “We have all played Harbhajan over the last two years in both Test and one-day cricket ona pretty regular basis. India might even play both their spinners. It is going to be a challenge. Kumble is a wonderful, experienced bowler and he had a verygood game against Bermuda. He will perhaps provide a greater challenge.”India’s captain Rahul Dravid’s didn’t buy the argument about Sri Lanka being the favourites. “I don’t think we are weaker than Sri Lanka in any department. We are evenlymatched sides and it will depend on who plays well on the given day. It will be a littledifferent playing them at a neutral venue, but we have played them 10-12 times in the last one and a half years and both sides know the strengths and weaknessesof each other. We have done well in the past against them in neutral venues, like in the 1999 and 2003 World Cups, and we can take confidence from thosegames.”

Ashley Giles has undergone an exploratory operation on his right hip in Vail, Colorado after suffering pain during Warwickshire’s pre-season tour of Grenada.Giles flew to the States to visit his specialist on Tuesday after withdrawing from the MCC match against Sussex at Lord’s last week. At the time he said how frustrating it was to be back on the sidelines. “Unfortunately, now I’ve gone back a couple of steps but fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious and we can sort it out and get me back on the pitch really quickly.”After missing the whole of the 2006 season with persistent hip and groin problems he returned to the England fold during the Ashes tour. He played the first two Tests before being omitted at Perth, and then having to fly home to be with his wife who’d been diagnosed with a brain tumour.The ECB said they would not be releasing any further information at the moment.

Division One

A seven-wicket haul from Mushtaq Ahmed not only continued a welcome return to form but also put Sussex in a strong position against Hampshire at Arundel. Hampshire were 92 for 2 in reply to Sussex’s 341 before losing eight wickets for 110 to hand the home side a first-innings lead of 139. Sussex found the going much easier second time round, despite losing two wickets soon after tea to Dimitri Mascarenhas. At the close they had extended their lead to 280 with Richard Montgomerie unbeaten on 62.Durham responded positively to Lancashire’s 367 with Gordon Muchall striking an unbeaten 65 as they fought back from 58 for 3 at Chester-le-Street. Glen Chapple’s 57, along with useful efforts from the bottom three, lifted Lancashire’s total as Mark Davies finished with four wickets. Tom Smith struck twice in his first two overs to remove Durham’s openers, but Lancashire couldn’t press home the advantage as Muchall began the recovery. He was partnered firstly by Dale Benkenstein then Scott Styris. Muttiah Muralitharan failed to make an impression, conceding four-an-over, and Durham will be confident of at least reaching parity on first innings.Joe Sayers missed his first double century by 13 runs as Yorkshire left Kent in serious difficultly at Tunbridge Wells. He was caught off James Tredwell after more than eight-and-a-half hours at the crease. Adil Rashid and Tim Bresnan built on Sayers’ effort with half-centuries as Yorkshire piled up 551 before Darren Gough called them in. Gough then removed the first two Kent wickets in an over – Martin van Jaarsveld going third ball – and Deon Kruis also bagged a brace as the innings fell to 65 for 4. Robert Key and Neil Dexter survived until the close but two tough days lie ahead if Kent are to stave off defeat.Vikram Solanki struck a career-best 232 for Worcestershire on the second day at New Road, but Surrey responded to the home side’s massive total by racing to 144 for 1 at stumps. Worcestershire declared on 701 for 6, equalling the highest total at New Road (701 for 4 declared by Leicestershire 101 years ago) but, for once, Graeme Hick couldn’t capitalise on the flat track – falling to Ian Salisbury for 15. He is now 12 short of 30,000 first-class runs for Worcestershire and 49 adrift of a career total of 40,000. In reply, Surrey sped to 144 for 1 with Jon Batty unbeaten on 66.

