Taylor's fireworks light up damp day

Ross Taylor's remarkable turnaround in form that saw realization through an aggressive century boosted New Zealand to 328 for six on the first day of the second Test, here on Friday.
Taylor's racy hundred (113, 127b, 16x4, 2x6) overshadowed left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha's four for 90, as New Zealand resorted - successfully, for once - to the proven Test match tactic of building partnerships. Three such alliances took the visitors to relative safety at close, with Kruger van Wyk (63 batting) and Doug Bracewell (30 batting) holding firm in the middle, when bad light ended proceedings prematurely at around 4 p.m.
Having surrendered the Hyderabad Test by a massive margin, New Zealand won the toss and came out all guns blazing at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Opener Martin Guptill set the tone with a brisk half-century, and Taylor - after a wretched time at Uppal - tore into the Indian attack post lunch.  The beginnings, however, were not as propitious as the Kiwis lost their first wicket for no score in the second over of the morning.
Zaheer Khan, who came on after Ojha had opened the bowling,  pitched one on the good length spot and trapped Brendon McCullum in front for a duck. New Zealand subsequently resisted spin for over an hour, as Guptill and Williamson added 63. But Ojha soon got through the latter with one that snuck onto the back pad of the advancing batsman.
Opener Guptill was dropped on 17 by an overenthusiastic Virat Kohli off Zaheer, as the fielder dove from third slip and spilt a catch that was headed straight to second slip. The reprieved batsman played a series of sparkling strokes off Umesh Yadav and reached his half-century in quicktime - with eight hits to the fence. Guptill was out on 53 when he struck a tossed-up Ojha ball straight to Gautam Gambhir at midwicket.
Then it was time for Taylor to take over. The Kiwi captain 's 113 contained 18 boundaries - including a menacing slog-swept maximum off R. Ashwin.  What a remarkable turnaround it was for Taylor! In the first Test, he lost the toss, dropped catches, and scored nine across two innings. But on Friday, his belligerence paid off.
Taylor was just about revving his engine before lunch. On resumption, he slammed the pedal all the way down. No bowler was spared as slog sweeps and full-blooded drives were biffed with authority. Ojha, usually a picture of parsimony, was creamed for four boundaries in an over; Zaheer was dispatched arrogantly straight back; Ashwin was caressed all the way down to the fine-leg fence.
Another four, cut viciously off Ojha, gave Taylor his seventh Test hundred in just 99 balls. The skipper and Daniel Flynn added 107 in under 19 overs, before the southpaw got out in a way that has become characteristic of his dismissals. Flynn's patient 33 had proved to be the perfect foil to Taylor's aggressive ways, but when he missed an attempted sweep off Ashwin, the leg-before verdict reprised to perfection both his dismissals from the first Test.
New Zealand were 196 for four at that stage with all eyes on all-rounder James Franklin, who had displayed some ability to stick it out in the first Test. Here, again, Franklin loitered around for 35 balls for his 8, before playing a horrible flick off an Ojha full-toss that was pouched by a diving Suresh Raina at mid-wicket, leaving the side on 215 for 5.

Taylor was the last man out and Ojha's fourth wicket when he went for a sweep, missed and was struck in front. Wicket-keeper batsman van  Wyk and Bracewell ensured no further losses were endured for the visiting side as they added 82 for the seventh wicket, negotiating the second new ball for half-an-over before deteriorating light and a mild drizzle restricted play to 81.3 overs.
Officials have proposed for a 9 a.m. start on Saturday to make up for the loss of time.

Unmukt Chand allowed to move to second year

Under-19 cricket World Cup winning captain Unmukt Chand has been allowed to move to his second year at St. Stephen's College, but he has to clear his first year exams, Delhi University vice-chancellor Dinesh Singh said on Friday.
Singh said Unmukt would have to clear his second semester exam of the first year after he is promoted to second year. He will also have to simultaneously clear his second year exams.
Unmukt, a BA student who had got admission in college in the sports category, was not allowed to give his second semester exams due to low attendance.
"Under the proposed structure - that is expected to be placed before the academic council in a couple of months - participation in sports activities will be accorded credit and the students will have the choice of replacing some of the academic courses with a structured recognition of participation towards his/her degree," Singh said.
However, the vice-chancellor made it clear that there would be no escape from studies for Unmukt. Giving an example, he said a student of mathematics honours can not say he wants the degree without studying the subject.
Earlier, the vice-chancellor had written to Sports Minister Ajay Maken assuring him that he would look into the case of Unmukt.
HRD minister Kapil Sibal had on Thursday spoken to the vice-chancellor and urged him to resolve the matter on priority.
According to Delhi University rules, a student must have at least 33.3 per cent attendance in an academic session after all exemptions.
Unmukt had earlier approached the Delhi High Court to sit for his exams. But since he was late in approaching the court, he could appear in only two exams out of four.
According to university rules, a student should pass 50 percent of all exams in both semesters combined to move on to the next year of the course.
The next hearing is slated for September 16. Unmukt's results have been withheld on the court's direction.

Trescothick slams Kartik's 'Mankad' run out in county game as 'against spirit of game'

Former England opening batsman and Somerset captain Marcus Trescothick has slammed Indian spinner Murali Kartik's run out of Alex Barrow against the spirit of the game.
Controversy erupted on the third day of the English County Championship between Somerset and Surrey at Taunton.
With the hosts on 5-191 in reply to 317, Murali Kartik ran out Alex Barrow, as he was backing-up and Surrey skipper Gareth Batty turned down the opportunity to call the 20-year-old batsman back when umpire Peter Hartley offered it.
While it was a lawful dismissal, also known as The Mankad, it is considered against the spirit of the game.
The Mankad is named after Indian batsman Vinoo Mankad, who ran out Australia's Bill Brown in 1947.
Kartik and Batty were booed by the crowd for the remainder of the innings, which saw Somerset bowled out for 294.
"I'm very disappointed. It's not something you want to see in cricket. I've never witnessed anything like it before at any level. Theoretically, Alex was out, as we all know, but it was against the spirit of the game," The Telegraph quoted Trescothick, as saying.
There were fuming scenes beneath the visiting dressing room balcony at tea, with supporters of both teams directing vitriolic comments at Batty and Kartik.

Strauss can leave cricket with his head held high: Botham

Former Test captain Sir Ian Botham has saluted Andrew Strauss for his contribution to the England team, saying that he can leave the game with his head held high and with a sense of satisfaction that he has given it everything he could.
Strauss first captained England when he stood in for the injured Michael Vaughan in 2006 and led the team in 50 Tests winning 25, and the peak of his career was the 3-1 series win in Australia, England's first Ashes away win since 1986-87.
"You can't ask for any more from a player and for the years he has entertained us and fought tooth and nail for the England cause we can only say thank you. And above all we say thank you for giving those Aussies a bloody nose on three separate occasions," Botham wrote in his column for the Daily Mirror.
He said Staruss played his full part in the 2005 Ashes triumph, scoring two hundreds, and termed it to be one of the greatest series of Test cricket.
"All 12 of the men who played for England during that summer have something so special to look back on that will make all their careers seem worthwhile. But Strauss got much more than that.
"His captaincy of the side in 2009 was a stunning performance of grit and determination when Australia probably thought they should have won, especially after the match in Cardiff. I thought he out-foxed them brilliantly in a tight tense encounter.
"And then the big one. The tour Down Under that really was the culmination of a life's work. To go down there and triumph so spectacularly made us all proud to be English and he takes the deserved plaudits for that too."

Cook to now decide on Kevin Pietersen's England fate

New Test captain Alastair Cook along with England team bosses Andy Flower and Hugh Morris will now decide on Kevin Pietersen's fate, as reports appear that there will be no quick return for the disgruntled batsman following Andrew Strauss' retirement.
Pietersen must still confess all to Flower and Morris and come clean with reassurances about his future behaviour.
"He must still make a full apology for the text messages he sent. There is still a process we must go through, and he needs to explain himself at meetings with Andy and myself before we can go any further, and that will be behind closed doors," Morris said.
The Pietersen saga could see the announcement of the Test squad to tour India and the awarding of central contracts being pushed back until after the World T20.
England's selectors will be meeting before then and had wished to announce both the squad and the contracts before the players headed off to Sri Lanka, but that is far from guaranteed, The Daily Mirror reports.
Cook will also get involved in the discussions now.
"I've been on the outside for a lot of the saga. The issue hasn't changed though. Clearly I'll get involved over the coming weeks, but this will happen behind closed doors before we can move on," said Cook.

