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Ricky Ponting still believes his team does not need to alter its behaviour, but has admitted he would do some things “a little differently” if he could return to the Test in Sydney. Ponting’s parents received abusive phone calls in the fallout from the match and his wife Rhianna was concerned about her husband’s job after a newspaper column demanded his sacking.Australia will analyse footage of the Test, in which they equalled the world record of 16 consecutive wins, to see which areas can be improved. “It’s perception and the way people see things when they’re off the field,” Ponting said in the Daily Telegraph. “I might be talking to opposition players on the field but it might be construed by people watching on television that you’re in a slanging or sledging match when that’s not the case.”Ponting has been backed by Cricket Australia and his team-mates, but there has been severe criticism from former cricketing and sporting greats about the team’s attitude. In Sydney there were issues over race, umpiring, sportsmanship, catching, walking and the celebrations when the match was sealed with Michael Clarke’s three wickets in an over.Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, has concerns over the players’ behaviour despite them being in “a great cricket team”. “I would hate to see them remembered for any reason other than that,” he said in the Age. “The team is being criticised, members of the team are being criticised, and they need to be aware of that – they need to respond to that.”Geoff Lawson, the Pakistan coach and former Australia bowler, said he was disappointed with the way the side played in Sydney. “There’s certainly been a lot of feeling from ex-players who think the baggy green has been disrespected,” Lawson told Sydney radio . “Some of these [current] players need to be spoken to.”Perception is everything and the outside world thinks that this Australian team is arrogant and not well behaved. Whether the team themselves think that is another issue, but I can guarantee you the rest of the cricket world certainly feel that about this cricket team.”Ponting does not believe the team is arrogant. “I don’t think anyone wants the way Australia plays cricket to change,” he said. “Everyone likes to see a tough, uncompromising brand of cricket … If we were big headed and arrogant we wouldn’t have been celebrating like that. Big headedness doesn’t go hand in hand with the sort of euphoria we showed at the end of the game.”Ponting, who was lbw after hitting the ball in the first innings, told the paper there were things “that in hindsight you might do a little differently”. “There’s no doubt I stood there for a second or two too long and I shouldn’t have done that,” he said. “It probably didn’t help that I was shown throwing my bat when I got back to the rooms.”Some of the guys mightn’t have shaken Anil Kumble’s hand after the game but we were so wrapped up with the end of the game that they were already off the field. We all walked along when it was over and shook their hands.”He has also set himself a big task to get inside the hearts of all Australians. “What I want is for the Australian cricket team to be the most loved and the most respected sporting side in this country,” he said. “That’s always been one of my aims and it will continue to be.”Stuart Clark, who believes the arrogance claims come from media sensationalism, said a lot of the reaction had been “over the top”. “It seems like it is getting to the point where games will be played in silence,” he said in the Sydney Morning Herald. “Most of the talk in the Sydney Test was all pretty light-hearted, anyway, and that has been one of the reasons we have all been taken by a bit of surprise with what’s gone on after.”

Australia 8 for 289 (Symonds 69, Gilchrist 61, White 45, Bond 4-61) beat New Zealand 184 (Taylor 84) by 105 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary

