World T20, 2nd Semi-Final

India vs West Indies

at Mumbai, Mar 31, 2016

West Indies 196/3 beat India 192/2 by 7 wickets

India vs South Africa Cricket Series 2006-07

Comprehensive Cricket News, Latest Information and Live ball-by-ball Commentary.

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India South Africa ODI Series 2007 in Ireland

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India in South Africa Cricket Series 2006-07

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India South Africa Cricket Series 2006-07   

Sourav Ganguly highest Indian run-getter in Test series

Comeback man Sourav Ganguly made a highly impressive return to the Indian Test team by emerging the team's highest run-scorer in the three-Test series against South Africa. The Bengal left-hander scored 214 runs in six innings at an average of 42.80 and was third in the overall run chart for the series, which the hosts won 2-1. Ganguly, who was out of the Indian team for around 10 months, was called back to add experience to the side, which lost 0-4 in the preceding one-day series. Sachin Tendulkar had the second best tally among the Indians and fourth overall. He compiled 199 runs in six innings averaging 33.16 with a highest score of 64. Skipper Rahul Dravid was uncharacteristically short of runs as he could contribute only 125 runs with an average of 20.83. Ashwell Prince, who amassed 306 at an impressive average of 61.20, topped the batting charts ahead of his captain Graeme Smith, who struck three consecutive fifties to boost his tally to 227 runs at 37.83. Among the bowlers, S Sreesanth was the most successful with 18 wickets at an average of 21.94. He was followed by South African paceman Makhaya Ntini who picked 15 wickets and Anil Kumble (14). All-rounder Shaun Pollock starred with both bat and ball. He contributed 187 runs at 37.40 and snared 13 wickets at a miserly average of 16.00

IND SA Third Test, Day five : South Africa win series 2-1

India slowed down South Africa's march to victory with two quick wickets after a rain delay but they couldn't stop the inevitable. Prince and Kallis shared a 27.5 over, 77 run partnership to guide South Africa to a 5 wicket victory. Prince remained not out on 38. Captain Smith top scored with 55, while Zaheer Khan took 4 for 62.Only 50 minutes of play was possible on the morning of day five before persistent rain and brooding skies brought about an early lunch.

Third Test, Cape Town, day five: South Africa 373 & 211-5 beat India 414 & 169 by 5 wickets

IND SA Third Test, Day four : South Africa close to series win

South Africa will require a further 156 to secure the deciding Test at Newlands after closing day four on 55-2. Beginning their second innings with a lead of 41, India were all out for 169, with only Ganguly 46, Dravid 47 and Karthik 38 making any noticeable contributions.The home side started their chase well but lost Hashim Amla in the final over. Anil Kumble turned one sharply to pin Amla which prompted the close, and the home side will be all to well aware of his threat on the final day.

Third Test, Cape Town, day four: South Africa 373 & 55-2 v India 414 & 169

IND SA Third Test, Day three : India secure 41 run - first innings advantage

India secured a 41-run first innings lead after bowling out South Africa for 373 on day three of the deciding Test. Resuming on 144-1, skipper Graeme Smith appeared set for his first Test century since April 2005, but was caught out by Sehwag six short of a century off Kumble. Anil Kumble took the last wickets with the day's final two balls to end with a four-wicket haul that took him to 546 Test victims.Along with Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher made half-centuries for the home team. However, Kumble, Tendulkar and Sehwag tied the South Africans down efficiently enough for captain Rahul Dravid to delay taking the new ball until the 116th over. South Africa lost their last three wickets for one run, leaving debutant Paul Harris 11 not out.

Third Test, Cape Town, day three (close): South Africa 373 v India 414

IND SA Third Test, Day two : Smith & Amla lead South Africa fightback

Skipper Graeme Smith struck an unbeaten 76 as South Africa closed day two of the deciding Test in Cape Town 270 runs behind India at 144-1. Amla, who had scored only 18 in his four previous innings in the series, including two ducks, is unbeaten on 50.Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly hit fifties to put India on top, but five wickets fell for 19 in six overs after lunch and they were dismissed for 414.

Third Test, Cape Town, day two: South Africa 144-1 v India 414

IND SA Third Test, Day one : Solid start by India

Wasim Jaffer's third Test century (116 runs, 244 balls) inspired India to 254-3 after day one of the deciding Test in South Africa.
Jaffer shared 153 with Dinesh Karthik, who opened for the first time after being recalled for his first Test since 2005 following an injury to Mahendra Dhoni.Skipper Rahul Dravid, who hit Steyn for successive boundaries early in his innings, reached 29 from 56 balls before chasing one from the redoubtable Pollock and edging behind. Star batsman Sachin Tendulkar struck five boundaries in his 28 and remained unbeaten with VVS Laxman.

Third Test, Cape Town, day one: India 254-3 v South Africa

IND SA Third Test at New Lands : Uphill task for India against South Africa

India will need to get its act together when they face South Africa in the third and final cricket Test. The Indian team, after rising to glorious heights in Johannesburg with a historic 123-run win in the first Test, plummeted to a despairing low when it surrendered to the envied pace attack of the hosts in Durban Saturday.
India Team (from): Rahul Dravid (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, M.S. Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, S. Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh and V.R.V. Singh.
South Africa Team (from): Graeme Smith (Captain), A.B. de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Paul Harris, Andrew Hall, Morne Morkel and Paul Adams.

