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Typically miserly on his return to action for Australia A following the back injury that curtailed his India tour, Jackson Bird has outlined the tourists’ Ashes bowling blueprint to place England under the kind of sustained pressure so desired by their coach Mickey Arthur.Should Australia be seeking a purveyor of sustained tight bowling with subtle swing and bounce from a decent height, then Bird is a non-negotiable selection for the first match of the series at Trent Bridge, having shown in two Tests so far that he has the rare capacity to land the ball more or less where he wants to. He hinted at this again on day one in Bristol, nearly pinning Michael Klinger lbw twice in the first over of the innings and going to stumps with 0 for 29 from 10 overs.As part of Australia’s long-term planning for this northern summer, Bird was a tourist to these parts with Australia A in 2012 also, and learned valuable lessons about bowling in England. Chief among these is that any paceman who walks onto the ground with delusions of grandiose swing and bowling the perfect ball will soon find himself nursing expensive figures while patrolling the boundary – consistency is everything.”You’ve got to be pretty strict on your lines and length,” Bird said. “The wickets are a little bit slower so anything too full or short or anything with width just gets put away so you’ve got to be really diligent with your lines and length and not give away too much. I probably didn’t bowl as well as I would have liked last year [in England].”When I first came over here I was more worried about the movement and trying to swing the ball and trying to get that sideways movement as well, so when I reverted to trying to just hit my line and length, if I put the ball in the right area I tend to swing the ball anyway. So I learnt that pretty quickly and by the end of the tour I was able to do that.”Bird was perhaps the most valuable find of the past Australian summer, the delay in his selection when he might have been chosen for the pivotal Perth Test against South Africa immediately looking foolish as he moved the ball appreciably against Sri Lanka while scooping 11 wickets at 16.18 on the Boxing Day/New Year swing.He was likely to figure in the India Tests on less forgiving surfaces before a back stress fracture was diagnosed, forcing him home. The early return to Australia may have cost Bird a Cricket Australia contract, but he bore no grudge about the fate that befell him, reasoning it allowed him time to freshen up for a tour far more amenable to his modus operandi.”I hadn’t had an injury in about six years before that so to get it during a Test series was pretty disappointing but it probably happened at a good time,” Bird said. “I got the three months off to get myself fit and strong, get rid of my back injury and also a few other niggles. If it had happened at the end of the tour I probably would have missed out on the Ashes as well so looking at it that way it probably was good timing.”Like Ed Cowan, George Bailey, James Faulkner and numerous others in the Australian set-up, Bird has benefited greatly from a strong team and culture in Tasmania, having moved south from New South Wales in search of improved fitness, focus and performance. He said the Tigers had imbued him with plenty of belief, something he was now seeing among other members of the Australian Test bowling attack after their work together so far in England.”When I first got down to Tassie I basically wanted to get myself into a position to play first-class cricket – I tried to get as fit as I could,” Bird said. “Then when I got my chance I definitely had the full support of [now retired coach] Tim Coyle, the coaching staff, George and all the players as well. It puts your mind at ease when you’re running in knowing that everyone’s behind you. Tim was a great coach and we’re sad to see him go, but he definitely made me feel very welcome.”

