West Indies in India

Indian cricket coach John Wright said the team would have to guard against complacency, following its biggest ever win against West Indies, as the visitors were sure to come back stronger in the second Test starting here on Thursday. "We have to guard against complacency. We have got to keep our feet on the ground," Wright told reporters on his arrival here on Monday night alongwith with some team members including vice-captain Rahul Dravid. Underlining that the second Test would be tough, Wright said the West Indies could not be taken lightly. "I'm sure they will come back stronger," he said. India had recorded their biggest win against West defeating them by an innings and 112 runs in the first of the three Tests in Mumbai. India and West Indies play three one-day internationals in Rajkot, Ahmedabad and Baroda on November 12, 15 and 18. On the face of it, that's a cricket fest for Gujarat, but think again. On those three days, for the first time since the riots, Hindus and Muslims will share a confined public space. The stadiums hold between 20,000 and 40,000 people. The Modi government is determined to host the matches: if all goes well, then the situation in Gujarat might be certified as 'normal'. But there's another view: that the state hasn't yet recovered enough. The government has assured organising associations that the games will pass without a hitch.

Australia vs Pakistan in Sharjah

Australia's Glenn McGrath has set his sights on becoming only the second fast bowler to take 500 Test wickets before retirement. The 32-year-old needs four in this week's third Test against Pakistan in Sharjah to reach 400. But McGrath's ultimate goal is to emulate the feat of former West Indies captain Courtney Walsh, who took 519 wickets in 132 Tests during his career. "That's been my aim for some time, getting to 500. Hopefully the body will hold up till then. I work very hard off the field, the body feels pretty good," he said. "I just love to play for Australia, whether it is Tests or one-day internationals. The only tough thing is to be away from the family for so long." McGrath took seven wickets in the first two Tests against Pakistan, with the bulk of the damage done by leg-spinner Shane Warne. Pakistan have summoned all-rounder Shahid Afridi to join their squad in Sharjah ahead of the third Test against Australia. Batsman Yousuf Youhana was the first choice of team management, but he is still suffering from a shoulder injury suffered during a one-day tournament in Morocco in August. "We didn't press for his inclusion because we want to make sure that he is fit for the long term. "Considering the long South African tour ahead, it would be appropriate to consider him for that tour. It makes more sense," said coach Richard Pybus. Pakistan are hoping to save face following a two-day humiliation in the second Test, when they were bowled out for 59 and 53. "Shahid's inclusion will strengthen the team as he is an aggressive competitor," Pybus added. Allan Border has hit back at comments from Pakistan coach Richard Pybus that "all is not well" with the Australia team. The former Australia captain said that Pakistan would struggle to beat most Sydney club sides and that Pybus should keep his mouth shut. Border is now a selector for the national team, and took particular exception to suggestions that the Waugh twins were past their prime. "Richard should just concentrate on what he's supposed to be doing with the Pakistani team," said Border on Wednesday. "Let's see if they can score 60 next time they bat. Most second grade sides could do better than his national side. "If I was him, I'd be keeping my mouth shut. Lieutenant General Tauqir Zia is to stay on as Pakistan Cricket Board chairman despite offering to resign last weekend Zia and PCB director Chishty Mujahid said they would step down in the wake of the national team's humuliating defeat by Australia in the second Test in Sharjah. Pakistan were bowled out for 59 and 53 as they lost by an innings and 198 runs. But PCB president General Pervez Musharraf has refused to accept Zia's resignation. "He has shown confidence and faith in me and I will continue to work with full enthusiasm," Zia said in a statement. Despite that, he defended his original move, saying: "It was not a rash decision but if the team performs so badly someone has to take responsibility."

Ashes series

Andrew Flintoff has given England another injury concern ahead of next month's Ashes series. The Lancashire all-rounder has revealed that, with the first Test in Brisbane just three weeks away, a hernia injury is still restricting him from running. It is the latest setback for a player who has been dogged by injury problems throughout his England career. Flintoff told: "There's no question that my recovery is taking longer than I'd expected. "I was hoping to bowl flat out as soon as the team arrived in Australia. "As it is, the operation was more than six weeks ago and I'm not yet able to run. "The pounding of running would be too much at this stage." Nasser Hussain's preparations for England's tour of Australia have already suffered the loss of Graham Thorpe, while Darren Gough remains a big doubt for the series. Glamorgan paceman Simon Jones is fighting fit ahead of his first Ashes tour. The 23-year-old strained his side in the second Test against India at Lord's in July and appeared in only one more match for Glamorgan before the end of the season. Jones told, however, that he is confident he has put the problem behind him. "I've rested the injury now for seven weeks and I've had two cortisone injections to quicken up the healing process so it's feeling good at the moment," he said. "I've just be trying to build up slowly and it's been working well for me but I've just got to be patient now and not get too carried away out there." Jones has bowled at full pace during fitness tests overseen by Glamorgan coach John Derrick and this week passed a medical with the England team doctor Mark Ridgewell. Former Australian captain Kim Hughes is set to play against England in the opening game of their Ashes tour. Hughes, now 48, scored 1,499 runs in 22 Tests against England, including three centuries. But he was on the losing side as captain in 1981 when Ian Botham inspired England to a 3-1 victory on home soil. Hughes is one of three 'guests' named in an Australian Cricket Board Chairman's team who will play Nasser Hussain's side in a one-day game at Lilac Hill on 22 October. Batsman David Hookes, now a TV commentator, still holds the record for the fastest century in Australian first-class cricket after reaching three figures in 43 minutes for South Australia against Victoria in 1982. He made his debut for Australia in the 1977 Centenary Test against England, when he hit five fours in a single over from Tony Greig.

Bangladesh in South Africa

Spin bowler Paul Adams has been forced to pull out of South Africa's team for the first Test against Bangladesh. Adams suffered a back injury while bowling in a doemstic match and will be replaced by Western Province teammate Claude Henderson. "Paul thought it was just a spasm, but when he returned to Cape Town and consulted a doctor, the diagnosis was that there was some disc movement," said convenor of selectors Omar Henry. Henderson was preferred to Robin Peterson, who recently made his one-day debut, and Justin Ontong. The 30-year-old has taken 19 wickets in five Test appearances, but has not played since last winter's tour to Australia. "We feel that he has the necessary skills and experience to do a good job," Henry commented.

World Cup

Canada's 2003 Cricket World Cup preparations have been hit by a major crisis even before a ball has been bowled. The North American minnows are still yet to find a major sponsor to help them with their financial outlay, just four months before the start of the tournament. Travel and accommodation, alone, will run into thousands of dollars, and the president of the Canadian Cricket Association, Dr Geoff Edwards, realises that he faces a race against time to find the necessary funds. "We don't have a major sponsor and it's a big problem for us at the moment," said Dr Edwards.

Australia's tour of West Indies

West Indies will play Australia in four Tests and seven one-day internationals in the Caribbean next year. The Australians will head for the Caribbean following the World Cup in South Africa, with their first match against a Guyanese Cricket Board President's XI beginning on 5 April. Australia were held to a 2-2 draw when they last visited the West Indies in 1999, a Test series in which Brian Lara made scores of 213, 153 not out and 100. But they followed that by handing out a 5-0 thrashing on home soil two winters ago, a result which led to the sacking of Jimmy Adams as West Indies captain. The West Indies Cricket Board has also issued provisional itineraries for tours by England and Bangladesh in 2004.

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