India's tour of England

Tour Match, New Road: Worcestershire 200-6 v India 417-8 dec India's bowlers prepared for Thursday's second Test by reducing Worcestershire to 200 for six before their rain-hit match was declared a draw. With the first two days of the match lost, the tourists declared overnight on 417 for eight. Only skipper Sourav Ganguly, a back-up seamer, had any success before lunch, having Anurag Singh caught by Virender Sehwag for 46 to end an opening partnership of 84. But his team-mates got in on the act during the afternoon, Ashish Nehra making up in part for some wayward bowling with two quick wickets. Opener Stephen Peters hit a half-century from 90 deliveries, with eight fours and a six before he was lbw to the left-armer. But, when Ben Smith was snaffled by Sehwag, the decline set in. Agit Agarkar, who starred with the bat in India's first Test defeat, tightened what was a wayward line at Lord's, ans was rewarded with the wicket of Vikram Solanki. Skipper Graeme Hick managed 27 before he was leg before to Harbhajan Singh, touted as a replacement for Anil Kumble as the sole spinner for Trent Bridge. Fast bowler Simon Jones faces a scan on his injured side before England's second Test with India. The Glamorgan paceman was hurt during his Test debut, the 177-run victory over India at Lord's. Jones is likely to be named in England squad's on Sunday. But he will have a scan on Monday before knowing if he can take his place in Nasser Hussain's squad for Trent Bridge. It is a huge blow for the 23-year-old, who made a cavalier 44 with the bat and took four wickets in the match. "I'm absolutely gutted," he told. "I had such a good start in the Test team and then this comes along. "It's a bit disheartening. I've had an x-ray, but that didn't show anything. We'll see what the scan says on Monday and then take it from there." Jones said he had felt the injury flare up after the first ball he delivered in the match.

Bangladesh in Sri Lanka

First one-day international, Colombo: Sri Lanka v Bangladesh Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening game of a three-match limited-overs cricket series against Sri Lanka. Former captain Naimur Rahman, all-rounder Khaled Mahmud and left-arm spinner Mohammad Raffique have all been recalled. Veterans Aminul Islam and Akram Khan have returned home following the Test series, along with Alamgir Kabir and Enamul Haque. Sri Lanka are back at full strength for the three-match series, and are looking to warm-up for the triangular series in Morocco.

Australia tour of Pakistan

Pakistan could consider playing at a neutral venue if Australia refuse to go ahead with a planned Test series in October because of security concerns. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday issued a veiled threat that it could co-ordinate an Asian boycott if Australia refusal to tour. But it was more conciliatory on Saturday, chairman Tauqir Zia saying it would look at all the options. "I was contacted by someone from Australia yesterday and I informed him that it was not a direct threat against the Australian board," Zia said. "Right now we remain very optimistic. But if we get a 'no' from the Australians then we will exercise all our options. "That includes deciding if it is worthwhile playing at a neutral venue." The fate of the tour has been in the balance after several of Australia's players expressed fears for their safety in Pakistan.

Miscellaneous

India's master batsman Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday came in for contrasting reviews in the British media with one suggesting that he is not the force he is at home while another describing him as the finest cricketer since Don Bradman. "India's master batsman is not the force he is at home" wrote Jon Henderson in the Observer in his article headlined "tourist Tendulkar a mere mortal." Concurring with Sunil Gavaskar's observation that Sachin Tendulkar is an underachiever for the team overseas, Henderson observed: "It is, of course, understandable for a player to be more prolific in conditions he is familiar with, and in this Tendulkar is no exception. He clearly copes well with the extraordinary adulation at home - even in Tests." Describing him as the Best batsman in the World, Tim Adams wrote in the Observer Sport Monthly: "Sachin Tendulkar was a handy player at the age of five. He's even better now." He said "In India, Sachin Tendulkar is the brightest of stars, a hero whose epic deeds have stirred a nation and whose status is close to deity. To the rest of us, he is the finest cricketer since Don Bradman." Veteran fast bowler Waqar Younis will captain Pakistan in the next three one-day series, and can expect to be at the helm for next year's World Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) normally names the captain one series at a time, but changed its policy because of a tight schedule that sees series in Morocco, Kenya and Sri Lanka. "I am sure Waqar will do a capable job for the next three tournaments," said PCB Chairman Tauqir Zia. "So far he has been very impressive in motivating and gelling the other players together since being named captain last year." The appointment would take Pakistan through to the end of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka which ends in late September. Zia said the PCB would not appoint Waqar as captain until next year's World Cup in South Africa because it wanted the option of regularly reviewing his performance. Michael Slater looks back at last season and describes himself as a pressure-pot waiting to explode. With his marriage break-up the subject of public discussion and the runs drying up, the former Test opener's career suffered an ugly derailment. He lost his ACB contract, his place in the NSW side and blew his stack after being felled by a bouncer in grade cricket. A two-month commentary stint in England and long periods of "reflection" have Slater primed to reproduce his best form this summer. "I've never been through a situation like I have the last 12 to 18 months," Slater said. "I've been through some issues in that time that a lot of other people go through, but in a profiled life everything is more 'out there'. "And if you are a fairly sensitive person, it builds up and you become a pressure-pot. I reacted in a couple of instances, like the grade game last year, in a way that is totally out of character. "Unfortunately that's what people have probably been talking about - 'why don't we see that smile anymore?'

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