Division Two

3rd dayHamish Marshall struck a unbeaten 120 as Gloucestershire fought hard after being asked to follow-on by Derbyshire at Derby. Trailing by 242 they were put in again and fell to 34 for 3, but Marshall and Alex Gidman turned the innings around by adding 186 for the fourth wicket. Marshall’s hundred was his first in the Championship this season and Gidman continued his prolific recent form. In the first innings he narrowly missed a third century in consecutive innings when he was ninth out for 91, but has a chance of making in three in four knocks after closing on 69. Tom Lungley has led the Derbyshire attack, taking two second-innings scalps to follow his five first time around, and holds a key role on the final day with Gloucestershire probably needing to bat for two sessions to save the game.Leaders Nottinghamshire continued to find the going hard on the third day of their match against bottom side Glamorgan at Swansea. Resuming on 199 for 5, David Hussey (98) and Mark Ealham (74*) put on 112 for the sixth wicket for Notts before Dean Cosker and Robert Croft checked the recovery to hand Glamorgan a first-innings lead of 65. Nicky Peng (65) built on that, steering them to 100 for 1 only for late wickets to leave the game well poised. At stumps, Glamorgan were 158 for 4, 222 ahead.2nd dayEssex built upon their healthy overnight position of 309 for 2 to compile an enormous 649 for 5 before snatching four quick Northamptonshire wickets at Chelmsford. Ravi Bopara, resuming on 155, notched the next four runs to match his career best before piling onwards to his first double century. At the other end, Grant Flower was also dominating Northamptonshire’s attack and together the pair put on 320 for the third wicket. Flower eventually fell for 203, but Ryan ten Doeschate then took the bull by the horns, smashing a violent 62 from 37 balls. Northamptonshire’s day didn’t get any better, losing four wickets before stumps – including Usman Afzaal for 73 and their mainstay, David Sales, for 23.Somerset were two wickets away from wrapping up a crushing two-day win over Leicestershire at Taunton, after their top four each registered hundreds. Marcus Trescothick, who resumed on 153, fell for 182 but James Hildreth (163) and Cameron White (114) put on 202 for the third wicket as Somerset raced past 600. A quickfire 36 from their young wicketkeeper, Craig Kieswetter, led to their declaration on 675 for 5, gaining a mammoth lead of 507. Leicestershire simply crumbled, Charl Willoughby and Andy Caddick each picked up three wickets to leave them on 188 for 8, some 319 runs behind.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out

Michael Vaughan’s cry for England to show a ruthlessness and “to really enjoy getting teams in the dirt” at the end of the third Test has been heeded, his team wrapping up a comprehensive seven-wicket win over West Indies on the final day of the fourth Test at Chester-le-Street. With Steve Harmison finally showing impressive rhythm and Monty Panesar continuing to bamboozle, England are handily placed ahead of India’s visit next month.The second session was almost a mirror image of yesterday when England’s batsmen capitalised on a woeful display from West Indies’ seamers. Today, it was England’s bowlers who seized the initiative after the interval, prompted by the delayed introduction of Panesar to the attack. The stroke play however – if that isn’t too generous a description – of some of West Indies’ batsmen was nothing short of calamitous. Between lunch and tea, they lost 6 for 88 while, all along, Shivnarine Chanderpaul acted as the dam between England and victory.Dwayne Bravo appeared to be the only man from whom Chanderpaul would receive sensible, solid support, and went on the attack – to England’s seamers in particular. Initially solid, he was unsettled and frustrated by Harmison’s shock-and-awe tactics before lunch and, soon after the interval, went out all guns blazing. An audacious and perfectly placed hook over square leg energised him, before he slapped Harmison over extra cover for another four. But at a time when West Indies simply needed him to block, block, block, he couldn’t rein in his attacking instincts and skied Panesar to mid-off.The wicket owed as much to Harmison’s venom in the previous over as Panesar’s nerve for tossing it up. England’s tortured fast bowler finally appears to have worked himself into form, though such a statement is often prematurely optimistic for Harmison. But nevertheless, during a long and unbroken 12-over spell, he was disciplined, fast, straight and hostile. On a couple of occasions his wicketkeeper, Matt Prior, could have benefited from a ladder such was the bounce he was extracting – on a spongy fifth-day pitch, too.

The floodgates now open, Marlon Samuels came and went in a hurry, edging Panesar to Paul Collingwood at first slip, and Denesh Ramdin was bowled by an absolute corker. As though magnetised to his leg-stump, the ball veered into Ramdin’s pads before spitting past a seemingly watertight forward defensive. Panesar was unstoppable, bowling with mesmerising control, the ball looping and dipping at the last moment. Perhaps Vaughan isn’t yet comfortable regarding Panesar as his most potent fifth-day-weapon, hence his slight delay in introducing him today, but that ought to change for the India series. He is fast becoming deadly in all conditions.While the dominoes tumbled at one end, Chanderpaul remained fiercely resolute at the other and began to open his shoulders, wary of the brittleness of West Indies’ tail. And how brittle. Daren Powell produced a wretched shot against Harmison – even worse than his pitiful attempt in the first innings – trying to spoon him over cover. And Fidel Edwards was bowled through the gate, his off-stump sent cart wheeling by the same bowler who, by now, was in excellent rhythm. After cracking Panesar for a couple of fours, Chanderpaul’s vigil ended when he was bowled by one which slid under his sweep shot. It was the first time he had been dismissed in over 18 hours, and also handed Panesar his sixth five-wicket haul.England lost Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss in their chase of 110, but Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen were in no mood to be contained. Vaughan, in particular, drove magnificently, hammering Edwards through extra cover before driving him straight back down the ground as England raced home in the 42nd over.The regeneration has begun, and it has been a solid start for Peter Moores as the new coach. Sterner tests lie ahead, starting with India next month.