IND SA Second Test, Day five: South Africa level series with 174 runs victory

South Africa levelled their home series against India at 1-1 by winning the second Test in Durban by 174 runs. Makhaya Ntini led the way with 5-48 as the South African seamers ran through the tourists for 179 on the final day.
Mahendra Singh Doni offered the main resistance with an innings of 47, which included 10 fours, before falling to Andre Nel in the final over before tea. Ganguly chipped in with 26, and Zaheer 21, while Tendulkar failed to score.

Second Test, Durban, day five: South Africa 328 & 265-8 declared beat India 240 & 179 by 174 runs

IND SA Second Test, Day four: Bad light stops play again after early blow for India in 354 chase

India lost two early wickets after South Africa set them a target of 354 to win on the fourth day of the second Test at Kingsmead in Durban.Needing a win to square the three-match series, South Africa batted aggressively despite losing six wickets for 44 runs at one stage before lunch. Shaun Pollock made a stroke-filled 63 not out to enable South Africa to declare their second innings at 265 for eight.
Shanthakumuran Sreesanth, India's exciting young fast bowler, took three of the wickets as South Africa collapsed from 99 for no wicket to 143 for six. Sreesanth finished with four for 79, taking his tally for the series to 16. Forecast for the last day suggests rain and scattered thunderstorms by afternoon.

Second Test, Durban, day four (close): South Africa 328 & 265-8d; India 240 & 38-2

IND SA Second Test, Day three: Bad light stops play again as South Africa edge away from India

South Africa were 152 runs ahead with 10 wickets to spare when bad light and a power cut forced the game to stop early. Earlier the hosts ended India's resistance on 240, with VVS Laxman (50no) and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (28) sharing a late stand of 53.
Ganguly was out for a second ball duck while Tendulkar (65) completed his first Test half-century of 2006.

Second Test, Durban, day three (close): South Africa 328 & 64-0 v India 240

IND SA Second Test, Day two: First ball duck for Sehwag in India's slow reply

India edged to 103-3 in reply to South Africa's 328 before bad light brought an early end to day two of the second Test in Durban. India lost Virender Sehwag (0), Rahul Dravid (11) and Wasim Jaffer (26) after Ashwell Prince hit 121 for the hosts. Sachin Tendulkar composed a patient 46 not out after being dropped by opposing skipper Graeme Smith on 21, while VVS Laxman was unbeaten on 10.

Second Test, Durban, day two (close): South Africa 328 v India 103-3

IND SA Second Test, Day one: Prince survives India onslaught

Ashwell Prince hit an unbeaten 98 as South Africa recovered to 257-8 on day one of the second Test.
South Africa were stumbling at 28 for three when Prince came to the crease and he kept the Indian attack at bay for four-and-a-half hours, finishing the day unbeaten on 98 when play was halted 17 overs early due to bad light. Prince was well supported by Herschelle Gibbs (63) and Mark Boucher (53), sharing in stands of 93 with Gibbs and 100 with Boucher. The Indian opening bowlers Zaheer Khan (two for 61) and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (three for 74) shared the first five wickets, before off-spinner Anil Kumble chipped in with two for 48.

Second Test, Durban, day one (close): South Africa 257-8 v India

India may play Munaf Patel, Gautam Gambhir

Pace bowler Munaf Patel is set to win back his place in the India team for the second Test against South Africa in Durban.
Patel missed the last three one-day internationals and the first Test in Johannesburg after injuring his ankle in the second one-dayer in Durban on November 23. He bowled in a match for the first time since hurting his ankle in a drawn two-day practice game against a KwaZulu-Natal Invitation XI in Durban on Saturday, taking two for 25 from eight overs. India will also consider selecting Gautam Gambhir to strengthen their top order. Gambhir was not in the team who won the first Test by 123 runs in Johannesburg last Monday, India's first Test win in South Africa. But after top-scoring with 79 in the practice match, Gambhir seems an appropriate replacement for the struggling Wasim Jaffer.
South Africa Team (from) : Graeme Smith (Captain), Paul Adams, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn.
India Team (from) : Rahul Dravid (Captain), Mahendra Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthik, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Virender Sehwag, Vikram Singh, Shanta Sreesanth, Sachin Tendulkar.

Sreesanth fined for breach of cricket code

Indian medium pacer S. Sreesanth was fined 30 percent of his match fee after he was found guilty of breaching the code of conduct twice during India's historic win over South Africa in Johannesburg.
Sreesanth was found guilty of two Level I offences of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct after a hearing conducted by match referee Roshan Mahanama at the end of the match Monday. The charges were brought by on-field umpires Mark Benson and Daryl Harper and third umpire Karl Hurter. Sreesanth's first offence was that he acted against the spirit of the game, when he dismissed Hashim Amla in the second innings and ran towards the batsman. The other charge was related to a breach of clause 1.1 of the Code, which concerns the ICC Logo Policy.