2nd test, India vs New Zealand

After a crushing innings defeat at the hands of India in the first Test at Hyderabad, a resurgent New Zealand will be looking to get their act together ahead of the second and final Test at Bangalore. The Kiwis were humbled by the Indian spin attack of R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, which led to their batting collapse altogether. Cheteshwar Pujara's maiden ton helped India post a huge first innings total that led to the visitors being subjected to a follow-on. Skipper Ross Taylor will need to find a better way of tackling the Indian spinners in the next Test. India will be high on momentum and they would be eager to stay consistent with their form. This clash has all the makings of another Test match to remember.
Greetings to all our viewers across the globe and thank you for tuning in to the coverage of the  second Test  match between India and New Zealand at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. It was a dominating show by the hosts in Hyderabad as they steamrolled the Kiwis to take a 1-0 lead in the series and once again will be the favourites. New Zealand, on the other hand, would wish to present a tough fight this time around. This is the team of Prakash, Karthik, Priyank and Vidula to cover all the action.
Offence is the best defence, says NZ captain Taylor!  Read the entire article in our NEWS section
Players to Watch:  Ravichandran Ashwin - He rattled the New Zealand batsmen with 12 wickets in the first Test. His presence in the team will be vital for India and threatening for the Kiwis. Kane Williamson - He scored a fifty in the last match, but what makes him special is his ability to tackle Indian spin better than most of his teammates. The youngster will be the key for New Zealand.
It is a good Test wicket. Will offer some lateral movement with the new ball and then there will be turn as the game progresses. Sunil Gavaskar reckons, it will be excellent for batting for the first two days.
Ross Taylor has won the coin toss and  New Zealand will bat!  He says that the wicket is good and they would look to bat well. Also informs that  Tim Southee replaces Chris Martin.  MS Dhoni was looking to bat as well but says that one cannot win the toss all the time. Feels that the overcast conditions and some grass on the strip will assist his seamers.  India are unchanged!
India:  Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(c/wkt), Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, Umesh Yadav.
New Zealand:  Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor(c), Daniel Flynn, James Franklin, Kruger van Wyk(wkt), Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Jeetan Patel, Trent Boult.

Offence is the best defence, says NZ captain Taylor

Attacking the Indian spinners is the best possible way to survive against them, according to New Zealand captain Ross Taylor.

 The visitors lost by an innings and 115 runs in the first test in Hyderabad with the Indian spin duo of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha sharing 18 of the 20 wickets.
 New Zealand were bundled out for 159 and 164 in their first and second innings respectively and need to tackle the spinners better if they are to avoid a whitewash in the two-test series.
 "It's never easy when you lose a test by over an innings," Taylor told reporters on the eve of the final test in Bangalore.
 "We need to forget about it as quickly as possible, talk amongst the group and find ways of playing Ashwin and Ojha.
 "We have to be brave and courageous and attack them and hopefully put pressure back on them.
 "And when we attack them, there hopefully won't be many men around the bat."
 Ashwin picked up 12 wickets while Ojha bagged six as the match finished within four days in Hyderabad.
 But Taylor ruled out making any hasty changes for the second test.
 "We gave them faith in the first game and we're going to give them a go in the next game as well," Taylor said.
 "We didn't play as well as we would have liked, but this is another opportunity to show how good we are as a team."
 Taylor's counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni will just try to stick to the tried and tested formula that worked perfectly for them in Hyderabad.
 "We don't need to be overconfident... and whatever we did right in the first test, we have to repeat everything and try to stick to the basics and keep things simple," Dhoni said.
 This is the first test series for India post the retirements of batting stalwarts Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman and the hosts chose Cheteshwar Pujara and Suresh Raina to fill the vacant spots in the batting order.
 While Pujara scored his maiden test hundred, Raina, who averages under 29 in the 16 tests he has played so far, could score only three.
 Dhoni threw his weight behind left-handed batsman, who is an integral part of India's one-day side.
 "He has played just one game after Laxman has retired, so we have to give a fair amount of time to every individual who becomes the part of the side," Dhoni said.

Clarke expects more Pakistan spin in second ODI

Australian captain Michael Clarke hopes his batsmen will continue to show improvement against Pakistan's spinners when the teams clash in the second one-day international in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Australia negotiated the high-profile Pakistan spin trio of Saeed Ajmal, Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez to the best effect to win the first one-day in Sharjah by four wickets on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead in three-match series.
And Clarke, 31, hopes his batsmen show improvement with each game.
"Playing spin bowling is an area of our game that we need to continue to improve. It's something that we've focused on when we've played away from home," said Clarke, who led the modest run chase of 199 with a sedate 66.
George Bailey hit a patient 88-ball 57 not out to steer Australia home in the 49th over after Ajmal (3-30) and Hafeez (2-29) threatened to catch Australia in a spin web.
Clarke was delighted with the opening win.
"Apart from myself, I think it's everyone's first time playing cricket here in this heat in these conditions so that's why it's more pleasing to have won," said Clarke who led Australia to a 3-2 series win against Pakistan here in 2009.
Australia considerd the option of bringing in left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty or spinning allrounder Steve Smith for the Abu Dhabi game.
"There's enough there for both fast bowlers and spin (on the Abdu Dhabi pitch). I'd love to see somebody in our top four go on and make a big score, make a hundred.
"I've got two starts and I haven't been able to go on (to score a hundred). I think heat is certainly a factor," said Clarke, who also made 75 in Australia's 66-run win over Afghanistan in Sharjah on Saturday.
Clarke praised Bailey for his responsible innings.
"The most pleasing thing was that George was there at the end. These days in one-day cricket, a lot is spoken about your strike-rate. George wasn't concerned about how many balls he was facing. He's the T20 captain and I know he's looking forward to hopefully winning that World Cup in Sri Lanka.
"It's a really positive sign for the T20 team that the captain is in really good form leading up to that tournament," said Clarke of the World Twenty20 to be held in Sri Lanka next month.
Pakistan, meanwhile, will look to improve their batting, after being bowled out in 45.1 overs with left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc taking a career best 5-42.
Captain Misbah-ul Haq said he was disappointed over his side's batting failure, despite packing the XI with seven batsmen.

Emotional Yuvraj happy to receive Arjuna Award

This has been a tough year for Yuvi. So when the first question was fired at him by a group of mediamen and it was on cancer, Yuvraj was a bit flustered.
"That’s a thing of the past, let’s talk about these awards and the achievements of the athletes from the London Olympics,” he shot back.
Flanked by friends and mother Shabnam, Yuvraj was emotional.
When you look at 18-year-old archer Deepika Kumari winning the Arjuna Award, you sense that for Yuvraj, it has been a long time coming. "I know I came close to nominations before and am very happy now,” said the 2011 World Cup player of the tournament, who has been selected for the forthcoming Twenty20 Internationals against New Zealand and the subsequent World Twenty20.
Yuvraj made his international debut in the ICC Knockout in Nairobi in 2000. He has proved his worth repeatedly in ODIs and T20s, so it’s surprising that he has got the Arjuna Award after 12 years of service. However, the southpaw is enjoying the attention again and has been training hard for the last three months in Bangalore.
His hair has grown again and for someone who battled lung cancer so spiritedly, his fighting abilities are clear. "I have been training hard at the NCA for three months now. I am peaking now and looking forward to playing my first match after almost one year,” said Yuvraj.
The conversation veered to doubts raised in some quarters over his fitness. "Experts are not watching me every day. I have been working hard and I know what I am doing,” he said.
Then came a topic away from cricket — Lance Armstrong.
When Yuvraj was battling lung cancer and getting treated in the United States, Armstrong had reached out to him.
And from Yuvraj’s reply, it’s clear that even as Armstrong faces the drug cheat taint, he has a great fan. "For me, Lance will always be my hero. He fought cancer hard and came out of it. I will always see him as my hero,” said Yuvraj.

Dope tests in Indian domestic ties this year

With the menace of doping in sports rearing its ugly head and dispatching American cyclist Lance Amstrong's feat of seven Tour de France titles into a black hole of shame, cricket in India is taking steps to root out the danger at the domestic level.
Though the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been reluctant to fully comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) 'whereabouts rule', it has decided to start dope testing for domestic players.
The BCCI chief adminstrative officer, Ratnakar Shetty, told HT on Tuesday that testing would be done from the 2012-2013 season.
"We are planning to introduce dope testing from this season," said Shetty. "For the past two years, the BCCI, through its state associations, has been educating cricketers on anti-doping and how to improve their performances the right way."
He also revealed that Dr Vece Paes, the BCCI consultant on anti-doping, would lead the team and work out the modalities to start the testing process.
Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on sports medicine conducted by the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Shetty said sports federations in the country should educate their athletes on sports medicine, especially to sustain India's performance in the London Olympics.
"Sports federations must come together on a platform to create an atmosphere of learning and create an easy knowledge base to help sportspersons understand what needs to be done in case of an injury," Shetty said, highlighting BCCI's initiative in providing rehabilitation facilities to its players.
In addition to BCCI's rehabilitation centre at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore which caters to the 30 contracted cricketers, it has added three more centres at Chennai, Mohali and Mumbai to cater to Ranji Trophy players, Shetty said.
'Fitter while resting'
Heath Matthews, consultant sports physiotherapist at Mumbai's Kokilaben Hospital, stressed the importance for athletes to have an idea of "what to do and when to do" and the perils of overdoing things while training for matches and tournaments. "Too much intensity in training sessions can be detrimental," Matthews said.
"It's important to have a proper warm-up routine to avoid injuries."
Matthews also threw light on the importance of adequate rest and a proper rehabilitation process for athletes saying "the human body gets fitter during the rest period after exercises and not during it."

