India win toss and field in opening ODI

MELBOURNE: India won the toss and chose to field against Australia in the opening tri one-day series international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and all-rounder Dan Christian will make their one-day international debuts while Peter Forrest was named 12th man.

India made one change to Friday's eight-wicket Twenty20 win over Australia, resting opener Virender Sehwag.

Sachin Tendulkar, searching for his elusive 100th international century, will open the India innings with Gautam Gambhir, while Manoj Tiwary was made 12th man

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Younis, Azhar put Pakistan in command against England

DUBAI: A dashing century by Younus Khan and a patient half-century by Azhar Ali helped Pakistan take a formidable lead of 180 runs against England on second day of the third and final Test being played here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Both batsmen first shrugged off the early loss of their openers to reach 120 for two at tea and then extended the score to 222-2 at stumps.

Younis made 115 not out, supported at the other end by Azhar who was on 75. The pair has so far added 194 runs for their unbeaten third wicket partnership.

Pakistan were 180 runs ahead of England with eight wickets remaining in the second innings.
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Pakistan, who lead 2-0 in the three-Test series, are hoping for a clean sweep by putting up a formidable total in their second innings to punish the tourists.

When Younis swept Monty Panesar for two runs, he reached his 20th Test hundred from 166 balls with eleven fours and a six.

This was the first hundred in the current Test series as no other batsman from Pakistan and England could so far make any three-figure score.

Earlier, Pakistan bowled out England's lower order to trail by 42 runs as the touring party made 141 in reply to Pakistan's first innings of 99.

Abdur Rehman's five-wicket haul ensured a half century by captain Andrew Strauss (56) only resulted in a modest lead for England.

Then Pakistan made a disastrous start again in the second innings losing their openers for 28 runs on the board..

James Anderson was the first to strike, dismissing Taufeeq Umar (6) for the second time in the match, this time caught at slip.

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar trapped Mohammad Hafeez lbw (21) on the sweep.

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India's Jadeja lands $2.0 million IPL jackpot

NEW DELHI: Young India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was sold for $2 million at the Indian Premier League auction in Bangalore on Saturday, but a host of big-name stars missed out.

Reigning IPL champions Chennai Super Kings, owned by Indian cricket chief Narayanaswamy Srinivasan, bagged the 23-year-old Jadeja after an intense bidding war with Deccan Chargers.

Jadeja joins India colleagues Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma in the $2-million-a-year bracket in the money-spinning Twenty20 league.

Just 17 of the 144 foreign and Indian players who had thrown their hat in the ring found favour with the franchises in the morning session of the auction, which was restricted to players not already aligned to any team.

Among the chief gainers were Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, bought by Delhi Daredevils for $1.4 million, and Indian seamer Vinay Kumar, who fetched $1.0 million from Royal Challengers Bangalore.

New Zealand wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum went to Kolkata Knight Riders for $900,000, while 41-year-old Australian spinner Brad Hogg was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for $180,000.

A bigger surprise, however, was the list of players who missed out.

There were no takers for England's James Anderson, Graeme Swann, Ian Bell, Matt Prior and Ravi Bopara.

Veteran Indian batsman Venkatsai Laxman, struggling to retain his place in the Indian Test team, was also unsold. Even in-form Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle was ignored.

Jadeja, Jayawardene, Kumar and McCullum belonged to the now-defunct Kochi Tuskers franchise, which played in last year's tournament before being thrown out of the IPL in September for non-payment of dues.

The franchises spent money to strengthen their line-ups ahead of the fifth edition of the IPL which will be played between April 4 and May 27.

Much depended on the availability of the players for the seven-week 76-match tournament.

England's international players will not be available for more than a month, since their tour of Sri Lanka ends on April 7 and is followed by a home series against the West Indies starting in mid-May.

The leading Australians can join the IPL only after their tour of the West Indies finishes on April 27.

The auction is being held in the shadow of the withdrawal of the Sahara group, sponsors of Team India and owners of the Pune Warriors franchise, from their association with Indian cricket earlier on Saturday.

Sahara, which cited a "one-sided emotional relationship" with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for their decision, did not take part in the auction.

It remained to be seen if Pune's withdrawal will leave eight teams in the fray for this year's tournament.

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