New Zealand’s batsmen were unable to follow up on Shane Bond’s hat-trick and fell 105 runs short of Australia’s 289 despite Ross Taylor’s fighting 84. The visitors lost their final seven wickets for 23 in a disappointing finish after Bond made a memorable impact to close the first innings.Andrew Symonds and Cameron White launched a late onslaught of 90 in nine overs before Bond ended the partnership in the 50th over when White was caught in the deep and Symonds edged behind next ball attempting a huge drive. Bond, who became the second New Zealander to take a one-day international hat-trick and collected 4 for 61, finished the job with a ripper that took the top of Nathan Bracken’s off stump, but his team-mates failed to carry the momentum into their batting.Taylor, who came in at 2 for 7 in the fourth over, showed the 128 he made in his third ODI last month was no fluke and he was the only batsman to threaten Australia. His 82-ball innings featured three slog-sweeps that cleared the boundary – two off Symonds and one off White – and he repeatedly worked the ball from outside off stump to behind square leg.His pulling and square driving was also effective as he took on the Australians with ten fours and pushed New Zealand to 3 for 161 in the 32nd over. However, when Taylor flashed at a Mitchell Johnson delivery angling across him and was caught behind the resistance fell away against a relatively inexperienced bowling attack.Australia’s two newest fast bowlers, Johnson and Ben Hilfenhaus, each contributed but nobody dominated the wicket tally. Hilfenhaus, playing his first one-day international in the comfort of his home-ground conditions, took only 12 balls to make his mark. After a maiden first over, Hilfenhaus had Brendon McCullum lbw playing across the line for 5.Nathan Bracken also captured an early breakthrough when Nathan Astle edged a very low catch to Adam Gilchrist and was out without scoring. Stephen Fleming and Peter Fulton both partnered Taylor in the chase but Fleming (29) tried to lift his contribution, having struck just one four and a six, and lofted a Johnson delivery to Michael Hussey at mid-off.

Fulton reached 37 before he fell to an athletic two-grab catch by Symonds at cover, but no other batsman reached double figures. The speed at which the innings ended was a concern for the visitors, who crashed to 73 all-out against Sri Lanka a week ago.Ricky Ponting’s decision to bat first looked like a good one when Gilchrist smashed eight fours in his 58-ball 61, but after he fell attempting to replicate a slog-sweep he had put out of the ground from Jeetan Patel, the bowlers but the brakes on. The New Zealanders found a good line and drew Ponting, Michael Clarke and Hussey into picking out fieldsmen while trying to improve the run-rate.Symonds and White pushed Australia to an impressive total and helped them to take 74 from the last six overs. Symonds started slowly but finished with 69 off 70 balls while White smashed three sixes in his 45 off 32 deliveries, including helping take 22 from Bond’s second-last over before the sensational hat-trick.Until then Bond, who has 28 wickets against Australia in eight games, appeared unable to rein in the late runs and White launched him for a massive six over midwicket that landed on a stadium roof. Symonds’ controlled display was reminiscent of his century in the Boxing Day Test and he took until his 46th delivery to strike his second four.White put two consecutive Daniel Vettori deliveries over the midwicket boundary in the 45th over before Symonds also began finding the rope. However, White could not prove as effective with the ball and gave up 18 in his first two overs, although he returned to earn the wicket of James Franklin. Johnson, Stuart Clark and Symonds collected two victims each as the spoils were spread around. The opponent might have been different but the result was the same as throughout the summer as Australia boosted their competition tally with a bonus point by sealing the win 11.3 overs early.

Makhaya Ntini, ruled out of the third Test against Australia at Sydney with a knee injury, has found some consolation in being named South Africa’s most popular sportsperson, the first time the honour has been bestowed upon a cricketer.Ntini, 28, edged out footballer Jabu Pule in a research poll conducted by the South Africa Press Association. The research also showed that cricket, with 11.3 million spectators, was the second-most popular sport in South Africa behind football (14.7 million). The number of black spectators shows a continued upward growth, and they now make up the majority of the country’s cricket watchers.”This independent research shows that we are well on our way to achieving our aim of making South African cricket a truly national sport,” said Gerald Majola, Cricket South Africa’s chief executive. “Makhaya’s popularity is a result of his hard work, winning ways and warm personality. He is a credit to cricket and to the nation.”Currently ranked fourth in the ICC Test bowling rankings, Ntini has taken 230 Test wickets from 61 matches. In 124 one-day matches he has 195 wickets. He also had a good 2005, taking 44 wickets from 9 Tests and 36 from 21 one-day internationals.Ntini has been consistently been troubled with torn tendons in his left knee since making his international debut against Sri Lanka at Cape Town in 1998, and will play no part in the final Test of South Africa’s tour to Australia.

