England opt to bat again, trigger debate

SOUTHAMPTON: If the follow-on is no longer an option for modern-day captains, blame it on Sourav Ganguly's bravehearts in 2001.

Had the Indian team not turned the Test match on its head at Eden Gardens 13 years ago to beat Steve Waugh's Australia by 171 runs after being asked to follow on, more captains would have had the gall to enforce it instead of opting to bat again.

India's sensational victory was only the third time in the history of Test cricket when a side went on to win the game after being asked to follow-on.

Shell-shocked Australians didn't know what had hit them and the whole world had a laugh at their expense.

Yet, it is not the embarrassment of losing a match after enforcing the follow-on that prompts modern captains to shy away from asking teams to bat again after shooting them out cheaply the first time.

Sourav, who had overnight become the toast of the nation after that Eden victory, feels captains are guided by the workload on their bowlers.

"If follow-on is not being enforced in international cricket more often, it is because captains want to give their bowlers a rest before unleashing them on the opposition. One can hardly blame captains because most teams play with just four frontline bowlers and cannot risk one of them breaking down," said Sourav, who is one busy bee as he juggles his commentary stints on TV.

The former India captain feels the decision to enforce or not to enforce the follow-on should be entirely the captain's prerogative and felt that Alastair Cook and his bowlers may still have enough time to force a victory.

Another former India captain Kapil Dev, who had done at Headingley in 1990 what MS Dhoni could not do at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday - save the follow-on - was of the opinion that England would have been better off enforcing the follow-on.

"Three hours of rest for bowlers is no big deal. They should have enforced the follow-on and put India under pressure. One good partnership can help India save the match. And what if it rains for a while on the final day?" wondered Kapil, who had hammered Eddie Hemmings for four consecutive sixes to save the follow-on.

By not enforcing the follow-on on Wednesday, Cook simply gave in to his two principal pacers - James Anderson and Stuart Broad - who have shared the bulk of the workload as well as the wickets in the series.

Broad, in fact, had clearly hinted on Tuesday evening that England would prefer to bat a second time before pushing for victory.

"I haven't discussed with Cooky, but it's 100 per cent for us batting again," Broad had said.

"It takes exceptional circumstances now to enforce the follow-on," he added.

Clearly, the circumstances were not exceptional enough for Cook to push India a second time.

It remains to be seen whether his safety-first tactic hurts England or his bowlers justify his decision by leveling the series here.

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3rd Test: Eng beat India to level series

SOUTHAMPTON: Moeen Ali claimed six wickets as England beat India by 266 runs to win the third test on Thursday and level the series at 1-1 with two to play.

Spinner Moeen took six for 67 - the first five-wicket haul of his test career - as India were bowled out for 178 in their second innings.

England took the remaining six wickets they needed in the morning session on the final day to secure a first test win since they beat Australia at Durham in August of last year, ending a run of 10 matches without victory.

The fourth test starts at Old Trafford on Aug. 7.

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England opt to bat again, trigger debate

SOUTHAMPTON: If the follow-on is no longer an option for modern-day captains, blame it on Sourav Ganguly's bravehearts in 2001.

Had the Indian team not turned the Test match on its head at Eden Gardens 13 years ago to beat Steve Waugh's Australia by 171 runs after being asked to follow on, more captains would have had the gall to enforce it instead of opting to bat again.

India's sensational victory was only the third time in the history of Test cricket when a side went on to win the game after being asked to follow-on.

Shell-shocked Australians didn't know what had hit them and the whole world had a laugh at their expense.

Yet, it is not the embarrassment of losing a match after enforcing the follow-on that prompts modern captains to shy away from asking teams to bat again after shooting them out cheaply the first time.

Sourav, who had overnight become the toast of the nation after that Eden victory, feels captains are guided by the workload on their bowlers.

"If follow-on is not being enforced in international cricket more often, it is because captains want to give their bowlers a rest before unleashing them on the opposition. One can hardly blame captains because most teams play with just four frontline bowlers and cannot risk one of them breaking down," said Sourav, who is one busy bee as he juggles his commentary stints on TV.

The former India captain feels the decision to enforce or not to enforce the follow-on should be entirely the captain's prerogative and felt that Alastair Cook and his bowlers may still have enough time to force a victory.

Another former India captain Kapil Dev, who had done at Headingley in 1990 what MS Dhoni could not do at the Ageas Bowl on Wednesday - save the follow-on - was of the opinion that England would have been better off enforcing the follow-on.

"Three hours of rest for bowlers is no big deal. They should have enforced the follow-on and put India under pressure. One good partnership can help India save the match. And what if it rains for a while on the final day?" wondered Kapil, who had hammered Eddie Hemmings for four consecutive sixes to save the follow-on.

By not enforcing the follow-on on Wednesday, Cook simply gave in to his two principal pacers - James Anderson and Stuart Broad - who have shared the bulk of the workload as well as the wickets in the series.

Broad, in fact, had clearly hinted on Tuesday evening that England would prefer to bat a second time before pushing for victory.

"I haven't discussed with Cooky, but it's 100 per cent for us batting again," Broad had said.

"It takes exceptional circumstances now to enforce the follow-on," he added.

Clearly, the circumstances were not exceptional enough for Cook to push India a second time.

It remains to be seen whether his safety-first tactic hurts England or his bowlers justify his decision by leveling the series here.

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3rd Test: Eng beat India to level series

SOUTHAMPTON: Moeen Ali claimed six wickets as England beat India by 266 runs to win the third test on Thursday and level the series at 1-1 with two to play.

Spinner Moeen took six for 67 - the first five-wicket haul of his test career - as India were bowled out for 178 in their second innings.

England took the remaining six wickets they needed in the morning session on the final day to secure a first test win since they beat Australia at Durham in August of last year, ending a run of 10 matches without victory.

The fourth test starts at Old Trafford on Aug. 7.

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3rd Test: India crawl to 108/3 at lunch

SOUTHAMPTON: Stuart Broad took two wickets as England tightened their grip on the third Test against India at Southampton on Tuesday.

At lunch on the third day, India were 108 for three in reply to England's imposing 569 for seven declared, a deficit of 461 runs after Broad had dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara (24) and Murali Vijay (35).

Virat Kohli was 18 not out and Ajinkya Rahane 11 not out, with India needing a further 262 runs to avoid the follow-on.

England had seen Ian Bell (167) end a run of 20 innings without a Test hundred and Gary Ballance (156) make his Test-best score on Monday.

Meanwhile England debutant wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, who might have out for a duck and gave two other chances, rode his luck to complete a typically quickfire 85.

Things got even better for under-pressure England captain Alastair Cook, who had earlier ended a run of low scores with a morale-boosting 95, when he caught Shikhar Dhawan at first slip off James Anderson before Monday's close.

Following a minute's silence Tuesday to commemorate cricketers who were killed during the First World War, a hundred years on from the start of that conflict, India resumed on 25 for one.

Opener Vijay, averaging 90 in the series, was 11 not out and Pujara four not out.

England, 1-0 down in the series, and without a victory in their previous 10 Tests, knew they had to 'win' Tuesday's play if they were to have a realistic chance of drawing level in this match.

After the batsmen made a solid start against England, with bowlers appreciably quicker than those playing for India in the absence of the injured Ishant Sharma, the seven-wicket hero of the tourists' 95-run win in the second Test at Lord's, Broad made the breakthrough.

Pujara, trying to sway out of the way of a well-directed short ball, didn't withdraw his bat and gloves in time and gave Buttler a simple catch for his first Test dismissal.

Kohli, whose best score in four previous innings this series was only 25, drove Chris Jordan through the covers for four.

But Broad struck again when Vijay, trying to withdraw his bat, deflected the ball onto his stumps and was bowled.

Broad had taken two wickets for 10 runs in 22 balls and India, on a sunny day ideal for batting, were 88 for three.

England thought they had Rahane, who made a superb hundred at Lord's, caught by Buttler for eight off occasional off-spinner Moeen Ali.

It was an excellent legside take by Buttler and the Hot Spot replay confirmed a thin touch on the glove.

However, Australia umpire Rod Tucker ruled not out and with India objections meaning the Decision Review System is not being used this series, Rahane survived.

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Gary gives England team right balance

SOUTHAMPTON: For England, Gary Ballance could not have happened at a better time. With Jonathan Trott out of the frame with depressions, England needed an adequate replacement at number three.

The 24-year-old left-hander, who completed his third century in six Tests on Sunday, is proving to be just the right one.

England skipper Alastair Cook was pleased as a punch with the consistency of his young one-drop.

"It looks like he bats the same way in every innings. He just adjusts to the conditions and finds his way. He is very impressive and now that he has found his feet, he looks a mighty fine player," said Cook, while describing Ballance's innings on Sunday.

"It was a big decision when we asked him to bat at No. 3 because he bats at No. 5 at Yorkshire. But he is a really a good judge at leaving balls outside his off-stump," Cook added.

Ballance, who grew up on his father's tobacco farm, played at the junior level in Zimbabwe before moving to England on a school scholarship.

Nephew of former Zimbabwe captain Dave Houghton, Ballance joined Yorkshire after a two-year stint with Derbyshire. It was baptism by fire for Ballance on his Test debut against Australia in Sydney earlier this year.

To his credit the youngster did not flinch while facing up to Mitchell Johnson's chin music. He made only 18 but hung around for 91 minutes.

He was promoted to No 3 at Lord's last month against Sri Lanka and he responded with a fine hundred before making it two-on-two at the 'home of cricket' against India last week.

The sky is the limit for Ballance, who many say, has restored the equilibrium of the England side after Trott's untimely pull-out.

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Gary gives England team right balance

SOUTHAMPTON: For England, Gary Ballance could not have happened at a better time. With Jonathan Trott out of the frame with depressions, England needed an adequate replacement at number three.

The 24-year-old left-hander, who completed his third century in six Tests on Sunday, is proving to be just the right one.

England skipper Alastair Cook was pleased as a punch with the consistency of his young one-drop.

"It looks like he bats the same way in every innings. He just adjusts to the conditions and finds his way. He is very impressive and now that he has found his feet, he looks a mighty fine player," said Cook, while describing Ballance's innings on Sunday.