IND SA First Test, Fourth Day: India register their first Test win in South Africa

India recorded their first Test victory in South Africa with a 123-run success before lunch on day four.
Resuming on 163-5, South Africa lost Mark Boucher in the third over of the morning, trapped by Zaheer Khan with one pitching just outside leg-stump. Shaun Pollock hit his first ball for four and added a six and five more boundaries before missing a slog sweep.
Andre Nel fell to another debatable lbw and Ashwell Prince was bowled by the wily Anil Kumble three short of a ton. India's success was all the more impressive considering their comprehensive 4-0 defeat in the preceeding one-day series.
In the final over before the new ball was due, Prince moved in sight of his fifth Test century with three successive fours off Singh, but then became another to be entangled by Kumble and yorked himself. The celebrations began in earnest when last man Makhaya Ntini sliced Khan above cover and Virender Sehwag took a well-judged catch to the immense delight of his teammates and small but enthusiastic band of supporters.

First Test, Johannesburg, day four: India 249 & 236 bt South Africa 84 & 278 by 123 runs

IND SA First Test, Third Day: South Africa 239 behind chasing 402

Sreesanth followed his five-wicket haul in the first innings with 3-47 to keep India on course for victory in the first Test against South Africa.
The home side struggled to 163-5 at the end of day three, chasing a target of 402, with Ashwell Prince not out at 54 at stumps. India managed to add 80 to their overnight score, helped mainly by VVS Laxman (73) and Zaheer Khan (37), before being bowled out for 236.

First Test, Johannesburg, day three (close): India 249 & 236 v South Africa 84 & 163-5

IND SA First Test, Second Day: Sreesanth's day as India lead by 311 runs with 5 wickets remaining

South Africa were bowled out for 84 in barely 25 overs, their lowest score against India, as Sri Sreesanth claimed 5-40, the best figures of his career. Day two began with India 156-5, but they went on to hit 249 thanks to Sourav Ganguly's unbeaten 51.
At the end of the day, India had a healthy lead of 311 runs with 5 wickets remaining in the second innings, with Laxman (42/85b) and Dhoni (17/18b) at the crease. Saurav (25/38b) was involved in a 58 run, 12 over partnership with Laxman.

IND SA First Test, First Day: India start badly in Johannesburg

After a 90-minute delay for overnight rain, the tourists crashed to 14-2 in 11 overs of extravagant seam movement. Then Sachin Tendulkar and captain Rahul Dravid shared a stand of 69 but Tendulkar (44) edged Jacques Kallis to slip just before India took tea 101-3. Dravid soon departed at 110, after making 32.
At stumps, India were at 156/5, with ex-captain Sourav Ganguly who was recalled for the first time in 10 months not out at 14 in 42 balls. Reported Earlier: Start of the match has been delayed by about 90 minutes due to a damp pitch. The damp spots had developed due to excessive sweating from some damp hessian that the groundsman had put on the pitch, under the cover, to keep it from cracking up.
India: Rahul Dravid (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth, VRV Singh.
South Africa: Graeme Smith (Captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Hashim Amla, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn.

Irfan Pathan to miss first Test

India would be boosted by the return of inspirational skipper Rahul Dravid as they begin their quest to redeem their pride in the three-Test series against South Africa.
Dravid, who picked a freak finger injury during the one-dayers, has been cleared to bat, although, he would not field at his usual position in the slips. That, however, should not be of much concern as the embattled Indians desperately need his services in the fragile middle-order which will also see the return of Sourav Ganguly to the Test ranks after a gap of ten months. Ganguly staked his claim for a Test berth with a gritty 83 in the warm-up match at Potchefstroom, but there would be no such consideration for Irfan Pathan who had struck an unbeaten century under tough conditions in the tie. Obviously, it is not Pathans batting but the bowling which would keep him out of the playing eleven on the morrow on a greenish track at the Wanderers.
India are clinging on to exceptions and past records as reasons to spark a revival but it is easier said than done against a hostile attack on bouncy terrain. Wanderers has traditionally been quicker and bouncier of most pitches in South Africa and rarely ends without a result, as just one draw in the last nine Tests since 1998 testifies. On an average, a wicket falls after every 30 runs and the average scoring per over at this ground is a mere 2.94 runs. These grim statistics tell us why visiting batsmen dont look forward to paying a visit to the Bull Ring. India have figures to back their case, though. They havent been beaten in their two encounters at the Wanderers and on both occasions a back-to-the-wall century by a batsman has bailed them out.
South Africa Team (from): Graeme Smith (Captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph, Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher (Wicket Keeper), Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn.
India Team (from): Rahul Dravid (Captain), Wasim Jaffer, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Mahendra Dhoni (Wicket Keeper), Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Sri Sreesanth, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, VRV Singh.

Rahul Dravid determined to turn out for India

The plaster is still on but Rahul Dravid is unshakeable in his belief that he would turn out for India in the first cricket test against South Africa starting at the wanderers here on Friday.
Dravid, since he was diagnosed with a chipped right middle finger in Cape Town on November 27, has been medically advised to skip the first Test but the Indian skipper seems to have opted against it and play for his team. He was back in the nets within 10 days and a gradual hitting of soft balls has progressed to the point where he is pitting himself against the bowling machine in real-time speed.
He has once again sought medical opinion on the progress of his finger and could be seen using ice to hold off swelling, if any. Still, the presence of plaster is a reminder that Dravid could be rushing up his return. For a man who has a history of chipped, broken or bruised fingers he once confided in the 90s that hardly a series passed without him having the misfortune of attending to his fingers -- Dravid is actually revisiting his nightmares.
Usually such is the fate of men who like to get behind the line of the ball and who field at slips and forward short legs his record 146 test catches testify that he has not done too bad a job either. One such attempt though to catch Shaun Pollock at Cape Town last month has rendered him hors de combat and India, without its Best Batsman and Captain at the steering ship, have been tossed into the high sea of uncertainty.