Brendon McCullum’s decision to return to Otago could see incumbent wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins switch over to Auckland.After talks with Hopkins, Otago cricket chief executive Ross Dykes hinted that changed personal circumstances could prompt a move to Auckland. “He’s recently married and his wife lives and works in Auckland,” Dykes told Radio Sport. “He’s had to commute down here for the last couple of years and now that he has a national contract it would perhaps be easier for him to play his cricket closer to home and closer to his wife.”Players with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) contracts had until June 15 to decide which province they would play for next summer but Hopkins was granted a week’s extension to decide on his future.”We’re hopeful he will sign for Otago for next season but it’s not cast in stone,” Dykes said. “He’s been a hugely valuable player to us for the last three-four years and we would hate to lose him. We see no lack of opportunity for him down here but we do have to be mindful of his personal circumstances.”Hopkins was called up for New Zealand’s tour England in 2004 as wicketkeeping cover for McCullum, and on that tour he made five ODI appearances. He has 98 dismissals in 25 first-class matches for Otago since 2003, and is widely regarded as New Zealand’s second-best wicketkeeper after he was handed an NZC contract. Dykes said Hopkins would get plenty of games if he remained with Otago, as McCullum will probably feature in New Zealand’s home series against England and Bangladesh next season.But even if McCullum plays in only a handful of Otago’s one-day and Twenty20 games, Dykes said Hopkins, who he termed the side’s most valuable player in terms of performance, will be the preferred wicketkeeper.

Dinesh Karthik has admitted that taking up the dual responsibility of opening the batting and wicketkeeping will be “difficult” though he is ready to do the job if required during the Test series in England. Karthik, who’s opened in the previous three Tests, has been working harder on his batting since that is his primary responsibility on this tour.Originally a wicketkeeper and middle-order batsman but now a specialist opener, Karthik said: “If the team management wants me to do it [open and keep wicket], I will. I’ve done it in domestic cricket so I’m used to it. I just need to be mentally prepared. I’ve worked harder on my batting than on my wicketkeeping on this tour as batting is what’s going to be important. It’s not as if keeping isn’t but I’m working more on my batting.”He wasn’t willing to be drawn into questions about Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s poor form behind the stumps but spoke of the challenges of keeping in England.”I’m playing as a batsman now and he [Dhoni] is doing a fantastic job keeping,” Karthik said. “It takes time to adjust in England. You need to watch the ball closely; it tends to wobble after it passes the stumps and unlike in India it might just go the other way. You have to hope it doesn’t wobble much and be ready to move in any direction.”I’ve always been a keeper – I kept in Ireland, also kept in the second innings in Sussex. I feel good about it. Keeping has always come naturally to be, I’m lucky that way.”

Nadeem Malik has returned to his former county Nottinghamshire on a one-month loan from Worcestershire to help them out in their injury crisis.Malik, the 24-year-old seamer, will play in Wednesday’s Championship match against Somerset to replace Kyle Hogg – another loan player – who has an ankle problem.Nottinghamshire’s director of cricket Mick Newell said: “With five seamers already out injured, we simply didn’t have any other fast bowling options from within the club to turn to.”As soon as Kyle failed a fitness test this morning we were on the phone to a few contacts and when we knew that Nadeem was available, it was an easy decision to make. He is familiar with the set-up here and should be able to settle in immediately.”Malik signed for Worcestershire in 2004 after coming up through the youth system at Nottinghamshire and playing for England Under-19s. He has played 45 first-class matches, taking 126 wickets at an average of 33.84.Nottinghamshire’s injury list is currently creaking with Mark Ealham, Charlie Shreck, Paul Franks, Mark Footitt and Simon Francis, while Ryan Sidebottom is on England duty.

