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Michael Hussey pushed Australia home © Getty Images

Michael Hussey again finished a difficult job for his team, taking Australia to victory against New Zealand with two wickets to spare. Hussey’s unbeaten 65 was the key in a tight run-chase of 219 and he brought up the win with a six in the 49th over.New Zealand pushed Australia to the very end but their decision to play only four bowlers cost them dearly as Craig McMillan and Nathan Astle proved too easy to score off in the dying overs. McMillan had already done his part with 89 in New Zealand’s 219 but Hussey and Michael Clarke (75) earned Australia their fourth win of the series.Clarke’s dismissal in the 38th over triggered a mini-collapse as Cameron White and Brett Lee fell soon after and when Nathan Bracken was caught with two runs required the outcome was still uncertain. But Hussey pulled Astle over square leg for six to end another matchwinning innings.The visitors played an extra batsman with Hamish Marshall replacing Jeetan Patel and the move backfired on two counts. Marshall made 0 in another disappointing team effort and in the dying overs Stephen Fleming was forced to use part-time medium-pacers when his four strikers were bowled out.Defending New Zealand’s below-par total was always going to require a flawless performance in the field. Instead, they repeatedly gave lives to Clarke and Hussey and failed to capitalise on a terrific opening that had Australia at 3 for 17.The most telling error was a shambolic attempted run out when both batsmen almost ended up at the striker’s end. With the score on 4 for 116, Clarke pushed into the off side and took off for a single before halting but Hussey kept coming and should have been caught well short at the bowler’s end. Marshall fumbled several times before ending up sprawled on the pitch and flicking the ball back to Daniel Vettori who broke the stumps with his hand rather than the ball with Hussey short of his ground.The mistake not only allowed Hussey, who was 18 at the time, to continue through the innings but it also demoralised the tourists at a critical moment. Clarke was dropped on 17 and again on 42 and holding either chance could have put New Zealand back on top. The first was a simple outfield opportunity when James Franklin spilled a top-edged hook at deep backward square leg. The second was an inside edge to Brendon McCullum, standing up to the stumps, off Franklin’s bowling.

Craig McMillan made his highest score since 2002 © Getty Images

When Clarke gave his third chance, a skied opportunity that Ross Taylor took on the second bite at midwicket, he had already hurt the visitors and taken Australia within 52 runs of victory. Clarke and Andrew Symonds (38) steadied Australia after the home team stumbled to 3 for 17 from six overs.Adam Gilchrist flayed at an extra wide Franklin outswinger and was caught behind for 3 and Matthew Hayden continued his disappointing series with a drive in the air to cover for 0. Ponting, who batted at No. 4 to allow Clarke a promotion, was lbw for 5 to a Michael Mason ball that jagged back off an uneven strip on the pitch.New Zealand also started poorly and it was only through McMillan’s innings – his best ODI score since 2002 – that they recovered from 4 for 54. McMillan’s 87-ball innings featured three sixes – one was a spectacular cut shot over backward point off Lee – and he made the most of a lucky break when he was given not out on 1 despite replays suggesting he edged behind.McMillan and Franklin added 57 in a 39-ball eighth-wicket partnership that restored some dignity to the New Zealand scorecard but Glenn McGrath (3 for 24) and Stuart Clark (4 for 54) ensured the total did not get out of hand.The visitors were unable to bat out the 50 overs and their inability to compile a consistent, professional batting effort was again underlined. The top order remained a concern as Lee’s opening spell shattered any hopes of a solid foundation. New Zealand were 2 for 7 as Lee had both openers caught behind with fast, swinging deliveries.