"It was a big decision when we asked him to bat at No. 3 because he bats at No. 5 at Yorkshire. But he is a really a good judge at leaving balls outside his off-stump," Cook added.

Ballance, who grew up on his father's tobacco farm, played at the junior level in Zimbabwe before moving to England on a school scholarship.

Nephew of former Zimbabwe captain Dave Houghton, Ballance joined Yorkshire after a two-year stint with Derbyshire. It was baptism by fire for Ballance on his Test debut against Australia in Sydney earlier this year.

To his credit the youngster did not flinch while facing up to Mitchell Johnson's chin music. He made only 18 but hung around for 91 minutes.

He was promoted to No 3 at Lord's last month against Sri Lanka and he responded with a fine hundred before making it two-on-two at the 'home of cricket' against India last week.

The sky is the limit for Ballance, who many say, has restored the equilibrium of the England side after Trott's untimely pull-out.

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3rd Test: India crawl to 108/3 at lunch

SOUTHAMPTON: Stuart Broad took two wickets as England tightened their grip on the third Test against India at Southampton on Tuesday.

At lunch on the third day, India were 108 for three in reply to England's imposing 569 for seven declared, a deficit of 461 runs after Broad had dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara (24) and Murali Vijay (35).

Virat Kohli was 18 not out and Ajinkya Rahane 11 not out, with India needing a further 262 runs to avoid the follow-on.

England had seen Ian Bell (167) end a run of 20 innings without a Test hundred and Gary Ballance (156) make his Test-best score on Monday.

Meanwhile England debutant wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, who might have out for a duck and gave two other chances, rode his luck to complete a typically quickfire 85.

Things got even better for under-pressure England captain Alastair Cook, who had earlier ended a run of low scores with a morale-boosting 95, when he caught Shikhar Dhawan at first slip off James Anderson before Monday's close.

Following a minute's silence Tuesday to commemorate cricketers who were killed during the First World War, a hundred years on from the start of that conflict, India resumed on 25 for one.

Opener Vijay, averaging 90 in the series, was 11 not out and Pujara four not out.

England, 1-0 down in the series, and without a victory in their previous 10 Tests, knew they had to 'win' Tuesday's play if they were to have a realistic chance of drawing level in this match.

After the batsmen made a solid start against England, with bowlers appreciably quicker than those playing for India in the absence of the injured Ishant Sharma, the seven-wicket hero of the tourists' 95-run win in the second Test at Lord's, Broad made the breakthrough.

Pujara, trying to sway out of the way of a well-directed short ball, didn't withdraw his bat and gloves in time and gave Buttler a simple catch for his first Test dismissal.

Kohli, whose best score in four previous innings this series was only 25, drove Chris Jordan through the covers for four.

But Broad struck again when Vijay, trying to withdraw his bat, deflected the ball onto his stumps and was bowled.

Broad had taken two wickets for 10 runs in 22 balls and India, on a sunny day ideal for batting, were 88 for three.

England thought they had Rahane, who made a superb hundred at Lord's, caught by Buttler for eight off occasional off-spinner Moeen Ali.

It was an excellent legside take by Buttler and the Hot Spot replay confirmed a thin touch on the glove.

However, Australia umpire Rod Tucker ruled not out and with India objections meaning the Decision Review System is not being used this series, Rahane survived.

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3rd Test: Eng 358/3 at lunch on Day 3

SOUTHAMPTON: Gary Ballance and Ian Bell piled on the runs to cement England's strong position in the second Test against India at Southampton on Monday.

At lunch, England were 358 for three with Ballance falling shortly before the break for a Test-best 156.

Together with Bell (68 not out), Ballance put on 142 for the third wicket.

Joe Root was two not out. England, 1-0 down in the five-match series, resumed on 247 for two, with Zimbabwe-born left-hander Ballance 104 not out -- his third hundred in six Tests.

Meanwhile Bell, who might have been lbw for a duck to a brilliant late-swinging delivery from debutant paceman Pankaj Singh, was 16 not out.

England's total also owed much to captain Alastair Cook's 95 that saw the left-handed opener end a run of low scores if not a sequence that now extends to 28 innings without a Test hundred.

India, without the injured Ishant Sharma -- the seven-wicket hero of their 95-run win in the second Test at Lord's -- had struggled for penetration after Cook won the toss on an even-paced pitch.

Singh, Sharma's replacement, had been unlucky not to take at least one wicket on Sunday, having Cook dropped by Ravindra Jadeja in the slips on 15.

The 6ft 6in seamer also beat Bell outside off stump early in Monday's play and then saw the batsman edge him through the slips for four.

However, Bell was far more convincing in cover-driving Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the boundary in typically classic style.

Ballance then surpassed his previous highest Test score of 110, made last time out at Lord's, with three fours in four Kumar balls, as a cut was followed by a leg glance and then a well-timed punch through midwicket.

That Bell, without a hundred in his 19 previous Test innings, was finding his best form was evident when he struck one of his signature shots by advancing down the pitch to drive left-arm spinner Jadeja for a straight six.

His single off Mohammed Shami then saw Bell to a 99-ball fifty. As the sun broke through the clouds, conditions were near-ideal for batting, with India's attack lacking physical threat on a pitch where there was only slow turn for their spin bowlers.

Ballance pulled Singh down to the fine leg boundary to get to 150 in 278 balls with 23 fours.

But soon afterwards the 24-year-old was given out caught behind off the gentle spin of Rohit Sharma, the recalled batsman taking his first Test wicket, to end a stay of more than six hours at the crease.

Australian umpire Rod Tucker's decision was understandable given the noise, but replays showed the ball had hit Ballance's back pad, not his bat, on its way through to India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

However, with no Decision Review System this series because of Indian objections, Tucker's verdict stood. He was 68 not out at the interval and will look to make his first test century since August 2013 against Australia in the second session.

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SA draw 2nd Test, win series vs SL

COLOMBO: South Africa pulled off a draw on the fifth and final day of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Monday to win the two-match series 1-0.

Chasing a target of 369, South Africa finished on 159-8 off 111 overs. South Africa had won the opening Test in Galle by 153 runs.

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SA draw 2nd Test, win series vs SL

COLOMBO: South Africa pulled off a draw on the fifth and final day of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Monday to win the two-match series 1-0.

Chasing a target of 369, South Africa finished on 159-8 off 111 overs. South Africa had won the opening Test in Galle by 153 runs.

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S Africa draw 2nd Test against Lanka

COLOMBO: South Africa pulled off a draw on the fifth and final day of the second Test against Sri Lanka on Monday to win the two-match series 1-0.

Chasing a target of 369, South Africa finished on 159-8 off 111 overs. South Africa had won the opening Test in Galle by 153 runs.

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3rd Test: Eng opt to bat against India

SOUTHAMPTON: England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and opted to bat in the third cricket Test against India on Sunday.

India have brought in debutant Pankaj Singh after pacer Ishant Sharma was ruled out due to injury. Besides, batsman Rohit Sharma has been drafted in to replace all-rounder Stuart Binny.

England have made three changes, bringing in Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan and Jos Buttler.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wk), M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Panjak Singh, Mohammed Shami.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Sam Robson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, James Anderson.

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3rd Test: Eng opt to bat against India

SOUTHAMPTON: England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and opted to bat in the third cricket Test against India on Sunday.

India have brought in debutant Pankaj Singh after pacer Ishant Sharma was ruled out due to injury. Besides, batsman Rohit Sharma has been drafted in to replace all-rounder Stuart Binny.

England have made three changes, bringing in Chris Woakes, Chris Jordan and Jos Buttler.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wk), M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Panjak Singh, Mohammed Shami.

England: Alastair Cook (capt), Sam Robson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, James Anderson.

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3rd Test: England reach 78/1 at lunch

SOUTHAMPTON: England captain Alastair Cook was dropped by Ravindra Jadeja on 15 before reaching lunch unbeaten on 48, with England 78-1 at the interval on day one of the third test against India at the Rose Bowl on Sunday.

Cook edged debutant Prankaj Singh to Jadeja at third slip, with the ball at knee height. Jadeja should have taken the catch easily, but spilled the ball as he hit the ground.

But Jadeja did not repeat his error when Sam Robson (26) outside edged Mohammed Shami towards him for India's breakthrough.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Cook nicked the first ball of the day from Bhuvneshwar Kumar toward the slips, but it did not carry.

Gary Ballance (4) is at the crease with Cook.

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3rd Test: England reach 78/1 at lunch

SOUTHAMPTON: England captain Alastair Cook was dropped by Ravindra Jadeja on 15 before reaching lunch unbeaten on 48, with England 78-1 at the interval on day one of the third test against India at the Rose Bowl on Sunday.

Cook edged debutant Prankaj Singh to Jadeja at third slip, with the ball at knee height. Jadeja should have taken the catch easily, but spilled the ball as he hit the ground.

But Jadeja did not repeat his error when Sam Robson (26) outside edged Mohammed Shami towards him for India's breakthrough.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Cook nicked the first ball of the day from Bhuvneshwar Kumar toward the slips, but it did not carry.

Gary Ballance (4) is at the crease with Cook.

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Great expectations from Cook, Dhoni

SOUTHAMPTON: When celebrated Victorian author Charles Dickens, who was born in nearby Portsmouth, wrote his 1861 classic Great Expectations, he certainly didn't have English cricket in mind. Yet, the landmark novel, in which Dickens explored the relationship between society and man through the personal growth and development of Pip, an orphan, bears an uncanny resemblance to the current state of English cricket, which seems a little lost at the crossroads of change.

Skipper Alastair Cook, who enjoys the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) full backing, is no orphan but, at 29, finds himself as the father figure in an England side clearly in transition. Under normal circumstances Cook might even have relished the additional responsibility of shepherding the lambs, but with the shepherd himself looking a trifle lost, expecting great things from England in the third Test at the Ageas Bowl would be somewhat presumptuous.

Yet, England must find a way to stop India from making further inroads into a series that is poised precariously. Cook, hanging on to his job by a proverbial thread, knows it will be the end of the road for him if England lose. Unlike Cook, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has fewer issues to tackle before the "Battle of the Bowl" gets under way on Sunday. Compared to Cook, Dhoni has a more settled side. His young brigade may be relatively inexperienced in terms of not having previously played in English conditions, but with most of them having played plenty of limited-overs cricket, they are familiar with the dressing room environment and well aware of what the team management wants.