India prepare for the first Test

India's batting continues to be a cause of concern despite their victory in the 4-day game against the Rest of South Africa. Members of Indian cricket team turned up for an intensive session at the nets ahead of their first test against South Africa at Johannesburg.
With batting being the main area of concern, the men with the willows sweated it out at the nets led by Captain Dravid who tested himself against the bowling machine with bio-mechanist Ian Fraser. Virender Sehwag's form has gone from bad to worse on the South African wickets and Coach Greg Chappell pointed out a few things to Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer as they tackled a few net bowlers.
Sachin Tendulkar too waited for his turn. He will have to strike some form if India is to make an impression in this Test series. Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman hit the gyms, as they are not highly regarded for their fitness. India will have to fill a void in the field left behind by Yuvraj, Kaif and Raina. Meanwhile, Dilip Vengsarkar, the Chief Selector has left for South Africa and he is expected to play a crucial role in team meetings. The Indian think tank will hope that his experience of more than a 100 test matches will turn things around for India.

Paul Adams recalled to South Africa test cricket squad

Left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams made a return to the South African squad for the first Test against India starting in Johannesburg from December 15.
The South African selectors named two spinners in the 15-member squad, the other tweaker being Nicky Boje. Robin Peterson, who was the only spinner in the South African squad for the one-day series, missed out. Adams has not played for the Proteas since a Test against New Zealand in 2003-04. He has taken 134 wickets in 45 Tests in a career that started in 1995-96. The South African Test team : Graeme Smith (Captain), Jacques Kallis (vice-captain), Paul Adams, Hashim Amla, Nicky Boje, Mark Boucher, AB De Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph and Dale Steyn.

Tour Match: India cruise to big warm-up win with a day to spare

India completed a comfortable 96-run victory over a Rest of South Africa XI with a day to spare on Saturday. Set 321 to win, their opponents were bowled out for 224, with Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh taking three wickets apiece. Earlier, Irfan Pathan carried his good form into the second innings to topscore with 40 and help the Indians set Rest of South Africa a target of 321. The Indian tail wagged a bit on the third morning after resuming at 93 for 7 to stretch the score to 142 before being bowled out in their second innings at Sedgars Park. Pathan's knock came off 66 balls in 137 minutes with three fours. The left-hander had hit an unbeaten 111 in India's first innings score of 316 for 7 declared. Ganguly scored 83 in 224 minutes and 141 balls, hitting 13 fours at a strike rate of 58.86 in the first innings. In the second innings, he was out for a duck, in the second ball.

India 316/7d & 142 beat Rest of South Africa 138 & 224 by 96 runs

Tour Match: Pathan, Ganguly rescue India

An inspired century from all rounder Irfan Pathan helped India recover from a woeful start to reach 316 for seven on the first day of their four-day warm-up match against a Rest of South Africa XI on Thursday.
Pathan arrived at the crease with the tourists struggling on 69-5 and finished the day unbeaten on 111. Former captain Saurav Ganguly contributed 83 in his first match back in Indian colours for almost a year. After the duo's 139-run sixth-wicket partnership was ended with the dismissal of Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh continued the onslaught and blasted six fours and two sixes in the final session to amass a quickfire 47 from 67 balls.
Jacques Rudolph's decision to bowl first was immediately vindicated when openers Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag were both dispatched without scoring in the first two overs by Mornantau Hayward and Morne Morkel. Morkel, widely tipped to make his international debut this season, ripped through the top order with a deadly combination of pace and swing to send the tourists lurching to lunch with just five wickets in hand.
But Ganguly's determination, whilst not always technically convincing, allied with Pathan's sweet timing and willingness to attack led a recovery that had seemed highly unlikely at 69-5. Indian captain Vangipurappu Laxman (23) and Sachin Tendulkar (10) both struggled against the fiery Morkel before edging him to second slip while Mahendra Singh Dhoni (6) edged Morkel to wicketkeeper Morne van Wyk. Pathan struck the ball fluently throughout his innings, striking 15 fours and one six by the close of play. Ganguly smashed 13 fours.