Shane Warne’s back is feeling better after yoga and pool work © Getty Images

Shane Warne has warned South Africa they could need their team psychologist after Australia has finished with them in the three-Test series starting on Friday. Referring to the squad’s plan to fly Francois Hugo from Johannesburg to motivate the players, Warne said it may be a good idea.”They might need one by the time we’ve finished with them,” Warne said. There is little love lost between the two Test nations and South Africa are aiming to regain some lost pride, having failed to beat Australia in a Test series since being readmitted to international cricket in 1991.Warne is a particular concern for the Proteas and has an excellent Test record against them, having taken 101 wickets at 22.34. The visitors have also rankled the Australians by claiming they use sledging to upset and distract their opponents. Herschelle Gibbs said last week the players had come to expect such tactics and would think something was wrong if they weren’t sledged.”As usual, the South Africans have had a bit too much to say, they should worry about their own backyard, get it in order first,” Warne said. After recovering from back soreness, Warne said he was looking forward to the first Test even though the WACA is not known for taking spin.”I feel pretty good, I’ve done a lot of yoga, I’ve done stretching, I’ve done pool and all the strengthening for my back,” he said. “It’s still a bit stiff, hopefully it will loosen up with another three or four more days of treatment. It’s an ongoing thing I suppose at 36. I’ve bowled a few balls over 15 years – I’m going to have to put up with some sort of soreness.”Warne was under no illusions about his role on the pace-friendly WACA, saying he would be called upon more to break partnerships than as a front-line strike bowler. “You know when you go there,” Warne said, “that you’re not going to take a big haul of wickets.”

Individual statistics for Tests played in 2004

West Indies Batting
Name	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0	Ct	St
Banks, OAC	3	4	1	74	45	24.67	–	–	1	3	–
Baugh, CS	2	4	0	111	68	27.75	–	1	–	2	–
Best, TL	7	10	0	62	20	6.2	–	–	2	1	–
Bravo, DJJ	4	8	0	220	77	27.5	–	2	1	3	–
Chanderpaul, S	10	18	3	715	128*	47.67	2	3	2	2	–
Collins, PT	8	11	1	64	19*	6.4	–	–	2	2	–
Collymore, CD	8	14	8	65	13*	10.83	–	–	–	1	–
Dillon, M	1	2	0	59	30	29.5	–	–	–	–	–
Drakes, VC	2	3	0	59	35	19.67	–	–	–	–	–
Edwards, FH	10	14	3	31	10	2.82	–	–	4	2	–
Ganga, D	4	7	0	66	17	9.43	–	–	1	1	–
Gayle, CH	12	22	1	1135	141	54.05	4	7	–	10	–
Hinds, RO	3	5	0	128	84	25.6	–	1	1	2	–
Hinds, WW	1	2	0	38	25	19	–	–	–	–	–
Jacobs, RD	10	16	3	399	107*	30.69	1	1	2	30	3
Joseph, SC	2	4	0	85	45	21.25	–	–	–	1	–
Lara, BC	12	21	1	1178	400*	58.9	3	4	3	13	–
Lawson, JJC	3	5	3	9	4*	4.5	–	–	1	1	–
Mohammed, D	2	3	0	68	36	22.67	–	–	–	–	–
Powell, RL	1	1	0	23	23	23	–	–	–	–	–
Sanford, A	3	5	0	4	1	0.8	–	–	1	4	–
Sarwan, RR	12	21	1	1005	261*	50.25	3	4	2	14	–
Smith, DR	6	8	1	264	105*	37.71	1	–	1	5	–
Smith, DS	6	11	1	322	108	32.2	1	–	1	6	–
West Indies Bowling
Name	M	B	Md	R	W	Ave	Best	5	10	SR	ER
Banks, OAC	3	744	15	478	9	53.11	4\87	–	–	82.67	64.25
Best, TL	7	1098	25	601	16	37.56	3\37	–	–	68.63	54.74
Bravo, DJJ	4	772	25	419	16	26.19	6\55	1	–	48.25	54.27
Chanderpaul, S	10	6	1	0	0	–	0\0	–	–	–	0
Collins, PT	8	1557	46	871	35	24.89	6\53	1	–	44.49	55.94
Collymore, CD	8	1458	62	662	10	66.2	2\24	–	–	145.8	45.4
Dillon, M	1	198	5	126	1	126	1\109	–	–	198	63.64
Drakes, VC	2	474	12	233	1	233	1\68	–	–	474	49.16
Edwards, FH	10	1774	33	1231	22	55.95	4\70	–	–	80.64	69.39
Ganga, D	4	60	0	21	0	–	0\21	–	–	–	35
Gayle, CH	12	986	35	439	12	36.58	5\34	1	–	82.17	44.52
Hinds, RO	3	434	18	148	4	37	2\83	–	–	108.5	34.1
Hinds, WW	1	42	2	31	0	–	0\31	–	–	–	73.81
Joseph, SC	2	12	0	8	0	–	0\8	–	–	–	66.67
Lawson, JJC	3	600	12	446	10	44.6	4\94	–	–	60	74.33
Mohammed, D	2	426	7	244	3	81.33	3\112	–	–	142	57.28
Powell, RL	1	48	0	36	0	–	0\36	–	–	–	75
Sanford, A	3	582	13	352	7	50.29	4\132	–	–	83.14	60.48
Sarwan, RR	12	846	23	416	14	29.71	4\37	–	–	60.43	49.17
Smith, DR	6	300	8	153	2	76.5	1\30	–	–	150	51

