A 4-0 whitewash against India is possible: Swann

England spinner Graeme Swann feels a 4-0 whitewash is possible in the Test series against World No.1 India.'I'd like to think that it's possible to win 4-0. A lot of things have to go in our favour, but if they do, it'll be a nice thing to aim for. We're the only team who can win it 4-0,' Swann was quoted as saying by the Daily Telegraph.'The way we've played in the first two games, they've not been perfect performances and we've still won them very well. If we can iron out those areas and do everything else right, we're going to be a very difficult team to beat,' he said.Asked about his unimpressive form in the series, Swann said: 'It's easy to make the excuse that I was hit on the hand. But I just had one of those days. I got out of bed the wrong side that morning. Rahul Dravid has played me very well this series. But I don't think they needed to play me particularly well at Trent Bridge, I bowled so badly.With turning tracks expected at Edgbaston and the Oval, Swann declared himself fully fit after an X-ray on his left hand.'I'm looking forward to Edgbaston, because it did turn a little bit last year,' Swann said. 'Hopefully it will spin, because then you turn up to the ground in the morning knowing you're going to play a more active role. Turning up knowing you are a bit-part player does not always fit well with someone who likes to be the centre of attention.Recalling farcical run out of Ian Bell, who was later recalled by the Indian team, Swann said: 'It was a very strange atmosphere. Belly had taken off his pads. He thought he was out. Then rumours came upstairs that they were talking about whether to ask him back in. So people were saying 'put your pads on', and someone else was saying 'no, don't bother'. It was bizarre, really.'But what happened in the end was the right thing. India could have upheld the appeal, but it would have put a very bitter taste on the series. We don't want it descending into the sort of scenes we had at the end of last year. We really didn't like the Pakistan team by the end of the series, and they didn't like us. But so far this year, the atmosphere between the two teams has been exceptional,' he said.

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Zimbabwe get upper hand against Bangladesh

HARARE: A second Test century from Hamilton Masakadza and the late dismissal of dangerous Bangladesh batsman Shahriar Nafeez gave Zimbabwe the upper hand on the second day of their one-off Test at the Harare Sports Club on Friday.Zimbabwe, who had been 264 for two overnight, were all out for 370 in their first innings before Bangladesh replied with a 107-3 at stumps to leave them 263 in arrears at the close of play with seven wickets remaining.Masakadza (104) clawed his way to a second Test century 10 years after his first -- as he put on 142 for the third wicket with skipper Brendan Taylor, who made 71.It was Taylor's fourth Test half century, but once he was out, Zimbabwe lost their remaining seven wickets for just 66 runs.Bangladesh started their fightback by snatching four wickets in the 30 minutes before lunch. After capturing both Masakadza and Taylor with a double breakthrough, seamer Robiul Islam had changed the tone of the game with Craig Ervine (six) and Elton Chigumbura (five) were bundled out in short order as lunchtime approached.After the break Brian Vitori, Kyle Jarvis, Raymond Price and Christopher Mpofu were all quickly disposed of with only former skipper Tatenda Taibu, with 23, offering real resistance. Rubel Hossain and captain Shakib Al Hassan took three wickets each.In reply, Bangladesh lost both openers by the time they had reached 36.Left-armer Brian Vitori marked his Test debut by dismissing Imrul Kayes (four) and and flamboyant Tamim Iqbal (15).Shahriar Nafeez and Mohammad Ashraful (34 not out) then launched a Bangladesh recovery, putting on 66 for the third wicket before Nafeez was bowled by off-spinner Price off his legs for 50 as the shadows lengthened. It was his fifth Test half-century and he hit six fours.

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Bangladesh struggling against Zimbabwe

HARARE: Debutant Brian Vitori claimed two quick wickets to turn the tide back in Zimbabwe's favour at tea on the second day of their one-off Test match against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club.After starting the day looking comfortable on 264 for two in their first innings, Zimbabwe lost eight wickets in quick succession around lunch.They were 326 for six at the lunch break, and were eventually all out for 370 in mid-afternoon.However, Bangladesh lost two early wickets of their own to slip to 38 for two just before the tea break.
Both openers, Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes, were caught off the bowling of Vitori after scoring only 15 and four runs respectively, leaving the tourists still 334 runs behind their hosts with eight wickets remaining. Earlier, in Zimbabwe's first Test after six years in exile, Hamilton Masakadza scored 104, his second Test century.He resumed after ending day one on 88 not out, and toiled for his runs before completing his century in 235 balls.His hundred included eight fours and one six and was his first ton since his debut against the West Indies on the same ground 10 years ago.Shortly after he fell to a catch at first slip by Imral Keyes when trying to drive Rabiul Islam for 104 to end a partnership of 142 for the third wicket with Brendan Taylor.Vusi Sibanda made 78 while Taylor, in an unusually subdued mood, made his fourth Test half-century before being dismissed for 71. Shakib Al Hasan and Rubel Hossain took three wickets apiece for Bangladesh.

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Bangladesh hit back after Mazakadze century

HARARE: Hamilton Mazakadze completed his second Test century but Bangladesh struck back with four wickets on the second morning to turn the tide in their one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club here Friday.From an overnight 264 for the loss of only two wickets and looking set for a big score, the home side struggled for runs against a Bangladesh attack that found a better line than on the opening day.With runs at a premium, Zimbabwe could only manage a further 62 in the two hours to reach 326 for six at the lunch break. The star of the morning for Zimbabwe, playing their first Test after six years in exile, was Mazakadza.Resuming on 88, he toiled for his runs but finally went through to his century off 235 balls. It included eight fours and one six and was his first ton since his debut against the West Indies on the same ground 10 years ago.Shortly after he fell to a catch at first slip by Imral Keyes when trying to drive Rabiul Islam for 104 to end a partnership of 142 for the third wicket with Brendan Taylor.That was the signal for a collapse that saw four wickets going down for 22 runs in last half-hour of the session.Craig Ervine scored only six and Elton Chigumbura made five before falling victim to spinners Shakib Al Hassan and Rubel Hossain. In between Taylor notched up his fourth half-century in Test cricket before trying to cut Islam and nicking to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim for 71.Raymond Price, the beginning of the tail, will resume after lunch with Tatenda Taibu, who is on three with the likely target 400 suddenly appearing a long way off

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