Third Test Match,Wellington - Day One,India 375-9 (S R Tendulkar 62, Harbhajan Singh 60, M S Dhoni 52) v New Zealand
India finished day one of the third Test against New Zealand on 375-9 thanks to a thrilling final-session fightback in Wellington.
Needing a win in the match to square the series, home captain Daniel Vettori threw caution to the wind in opting to bowl first at the Basin Reserve.
The aggressive policy paid off when they reduced the tourists to 204-6, despite yet another half-century from Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag's quick-fire 48.
Recovery
However, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni led a lower-order recovery as 185 runs were scored for the loss of four wickets after tea.
Harbhajan Singh helped himself to 60 before becoming the third victim for Chris Martin, who had earlier removed Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid (35).
India had raced out of the blocks with a stand of 73, Sehwag leading the onslaught with seven fours and a six until he edged Iain O'Brien through to wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum.
Opening partner Gautam Gambhir fell two runs later - trapped lbw by James Franklin - but a third-wicket partnership of 90 put the visitors in a strong position.
Tendulkar coasted to his 53rd Test 50 alongside Dravid, who enjoyed a lucky escape when he was caught off a no-ball bowled by Franklin.
However, New Zealand seized control by claiming four wickets for 39 runs either side of the tea interval.
Collapse
Martin tempted Tendulkar to edge through to McCullum and then the returning Tim Southee, recalled to the attack in place of spinner Jeetan Patel, removed VVS Laxman for four.
Jesse Ryder chipped in with the scalp of Yuvraj Singh (nine) and when Dravid pulled Martin straight to square leg, India had lost half their side in a hurry.
Returning to the side after missing the Test in Napier with a back problem, Dhoni began the recovery with an 89-ball 52 that was eventually ended when he skied Southee down to O'Brien at fine leg.
By then he had already helped put on 79 though with Harbhajan, who smacked seven fours and a six in his entertaining innings.
Zaheer Khan chipped in with a rapid 33 while Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel had reached 15 and 14 respectively when stumps were drawn after an absorbing opening day.
Windies 'will play' fifth ODI
England arrive in St Lucia with a series-deciding win in their sights after the West Indies players called off their threatened boycott.
Negotiations between the West Indies Cricket Board and West Indies Players' Association have brought the two sides closer and although a resolution has still to be agreed, captain Chris Gayle is happy that progress is being made.
The players are seeking a better infrastructure and payment schedule in domestic cricket and the international players were prepared to follow their first-class counterparts in strike action.
"They are having discussions at the moment but we will be playing this match," explained Gayle. "Based on what we've heard, things seem to be breaking down properly and hopefully it will all finish off well.
"There's a possibility things won't finish today but at least we're getting somewhere so basically we've agreed to play tomorrow.
"If I wasn't going to be playing in the game I wouldn't be here in St Lucia, I'd be at home.
"We're totally focused even though a lot of things have been happening off the field.
"We're here to play cricket. We've been in these positions before and the players are not affected by this and hopefully we can finish off the series on a high."
England recorded their first victory of a cheerless winter in Guyana with the aid of a much-needed assist from Windies head coach John Dyson, who farcically miscalculated the winning Duckworth-Lewis total.
However, local hero Shivnarine Chanderpaul ensured the scores were level when both teams arrived at the Kensington Oval in Barbados with an unbeaten century.
Winning formula
Both sides then exchanged blows in Barbados as the captains led from the front. Windies skipper Chris Gayle smashed a brutal 80 off just 43 balls in the third ODI before Andrew Strauss responded in kind with an unbeaten 79 to set-up a winner-takes-all decider on Friday.
Injury concerns to key players Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen threatened to hamper England's chances heading to St Lucia, but they have been cleared for action following medical scans.
Pietersen left the field on Sunday when he suffered a back spasm while bowling, and Flintoff injured his left thumb attempting a sharp return catch.
With both cleared to play England are likely to stick with the winning formula from the previous match, however significant contributions from both Flintoff and Pietersen will be key to the tourists hopes of victory.
Pietersen has averaged just 10.66 in the ODI series so far, while Flintoff is yet to register a run with the bat and has taken just one wicket in the two matches he has featured in.