Captain Cook surprised by speed of Test ascent

He might have been the heir apparent for more than a year but Alastair Cook insisted he'd been taken aback by his elevation to the England Test captaincy following Andrew Strauss's retirement on Wednesday.
Cook insisted he had no idea his Test match opening partner was considering not just giving up the captaincy but quitting all cricket, until told on Tuesday of his fellow left-hander's decision.
Asked if his elevation to the job he'd long been tipped to inherit had come earlier than expected Cook, who replaced Strauss as England's one-day captain following the latter's one-day retirement after last year's World Cup, replied: "Yes I think it has. It's been a bit of a strange 24 hours for me personally."
"I'm incredibly proud to be sitting here now as captain of England," said the 27-year-old Essex batsman, who scored a century on his Test debut against India in Nagpur in 2006.
"It's a huge honour for me. I'm very excited about the challenge."
Strauss was one of England's most successful Test captains winning 24 of his 50 matches in charge and leading the side to home and away Ashes series wins.
The Middlesex batsman, who took charge in 2009, also guided England to the top of the world Test rankings -- a position they lost to South Africa after the Proteas completed a 51-run win in Strauss's 100th, and as it turned out, last Test at Lord's earlier his month.
"Obviously I've got huge boots to fill following Straussy," said Cook. "He's done an incredible job. Speaking for the players, it was a sad dressing room when we found out.
"I think that speaks volumes for Straussy and what he has done for the side."
If England had an obvious replacement for Strauss as a captain, the question of Cook's opening partner when England play their first Test under their new skipper in India in November is far from clear-cut.
"You take people for granted don't you?," said Cook, who deputised as England Test skipper when Strauss was rested from the 2010 tour of Bangladesh.
"Andrew's played 100 Test matches and scored 7,000 runs. It feels like all my England career I've walked out to bat with him. That's a huge hole to fill and that's a huge compliment to Andrew Strauss."
Cook, who saw England's run of 10 straight wins in completed one-dayers end with Tuesday's 80-run defeat by South Africa in Southampton on Tuesday, added: "We've got India away and we've got two Ashes series in the next 18 months.
"We have got a lot of cricket to play and hopefully I can do a good job."
The closing weeks of Strauss's time as England captain were overshadowed by the controversy surrounding his predecessor Kevin Pietersen, undoubtedly the most talented of England's current batsmen.
Pietersen has been in England exile since the drawn second Test against his native South Africa, despite a brilliant 149 in Leeds, after it was revealed he'd sent "provocative texts" to Proteas players, some of which were alleged to be critical of Strauss.
England have still to get to the bottom of what the messages actually said and so Pietersen remains barred from international duty.
But if he does not return soon, England could find themselves in India with a decidedly coltish-looking top order.
"I've been on the outside for a lot of the saga," said Cook, set to lead England in the third one-dayer at The Oval on Friday. "The issue hasn't changed. Clearly I'll get involved over the coming weeks.
Strauss, asked what advice he had for his successor, replied: "My advice to Alastair is to really savour and enjoy captaining your country and throw yourself into it with everything you've got.
"Manage your time carefully because it is an all-encompassing job at times and have no regrets. I have every confidence that's what Alastair will do. I'm absolutely certain, with the type of person he is, that he will do a great job."

Unmukt may lose college seat for low attendance

He might have won India the Under-19 Cricket World Cup, but right now captain Unmukt Chand is struggling to retain his seat as a BA student of St Stephen’s College.
Barred from taking the second semester exams because of low attendance, Chand earlier approached the Delhi High Court, which ordered the college to allow him to write his exams. But as he was a little late in approaching the court, he was able to write only two exams out of four.

The university mandates that a student should pass 50% of all exams in both semesters combined.
“He is a bright boy and has made the country proud but he had just 8% attendance in college. I am just following university guidelines and he is not fulfilling the conditions for promotion,” said Valson Thampu, principal, St Stephen’s College.
The college has had a number of international level players on its rolls, but most have escaped such harsh penalty.
The result of Unmukt’s second semester exams, as per rules, will be declared by the High Court now. The next hearing for the case is on September 14.
University officials, however, say his second semester result will not matter as he has passed all exams in the first semester.
Since the principal has made his stand clear, it is now up to the court to decide whether Unmukt will be able to get admission in the second semester or not.

Pak T20 Premier League plans shelved to next year

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf has said Pakistan's plans to launch its own international Twenty20 Premier League have been shelved to next year.
"I think, we should be able to launch it sometime in March next year and we will be inviting overseas players to participate in the event and make it successful," the Daily Times quoted Ashraf, as saying.
Ashraf said although a lot of planning had already gone into the proposed Premier League event, it would not be possible to hold it this year.
The PCB has been working on launching its Premier League and had also recently advertised for the post of League's commissioner.

Strauss resigns as England captain, quits cricket

Andrew Strauss resigned as England's Test captain and announced his retirement from professional cricket with immediate effect on Wednesday.
"After much thought over the last few weeks, I have decided to step down as England Test captain and announce my retirement from all forms of cricket," Strauss said in an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement issued ahead of a news conference at Lord's.
"It has clearly been a tough decision to make, but I believe that it is both in the best interests of the England cricket team and myself to step down at this stage," the 35-year-old, who played exactly 100 Tests, added.
"The driver to all this is I haven't batted well enough for a long time. I wasn't going to improve batting-wise, I've run my race," Strauss later told the news conference.
"It's one of these decisions when you know when your time is up. It is important for a captain to not be a passenger and that people are not speculationg whether you should be in the side."
Alastair Cook, already England's one-day captain and Strauss's opening partner in the five-day game, was announced as the new skipper of the Test team.
Strauss insisted his retirement had nothing to do with the ongoing England exile of star batsman Kevin Pietersen.
England dropped Pietersen, who hasn't played international cricket in any format since making 149 in the drawn second Test at Headingley, after he admitted sending "provocative" texts to South African players.
Some of these were alleged to have been critical of Strauss, who succeeded South Africa-born and raised Pietersen as England captain in 2009. Strauss said he'd spoken to England coach Andy Flower about retiring "before the Kevin Pietersen situation reared its head".
His last Test was a 51-run defeat by South Africa at Lord's, his Middlesex home ground where he made his Test debut in 2004, earlier this month that saw England surrender their number one Test ranking to the Proteas.
Strauss scored 21 hundreds - one shy of England's all-time record - and led England to the top of the world Test rankings, a run that included home and away Ashes wins in 2009 and 2010/11.
Cook's first Test as captain will be the first of a four-match series in India in November.
The 27-year-old paid tribute to Strauss by saying: "Andrew's contribution to England cricket in recent years is evident to everyone who follows the sport but only those of us who have been lucky enough to share a dressing room with him are fully aware of his immense contribution to our success.
"He has been a fantastic captain, has led from the front for three-and-a-half years and is a true ambassador for the game. I know this can't have been an easy decision for him and everyone in the dressing room will be sad to see him go. I'm very excited by this new challenge, it is a huge honour to be appointed Test captain."
ECB chief executive David Collier said: "On behalf of the ECB and everyone involved in cricket I'd like to thank Andrew Strauss for his outstanding contribution to the game.
"Andrew's calmness and authority when dealing with some of the most difficult moments in our sport in recent times should be applauded and I have no doubt that his contribution as an ambassador for the game will be recognised by anyone who has had an opportunity to spend time with him."
Strauss has enjoyed modest returns with the bat in recent years and his 122 against the West Indies in May was his first Test century since November 2010.
He followed up with another century, at Trent Bridge, but averaged just 17.83 in six innings against the South Africans.
England's form in 2012 has been poor, with six defeats in 11 Tests culminating in a 2-0 series loss to South Africa, their first home reverse in four years.
Strauss was the third England skipper to be 'seen off' in as many tours of England by South Africa captain Graeme Smith after Nasser Hussain in 2003 and Michael Vaughan in 2008.

