India v New Zealand

India vs New zealand series will start from November 4.Series contains 3tests and 5 ODIs.

The squads were announced for the series.

Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman and Ishant Sharma have recovered from injuries that kept them out of the second Test against Australia, and are included in India's squad for the three-Test series against New Zealand, which begins on November 4 in Ahmedabad. That Cheteshwar Pujara and M Vijay filled in superbly for Laxman and Gambhir in Bangalore made this a straightforward selection, with both of them retaining their places in the 15-member squad. Amit Mishra and Sreesanth will be the reserve spinner and seamer respectively.

Indian team(Test1):

MS Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, M Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra

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Gambhir and Ishant out of 2nd Test due to injury

Fig:Jaidev Unadkat,Abhinav Mukund

India have omitted Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma from the second Test in Bangalore following injuries to their right knees. The squad for that Test, announced hours after the win against Australia in Mohali, includes Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund(age:20) and Saurashtra quick bowler Jaidev Unadkat, both of whom are uncapped, as replacements.

The youngsters get their chance due to the injuries to two of India's first-choice players. Ishant had been off the field for much of the first innings due to his injury but returned to play a crucial role in India's heart-stopping win in the first Test in Mohali. On Monday, he took three quick top-order wickets to deflate Australia's strong start and on Tuesday he stoutly hung on for a career-best 32 - and a match-turning 81-run stand for the ninth wicket with VVS Laxman.

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Shakib knocks down New Zealand

Bangladesh 228 (Shakib 58, Mills 3-44) beat New Zealand 200 for 8 (McCullum 61, Shakib 4-41) by nine runs (D/L method)

Shakib belted 58 off 51 balls to help the hosts to a competitive total of 228 all out. He then bamboozled the visitors with his left-arm spin to grab 4-41 as New Zealand were left stranded on 200-8 after they were set a revised target of 210 runs in 37 overs.

Brendon McCullum struck a quickfire 61 off 45 balls and gave New Zealand a strong platform after he and Jesse Ryder (21) put on 53 runs for the opening-wicket but Shakib brought Bangladesh back in contention by dismissing both batsmen before rain intervened.New Zealand were 85-4 in 15 overs when rain stopped play for nearly an hour.Upon resumption, Bangladesh thought they had Daniel Vettori out for nine when substitute fielder Sohrawardi Shuvo took a catch at deep square leg but Mahmudullah's full-pitched delivery was judged a no-ball.The New Zealand captain failed to capitalise on his great escape and was out for 24, caught by Junaid Siddique off Naeem Islam. Shanan Stewart was then run out for two before Naeem removed Ross Taylor for 42 to put Bangladesh in control as the visitors floundered on 161-7.New Zealand went into the final over needing 18 runs for victory but could only add on nine to their total as Bangladesh celebrated a rare victory and took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.Bangladesh were a bowler short for most of the game after skipper Mashrafe Mortaza's 27th birthday celebrations took a painful turn when he sprained his ankle in the third over of New Zealand innings.

Mortaza fell awkwardly while bowling and failed to take any further part in the game and officials said he would remain under observation for 48 hours.

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Very Very Special Laxman

India 405 (Tendulkar 98, Raina 86, Johnson 5-64) and 216 for 9 (Laxman 73*, Hilfenhaus 4-57, Bollinger 3-32) beat Australia 428 (Watson 126, Paine 92, Zaheer 5-94) and 192 (Watson 56, Ishant 3-34, Zaheer 3-43) by 1 wicket

On a day where VVS Laxman struggled to bend his back too much, constantly flexing it throughout his stay in the middle, Team India took a glorious bow.

His extremely supple wrists and ability to notch up magnum knocks may be the most talked-about facets about the elegant Hyderabadi batsman. But Laxman's quality of batting with the tail and bringing the best out of them rarely gets the mileage it deserves. That will certainly change after Tuesday.As the Australians watched on in utter disbelief and bewilderment it was their near-eternal tormentor who returned to haunt them at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. And in the company of the resilient Ishant Sharma, whose batting continues to blossom by the day, Laxman literally snatched a historic victory right out of the Australians' hands, and won India the first Test, by the narrowest of margins in their history, one-wicket, as close to a billion hearts heaved a collective sigh of relief.It was Laxman and Ishant who set up the win, which seemed highly improbably after India had slumped to 124 for eight, with a 81-run stand during which the Australians lost the plot and saw the initiative slip out of their hands from right under their noses. Though Ishant, who will miss the next Test, dragged himself off the field after being given LBW with India still 11 runs short, last-man Pragyan Ojha overcame a number of jitters and an admonishment from his senior partner to see India home with two leg-byes down to fine-leg.