Tour Match: Indians looking to make most of warm-up game

India's four-day warm-up game against a Rest of South Africa line-up in Potchefstroom on Thursday would afford the likes of Virender Shewag and Sourav Ganguly the only chance to find their groove before the tougher battles ahead.
Sehwag averaged just 9.66 in the three matches of the ODI series which India lost by an embarrassing 4-0 margin, raising questions one more time on his temperament and commitment. As for Ganguly, it would provide him an opportunity to come to terms with the conditions and impress the team management ahead of the three-match Test series, beginning at Johannesburg on December 15, as only one warm-up game has been scheduled for the Tests. India would take heart from the fact that the pitch at Sedgars Park is suited for batting though there is still the issue of coming to terms with one of the fastest bowling attacks in South Africa pressed against them.
Mornantau Hayward is one of the fastest operators with a cricket ball in the country while Mornie Morkel, younger brother of Albie, is a rising star who is tipped to make the national grade soon. Garnett Kruger is another fast bowler who has been knocking at the doors of selectors for the past two seasons. Hayward has played in 16 Tests for South Africa and is an extremely aggressive fast bowler who likes digging the ball in and raising it to the chin level for batsmen. Mornie is a fast bowler in similar mode and likes to hustle the batsmen. Kruger is 29 but he toured Australia with the South African team last year and has been an impressive performer on the domestic scene for the last two years. Indians might look to give Zaheer Khan a break in the game and allow him to rest given the workload that is ahead of the left-arm paceman in the series. In that scenario, Punjab fast bowler Vikram Rajvir Singh could come in and make an impression. Rest of SA team (from) : Morn van Wyk, Alviro Petersen, Jacques Rudolph (c), JP Duminy, Justin Kemp, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Vernon Philander, Paul Adams, Morn Morkel, Mornantau Hayward, Garnett Kruger.
India team (from): Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, VVS Laxman (c), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Mahendra Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, VRV Singh.

Rahul Dravid all set to play first Test

The embattled Indian cricket team was offered a ray of hope on Wednesday with batting mainstay Rahul Dravid saying he should be fit for the first Test against South Africa beginning next Friday.
Dravid, laid low by a freak finger injury since Cape Town one-dayer on November 26, said he had started batting practice to be able to take field in opening Test at Wanderers in Johannesburg. "I am hopeful of playing in the first Test as I have started batting a little. I would look to have at least two good batting sessions in lead up to the Test," he said on eve of four-day warm-up game against Rest of South Africa here. The news was, however, not that great on the front of Munaf Patel who was sent to Johannesburg yesterday for further medical opinion on his sore ankle.
"Patel hasnt improved as much as we thought but there are still eight days to first Test and we are hoping he would be alright," Dravid said. Looking back at Indias failure in the One-day International (ODI) series, he felt their cause was not helped by a few batsmen who came to South Africa struggling for form which only got worse by conditions and some hostile fast bowling. "I cant fault our batsmen for their effort but we were not in best of forms coming to South Africa and it has only been accentuated by conditions and bowling as they have faced on this tour," he added.

Fifth ODI @ Centurion : South Africa complete 'wash

India won the toss for the first time in the series, Sachin was among runs for a change, the team even batted through their 50 overs, but South Africa walked all over India in the fifth and final ODI to win the series 4-0.
India scored 200 for 9 and then South Africa cruised home in 31.2 overs, with Graeme Smith scoring 79 and AB de Villiers an unbeaten 92, his highest score in ODIs. For India, Tendulkar compiled his 74th one-day international half century, (55 in 97 balls) but scored only four runs from his opening 40 deliveries. Mahendra Dhoni blasted two sixes and two fours in his enterprising 44 from 49 balls. Zaheer Khan hit a six and a four in his unbeaten 16 off 10 towards the end. The Test series is still 12 days away, and Ganguly is waiting for his first chance in a long time. Maybe India will do something better for a change! India XI: V Sehwag (Captain), S R Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, D Mongia, K D Karthik, M S Dhoni, I K Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, A Kumble, Z Khan, S Sreesanth
South Africa XI: G C Smith (Captain), A B de Villiers, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, J M Kemp, M V Boucher, S M Pollock, R J Peterson, A Nel, M Ntini

Fifth one-day international, Centurion: South Africa 201-1 (31.2 overs) bt India 200-9 (50 overs) by nine wickets

Twenty20 @ Johannesburg: India beat South Africa in a thrilling finish

India beat South Africa by six wickets with a ball to spare in a thrilling finish to the day/night Twenty20 clash in Johannesburg. India lost Tendulkar for 10 and Dhoni for 0, but Suresh Raina (3) and Dinesh Karthik (31) guided India to 127-4 and victory. India XI: S R Tendulkar, V Sehwag, M S Dhoni, D Mongia, K D Karthik, S K Raina, I K Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, A B Agarkar, S Sreesanth, Z Khan
South Africa XI: G C Smith, L L Bosman, H H Gibbs, A B de Villiers, T Henderson, J M Kemp, C K Langeveldt, J J van der Wath, J A Morkel, R Telemachus, R J Peterson

Twenty20, Johannesburg: India (127-4) bt South Africa (126-9) by six wickets

India's first Twenty20

History will be made at the Wanderers on Friday evening when India takes part in its first Twenty20 international contest.
The South Africans, despite the absence of stars, are not likely to make the occasion a memorable one for the visitors, though. The host will be without key players Jacques Kallis, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Mkhaya Ntini, Andre Nel and Andrew Hall. But they will not be without confidence.
The selectors here are keen on cricketers like Tyron Henderson, Albie Morkel, Roger Telemachus, Robin Peterson and Johan van der Wath showcasing their talent. South Africa will be hosting the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in September 2007 Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban have been selected as venues and much importance is being attached to cricket of this variety in these parts.

