Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper, believes that a positive approach can help his side upstage India in the forthcoming seven-match one-day series, starting at Nagpur on October 25.”Our goal I believe is to go out there and from day one to make sure that everyone means business,” said Sangakkara, who has become the foremost batsman in his side. “We should go there expecting to win every game. When you go to a country like India you must have that in mind and make it work for you rather than psychologically say that it is a difficult task. You have to make it a challenge so that it works in your favour.””Australia did it last year very convincingly. I think challenges like that are there to be taken and won. The approach of the team mentally both on and off the field should be to concentrate and focus on beating India in India.”Sangakkara, who turns 28 on October 27, believes that over the past two to three years there has been fierce competition in the South Asian region amongst Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka for supremacy and that Sri Lanka had come out ahead in most encounters.”This tour is another test for us,” he continued. “It is another challenge when you go to a country which has a very proud cricketing history and a very strong cricket team at the moment. We have been playing well in the past year. Our team has been jelling well and we’ve got some classic performances. It is just being more consistent on the base that we’ve got to get right now. We just have to make sure that we treat it as another game. Play the ball and not the individual and play to win.”Reflecting back from the time he came into the Sri Lankan side, in 2000 against South Africa at Galle, Sangakkara was happy that he could see the steady progress made by the team in the last five years. “Team wise we saw the captaincy go from Sanath [Jayasuriya] to Hashan [Tillakaratne] and now to Marvan [Atapattu]. Each team under those captains have performed in different ways, but the trend has always been improvement, to get stronger. We’ve had great performances and bad performances. But if you take our performances over the past five years there has been a steady climb in consistency in the win factor.”From a personal point of view Sangakkara said his game had undergone quite a lot of changes in his batting as well as his wicketkeeping. With a Test average of 48.02 from 50 Tests and a one-day average of 33.61, Sangakkara ranks among the best of contemporary wicketkeeper-batsmen. “My approach to batting is to make sure that I keep it simple,” he said. “I want to know what I am doing with myself and what my batting is like when I go out there to bat. I have a lot of feedback from the coach, the players and video analysis. When I see myself batting on screen I see more things than when I am batting out in the middle. I work a lot on balance and watching the ball. There is no great secret to it, just the basics.”

Scorecard

The Sri Lankan bowlers struggled in a tour game at Bangalore on Sunday ahead of the three-Test series against India set to begin on December 2 at Chennai. The visiting side’s decision to field on the second day, after the opening day was washed out, did not get them any gains as the Indian Board President’s XI reached 217-2 after a delayed start curtailed play to just 49 overs.Openers Robin Uthappa (76) and Shikhar Dhawan (65) figured in a 133-run stand to frustrate the Sri Lankans, who were recently drubbed 6-1 by India in a seven-match one-day series. Uthappa, who plays for the southern state of Karnataka in India’s domestic league, slammed a robust 96-ball knock with nine fours and two sixes while Delhi left-hander Dhawan slammed eight boundaries in his half-century.New-ball bowlers Lasith Malinga and Chaminda Vaas, who led the side in the absence of Marvan Atapattu, were easily foiled. The spin attack also lacked venom in the absence of ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who too sat out the three-day match.

Richie Benaud, the former Australian captain, has urged Shane Warne to prolong his Testcareer until the next Ashes series in England in 2009.Warne, the most successful bowler in Test history with 651 wickets in 133 games, will turn 40 during that tour. “I was talking to him the other day and said to him ‘You can do this’,” Benaud toldBBC TV. “He is bowling better now than I’ve seen him for years and years. It’s been wonderful to watch.”Warne took 40 wickets in a losing cause during this summer’s Ashes series and earlier this week established a new record for the most Test wickets in a calendar year when he surpassed Dennis Lillee’s total of 85 in 1981.Benaud believes if Warne continues his policy of not playing one-day internationals, despite pressure for him to relent in time for next year’s World Cup, he will still be a force to be reckoned with when they next visit England. “I told him ‘They thought they’d seen the back of you, now why don’t you give some serious thought to going across there for the next Ashes battle?’.”He looked at me for a long time and just turned and said ‘Thanks’, though whether that’s ‘Thanks, but no thanks’ or ‘Thanks, thanks’, I don’t know,” said Benaud, who called time on his own Test career at the age of 33. Warne had a number of injuries between 1998 and 2001, and was banned for a year in 2003 after failing a drugs test.But he remains at the peak of his powers and confirmed he wants to help Australia regain the Ashes on home soil next winter. “My record in my last 40-50 Tests has probably been better than at any stage of my career,” he said recently. “If I’m enjoying my cricket and bowling injury-free, then I hope I am playing in the next Ashes series. I have no immediate plans to retire. I’m enjoying my cricket, simple as that.”