If as history has it the fearsome former West Indian opener Gordon Greenidge used to be feared that much more, when he walked out to the centre with a limp; Laxman batting with a runner has proved to be an equally formidable proposition for oppositions in the recent past.

And after having taken India home against the Sri Lankans at Colombo just a couple of months back, where he had a runner for the latter half of his century knock, the 35-year-old right-hander repeated his heroics with ample assistance from Suresh Raina, who despite the mix-up with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, did his job to perfection.Though Laxman and Ishant looked hardly in any discomfort during their stint in the middle, things had started off on a horrible note for the home team on the fifth morning. After night-watchman Zaheer Khan edged Nathan Hauritz to slip, Sachin Tendulkar cut a Doug Bollinger delivery straight to Michael Hussey at gully. Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh also followed suit in quick succession leaving Laxman waging a lone and painful battle.Having vehemently turned down the opener's slot, which he occupied for quite a while in the late nineties, repeatedly earlier in his career, Laxman has languished at No. 6 for most parts of his 14-year-long Test career.While he has mastered his skill at batting with the tail from that position, the veteran has also rarely been bogged down regardless of the situation he is batting in and has forever managed to be a survivor.And despite the wickets falling around him, and India's hopes diminishing rather rapidly, Laxman never lifted his foot off the pedal and kept the pressure on the Australian bowling-attack, which was unfortunately depleted after Bollinger walked off the field with an abdominal strain.Laxman made the most of it, while constantly scoring at close to a run-a-ball, finishing up with 73 off 79 balls, including eight hits to the fence.

And as the stylish Laxman stood with his arms held high in the air, displaying uncharacteristic signs of unconditional exhilaration, he had once again proved his worth in his typically unhurried fashion.

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Austalia vs India:Day3 1st test

India 405 and 55 for 4 (Tendulkar 10*, Zaheer 5*, Hilfenhaus 3-22) need another 161 runs to beat Australia 428 and 192 (Watson 56, Ishant 3-34, Zaheer 3-43)

Australia was bowled out for 192 in its second innings late on day four, with Zaheer Khan taking three late wickets.But India was in trouble early, with Hilfenhaus (3-22) trapping Gautim Gambhir lbw in the first over.

He had Virender Sehwag caught out for 17 with a short-pitched ball and, after Doug Bollinger had Rahul Dravid (13) caught behind by Tim Paine, Hilfenhaus got Suresh Raina caught at slip with another short delivery.

Sachin Tendulkar, unbeaten on 10, holds India's best chance of an unlikely win.Hilfenhaus struck in his first over and added two more wickets to give Australia the edge in the first cricket test as India struggled to 55 for four at stumps Monday, chasing 216 to win.

Tendulkar misses ton,Raina&Dravid passed halfcenturies

India 405 (Tendulkar 98, Raina 86, Dravid 77, Sehwag 59, Johnson 5-64) trail Australia 428 by 23 runs

Replying to Australia's first innings total of 428, India were cruising merrily at 354 for four before losing six wickets in the final session of the third day to fold for 405.

India dominated the early proceedings with four batsmen registering half-centuries. Sachin Tendulkar (98) narrowly missed his 49th test hundred.

Resuming on 110 for two, India lost nightwatchman Ishant Sharma (18) in the morning session. However, Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid (77), who share more than 25,000 test runs between them, steadied the innings with a 79-run stand.Dravid played with characteristic caution until he became Doug Bollinger's second victim of the match after a sedate knock containing 12 boundaries.Tendulkar and Suresh Raina (86) then stitched together a 124-run fifth wicket partnership, the highest in the Indian innings, to consolidate their position before Australia hit back in the post-tea season.Marcus North trapped Tendulkar to send a groan across the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium and Johnson dismissed Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh off successive deliveries. Tendulkar hit 13 boundaries during his 189-ball knock.Middle order batsman Vangipurappu Laxman, nursing a bad back, came out to bat after India had lost their eighth wicket.Raina took India past the 400-run mark but a second test century eluded the left-hander who eventually became Johnson's fifth victim after a mature knock.

Australia vs India Test 1 day2

India 110 for 2 (Sehwag 59) trail Australia 428 (Watson 126, Paine 92, Ponting 71, Zaheer 5-94) by 318 runs

Virender Sehwag delivered a brutal response to stun Australia with a quick half-century as India finished the second day of a two-paced Test on a high. Sehwag raced to a 39-ball fifty but was undone by Mitchell Johnson shortly before the close for 59, walking off frustrated by his error.India finished at 110 for 2 at stumps in reply to the visitors' 428, with Rahul Dravid unbeaten on 21 and the nightwatchman Ishant Sharma on 0. Both the local openers showed the positive intent that was often missing in the field when they put on 81 in 13.2 overs to build on Zaheer Khan's 10th five-wicket haul. Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir (25) and Dravid quickly changed the value of Australia's total during a breathless finish to a day that had previously followed a sombre tempo.