Individual statistics for ODIs played in 2004

West Indies Batting
Name	M	I	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	100	50	0	SR	Ct
Baugh, CS	1	1	0	3	3	3.00	–	–	–	27.27	–
Best, TL	6	3	2	4	2	4.00	–	–	–	50.00	2
Bradshaw, IDR	16	5	2	58	34*	19.33	–	–	2	60.42	2
Bravo, DJJ	19	10	3	100	33*	14.29	–	–	2	56.82	5
Browne, CO	4	1	1	35	35*	–	–	–	–	63.64	4
Chanderpaul, S	24	22	2	668	92	33.40	–	5	–	70.24	11
Collymore, CD	10	2	1	12	12*	12.00	–	–	1	50.00	1
Dillon, M	11	3	0	15	14	5.00	–	–	1	62.50	2
Drakes, VC	1	1	0	1	1	1.00	–	–	–	6.67	–
Edwards, FH	2	1	1	4	4*	–	–	–	–	36.36	–
Gayle, CH	23	22	3	722	152*	38.00	2	2	1	71.13	9
Hinds, RO	3	1	0	8	8	8.00	–	–	–	42.11	–
Hinds, WW	4	4	0	105	82	26.25	–	1	–	59.32	–
Hurley, RO	5	3	0	13	6	4.33	–	–	–	40.63	1
Jacobs, RD	19	10	5	88	32*	17.60	–	–	–	67.18	15
Joseph, SC	5	3	1	30	23*	15.00	–	–	1	46.88	2
Lara, BC	20	18	3	484	59*	32.27	–	3	–	82.03	7
Lawson, JJC	5	2	1	4	4	4.00	–	–	–	133.34	–
Powell, RL	23	21	5	474	52	29.63	–	2	–	91.15	4
Rampaul, R	13	3	1	34	24	17.00	–	–	–	68.00	2
Sammy, DJG	2	0	0	0	–	–	–	–	–	–	3
Sarwan, RR	24	22	8	791	104*	56.50	1	6	1	80.39	9
Smith, DR	20	15	1	262	62*	18.71	–	1	–	92.91	6
Smith, DS	4	3	1	93	44	46.50	–	–	–	58.13	2
West Indies Bowling
Name	M	B	Md	R	W	Ave	Best	5	4	SR	ER
Best, TL	6	260	2	204	10	20.40	4\35	–	1	26.00	4.71
Bradshaw, IDR	16	804	17	526	18	29.22	3\15	–	–	44.67	3.93
Bravo, DJJ	19	720	6	609	22	27.68	3\26	–	–	32.73	5.07
Chanderpaul, S	24	6	0	11	0	–	0\0	–	–	–	11.00
Collymore, CD	10	456	7	366	8	45.75	3\25	–	–	57.00	4.82
Dillon, M	11	510	7	407	11	37.00	5\29	1	–	46.36	4.79
Drakes, VC	1	60	1	64	1	64.00	1\64	–	–	60.00	6.40
Edwards, FH	2	90	0	43	4	10.75	2\19	–	–	22.50	2.87
Gayle, CH	23	772	1	608	21	28.95	3\20	–	–	36.76	4.73
Hinds, RO	3	66	0	36	0	–	0\0	–	–	–	3.27
Hinds, WW	4	120	3	51	5	10.20	3\24	–	–	24.00	2.55
Hurley, RO	5	228	1	202	3	67.33	1\39	–	–	76.00	5.32
Lawson, JJC	5	174	2	160	6	26.67	2\18	–	–	29.00	5.52
Powell, RL	23	122	0	126	1	126.00	1\9	–	–	122.00	6.20
Rampaul, R	13	424	1	407	11	37.00	2\34	–	–	38.55	5.76
Sammy, DJG	2	36	0	19	1	19.00	1\19	–	–	36.00	3.17
Sarwan, RR	24	108	0	89	5	17.80	3\31	–	–	21.60	4.94
Smith, DR	20	314	2	266	6	44.33	3\24	–	–	52.33	5.08

