Dhoni missed his top spot, Sehwag rises in ICC ODI rankings

Dubai: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost his number one spot, but opening batsman Virender Sehwag gained eight places to go back to the top-10 at eighth in the ICC ODI rankings issued on Sunday. India held on to the second spot in the team rankings in spite of losing the tri-series final to Sri Lanka last night.
Sri Lanka, sixth before the series, are just at the back of India, and in front of South Africa, who drop to fourth, when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.
New Zealand drop to sixth from fourth as Australia, at the top, and England, in fifth spot, stay unchanged. In person rankings, Tillakaratne Dilshan broke into the top five of the batting chart. Dilshan's match-winning attempt of 110 in the final against India last night was sufficient to earn him a three-place boost in the rankings and he now sits in fourth position, level with Hashim Amla of South Africa.
Amla's team-mate AB de Villiers has benefited from Dhoni's slip with the 26-year-old from Pretoria taking over at the top of the rankings. The other main mover upwards in the top 10 is Sehwag, who was confirmed Man-of-the-Series in Sri Lanka.
The hard-hitting opener was the series' top-scorer with 268 at an average of 67 and that attempt has moved him up eight places on the rankings to eighth place. Sachin Tendulkar, who was rested as of the tri-series, lost four places and now sits in 10th position.
A player loses half a per cent of his ranking for every ODI he misses. In the list for bowlers, India pacer Praveen Kumar has gained five places to smash into the top 10 for the first time in his career.The 23-year-old took nine wickets in the Sri Lanka tri-series at an usual of 23.66 and now sits in 10th position in the ranking, level with Pakistan's Shahid Afridi.

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Jessica Ennis Calls Time on 2010 season

UKA today set that Britain’s reigning World and European Heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis has called time on her 2010 season in order to exploit her recovery time ahead of 2011.
The 24 year old, who came to close breaking the UK heptathlon record in winning her European Championship gold last week, made the decision beside her coach Toni Minichiello to ensure the long term plan including reaching 2012 in best possible shape was always the main priority.
At the same time as there are several high profile events remaining in the 2010 summer season, Ennis has reiterated that maintaining her fitness and giving herself the best possible approach to 2012, is the ‘right decision’. Ennis said,“I have had an wonderful season and to win the European Championships was just incredible, it was such a close competition but there was no way I was not going to win!

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Sehwag takes solution Sri Lanka scalps

Third Test, Colombo (P Sara Oval):Virender Sehwag took two wickets early to put Sri Lanka under force in their second innings as India look for level the series in the third Test.
After India were dismissed for 436, Sri Lankan opener Tharanga Paranavitana could only make 16 before stitching Sehwag to wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni. Murali Vijay snared a catch from Tillakaratne Dilshan (13) off Sehwag (109), who had top-scored for India.
The tests have a 1-0 series lead after a 10-wicket win in the first Test.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA 425 & 45-2 

INDIA          436

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shining Sehwag leads Indian response

Third Test,P Sara Oval: Virender Sehwag led an violent Indian response to Sri Lanka's demanding score on a competitive pitch on the second day at the P Sara Oval. Thilan Samaraweera let down India's quest for early wickets with an certain century amid testing spells from Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha, but Sehwag's counter-attack, with some luck, helped the visitors even things out. The signs were encouraging for Sri Lanka at the start of the Indian innings with the seamers finding sway while their opponents had produced virtually none. Lasith Malinga targeted the blockhole and hurled a couple of sharp bouncers, while Chanaka Welegedara got the ball to flit in. But the helpful conditions did not produce the restlessness Sri Lanka would have hoped from the Indian openers, as Sehwag settled in with three consecutive boundaries - through point, mid-on and over midwicket - off Welegedera, who had dismissed him twice in the Galle Test.

First Innings:

Sri Lanka 425 (Samaraweera 137, Sangakkara 75)

India 180 for 2 (Sehwag 97*, Tendulkar 40*)

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Colombo test:India draw with Sri Lanka

Second Test, Colombo:

 

 

Captain Kumar Sangakkara made 42 not out to turn his side to safety, the hosts reaching 129-3 when the two teams decided to shake hands.India had finally been bowled out for 707 in their first innings close to the end of the morning session, giving them a fine first-innings lead of 65.

conversely they simply didn't have enough time to force a positive result, meaning Sri Lanka stay 1-0 up in the series with one Test to play.

India Keep stay the best in Tests:

 

India remain top of the International Cricket Council Test ratings next their draw in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo. India are now 11 points clear of second-placed South Africa and will remain top of the rankings irrespective of the outcome in the third Test.

The ICC finished their annual update of the ratings which will now see India remain at the top of the table until the end of their current series which ends on August 7, when the ratings will again be updated.

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Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag balanced India

Second Test, Colombo,(day three):

Sachin Tendulkar hit his 48th Test century and Virender Sehwag made 99 to boost up India's hopes of avoiding defeat in the second Test against Sri Lanka. India, chasing 642-4 declared, began well until Sehwag fell to Suraj Randiv, just one run withdrawn of a 21st Test ton.