The much-awaited players’ contracts and the contentious television rights issue will top the agenda when the re-constituted marketing committee of the Indian board meets in Delhi on Thursday.The committee, headed by newly-elected president Sharad Pawar, is also expected to take a decision on team sponsorship. Sahara’s sponsorship contract expired on November 30, but was extended upto the Test series against Sri Lanka.The players’ contracts have been put on the backburner for long and Pawar had admitted his concern over the delay in its finalisation immediately after his election to the top post late last month.“We have to finalise the players’ contract with top most priority,” Pawar had said. “This cannot be delayed any more. We also understand the contract with Sahara has ended. They have extended the contract for Sri-Lanka series only. Hence the marketing committee will have to look for a suitable sponsor to replace them and this is second in our priority list.”Considering that the Pakistan tour is hardly a month away, the committee would have to show urgency in resolving the imbroglio over telecast rights as well as the new contracts for cricketers.

Guyana still have plenty to do to get to a position of safety despite half centuries by Shane Jeffers, Omari Banks and debutant Steve Lyburd. Resuming their overnight score of 41 for one against Leewards Islands, Guyana ended the day at 332 for 7 still 16 runs adrift of the follow-on target at the Carib Ground in St. Maarten.Opener Jeffers scored 76 and added 116 for the second wicket with Runako Morton, who scored 38. After both batsmen were dismissed in quick succession, Sylvester Joseph, the captain and Lyburd added 69 for the fourth wicket, with Joseph taking the attack to the spinners. Neil McGarrell, the left arm spinner ultimately got the better of Joseph, having him stumped by Derwin Christian, the wicketkeeper.Wilden Cornwall didn’t last very long, losing his wicket to Deonarine with the score on 199. Omari Banks, the allrounder, steadied the innings adding 93 for the sixth wicket with Lyburd. Banks was dismissed for 79, scoring six fours and four sixes. His dismissal off the penultimate over of the day was a blow for Leewards. Alderman Lesmond and Carl Simon were at the crease at stumps.

Ricky Ponting’s rest will include a second match as Adam Gilchrist was confirmed as captain for the VB Series clash with Sri Lanka at Perth on Sunday. Ponting missed Australia’s five-wicket win at Adelaide on Thursday and the result vindicated their controversial rotation policy, which has also included breaks for Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath.However, Australia’s plans for an unchanged side for the WACA were hit by Nathan Bracken’s return to Sydney for personal reasons. Bracken was the team’s most successful fast bowler at Adelaide with 2 for 45, and his departure from the squad should allow Stuart Clark to play.”The team had a good win last night and move on to Perth, thus allowing Ponting to complete a two-game break,” Hohns said. “The selectors and team management have agreed to allow Bracken to return to Sydney and we’re hopeful he’ll be available for the one-day international in Melbourne on February 3.”Gilchrist showed he could combine the leadership, opening batting and keeping roles against Sri Lanka as Australia moved five points clear at the top of the series table, with three matches to come. Michael Hussey, who steered the side to their victory target with an unbeaten 25, retains his role as vice-captain, while McGrath and Brett Lee will once again share the new-ball duties. There was, however, no place for Phil Jaques, who hit 94 on debut but lost his opening berth to Simon Katich.The players have three more matches in the preliminary stage of the tournament, which also double as their last chances to win votes for the Allan Border Medal on February 6. Andrew Symonds is the only one not eligible for either the main prize or the One-Day Player of the Year award after he was suspended on the Ashes tour for being drunk before a match. The voting period for Australian cricket’s most cherished individual achievement includes the past 15 Tests and a total of 30 ODIs.Australian squad Adam Gilchrist (capt, wk), Michael Hussey, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Brett Dorey, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, James Hopes, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Damien Martyn, Glenn McGrath, Andrew Symonds.