Western Australia’s biggest electrical retailer has signed a one-year agreement with options to extend for a further two years as the major sponsor of the re-named Retravision Warriors valued at an estimated $1 million a year for WA cricket, whilst continuing the group’s support of the sport’s junior players which commenced last year.Announcing the new major sponsorship today at a special launch event at the WACA Ground on the eve of the 2003-04 season-opening Lilac Hill Festival Match, WACA President Mr Brian Rakich said the values represented by Retravision – professional, competitive, family and community based – mirrored the traditions of the sport and WA’s premiere team."This is a great match for the Warriors, the sport and for our new major partner Retravision," Mr Rakich said."The sport sponsorship market is very tough. Getting this support from Retravision puts in place a vital foundation on which to build the future performance of WA’s most successful sporting team."Last year Retravision put its sponsorship support behind junior cricket in WA and that’s been a great success. When the major sponsorship of the Warriors became available it seemed logical to see if we could build on that relationship. The WACA is delighted to have secured this agreement with Retravision," Mr Rakich said.The WACA President said for the first time in the history of the sport in WA the State team would carry the sponsor’s name in its logo – this follows a trend which has been adopted by other State cricket teams in recent years.Retravision Chairman Bill Harries said the deal with WA cricket was the biggest sponsorship the group had ever undertaken."Retravision has looked at a number of major sponsorship proposals and opportunities in recent years but none of them fitted with the values our brand represents through the 58 mainly family-owned and operated stores which are a part of communities throughout Perth and regional WA. The traditions, ethos and following of cricket fits the bill. We’re really looking forward to being part of the Warriors team," Mr Harries said.Last year Retravision committed $50,000 to sponsoring WA junior cricket for the first time. Retravision’s investment in the sport through the new combined sponsorship agreement announced today is estimated to represent a value of $1 million a year through a cash component, plus leveraging the Retravision Warriors involvement through the retailing group’s planned advertising, marketing and sales programs."The commitment of Retravision to leveraging the sponsorship will continue to develop the Warriors high profile. That’s very important for keeping cricket in the spotlight in a highly competitive sports market in WA," Mr Rakich said.The Retravision Warriors make their first home appearance for the 2003-04 domestic season with the opening fixture of the ING Cup series, a day/night game against the Southern Redbacks at the WACA Ground on Friday, October 24.The Retravision Warriors first Pura Cup match will be against NSW in Sydney, starting on November 4. Their first home game will be against the Tasmanian Tigers, starting on Sunday, December 7.

