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India A 276 for 8 (Gavaskar 79* Sriram 77, Balaji 5-50) beat India Seniors 249 for 8 (Badani 73, Bangar 66) by 27 runs
ScorecardThe Challenger Series for the 2003-04 season got off to an entertaining start when India A pulled off a 27-run upset victory over the Seniors at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Opting to bat first on a belter, India A shrugged off the loss of early wickets to score 276, and then restricted the Seniors to 249.If the idea of the tournament was to pit the probables for the Indian team together and judge their performances, then today’s match should have given the selectors plenty to ponder over. The most impressive displays were from those on the fringes of the national team, while the certainties put in tepid performances. The lack of match-play for many of the top players was evident too. In fact, of the five star-rated performances today, four came from players who had toured with the A team to England recently. For India A, Sridharan Sriram (77) and Rohan Gavaskar (79 not out) were the heroes, while Hemang Badani (73) and Sanjay Bangar (66) contributed most of the runs for India Seniors. L Balaji had reason to celebrate too, bowling with control and consistency to pick up a five-for.Both innings were dominated by fifth-wicket partnerships: Sriram and Gavaskar revived India A’s innings with a 126-run stand, while Badani and Bangar added 114 to put the India Seniors’ run-chase back on track after they had slumped to 86 for 4.On an excellent batting strip, a target of 277 wasn’t insurmountable, but India Seniors erred in sending Parthiv Patel to open, while Sourav Ganguly dropped down to No. 3. The move flopped, as Parthiv edged the fourth ball of the innings to Mohammad Kaif at gully. Rayudu was secure in defence, but got himself run out after a misunderstanding with Ganguly (7 for 2). Ganguly himself started nervously, then showed signs of getting back in form with a couple of rasping square-drives, before top-edging a pull off Pathan (39 for 3).When Tendulkar – in the middle of an inspired spell – trapped VVS Laxman (30) in front to end a promising 47-run stand with Badani, India A seemed to have wrapped up the match. However, Badani and Bangar then proceeded to pull the innings out of the rut. Badani used the sweep to good effect, and drove in the V to anything which was pitched up. Bangar, once again, impressed with his cricketing sense, chipping over the infield intelligently and running hard.Salvi ended the partnership when Badani – after having scored 13 from that over – attempted a pull and top-edged to Ajay Ratra (200 for 5). Bangar was stumped off Anil Kumble soon after, as India Seniors’ hopes faded away.Earlier, Balaji was the chief wrecker as India A stuttered at the start. Keeping an excellent control over his length and pitching it consistently in the corridor, Balaji struck three times in his first six overs, and almost got a fourth. Gautam Gambhir succumbed to an old weakness, driving on the up at a widish ball, straight to Ambati Rayudu at backward point (20 for 1). Balaji then bowled Tendulkar with a no-ball, but television replays suggested that the call was a harsh one.Wasim Jaffer’s played three gorgeous drives on either side of the wicket, and then fell attempting another one, nicking to VVS Laxman at slip (43 for 2), while Kaif gave more catching practice to Laxman (66 for 3). With Zaheer Khan showing signs of early season rustiness – he bowled four no-balls and as many wides in his first five overs, which went for 38 – Balaji’s incisiveness and control was vital in keeping the senior side in the match.On 7 when given the reprieve, Tendulkar struggled for fluency throughout, striking just four fours in his 66-ball effort. His subdued innings finally ended courtesy a clever piece of bowling by Harbhajan, who enticed Tendulkar down the pitch and then held on to a sharp return catch.Sriram and Gavaskar led the recovery with a carefully constructed partnership. Both batsmen were circumspect at the start, nurdling the ball in the gaps and sprinting hard, and then slowly upped the tempo. Sriram’s sweep stroke was especially effective, while Gavaskar played some spanking shots down the ground, especially memorable being a straight six off Harbhajan and a straight-drive off Zaheer. The stand finally ended when Sriram skied an attempted flick to Ganguly at mid-on (237 for 5), but Gavaskar kept the innings going. In the end, a total of 276 turned out to be more than enough.