Cricket: India aim to wrap it up with spin trick

A buoyant India will bank on their spin twins to sweep the short series against struggling New Zealand when the second and final Test starts in Bangalore on Friday.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took 12 wickets and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha six as India underlined their supremacy on home soil by winning the first Test in Hyderabad by an innings and 115 runs.
Ross Taylor's Black Caps collapsed twice against the spin duo, managing just 159 in the first innings and 164 in the second, with only Kane Williamson (52) scoring a half-century in the match for the out-played tourists.
Ashwin and Ojha, both 25, also played major roles in India's victory in the last home Test series, against the West Indies in November 2011, sharing 42 wickets in three matches.
India broke little sweat in Hyderabad, their first Test after the retirement of batting veterans Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, as the batsmen posted 438 in the first innings before their spinners took over.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's home team will be hot favourites to start the new season with a 2-0 series win, following their dismal show in the past 12 months when they lost eight successive overseas Tests in England and Australia.
India expect Ashwin and Ojha to continue their excellent form and build on the early success in the busy home season, which also features four Test matches each against England and Australia.
"We had a tough last year, but it happens with every team," said Ashwin. "We have put that behind. Hopefully, we can continue and have a great season. There are still nine more Tests to go this season."
Ashwin credited his success to Ojha's steady bowling at the other end.
"Ojha is someone who I have played with since I was 16 and we have always enjoyed each other's company," he said. "We bowl well together because we build pressure very well."
Cheteshwar Pujara's form ahead of tougher assignments against England and Australia also augurs well for India, who are looking for Dravid's replacement at the vital number-three position.
Pujara, 24, impressed with his temperament and technique in only his fourth Test, as he hit a maiden Test century (159) in Hyderabad to help his side post a big total.
But middle-order batsman Suresh Raina, who replaced Laxman, needs to deliver in Bangalore after contributing just three in the last match.
New Zealand will hope for a much improved performance from their batsmen against spin if they are to avoid a second successive Test series defeat. They lost both Tests in the West Indies before this tour.
Only Williamson and opener Brendon McCullum offered any resistance in the second innings at Hyderabad, allowing India to win comfortably with a day to spare.
The Black Caps will also be keen to put in a better bowling performance in what will be their bowling coach Damien Wright's last Test.
Wright, an Australian who was only appointed in July last year, announced Tuesday he would quit after next month's World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka for family reasons.
It was a further blow to the tourists, who have lost four of their seven Tests this year, with just one win and two draws.

South Africa win second ODI against England

Hashim Amla inflicted another record-breaking hundred upon England as South Africa won the second one-day international (ODI) by 80 runs in Southampton on Tuesday.
Amla's 150 saw him become the fastest player to 3,000 ODI runs as he reached the landmark in just his 57th innings compared to the 69 it took West Indies great Vivian Richards.
It was also the highest individual score in ODI matches between South Africa and England, and the cornerstone of the Proteas' 287 for five, made after captain AB de Villiers won the toss. England in reply were dismissed for 207, with more than nine overs left.
Amla's tenth hundred at this level surpassed team-mate Graeme Smith's 141 in Centurion three years ago as the largest solo effort in South Africa-England one-dayers and was also Amla's personal best, overtaking the 140 he made against Bangladesh in Benoni in 2008.
Victory saw South Africa take a 1-0 lead in this five-match series following Friday's washout in Cardiff and ended England's run of 10 straight wins in completed one-dayers.
It also meant South Africa, having already dethroned England at the top of the world Test rankings this tour, also replaced them at the head of the equivalent one-day standings and were now top in all three formats.
South Africa only need to draw this series to cement their new-found status, while England must win it to remain in pole position in the 50-over format.
England's attack must be sick of the sight of Amla, who made a South Africa record 311 not out in the first Test at The Oval last month and another hundred as the Proteas sealed the three-match series 2-0 with victory at Lord's.
Opener Amla, a touch batsman rather than a power player, was in sight of the rare distinction of carrying his bat in a one-day match when, two balls before the end of the innings, he uppercut fast bowler Steven Finn to Tim Bresnan.
The ball before the elegant Amla, who put on 89 for the first wicket with Test skipper Smith (52), gave himself room to work the ball down to third man for a four that took him to 150 in front of a near-capacity Ageas Bowl crowd in this day/night fixture.
Amla faced 124 balls with 16 boundaries but was missed on 92 when Johannesburg-born wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter failed to hold a difficult but catchable legside chance off Finn.
England were reduced to nought for one when captain Alastair Cook was superbly yorked by Lonwabo Tsotsobe off just the second ball of their reply.
Ian Bell got England going again but a second-wicket partnership worth 64 ended when Jonathan Trott, a former South Africa youth international, was brilliantly caught over his shoulder by Dean Elgar at long leg off Morne Morkel.
And 64 for two became 77 for three when Bell, whose 45 came at better than a run-a-ball, played down the wrong line to left-arm spinner Robin Peterson.
Peterson made it two wickets for three runs in eight balls when Ravi Bopara struck a long hop to short extra-cover. England, without the exiled Kevin Pietersen, were now 90 for four.
Kieswetter then became Elgar's first wicket at this level when he edged the slow left-armer's third ball to Smith at slip. Any hopes of a late England rally disappeared when Eoin Morgan, Bresnan and Swann all exited on the same total to leave the hosts 159 for eight.
Last man Finn and Patel entertained the crowd with some bold boundary hitting before Patel was caught behind for 45 off Morkel to end the match. The series continues at The Oval on Friday.

Resolute Australia edge out Pakistan

Mitchell Starc took 5-42 and Michael Clarke and George Bailey hit fifties to help Australia beat Pakistan by four wickets in the first limited overs international here on Tuesday.
The lanky left-armer's best one-day figures helped Australia keep their rivals down to 198 in 45.1 overs before they fought hard against Pakistani spinners to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series at Sharjah Stadium.
Australia owed their run chase to some responsible batting by skipper Clarke (66), who added an invaluable 54 with Bailey for the fifth wicket before Baily-Glenn Maxwell (38) put on 63 for the sixth to see off the target in 48.2 overs.
Pakistan had attacked through their much-vaunted spinning trio of Saeed Ajmal (3-30), Mohammad Hafeez (2-29) and Shahid Afridi (1-37) but Australian batting was led by Clarke and finished by Bailey with an unbeaten 88-ball 57.
Clarke hit five boundaries during his 95-ball knock.
Ajmal struck with his first ball of the match, trapping a nervous Michael Hussey (five) infront and then had David Hussey (three) caught in the slip off his last ball of the second over.
Bailey hit a six in the penultimate over before taking a single to seal the match.
Hafeez had dismissed David Warner (five) and Afrridi had Matthew Wade (10).
Earlier left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc took a career best 5-42 and James Pattinson (3-19) to derail Pakistan, who won the toss and batted.
The 22-year-old Starc, who took 4-47 in Australia's 66-run win over Afghanistan here on Saturday, helped Australia keep the lengthy rival batting line-up of seven batsmen to a modest total, losing the last six men for just 38.
Pakistan were recovering well when the batting power-play began in the 36th over with the total at 159-4 but lost three wickets in the five overs for just 16 runs with Starc dismissing Asad Shafiq (56), Kamran Akmal (four) and Shahid Afridi (nought) in an incisive bowling display.
His previous best of 4-27 came against Sri Lanka at Brisbane two years ago. He also took 4-47 in Australia's 66-run win over Afghanistan here on Saturday.
Starc ended all hopes of Pakistan batting through their 50-overs when he had Umar Akmal (52) in the 41st over.
It was Starc's new-ball partner Pattinson who provided Australia with two early breakthroughs, dismissing Hafeez (four) in the fifth over before getting Azhar Ali (five) in the seventh.
Starc forced an edge off a short delivery off opener Nasir Jamshed to wicket-keeper Wade.
Shafiq and Misbah-ul Haq added 59 for the fourth wicket before the Pakistani skipper played a rash shot off paceman Dan Christian and was bowled for 26.
Shafiq then found an able partner in Umar as both hit out at Australian spinners to the best effect, with both hitting two sixes each. Shafiq also hit two boundaries during his 77-ball knock.
Umar also hit two boundaries during his 55-ball knock.
The second match will be played in Abu Dhabi on August 31 while the third will be here on September 3. Both teams will play three Twenty20 internationals in Dubai on September 5, 7 and 10.

