In a test match in Faisalabad in 1997-98, Mushtaq Ahmed was bowling to Pat Symcox. Symcox missed the ball,which went on to knock the middle stump. However, the heat had fused together the bails and they did not fall. Symcox went on to make 81, his second highest test score!

New Zealand team is under great pressure after the second test against India resulted in a draw. New Zealand dominated the second test right from the day 1 but they went back with big disappointing.

New Zealand selection baord has decided to include Tim Southee in the final encounter of the India – New Zealand series. New Zealand selection panel head Glenn Turner said the 20 year Southee will strengthen the Kiwi attack.

“Tim’s inclusion gives us additional options with the new ball, and strengthens the attack against this strong Indian batting lineup,” Turner said in a statement.

Tim Souhtee was dropeed after going for 105 runs in 10 overs during the third one-dayer against India.

Injured Batsman Daniel Flynn has been retained in the squad but the final decision about his fitness would be taken before the test. Jamie How would continue to be with the squad as Flynn’s cover.

New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Chris Martin, Kyle Mills, Iain O’Brien, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.

Kolkata Knight Riders said they will announce the skipper and the squad for the IPL in south Africa.

Director of Cricket Operation KKR, John Buchanan decided not to disclose the name of the captain in India. After a six-day training camp at the Eden Gardens here, Buchanan said we want to keep all options open before we start off the IPL Season 2.

The team association is confused over the number of players the Knight Riders will be taking to South Africa. Buchanan told media that it would be a 24-member squad, KKR Chief executive officer Joy Bhattacharya said the whole squad of 29.

“I don’t want to disclose the names of the players who would be going to South Africa now as we want to keep all options open.

“We might take the whole squad which took part in the conditioning camp to South Africa. Nothing has been finalaised right now. The final team for KKR would be announced in South Africa,” said Bhattacharya.

The players will leave in batches for South Africa, with first lot flying out to Bloemfontein, the base camp of Kolkata Knight Riders, on Tuesday. On the other hand, Ganguly will be leaving on April 5.

Meanwhile the Knight Riders big three, Shahrukh Khan, Ganguly and Buchanan will meet in Mumbai to unveil the new jersey of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the teams main agenda of captaincy would be discussed.

Part 1

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“I think we can call him the second Wall of the Indian cricket team. This one comes from north.”

Virender Sehwag on Gautam Gambhir after Gambhir played a magnificient match saving innings against New Zealand.

M.A.K.Pataudi was captain in 40 of the 46 Tests he played for India.

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (Pataudi Jr), was a right-hand batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler. He played in 46 Test matches for India between 1961 and 1975. Soon after starting his career, at the age of 20 or 21, a car accident permanently damaged vision in his right eye.

In March 1962, Mansoor was elevated to the captaincy of the Indian cricket team. He had a a batting average of 34. Mansoor was captain of the Indian cricket team in 40 matches, only 9 of which resulted in victory for his team. But he his regarded by many as one of the best captains on the Indian team. He was dropped as captain of the Indian cricket team in 1970, and as a player in 1975.

Ist Innings : Australia
2nd Innings : South Africa
Match Result : South Africa won by 17 Runs

South African Innings:

Australian Innings

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South Africa Batting

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Day 4 of the 2nd Test bewtween India and New Zealand gave another proof about why this Indian team is probably the best in the world. At the end of Day 3 they were following on and still facing a huge deficit and had already lost Virender Sehwag,  no problemo. VVS Laxman tells the media “We can save this test, we have done this in the past and we can do it again”.

Sure enough Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid come out on the 4th day and they have a very simple plan, just bat the whole day. They pretty much succeed, they bat together for 2 seesions before an umpire’s mistake ends the partnership. Rahul Dravid was very unlucky to be given out, but again no problemo, in walks Sachin Tendulkar and starts playing his shots against the second new ball. While Gambhir and Dravid did not focus too much on scoring runs and hence the run rate was quite low, Sachin uped the ante and started scoring freely.

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A few interesting facts about the cricket world cup

• Australia has reached the final of the Cricket World Cup in 6 out of the 9 tournaments they have played in.
• England have made the most appearances in a Cricket World Cup final without a win, losing the final game of the tournament 3 times.
• Australia defeated each of the major Asian cricketing powers in the finals of the tournaments that make up their Cricket World Cup hat-trick.
• The team batting first has won 7 out of the 9 Cricket World Cup finals played to date.
• Only Australia and Sri Lanka have successfully chased down a first innings target to win a Cricket World Cup final.