The future of Mark Greatbatch as Warwickshire’s coach appears to be in increasing doubt. Not only are the county fighting relegation in the County Championship, but he is also under fire from supporters.At a heated forum last week, Greatbatch, who was appointed at the beginning of last season, faced calls from members for his resignation after two summers where the county has underperformed. His relationship with the media has also been tense, and he was hardly diplomatic when asked for his views on the forum. “I thought there were some good questions and I thought there were some idiots there,” he said.There were murmurings of discontent as early as last season, but with two years of his three-year contract remaining, Greatbatch won the backing of the committee. Things have not improved, however, and they are already relegated from Division One of the Pro40 and a double relegation would almost certainly seal his fate.After the latest Championship defeat – to fellow-strugglers Surrey at the weekend – Greatbatch admitted he was under pressure. “I’ve had a near the end of the season appraisal and I’ll have an end of season appraisal,” he told The Times. “There’s pressure there; time will tell. If you’d spoken to me a month or three weeks ago I would have been quite upset, but now I’m actually calm. Whether that’s a good or bad thing I don’t know.”I’m calm in the sense that what be will be. You can’t plan it.”Speculation as to who might replace him is already doing the round at Edgbaston, with two names emerging as favourites, Ashley Giles, who was forced to retire last month, is one, although he has no coaching credentials; the other is Dermot Reeve, who has been living in New Zealand since revelations about his drug-taking emerged in the national newspapers.Reeve is a more realistic possibility as he led the county to domestic success in the 1990s and also spent time as Somerset’s coach. But his recent misdemeanors might count against him at a county where there have been several instances of players falling foul of drugs.

December 18, 1989
Sachin Tendulkar makes his ODI debut in a 16-over game against Pakistan at Gujranwala. He makes a duck as India fail to chase 88 against Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan, and Aaqib Javed.March 6, 1990
Tendulkar scores his first one-day run in his third match, against New Zealand at Wellington. His 36 from No. 6 plays a crucial part in India reaching 221. India eventually beat New Zealand by one run.December 5, 1990
Tendulkar wins his first Man-of-the-Match award. As first-change bowler, he dismisses the Sri Lankan openers and then scores 53 off 41 to take India to the victory target of 228.November 24, 1993
South Africa need six runs to win off the last over in the Hero Cup semi-final against India at the Eden Gardens. Tendulkar bowls a sensational over, conceding just three. March 27, 1994
Tendulkar opens in an ODI for the first time – against New Zealand at Auckland and goes on to make 82 off 49 balls. September 9, 1994
Tendulkar scores his first century in his 79th match, against Australia in Colombo. His 110 off 130 balls sets up a 31-run victory. .October, 1995
He signs a five-year contract worth Rs 31.5 crore with WorldTel, which makes him the richest cricketer in the world.February-March, 1996
With 523 runs at 87.16, Tendulkar is the highest scorer in the World Cup. It is also the first time a batsman has scored more than 500 runs in a World Cup.August 8, 1996
Tendulkar is named captain of the Indian team, at age 23.January 2, 1998
He is sacked from the captaincy after 15-month tenure.

April 1, 1998
After his fine Test series against Australia, Tendulkar continues to dominate them – this time with his leg-breaks. At 203 for 3 in 32nd over, Australia look set to chase 310 in Kochi, when he comes and takes 5 for 32. April 22-24, 1998
Scores two blazing, back-to-back hundreds against Australia at Sharjah. The first one helps India qualify for the final on net run-rate and the second wins India the trophy. September 26, 1998
Tendulkar scores an unbeaten 127 against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, surpassing Desmond Haynes’ record of 17 centuries in ODIs. October 28, 1998
The domination of Australia continues. Tendulkar scores 141 and takes 4 for 38 to knock Australia out of the inaugural Champions Trophy in Bangladesh.November 13, 1998
Tendulkar scores 124 not out off 92 balls against Zimbabwe and wins his 32nd Man-of-the-Match award, taking him past the record of 31 held by Viv Richards.May 23, 1999
After having attended his father’s funeral, he comes back and scores an unbeaten, emotional 140 against Kenya at Bristol in the 1999 World Cup. Dedicates the century to his father.July 28, 1999
Is reappointed captain – without his consent – after India, under Mohammad Azharuddin, fail to reach the semifinals of the World Cup in England.November 8, 1999
Scores the highest individual score by an Indian in ODIs – an unbeaten 186 off 150 balls against New Zealand at Hyderabad.March 31, 2001
Becomes the first player to score 10,000 runs in one-day cricket during the course of his 139 against Australia at Indore.