Zimbabwean captain Stuart Carlisle tried to look on the bright side after his team crashed to an innings defeat against Sri Lanka in the opening Janashakthi National Test on Monday but admitted that they needed to think long and hard at how to counter Muttiah Muralitharan in the second Test.Zimabwe lost by an innings and 166 runs in four days as Sri Lanka extended a winning run to six consecutive Test matches – a record for a sub-continental team."There were stages where we showed a bit of fight today but on the whole it was a disappointing Test match," Carlisle said afterwards during a post match downpour that came twenty minutes late for the tourists."But we still had some positives. The batsmen got 20s and 30s and did all the hard work. Its just that they didn’t go on to make the big scores, which we have to do if we are going to save games."He added: "I wouldn’t say the morale is so down. Every one knows that we were unlucky and that certain things went against us. I don’t want to make excuses but if decisions don’t go your way, the game can change."There are still two Tests and there is plenty of scope for improvement. The guys have got to sit down and have a look at their games."Muralitharan took eight wickets on a pitch that offered him little assistance. In Kandy, where the next match starts on Friday, the master off-spinner will be looking forward to greater bounce and pace in the wicket."We have got to have a re-think on how to play him. He is obviously a world-class bowler and very difficult to score off. We played him pretty well in stages, especially Travis Friend today."From a team point to view we will have another game plan and then each and every individual has to work out how to best play him. Travis (Friend) showed that the trick is to relax at the wicket, use your pad, be patient and work him for ones and twos."Sri Lankan captain praised the all-round efforts of his side and hoped on a personal note that he would soon covert a half-century into a big hundred."Credit to should go to all the members of the team," he said. "It has been a terrific team performance starting against India in August."It was difficult to get them out today because the wicket was so good for batting. The bowlers had to work really hard."Special praise for Muralitharan, once again: "Even Murali found it hard to get wickets on this pitch. But he works so hard – every time you give him the ball he tries his best. His attitude makes me really happy."And for Kumar Sangakkara, the man of the match: " It is not an easy job to keep wicket and bat in the top order. As a batsman he has been really patient and occupied the crease well. We only hope he can continue to perform like that for the country."Personally, I am disappointed with myself for getting out in the 80s and 90s all the time. When you get set you must go on and get a big one.He now hopes that the team can win the next two matches too: "We are trying our best to get a clean sweep, but to do so we have to continue performing at this high level."

Bengal’s Ranji Trophy aspirations for the 1999-2000 season ended onThursday as they lost to Mumbai by 242 runs. Chasing a victory targetof 381 runs, Bengal were bundled out for 138 runs.The hosts, who were 67 for the loss of four wickets overnight, losttheir remaining six batsmen in 107 minutes of play today. RomeshPowar and Rajesh Pawar picked up five wickets apiece to establishMumbai’s superiority. They finished with 32 points winning all theirfour matches. On the other hand, Bengal finished their leagueengagements with 13 points. The match was especially memorable forRamesh Powar who followed his second innings score of 92 with hisfirst five-wicket haul in the Ranji Trophy.Much was expected of the overnight pair of Saba Karim and RohanGavaskar. However, the junior Gavaskar, playing his first matchagainst Mumbai, disappointed in the second innings also. He playedforward to the off-spinner Powar and was caught pad-bat at silly pointby skipper Amol Muzumdar. Powar was also responsible for getting SabaKarim. The batsman who had hit him for two sixes over mid wicket triedto cut a delivery against the turn only to edge it on to hisstumps. This was the last of the resistance.If Powar had decimated the top half of Bengal it was the turn of theleft arm spinner Rajesh Pawar to destroy the lower order. He took fourwickets today and his victims were Utpal Chatterjee, Vishal Yadav,Nikhil Haldipur and Sourashis Lahiri. Pawar bowled flat today anddeceived the batsmen by varying the length of his deliveries. He hadHaldipur leg before with one that kept low and then bowled Yadav witha quicker delivery which surprised the batsman. Pawar had theoutstanding figures of 9.1-3-32-4 today and his innings analysis read19.1-5-60-5. Powar finished with five wickets for 46 runs of 23 overs,nine of which were maidens.Bengal skipper Utpal Chatterjee blamed his batsmen for the poorshow. “We had Mumbai on the mat on the first day by dismissing themfor 182. However, our batsmen did not have the grit and determinationto fight it out. In the second innings the job became increasinglydificult. However, even then I feel that it was possible to survivefor two days on this wicket.” On the other hand, Muzumdar was allpraise for his bowlers.

Manchester United have held ‘positive talks’ with Ajax boss Erik ten Hag, Sky Sports News report.