Middle-order batsman Michael Vandort has been left out of Sri Lanka’s 14-man squad for the third and final Test against West Indies as Sri Lankan selectors back Russel Arnold to return to form.Vandort made his Test debut at the expense of Russel Arnold in the Asian Test championship match against Bangladesh at the SSC grounds in September scoring 36 and, was a member of the 15-man squad for the on-going Test series against West Indies at Galle and Kandy.As is normally the practice when the team is playing in Colombo, the squad is pruned down to 14 and Vandort, who made 93 for CCC in last week’s Premier Trophy match against Sebastianites, finds himself the unlucky one to be left out.Barring injuries, Sri Lanka are likely to go into the final Test with the same eleven that won the second Test at Kandy by 131 runs to give them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.This means that Arnold will retain his place as a number five batsman despite the paucity of his runs at this level, which has seen his Test average dip from a promising 40 to 27.37 in the last 20 Tests he’s played.The left-hander has been able to go past 50 only three times in his last 33 Test innings, which doesn’t reflect the talent he possesses. Arnold himself must be worried about his own contribution with the bat to the team. His failures have not been largely significant because the other batsmen have been in the runs and given Sri Lanka match-winning totals.Apart from his batting capabilities, Arnold is also an outstanding close-infielder who has contributed much to the success of off-spinner MuttiahMuralitharan, latching on to the bat-pad catches.The selectors left out Arnold for the Asian Test championship match against Bangladesh, but brought him back for the West Indies series where he has scored only 38 runs in three innings.Despite the dearth of runs at Test level, we understand the selectors willpersevere with him for the three-Tests against Zimbabwe as well, which shouldput Arnold’s mind at ease and make him more relaxed to go out to the middleand score a century, which is long overdue.Sri Lanka squad of 14 for SSC Test:Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Kumar Sangakkara, MahelaJayawardene, Russel Arnold, Hashan Tillakaratne, Tilan Samaraweera, ChamindaVaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Niroshan Bandaratillake, Nuwan Zoysa, CharithaBuddhika Fernando, Upul Chandana, Suresh Perera.