Dhoni is a simple soul who shuns complexities when it comes to life and cricket. His simple solution to plugging the gap on the leg side behind square by standing behind to Ravindra Jadeja at Lord's left many pundits befuddled. The jury's still out on whether it would have actually worked, but for someone who has supreme belief in his own ability, Dhoni may not be averse to trying it again. England's only change will be young Jos Buttler, who steps into the shoes of Matt Prior.

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BCCI to appeal Ravindra Jadeja fine

SOUTHAMPTON: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is peeved with match referee David Boon's decision to fine Ravindra Jadeja 50% of his match fee after finding him guilty of committing a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel on Friday.

Boon, who was the match referee in the first Test at Trent Bridge, penalized Jadeja for his involvement in an incident with England's James Anderson on the second day (July 10) of the Test.

"The BCCI wishes to make it clear that it is not satisfied with the verdict. The BCCI reserves its right to appeal against the sentence. The BCCI believes that Mr Ravindra Jadeja was not at fault, and supports him fully," a statement issued by board secretary Sanjay Patel said.

According to ICC regulations, all first-time Level 1 offences are non-appealable. However, as it is the second time in 12 months that Jadeja has been found guilty, the BCCI can appeal. The BCCI has 48 hours — from the time it gets a written copy of Boon's verdict — to file its appeal.

For the record, Jadeja had been fined 10% of his match fee for abusing Shane Watson in the final ODI against Australia in Bangalore on November 2 last year.

Interestingly, Boon found Jadeja not guilty of the offence which he was originally charged with, but found him guilty under Article 2.1.8, that relates to 'conduct contrary to the spirit of the game'. "While I was in no doubt that confrontation did occur, and that such conduct was not in the spirit of the game and should not have taken place, I was not comfortably satisfied that this was a Level 2 offence," Boon said in a statement.

"Therefore, in exercising my discretion under article 7.6.5 of the code and having heard all the evidence, I was comfortably satisfied that Mr Jadeja had committed a Level 1 offence under article 2.1.8 of the code."

All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee. Boon held a hearing in Southampton on Thursday evening which was attended by both Jadeja and Anderson, their legal counsels, witnesses as well as BCCI's MV Sridhar, Phil Neale and Paul Downton of the ECB, and the ICC's Ethics & Regulatory Lawyer.

The hearing lasted nearly 150 minutes before Boon and included oral statements by the players, video footage and cross-examination of the witnesses by Kendrah Potts, counsel representing the ECB, and Jonathan Ellis, who represented Jadeja.

Meanwhile, Anderson's hearing will be held on August 1.

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BCCI to appeal Ravindra Jadeja fine

SOUTHAMPTON: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is peeved with match referee David Boon's decision to fine Ravindra Jadeja 50% of his match fee after finding him guilty of committing a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel on Friday.

Boon, who was the match referee in the first Test at Trent Bridge, penalized Jadeja for his involvement in an incident with England's James Anderson on the second day (July 10) of the Test.

"The BCCI wishes to make it clear that it is not satisfied with the verdict. The BCCI reserves its right to appeal against the sentence. The BCCI believes that Mr Ravindra Jadeja was not at fault, and supports him fully," a statement issued by board secretary Sanjay Patel said.

According to ICC regulations, all first-time Level 1 offences are non-appealable. However, as it is the second time in 12 months that Jadeja has been found guilty, the BCCI can appeal. The BCCI has 48 hours — from the time it gets a written copy of Boon's verdict — to file its appeal.

For the record, Jadeja had been fined 10% of his match fee for abusing Shane Watson in the final ODI against Australia in Bangalore on November 2 last year.

Interestingly, Boon found Jadeja not guilty of the offence which he was originally charged with, but found him guilty under Article 2.1.8, that relates to 'conduct contrary to the spirit of the game'. "While I was in no doubt that confrontation did occur, and that such conduct was not in the spirit of the game and should not have taken place, I was not comfortably satisfied that this was a Level 2 offence," Boon said in a statement.

"Therefore, in exercising my discretion under article 7.6.5 of the code and having heard all the evidence, I was comfortably satisfied that Mr Jadeja had committed a Level 1 offence under article 2.1.8 of the code."

All Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50 per cent of a player's match fee. Boon held a hearing in Southampton on Thursday evening which was attended by both Jadeja and Anderson, their legal counsels, witnesses as well as BCCI's MV Sridhar, Phil Neale and Paul Downton of the ECB, and the ICC's Ethics & Regulatory Lawyer.

The hearing lasted nearly 150 minutes before Boon and included oral statements by the players, video footage and cross-examination of the witnesses by Kendrah Potts, counsel representing the ECB, and Jonathan Ellis, who represented Jadeja.

Meanwhile, Anderson's hearing will be held on August 1.

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Great expectations from Cook, Dhoni

SOUTHAMPTON: When celebrated Victorian author Charles Dickens, who was born in nearby Portsmouth, wrote his 1861 classic Great Expectations, he certainly didn't have English cricket in mind. Yet, the landmark novel, in which Dickens explored the relationship between society and man through the personal growth and development of Pip, an orphan, bears an uncanny resemblance to the current state of English cricket, which seems a little lost at the crossroads of change.

Skipper Alastair Cook, who enjoys the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) full backing, is no orphan but, at 29, finds himself as the father figure in an England side clearly in transition. Under normal circumstances Cook might even have relished the additional responsibility of shepherding the lambs, but with the shepherd himself looking a trifle lost, expecting great things from England in the third Test at the Ageas Bowl would be somewhat presumptuous.

Yet, England must find a way to stop India from making further inroads into a series that is poised precariously. Cook, hanging on to his job by a proverbial thread, knows it will be the end of the road for him if England lose. Unlike Cook, Mahendra Singh Dhoni has fewer issues to tackle before the "Battle of the Bowl" gets under way on Sunday. Compared to Cook, Dhoni has a more settled side. His young brigade may be relatively inexperienced in terms of not having previously played in English conditions, but with most of them having played plenty of limited-overs cricket, they are familiar with the dressing room environment and well aware of what the team management wants.

Dhoni is a simple soul who shuns complexities when it comes to life and cricket. His simple solution to plugging the gap on the leg side behind square by standing behind to Ravindra Jadeja at Lord's left many pundits befuddled. The jury's still out on whether it would have actually worked, but for someone who has supreme belief in his own ability, Dhoni may not be averse to trying it again. England's only change will be young Jos Buttler, who steps into the shoes of Matt Prior.

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Jadeja fined, but not found guilty

SOUTHAMPTON: Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been let off with just a 50 per cent match-fee fine after referee David Boon found the player not guilty of the original level 2 offence, which involved his on-field incident with England pacer James Anderson.

The incident occurred during the lunch break of the second day's play at Nottingham during which, Indians claim that Anderson had allegedly "abused" and "pushed" Jadeja as the players were making their way into the dressing rooms.

The England team management, which had initially described it as a "minor" incident, later filed a countercharge against Jadeja.

Boon held a hearing in Southampton on Thursday evening, which was attended by both the players, their legal counsels, witnesses as well as BCCI's MV Sridhar, Phil Neale and Paul Downton of the ECB, and the ICC's Ethics & Regulatory Lawyer.

In the meeting that lasted for over two hours, former Australia batsman Boon said that the charges on Jadeja only found him guilty to 'conduct contrary to the spirit of the game'.

Commenting on his decision, Mr Boon said: "Under Article 6.1 of the Code, I had to be comfortably satisfied that the offence had occurred in order to find Jadeja guilty of an offence under Article 2.2.11.

"While I was in no doubt that confrontation did occur, and that such conduct was not in the spirit of the game and should not have taken place, I was not comfortably satisfied that this was a level 2 offence. Therefore, in exercising my discretion under Article 7.6.5 of the Code and having heard all the evidence, I was comfortably satisfied that Jadeja had committed a level 1 offence under Article 2.1.8 of the Code."

The hearing for Anderson, who has been charged with a level 3 offence, has been fixed on August 1.

The ICC-appointed Judicial Commissioner Gordon Lewis will be required to announce his decision within 48 hours after the detailed hearing August 1.

Though decks have been cleared for Anderson's participation at Rose Bowl but he might miss the fourth and fifth match starting August 7 if the investigation finds him guilty of pushing and abusing Jadeja as alleged by the Indians.

Charged with a level 3 offence, Anderson faces a ban of upto two Tests and eight ODIs if found guilty.

All Level 3 breaches carry a penalty of between four and eight Suspension Points while Level 2 offences carry a fine of between 50-100 per cent of applicable Match Fee and/or up to two Suspension Points.

Two suspension points equates to a ban of one Test, or two ODIs, depending on which type of match is scheduled next for the suspended player.

The visitors lead the five-match series 1-0 with Hampshire playing host to the third match from Sunday.

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2nd Test: Amla leads SA fightback

COLOMBO: Hashim Amla faced a stern test of character in his first series as captain after South Africa lost three key wickets against a determined Sri Lankan bowling attack in the second Test Friday.

Amla, 31, dug in with a painstaking 46 off 134 balls as South Africa trailed the hosts by 323 runs with seven wickets in hand on the second day of the Test at the SSC ground in Colombo.

At stumps, South Africa were 98-3 with AB de Villiers (11) being the other not out batsman at the crease.

Amla is leading the South African team for the first time in this two-Test series after being named captain last month following the retirement of Graeme Smith.

With the wicket showing signs of deteriorating, Amla and his men now face an uphill task to put up a fighting total on the board.

Sri Lanka posted 421 in their first innings, thanks to a solid 165-run knock by Mahela Jayawardene and a defiant 72 by Test debutant Niroshan Dickwella.

South Africa were off to a shaky start in their first innings, losing their openers inside the first nine overs before seamer Suranga Lakmal sent back Faf du Plessis for a fighting 36.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath gave the side an early breakthrough when he caught opener Alviro Petersen off his own bowling in the second over for two.

Dean Elgar (one) followed suit, inside-edging off-spinner Dilruwan Perera to short leg where Kaushal Silva dived forward to take a sharp catch.

Amla and du Plessis tried to rebuild the innings with some patient batting but Lakmal broke their 58-run stand half an hour before close.