My focus is on A tour to New Zealand: Unmukt Chand

India’s Under-19 World Cup winning captain Unmukt Chand on Tuesday said his players always had immense self-belief that they would win the trophy despite their initial setbacks.
“The best thing about the tournament is we faltered initially and then we got into the groove slightly later in the tournament. We stumbled a bit, but peaked at the right time,” said the Delhi youngster at a media conference here.
“The best part was, we didn’t know what was happening in India, that really kept us on target. The belief was very strong among the guys and we always felt we will go and lift the trophy. The self-belief only helped us to win the tournament.”
Chand, who top-scored for India with 246 runs from six games, including a match-winning 111 not out in the final against Australia on Sunday, said the team members carried on with a positive mindset after losing the tournament opener against West Indies when the batting flopped.
“All the batsmen go out to score runs but most of the time it does not happen. We lost the first match against the West Indies, but we took the positives from that match... We carried that in the matches that followed,” Chand said.
“It is not like I didn’t want to score earlier, but I was fortunate to score in the final when the team wanted me the most.”
Chand also hailed the tips given by Sachin Tendulkar to the team members before the players left for Australia. “We had a half-an-hour session with him before leaving. The session was helpful... He told what we would face there and how we need to tackle it. He helped us a lot and told us the dos and don’ts,” said Chand.
The India colts skipper, who smashed a match-winning unbeaten century in the summit clash at Townsville, played down the talks about his imminent inclusion in the seniors team.
“I just take one tournament at a time and I am really happy that we did well at the World Cup as a unit… The next step (for me) is India A and I will be looking forward to doing well over there. It’s too early to say anything about playing for India. I do want to play for India but at the moment I want to focus on wherever I go and play."
“(Berth in the) senior team is a long way away. Now there is an India A team (tour to New Zealand) where I have to perform. If I perform well, then let’s see,” he said earlier on arrival at the airport.
Chand, who has followed in the footsteps of Mohammed Kaif and Virat Kohli to lead the country to the Under-19 World Cup title, is in the India A squad to be led by Abhinav Mukund, which is to tour New Zealand. The tour begins next month.

Amla keen to keep running riot

Hashim Amla looked forward to returning to the scene of his greatest triumph after punishing England with yet another superb century.
Amla's brilliant 150 was the centrepiece of the Proteas 80 run-win in the second one-day international at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Tuesday as they went 1-0 up in the five-match series following last week's washout in Cardiff.
Victory, sealed with more than nine overs to spare as England were bowled out for 207 in reply to 287 for five, left South Africa top of the standings in all three international formats.
It also meant the Proteas had knocked England off the summit of both the Test and 50-over standings in a matter of weeks.
Now the one-day series heads to The Oval where last month Amla became the first South Africa batsmen to score a Test triple century with his 311 not out setting up an innings victory that sent the tourists on the way to a 2-0 win in a three-match series.
"I think we are all looking forward to it," man-of-the-match Amla said of his side's return to the south London ground.
"We have some good memories of the place. Different game, different ball so we'll see what happens."
In Southampton, Amla was twice dropped by England's South Africa-born wicket-keeper Craig Kieswetter, on 42 and 92, and although neither chance was easy they were both ones glovemen at this level would expect to hold.
A slow pitch renowned for taking spin proved no problem to Amla during a 124-ball innings featuring 16 fours that saw him become the fastest player to 3,000 one-day international runs, taking 57 innings to reach the landmark compared to the 69 innings of West Indies great Vivian Richards
"It definitely felt like one of my better ones (innings)," said Amla.
"I think what makes it special to me is it was a difficult wicket. We won the game too, you always want to score runs in a winning cause."
The 29-year-old Amla, who opens in one-dayers and bats at first-wicket down in Tests, said the recent change to having a separate ball at each end of a one-day innings had made his career-best ODI effort especially pleasing.
"With the two new white balls up front, it's a lot more challenging."
Meanwhile, South Africa one-day captain AB de Villiers, while pleased by his side's rise to number one in the rankings, said the key aim in 50-over cricket was to win a major trophy.
"It's a great achievement but it's not something that is one of our main goals," the wicket-keeper batsman explained.
"We have a World Cup in 2015 (in Australia and New Zealand), the Champions Trophy coming up (in England next year)," added de Villiers, also set to lead South Africa in next month's World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
Reflecting on the match, de Villiers -- as well as saluting Amla -- praised a youthful bowling line-up shorn of rested spearhead Dale Steyn.
"The guys kept looking for wickets and that was the most impressive thing today, apart from Hashim's great knock -- we bowled them out again," said de Villiers, who had a great view as Lonwabo Tsotobe bowled England captain Alastair Cook for a second ball duck.
Kieswetter's double reprieve of Amla, the first standing up to luckless spinner Samit Patel, the second off fast bowler Steven Finn, were the latest in costly England errors this season
"Nothing has changed in the last two years in our fielding practice but, in the last month-and-a-half we've started to drop very good players," said Cook. "And very good players punish us."
Nevertheless Cook, on a day when Kevin Pietersen, exiled from England action after sending "provocative" texts to South African players allegedly critical of his own team-mates, made 163 for Surrey in the County Championship against Somerset, insisted: "Today doesn't change anything.
"It's frustrating, it's annoying as a captain and all the players will be hurting. But you don't throw everything out of the window and try to reinvent the wheel because of one bad performance."
"Hopefully, we can bounce back at The Oval."

IPL loses its title sponsor

The Indian Premier League has lost its title sponsor after real estate giant DLF declined to renew its five-year deal, a company spokesman said on Tuesday.
"We have just stepped off the IPL," DLF group executive director Rajeev Talwar told the Press Trust of India.
"Sponsoring the IPL over the last five years was a strategic decision wherein we wanted to establish our brand presence across India as the leading real estate player.
"We believe that we have been able to achieve the desired objectives to a great extent."
DLF reportedly paid $50 million to be the title sponsor of the glitzy Twenty20 league for the first five years, a deal which ended with the 2012 edition in March-April.
The last date for renewal of the contract was July 28, Talwar added.
There was no immediate comment from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which owns the IPL.

Harbhajan deserves to play in all formats: Ganguly

Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly feels that off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been kept away from the national team for too long and he deserves to play for it in all three formats.
Harbhajan was named in the side for the Twenty20 World Cup earlier in the month and Ganguly thinks the selectors should recall him for the Tests and One-day Internationals (ODI).
"I feel he is still one of the top-three spinners in India. He should not have been out for more than six months. He has been playing domestic cricket for too long now. Someone who has almost 700 international wickets to his name would walk into any side," Ganguly said of the spinner, who last played for India in July 2011.
Ganguly said the selectors could have handled the issue better.
"The selectors should have spoken to him and told him that 'we are giving you six months to improve your bowling' and that should have sorted out the matter. You are bound to have a bad season after playing for India for almost 14 years," he added.
Harbhajan has taken 406 Test wickets, 259 scalps in ODIS and captured 18 in T20 Internationals.
Ganguly apprehensive about Yuvraj's comeback
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is nervously hoping for Yuvraj Singh's success in the Twenty20 World Cup and says two Internationals against New Zealand before the mega event should give a fair idea of how much the southpaw has recovered from cancer.
"The two matches against New Zealand will give us an idea of how much he has recovered. It would be wrong if I say I am not worried about his health. However, I am really happy that he has come back from a tough phase. I am sure he must be thrilled too," said Ganguly at a promotional event for the World T20 beginning in Sri Lanka Sep 18.
Many former cricketers, including Ganguly, had raised fears about Yuvraj's fitness in the wake of his surprise selection in the T20 side announced earlier in the month.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjerekar, who also attended the event, said Yuvraj's presence will inspire the team.
"Let's be honest, it was an emotional decision to bring him back. It is difficult to imagine the trauma he has gone through. But the good thing is that he has shown eagerness to come back and will certainly boost the team's morale," said Manjrekar.
Yuvraj will get the chance of some serious match practice in the two matches against New Zealand scheduled Sep 8 and 11. The World T20 will take place in Sri Lanka from Sep 18 to Oct 12.
Ganguly picks India World T20 favourites, Windies dark horses
Sourav Ganguly said India have the firepower to win the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka next month and chose the West Indies as the dark horses. "When you have players like Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh it is very difficult to count India out.
There is a lot of firepower there," said the former India captain.
Asked about Piyush Chawla and Lakshmipathy Balaji's selection, Ganguly quipped that Chawla is proving to be a lucky mascot as India won the World Cup with him in the squad. As for Balaji, he said, the Tamil Nadu medium-pacer bowled exceedingly well in Pakistan under his captaincy and he looked good playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League last season.
"India have most things going in their favour. The tournament is going to be held in the sub-continent and they will be confident after their performance in the one-day series in Sri Lanka. Having said that, the tournament format is short and India are in a tough group," said Ganguly, adding that it will be difficult to stop India if Sehwag fires at the top.
India are pooled with Afghanistan and England in the group stages and will need to win seven matches to get their hands on the trophy for the second time.
Talking about the other teams, Ganguly sai, "The West Indies are a powerhouse. They are very dangerous in the shortest format with the presence of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith and they have pacers who bowl at 150 kmph plus.
In addition, they have a very talented spinner in Sunil Narine. South Africa are also a good side and are rightly ranked the top test team. England have the advantage of having a world class spinner in Graeme Swann, though they are bound to miss Kevin Pietersen," said he.
Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar, also part of the channel's commentary team, agreed with Ganguly about the West Indies beiung the dark horse.
"As Ganguly said, the West Indies look a formidable unit. They have a good chance of winning the competition as it is a bit of a lottery. Considering the format, there are bound to be upsets and surprises," said Manjrekar talking about the tight scheduling of the 27 matches involving 12 teams.
The World T20 runs from Sep 18 to Oct 12.