The Lowdown: Four candidates

The Red Devils are making a start on their search for a new full-time manager, with interim boss Ralf Rangnick expected to move into a consultancy role at Old Trafford over the summer.

Ten Hag is thought to be a candidate for the position along with Paris Saint-Germain manager Mauricio Pochettino. The pair have been linked with the Old Trafford post for a number of months, however, Julen Lopetegui and Luis Enrique are now thought to be two other options that United chiefs have discussed.

The Latest: Sky Sports update

Sky Sports News shared a breaking update live from TV regarding United’s managerial search on Twitter on Wednesday morning.

They revealed that Ten Hag has held ‘positive talks’, however, they added that ‘Sky Sports News have been told’ that there is no favourite for the role at this moment in time, with United wanting to speak to the other candidates.

The Verdict: Good signs

It is good to see that the club are getting a head start on their search for a new boss instead of leaving it until the end of the season.

Ten Hag, who likes to play a 4-3-3 system, has an attractive CV, averaging an impressive 2.35 points-per-game with Ajax and lifting five honours as manager.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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He has clearly made a good first impression to United following talks, so it’ll be interesting to see how this one develops over the coming months.

In other news: ‘I’m told…’ – Insider now drops major Man Utd and Pogba update after Fabrizio Romano reveal. 

Chaminda Vaas struck 90 and shared in a seventh wicket stand of 183 with his captain, Mahela Jayawardene © Getty Images

Chaminda Vaas, the Sri Lanka fast bowler, spoke of his pride in answering the critics who questioned his value after he struck a workmanlike 90 and took four wickets on the third day against England at Galle.”I wanted to prove something. People started asking questions about my ability. I answered them by performing well throughout the series,” Vaas said. “I am here because I have performed in every game taking 330 wickets purely on performance. My plan is to play one more year of Test cricket and to continue in the one-day game for two years.”Vaas, 33, was under pressure before this series when the selectors told him that he hadn’t performed to his optimum ability, and that they would consider dropping him in the future. However, he has taken 11 cheap wickets at 25.81 apiece – and his innings of 90 today led Sri Lanka to a towering 499 for 9. His only regret was not reaching three figures.”Getting 90 is better than nothing,” he said. “I am very happy [with] the way I batted. I learnt a lot from playing county cricket [for Hampshire, Worcestershire and Middlesex]. Batting is more important to the team. When the team needs runs, as a tailender you have to put your head down and get runs. That’s why we were able to get nearly 500 runs today. Getting a hundred for a fast bowler is something to cherish. Considering the situation we were in it was better to get 90. I got good support from Mahela [Jayawardene].”The ball always swings in Sri Lanka and I am very pleased with my performance, [with] the way I bowled today. We went with a plan to bowl in good areas. We showed that there is something on the wicket and we ended up bowling England for under 100. All of us bowled pretty well. If you do bowl in the good areas you can take a lot of wickets. England bowled here and there and negatively. That’s the difference.”England, who capitulated for a paltry 81, were at the mercy of Vaas who took 4 for 28, but there was another left-armer to support him. Chanaka Welegedara, making his debut aged 26, bowled a lively and accurate eight-over spell, picking up 2 for 17, and Vaas thinks Sri Lanka have found someone very special.”He has a long future ahead of him if he looks after his injuries,” he said. “He will turn out to be one of the best bowlers in the world. He bowled pretty well today and he is still learning. I am sure he will come out very well.”

The return of VVS Laxman, unfazed by foreign conditions, should herald some improvement. © AFP