February-March, 2003
Scores 673 runs at 61.18 in the World Cup in South Africa, and steers India into the finals. His 98 against Pakistan in a hugely anticipated match is one of his best knocks ever. Even though Australia are the champions, he is named the Man of the Series.August, 2004
Tennis elbow surfaces, during the Videocon Cup in Holland. Misses the Champions Trophy in England and then the first two home Tests against Australia.May, 2005
Goes for the surgery for the tennis elbow, misses a triangular in Sri Lanka, a tour to Zimbabwe, and the Super Series in Australia.October 25, 2005
Makes a roaring return to international cricket, with a 93 off 96 balls against Sri Lanka, in India’s 350 for 6 at Nagpur.March, 2006
Goes to England for a surgery on his right shoulder. Misses the one-dayers against England and the tour to West Indies.September 14, 2006
Makes a stunning comeback, with 141 off 148 balls against West Indies in the DLF Cup in Kuala Lumpur. India lose the match by the D/L method.July 2007
Tendulkar scores two nineties in the three-ODI series against South Africa in Ireland. He passes the 15,000-run mark during the second ODI.October 11, 2007
Tendulkar becomes the second player after Sanath Jayasuriya to play 400 ODIs.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

England again demonstrated their ability to bounce back from adversity with a commendable 65-run win to draw level in the one-day series at Dambulla, their first one-day victory in Sri Lanka since 1982. Riding on Owais Shah’s 82, which led a fightback from 61 for 4, the fast bowlers shredded Sri Lanka’s top order then Graeme Swann completed a fine all-round day by further enhancing his impressive return to the team.The match was a case of role reversal from the opening game; this time it was Sri Lanka’s turn to struggle under the lights after England had battled their way out of trouble. The first half of England’s innings had been played in quicksand with the batsmen unable to make any advances against another consistent display from the home side’s bowlers. But Shah showed his ability to marshall a recovery, adding 70 with Swann as 151 runs came from the second 25 overs. It gave the attack a target to bowl at, with England’s quicks enjoying the evening conditions.Ryan Sidebottom struck with his second ball when Upul Tharanga drove loosely and Alastair Cook snaffled the catch at second slip. The same combination should have accounted for Kumar Sangakkara two balls later, but this time Cook couldn’t hold onto a chance which came higher and slightly quicker. Sangakkara continued to live a charmed life when Phil Mustard palmed a top edge off James Anderson.Sidebottom’s probing line didn’t let Sanath Jayasuriya – who became the first player to reach 400 ODIs (more than the whole England side) – escape to a flying start and, trying to find a gap through the covers, picked out Ian Bell. Sangakkara never settled at the crease despite his two lives, spending 37 balls over 9 before edging the final delivery of Broad’s first over low to Mustard, who made amends for his earlier mistake with a neat catch.England’s bowlers were revelling in a situation that allowed them to operate to their natural styles and Broad dispatched Chamara Silva first ball with a delivery which bounced and looped to backward point. Mahela Jayawardene battled to get settled, but Tillakaratne Dilshan took to the attack to give Sri Lanka hope. With the fifth-wicket partnership forming, they were ahead of England in terms of runs and Paul Collingwood knew he needed to continue taking wickets.The value of having a spinner who isn’t afraid to give the ball air in one-day cricket was displayed as Swann ripped his third delivery through Dilshan’s drive and into his off stump. There is much debate about England’s selection policy of excluding Monty Panesar, but Swann’s contributions with bat, ball and in the field are making his place secure for the short term at least. Collingwood had the confidence in his offspinner to allow him two close fielders for large periods of his 10 overs, with Sri Lanka’s batsmen unusually tied to their crease.Collingwood himself again provided a vital role with the ball, and it was his removal of opposite number Jayawardene – a leading edge to midwicket – which virtually nailed the match for England. Swann bagged a deserved second with a sharp caught-and-bowled off the dangerous Fareez Maharoof.

The crushing margin of England’s victory, only reduced by a final-wicket stand of 43, was even more significant given the problems they encountered early on with the bat. When Kevin Pietersen pulled Dilhara Fernando to midwicket they were 61 for 4, and by the midway point had laboured to 83 for 4 as Maharoof continued his probing line from the first match, superbly backed up by Fernando and Chaminda Vaas.Collingwood began the fightback alongside Shah and the pair slowly hauled England out of their hole with a stand of 78 in 16 overs. Collingwood started to increase the tempo and finally cleared the boundary with a well-timed strike over midwicket off Fernando – the only six of the match. However, Fernando lifted his pace and beat Collingwood on the back foot with one which scooted through, and in the following over Ravi Bopara moved too far across against Dilshan, exposing his leg stump with terminal results.The double loss left Shah needing to balance aggression with caution, and he continued to show the skills which have made him a valuable inclusion in England’s middle order over the last few months. His fifty came off 72 balls and with Swann again showing composure at the other end, he had the confidence to hunt for boundaries. He cracked Lasith Malinga over mid-off and used his feet against Dilshan, adding 70 off 69 balls until Swann was run-out for a 37-ball 34.But Shah kept going until the final over, taking advantage of a few lapses from Sri Lanka in the field, running hard despite the hot conditions and lifting England to a total which appeared out of reach a couple of hours earlier. In the end it was more than enough and the series has been given fresh impetus. What a difference three days make.