Clarke calls for consistency in ODIs away from home

Australia captain Michael Clarke has called for his team to improve their away form in one-day international cricket, starting from their three-match series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
Australia have had a mixed time on their travels in recent times, drawing 2-2 in the West Indies before losing 4-0 in England last month.
The one-day series against Pakistan would be followed by a three-match Twenty20 series against the same opponents ahead of next month's ICC World T20 championship, and Clarke has ordered his young players to get more consistent away from the comfort of home.
"That's our goal as a team - to make sure we're playing as well (as we are) at home, away. I think our cricket in general back in Australia has been a lot more consistent than away from Australia, so that's certainly a goal of the Australian team to make sure we're performing overseas," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Clarke, as saying.
Like Australia, Pakistan has also had some mixed ODI results this year, as they also lost 4-0 to England in the UAE in February, then won the Asia Cup, but suffered a 3-1 series loss to Sri Lanka in June.
Clarke said: "Both teams are keen to get some consistency, I guess, back into the one-day game. I think Pakistan are a lot like Australia in the fact that they have a lot of talent - it's just about performing consistently."

'Chand more talented than Gambhir'

For a coach, it is always difficult to compare two of his favourite students.
But Sanjay Bhardwaj feels India U-19 captain Unmukt Chand is a better talent than his other illustrious ward Gautam Gambhir.
“Unmukt is certainly more talented than what Gautam was at his age. While Unmukt is a mixture of talent and hardwork, Gautam was all sweat. If you see Unmukt’s career graph, his biggest plus is grabbing every major opportunity he has got till now. Gautam had to struggle and fight a lot more than Unmukt. Gauti was all about guts,” Bhardwaj said.
“I am lucky both Gautam and Unmukt chose me as their guide. It’s their talent and hard work which has made me look as a good coach and not the other way round. I have only groomed and fine-tuned a few mental aspects of the game. It’s their dedication that has taken them where they are right now,” Bhardwaj said.
Asked about Unmukt’s chances of making it to the senior team, Bhardwaj said: “By early 2013, Unmukt should be in the senior team. Obviously, he would have to perform well but he has the talent to do well,” the coach said.
According to Bhardwaj, in a sport like cricket, it helps if a cricketer has a solid background like Gambhir and Unmukt.
“Unmukt’s mentor was his uncle who is now in Mumbai. He brought Unmukt when he was only 12 years old."
“He was a disciplined boy then and is very obedient even now. He is firmly rooted to the ground. Unmukt studied at Modern School and now doing his graduation from St Stephen’s. So his education is very good.”
Bhardwaj said parents of aspiring cricketers should never ignore education.
“A lot of parents come with a bagful of money and as me to their sons a Gautam Gambhir…. I tell them that I am just a medium. The youngster has to be hardworking and dedicated,” he said.

Morgan - Team spirit must come before individuals

England batsman Eoin Morgan admits Kevin Pietersen's fall from grace has emphasised the danger of letting individuals undermine team spirit.
Pietersen has been cast into exile by England after the controversial batsman infuriated captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower by sending text messages containing criticism of the duo to South Africa players.
The 32-year-old is also reported to have made England newboy James Taylor feel unwelcome when he joined up with the squad, prompting an unnamed senior player to become embroiled in a row with Pietersen.
The England and Wales Cricket Board remain tight-lipped about the prospect of Pietersen, who was dropped from the Test squad due to what Flower described as issues of "trust and mutual respect", returning to the fold any time soon.
While Morgan wasn't involved in Test series, the Irishman has been drafted in for the limited overs clashes with South Africa and, after assessing the mood in the camp, he believes it is vital that distractions like the Pietersen saga are quashed quickly to avoid bad feeling speading through the squad.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday's second one-day international in Southampton, Morgan said: "I think Kevin is a world-class cricketer and any team around the world would want him in their side, but there are issues surrounding him at the moment and it will take time to resolve them.
"Personally I didn't find him difficult but I've not been around the Test team a lot.
"I think that it is hugely important (to get the situation resolved) because the amount of time we spend together is huge. We spend more time together than with our families, particularly on tour.
"It is a huge factor and it has been for the all the successful years we've had as the England cricket team."
England's one-day side have already had experience of coping without South Africa-born Pietersen, winning all six completed matches since his surprise retirement from limited-overs cricket earlier this year.
And Morgan, a senior figure in the white-ball side, has been impressed by England's strength in depth since Pietersen's exit.
"I think we've played fantastic cricket," he said. "The guys who have come in and replaced him have done particularly well. Whoever has stepped up has done really, really well.
"That's been important to the winning run we've had, particularly against a top side like Australia.
"We've built some great blocks towards where we want to be in our progress as a one-day side. I think we have a lot of match-winners."
Despite his confidence, Morgan expects to be pushed all the way by the Proteas in the next four matches after the first match in Cardiff was washed out by heavy rain.
"We've been exceptional on our own turf for the last year and a half but there'll be a lot of hard work in this series because because South Africa are a huge challenge," he said.
"Where we're at is we're a focused side, everyone knows their game plans well, everyone knows their role.
"But South Africa are a very formidable side too and a very successful side in the last five or six years."

New Zealand bowling coach Wright steps down

New Zealand's bowling coach Damien Wright will step down after the World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka next month after just a year in the job, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Tuesday.
Australian Wright said prolonged absences from his family was behind the reason to leave.
 "I have really enjoyed working with the New Zealand team and it was a tough decision to leave the position," Wright said in a NZC statement. "The decision is related to time away from my family and a need to be based closer to home."
 Wright replaced Allan Donald last September after the South African returned home to join Gary Kirsten's coaching setup with the national side.
 The 37-year-old Wright played first-class cricket for 15 years, taking 406 wickets in 123 matches before retiring in 2011.
 "It has been a privilege to work with current crop of bowlers and I'm proud of the progression they have made over the past year," he said.
 Wright's resignation comes on the heels of former New Zealand captain John Wright's decision not to extend his contract as head coach after the tour of the West Indies ended earlier this month.
John Wright was replaced by Mike Hesson, who is leading the side on their tour in India, with the second test against MS Dhoni's side beginning on Friday.
 NZC said they would advertise for a new bowling coach later this week.