Du Plessis tried to swing a widish delivery from Lakmal but edged it to Dickwella who dived to his left to take a one-handed catch just inches off the ground.

South Africa wrapped up the Sri Lankan innings in the second session, starting with the dismissal of Perera who lobbed a simple catch to Amla off leg-spinner Imran Tahir (1-121).

Sri Lanka lost their second wicket to a run-out dismissal when Dickwella failed to make his ground while taking a cheeky single. Dickwella hit one six and eight fours in his 116-ball 72.

Vernon Philander then had Ajantha Mendis and Lakmal caught behind in successive overs to bring an end to the Sri Lankan first innings.

The first session belonged to Jayawardene and Dickwella who shared a rollicking 100-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Jayawardene, due to quit Test cricket next month, hit 17 fours and a six during his nearly eight-hour stay at the wicket before being run out by a direct hit from Petersen about 30 minutes from lunch.

It was Dickwella who dominated the bowlers initially when Sri Lanka resumed at their overnight 305-5, driving and cutting South African fast bowlers for fours to belie his status as a Test debutant.

Jayawardene too picked up the pace, reaching the 150-run mark with a single to long leg off Dale Steyn.

The South African quicks struggled to make the new ball count in the crucial first hour, regularly pitching in loose balls that were promptly dispatched to the fence.

Morne Morkel's short balls were hit for two fours on the trot by Dickwella, the batsman arching back slightly and ramping the second one high over the slip cordon.

The attritional first hour saw Morkel lose his cool and push away Dickwella as he was trying to take a run but the bowler apologised immediately.

Unruffled, Dickwella went on to complete his debut Test fifty with three runs off a full toss from Morkel that he nudged it to the mid-on region.

South Africa lead the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the first match in Galle by 153 runs.

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Jadeja fined, but not found guilty

SOUTHAMPTON: Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been let off with just a 50 per cent match-fee fine after referee David Boon found the player not guilty of the original level 2 offence, which involved his on-field incident with England pacer James Anderson.

The incident occurred during the lunch break of the second day's play at Nottingham during which, Indians claim that Anderson had allegedly "abused" and "pushed" Jadeja as the players were making their way into the dressing rooms.

The England team management, which had initially described it as a "minor" incident, later filed a countercharge against Jadeja.

Boon held a hearing in Southampton on Thursday evening, which was attended by both the players, their legal counsels, witnesses as well as BCCI's MV Sridhar, Phil Neale and Paul Downton of the ECB, and the ICC's Ethics & Regulatory Lawyer.

In the meeting that lasted for over two hours, former Australia batsman Boon said that the charges on Jadeja only found him guilty to 'conduct contrary to the spirit of the game'.

Commenting on his decision, Mr Boon said: "Under Article 6.1 of the Code, I had to be comfortably satisfied that the offence had occurred in order to find Jadeja guilty of an offence under Article 2.2.11.

"While I was in no doubt that confrontation did occur, and that such conduct was not in the spirit of the game and should not have taken place, I was not comfortably satisfied that this was a level 2 offence. Therefore, in exercising my discretion under Article 7.6.5 of the Code and having heard all the evidence, I was comfortably satisfied that Jadeja had committed a level 1 offence under Article 2.1.8 of the Code."

The hearing for Anderson, who has been charged with a level 3 offence, has been fixed on August 1.

The ICC-appointed Judicial Commissioner Gordon Lewis will be required to announce his decision within 48 hours after the detailed hearing August 1.

Though decks have been cleared for Anderson's participation at Rose Bowl but he might miss the fourth and fifth match starting August 7 if the investigation finds him guilty of pushing and abusing Jadeja as alleged by the Indians.

Charged with a level 3 offence, Anderson faces a ban of upto two Tests and eight ODIs if found guilty.

All Level 3 breaches carry a penalty of between four and eight Suspension Points while Level 2 offences carry a fine of between 50-100 per cent of applicable Match Fee and/or up to two Suspension Points.

Two suspension points equates to a ban of one Test, or two ODIs, depending on which type of match is scheduled next for the suspended player.

The visitors lead the five-match series 1-0 with Hampshire playing host to the third match from Sunday.

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2nd Test: Amla leads SA fightback

COLOMBO: Hashim Amla faced a stern test of character in his first series as captain after South Africa lost three key wickets against a determined Sri Lankan bowling attack in the second Test Friday.

Amla, 31, dug in with a painstaking 46 off 134 balls as South Africa trailed the hosts by 323 runs with seven wickets in hand on the second day of the Test at the SSC ground in Colombo.

At stumps, South Africa were 98-3 with AB de Villiers (11) being the other not out batsman at the crease.

Amla is leading the South African team for the first time in this two-Test series after being named captain last month following the retirement of Graeme Smith.

With the wicket showing signs of deteriorating, Amla and his men now face an uphill task to put up a fighting total on the board.

Sri Lanka posted 421 in their first innings, thanks to a solid 165-run knock by Mahela Jayawardene and a defiant 72 by Test debutant Niroshan Dickwella.

South Africa were off to a shaky start in their first innings, losing their openers inside the first nine overs before seamer Suranga Lakmal sent back Faf du Plessis for a fighting 36.

Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath gave the side an early breakthrough when he caught opener Alviro Petersen off his own bowling in the second over for two.

Dean Elgar (one) followed suit, inside-edging off-spinner Dilruwan Perera to short leg where Kaushal Silva dived forward to take a sharp catch.

Amla and du Plessis tried to rebuild the innings with some patient batting but Lakmal broke their 58-run stand half an hour before close.

Du Plessis tried to swing a widish delivery from Lakmal but edged it to Dickwella who dived to his left to take a one-handed catch just inches off the ground.

South Africa wrapped up the Sri Lankan innings in the second session, starting with the dismissal of Perera who lobbed a simple catch to Amla off leg-spinner Imran Tahir (1-121).

Sri Lanka lost their second wicket to a run-out dismissal when Dickwella failed to make his ground while taking a cheeky single. Dickwella hit one six and eight fours in his 116-ball 72.

Vernon Philander then had Ajantha Mendis and Lakmal caught behind in successive overs to bring an end to the Sri Lankan first innings.

The first session belonged to Jayawardene and Dickwella who shared a rollicking 100-run stand for the sixth wicket.

Jayawardene, due to quit Test cricket next month, hit 17 fours and a six during his nearly eight-hour stay at the wicket before being run out by a direct hit from Petersen about 30 minutes from lunch.

It was Dickwella who dominated the bowlers initially when Sri Lanka resumed at their overnight 305-5, driving and cutting South African fast bowlers for fours to belie his status as a Test debutant.

Jayawardene too picked up the pace, reaching the 150-run mark with a single to long leg off Dale Steyn.

The South African quicks struggled to make the new ball count in the crucial first hour, regularly pitching in loose balls that were promptly dispatched to the fence.

Morne Morkel's short balls were hit for two fours on the trot by Dickwella, the batsman arching back slightly and ramping the second one high over the slip cordon.

The attritional first hour saw Morkel lose his cool and push away Dickwella as he was trying to take a run but the bowler apologised immediately.

Unruffled, Dickwella went on to complete his debut Test fifty with three runs off a full toss from Morkel that he nudged it to the mid-on region.

South Africa lead the two-Test series 1-0 after winning the first match in Galle by 153 runs.

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'Career really took off after Perth ton'

MUMBAI: Once again terming it his best Test ton, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar today said his career took flight following the knock of 114 on a bouncy WACA track in 1992, adding that the innings against a hostile Australian attack in Perth gave him immense confidence.

"One innings that changed my career or gave shape to my career was in Perth, 1992. Perth, at least at that time, was regarded to be the fastest wicket and the hostility of the Australian fast bowlers was something which was difficult to handle. I was able to score a 100 and I was only 19," he said during an interaction with school children here.

"And just two matches before that, I had scored a hundred in Sydney but they were two different kinds of surfaces. I knew that Perth was the kind of wicket which I would not get to play anywhere in the world and If I can bat on Perth and score runs then I am possibly equipped to go on any other track which is fast and bouncy and score runs there.

"My career was just starting. I had done well for a couple of years by then but it really took off after that Perth innings because I felt I was ready to take on the world. By no means I was over confident but I became a confident cricketer where any challenge put up against me, I was equipped to face that," he added.

The retired great interacted with Ryan International school children at north western Malad during the launch of 'Kaspersky Kids Awareness Programme'.

His response came when he was asked by a student to rate his best Test century out of the 51 tons he had scored in his 24-year international career in which he also notched up 49 ODI hundreds to make it a round 100 centuries.

Tendulkar hung up his boots last November after a glittering career that saw him amass 15,921 runs in Tests, at an average of 53.78, and 18426 runs in 463 ODIs at an average of 44.83.

The batting maestro said though his father was not interested in cricket he supported Tendulkar when it came to choosing his career, and he would do the same for his children.

"In my case my father didn't decide that I should play cricket. He gave me the freedom to express myself. Above all he found out what I was interested in and of course it was with the help of my brother.

"My father was not interested in cricket at all but it was my brother's initiative. My brother said we need to make him join a summer camp and partially also because I was a very naughty kid. That is how my career started," he said.

"I want the same thing to happen to my children. My son (Arjun) enjoys cricket. Earlier he enjoyed playing football and then it was chess. Now it is cricket.

"So whatever he wants to be in life, all I have asked him is to be sincere and honest. I have told him that I will support you and guide you in whatever you want to be in life.

"So is the case with my daughter (Sara). She wants to follow her mother's footsteps. She wants to become a doctor or go the medical side and she has full backing. So it is their choice," he added.

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'Career really took off after Perth ton'

MUMBAI: Once again terming it his best Test ton, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar today said his career took flight following the knock of 114 on a bouncy WACA track in 1992, adding that the innings against a hostile Australian attack in Perth gave him immense confidence.

"One innings that changed my career or gave shape to my career was in Perth, 1992. Perth, at least at that time, was regarded to be the fastest wicket and the hostility of the Australian fast bowlers was something which was difficult to handle. I was able to score a 100 and I was only 19," he said during an interaction with school children here.