India and Pakistan are likely to play a five-match ODI series in Europe in 2007, according to David Collier, the England Cricket Board (ECB) chief. England could host two matches with the remaining to be staged at other venues in Europe.”We’ve had some discussions. It’s more likely it will be considered in 2007,” Collier told BBC Sport. “We’ve got a number of broadcasting issues we need to look at but clearly an India-Pakistan one-day series has some great attractions.”Lalit Modi, vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said that Lord’s had agreed to host one of the matches, pending an approval from the ECB.The latest development is the result of the Indian and Pakistan boards agreeing to stage more matches between the two teams in neutral venues, especially in countries which have a large number of Asian migrants, both as a way to entertain the expatriate population as well as to maximise revenues. The two sides are scheduled to play two official ODIs at Abu Dhabi on April 18 and 19, and the funds from the first match will go towards the earthquake relief fund. In 2004, the BCCI helped organise a tri-series between India, Pakistan and Australia in Holland, prior to the ICC Champions Trophy.Collier also announced that the ECB would be bidding to host the proposed Twenty20 World Championship in 2009 and 2013, as well as the 2015 World Cup.”England has got the experience of Twenty20 finals day, where we have got three matches in a day. I think the ICC are looking to us for our experience in that type of format and it would be wonderful if we get a major global cricket event in the UK,” he said.

ScorecardA gritty allround performance by Shreyas Khanolkar helped Railways clinch the Ranji Trophy one-day tournament by defeating Uttar Pradesh by 20 runs in a tense encounter at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It was a fitting end to the season for Railways who had begun the domestic season by winning the Irani Trophy as well. UP, the winners of the Ranji Trophy first-class tournament, lost the opportunity of completing a dream double.Railways’ decision to bat first on a true surface nearly backfired after an inspired opening spell by Praveen Kumar, the UP allrounder, who utilised the conditions – with plenty of lateral movement and bounce – to his advantage. Amit Pagnis and Tejinder Pal Singh fell without scoring while Sanjay Bangar, the captain, and Jai Prakash Yadav perished, after a brief flourish, to Kumar, who had Railways reeling at 41 for 4 in the 12th over.Khanolkar survived a confident shout for lbw off his first ball but thereafter he and Sushanth Manjrekar grafted for singles and picked up the odd boundary. The pair added 104 for the fifth wicket before Manjrekar, on 47, edged a steep delivery to Amir Khan, the wicketkeeper, off Shalabh Srivastava. Raja Ali fell soon after and the spinners chipped in to restrict Railways. Khanolkar eventually went for 73, stepping down the track to Piyush Chawla and holing out long-off. His innings spanned 92 balls and included five boundaries. Kumar snapped up his fifth victim as soon as he began his second spell, dismissing Rahul Deb, who tried to push the scoring. Ali Murtaza, the left-arm spinner, wrapped up the innings for 224, as Railways were dismissed in the 48th over.UP began their chase confidently as Kumar struck a 22-ball 21 that included a straight-driven six off Yadav. They were soon pegged back by a double strike by Harvinder Singh. Kumar’s cameo was cut short by a brilliant catch by Manjrekar running backwards and Jyoti Prasad Yadav was trapped in front soon after. His dismissal proved crucial as it exposed the inexperienced middle order to slow bowlers who stifled the batsmen.Bangar utilised the spinners effectively and Kulmani Parida and Khanolkar, unafraid to toss the ball up to induce the lofted strokes, made inroads at regular intervals. The UP batsmen were not prepared to graft and they perished by stepping down the track only to find the fielders. They depended heavily on Ravikanth Shukla but his dismissal for 44, caught on the boundary edge by Yadav brought Railways back into the match.Khanolkar accounted for Anshul Kapoor and Chawla to finish with figures of 3 for 46. Struggling at 162 for 7, Ali Murtaza and Amir played sensibily and ran well between the wickets during their 32-run eight-wicket partnership before Amir was bowled by Parida while trying to make too much room.Ironically, it was poor running, resulting in a couple of needless run-outs, that let UP down ultimately. Praveen Gupta went for a risky run and was run-out at the non-striker’s end while Srivastava was found short of his crease by Bangar’s hurl to the wicketkeeper that capped a professional performance by Railways.Bangar was obviously delighted and singled out Khanolkar for his performance. He also said he was confident of defending 225, given that UP were without their stars, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif and RP Singh, who are with the Indian squad for the ODI series against England.”We thought that 225 was a good score on this wicket and knew that we were in with a chance after we got Jyoti Yadav,” a visibly excited Bangar said. “They are an inexperienced side and have never been tested under pressure”.

