Windies in India

First Test, Bombay: India 278-2 v West Indies Opener Virender Sehwag smashed a career-best 147 as India took complete control on the opening day of the first Test. Despite a double breakthrough for West Indies in the evening session, the hosts were still 278 for two by the close. Sehwag, whose third century came in just his 10th Test, was part of a record 201-run opening partnership with Sanjay Bangar. And, after both men fell to pace bowler Merv Dillon, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar saw out the remaining overs with an unbroken 65-run stand. At stumps Dravid was 28 not out and hometown hero Tendulkar was unbeaten on 35, with five fours. Dillon finally struck six overs after tea, when Bangar was caught at short midwicket after making a circumspect 55 from 187 deliveries. And Sehwag, whose innings occupied just 206 balls, with 24 fours and three sixes, was finally caught behind off a slight edge as he looked to flick to fine leg Sehwag had started shakily, surviving a confident shout for lbw from Pedro Collins when he had yet to score. Scorecard | Report | Images | Stats They have tried and tested, scrapped and experimented over the last year with little success. But if the first day of the Bombay Test is anything to go by, India may have finally found a reliable opening pair. In their fourth Test opening the batting together, and their first on home turf, Virender Sehwag and Sangar Bangar reached three figures. And for good measure they broke the 24-year-old record of Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan for an opening stand against the West Indies in a partnership of 201. Ironically India's last stable first-wicket pair was broken up after opening stands of 97 and 107 in a losing effort to Sri Lanka. And since then Sadagoppan Ramesh is about the only man not to have been tried out at the top of the order, even though he boasts a career average of 37.97.

Australia-Pakistan Test series

Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar is confident that both he and his team can beat Australia as their Test series moves to Sharjah. The 27-year-old believes that the move from Sri Lanka where Steve Waugh's side won the first Test, will benefit both himself and his team. "There will be more reverse swing in the dry Sharjah weather and Australian batsmen will have to be extra watchful," Shoaib said on Wednesday. "The conditions here in Sharjah are favourable for Pakistan and I don't see any reason why we shouldn't beat Australia. Shoaib came within an ace of giving his side a surprise first Test victory after a breathtaking spell of and five wickets in 15 balls in Australia's second innings. But the inexperienced Pakistan line-up failed to take advantage, subsiding to 274 all out and a 41-run defeat. Australian pace bowler Jason Gillespie is doubtful for the start of the Ashes series against England next month after injuring his calf during the first Test against Pakistan. Gillespie tore a muscle in his right calf in the closing overs of Australia's 41-run victory in Colombo on Monday and expects to be out of action for up to a month. The first Test of the five-match Ashes series starts in Brisbane on November 7. And Australian team physiotherapist Erroll Alcott confirmed that it would be touch and go as to whether the 27-year-old makes it. "He'd have to be bowling before that of course," said Alcott on Wednesday. "We'd be looking at three to four weeks [recovery time]. We'll reassess him after a couple of weeks."

Bangladesh in South Africa

Third one-day international, Kimberley: S Africa (152 for 3) beat Bangladesh (151 all out) by seven wickets South Africa ran out easy winners at the Diamond Oval in the third and final one-day international against Bangladesh. The hosts had already won the first two matches to clinch the series. Habibul Bashar's fine 51 was the highlight of the Bangladeshi innings as they were able able to 151 in 43.9 overs. Bashar and Sanwar Hossain shared a fine 68-run partnership for the third wicket to make the South African bowlers look a little flustered for the first time in the series. Bashar reached his 50 off 62 balls in a bright innings which included some fine boundaries through the covers off Allan Donald and Makhaya Ntini. South African captain Shaun Pollock failed to take the new ball for only the second time in 170 matches for South Africa. But he marked the strange milestone by taking four wickets for 24 runs, including his 100th wicket since he took over the captaincy.

Ashes series

Captain Nasser Hussain says he would give up a World Cup win if England could take the Ashes from Australia. As he prepared to fly out ahead of the rest of the team, Hussain admitted the choice would be close, but that Test cricket is still the pinnacle. "I'd take the Ashes," he told. "The Ashes are why England players play the game. "And for me as captain I couldn't think of a greater feeling than lifting that urn for my country." Hussain conceded that there is still a long way to go if England are to beat Australia for the first time in 16 years. But he said the side should be upbeat about their chances of putting Steve Waugh's men under pressure.

Miscellaneous

The New Zealand cricket board has offered a new pay package to players in a bid to end the current dispute. Both international and domestic players have been refusing to attend a pre-season training camp, complaining of poor levels of pay for first-class cricketers. The players' association now has until 22 October, when the sides meet again, to reach a decision on the package. The new payment pool would be worth a total of NZ$4.7m (£1.46m), with NZ$2.7m to be shared by the international players and NZ$1.92m between the domestic players. The top three Black Caps players could expect to earn NZ$120,000 on a retainer with NZ$4500 per Test and NZ$2000 per one-day international. For the first time, two-year contracts, worth up to NZ$65,000, would be offered to the top three players in each domestic side.

Previous days October 9, 2002 October 8, 2002 October 7, 2002 October 6, 2002 October 5, 2002 October 4, 2002 October 3, 2002 October 2, 2002 October 1, 2002 Complete archive

Design: Imran Shaikh