"And just two matches before that, I had scored a hundred in Sydney but they were two different kinds of surfaces. I knew that Perth was the kind of wicket which I would not get to play anywhere in the world and If I can bat on Perth and score runs then I am possibly equipped to go on any other track which is fast and bouncy and score runs there.

"My career was just starting. I had done well for a couple of years by then but it really took off after that Perth innings because I felt I was ready to take on the world. By no means I was over confident but I became a confident cricketer where any challenge put up against me, I was equipped to face that," he added.

The retired great interacted with Ryan International school children at north western Malad during the launch of 'Kaspersky Kids Awareness Programme'.

His response came when he was asked by a student to rate his best Test century out of the 51 tons he had scored in his 24-year international career in which he also notched up 49 ODI hundreds to make it a round 100 centuries.

Tendulkar hung up his boots last November after a glittering career that saw him amass 15,921 runs in Tests, at an average of 53.78, and 18426 runs in 463 ODIs at an average of 44.83.

The batting maestro said though his father was not interested in cricket he supported Tendulkar when it came to choosing his career, and he would do the same for his children.

"In my case my father didn't decide that I should play cricket. He gave me the freedom to express myself. Above all he found out what I was interested in and of course it was with the help of my brother.

"My father was not interested in cricket at all but it was my brother's initiative. My brother said we need to make him join a summer camp and partially also because I was a very naughty kid. That is how my career started," he said.

"I want the same thing to happen to my children. My son (Arjun) enjoys cricket. Earlier he enjoyed playing football and then it was chess. Now it is cricket.

"So whatever he wants to be in life, all I have asked him is to be sincere and honest. I have told him that I will support you and guide you in whatever you want to be in life.

"So is the case with my daughter (Sara). She wants to follow her mother's footsteps. She wants to become a doctor or go the medical side and she has full backing. So it is their choice," he added.

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Teamwork gives India a headstart

SOUTHAMPTON: With the Indian players savouring their splendid 95-run win over England at Lord's, the mood was upbeat when the cricket caravan rolled into sunny Southampton on Wednesday. Having let their hair down after a gripping Test match, MS Dhoni and his boys will look to hit the nets at the Ageas Bowl here on Thursday to launch their preparations for the third Test that begins on Sunday.

The most pleasing aspect of India's strong performance in the two Tests so far is that just about every player has contributed to the team's cause. India have clearly fared better in what has been a war of attrition and richly deserve the 1-0 lead in the five-Test series, but only because they have gelled better as team than England. The hosts have not been able to put sustained pressure on their rivals and also failed to come up with the right answers when India asked them tough questions at Lord's.

Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma have all come up with sterling performances, while the likes of Dhoni, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja have done their bit to help India keep their nose ahead in what promises to be a keenly-fought series.

It is a pity that the adjudicators — a clutch of former players-turned-commentators — overlooked Bhuvneshwar Kumar twice for the Man-of-the-Match award. The unassuming lad from Meerut was a shoo in for the honour at Trent Bridge where it was handed over to James Anderson for his batting ability rather than his showing with the ball on a "poor" pitch. And many felt that Rahane was unlucky to have been overlooked at Lord's, where Ishant was a popular choice.

Then there is Murali Vijay, who, unlike Shikhar Dhawan, has compelled attention with his uncanny ability to leave deliveries alone outside his off-stump. The key to batting in England is knowing where your off-stump is and Vijay's metamorphosis from a flamboyant strokeplayer to an unflappable opener has indeed been remarkable.

The grit and gumption shown by Vijay and Pujara in the first session at Lord's on a green, moisture-laden pitch deserved a special award from the Indian team management. But for their spirited resistance up the order, Rahane's brave counter-attack later in the day and Bhuvi's all-round show, India would not have been able to call the shots on the second and third days.

And with Jadeja and Ishant coming good with bat and ball respectively in the second innings, Dhoni will have fewer worries going into the third Test. The skipper feels it has been possible because the players are in the comfort zone mentally. "What's important is to see is how they are preparing and what their mental approach is," Dhoni had said after the Lord's win. "The idea is not to talk too much about technique. Technique is important, but mental approach is more important. We have taken them to a position where they feel very comfortable within the team. They feel they are wanted and have the backing of the entire team."

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Teamwork gives India a headstart

SOUTHAMPTON: With the Indian players savouring their splendid 95-run win over England at Lord's, the mood was upbeat when the cricket caravan rolled into sunny Southampton on Wednesday. Having let their hair down after a gripping Test match, MS Dhoni and his boys will look to hit the nets at the Ageas Bowl here on Thursday to launch their preparations for the third Test that begins on Sunday.

The most pleasing aspect of India's strong performance in the two Tests so far is that just about every player has contributed to the team's cause. India have clearly fared better in what has been a war of attrition and richly deserve the 1-0 lead in the five-Test series, but only because they have gelled better as team than England. The hosts have not been able to put sustained pressure on their rivals and also failed to come up with the right answers when India asked them tough questions at Lord's.

Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ishant Sharma have all come up with sterling performances, while the likes of Dhoni, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja have done their bit to help India keep their nose ahead in what promises to be a keenly-fought series.

It is a pity that the adjudicators — a clutch of former players-turned-commentators — overlooked Bhuvneshwar Kumar twice for the Man-of-the-Match award. The unassuming lad from Meerut was a shoo in for the honour at Trent Bridge where it was handed over to James Anderson for his batting ability rather than his showing with the ball on a "poor" pitch. And many felt that Rahane was unlucky to have been overlooked at Lord's, where Ishant was a popular choice.

Then there is Murali Vijay, who, unlike Shikhar Dhawan, has compelled attention with his uncanny ability to leave deliveries alone outside his off-stump. The key to batting in England is knowing where your off-stump is and Vijay's metamorphosis from a flamboyant strokeplayer to an unflappable opener has indeed been remarkable.

The grit and gumption shown by Vijay and Pujara in the first session at Lord's on a green, moisture-laden pitch deserved a special award from the Indian team management. But for their spirited resistance up the order, Rahane's brave counter-attack later in the day and Bhuvi's all-round show, India would not have been able to call the shots on the second and third days.

And with Jadeja and Ishant coming good with bat and ball respectively in the second innings, Dhoni will have fewer worries going into the third Test. The skipper feels it has been possible because the players are in the comfort zone mentally. "What's important is to see is how they are preparing and what their mental approach is," Dhoni had said after the Lord's win. "The idea is not to talk too much about technique. Technique is important, but mental approach is more important. We have taken them to a position where they feel very comfortable within the team. They feel they are wanted and have the backing of the entire team."

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Ashwin should be part of playing XI: Bedi

NEW DELHI: Impressed by India's brilliant showing at Lord's, spin legend Bishen Singh Bedi feels the only trick the team has missed so far in England is not playing Ravichandran Ashwin.

"Ideally, Ashwin should have played in the both the games. Again it's not Stuart Binny's fault that he's been thrust there. He has no utility when he doesn't even get an over in the second innings," Bedi said.

"It's not about a winning combination, it's about getting your act together. You don't pick Ashwin and get Murali (Vijay) to bowl off-spinners, it doesn't make sense. Both teams missed out on this front. Of course, England missed out more and India capitalised on it," said the former left-arm spinner.

Bedi said England are looking "helplessly hopeless" and playing below par cricket but that cannot take anything away from India's brilliant showing at Lord's.

"Let's not take anything away from India. They played brilliantly. And don't forget they lost the toss also. England played much below par. They look pretty directionless. They look helplessly hopeless," Bedi said.

If England veterans like Cook, Ian Bell and Stuart Bell were left struggling then Indian youngsters rose to the occasion, he noted.

Bedi said while Indian players are peaking at the right time the English cricketers have had their time.

"When you touch the peak then there is nothing beyond that. You can stay at the top if you are willing but if not then there is no other way than the way down. What goes up must come down. So the England veterans like Cook, Broad, Andersen, Bell, Prior have all past their peak." he said.

"But in the case of Indians -- Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar -- their peak is ahead of them. They haven't peaked yet, they are on their way up. It is a cycle and Indians have stayed low for quite sometime. So they can only go up from here," the spin legend said.

Reacting strongly to the interpretation of the term all-rounder, Bedi was quick to clarify that he does not consider Ravindra Jadeja or Stuart Binny as genuine all-rounders.

"They are not the answer to an all-rounder. Even Bhuvneshwar Kumar can score runs. Let's not confuse this term called an all-rounder. The one who can find his way into the side purely for his batting and purely for his bowling is a true all-rounder. Same for Ashwin or Jadeja or Binny or Kumar," he said.

"Ray Lindwall scored 2 Test hundreds against England but nobody called him an all-rounder. He was a bowler. Gary Sobers, Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee, Ian Botham they were genuine all-rounders. Let's not insult the term all-rounder," said Bedi.

Bedi also came down heavily on England captain Cook saying that it is time for the veteran opener to start thinking as a leader.

"We have seen it against Australia, against Sri Lanka and we have seen it here. He is pretty much bereft of cricketing ideas. He definitely is a good enough player to be in the XI. You make 8,000 plus for nothing or play 100 odd Tests.

"He is still not 30 and still a lot of cricket is left in him I guess. In his case, he has a few technical hassles. Miseries don't come alone. In his case, they are really coming in abundance," opined Bedi.

On being asked about the quality of Moeen Ali's off spin, Bedi chuckled and said that the world is devoid of quality spinners with a legitimate action.

"The game is devoid of a single genuine spinner. There is no spinner in the world who has a legitimate action. There is not a single spinner on the horizon and it's all because of the stupid limited-overs game.

"The spinners mentality has been destroyed by the T20s and ODIs. They more concerned about dot balls and not thinking about taking wickets and that is destroying their psyche," he signed off.

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Ashwin should be part of playing XI: Bedi

NEW DELHI: Impressed by India's brilliant showing at Lord's, spin legend Bishen Singh Bedi feels the only trick the team has missed so far in England is not playing Ravichandran Ashwin.

"Ideally, Ashwin should have played in the both the games. Again it's not Stuart Binny's fault that he's been thrust there. He has no utility when he doesn't even get an over in the second innings," Bedi said.

"It's not about a winning combination, it's about getting your act together. You don't pick Ashwin and get Murali (Vijay) to bowl off-spinners, it doesn't make sense. Both teams missed out on this front. Of course, England missed out more and India capitalised on it," said the former left-arm spinner.