West Indies are hoping for a massive reversal of fortunes in the third and final Test against New Zealand in Napier starting on Saturday while the hosts are looking to pull off a clean sweep in preparation for their expected tough tour of South Africa.New Zealand are looking to maintain morale before next month’s tour while the West Indies will be seeking to snap a record losing streak and to avoid a 0-3 drubbing in the Tests to go with the 1-4 hiding they took in the earlier one-day series.Despite their ten-wicket loss in the second Test in Wellington being the West Indies’ eighth successive defeat, Bennett King, the coach, claimed spirits were still intact and a win was not as elusive as history would suggest. “We don’t believe it’s a skill issue, we believe it’s an application and personal issue and we just have to be stronger as cricketers and people and we just have to go forward,” he said. We truly believe this side are capable of much better than what they’re doing.”While openers Chris Gayle and Daren Ganga have started each innings confidently, an apparent lack of concentration tends to creep in leading to wickets falling at regular intervals. The fact that Brian Lara is hopelessly out of form hasn’t helped and with Shivnarine Chanderpaul also struggling for runs the West Indies have suffered from a lack of steel in the middle order.While New Zealand’s batting has not been consistent either, they have benefitted from injuries in the West Indies bowling camp although King has assured Fidel Edwards, their strike weapon and most impressive player on tour, would be fit for the third Test. Edwards, who was sitting on a hat-trick at the end of New Zealand’s first innings of the last Test did not bowl in the second innings as a precaution against inflaming a leg injury. “He’s got a little niggle in one of his legs. It’s a jarring issue, but he’s in no doubt for the third Test, King said. Jerome Taylor may also start after missing the second Test due to a hamstring injury.Although New Zealand have the series wrapped up already at 2-0 they cannot afford to ease up as the selectors prepare to name the squad for next month’s tour of South Africa. Questions are already being asked whether the West Indians have provided adequate opposition to prepare New Zealand for the tough three-match series in South Africa, while South Africa warm up against Australia.But John Bracewell, New Zealand’s coach, said he was satisfied with their lead-up programme. “I think this series is a good platform because they have got some very good cricketers. We’re performing well as a unit at the moment and they’re not.” Bracewell said he had effectively pencilled in at least one extra seamer for the touring party of 15, while Michael Papps, the specialist opener, could also get a recall. Fledgling opener Hamish Marshall already knows there’s a question mark over his head.A year after being hailed as the new wonder boy of New Zealand cricket with centuriesagainst Australia and Sri Lanka he has struggled after being made to open the innings, and Bracewell has said Marshall needs a big score in Napier or he faces the axe. He finished last season averaging more than 45 in Tests, while his last six Test innings, four as opener, have produced an average of 11.83. “I’m still getting used to opening, and instead of being so defensive in terms of survival I just have to go out there and play my shots,” he said. “When you open you can get out early, and I have been, and it’s frustrating because it’s not through unplayable balls.”

ScorecardZimbabwe suffered a disappointing defeat in their warm-up match against West Indies Vice-Chancellor’s XI at Antigua’s Jolly Beach, losing by five wickets despite posting a seemingly match-winning score of 324 for 5.Piet Rinke led the way with his second hundred in three warm-up games, although concerns remained whether his no-holes-barred technique can stand up against top-flight bowling. He received good support from Brendan Taylor (80), Charles Coventry (54) and Keith Dabengwa (33).But the Zimbabweans’ bowling, which has been the stronger facet of their game so far on the tour, fell apart in the face of an onslaught from Ryan Hinds. His 117 set up the platform which Chadwick Walton (67*), Xavier Marshall (54) and Shirley Clarke (37) all capitalised on. Without Ed Rainsford, sidelined through injury, as was Terry Duffin, the attack lack penetration. That will worry the selectors as Rainsford leaves the tour to take up a club commitment in the UK after this weekend’s ODIs.Zimbabwe left Antigua and headed for Guyana, where they will meet the West Indies in a double header at the Bourda on Saturday and Sunday.