England have never beaten the West Indies in a ODI at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, however the venue proved a happy hunting ground in the 2007 World Cup with two wins from the two pool matches played here.
West Indies have to decide whether to go for the spin option of Sulieman Benn, or boost their firepower with the addition of Ravi Rampaul.
Benn has come into the squad for injured fellow left-arm spinner Nikita Miller (side strain), while pace powler Rampaul was in the squad for both matches in Barbados, but did not play.
West Indies (from): Chris Gayle (capt), Lionel Baker, Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Dale Richards, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons
England (from): Andrew Strauss (capt), James Anderson, Gareth Batty, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Steve Davies, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Adil Rashid, Owais Shah
Australia bring back Symonds
Andrew Symonds has been included in Australia's preliminary squad for this year's ICC World Twenty20.
A season blighted by injury, poor form and controversy means the influential all-rounder has not played for his country since the Boxing Day Test against South Africa.
But despite his past problems, which culminated in the 33-year-old enrolling in counselling, he has been named in a 30-man party for the tournament in England.
"I'm grateful that I've got the chance to get back to playing for Australia again," Symonds said.
"Hopefully, the boys go well in South Africa on Friday and for the rest of the series because I'd love to be back in the rooms with them again sometime down the track."
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said the selectors had been advised Symonds had reached a point in his counselling where it was appropriate to consider him for international selection, subject to fitness and form.
"Cricket Australia and Andrew have been speaking, as have members of the team leadership group, and we are satisfied he is committed to doing the things needed of an Australian international cricketer," Sutherland said.
Chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, added:" At his best Andrew is one of the most dynamic Twenty20 players in the world and his progress will be monitored leading up to the selection of the final 15."
Batsman Brad Hodge is another to be recalled, while recovering players Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh have also been included.
There are three uncapped players in the squad in Western Australian spinner Aaron Heal, Victoria batsman Rob Quiney and South Australia wicketkeeper Graham Manou.
The final squad will be whittled down to 15 by May 5.
Australia squad: Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Callum Ferguson, Brett Geeves, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Shane Harwood, Nathan Hauritz, Aaron Heal, Moises Henriques, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hodge, James Hopes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza, Ben Laughlin, Brett Lee, Graham Manou, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Rob Quiney, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White.
Soccor News:
Gerrard extends Liverpool deal until 2013
Liverpool's Premier League title push was given a boost on Friday with the news that club captain Steven Gerrard has agreed a two-year extension to his contract.
The 28-year-old's current deal was due to expire in 2011 but has committed to the club until 2013, with reports suggesting that his weekly wage will increase from £110,000-a-week to £150,000.
Reacting to the news, manager Rafael Benitez, who himself recently agreed a new deal tying him to Anfield until 2014, told the club's website: ''This is fantastic news for the club. Steven has once again shown his commitment and it was an easy deal to agree.
''As soon as we offered him the option he said yes. There were no problems at all. He wants to stay for life.
''This deal sends out another clear message that we are moving forward as a club. To know we have a player of Steven's quality with us for many more years is a great boost for the club and the fans.
''He is clearly a player who inspires those around him and even though he is playing very well at the moment, I still think his best years are ahead of him.''
Liverpool are currently second in the Premier League, a point behind Manchester United and could go top on Saturday if they avoid defeat at Fulham, at least until Manchester United play Aston Villa on Sunday.
The Anfield club are chasing their first title for 19 years and if successful would extend their record of English top flight titles to 19, however if United clinch the championship this season they would equal Liverpool's current record of 18 trophies.
Speaking recently, Gerrard said: ''I'm really happy at the club at the moment, in fact I have never been happier at any time throughout my career and I would happily sign for life.
''I am playing in a top team, I am playing with world-class players and I believe that with this manager, going forward, we can be successful.''
Liverpool face Chelsea at Anfield on Wednesday in first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Meanwhile on Friday Gerrard pleaded not guilty to a charge of affray at Liverpool Crown Court in relation to a bar brawl last December.
The incident at the Lounge Bar nightclub in Southport occurred after Gerrard's two-goal man-of-the-match performance in a 5-1 win over Newcastle United on December 28th.
Gerrard denied involvement in the incident which resulted in 34-year-old company director Marcus McGee requiring hospital treatment for facial injuries.
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