The chance to show off their depth rather than the concerns of whether the waters may be too shallow is how Hashim Amla has described the challenge South Africa face in Bangalore. His team go into the match without two of three first-choice fast bowlers, after Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn were ruled out of the series and match respectively, leaving South Africa with a young attack who Amla believes will be able to fill big shoes.”A series is generally won with 15 players and not just 11,” Amla said. “Obviously losing Dale – the best bowler in the world – and Vernon – arguably the best allrounder in the world – changes the dynamics of our team but the guys who are going to be replacing them are quality cricketers and we are very fortunate to have great depth in our bowling attack.”South Africa’s new-look pace pack will be led by Morne Morkel, who has recovered from the quad strain that kept him out of the last two ODIs and the first Test, and seconded by Kyle Abbott and Kagiso Rabada. Between them, they have played just four Tests and Rabada only one – South Africa’s previous one in Mohali – but they will be need to take on the roles of much more experienced men. But Amla brushed off worries about his attack being too green.”Things like this happen and sometimes you get fairy tales coming out of these type of things. If Kyle rocks up and has an amazing day then so be it,” he said.Abbott has already been part of one Cinderella story. On debut, he stood in for Jacques Kallis, who missed the 2013 Centurion Test against Pakistan with a calf injury and became the second most successful South African on debut. He took 7 for 29 in the first innings and finished the match with nine scalps.Although he has not had the same success in the two other Tests he played – as part of a four-man pace pack against Australia in March 2014 and against West Indies in December 2014 – he has done well when filling in for the likes of Philander and Steyn in ODI cricket and is regarded as South Africa’s go-to deputiser.”Over the last couple of years Kyle has been one of our outstanding reserve bowlers. Whenever he has had an opportunity for us in T20s, ODIs and even in Tests, he has done exceptionally well,” Amla said. “It’s great to have him back.”Abbott will be back barely after stepping off the plane, having arrived in India on Thursday evening. Less than 48 hours later he could be on the field but Amla is not worried about jet-lag either. “Kyle is a wonderful professional and when he puts his boots on he’s ready, even if he got off the plane 10 minutes before he bowled the first ball,” Amla said.South Africa’s desperation to use Abbott comes because they see him as a like-for-like replacement for both Philander and Steyn because of his consistency and his ability to swing the ball. “He brings a little bit of what Vernon brings in terms of consistency, you kind of know what you are going to get, he is extremely consistent in where he lands the ball,” Amla said. “He brings a lot of control and he has got a great know-how of what he wants to do.”Abbott stood in for Philander at the 2015 World Cup, where he played four matches including the quarter-final because Philander was battling a hamstring injury. Abbott finished with South Africa’s best average in the tournament – 14.44 – and was controversially replaced in the semi-final when Philander regained fitness. The irony of Abbott now replacing Philander will not be lost on the many who followed the story of Abbott being left out of the semi-final XI for what was later revealed as political, not tactical, considerations.This time there are no politics involved, only strategy. South Africa seem set on three seamers in every match, not fewer, because they don’t want to leave too much for their part-timer bowlers, specifically JP Duminy, to do. Duminy has recovered from a cut on his hand and will be back in the XI but selector Ashwell Prince, speaking on a television show, said Duminy’s focus should be his batting.”I would like him, if he comes back into the team, to play as a batsman, a world-class batsman… the responsibility of his off spin needs to come off his shoulders. It must be seen as a bonus, as with Dean Elgar’s left-arm spin,” Prince said.Amla seems to be leaning the same way. He spoke about Duminy’s value as a batsmen above the options he provides with ball in hand. “JP has been a quality player over many years for us. He bats in a crucial position down at No. 5, 6 and 7. In all forms of cricket, that’s the business end of the game,” Amla said. “He brings a lot of know-how and experience to the middle order and his off spin has been vital for us.”Duminy will do some bowling but all indications are that South Africa will continue to rely on their traditional strength in seamers although not all their strong men are available anymore.

Transfer insider Dean Jones isn’t sure whether Leon Bailey will be at Aston Villa next season. 

The lowdown

Villa paid £28.8m to sign the 24-year-old from Bayer Leverkusen just last summer. That made him the third-biggest signing in the club’s history, behind Emiliano Buendia and Ollie Watkins, but the winger hasn’t been able to make too much of an impact up to this point.

Having struggled to stay fit, he has started only four Premier League matches, making a further eight appearances from the bench (totalling 472 minutes).

The Jamaican’s solitary Villa goal so far came in the 3-0 win over Everton in September, although he has also provided two assists.

The latest

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones suggested that Villa might let Bailey leave after just 12 months if the right offer arrives at the club’s door.

The journalist admitted: “Bailey I’m not so sure about. I think that he really could be moved on in the summer in the right circumstances.”

The verdict

It’s worth remembering just how good Bailey was at Leverkusen last season. He scored 15 goals and laid on 11 assists in all competitions, and with that kind of return, he looked like a real coup for Villa at the time.

Back in September, then-manager Dean Smith outlined his expectation that the 24-year-old would be a ‘crowd favourite’ at Villa Park.

According to Transfermarkt, Bailey had only missed 13 games through injury across his entire career before he moved to England, which should surely give Villa hope that he can overcome the problems he has encountered this season.

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Despite Jones casting some doubt over the Jamaican’s future in the Midlands, the winger deserves more time to prove his worth to Steven Gerrard.

In other news, one player on Villa’s books has suffered a major setback

Celtic have opened contract renewal talks with first-team coach Gavin Strachan.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claim a Celtic source has revealed that Ange Postecoglou’s side have opened talks with the first-team coach regarding the extension of his current deal at Parkhead.