Bedi said England are looking "helplessly hopeless" and playing below par cricket but that cannot take anything away from India's brilliant showing at Lord's.

"Let's not take anything away from India. They played brilliantly. And don't forget they lost the toss also. England played much below par. They look pretty directionless. They look helplessly hopeless," Bedi said.

If England veterans like Cook, Ian Bell and Stuart Bell were left struggling then Indian youngsters rose to the occasion, he noted.

Bedi said while Indian players are peaking at the right time the English cricketers have had their time.

"When you touch the peak then there is nothing beyond that. You can stay at the top if you are willing but if not then there is no other way than the way down. What goes up must come down. So the England veterans like Cook, Broad, Andersen, Bell, Prior have all past their peak." he said.

"But in the case of Indians -- Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar -- their peak is ahead of them. They haven't peaked yet, they are on their way up. It is a cycle and Indians have stayed low for quite sometime. So they can only go up from here," the spin legend said.

Reacting strongly to the interpretation of the term all-rounder, Bedi was quick to clarify that he does not consider Ravindra Jadeja or Stuart Binny as genuine all-rounders.

"They are not the answer to an all-rounder. Even Bhuvneshwar Kumar can score runs. Let's not confuse this term called an all-rounder. The one who can find his way into the side purely for his batting and purely for his bowling is a true all-rounder. Same for Ashwin or Jadeja or Binny or Kumar," he said.

"Ray Lindwall scored 2 Test hundreds against England but nobody called him an all-rounder. He was a bowler. Gary Sobers, Imran Khan, Kapil Dev, Richard Hadlee, Ian Botham they were genuine all-rounders. Let's not insult the term all-rounder," said Bedi.

Bedi also came down heavily on England captain Cook saying that it is time for the veteran opener to start thinking as a leader.

"We have seen it against Australia, against Sri Lanka and we have seen it here. He is pretty much bereft of cricketing ideas. He definitely is a good enough player to be in the XI. You make 8,000 plus for nothing or play 100 odd Tests.

"He is still not 30 and still a lot of cricket is left in him I guess. In his case, he has a few technical hassles. Miseries don't come alone. In his case, they are really coming in abundance," opined Bedi.

On being asked about the quality of Moeen Ali's off spin, Bedi chuckled and said that the world is devoid of quality spinners with a legitimate action.

"The game is devoid of a single genuine spinner. There is no spinner in the world who has a legitimate action. There is not a single spinner on the horizon and it's all because of the stupid limited-overs game.

"The spinners mentality has been destroyed by the T20s and ODIs. They more concerned about dot balls and not thinking about taking wickets and that is destroying their psyche," he signed off.

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'Career really took off after Perth ton'

MUMBAI: Once again terming it his best Test ton, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar today said his career took flight following the knock of 114 on a bouncy WACA track in 1992, adding that the innings against a hostile Australian attack in Perth gave him immense confidence.

"One innings that changed my career or gave shape to my career was in Perth, 1992. Perth, at least at that time, was regarded to be the fastest wicket and the hostility of the Australian fast bowlers was something which was difficult to handle. I was able to score a 100 and I was only 19," he said during an interaction with school children here.

"And just two matches before that, I had scored a hundred in Sydney but they were two different kinds of surfaces. I knew that Perth was the kind of wicket which I would not get to play anywhere in the world and If I can bat on Perth and score runs then I am possibly equipped to go on any other track which is fast and bouncy and score runs there.

"My career was just starting. I had done well for a couple of years by then but it really took off after that Perth innings because I felt I was ready to take on the world. By no means I was over confident but I became a confident cricketer where any challenge put up against me, I was equipped to face that," he added.

The retired great interacted with Ryan International school children at north western Malad during the launch of 'Kaspersky Kids Awareness Programme'.

His response came when he was asked by a student to rate his best Test century out of the 51 tons he had scored in his 24-year international career in which he also notched up 49 ODI hundreds to make it a round 100 centuries.

Tendulkar hung up his boots last November after a glittering career that saw him amass 15,921 runs in Tests, at an average of 53.78, and 18426 runs in 463 ODIs at an average of 44.83.

The batting maestro said though his father was not interested in cricket he supported Tendulkar when it came to choosing his career, and he would do the same for his children.

"In my case my father didn't decide that I should play cricket. He gave me the freedom to express myself. Above all he found out what I was interested in and of course it was with the help of my brother.

"My father was not interested in cricket at all but it was my brother's initiative. My brother said we need to make him join a summer camp and partially also because I was a very naughty kid. That is how my career started," he said.

"I want the same thing to happen to my children. My son (Arjun) enjoys cricket. Earlier he enjoyed playing football and then it was chess. Now it is cricket.

"So whatever he wants to be in life, all I have asked him is to be sincere and honest. I have told him that I will support you and guide you in whatever you want to be in life.

"So is the case with my daughter (Sara). She wants to follow her mother's footsteps. She wants to become a doctor or go the medical side and she has full backing. So it is their choice," he added.

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'Career really took off after Perth ton'

MUMBAI: Once again terming it his best Test ton, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar today said his career took flight following the knock of 114 on a bouncy WACA track in 1992, adding that the innings against a hostile Australian attack in Perth gave him immense confidence.

"One innings that changed my career or gave shape to my career was in Perth, 1992. Perth, at least at that time, was regarded to be the fastest wicket and the hostility of the Australian fast bowlers was something which was difficult to handle. I was able to score a 100 and I was only 19," he said during an interaction with school children here.

"And just two matches before that, I had scored a hundred in Sydney but they were two different kinds of surfaces. I knew that Perth was the kind of wicket which I would not get to play anywhere in the world and If I can bat on Perth and score runs then I am possibly equipped to go on any other track which is fast and bouncy and score runs there.

"My career was just starting. I had done well for a couple of years by then but it really took off after that Perth innings because I felt I was ready to take on the world. By no means I was over confident but I became a confident cricketer where any challenge put up against me, I was equipped to face that," he added.

The retired great interacted with Ryan International school children at north western Malad during the launch of 'Kaspersky Kids Awareness Programme'.

His response came when he was asked by a student to rate his best Test century out of the 51 tons he had scored in his 24-year international career in which he also notched up 49 ODI hundreds to make it a round 100 centuries.

Tendulkar hung up his boots last November after a glittering career that saw him amass 15,921 runs in Tests, at an average of 53.78, and 18426 runs in 463 ODIs at an average of 44.83.

The batting maestro said though his father was not interested in cricket he supported Tendulkar when it came to choosing his career, and he would do the same for his children.

"In my case my father didn't decide that I should play cricket. He gave me the freedom to express myself. Above all he found out what I was interested in and of course it was with the help of my brother.

"My father was not interested in cricket at all but it was my brother's initiative. My brother said we need to make him join a summer camp and partially also because I was a very naughty kid. That is how my career started," he said.

"I want the same thing to happen to my children. My son (Arjun) enjoys cricket. Earlier he enjoyed playing football and then it was chess. Now it is cricket.

"So whatever he wants to be in life, all I have asked him is to be sincere and honest. I have told him that I will support you and guide you in whatever you want to be in life.

"So is the case with my daughter (Sara). She wants to follow her mother's footsteps. She wants to become a doctor or go the medical side and she has full backing. So it is their choice," he added.

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'India will challenge Aussies Down Under'

MUMBAI: As he mingled with the kids from neighbouring villages, the instructors at the Magic Bus Learning & Development Centre near Karjat were a little confused how they should introduce Steve Waugh to the 10 or 12 year olds who've never watched him play cricket on television.

As they tried hard, one of them said in Marathi, "He is cricket's most successful captain ever...he won 41 Tests for Australia."

There couldn't have been a more fitting way to introduce the 49-yearold. The bottom line was that Waugh was always 'in it to win it' and even if he had pocketed a series he would still go out looking for a win.

His approach is in stark contrast with India skipper MS Dhoni, who has more often than not chosen to end Tests in draws when he could have pressed on for a win. The win at Lord's on Monday though changed that.

"I don't follow cricket that closely these days...but I'm surprised he chooses to do it (settle for draws). You got to be prepared to lose a Test to win it. There's so much competition between various sports these days that you need to put out a good product. People want to see results," said Waugh.

Ask him if Dhoni needs to think about giving up a format having been in the hot seat since 2007, he says, "He's a street smart guy. He'll work that out. In a lot of ways it is not his decision you have the selectors for that."

Having watched India from close quarters at Lord's, Waugh feels that this Indian team could challenge Australia later this year.

"I was very encouraged by Shami and Kumar the other day. They bowled really well. I was impressed with Ishant Sharma. I don't know why Ashwin is not playing. The batting is very good and there is no reason why they can't be very competitive," he says.

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'India will challenge Aussies Down Under'

MUMBAI: As he mingled with the kids from neighbouring villages, the instructors at the Magic Bus Learning & Development Centre near Karjat were a little confused how they should introduce Steve Waugh to the 10 or 12 year olds who've never watched him play cricket on television.

As they tried hard, one of them said in Marathi, "He is cricket's most successful captain ever...he won 41 Tests for Australia."

There couldn't have been a more fitting way to introduce the 49-yearold. The bottom line was that Waugh was always 'in it to win it' and even if he had pocketed a series he would still go out looking for a win.

His approach is in stark contrast with India skipper MS Dhoni, who has more often than not chosen to end Tests in draws when he could have pressed on for a win. The win at Lord's on Monday though changed that.

"I don't follow cricket that closely these days...but I'm surprised he chooses to do it (settle for draws). You got to be prepared to lose a Test to win it. There's so much competition between various sports these days that you need to put out a good product. People want to see results," said Waugh.

Ask him if Dhoni needs to think about giving up a format having been in the hot seat since 2007, he says, "He's a street smart guy. He'll work that out. In a lot of ways it is not his decision you have the selectors for that."

Having watched India from close quarters at Lord's, Waugh feels that this Indian team could challenge Australia later this year.

"I was very encouraged by Shami and Kumar the other day. They bowled really well. I was impressed with Ishant Sharma. I don't know why Ashwin is not playing. The batting is very good and there is no reason why they can't be very competitive," he says.

