New Rules in ICC: Captains can refer to Third Umpire!

ICC has accepted and is implemented the new rule in the test series between India and Sri Lanka. If this works well, it would be implemented as a permanent rule.

Under the new system each side will be allowed three challenges in each innings and the number of challenges remains intact if a decision is reversed using the system.

This should reduce the umpiring errors to some extent.

What is best for the game is what looked at. "The umpires making mistakes and being accused of cheating, teams threatening to leave the country and flying home and boards criticising the umpires? Or a system where the umpire is given an opportunity to review his own decision and make a final decision himself?" Richardson asked.

There will be 22 cameras for monitoring at the Sinhala Sports Club here to assist in facilitating the decision-making process and for first time 'Virtual Eye' system will be used for line decisions for reviewing leg before decisions, said Richardson, ICC GM.

3rd Test: England Win Series in Style! Beat New Zeland by an Innings and 9 Runs!

In the third and final test of the series, New Zealand started with the final test with the hope to level the series. But, it went against them and they lost the series 2-0 with the 1st test drawn.

New Zealand won the toss and put England to bat. Though Vettori's team picked the first 5 top order wickets for 86, Pietersen played an innings of his life. Strauss (37), Cook (6), Vaughan (16), Bell (0), and Collingwood (0) failed miserably giving a bright chance to New Zealand.

But, Pietersen along with Ambrose built the innings slowly and steadily. They both added 161 runs for the 6th wicket. Pietersen got out caught behind of O'Brien for well made 115 off 223 balls with 14 fours. Ambrose fell after adding 15 to the England total. At this stage of the game, New Zealand still had a good chance with England struggling 262 for 7.

On could easily say that it is one of those matches were the bowling team did not put pressure on the tail enders or bwol on the right areas. Broad and Anderson added66 for the 7th wicket in which Broad scored an useful 64. Milis and O'Brien picked 3 and 4 wickets respectively. England finished their 1st innings at 364.

New Zealand batting struggled like England at the beginning losing 6 wickets for 93, but like England, they were not able to bounce back. How top scored with 40. Taylor (21) and Hopkins (15) were the other two digit scorers.

Anderson was in song. The similar dismissal of Redmond and McCullum were master piece. He pitched up and middle stump and left the batsman. Both of them missed the line and the off stump uprooted. He picked all the 6 wickets that fell at the end of Day 2.

On Day 3, Sidebottom picked a wicket and Broad picket 2. Anderson added one more to his tally to finish his figures at 7 for 43 in his 21.3 overs which had 8 maidens.

Click here for 1st Test Results!

Click here for 2nd Test Results!

England forced the follow on with a lead of 241 runs. New Zealand, though did a better job than the first innings, but could not make up the last 9 runs deficit to make England bat again.

McCullum scored 71 and Oram was not out on 50. Flynn scored 49. But all these were not enough to avoid the innings defeat. Sidebottom picked 6 wickets in the 2nd innings, Anderson and Broad picked 2 each.

Anderson was declared man of match; Strauss and Vettori were decalred joint winners of Man of the Series.

Test: 3
Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham, England
Teams: England and New Zealand
Captains: Michael Vaughan and Daniel Vettori
Toss: New Zealand won the toss and decided to field
Match Result: England won by an innings and 9 runs
Series Result: 2-0 (England won the series; first test drawn)
Man of the Match: JM Anderson off England
Man of the Series: AJ Strauss of England and Daniel Vettori of New Zealand
Score:

England 1st Innings 364 all out in 126.5 overs (AJ Strauss 37, KP Pietersen 115, TR Ambrose 67, SCJ Broad 64, JM Anderson 28, KD Mills 3 for 76, IE O'Brien 4 for 74)

New Zealand 1st Innings 123 all out in 46.3 overs (JM How 40, JM Anderson 7 for 43, SCJ Broad 2 for 10)

Beat New Zealand 2nd Innings (follow on--trail by 241 runs) 232 all out in 72.3 overs (BB McCullum 71, DR Flynn 49, JDP Oram 50 not out, RJ Sidebottom 6 for 67, JM Anderson 2 for 55, SCJ Borad 2 for 77)

Click here for 1st Test Results!

Click here for 2nd Test Results!

South Africa won by an Innings and 90 Runs!

South Africa beat India in the 2nd test of the three match series by an innings and 90 runs. The match was completed in just less than 3 days of play. India meekly surrendered in the first innings for mere 76 and in the 2nd innings were all out for 328 runs.

In the South African 1st innings, de Villiers scored a beautiful double century and Kallis a wonderful 132 which gave South Afrian a very big lead.

It's also India's first innings defeat since the 2001 Colombo (SSC) Test against Sri Lanka.

de Villiers wasd declared man of the match for his unbeaten 217.

South Africa delcared their innings at the end of the second day, but they announced it in the morning at 494 for 7. The overnight rain should have given Smith a thought that it may rain in future and would have triggered the decison to declare.

Started the 2nd innings with a deficit of 418, either had to play out the 3 days with 270 overs or score 418 at least to make South African bat again. The chances of India recovering one more time like they did with Australia. But, that required few top guns to play a marathon innings like Dravid and Laxman.