The report goes on to state that the 43-year-old is highly regarded by the Bhoys hierarchy, and is being rewarded for his role in the Hoops’ transformation under the leadership of the Greek-Australian head coach this season.

Finally, it is said that the negotiations between the coach and the club are already well underway, with it being hoped by both parties that an agreement can be reached in the near future.

Postecoglou will be buzzing

With Strachan having started to attract interest from clubs looking for a new manager – such as League Two side Hartlepool United, who approached the 43-year-old in November of last year – the news that the first team coach looks set to remain at Parkhead for the foreseeable is sure to have left Postecoglou buzzing.

Indeed, the Daily Record previously reported that Strachan has “been hailed by Postecoglou for the key role he has played behind the scenes” at Lennoxtown, as well as it being stated that the “highly-rated” Scotsman has proven himself to be “an integral part of Postecoglou’s backroom team.”

The 56-year-old Bhoys boss has also joked about the former Peterborough United and Doncaster Rovers assistant manager’s reputation of a “laptop coach” – stating about Strachan and his hardware, which featured in Celtic’s Christmas advert, earlier this season:

“I’m not surprised he’s taken star billing. It’s a very important part of our setup here, and that’s all I’ll say about it!”

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However, all joking aside, considering the remarkable job Postecoglou and his backroom staff have done in turning Celtic’s extremely disappointing 2020/21 campaign into what could well be a domestic treble-winning season this time around, it is clear the 43-year-old has well and truly earned a new deal at Parkhead – with his impending extension undoubtedly being good news for the club.

AND in other news: Postecoglou drops huge behind the scenes update, it’s great news for Celtic

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Shoaib Malik’s all-round performance allowed Pakistan to reduce India’s margin of victory to 3-2 © AFP

Shoaib Malik excelled with both bat and ball as Pakistan notched up the consolation win that reduced India’s margin of victory in the one-day series to 3-2. A 168-run partnership with Mohammad Yousuf revived Pakistan’s stuttering innings, and he then picked up the key wickets of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as an under-strength team outlasted an Indian side that had also rested four regulars.By the time Malik arrived in the middle, Sreesanth had struck in each over of his second spell to transform a promising start (65 for 0) into a decidedly rocky one (77 for 3). But with Yousuf in the sort of form that fetched him an unbeaten 99 in the previous game, the innings was steadily rebuilt, first with singles, and then with big hits over midwicket and through the covers.Malik’s innings was laced with some good fortune too, with top-edged pulls off Sreesanth and Praveen Kumar, the debutant, falling safe, but the manner in which he and Yousuf took on India’s slow bowlers completely changed the complexion of the innings.Yousuf was again at his unhurried, classy best. He picked the gaps on the leg side cleverly and cut the ball behind point fluently when the bowlers erred. He was well on track for the century that he had missed both in Guwahati and Gwalior, but was flummoxed when the previously expensive Yuvraj Singh spun one past the bat as he lunged forward.Malik’s 82-ball 89 had ended in similar fashion just minutes earlier, with Murali Kartik deceiving him in the flight. But Misbah-ul-Haq and the impressive Fawad Alam finished with a flourish to ensure that the exit of the two established batsmen didn’t really affect the final total.India’s reply was doomed almost from the start, with Sohail Tanvir and Iftikhar Anjum doing the damage. Sourav Ganguly was among the four rested, and it was Gautam Gambhir who emerged to open with Sachin Tendulkar. He cut and flicked Tanvir for two fours, but was fortunate to be reprieved when a thick edge just brushed the fingertips of second slip. His luck didn’t last though, and when he played down the wrong line, he was plumb in front.Tendulkar got going with two gorgeous cuts for four off Umar Gul, but Robin Uthappa, promoted to No. 3, struggled in conditions where the ball moved around. Anjum was dismayed when a flashing edge was put down by Misbah at slip, but he didn’t need to frown for long. With his feet statuesque, Uthappa repeated the shot, and this time Misbah’s fingers weren’t slippery.Tendulkar was carrying on where he left off in Gwalior, cover-driving and flicking Tanvir with superb timing. But when he was drawn to play one that angled well away from him, Misbah was on hand once again to take the catch. That put India on the back foot, and it was backs-to-the-wall moments later when Virender Sehwag had a grotesque dart at another Tanvir delivery that angled across. Sarfraz Ahmed took his first catch in ODIs, and India were in disarray at 62 for 4.Yuvraj struggled horribly early on, getting off the mark from the 11th ball he faced, a fortuitous inside edge for four. His timing was awry, and when Anjum thumped him on the helmet with a well-directed short ball, it exemplified India’s travails. But Rohit Sharma played himself in and then proceeded to play some gorgeous shots, including a six on-the-walk over mid-off, as an 81-run partnership revived Indian hopes.But a tame loft to long-on ended his innings, and when Yuvraj, who had overcome early jitters to post yet another 50, was given out caught off the arm, Malik and Pakistan sensed their moment. Dhoni, who appeared to damage an ankle while running a single, lost patience and miscued one to cover, and Kumar made little impact. It was left to Irfan Pathan to reduce the margin as the match petered out.Sharma’s composure and class apart, India could take some comfort from the performances of Kumar and Sreesanth. Sreesanth struggled for line and fluency against the left-hand Salman Butt, and it was Kumar who was clearly more impressive in the first spell. Bowling in the low 130s for the most part, he got some movement and troubled both batsmen with his accuracy before a couple of wayward deliveries at the end of the spell allowed the batsmen to score a few.