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Injured Matt Prior pulls out of Test duty

LONDON: England wicketkeeper Matt Prior said after his side's crushing defeat by India on Monday that he will not play any more Tests this season and may have ended his international career.

Prior, 32, said he needs time off to treat injuries, including an Achilles problem that will need surgery, which has hit his form.

The Sussex player revealed his decision to step away from England action just hours after his country slumped to a 95-run defeat in the second Test against India at Lord's.

Lancashire's Jos Buttler is the leading candidate to replace Prior and he will learn if he has been given the nod on Tuesday when England name their squad for the third Test in Southampton starting Sunday.

Prior has had a torrid season behind the stumps and his rash dismissal, unwisely hooking Ishant Sharma, played a key role in England's second innings collapse.

He has dropped six catches of varying difficulty this season and with the bat he has averaged just 25.

Prior attributes his poor form to injury complaints. "I'm not doing justice to myself and more importantly the team and that is what matters first and foremost," Prior said.

"I tore my quad before the first Test and my right hand has been beaten to a pulp, but the main issue is the Achilles.

"Now we have the time, I want to be pro-active about how we deal with it so I imagine that I'll have an operation.

"I've always said as long as I can do my job I will manage the pain and get on with it, but it has now got to the point where I can't do my job to the level I expect of myself."

An emotional Prior is reported to have told his England team-mates of his decision in the Lord's dressing room following their defeat.

He feels he has no choice but to have a spell out of the firing line, but is hopeful of regaining his fitness and challenge for his place next year.

For now though he accepts that with 79 Test caps to his name he may have played his last game for England.

That is especially difficult to take as he was keen to play his role in rebuilding a team struggling badly after a miserable run of 10 consecutive Tests without a victory.

"It is a huge decision and not one I've taken lightly obviously because I could have played my last game," Prior said.

"Playing for England is the greatest honour you can have in the game and that is my motivation to come back and try and play again in the best possible condition.

"I've made my decision for the good of the team and whoever comes in I genuinely wish them the best of luck and hope they go well and perform and help the team win. That is all I want.

"If that happens and I don't play again, then that was my lot. I'll be disappointed because there are a few things that I wanted to achieve and thought I would, but I can also look back and know I did some pretty good things," Prior said.

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Injured Matt Prior pulls out of Test duty

LONDON: England wicketkeeper Matt Prior said after his side's crushing defeat by India on Monday that he will not play any more Tests this season and may have ended his international career.

Prior, 32, said he needs time off to treat injuries, including an Achilles problem that will need surgery, which has hit his form.

The Sussex player revealed his decision to step away from England action just hours after his country slumped to a 95-run defeat in the second Test against India at Lord's.

Lancashire's Jos Buttler is the leading candidate to replace Prior and he will learn if he has been given the nod on Tuesday when England name their squad for the third Test in Southampton starting Sunday.

Prior has had a torrid season behind the stumps and his rash dismissal, unwisely hooking Ishant Sharma, played a key role in England's second innings collapse.

He has dropped six catches of varying difficulty this season and with the bat he has averaged just 25.

Prior attributes his poor form to injury complaints. "I'm not doing justice to myself and more importantly the team and that is what matters first and foremost," Prior said.

"I tore my quad before the first Test and my right hand has been beaten to a pulp, but the main issue is the Achilles.

"Now we have the time, I want to be pro-active about how we deal with it so I imagine that I'll have an operation.

"I've always said as long as I can do my job I will manage the pain and get on with it, but it has now got to the point where I can't do my job to the level I expect of myself."

An emotional Prior is reported to have told his England team-mates of his decision in the Lord's dressing room following their defeat.

He feels he has no choice but to have a spell out of the firing line, but is hopeful of regaining his fitness and challenge for his place next year.

For now though he accepts that with 79 Test caps to his name he may have played his last game for England.

That is especially difficult to take as he was keen to play his role in rebuilding a team struggling badly after a miserable run of 10 consecutive Tests without a victory.

"It is a huge decision and not one I've taken lightly obviously because I could have played my last game," Prior said.

"Playing for England is the greatest honour you can have in the game and that is my motivation to come back and try and play again in the best possible condition.

"I've made my decision for the good of the team and whoever comes in I genuinely wish them the best of luck and hope they go well and perform and help the team win. That is all I want.

"If that happens and I don't play again, then that was my lot. I'll be disappointed because there are a few things that I wanted to achieve and thought I would, but I can also look back and know I did some pretty good things," Prior said.

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'Spooked' hotel haunts England cricketers

LONDON: England have often looked a haunted side during their ongoing run of nine Tests without a win.

And according to pacer Stuart Broad they have a particular reason to be spooked during matches in London after ghostly goings-on at the team hotel.

Broad said several members of the side and their partners had endured difficulty sleeping at the five-star Langham Hotel in central London, with some players changing rooms in order to get some rest.

Although Broad said he had endured no unexplained disturbances while sleeping during the ongoing second Test against India at London's Lord's ground, that wasn't the case when England played Sri Lanka at the 'home of cricket' last month.

"During the Sri Lanka Test I had to move rooms," fast bowler Broad told a tabloid on Sunday.

"One night I woke up in the middle of the night, around 1.30am and I was convinced there was a presence in the room. It was the weirdest feeling. I turned the light on and looked online and could see Matt Prior was online, too. I went to his room and he said exactly the same thing! He was wide awake as well. Neither of us could sleep because we were so spooked out. Matt was in a twin room so I ended up sharing with him."

It is not the first time Test cricketers have been subjected to supposed paranormal activity.

In 2005, Shane Watson was spooked by the ghost said to haunt Durham's Lumley Castle where the team were staying ahead of a match at the nearby Chester-le-Street ground in north-east England.

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India win Lord's Test by 95 runs

LONDON: India clinched their first Test win at the historic Lord's in nearly three decades as they rode on Ishant Sharma's inspired spell of fast bowling to demolish England by 95 runs and take a 1-0 lead in the five match series on Monday.

The lanky speedster, whose consistency has always been under the scanner, delivered when it mattered most, as he grabbed a career-best 7 for 74 to bowl out the home team for a 223 in pursuit of a competitive victory target of 319.

From a relatively comfortable 173 for four, the last six wickets fell for only 50 runs with the final five coming in only 12.2 overs after lunch on an absorbing fifth day's play.

It took 28 long years for India to win a Test match at the 'Home of Cricket' after 'Kapil Dev's team achieved the feat back in June 1986 winning by five wickets.

It also marked Mahendra Singh Dhoni's first significant victory as Test captain outside the sub-continent. The last time India won a Test match outside the South Asian region was back in 2011 when they defeated West Indies in a 1-0 series win.

The victory was achieved in the 89th over when James Anderson tapped a Ravindra Jadeja delivery towards short cover and set off for non-existent single but Jadeja was alert enough to pick up and break the stumps down with a direct throw triggering off instant celebrations.

Skipper Dhoni as usual collected a stump as souvenir as the jubilant players hugged each other with the support staff and reserve bench applauding them from the hallowed balcony.

Resuming at a precarious 105 for four on the final day, the two overnight batsmen Joe Root (66) and Moeen Ali (39) batted with a lot of determination adding 101 runs in 44.4 overs before Ishant struck at the stroke of lunch.

He got one to rear up awkwardly as left-hander Ali took his eyes off the ball in order to fend it. The ball lobbed up at short leg for Cheteshwar Pujara to complete a simple catch.

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England 173/5 at lunch on Day 5

LONDON: Moeen Ali fell to the final ball before lunch, denting England's hopes of saving the second Test against India as the hosts reached 173 for five on the final day at Lord's on Monday.

Resuming on 105 for four and needing 319 for victory, Root and Moeen added 68 runs before Moeen was out for 39 to a short ball from Ishant Sharma.

Root will resume on 52 in the afternoon session accompanied by Matt Prior.

England have failed to win any of their last nine test matches, while India are looking to secure their first victory away from home since 2011 and go one up in the five-match series.

The touring side had reduced England to 72 for four midway through Sunday's final session, before Root and Moeen survived the last hour.

India opened the final day with the off-spin of Ravindra Jadeja in the hope of exploiting the wearing pitch.

However, other than the odd problem caused by variable bounce, Root and Moeen showed commendable poise in a testing opening session as England look to complete an unlikely victory.

Root brought up his half-century with his third boundary off Sharma's 16th over as the run-rate slowly increased later in the session.

The pair looked to have survived the morning session before a brute of a delivery from Sharma forced Moeen to fend off the ball to Cheteshwar Pujara at short leg.

Both teams will be conscious of the looming new ball, due shortly after play resumes, which could prove to be the defining point of an enthralling match.

The first test at Trent Bridge was drawn.

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England 173/5 at lunch on Day 5

LONDON: Moeen Ali fell to the final ball before lunch, denting England's hopes of saving the second Test against India as the hosts reached 173 for five on the final day at Lord's on Monday.

Resuming on 105 for four and needing 319 for victory, Root and Moeen added 68 runs before Moeen was out for 39 to a short ball from Ishant Sharma.

Root will resume on 52 in the afternoon session accompanied by Matt Prior.

England have failed to win any of their last nine test matches, while India are looking to secure their first victory away from home since 2011 and go one up in the five-match series.

The touring side had reduced England to 72 for four midway through Sunday's final session, before Root and Moeen survived the last hour.

India opened the final day with the off-spin of Ravindra Jadeja in the hope of exploiting the wearing pitch.

However, other than the odd problem caused by variable bounce, Root and Moeen showed commendable poise in a testing opening session as England look to complete an unlikely victory.

Root brought up his half-century with his third boundary off Sharma's 16th over as the run-rate slowly increased later in the session.

The pair looked to have survived the morning session before a brute of a delivery from Sharma forced Moeen to fend off the ball to Cheteshwar Pujara at short leg.

Both teams will be conscious of the looming new ball, due shortly after play resumes, which could prove to be the defining point of an enthralling match.

The first test at Trent Bridge was drawn.

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India lead England by 243 runs at lunch

LONDON: Murali Vijay fell five runs short of a well-deserved century on Sunday as England took three valuable wickets in the morning session of fourth day of the second test at Lord's.

A free-hitting Ravindra Jadeja (37) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (13) will resume after the break with India on 267 for seven, having extended their lead to 243 as they seek to give England a challenging fourth innings chase.