Focussed on my performance, not comparisons: Kohli

India’s young middle-order batsman Virat Kohli is known to display his emotions, but he says that he is now trying to control his aggression so that his behaviour does not go over the top.
The 23-year-old Kohli said that he had this habit since childhood. “I had this habit from childhood."
“I never liked being out, whether I am out on zero or I score a century. I get angry…"
“Occasionally, I shout abuses, but, of late, I am trying to control my aggression, so that my behaviour doesn’t go over the top. I had broken too many bats in my childhood,” Kohli said.
Many believe Kohli, who had led the Indian under-19 team to World Cup glory in 2008, is captaincy material and will eventually one day replace Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the helm of affairs.
India’s young middle-order batsman Virat Kohli is known to display his emotions, but he says that he is now trying to control his aggression so that his behaviour does not go over the top.
The 23-year-old Kohli said that he had this habit since childhood. “I had this habit from childhood."
“I never liked being out, whether I am out on zero or I score a century. I get angry…"
“Occasionally, I shout abuses, but, of late, I am trying to control my aggression, so that my behaviour doesn’t go over the top. I had broken too many bats in my childhood,” Kohli said.
Many believe Kohli, who had led the Indian under-19 team to World Cup glory in 2008, is captaincy material and will eventually one day replace Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the helm of affairs.
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But he refuted such suggestions. “No, I don’t think so... As a captain, he has done a lot for Team India. I learnt a lot as a vice-captain to Dhoni,” he said during a television programme.
Speaking on Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli said: “I feel really blessed when people start comparing me with Sachin, but I keep myself focused on my performance, and not on such comparisons."
“I literally worship him, so, I don’t see too much in this comparison.”
“No cricketer has been able to score one hundred centuries like Sachin has done,” he added.
The Delhi batsman also disagreed with the view that the selectors had taken an emotional decision by rushing Yuvraj Singh into international cricket after illness.
Yuvraj, who has recovered from a rare germ cell cancer, has been included in the Indian squad for the two-match T20 series against New Zealand and the World T20, beginning next month, in Sri Lanka.
“I don’t think it is an emotional decision..."
“If he says he is confident and fit, then he should be given the chance. It should be a perfect comeback for him,” Kohli said.
“The first match after comeback always makes one nervous..."
“If he performs well in the World T20, it will be a big boost for Team India. For us, the World T20 is an important tournament,” he added.
Kohli was also candid enough to admit that he got distracted after playing in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“Yes, there was a bit of distraction... We had just come from the under-19 World Cup win. We were playing with foreign players, I did not handle it (the attention) well."
“I was even thrown out of the team, but my coach advised me to concentrate on the game and I got my focus back.”
But he refuted such suggestions. “No, I don’t think so... As a captain, he has done a lot for Team India. I learnt a lot as a vice-captain to Dhoni,” he said during a television programme.
Speaking on Sachin Tendulkar, Kohli said: “I feel really blessed when people start comparing me with Sachin, but I keep myself focused on my performance, and not on such comparisons."
“I literally worship him, so, I don’t see too much in this comparison.”
“No cricketer has been able to score one hundred centuries like Sachin has done,” he added.
The Delhi batsman also disagreed with the view that the selectors had taken an emotional decision by rushing Yuvraj Singh into international cricket after illness.
Yuvraj, who has recovered from a rare germ cell cancer, has been included in the Indian squad for the two-match T20 series against New Zealand and the World T20, beginning next month, in Sri Lanka.
“I don’t think it is an emotional decision..."
“If he says he is confident and fit, then he should be given the chance. It should be a perfect comeback for him,” Kohli said.
“The first match after comeback always makes one nervous..."
“If he performs well in the World T20, it will be a big boost for Team India. For us, the World T20 is an important tournament,” he added.
Kohli was also candid enough to admit that he got distracted after playing in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“Yes, there was a bit of distraction... We had just come from the under-19 World Cup win. We were playing with foreign players, I did not handle it (the attention) well."
“I was even thrown out of the team, but my coach advised me to concentrate on the game and I got my focus back.”

Dhoni launches his own Bike racing team

India captain MS Dhoni has taken his passion for motorcycles to another level by launching his own racing team for the prestigious FIM Supersport World Championship.
The event is a support race for the World Superbike Championship, and will feature an India race, at the Buddh International Circuit, in March 2013.
Dhoni's team, named 'MSD R-N Racing Team India', entered the 17-race championship in the 10th race at Brno in the Czech Republic, and will compete in the full season in 2013.
Dhoni's love for bikes is well known. His collection includes a Harley Davidson, a Yamaha 650cc, a Kawasaki Ninja, aside from four-wheelers such as the H2 2009 Hummer SUV and a Mitsubishi Pajero.

He reportedly owns 14 motorcyles, including the latest addition - an X132 Hellcat reportedly at a whopping cost of Rs. 28 lakh.
Dhoni's racing team has two riders in Florian Marino of France and Dan Linfoot of Great Britain.
Marino is a four-time Superstock 600 race winner, and was a full time Honda WSS rider last year. Linfoot had won two Superstock 600 races in 2008.
The squad has its base at Yeovil in the UK and technical director will be Andrew Stone.
Team principal Amit Sandill said the they aim to popularise and grow the game in Asia.
"We are looking at it from the long term perspective. Trying to grow the sport in Asia. The sport itself is in a pretty nascent stage in Asia so this is a first step," Sandill
had said at the July launch.
"Trying to get to the championship and making a kind of mark in the championship and then take the sport to India and then other countries in Asia. We would also like to start a Racing Academy. Behind all this is the passion, which comes as a bonus," he added.

iPads technology to help ICC spot chuckers

Cricket's governing body Monday announced it was all set to assess the legality of bowling actions in match and training conditions with "inertial sensors" attached to the bowler's arm.
Bowling actions of several current and recently retired bowlers came into qeustion as the International Cricket Council (ICC) allowed a tolerance limit of 15 degrees to bend the bowling arm, a relaxation questioned by many.
The ICC announced it was willing to invest in bowling action technology.
"The ICC has entered the second phase of an agreement with a consortium of high profile Australian cricket, sports science and sports engineering institutions to develop a wearable technology to assess the legality of bowling actions in match and training conditions," an ICC statement read.
Actions of now retired express pacemen Australian Brett Lee and Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar, as well as Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, were questioned but cleared on the basis of tolerance limit or native arm joint deformity.
India's Harbhajan Singh and Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal are two high-profile current bowlers whose actions come under questions several times.
The ICC said it was working with experts to solve the problems.
"ICC is now working with experts to produce a process capable of measuring bowlers' actions in a match environment. Known as inertial sensors, they employ similar technology to that used in iPads, mobile phones and car crash impact detection systems.
"It is planned the technology will be light, cost effective and wearable on the bowler's arm and will not hinder performance while still allowing information about the throw-like features of an illegal action to be assessed in near real time in both match and training environments."
Bowlers who have been reported by umpires with a suspicious illegal bowling action are currently required to attend an ICC approved biomechanics laboratory to assess the amount of elbow extension in their bowling action, the ICC said.
"The second phase of the three-phase project will conclude in late 2013 and is concerned with the technology's measurement methods and precision against current laboratory protocols," the ICC said.
From 2014, the focus will be on making the technology more comfortable for players.
ICC chief executive David Richardson said the ICC was keen on using the technology.
"The ICC is keen to see this technology implemented in elite cricket and believe it will be a significant stride forward in detecting illegal bowling actions in match conditions," said Richardson.
"We are encouraged by the progress made so far by the Australian research team and also acknowledge the MCC, who have made a significant financial contribution to the project."

Hussey says Australia determined to beat Pakistan

Experienced batsman Michael Hussey said Australia were determined to bounce back by winning their limited series against Pakistan which starts in Sharjah on Tuesday.
The 37-year-old left-hander missed Australia's tour of England last month due to family reasons but believed Australia 4-0 loss in his absence makes them more determined to win.
"We're very determined. The guys have got a real sting in the tail after losing in England and we want to put in a very good performance," said Hussey on Monday.
The ever-reliable Hussey, who has so far played 182 one-day and 78 Tests in a glorious career, believed a break was good for him.
"It was great to be back around the team, no question. Having a break makes you realise how much you enjoy playing for Australia and my enthusiasm and energy for the game has risen more by being able to have a rest," said Hussey.
Asked if Australia were as prepared for the Pakistan series, Hussey said: "It remains to be seen, I guess. We've won in places like India before. The last time we came here we beat Pakistan in one-days," said Hussey of 3-2 win in 2009.
Hussey said his experience in the humid conditions of Chennai during his stint in the Indian Premier League will help him combat the oppressive 35-plus temperatures in United Arab Emirates.
"These conditions are very oppressive. But... the guys are in pretty good shape. When you do play pretty much all the previous year, there are times when you do start to get mentally and physically fatigued.
"I don't think we'll be letting the heat be an excuse for any poor performance. I've played in Chennai, even in just Twenty20 games, and that's a lot hotter than playing out here," Hussey said.
"In Chennai the temperature might be only mid-30s but the humidity is unbelievable. That's probably the most oppressive conditions I've ever had to play in.
"Having said that, it's still extremely tough (in Sharjah). I only batted for 15 overs the other day and I was pretty knackered by the end of it," said Hussey of Australia's 66-run win against Afghanistan in Sharjah on Saturday.
He made a brisk 37-ball 49 in Australian total of 272-8 in 50 overs.
Hussey said he was ready to open the innings in case the team management asks him in order to shield Matthew Wade who opened the innings on Saturday and then kept wicket.
"Whatever the team needs," said Hussey. "If 'Wadey' did make a hundred in these oppressive conditions batting first and then has to go straight out and 'keep, that would be a difficult thing," Hussey said.
The second one-day will be played in Abu Dhabi on August 31 followed by the third in Sharjah on September 3. The three Twenty20 internationals will be played in Dubai on September 5, 7 and 10.

Laxman says 'no controversy' on Dhoni issue

The recently-retired VVS Laxman has declined to comment on his relationship with India captain MS Dhoni, but has said that there was “‘no controversy at all’.
“There was no controversy at all... I don't want to speak anything about it,” said Laxman on Monday.
The controversy started on the day of Laxman’s retirement, when the stylish Hyderabadi batsman said he was unable to get in touch with Dhoni to inform him about his decision to quit international cricket.