Sourav Ganguly recalled for Test Series

Ten months after Sourav Ganguly was unceremoniously dropped from the national side, the former India captain was on Thursday included in the Test squad for South Africa.
Chairman of Selectors Dilip Vengsarkar said the Indian batting had failed in the one-dayers in South Africa and that is why "experienced players have been brought back". V V S Laxman, who was rushed to South Africa to replace an injured Rahul Dravid, was also named as vice captain of the Indian test team. Other players who have found a place in the Test squad include Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir and Punjab pacer V R V Singh. The first Test of the three-match series starts on December 15. India test team : Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, V V S Laxman, Wasim Jaffer, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, M S Dhoni, Dinesh Karthick, Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Zaheer Khan, S Sreesanth

Fourth ODI @ St George's Park : Unbeatable 3-0 lead for South Africa

South Africa scored yet another emphatic victory, by 80 runs, over India in the fourth ODI at Port Elizabeth to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the series with one game to play. Herschelle Gibbs scored 93 to take South Africa to 243 and their bowlers triggered yet another Indian collapse, skitting them for a mere 163 in just 38.1 overs.
Veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble was the pick of the bowlers with 2-42 of 10 overs. Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth turned in fine performances at either end of the innings but that was not enough to beat South Africa.Reported Earlier : South Africa captain Graeme Smith won the toss for the third match in a row and decided to bat against India. For India, Sehwag is the acting captain as Rahul Dravid is out because of a broken finger. Wasim Jaffer replaced him and they also dropped spinner Harbhajan Singh for the match in Port Elizabeth. India trail 2-0 after two crushing defeats. India XI : Jaffer, Verendra Sehwag (Captain), SR Tendulkar, M Kaif, KD Karthik, MS Dhoni, IK Pathan, AB Agarkar, Z Khan, A Kumble, S Sreesanth
South Africa XI : Graeme Smith (Captain), LL Bosman, JH Kallis, HH Gibbs, AB de Villiers, JM Kemp, MV Boucher, SM Pollock, AJ Hall, A Nel, M Ntini

Fourth one-day international, Port Elizabeth: South Africa 243-8 (50 overs) beat India 163 (38.1 overs) by 80 runs

India battling for survival in ODI series

India go into the fourth ODI against South Africa at Port Elizabeth on Wednesday with their fragile batting further crippled by the absence of captain Rahul Dravid.
The injury to Dravid, who has suffered a fracture on his right middle finger, could not have come at a worse time for the beleaguered Indians, who are under immense pressure to improve their performance. Dravid's unavailability has put Virender Sehwag in charge of the team but the opener himself is going through a prolonged lean patch. Trailing the five match series 0-2, the visitors need a far more inspiring performance with a collective firing from their key batsmen to be able to turn the table against the fancied hosts. India Team (from) : Virender Sehwag (Captain), Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Mohammed Kaif, Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Mongia, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicket-keeper), Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Munaf Patel and Sreesanth
South Africa Team (from) : Graeme Smith (Captain), Jacques Kallis, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, A.B. de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock and Ashwell Prince

Sourav Ganguly likely to be recalled

Faced with growing criticism on the performance of the Indian team in South Africa and the failure of the youngsters to deliver, the national selectors are likely to fall back on the experience of Sourav Ganguly to bolster the middle order and the spirit of the side in the forthcoming three-Tests series.
Ganguly had fallen out of favour with the previous selection committee after a spat with coach Greg Chappell during India's tour to Zimbabwe last year. The resistance to Ganguly's return had come from within the team and the selectors had no choice but to fall in line with the team management's argument that it was time to blood new faces. The Bengal left-hander, who emerged India's most successful captain ever, had confided last week that he had not been able to comprehend the reasons for his ouster. "No one has told me what is wrong with my batting or my approach. I am working very hard," he had said in Delhi. The squad for the Test series will be named on November 30

South Africa recall Ashwell Prince

South Africa have recalled Ashwell Prince for the last two One-day Internationals against India.
Prince replaced fellow batsman Boeta Dippenaar in the only change to the squad that has earned South Africa a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Prince, 29, played the last of his 37 One-day internationals against Sri Lanka in Hobart on February 7. Wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, all rounder Jacques Kallis and fast bowlers Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini and Shaun Pollock will be rested for Fridays Twenty20 match in Johannesburg. ODI squad : Graeme Smith (Captain), Jacques Kallis, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince.
Twenty20 squad : Smith (Captain), Bosman, de Villiers, Gibbs, Tyron Henderson, Kemp, Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Peterson, Prince, Roger Telemachus, Johan van der Wath.

Rahul Dravid ruled out of ODI series

India cricket captain Rahul Dravid will miss the last two matches of the one-day series against South Africa with a finger injury.
Test batsman VVS Laxman has been called into the team as cover. Announcing this, Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), said in Dravid's absence vice-captain Virender Sehwag would lead the team in the last two one-dayers in Port Elizabeth Wednesday and in Centurion Sunday. Sehwag, who himself has been nursing a finger injury, will also lead India in their first ever Twenty20 international against South Africa Friday. India are trailing the five-match series 0-2. Rains had washed out the first match.