South Africa 227 for 5 (Kallis 103*, Rudolph 61, Pathan 3-61) v India
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

After the unresponsive track at Kanpur, this pitch, at the Eden Gardens, had something for everybody, and the difference was clear immediately. Jacques Kallis reached his sixth century in a year as wickets fell around him to aggressive quick bowling, and he handled the spinners competently, if not always comfortably. South Africa recovered due to his and Jacques Rudolph’s efforts, and finished on 227 for 5 by close of play.Kallis has had an exemplary year, beginning with the series against a powerless West Indian team. Often he arrived at the crease after the attack had been savaged, and he proceeded to further their pain. Today, however, he came in when South Africa were reeling at 21 for 2, with both openers gone. With him was Rudolph, who was gritty but lucky. Moreover, Zaheer Khan was letting fly deliveries aimed at the stumps. It was tough going, but Kallis constructed his innings patiently with mostly risk-free strokeplay. Sometimes he attempted premeditated sweeps against Harbhajan Singh, but realised the futility of it all and reverted to a more natural game.Before the series began, he had spoken of his new role as an adviser, a senior member, in this new-look side. When Hashim Amla, a cool customer with quick hands and feet, arrived at the centre, Kallis initiated him into international cricket with an extensive chat. Kallis’s presence at the wicket gave his team-mates confidence. When he reached his first hundred against India with a powerful square-cut, the team leaped up in unison and applauded, no doubt appreciating how vital the innings was.India’s bowlers, led by Zaheer, were stingy. Irfan Pathan, who had a wayward opening spell, returned strongly and conceded 61 runs in 22 overs. Anil Kumble and Harbhajan barely gave anything away, and were unlucky with wickets.

The opening bowlers gave India the upper hand early. Graeme Smith chased the second ball of the day, by Pathan, and edged it to Dinesh Karthik, who took everything that came his way. Not long after, Zaheer subjected Andrew Hall to a searching examination for five balls and took his wicket with the sixth, a straight one that Hall edged behind (21 for 2).After sustaining an injury in Australia last year, Zaheer showed signs last month that he was returning to the sort of form that India needed sorely from him. Here he probed every batsman who faced him, swinging or angling the ball away.Rudolph was troubled by Zaheer’s approach, but hung on and overcame the doubts caused by near-edges and calls of ‘ooh’ from behind. He chose to play the ball late for much of his innings. At times this was advantageous, for he countered the late swing successfully. But to the spinners, this allowed the ball to turn and bounce, which cramped him. He was ultimately bowled by Zaheer, pushing at a straight ball. His dismissal brought Amla to the crease.Amla, on first account, plays with nimble feet and quick hands. He played the bowlers with an open stance, which caused him trouble when the ball turned into him, but otherwise he seemed comfortable. He cut Kumble for an exquisite four for his first runs, and later flicked Zaheer to midwicket. He then took to Harbhajan, hoisted him to midwicket and cutting him savagely for another boundary off the next ball.Pathan then removed Amla in the middle of a searing spell. The ball pitched on middle, cut away, and hit off stump. Boeta Dippenaar then edged one to Karthik to give Pathan his third wicket (182 for 5). Pathan improved as the day went on, and bowled at his best with the old ball. His stamina, a boon for India, flagged towards the end. He taken off the attack, brought on again when the new ball was taken.With Zander de Bruyn’s help, Kallis ensured there were no more setbacks till the end, though de Bruyn survived a caught-behind appeal off Harbhajan, who was unlucky there. It would have exposed South Africa’s lower order. India continued to probe away thereafter, for on this pitch, there was always a chance.

Despite sustaining an eye injury that required 10 stitches in last night`s floodlit National League at Worcester, Adrian Dale has been named in the following 13 man squad to play Worcestershire in the Frizzell County Championship match starting tomorrow (31st July) at New Road. Dale will undergo a fitness test tomorrow morning to ascertain whether or not he will be able to play in the Championship match.

