Windies in India

First Test, Mumbai, day two: India 457 all out; West Indies 33-2 (at close) Rahul Dravid became the first Indian batsman to make a century in four successive Test innings as the home side put themselves in a commanding position at the Wankhede Stadium. Dravid was 98 not out at tea and went to three figures with two runs through mid-wicket, but suffered a leg injury in the process and was forced to retire hurt. His departure sparked a collapse which saw India slump from 401 for five to 416 for eight. But a last wicket stand of 49 between veteran Javagal Srinath and teenage wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel carried the total past 450 before Srinath was caught behind for 31. West Indies had 14 overs to survive before the close, but lost openers Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds as Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh picked up a wicket each. Scorecard | Report | Images India will be looking to press home their advantage when the Test resumes after making a double breakthrough in Thursday's final session. The hosts hold a 424-run first-innings lead after removing Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds. It left India in the box seat and the Windies with much work to do. "The boys bowled really well today to take two wickets, but West Indies have some very capable batsmen," said Indian batsman Rahul Dravid "It's a little early to say, there are three days to go but we have the upper hand."

Australia vs Pakistan in Sharjah

Skipper Steve Waugh said on Thursday night he was thinking of teaming quicks Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Andy Bichel with Shane Warne and debutant off-spinner Nathan Hauritz. "That's an option, playing five bowlers in a Test match like this where it's going to be hard work for the bowlers and a lot of heat," he said. If Australia chooses that option, wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist would move up a spot in the batting order from his No.7 position, forcing out one of the specialist batsmen. That batsman would most likely be Mark Waugh.

Ashes series

England have been promised a hot reception when they begin their Ashes tour later this month. They will face an Australian Cricket Board Chairman's XI at Lilac Hill on 22 October in their opening match before taking on Western Australia in two warm-up fixtures prior to the first Test. Wicket-keeper/batsman Ryan Campbell is likely to play in all three games and is relishing the chance to "give the Poms a nice fiery welcome". Campbell, who has appeared in one-day international cricket for Australia, believes Western Australia have enough quality players to dent England's self-belief.

Miscellaneous

South African batsman Jonty Rhodes believes consistency of selection is the key to the team's chances of winning the World Cup on home soil next year. Rhodes believes too many changes have been made in the past couple of years, resulting in a fear of failure among some of the players. South Africa were thrashed 6-1 by Australia in a home one-day series earlier this year. They were subsequently beaten by Sri Lanka in the final of the inaugural Morocco Cup and threw away a golden chance of victory over India in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-finals. "A few years ago we had the attitude that regardless of whom we played on the day, we were going to win the match," Rhodes wrote on his official website. The UCBSA and its partners - SA Breweries, Standard Bank, PPC Cement and the government - have launched the biggest sports development project ever undertaken in South Africa. Launched at the Eersterust Cricket Club in Pretoria East on Wednesday night, the Cricket Legacy 2003 Project involves more than R25-million in 50 projects around the country. While the idea for the project started out as a plan to build 50 new ovals around the country, it became apparent that in some places ovals existed, but clubhouses or other facilities were needed. Some of the projects involve new ovals and some are upgrades to existing facilities, like Eersterust, which has a new clubhouse and scoreboard.

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