Third ODI at Newlands : India loses by 106 runs as Kemp shines

South Africa wrapped up the second ODI by 106 runs to go 2-0 up with two more ODIs left in the series. Zaheer Khan's good opening burst was neutralized by Justin Kemp's unbeaten 100*, his maiden in ODIs. The total of 274 was just too much for the Indians, for whom only Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni could get going. Shaun Pollock finished with a fine 4 for 26, while Hall backed his batting heroics with 3 for 45. Earlier, a superb display of power hitting from Justin Kemp inspired South Africa to 274-7 in the third one-dayer, after India had reduced them to 76-6. Zaheer Khan took 3-42, but Irfan Pathan and Ajit Agarker went for more than seven an over as Kemp hit out late on. India XI: Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid (Captain), Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble.
South Africa XI: Graeme Smith (Captain), Loots Bosman, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Justin Kemp, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Makhaya Ntini, Charl Langeveldt.

Third one-day international, Cape Town: South Africa 274-7 bt India 168 by 106 runs

Munaf out of Third ODI at Newlands

India have ruled pace bowler Munaf Patel out of Sunday's third one-day international against South Africa but hope Virender Sehwag will return.
Patel, who took two wickets in defeat on Wednesday, has a sore left ankle.
South Africa defeated India by a whopping 157 runs - the Proteas' biggest win ever over India - at the Kingsmead Stadium Wednesday to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The capitulation raised a furore in India and the BCCI president Sharad Pawar reacted by asking chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar to go to South Africa for the three-match Test series.

Second ODI @ Kingsmead : South Africa win after skittling India for 91

Jacques Kallis hit a commanding century and then took three wickets as South Africa beat India by 157 runs in the second one-day international in Durban.
Sachin Tendulkar (35) top-scored for India in a dire batting display.
Earlier South Africa made 248/8 in 50 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat first. Kallis made 119 in 160 balls, while Zaheer Khan, Patel and Agarkar took two wickets each for India. Reported Earlier: Much like the first one-day international, the second match between India and South Africa here Wednesday is most likely to be affected by thundershowers as per the forecast of the meteorological department.
After intermittent rains forced the abandonment of the first match in Johannesburg Sunday without a ball being bowled, the second match in Kingsmead here is set to follow the same path. It rained almost the whole night Monday, and the metrological department forecasts thundershowers, raising a big question mark over the match being played at all. The weather has not been kind to cricket matches at Kingsmead in recent times. Four of the seven previous one-day internationals here have been abandoned because of rains. India Team (from): Rahul Dravid (Captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Jaffer, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Mongia, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keepers), Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, S. Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel and Ajit Agarkar
South Africa Team (from): Graeme Smith (Captain), Jacques Kallis, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher (wicket-keeper), A.B. de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock and Robin Peterson

Second one-day international, Durban: South Africa 248-8 beat India 91 all out

Second ODI @ Kingsmead : Second ODI could also rain out

Charl Langeveldt does not even want to think about the possibility that the second one-day cricket match of the series between South Africa and India may be washed out on Wednesday.
Langeveldt would have played in Robin Peterson's place in the first ODI at the Wanderers on Sunday when overcast conditions favoured the seamers. However, heavy rain resulted in the match being abandoned without a ball being bowled. Thunder showers have also been predicted for Durban on Wednesday evening. This means the Proteas are likely to do without a spinner, which will give Langeveldt another chance.

First ODI @ Johannesburg : Play called off due to wet outfield

The first ODI between India and South Africa at the New Wanderers Stadium has been called off due to wet outfield.
There is no reserve day in this match and the second game is scheduled in Kingsmead, Durban on Wednesday. Earlier, weather played a cat and mouse game and heavy clouds kept coming from north-west of Wanderers grounds, dashing any optimism which the crowd, umpires or the officials might have harboured of a good game of cricket. There was one brief moment when it appeared that the game might start after umpires Billy Doctrove and Brian Jerling privately suggested that the match could be a 39-over affair. But no sooner the suggestion was made, it started raining again forcing everyone indoors. The signs meanwhile from the dressing room indicate that Virender Sehwag, who split his right ring finger before the tour opener in Benoni on Thursday, would play after all. India: MS Dhoni, R Dravid, Harbhajan Singh, M Kaif, D Mongia, MM Patel, IK Pathan, SK Raina, V Sehwag, S Sreesanth, SR Tendulkar
South Africa: LL Bosman, MV Boucher, AB de Villiers, HH Gibbs, JH Kallis, JM Kemp, A Nel, M Ntini, RJ Peterson, SM Pollock, GC Smith

First ODI : South Africa vs India - Match abandoned without a ball bowled

South Africa A beat India

India's worst fears came true in the tour opener against South Africa 'A' as its bowling and batting came apart.
The tourists went down without a whimper by 37 runs on Thursday against an opposition from whom only a couple of players have a realistic chance of representing them in the next World Cup. Fast bowler Dale Steyn though did his chance no harm with a five-wicket haul, 5 for 22, his blistering pace and hostility proving too hot for the Indians.
Earlier, South Africa A progressed to 255 on the strength of its lower order batsmen, specifically Jacques Rudolph (72 not out) and Albie Morkel (63). Munaf Patel and Sreesanth gave runs in excess of 60 from their 10 overs though it was redeemed a bit by good show from comeback seniors Anil Kumble (2 for 31) and Zaheer Khan (3 for 43) and of course Pathan.