J Hughes (22)JP Maher (6)A Dale (11)MJ Powell (14)MP Maynard (25)MA Wallace (18) +RDB Croft (10) *MS Kasprowicz (3)SD Thomas (7)AG Wharf (16)DS Harrison (20)IJ Thomas (27)DA Cosker (21)

Queensland beat Victoria here today in a one-day cricket match with enough twists, farce and controversy to make a Hollywood scriptwriter happy.Such a script would surely have a part for cricket fan and film star Russell Crowe, who made a surprise appearance at Punt Rd late in the game to catch up with his friend, top Victorian player Shane Warne.Crowe and the rest of the crowd were kept entertained until the end of the second-last over of the match, when the Bulls’ Andy Bichel clipped Ian Hewett off his toes to give Queensland a one-wicket win.Queensland made 9-223 in reply to Victoria’s 9-222 off 50 overs, a much closer margin than winning captain Stuart Law would have liked.”We shouldn’t have let it get that tight with the way we started (our innings), we should have cruised to victory,” he said.”But credit to the Vics, you’ve got world-class performers in Shane Warne and Ian Harvey doing their stuff, (it) made it hard for us.”The match was played on the same pitch used for the Pura Cup game between the sides which finished yesterday.Match officials were no doubt worried the planned one-day strip would be too lively, given the rain that marred the four-day game which finished in near-darkness yesterday.Law thought there was a rule “set in stone” which forbade the same strip being used for two games in a row, but said the Bulls were determined to accept whatever they encountered on the trip south.”We could have complained, whinged and moaned through the four-day game about playing in terrible conditions,” he said of the weather.”But we got on and did our job and did the same today.”The Bulls also held their tongues over a key stumping decision against Jimmy Maher at a key stage in the match.Maher was 33 and the score 2-89 in the 17th over when Harvey, the man of the match, caught the left-hander off-balance.Wicketkeeper Darren Berry made a rare off-side stumping and the third umpire ruled against Maher, despite his back foot being very close to the ground.Harvey was man of the match after opening in the absence of Jason Arnberger, who had a groin niggle.Victoria was also without opening bowler Damien Fleming, rested because of bruising and blistering on the sole of his left foot.Harvey whacked 72 off 66 balls to set up a Bushrangers score of at least 240, while No.3 Brad Hodge chipped in with 61 and Michael Klinger made 39.But Victoria lost 5-20 at the end of its innings and could score only 30 in its last 10 overs, with spinner Nathan Hauritz (10 overs, 2-36) particularly effective through the middle of the innings.Harvey then took 3-19 in 10 overs and Warne chipped in with 2-40 off 10 as the Vics put the brakes on Queensland’s innings.The Bulls lost 7-45 to be 9-212 at the end of the 47th over, leaving Bichel and Kasprowicz to score the 11 runs needed.Their running between the wickets often could best be described as creative, but Law credited them for not panicking.Victorian coach Mick O’Sullivan refused to hang any blame on Jonathan Moss, who would have won the match if his throw to the keeper late in the game had notbeen wild.O’Sullivan pointed out there were “a dozen” such incidents in the match.Andrew Symonds top-scored for Queensland with 46 off 47 balls, including three sixes.Victoria now has no wins from three ING Cup matches, making it extremely tough for the Bushrangers to reach the final.

Shashank Manohar is set to be elected BCCI president unopposed on Sunday, replacing Jagmohan Dalmiya who died in Kolkata on September 20. At 3 pm on Saturday, the deadline to file nominations, only Manohar’s name was filed as a candidate for the election that will be held during the special general meeting in Mumbai on Sunday afternoon.Manohar received backing from all the six members from East Zone – Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), National Cricket Club, Odisha Cricket Association, Jharkhand Cricket Association, Assam Cricket Association and Tripura Cricket Association. It is understood all six East Zone members nominated him, as it is the zone’s turn to nominate the president for the period till 2017. Soon after Dalmiya’s death, there was talk of the East camp wanting one of its own to stand for the elections, but there was no consensus, thus paving the way for Manohar.Confirming the East zone’s stand, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, representing the CAB, told the media at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai: “A lot of important people have led BCCI in the past and Manohar has also done it quite well. I am sure he will do a good job.”Dalmiya was the first BCCI president to die while in office, thus necessitating the unprecedented action of the board choosing a replacement at a special general meeting. This will be Manohar’s second stint as BCCI chief – he served as president between October 2008 and September 2011. He had first emerged as the consensus candidate when the ruling political party in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party, backed him and opposed Sharad Pawar’s candidature.