Dhoni added fuel to speculation when he admitted that he had not been invited to Laxman's house for dinner like some of the other seniors of the Indian team.
Laxman who opted out of the Hyderabad Test against New Zealand, was unable to watch India’s massive victory at the stadium as his children were not well.
“I wanted to go to the stadium on Saturday but it rained heavily and I had to abort my plan. Yesterday, also I had plans to go there. But both my kids were down with fever.
“I watched the entire match at home. It's good to see boys doing well,” Laxman said.

Dravid, Gambhir nominated for civilian honours

 The BCCI has decided to recommend the former India captain Rahul Dravid and opener Gautam Gambhir for the Padma Bhusan and Padma Shri awards respectively.
"Dravid and Gambhir's names were discussed earlier and president and secretary were to take a final call in this regard. The last date for filing nominations was August 15 and the names have been sent" a BCCI official reportedly told a news agency.
Dravid was also in reckoning for the Rajiv Khel Ratna,  but the only cricketer in the panel - Ravi Shastri - was not present during the meeting to push for the Banglorean's case. Shastri later said he did not get an invitation to the meeting.
Padma Bhusan is country's third highest civilian honour, after Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhusan. Sachin Tendulkar is the only cricketer to receive the second highest civilian honour  in Padma Vibhusan while nine cricketers including Sunil Gavaskar,  Kapil Dev, Vinoo Mankad and Lala Amarnath have received Padma Bhusan.

Ashwin spins India to victory in season opener

Off-spinner R. Ashwin’s record ten-wicket haul orchestrated India’s season-opening victory over New Zealand in the first Test at Uppal here, as the hosts romped home by a massive innings and 115 runs with a day to spare to go one-up in the two-match series.
The 25-year-old Ashwin claimed six wickets across two sessions on Sunday as the Kiwis, who had resumed on 41-1 in the morning, crashed to 164 in just under 80 overs. Ashwin’s match figures of 12-85, his first ten-wicket haul, are the best by an Indian bowler against New Zealand.
Ashwin and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (match figures of six for 92) accounted for 18 of the 20 wickets to fall in the match. Cheteshwar Pujara had earlier set it up nicely with a first innings 159 and Virender Sehwag contributed with some agile catching in the slips, including a one-handed diving effort to get rid of James Franklin.
After a watchful first session, New Zealand lost their last seven wickets for 26 runs. Victory was realized when a carrom ball ended Chris Martin’s three-ball agony at the crease, but India were made to tide over a fruitless morning before the sluice gates opened.
New Zealand began with Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum whittling away at the 238-run deficit, and the batsmen were the personifications of diligence as they put their heads down and went about their business.A 9 a.m. start was delayed to 11 a.m. due to wet conditions and a light drizzle, but there were no interruptions once play resumed.
Pragyan Ojha initiated proceedings with two slips and a gully in place, the agendas for either side firmly in place: New Zealand playing for time, hoping for rain; India requiring to claim nine wickets before the heavens opened for yet another curtailment.
For once, Ashwin was no longer held back, and came in to bowl in the second over on Sunday, as spin assumed duties from either end. Mc Cullum edged Ojha chancily as the ball flew wide of slip, but the Kiwis looked relatively comfortable, using their feet to good effect and taking boundaries off Ashwin when he erred on length.
After 15 overs of unsuccessful spin, Dhoni tossed the  ball to Zaheer Khan to see if the spearhead could harness the overcast conditions for swing. Zaheer was negotiated watchfully by the pair in the middle, the full face of the bat often on display as it met the ball.
Pujara, meanwhile, continued his dalliance with injuries when Williamson’s powerful swat off Ashwin struck the India batsman at short leg. The ball impacted on the right knee, the same spot Pujara had been operated on earlier in the year. Pujara, grimacing in pain, left the field and was substituted by Ajinkya Rahane. News trickled out later that the injury was not serious.
New Zealand entered lunch at 92 for one, with Williamson (31) and McCullum (39) having successfully survived 27 overs’ worth of India’s attempts to gain an early breakthrough. But the 72-run second-wicket stand was broken in the third over after lunch, albeit not in convincing fashion.
McCullum’s defensive shot to Umesh Yadav thudded into his pads after catching the inside-edge. The close-in field jumped up in appeal, and umpire Steve Davis raised his finger as the visibly angry Kiwi stormed off – his side knocking at the door of disaster again after having resisted for the length of the morning session.
Seven runs later, Ashwin castled Ross Taylor with a sharp off-break, the Kiwi skipper’s decision to leave the ball alone costing him his wicket. Meanwhile, Williamson was putting on a show of Test match batting. The 22-year-old reached his fifth fifty in 161 balls, with a scampered three off Ashwin.
After pushing through some quick overs through Suresh Raina, Dhoni called in Ojha for the first time after lunch. The left-arm spinner struck a fell blow on his second delivery – a stock ball drifted in and jagged sharply away from Williamson, catching the edge before being pouched greedily by Virender Sehwag at first slip.
With a packed close-in field, the pitch suddenly appeared to have more bite, and Flynn, after having braved 54 balls for his 11, attempted a sweep against Ashwin, only to be trapped in front. James Franklin, who had stood firm and unbeaten amid the ruins in the first innings, couldn’t reprise his act in the second gig.
The southpaw became the sixth wicket to fall when he thick-edged a trademark Ashwin off-break, which was snapped up by a vigilant Sehwag, who dove full length to his right to complete the catch. Ojha got rid of Doug Bracewell, and then it was time for Ashwin’s tenth wicket – Kruger van Wyk deceived to death by the carrom ball.
In his next over, the Chennai off-spinner took out Trent Boult and Chris Martin - taking two in an over for the second time in the match, and finishing with six for 54. Ashwin's performance, although on a prepared track against sub-standard opposition, along with the welcome U-19 World Cup win by Unmukt Chand's boys, would be welcomed by India as a pleasant place from where to launch what is likely to be a grueling home season.

Absence of Decision Review System stumps New Zealand

Brendon McCullum's dismissal hurt the Kiwis. McCullum, who was parrying the Indians well, got an inside edge but was still given out leg before to Umesh Yadav, and walked away disappointed. His skipper, himself a victim of a debatable call earlier, however was diplomatic after the match. Though at least three-four decisions could have been contested, no DRS meant the Kiwis had no option.
"I guess it is like this in this part of the world. It is different rules in different parts of the world," said Ross Taylor, disappointment writ large on the face. Probed further about the system not being there in the series, he said, "Ask Dhoni."
Affordable, yet...
The answer gives a hint on how much Dhoni's opinion matters in this regard. India are the only country not using it among those who can afford to install the system.
A New Zealander present there was agitated by the decision. "How is it possible that I could see the (McCullum's) edge despite standing behind and the man in front (the umpire) couldn't see such a thick edge. And why couldn't it be contested. It beats me." McCullum's was not the only decision. Martin Guptill, who was dismissed on Saturday morning, was also unhappy as he was way forward while padding the ball.
Two of the catches in the first innings, of Taylor (by Virat Kohli) and Jeetan Patel (Ravichandran Ashwin), could have gone to the Kiwis. In both the cases, the doubt was whether the ball had touched the ground before being cupped.
Benefit of doubt
In Taylor's case, the replays were inconclusive as Virat's foot blocked the best position. In such cases, the benefit of doubt goes to the batsmen. However, the third umpire gave it to the fielding side.
The debate on the use of DRS has been on for a long time. It assumed ugly proportions last year during India's tour of England when Ravi Shastri lashed out at Nasser Hussain's criticism of India's stand.
Hussain later took on Shastri in the commentary box and it turned into a heated argument.

Pietersen puts on hold Cricket Australia offer to play in Big Bash

Kevin Pietersen has put on hold a six-figure offer by Cricket Australia to play for the Big Bash champions Sydney Sixers with the disgruntled batsman's attempts to repair his relationship with the England team management still taking time.
England sacked Pietersen for disloyalty after he denigrated Test captain Andrew Strauss and his teammates in text messages to some South African players.
If the England Cricket Board's unforgiving mood continues and Pietersen is overlooked for the tour of India during the Australian summer, the Big Bash is likely to be Pietersen's best and only offer.
It could also mean that Pietersen misses successive Ashes series in England and Australia over the next 18 months, News.com.au reports.
If he plays in the Big Bash it may signal the beginning of Pietersen's new life as a player for Twenty20 tournaments around the world.
A desire to play in the IPL instead of tour New Zealand next year, is one of the many disputes Pietersen has with the ECB, when deciding a new contract, which may now never appear.
He had already retired from one-day cricket in a fit of pique because the ECB would not give him time off to play in the IPL.
Sydney Sixers chief executive Stuart Clark declined to comment on the progress of negotiations with Pietersen.