How did we depend on Shewaga? He is not a consistent player in test cricket though he is a dashing player. But, does not play any sensible cricket and play according to the situation.

Shewag was the first to go, leg before wicket for 17 off Nitni. Dravid was trying to push the ball which was in the chest height went straight to slips off Morkel. He was out for 17.

It was crucial for Jaffer to prove his credibility, but not able to play an important innings. He had all the time in the world to play his innings, but trying to drive the ball pitched up to him, edged it to slips.

Though Laxman and Ganguly tried to build the innings with first 50 runs partnership in this test for India, Laxman played at the ball pitched away from the off stump, which edged to wicket keeper. The key batsman was out for 35.

It was left to Ganguly and Dhoni to bring back the pride to India, the last recognized pair of batsmen. Gaungly crossed his fifty, focussing every ball and had a tough time in the crease.

He crossed his 50 in 86 balls with 5 fours. He was declared caught behind though the decision was not a good one. The partnership between Dhoni and Ganguly was the first 100 run partership of the Indian innings. He was out for 87 off 149 balls with 8 fours.

Dhoni, who also scored fifty, which had no value in this innings because it did not help India save the game. He scored his 50 off 122 balls with 5 fours. I think he has some attitude issue in playing the test matches, especially in other's captaincy. His attitude during keeping the wickets, collecting balls from the fielders, the way he batted in Chennai, all leading to the doubt whether he is capable of playing test match cricket.

Pathan, as usual, an upcoming all rounder was alone in the crease fighting the losing battle. He was not out on 43 when the remaining batsman fell cheaply--Kumble bowled by Harris for 5, Harbhajan, once again leg before for Steyn, RP Singh caught at slips of Steyn and Sreesanth bowled by Nitni for 17. RP Singh was hit on the helmet by Steyn and the next ball went at shoulder level which he edged to slips.

Sreesanth hit a six of Steyn, stepping out and hitting a baseball shot over mid wicket, but that didn't have any value as far as saving the match is concerned.

For South Africa, Steyn and Nitni picked 3 wickets each, Morkel 2, Kallis and Harris one each.

During the post match presentation, Kumble said: "It was difficult to come back after getting bowled out for 76. They took the game away from us. We have been in this situation before. I thought the effort from our bowlers was 100%. We will bounce back."

Graeme Smith: "This was the perfect Test match for us. We dominated from the start. It was hard work for the bowlers today on a heavy outfield. It's been fantastic for AB and Kallis. The guys know we've got one more game to go. They've been focussed throughout the series."

de villiers is the Man of the Match: "I'm just over the moon. Having Kallis around was a good calming effect, especially when I was in the 90s. I enjoyed playing here, and the Ahmedabad fans have been great. Just the perfect Test for us."

Complete Score:

Match: 2nd Test, India v. South Africa
Venue: Ahmedabad (India)
Captains: Kumble (India), Smith (South Africa)
Toss: India and decided to bat
Result: South Africa won by an innings and 90 runs
Man of the Match: de Villiers

Score:
India 1st Innings 76 all out in 20 overs (Steyn 5 for 23, Nitni 3 for 18, Morkel 2 for 20)
South Africa 1st Innings 494 for 7 declared in 141.2 overs (Smith 34, McKenzie 42, Kallis 132, de Villiers 217 not out, Sreesanth 2 for 87, Harbhajan Singh 4 for 135)
India 2nd Innings 328 all out in 94.2 overs (VVS Laxman 35, Ganguly 87, Dhoni 52, Pathan 43 not out, Steyn 3 for 91, Nitni 3 for 44, Morkel 2 for 87)

England need 5 wickets to Win Series!

Resuming the Day 4 at 416 for 5 with a over all lead of 501, England delcared their 2nd innings at 467 with the target of 553 to win. Strauss was out on 177 and Ambrose was out for 31.

New Zealand were 222 for 5 at the end of Day 4 in the allotted 82 overs. They have to play the full quota of 90 overs or score 331 runs. Bell and Fleming were playing well and scored their half-century. They both added 99 runs for the 2nd wicket when the partnership was broken by Panesar. Soon Fleming followed him, out for 66 off Panesar. Broad picked 2 wickets and Panesar 3 wickets.

Short Score:

England 1st Innings: 253 all out in 96.1 overs (Pietersen 129, Collingwood 30, Broad 42, Martin 2 for 74, Southee 5 for 55, Patel 2 for 37)
New Zealand 1st Innings 168 all out in 48.4 overs (How 44, Fleming 59, Sidebottom 7 for 47, Broad 3 for 54)
England 2nd Innings 467 for 7 declared in 131.5 overs (Cook 37, Strauss 177, Pietersen 34, Bell 110, Ambrose 31, Broad 31 not out, Patel 2 for 104, Vettori 4 for 158)
New Zealand 2nd Innings (553 to win) 222 for 5 in 82 overs at the end of Day 4 (Bell 69, Fleming 66, Taylor 34 batting, Broad 2 for 40, Panesar 3 for 49)