Tour Match : South Africa A 255 for 8 (50 overs) beat India 218 all out (49.1 overs) by 37 runs

India's South Africa tour begins today

India's two-month tour of South Africa gets underway on Thursday with a one-day match against a South African A side in Benoni.
It's the first match of what is expected to be a long and grueling tour with five one-day internationals, three Tests and India's first ever 20/20 International. The Indians, who have been in somewhat of a slump since the ODI Series defeat to West Indies in May this year, will be hoping to get things back on track in South Africa. The unfortunate part being that the Indian don't have the best record in South Africa with just three ODI wins against their hosts in 16 matches and they are yet to win a single test in three previous tours

Indian team departs for South Africa

A 16-member Indian cricket team left for South Africa early on Tuesday morning. The two-month tour will include five one-dayers and three tests.
While both captain and coach exuded a positive air in the pre-departure news conference, the team's send-off was somewhat less than positive with the team not having received their blazers or any other official, formal clothing. The tour also promises to be a tough one for other reasons mainly the recent poor form of the team and the absence of key player Yuvraj Singh. The first one-dayer is scheduled to be played on November 19 at Johannesburg. India will be playing in South Africa after a gap of five years. Their last tour in 2001 was shrouded in controversy when match referee Mike Dennis decided to punish six Indian cricketers, including Sachin Tendulkar, after the second Test at Port Elizabeth.

Yuvraj Singh ruled out of South Africa tests

Injured India batsman Yuvraj Singh has been ruled out of the three-test series in South Africa next month and the home one-day series against West Indies and Sri Lanka early next year.
The knee injury that sidelined the middle-order batsman from the one-day leg of the tour beginning on Nov. 19, is to be re-assessed after eight weeks, a board statement said. The 24-year-old left hander, who tore ligaments in his left knee playing on the eve of the Champions Trophy clash against eventual winners Australia last month, was examined by the board's orthopaedic surgeon Anant Joshi on Monday. The Punjab player, who has featured in 159 one-dayers and 19 tests, has grown in stature as an aggressive batsman and superb fielder at point.

Key players need to perform

In a grim message ahead of the big engagements, including the World Cup, captain Rahul Dravid on Saturday sought to blame his "key players" for the Indian team's slump and said it was high time they delivered.
Dravid said India's lack of consistency in recent tournaments was largely due to the collective failure of the top players and the team could regain its winning momentum only if that aspect was corrected. "I just think that we need to get performances from lot of our key players. Last season when we were doing really well, lot of players in the team were performing consistently and were sort of playing if not up to their potential, sometimes even above their potential", Dravid said.
"For the last 2-3 series we have not been able to get consistent performances from most of our key players. That's something you need to correct. There's quality in the team but we need to get back into putting in consistent personal performances which will help the team", he said. The Indian team has been going through a lean phase, particularly in the shorter version of the game since the tour of the West Indies in April this year. The team lost the one-day series in the Carribean, failed to reach the final of the DLF Cup tri-series in Malaysia and were knocked out of the recent Champions Trophy before the semi-final stage.

Ajit Agarkar cleared for South Africa tour

Medium-pacer Ajit Agarkar has been cleared for the five-match one-day series in South Africa and will leave with the Indian team on Monday.
Following a crack on the sesamoid bone of his left palm while fielding in the Champions Trophy, the National selectors had selected him provisionally in the 16-member squad. Punjab's V.R.V. Singh was named as the stand-by. Agarkar passed a fitness test at the Bandra-Kurla Complex on Thursday. The fitness test was conducted under the supervision of the Indian team physiotherapist John Gloster, who submitted a report to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The first of the five-match series against South Africa starts at the Wanderers, Johannesbrug, on November 19.

South Africa squad announced for first ODI

South Africa on Wednesday retained the squad that lost the Champions Trophy semi-final for the first of the five-match ODI cricket series against India to be played on November 19.
The selectors also reposed faith in skipper Graeme Smith, under fire for his indifferent form and tactics, in announcing the 14-member squad. South Africa made it to the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy in India recently before going down to underdogs West Indies in a one-sided encounter. Also picked was a 15-member Rest of South Africa squad, which will take on India in a warm up game in Benoni on November 16 and a group of four players who would form part of the South African ICC World Cup training squad. South Africa team : Graeme Smith (Captain), Jacques Kallis (vice-capt), Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher (Wicket Keeper), AB de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Justin Kemp, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini Robin Peterson and Shaun Pollock.

Indian team for South Africa tour announced

Baroda paceman Zaheer Khan and ace spinner Anil Kumble today made a comeback to India's one-day squad for the tour of South Africa starting next month.
Test opener Wasim Jaffer was also named in the 16-member squad announced here by Cricket Board Secretary Niranjan Shah. Injured duo of Ajit Agarkar and Yuvraj Singh were included in the squad subject to passing a fitness test. In case they fail to pass the fitness test, their places would be taken by VRV Singh and Dinesh Kaarthick respectively. The fitness test will take place on November 10, nine days before the team embarks for South Africa. Indian ODI Squad Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid (Captain), Wasim Jaffer, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Mongia, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Wicket Keeper), Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj Singh (Dinesh Karthik on stand-by), Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Ajit Agarkar (VRV Singh on stand-by).

India South Africa Past Series

India South Africa ODI Series 2007 in Ireland

India in South Africa Cricket Series 2006-07

South Africa v India ODI Series 2005-06

Tri Series 2006 in Sri Lanka

India vs South Africa Cricket Series 2004-2005

World Record involving South Africa

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