Opener Vijay looked set for his fifth test century, having resumed on 59, but fell shortly after the new ball was taken, edging James Anderson to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

England's bowlers had started poorly, pushing the ball either side of the wicket, but once against Yorkshire paceman Liam Plunkett provided the burst of inspiration his side desperately needed.

On Saturday afternoon, as the England attack grew increasingly weary, he removed Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli in consecutive balls to haul his side back into the match.

The following morning, a touch of extra bounce saw an unusually circumspect Mahendra Singh Dhoni (19) edge through to Ian Bell at slip.

Moeen Ali was introduced for a few overs of spin before the new ball was taken and Alastair Cook's decision immediately vindicated when Stuart Binny, yet to get off the mark, skied a shot that the captain caught at full stretch.

The hosts will be conscious of wrapping up the India innings quickly, with Jadeja prepared to chance his arm in the pursuit of quick runs and Kumar, who was dropped by Joe Root, full of confidence after two half-centuries in the drawn first test at Trent Bridge.

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Dale Steyn stars in big South Africa win

GALLE: Dale Steyn grabbed a match haul of 9-99 as South Africa thrashed Sri Lanka by 153 runs on Sunday on the fifth and final day of the first Test.

Steyn's figures, the best by a quick at the Galle ground, helped the visitors bowl out Sri Lanka twice in the match despite a wicket which offered little help.

It was only South Africa's third win on the island and their first since 2000.

Steyn was well-supported by seamer Morne Morkel, who picked up four wickets as Sri Lanka's second innings ended on 216 shortly into the second session.

Sri Lanka needed to make another 260 runs on the final day with nine wickets in hand to pull off a come-from-behind win. But they lost their remaining wickets for just 106 to go down tamely in the end.

The victory was especially sweet for Hashim Amla, who was leading the side for the first time in Test cricket.

Amla celebrated his winning start by hugging his teammates and exchanging high fives.

South Africa can now reclaim their top world ranking from Australia if they win the second and final Test in Colombo from July 24-28.

Part-time spinner Jean-Paul Duminy picked up two wickets including the crucial scalp of Kumar Sangakkara, who made a fighting 76 to salvage some pride for the hosts.

Sri Lanka, who had resumed on their overnight 110-1, added just 51 off 24 overs in the first session while losing five wickets.

Steyn, who had taken a five-wicket haul in the first innings, struck in the fourth over of the day to give his side the breakthrough they needed.

His victim was opener Kaushal Silva (38) who nicked the seamer behind the wickets, where Quinton de Kock dived to his right to take a stunning catch.

Silva's dismissal ended a 104-run stand with Sangakkara for the second wicket, the highest of the innings.

Sri Lanka were dealt a bigger blow off the first ball after the drinks break when Morkel had big-hitter Mahela Jayawardene caught behind for 10.

Sangakkara was dropped on 65 but failed to take advantage of the reprieve, pulling Duminy to short midwicket where Amla took a fine catch.

He hit nine fours and a six in his 145-ball innings. The dismissal of Sangakkara and Jayawardene in quick succession infused new energy into the visitors.

Lahiru Thirimanne was caught by AB de Villiers off Steyn for 12, while Morkel had Dinesh Chandimal (one) caught behind by de Kock.

Sri Lanka lost Dilruwan Perera (zero) to Steyn in the second over of the post-lunch session, the tailender offering an edge to de Kock who took five catches in the innings.

Rangana Herath (20) was caught by de Villiers as he tried to play the sweep shot against Duminy.

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Dale Steyn stars in big South Africa win

GALLE: Dale Steyn grabbed a match haul of 9-99 as South Africa thrashed Sri Lanka by 153 runs on Sunday on the fifth and final day of the first Test.

Steyn's figures, the best by a quick at the Galle ground, helped the visitors bowl out Sri Lanka twice in the match despite a wicket which offered little help.

It was only South Africa's third win on the island and their first since 2000.

Steyn was well-supported by seamer Morne Morkel, who picked up four wickets as Sri Lanka's second innings ended on 216 shortly into the second session.

Sri Lanka needed to make another 260 runs on the final day with nine wickets in hand to pull off a come-from-behind win. But they lost their remaining wickets for just 106 to go down tamely in the end.

The victory was especially sweet for Hashim Amla, who was leading the side for the first time in Test cricket.

Amla celebrated his winning start by hugging his teammates and exchanging high fives.

South Africa can now reclaim their top world ranking from Australia if they win the second and final Test in Colombo from July 24-28.

Part-time spinner Jean-Paul Duminy picked up two wickets including the crucial scalp of Kumar Sangakkara, who made a fighting 76 to salvage some pride for the hosts.

Sri Lanka, who had resumed on their overnight 110-1, added just 51 off 24 overs in the first session while losing five wickets.

Steyn, who had taken a five-wicket haul in the first innings, struck in the fourth over of the day to give his side the breakthrough they needed.

His victim was opener Kaushal Silva (38) who nicked the seamer behind the wickets, where Quinton de Kock dived to his right to take a stunning catch.

Silva's dismissal ended a 104-run stand with Sangakkara for the second wicket, the highest of the innings.

Sri Lanka were dealt a bigger blow off the first ball after the drinks break when Morkel had big-hitter Mahela Jayawardene caught behind for 10.

Sangakkara was dropped on 65 but failed to take advantage of the reprieve, pulling Duminy to short midwicket where Amla took a fine catch.

He hit nine fours and a six in his 145-ball innings. The dismissal of Sangakkara and Jayawardene in quick succession infused new energy into the visitors.

Lahiru Thirimanne was caught by AB de Villiers off Steyn for 12, while Morkel had Dinesh Chandimal (one) caught behind by de Kock.

Sri Lanka lost Dilruwan Perera (zero) to Steyn in the second over of the post-lunch session, the tailender offering an edge to de Kock who took five catches in the innings.

Rangana Herath (20) was caught by de Villiers as he tried to play the sweep shot against Duminy.

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India lead England by 243 runs at lunch

LONDON: Murali Vijay fell five runs short of a well-deserved century on Sunday as England took three valuable wickets in the morning session of fourth day of the second test at Lord's.

A free-hitting Ravindra Jadeja (37) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (13) will resume after the break with India on 267 for seven, having extended their lead to 243 as they seek to give England a challenging fourth innings chase.

Opener Vijay looked set for his fifth test century, having resumed on 59, but fell shortly after the new ball was taken, edging James Anderson to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

England's bowlers had started poorly, pushing the ball either side of the wicket, but once against Yorkshire paceman Liam Plunkett provided the burst of inspiration his side desperately needed.

On Saturday afternoon, as the England attack grew increasingly weary, he removed Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli in consecutive balls to haul his side back into the match.

The following morning, a touch of extra bounce saw an unusually circumspect Mahendra Singh Dhoni (19) edge through to Ian Bell at slip.

Moeen Ali was introduced for a few overs of spin before the new ball was taken and Alastair Cook's decision immediately vindicated when Stuart Binny, yet to get off the mark, skied a shot that the captain caught at full stretch.

The hosts will be conscious of wrapping up the India innings quickly, with Jadeja prepared to chance his arm in the pursuit of quick runs and Kumar, who was dropped by Joe Root, full of confidence after two half-centuries in the drawn first test at Trent Bridge.

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1st Test: Sanga keeps alive SL win dream

GALLE (Sri Lanka): Kumar Sangakkara smashed his 49th half-century as Sri Lanka launched a stunning fightback on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa on Saturday.

The prolific left-hander also shared 96 runs for the unbroken second wicket with Kaushal Silva (37) to take Sri Lanka to 110-1 at stumps.

The hosts need 260 runs with nine wickets in hand to pull off a magical come-from-behind win with three full sessions left in the game.

Sri Lanka had been forced on the backfoot after they were bowled out for 292 to concede a huge 163-run lead in the first innings.

But a sporting declaration by new South African skipper Hashim Amla at the tea score of 206-6 turned the game on its head.

Although no team has ever scored more than 300 runs in the final innings at Galle, the 36-year-old Sangakkara made a target of 370 look chaseable.

The star batsman had so far hit seven fours and a six in his 58-run knock that came off 89 deliveries.

South Africa began their defence well, with Dale Steyn once again giving his side the early breakthrough by dismissing opener Upul Tharanga for 14.

But Sangakkara stood like a rock at the other end, once despatching a full-toss from Tahir over the mid-wicket fence for a huge six.

He completed his half-century in style, sweeping leg-spinner Imran Tahir through midwicket for a four.

Silva also knocked off some easy runs, smacking part-timer Jean-Paul Duminy for two fours in a row.

Vernon Philander, who was Friday fined 75 percent of his match fees after being accused of ball tampering, bowled six wicketless overs for 13 runs.

Earlier, AB De Villiers hit six boundaries in his breezy 58-ball 51 and also shared 62 runs with Quinton de Kock (36) to set up South African second innings.

The Proteas had made 455-9 declared in their first essay. To their credit, the Sri Lankan spinners exploited well the dry and dusty track, accounting for all the wickets that fell in the South African second innings.

Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera picked an impressive 4-79 while Rangana Herath took 2-84.

Perera struck early into the second session, claiming the big wicket of Amla, who is leading South Africa for the first time in Test cricket.

Amla (22) mistimed his flick and lobbed the ball to a diving Upul Tharanga for his second cheap dismissal in the game.

Faf du Plessis (37) fell to a turner from Herath that crashed on to his stumps, dislodging the bails.

De Villiers frustrated the spinners with his shot-making until his stumps were shattered by Perera close to the tea break.

De Kock fell on the last ball before the break, lobbing an easy return catch to Perera.

Opener Dean Elgar, who made 103 in the first innings, was the first batsman to fall as he tried to go for an ambitious drive off Herath but nicked it behind to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal.

Alviro Petersen (32) was given caught behind off Perera but the batsman asked for a review. TV replays remained inconclusive and in the end the decision of on-field umpire was upheld.

The batsman walked off the field, shaking his head in disappointment. South Africa had wrapped up the Sri Lankan innings in the fifth over of the day with paceman Morne Morkel (3-49) sending back overnight batsman Herath for 19.

The second and final Test will be played in Colombo from July 24-28.

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