Murali Vijay (58) and Rahul Dravid (3) were both out in quick sequence. But Tendulkar's stylish 108 not out in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 141 with debutant Suresh Raina (66*) helped India to 382-4 by close of play.

Scoreboard:

Sri Lanka 642-4 dec v India 382-4

Sachin Tendulkar* 108(181)

Suresh Raina* 66(133)

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Galle 2nd Test: Sangakkara & Paranavitana take SL as control

Captain Kumar Sangakkara and Tharanga Paranavitana struck their second successive centuries as Sri Lanka took firm control of the second cricket Test against India in Colombo on Monday. Sangakkara (130 not out) notched up his 23rd Test century while Paranavitana (100) scored his second ton as the Lankan batsmen piled up the agony on a listless India by reaching a commanding 312 for two at close on the opening day.

The Indians, who desperately need to win the match to level the three-match series and retain their number one position, put up a rather pathetic bowling display to allow the hosts to get off to a flying start. Mahela Jayawardene (13) was giving Sangakkara company at stumps as the hosts dominated on a very good batting track at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.

Electing to bat, the two Lankan openers Tillakaratne Dilshan (54) and Paranavitana provided a rollicking start to the innings, capitalising on some wayward and insipid bowling by the Indians.The depleted Indian bowling attack, badly missing the services of pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, just did not ball in the right areas to pose much problems for the hosts who scored at a brisk pace right through the day.

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Australia skid to fourth place in ICC Test rankings

Leeds: Australia has slipped to fourth place in the ICC rankings after drawing a Test series against Pakistan at England. Leeds defeat was Australian captain Ricky Ponting's first Test loss against Pakistan.The loss at leading, combined with Sri Lanka's crushing victory over India in the teams' first Test at Galle, has resulted in Australia shedding three ratings points and dropping from third in the Test rankings to fourth with 116 points, replaced by Sri Lanka, who moved from 115 points to 119.

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India look up to Dhoni, Laxman to save the match

Galle 1st test,Day 4: India were faced with a scary task of saving the first Test after spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan scalped six wickets in his last match to put Sri Lanka within sniffing space of a victory on Wednesday. Muralitharan claimed of 5/63 in the first innings and extra another wicket in the second to be just two short of the 800-mark as India were skittled out for 276 in their first innings in reply to the home team's total of 520/8 declared. Asked to follow on, the Indians were stressed at 181/5 at close on an exciting last but one day, still needing 63 runs to avoid the shame of an innings beat.

The visitors lost Gautam Gambhir (0) and first innings centurion Virender Sehwag (31) early on but the practiced duo of Rahul Dravid (44) and Sachin Tendulkar (84) steadied the innings to some amount with a 119-run partnership. India are hopeful that skipper MS Dhoni and VVS Laxman would bat long sufficient and heavens would do them a favour by opening up at the final day to save the first Test. The Opener Virender Sehwag, only Indian to score a century in this Test so far, said both Dhoni and Laxman can still spoil Sri Lanka's party. India, who finished the day at 181 for five, are still trailing by 63 runs and need to live three sessions tomorrow to save the opening match of the three-Test series.

SL: 520/8 in 124 ov
Ind: 276/10 in 65 ov & 181/5 in 59.3 ov

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Sehwag shines but match in SriLanka control

Herath and Malinga twisted out to be the unlikely batting heroes as the islanders improved from a few early on jolts and had the visitors in problem by the end of the day by dismissing Gautam Gambhir (2), Rahul Dravid (18) and Sachin Tendulkar (8).Virender Sehwag (85), who played with his usual flamboyance, and VVS Laxman (18).

Lasith Malinga provided Sri Lanka with the early advance when he claimed the wicket of India opener Gambhir, who was attentive leg before wicket for two. Rahul Dravid was run out for 18 as he attempted an not possible second run, after having extra 66 runs in 72 balls for the second wicket with Virender Sehwag. Tendulkar, who made eight, tried to sweep a full delivery from Muralitharan but missed and was trapped leg before wicket as India were summary to 101 for three in 21 overs.

1st Innings
Srilanka
520/8 dec in 124.0 Overs
Run Rate: 4.19

India
140/3 in 29.4 Overs
Run Rate: 4.72

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Overnight rains delays second day's start at Galle

An overnight rain delayed to start of the second day first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka here today. Heavy rains lashed Galle last night and made the entire ground outfield wet, which was more than enough for a delayed start for the second day.Even though there were no rains in the morning, wet outfield forced the covers to stay on at the Galle Stadium and according to the curator Jayananda Warnaweera, play can begin only after lunch. The opening day's play on Sunday was also delayed by 30 minutes due to wet ground.

The opening day's play in which only 68 overs were bowled, Sri Lanka were in a comfortable position at 256/2 with Tharanga Paranavitana unbeaten on 110 and Captain Kumar Sangakkara (103. In India bowlers anle to taken Abhimanyu Mithun (1/41) and Virender Sehwag (1/23) managing wickets.

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