India tour not idyllic for Ashes preparation: Ponting

Australia captain Ricky Ponting fears that his country's forthcoming tour of India in October may obstruct their preparation for the Ashes series commencing in November 25 at Brisbane.

Ricky Ponting said that preferably, Australia should not play on dry and flat Indian pitches in the run-up to the Ashes series against arch-rivals England at home.

"If you were trying to sit down and map out your perfect preparation for an Ashes series or a home series it probably wouldn't be playing two Test matches in India," said Ponting.

"But you don't live in an ideal world. That's the way international cricket is these days," Ponting was quoted as saying by 'The Australian'.

Australia play two Tests followed by three one-day Matches during their India tour.

Talking about Australia's three-wicket defeat against Pakistan in the 2nd Test at Leeds, Ponting admitted that he had misjudged the batting situation after winning the toss.

"We were definitely playing catch-up from stumps day one. That's my responsibility, to get those sorts of things right and make those decisions," Ponting said.

Australia were bowled out by Pakistan for just 88 - their lowest total in 26 years - on the first day of the 2nd Test at Headingley, in a Test that also ended Pakistan's 15-year wait for a win over Australia.

Sachin deserves World Cup victory: Morrison

Sachin Tendulkar deserves a World Cup win under his belt but to realise this dream the batting icon wants players like Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and MS Dhoni to fire in the 2011 home event, says former New Zealand fast bowler Danny Morrison.

"Sachin Tendulkar, the master, deserves to have some sort of winners medal hanging round his neck but it's not all about him. Cricket is a tough game and it's also about whether Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni can carry for India. Can they do it for Sachin?," Morrison said at an ICC audio-cricket show.

The cricketer-turned-commentator also feels that India will be strong contenders to lift the ICC World Cup 2011.

"I think India has the best chance to lift the World Cup this time round. It has to be good for them playing on home turf. It adds pressure but that's part of hosting.

"You feel that India want something special to happen and this year I think you've got to go with the India team to follow the 1983 side led by Kapil Dev," said Morrison, who claimed 126 ODI wickets and 160 in Tests.

India will co-host the 2011 edition along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in February-March.

McCullum almost quit NZ team for the IPL

Brendon McCullum reveals that he nearly turned his back on the country to entrust to an entire season of the IPL, before he changed his mind while on holiday in Fiji. The star NZ keeper & batsman made the revelations in his book Inside T20, co-authored by journalist Dylan Cleaver. In the book, he mentions the crash that the Indian Twenty20 league had on his psyche.

"I felt I had some unfinished business in the 2nd season of the IPL. However, the fact that the tournament did not go according to expectations did not sit well with me. I desperately wanted to turn it around," McCullum wrote.

"I must admit I came really close to not playing for NZ. I went to Fiji for a holiday with my wife and I had a long hard look regarding the cricket that I have to play.

McCullum said that the whole issue of whether he should sign or not sign with NZ cricket misty his thoughts during this period. He said that he had to give something up to understand it and he chose not to give up his full and total commitment to New Zealand.

Pakistan complete a 2-0 series win over Aussies

Pakistan beat Australia in 11 runs after their 23-run win on Monday to seal the Twenty20 international series 2-0.

Pakistan post a challenging 162 for nine in 20 overs with six of their batsmen reaching double figures, including the Akmal brothers Kamran and Umar who scored 33 and 25 respectively.

Skipper Shahid Afridi, who took two brilliant catches on Monday, struck with the ball this time. Afridi took two wickets for 30 from his four overs of quickest leg-spin to reduce Australia to 104/5.

Michael Hussey, who steered Australia to win in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-final in St Lucia when Pakistan appear to have the game won, kept his team in the match batting at number seven.

Left-hander Hussey scored 25 from 14 balls but his dismissal lbw to Umar Gul spelled the end of his team's hopes and they were finally all out for 151 from 19.4 overs.

The teams meet at Lord's next Tuesday in the 1st test of a two-test series.

Match Summary
Pak 162/8 20 over Umar Akmal 25 Kamran Akmal 33 S. O'Keefe 3/29 Dirk Nannes 3/30	Aus 151 allout 19.4 over M. Clarke 30 David Hussey 33 Shahid Afridi 2/30 M. Aamer 3/27

Man of the match: Mohammad Aamer

Pakistan beat Australia by 23 runs in 1st T20i

Pakistan beat Australia for the 1st time in 13 matches across in all formats of cricket as they won the first T20 international by 23 runs at Edgbaston.