Boosted by their victory in the Pro20 game on Friday night, India’scricketers head to Centurion on Sunday seeking to avoid a 4-0 drubbing inthe one-day series. Thus far, South Africa have had it all their own way,with the 80-run margin at Port Elizabeth the closest in a hopelesslyone-sided series.To be fair, India’s bowlers have nearly matched their South Africancounterparts, with Zaheer Khan especially impressive. But the batting,with the odd exception here and there, has been appalling, with run chasesruined even before the Powerplays were exhausted.The return of VVS Laxman, who batted in the nets at Centurion on Saturday,should herald some improvement. His one-day record in South Africa isnothing special – 20 runs in two innings – but as he has repeatedly shownin Australia, the extra bounce doesn’t faze him. Lateral movement isanother matter, but there’s unlikely to be much of that on a bone-dryCenturion pitch that should be full of runs.There will be enough bounce to keep pace bowlers on both sides interestedand the strong winds that blow across the ground – two sides of it arecompletely exposed to the elements – will also be a major factor in a daygame starting at 10 AM. Chasing a target could well be the smart option,though given India’s travails, they might just prefer to defend whatevertotal they can put up. Having dealt with the likes of Johan van der Wathand Tyron Henderson in the Pro20 game, they will once more be confrontedwith the far more lethal trio of Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel.Laxman’s inclusion provides a nice sidelight to a game that is little morethan a statistical irrelevance. On Sunday, the side will be led byVirender Sehwag, who has just lost deputy status in the Test team to the manreplacing him – Laxman. At the press conference following the Pro20 game,Sehwag suggested that he would just get on with his game, slap on thewrist notwithstanding. And that’s exactly what the team needs from anindividual who can still turn a game in the space of a few overs with someblistering strokeplay.For Mohammad Kaif, who has failed to grasp his chance, the match should bean opportunity to remind the selectors of what he can offer, with onlyeight more games remaining before India head for the World Cup. His exclusionfrom the Test side is a bitter blow, and it will be a test of character tosee how he bounces back.With Ajit Agarkar and Munaf Patel both injured, the bowling is down to thebare bones, and Harbhajan Singh should return to partner Anil Kumble in anattack spearheaded by Zaheer and Sreesanth. Irfan Pathan probably savedhis tour with a good allround display in Port Elizabeth, and needs torecover much of the ground lost in the past few months.For South Africa, the choices are far more straightforward. Andrew Hall,whose allround show was so pivotal in the Cape Town victory, is carryingan injury, and Robin Peterson could get a first game of the series.Loots Bosman’s failures at the top will see the equally inconsistent AB deVilliers moving up to partner Graeme Smith, opening a spot for Ashwell Prince in the middle-order.Smith’s form is a matter of concern, and he needs to reassess his approachto Zaheer in the initial overs. Great batsmen eventually adjust, andSmith has enough quality about him to solve the problem. India will onlyhope that he doesn’t find a solution until the tour is over.TeamsSouth Africa (likely): 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 AB de Villiers, 3Jacques Kallis, 4 Herschelle Gibbs, 5 Ashwell Prince, 6 Mark Boucher (wk),7 Justin Kemp, 8 Shaun Pollock, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Andre Nel, 11 MakhayaNtini.India (likely): 1 Virender Sehwag (capt), 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 VVSLaxman, 4 Mohammad Kaif, 5 Dinesh Karthik, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 7 IrfanPathan, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Anil Kumble, 11 Sreesanth.