ODI series against India – January-February 2006
Umar Gul had just come back after severe back injuries had threatened to finish his career, Mohammad Asif had announced himself for the first time on the international circuit and Shoaib Akhtar was coming off the back of his most impressive Test performances (against England). India had been beaten in the Tests, and if the three were available the ODI series looked to go the same way. Shoaib pulled up just before the first ODI, however, with what turned out to be serious ankle and knee injuries, though cynics maintained it was because his action had come under scrutiny again. India won the series 4-1.Tour to Sri Lanka – March-April 2006
Shoaib missed the entire tour with a knee injury but Pakistan didn’t miss him at all as Asif and Gul more than made up for his absence. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan was in impressive form as Pakistan won the ODI series. But he had to leave before the Test series began to attend to a family emergency. Ultimately, with Asif in incredible form, it didn’t matter, his 17 wickets helping Pakistan to a 1-0 series win.Tour to England – June-September 2006
The tour on which Pakistan’s pace attack completely fell apart. Shoaib was always unlikely to play before the ODIs but Pakistan’s Test preparations were further rocked when a groin injury Rana picked up while on county duty with Sussex was aggravated. It ruled him out of all four Tests. Things went from bad to worse as Asif injured his right elbow in a tour match against England A before the first Test. He came back only for the last, infamous, Test at the Oval. Rao Iftikhar Anjum, who had come to England as a replacement for Asif, also had to leave midway through the tour due to the death of his father. It left Pakistan relying on Gul, Mohammad Sami and Shahid Nazir, recalled after an eight-year exile. Though Gul began his improvement on the tour, Pakistan were comprehensively beaten in the Tests. And despite the return of Shoaib, Asif and Rana for the ODIs, they were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw.ICC Champions Trophy – October-November 2006
Pakistan was collectively licking its lips at the prospect of 30 overs in every match being bowled by Shoaib, Asif and Gul, even as late as the day before the opening match. But on the morning of October 16, news emerged that Shoaib and Asif had tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone, in internal tests held by the Pakistan board a few weeks earlier. Both were immediately sent back home, though initially it didn’t seem to affect the team as they pulled off a fantastic opening win against Sri Lanka. But the absence told later, not least when having reduced South Africa to 42 for 5 in a do-or-die game, they lacked the depth in resources to knock out the opposition and were duly bundled out at the group stage. Asif and Shoaib were banned by a PCB tribunal for one and two years respectively. Barely a month later, however, the bans were overturned on appeal by another tribunal.West Indies in Pakistan – November-December 2006
Shoaib and Asif were ruled out after their positive dope tests and bans, but a weak West Indian line-up had few answers to Gul and Shahid Nazir. Between them the pair took 27 wickets in three Tests. When Rana returned to form in the ODI series soon after, leading Pakistan to a comfortable win, the future was suddenly rosy once again.