They were grateful to Umar Akmal's career-best 64 runs in just 31 balls that helped Pakistan to a total of 167 for eight after they had been 47 for four.

Australia, chasing 168 to win, were 144 allout with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal three wickets for 26 runs off his four overs and teenage left-arm faster Mohammad Aamer doing the mass of the damage.

Victory put Pakistan 1-0 up lead of the 2nd and final T20 international here on Tuesday.

Match Summary
Pak 167/8 20 over Umar Akmal 64 Kamran Akmal 23 Shaun Tait 2/25 Dirk Nannes 2/41	Aus 144 allout 18.4 over David Warner 41 David Hussey 34 Saeed Ajmal 3/26 M. Aamer 3/27

Man of the match: Umar Akmal

Pakistan v Australia in England 2010, Schedule

Date	Match Details	Time IST	Venue
Jul 05 - Mon	Pakistan v Australia, 1st T20I Pak won by 23 runs	21:30	Birmingham
Jul 06 - Tue	Pakistan v Australia, 2nd T20I Pak won by 11 runs	21:30	Birmingham
Jul 13 - 17	Pakistan v Australia, 1st Test	15:00	London
Jul 21 - 25	Pakistan v Australia, 2nd Test	15:00	Leeds

Australia in India 2010

Raina powers India win T20 Series

Captain Suresh Raina led from the frontage with a blistering 72(44) as India signed off their Zimbabwe tour with a complete 7 wickets win over the hosts in the 2nd and final T20 International at Harare.

Chasing 141, India made 144 for three with Suresh Raina striking the winning runs and comprehensive the two match Twenty20 series 2-0. Raina's effort earned him the Man of the Match & the Man of the Series awards.

India lost the 1st wicket of Naman Ojha early, but Vijay and skipper Suresh Raina ensured that India would not face any complexity. Along with Murali Vijay (46), Raina shared a 79-run standing for the 2nd wicket, which set up the second easy win. Raina's 44-ball knock contained 6 fours and 2 sixes.

India's 2nd consecutive win, after a poor show in the ODI tri-series, will do a world of good to the confidence of its youngsters as they head off for the Asia Cup 2010 in Sri Lanka, which starts in two days time.

Match Summary:

1st T20: Zim 111/9 20 Over Chibhabha 40 Ervine 30 V.Kumar 3/24 A. Dinda 2/27 Ind 112/4 15 Over Y. Pathan 37 S. Raina 28 Price 2/24 Mpofu 2/31

2nd T20: Zim 140/5 20 Over Taibu 45 Coventry 28 A. Dinda 2/15 A. Mishra 1/21 India: 144/3 in 18 Over S. Raina 72 M. Vijay 46 Chibhabha 1/19

Adam Gilchrist warns of T20 overkill

Former Australian wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist has warned of a T20 overkill in cricket in the wake of the IPL's success, saying it is time the administrators give thinking to how much more the players can take.

The 38-year-old wicketkeeper, who has remained in action civility the Indian Premier League, feels the number of matches should be regulated.

"The IPL is going bigger next year. How much further can you go? We have to be very smart with it and make sure that we monitor that," Gilchrist said.

"I think we are very close to the limit of how much cricket we can stage in general and Twenty20 has contested to the fore. But, this vast tool we have got, let's not burn it out," he said.

Gilchrist said players who decide to take breaks during the season should not be criticized as they are only trying to protect their bodies for as long a stay as possible in international cricket.

"If someone doesn't play because he has the chance to rest, the public shouldn't beat up on him. They are just trying to be as good as they can for as long as they can, first for their country, then their county," he said.

"But the IPL has moved the goalposts and clouded the issue a bit. But as professional cricketers, we have to stride carefully. I know a number of Australian players who have stayed away from the IPL for reasons of extending their Test careers and that's something all players have to weigh up," he added.

Australia in England 2010, ODI Schedule

Date	Match Details	Time IST	Ground	Place
Jun 17 - Th	Ireland v Australia, Only ODI	15:15	Castle Avenue	Dublin
Jun 22 - Tu	England v Australia, 1st ODI	19:00	The Rose Bowl	Southampton
Jun 24 - Th	England v Australia, 2nd ODI	19:00	Sophia Gardens	Cardiff, Wales
Jun 27 - Su	England v Australia, 3rd ODI	15:15	Old Trafford	Manchester
Jun 30 - We	England v Australia, 4th ODI	17:30	Kennington Oval	London
Jul 03 - Sa	England v Australia, 5th ODI	15:15	Lord's	London