First day honours to South Africa in war of attrition

Mar 10, 2001: Sometimes Test cricket is a war of attrition and this first day of the First Test was a perfect example

Ganguly at home with everything to play for

Mar 10, 2001: Hemang Badani was the last man to leave the Indian nets

India will stick to the same batting line-up: Ganguly

Mar 10, 2001: Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said in Kolkata on Saturday that the team will stick to the same batting line-up in the second Test beginning at the Eden Gardens tomorrow despite the top order failing to come good against the formidable Australians in

Umpires in the firing line in Auckland

Mar 10, 2001: Umpiring controversies are flavour of the month on the world scene at the moment and the New Zealand-Pakistan series is proving no different

New Zealand in trouble, face vital morning session

Mar 10, 2001: New Zealand are in trouble against Pakistan in the first Test at Eden Park in Auckland after a disappointing batting effort on the third day

Saeed has to return: PCB

Mar 10, 2001: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Friday that Saeed Anwar has been ruled out of the Test series in New Zealand and has to return home

Not the ideal situation for India on the eve of a crucial Test

Mar 10, 2001: In as much as the Australians are consistent in their winning ways, the Indians are consistent in their haphazard thinking

Slater to play in second Test

Mar 10, 2001: Michael Slater will definitely play in the second cricket Test against India starting here tomorrow despite being found guilty of violating the International Cricket Council (ICC) code of conduct

Reports say Slater fined by match referee over radio interview

Mar 10, 2001: Australian opening batsman Michael Slater has been fined and given a suspended ban after giving a radio interview during the week, according to reports from India on Friday night

Home advantage

Mar 9, 2001: But for one remarkable statistic, the West Indies would start their Cable & Wireless Test series against South Africa at Bourda today as abject no-hopers

Punjab start firm favourites at Mohali

Mar 9, 2001: North Zone league toppers Punjab will be hoping to extend their amazing winning streak this season to six successive wins when they take on Central Zone league toppers Rajasthan in the five day prequarterfinal match of the Ranji Trophy which starts

Slater fined, banned from playing second Test

Mar 9, 2001: Australian opening batsman Michael Slater was today banned by the ICC match referee Cammie Smith from playing the second Test against India in the Eden Gardens, giving a jolt to the visitors keen to clinch a dream series win in India

England scent victory on another bad day for umpiring

Mar 9, 2001: Russell Lynch, travelling with an MCC tour, witnesses a controversial day at the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy in the latest of his reports from Sri Lanka

We are working on our weaknesses, says Chauhan

Mar 9, 2001: Indian team manager Chetan Chauhan told reporters after the practice session at the Eden Gardens today that the team had analysed the last game and had planned out certain strategies for the second Test against Australia starting in Kolkata on Sunday

John Stephenson, A fighter through and through

Mar 9, 2001: The 2001 season is going to be a very important one for John Stephenson

Jayasuriya handed suspended four-match ban for dissent

Mar 9, 2001: Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya has been given a suspended four-match ban following his show of dissent during another day marred by umpiring controversies in the Second Test against England at Kandy

Rival teams have strenuous workout at Eden Gardens

Mar 9, 2001: With just two days left for the second Test to get underway on Sunday, both the Australian and Indian teams had a strenuous workout at the Eden Gardens to get acclamatised to the conditions in Kolkata

Steve Waugh plays Holi with flowers at Udayan

Mar 9, 2001: Petals of rose and marigold were today showered on Australian skipper Steve Waugh by the inmates of Udayan, a home for children of leprosy parents, as they played Holi with the celebrated cricketer

History favours a fifth cog in the bowling wheel

Mar 9, 2001: Going into the second Test against Australia, India face the familiar dilemma of whether to play six batsmen and four bowlers or five batsmen and five bowlers

Keen contests likely in Ranji Trophy pre-quarterfinals

Mar 9, 2001: With six Ranji Trophy pre-quarterfinals starting all over the country on Saturday (and a seventh commencing on Sunday), Indian domestic cricket is well and truly swinging into top gear