Having crawled 71 in the opening session, Australia relaxed through Paine and Johnson after lunch and started to swing freely against the tiring spin duo of Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha. Johnson skipped to 47, striking three sixes, and provided a necessary boost to take Australia to safer ground.Paine also increased his rate, lifting Ojha over midwicket for consecutive boundaries in his most memorable burst, and showed his comfort at this level. Dropped by MS Dhoni on 0 yesterday, Paine refused to submit to the various tensions and played the sort of settling innings the injured Brad Haddin could not have managed.At times it was easy to wish for some Haddin extravagance, but Paine delivered an old-fashioned display, just as Watson had done so purposefully. In the first hour Watson and Paine scraped 25 as they followed the extra cautious method of the previous afternoon.The stress eased for Paine after drinks in the morning when he glanced his first four from his 61st ball, gaining confidence from the unshackling. He drove and late cut Zaheer for another couple of boundaries and was soon comfortable in the humid conditions and on the turning surface.In the end Paine struck 12 fours from 196 deliveries, showing his ability off both feet, and his sharp reading of the slow men. He was dropped by Dhoni again on 86 but VVS Laxman quickly made up for the mistake with a sharp catch low down at second slip to give Zaheer his fifth breakthrough.The innings ended when Bollinger holed out to provide Ojha with his first wicket in his 52nd over of an economical but unrewarding marathon. Zaheer stepped up for the under-manned India with 5 for 94 while Harbhajan collected 3 for 114 off 49 overs.

Australi vs India 1st test day1:Aussie 224/5 at stumps

Australia 224/5(Watson 101*,Pointing 71,Zaheer 3/45)

Watson's calm 101 on the opening day, the visitors are far from safe at 224 for 5 following a stinging late burst from Zaheer Khan, India's only fit paceman following a knee injury to Ishant Sharma. Zaheer, who was steaming in the second session during a confrontation with Ricky Ponting, gained his second lbw when he picked up Michael Hussey (17) with a reverse-swinging delivery and followed up by clipping Marcus North's off stump when he tried to leave on 0.

Zaheer finished with 3 for 45 off 16 overs to continue the fine recovery from a side that was struggling badly over the first half of the day. The locals would have been even happier if MS Dhoni, who returned from the Champions League Twenty20 two days ago, had caught a regulation chance off Tim Paine .Ponting returned the charity after responding tardily to Watson's call for a single and was run out by Suresh Raina's smart direct hit from midwicket. The third umpire was required to decide Ponting's fate after his mostly composed innings, but as he walked past the fielders he was called out by Zaheer in the first flashpoint of the series. The taunts resulted in the captain changing direction and walking towards the huddle for a short exchange.Harbhajan was much more dangerous after lunch, slowing the runs and creating some half-chances in his 1 for 69 off 29 overs, and the pitch will help the slow men more as the game wears on. Pragyan Ojha, the left-arm orthodox spinner, also played an important role, rarely allowing an attacking option, as he gave away 39 runs in 31 overs. After a strong start the signs are already worrying for Australia, even though their opponents are a man short.

Grant Flower is back into International cricket

Grant Flower was included in Zimbabwe's One-day international and Twenty20 squads on Thursday to tour South Africa after coming out of a six-year international retirement. Flower's international career was cut short in 2004 after a dispute between Zimbabwe's players and its cricket board. He will also remain as the country's batting coach.

Grant Flower will double up as Zimbabwe’s senior-most player and their batting coach, during the tour to South Africa. Zimbabwe will play three ODIs and two T20s against the Proteas from October 8.Experienced spinner Ray Price was left out, as he was for the recent series win over Ireland, on compasionate leave to attend to his sick father.

Zimbabwe squad for Southafrica tour:

Twenty20: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Grant Flower, Brendan Taylor, Tatenda Taibu, Charles Coventry, Chamu Chibhabha, Chris Mpofu, Keith Dabengwa, Shingi Masakadza, Ian Nicolson, Graeme Cremer, Prosper Utseya, Ed Rainsford.

ODI: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Hamilton Masakadza, Grant Flower, Brendan Taylor, Tatenda Taibu, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Chamu Chibhabha, Chris Mpofu, Keith Dabengwa, Shingi Masakadza, Ian Nicolson, Graeme Cremer, Prosper Utseya, Ed Rainsford.