India got off to a poor start chasing when Sohail Tanvir and Iftikhar Anjum reduced them to 62 for 4 in 12 overs © AFP

Sreesanth went for 20 in his first three overs, but when he returned, it was a different tale. Butt miscued a pull to short mid-on, and Yasir Hameed was also undone by steep bounce outside his off stump. Imran Nazir had been largely becalmed on his way to 20, but when a slower ball came his way outside off stump, he couldn’t resist the temptation. The swipecame straight back at Sreesanth, who took a smart catch.That was as good as it got for the capacity crowd. Malik and Yousuf wrested the initiative, and a young pace attack along with Alam – who showed nice variations despite going wicketless – made light of the absence of Shoaib Akhtar to script an emphatic victory. For Malik, the star of the show, it was the perfect note with which to end one campaign and prepare for a more testing one.

All smiles for Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee © Getty Images

Glenn McGrath believes the farewell party is on track after two days of the SCG lap of honour. McGrath departs the Test scene with Shane Warne and Justin Langer on Saturday and with Australia at 4 for 188, 103 runs behind England’s first innings, the game is evenly poised.However, McGrath, who bowled well to pick up 3 for 67, said Australia were well positioned in the chase for a win that would give them a 5-0 victory. “We’re pretty much on track if we put on a good partnership tomorrow,” McGrath said. “It would be nice to get a sizeable first-innings lead.”England lost 6 for 57 in the opening session today as McGrath, Stuart Clark and Brett Lee used the second new ball cleverly. On the first day McGrath was frustrated by the number of plays-and-misses he created, but today the bowlers were able to find the edges and Adam Gilchrist finished with five catches. “We thought if we took a couple or at least one wicket this morning we would do some real damage, and with 6 for 50-odd you can’t really complain.”McGrath said he was coping with the extra attention caused by the trio’s departures and it helped that he was going on to the World Cup. “It’s felt a little bit strange because I’ve still got the one-dayers,” he said. “Myself and Shane have kept their emotions in check, whereas Justin’s quite an emotional person. He’s found it tougher than we have.”