Tour to South Africa – January-February 2007
With the bans on Shoaib and Asif overturned and Gul in form, Pakistan again looked forward to the three exploiting helpful conditions in South Africa. Here, though, was another sign that it just wasn’t meant to be: Shoaib was controversially not selected for the touring squad initially, as he was deemed not to be match fit. Yet ten days later, he was called to the squad as cover for Gul, who, it turned out, had travelled with an ankle injury in the first place, and which forced him to miss the entire tour. Shoaib, meanwhile, arrived to play a pivotal role on the first day of the second Test, taking four wickets. However, he pulled his hamstring in the process, ruling him out of the Test and the rest of the tour. Asif manfully bore the burden, helping Pakistan win one Test and almost leading them to a series win, even as speculation about his continuing elbow problem persisted.Meanwhile, Shabbir Ahmed, the forgotten fast bowler through the year, had his action cleared by the ICC and was eligible to play for the first time since November 2005. He was called up by captain Inzamam-ul-Haq only for the selectors to veto the decision, arguing that he wasn’t fit. Eventually, Inzamam had his way and Shabbir flew out for the ODI series. He played in the only Twenty20 international, looking rusty with a remodelled action and injured his groin. Within a week of arriving, he too was sent back. He will now be seen playing in the Indian Cricket League.World Cup – March-April 2007
After days of intense speculation and rumour, Asif and Shoaib were left out of Pakistan’s World Cup squad again at the very last minute. Ostensibly the duo were omitted because of elbow [Asif] and knee [Shoaib] injuries: but it was widely believed that the PCB was worried they could still test positive for banned substances at the tournament. Even in their absence, there was little excuse for a first-round failure, sealed by a loss to Ireland on a green top.ICC World Twenty20 – August-September 2007
Dope out of their systems, thorough pre-tournament training camps to ensure every player was fit; now was surely opportunity for Pakistan’s first-choice pace attack to come together? Think again. Just before the tournament began, Shoaib struck Asif with a bat in a dressing-room brawl and duly got himself sent back to Pakistan, facing a possible life ban.South Africa in Pakistan – September-October 2007
Asif and Gul played in both Tests even as Pakistan chose to rely heavily on spin. Shoaib sat out the Tests as part of a 13-match ban for his indiscretion in South Africa. He made it back in time for the last ODI of the series, the only snag now being that Asif had been bowled fully in to the ground. His long-standing elbow problem flared up during the second Test and forced him out for four of the five ODIs, including of course the only ODI Shoaib played.Tour to India – November-December 2007
Asif’s elbow injury ruled him out, initially, from the ODI series but eventually from much of the tour (although there remains an outside chance that he might be fit for the final Test). Gul then pulled out of the first Test with a back complaint and just as he seemed to be recovering in time for the second Test, news emerged that he was out of the series and being sent back home. And finally Shoaib, who was looking fitter by the spell, was admitted to hospital days before the second Test at Kolkata with a chest infection that put him in doubt for the Test.

The Asian Television Network International Limited has been confirmed as the sole sponsor of the Canadian full and Under-19 sides.A statement from the company said that the ATN name and logo would appear on playing and practice clothing used by the sides on ICC Americas Championship (World Cricket League; Division 1) and ICC Intercontinental Cup matches.The company said that the contract would also mean the side had exposure on the Commonwealth Broadcasting Network channel and ATN’s soon to be launched 24-hour cricket channel.

The infighting in Zimbabwe Cricket has taken a vast toll on the country’s domestic game. Three months into the new domestic season, no cricket worthy of talking about is being played in Mashonaland, the country’s biggest province.Cyprian Mandenge, whose disputed chairmanship of the Mashonaland Cricket Association won him a position on the split ZC board, dismissed six top clubs from the province in August for taking a stance against the national board. Mandenge proceeded to restructure the provincial leagues, filling them up with development sides, all dominated by students and school-leavers. There are no top coaches at the clubs, and they have no experienced senior team-mates or opposition to learn from.Already, plans are underway to pick a “development” side from these clubs to represent Mashonaland in the Logan Cup, Zimbabwe’s premier first-class competition.While Zimbabwe’s top players have again put pressure on Peter Chingoka and Ozias Bvute to leave office in the aftermath of Tatenda Taibu’s resignation and retirement, there is no sympathy whatsoever coming from the pro-ZC Mashonaland leagues.The lack of sympathy is a result of selfishness. The players in the heavily-depleted leagues have been told that they will be picked to play for Zimbabwe if the professional players continue challenging the ZC leadership. The youngsters have swallowed the promises, which if allowed to pass, will effectively bring the dearth of Zimbabwe cricket. Where can Zimbabwe get another side when they have shown in the past months that they are clearly in dire straits and in need of quality player injection from somewhere?The professional players, meanwhile, have been playing club cricket in a splinter league that was formed after they were expelled from the MCA. But games have not been of as high a quality as they would have wanted. The intensity and competition is no longer the same, as the players have been told that they will not be considered for the province’s first-class side.Mandenge is still withholding funds from ZC disbursed to the clubs two months ago, and ZC has stopped helping with grounds maintenance at their grounds. But the clubs are trying to arrange everything for themselves, and they maintain that they will go ahead and chose their own side to feature in the Logan Cup.Fortunately, the Logan Cup is not starting until April, and moderates in Zimbabwe cricket are hoping that the current situation will have been resolved by then.