James Anderson is in the frame for the final Test © Getty Images

England’s proud record of six consecutive unbeaten series is hanging by athread. Tomorrow’s third and final Test in Lahore represents their lastopportunity to draw level in a rubber that, until mid-morning on the fifthday at Multan, they seemed to have firmly in their grasp.Speaking to the press on the eve of the match, England’s captain, MichaelVaughan, conceded that England were still ruing their missedopportunities. “We played a good game at Multan where we should reallyhave won,” he said, “while at Faisalabad we created a few opportunities onthe fourth afternoon. We’ll just keep pushing ourselves a little bitfurther each game.”It is a long time since England were last in this situation. Not since theOval Test against South Africa in 2003 – Vaughan’s first series in charge- have they had to come from behind to steal a share of the series, whiletheir last series loss came in Sri Lanka three months later, when theywere hammered by an innings and 215 runs in the final Test in Colombo.”We’ve been playing catch-up cricket because we’ve lost both tosses,”conceded Vaughan. “It’s a big game for us all, seeing as we’re 1-0 downand we haven’t lost a series for two years now, but we’re looking forwardto the challenge.”After a strangely overcast weekend, there had been reports that the Lahorepitch would turn out to be damp and green, but an inspection on the eve ofthe match confounded such thoughts. “It’s certainly not an Englishgreentop,” said Vaughan. “As expected it looks a decent pitch, like theone we played on here five years ago. It’ll be a good batting pitch,offering a bit of assistance, but as we proved over the last two games, ifyou bowl with good discipline, you can put Pakistan under pressure.”England will hope it’s not too like the Lahore strip from the 2000-01tour. That match was memorable only for an astonishing feat of endurancefrom Graham Thorpe, who compiled a century in England’s first innings thatcontained just the one boundary. England, who need to force the pace inorder to beat both the opposition and the prevailing weather conditions,will hope for a little more life this time around.Vaughan confirmed yesterday that he would be returning to the top of theorder, where he has played 31 of his 63 Tests and scored 10 of his 15centuries. “I stress it’s only for this game,” he added. “Andrew Strausswill be straight back in for the India series and I’ll go back to No. 3.But I’ve had a lot of success opening, and hopefully there’ll be some morein this Test.”England’s other selection dilemma, however, remains unresolved, withAshley Giles’s longstanding hip injury continuing to be monitored. “We’rea little bit closer to a decision, but we’ll wait and see how everyonecomes through practice,” said Vaughan. “Ashley’s all right and he had a goodlong bowl, so we’ll see how he’s come through that. If we go in with onespinner, we have to make sure he can play a full part.”Giles is already due to fly home after the Test to undergo surgery on hisproblematic hip, and with just three tail-end wickets in the first twoTests, he has not exactly made an unanswerable case for inclusion.England, however, are famously loyal to their long-standing players, andso it remains more likely that Shaun Udal will sit out the match -assuming, of course, that England opt to play an extra seam bowler.”We’ll be looking for the best formula to take 20 wickets,” Vaughanstressed, adding that both James Anderson and Liam Plunkett were very muchin the frame for that extra seam-bowling position. For Anderson, a recallwould represent his first Test since a traumatic one-off match atJohannesburg last winter, when he played in place of Simon Jones and wascarted all around the park as his lack of match preparation was exposed byHerschelle Gibbs and Co.”That’s a long time ago,” said Vaughan. “Almost 12 months in fact. Jimmy’shad a good county season, and he bowled well in the warm-up game a fewweeks ago. Sometimes though, it’s better to go in fresh because if youplay all the time little things can creep into your mind, Just go out andsee where it takes you, because it usually takes you to a decent level ofperformance.”Paul Collingwood could do with a similar injection of devil-may-careconfidence, for his recall to the problematic No. 4 position representspossibly his last chance to prove himself as a Test batsman. He has theone-day series to come, in which he has long been an integral member ofthe squad, but in Tests he has managed just four outings in four years,with a highest score of 36.Vaughan refuses to be drawn on the significance of the occasion forCollingwood, although if England’s middle order is unproven, then the samecan also be said of Pakistan. Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan have been replaced by Asim Kamal at No.3 and Hasan Raza at No. 6; neither of those two will fill England’s bowlers with dread.One man, on the other hand, most certainly will. Inzamam himself, unmovedat the pivotal No. 5 position, again represents the single biggestobstacle to England’s ambitions of squaring the series. He was thedifference between the sides at Faisalabad, as Vaughan himself admitted.And if Vaughan cannot win a crucial toss and get runs on the board early,he could once again prove the difference at Lahore as well.Pakistan (probable) 1 Shoaib Malik, 2 Salman Butt, 3 Asim Kamal, 4 MohammadYousuf, 5 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Hasan Raza, 7 Kamran Akmal (wk), 8 RanaNaved-ul-Hasan, 9 Shoaib Akhtar, 10 Mohammad Sami, 11 Danish KaneriaEngland (probable) 1 Marcus Trescothick, 2 Michael Vaughan (capt), 3 Ian Bell,4 Paul Collingwood, 5 Kevin Pietersen, 6 Andrew Flintoff, 7 Geraint Jones(wk), 8 Ashley Giles, 9 Matthew Hoggard, 10 Steve Harmison, 11 JamesAnderson