Despite the bowlers conceding a few extras, Dravid believed they had bowled well. © Getty Images

Predicting a close series against South Africa, Rahul Dravid, the Indian captain, has said that his team will strive to bounce back with an improved performance in the second one-dayer, to be played at Bangalore on November 19.”Yes, we have got to come back strongly and play good cricket,” Dravid told reporters in Bangalore, his howetown. He also insisted that he was satisfied with the courageous performance of Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh and Ajit Agarkar, who helped to score a respectable 249 after the team was 35 for 5 at one stage. “[But] I think, we did well in the last game,” he said. “The boys showed a lot of character and courage to fight back. I am very satisfied. We can take heart from that. If we do a few things, we will end up with better results.”He also said the team was looking to improve its batting in the first 15 overs and cut down on the number of extras. However, about the 24 extras conceded in the match, Dravid dismissed the issue as “not a problem” because despite conceding a few extras, he believed the Indian bowlers bowled well.

Glenn McGrath warmed up for the first Test with his best spell in “I don’t know how long” thanks to a lightweight pair of shoes borrowed from Shane Watson that put some spring back in the old man’s step.By all accounts, Watson is a good guy who would give you the shirt off his back, but in McGrath’s case it was handing over a pair of size 12s that revitalised the veteran fast bowler on the eve of what is going to be a gruelling series against India.McGrath was hugely optimistic about his Test prospects after taking 4-28 from 20.2 overs against Mumbai at Brabourne Stadium, an unwaveringly accurate and varied performance that suggested he was back to his penetrative best.”That was the best it’s felt in I don’t know how long, quite a few years,” said McGrath, whose 11-year Test career was in serious jeopardy earlier this year when ankle troubles persisted.”I tried something different – I tried lighter boots.”My normal boots are a kilo each and these are half a kilo. It made me feel so much lighter. I felt I was running in well and my follow through, which is always a key to how well I’m bowling, felt as light as it’s been for a long time.”I was mixing it up a lot to try every type of ball and they were coming out really well. I couldn’t be happier after this match. I came off after bowling and I had that much energy, I couldn’t sit still.”McGrath, whose preparations for India hit a snag last month when he conceded 0-46 from eight lacklustre overs in the Champions Trophy semi-final against England, was forced to search for new boots when his regular model went out of stock.”They (Puma) made up a new batch, but they only had four left and they weren’t going to make them anymore,” said McGrath.”I had to change sooner or later.”I found in that last game in England that it just felt really heavy and I wasn’t hitting the crease. In the nets I’ve been bowling in half-spikes, and they felt quite good.”Watto had another pair of full-spike Puma ones, low-cut, and I tried them and I couldn’t be happier. He had a couple of pairs and said I could break them in for him. He’s not getting them back now and I’ve asked for more to be sent over.”Test captain and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist barely had to move when McGrath was bowling because the line was so deadly straight. Two of McGrath’s three wickets on the final day were from LBW decisions and there could have been a couple more.”I thought he was outstanding in what he did,” said Gilchrist.”He was back to what we’ve come to expect from him.”Because he hasn’t had a chance to have that extended hit-out, it’s been hard to know where he’s at. In one-dayers it’s hard to monitor and judge what he’s doing and I think he had a little bit of uncertainness about where he was in his whole rehabilitation and re-entry to the game.”So he’ll gain a lot out of that.”The first Test starts on Wednesday at Bangalore.

Gareth Batty: released from the England squad

England this morning released Gareth Batty ahead of tomorrow’s third npower Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge. Batty was one of four uncapped players announced in the squad last weekend as England looked to change things round after their innings defeat at Lord’s.After examining the Trent Bridge pitch this morning, the England management let Batty return to Worcestershire, leaving Ashley Giles as the sole spinner in the squad. Michael Vaughan said: “We will look at the conditions in the morning and decide which four seamers will be best to help us win the Test.” James Kirtley and Glen Chapple will contest the final bowling spot between them, with Kirtley expected to play after being named in all four Test squads this summer.