Rajiv Shukla has resigned as IPL chairman, following the scandal over alleged corruption in the league. His decision to stand down comes less than 24 hours after the resignations of two top BCCI officials, secretary Sanjay Jagdale and treasurer Ajay Shirke, and on the eve of a crucial BCCI working committee meeting in Chennai, where the future of N Srinivasan as board president is expected to be decided.On Saturday evening, Shukla told : “I have decided to quit as IPL chairman. It is a decision that I was pondering over for some time. I think it is time to step down. Sanjay Jagdale and Ajay Shirke resigned in the best interest of Indian cricket. I thought this is the right time.”Shirke, responding to news of Shukla’s resignation, said the challenge now lay in how to move forward. “It is his decision. He’s in the eye of the storm, he must have realised the gravity of what he felt,” Shirke told . “It is never too late, the question is what are the steps being taken from now on to restore the faith and restore transparency. No one is able to pinpoint the faults and what steps should be taken.”Shukla took over as IPL chairman at the BCCI’s Annual General Meeting in September 2011, from Chirayu Amin. The tenure is for a year, but can be extended at the board’s AGM. Shukla, who was reappointed as chairman in 2012, had gone on record saying he would not extend his term at this September’s AGM.IPL 2013 has been plunged into controversy over the past two weeks, following the arrests of three Rajasthan Royals players for alleged spot-fixing, and Chennai Super Kings official Gurunath Meiyappan – the the son-in-law of board president N Srinivasan, who is also the managing director of Super Kings’ owner, India Cements – for alleged betting.Apart from Shukla, the IPL’s governing council comprises Arun Jaitley (Delhi District Cricket Association), Anirudh Chaudhary (Haryana Cricket Association), Amitabh Chaudhary (Jharkhand CA), Sanjay Patel (Baroda CA), Ganga Raju (Andhra CA), MP Pandove (Punjab CA), and former India Test cricketer and current television commentator Ravi Shastri.Meanwhile Jagdale, who resigned as BCCI secretary on Friday, said a “massive clean-up job” is necessary following the controversies. “The spot-fixing and betting scandal has badly dented the image of cricket. A massive clean-up job is required to overcome this,” he said. “But this will take time as the damage done is very big.”It is very difficult to stop fixing in cricket and BCCI has its own limitations, but the the board can strengthen its surveillance and curb the menace of fixing. At the same time, the BCCI will have to take strict action against cricketers who are found guilty. To earn the faith of fans, the BCCI administrators will have to show determination and work as a unit.”Whether Srinivasan, under mounting pressure, will step aside as board president – at least temporarily, until the inquiry into Gurunath, India Cements and Rajasthan Royals’ owners is complete – is likely to be answered on Sunday, following the BCCI’s emergency meeting. Jagdale said he would not consider returning to the BCCI even if Srinivasan resigned: “I am not even looking at the possibility of coming back into the BCCI’s fold. I think I am done with my innings.”

Mitchell Marsh is adamant he has learned from his disciplinary troubles at the Centre of Excellence and the Champions League in South Africa last year, even if he remains equally sure they were “blown out of proportion”.Sent home from Cricket Australia’s academy in Brisbane for turning up to training “in an unfit state” then one of several players dropped from the Perth Scorchers’ team at the CLT20 after his 21st birthday celebrations slipped out of control, Marsh spent much of the summer pondering his priorities due to a serious hamstring injury. He returned with runs and wickets for the Warriors late in the season, and has now earned an ODI place with Australia in the Champions Trophy.After returning home to Perth from the CoE in July, Marsh had been somewhat indignant about his treatment, saying he had worked extremely hard between his lapses. Ten months and a few more misadventures on from that episode, he retained a sense that the scrutiny of his behaviour had been excessive.”Those things have happened and I learned from my mistakes,” Marsh said from India. “Although I felt that both incidents were blown out of proportion I took them on the chin and took full responsibility for them. I haven’t changed the way I am around people, I just need to make better decisions at the right times.”The Australian cricket side sets extremely high standards. I really think over the last six months I’ve pulled my head in and started making good decisions. On the cricket side of things like any batsman or bowler my only currency is wickets and runs, so it’s a matter of putting runs on the board and taking wickets.”So far, Marsh’s combination of wayward behaviour and big hitting has made him seem a young man destined for a lucrative limited-overs career – his attempts at becoming a first-class batsman have so far reaped a meagre 915 runs at 21.27 in 25 matches. But amid the buzz of this year’s IPL, Marsh said his ODI recall was merely a step on the road to the Test batting place he desires most.”The biggest thing for me is I’ve always grown up wanting to play Test cricket. That’s all I want to do, it’s the hardest format and the pinnacle of our game,” Marsh said. “So for me being in the IPL at such a young age was a bonus for international experience. Playing over here is great fun, but it’s also good for my cricket.”Although I’ve been more consistent in the shorter formats, they’re a bonus for me and I’m hoping that over this winter I can improve again and become better at the longer format. Because if that’s not my goal then I’m probably not in the right sport.”Growing up I’ve always been a batsman and batted in the top five. With my bowling it’s only really come up in the last couple of years. I’ve still got the goal that I want to be a top-order batsman and hopefully be able to do a job with the ball. But I’ve got a long way to go and a lot of hard work ahead.”The call to travel to England was a just reward for Marsh’s most consistent format, as his 50-over efforts have outshone even the T20 hitting that has made him a valuable commodity well in advance of his maturation as a player of Test match capabilities. But he spoke earnestly of his intent to develop in the Sheffield Shield next summer, in concert with the Western Australia coach Justin Langer.”Having started well in that format I took a lot of confidence into it and I guess that’s carried over,” he said. “In the four-day format … if I want to play the longer format for Australia I need to score more runs and be as consistent as I can, that’s what challenges me the most. And coming in at such a young age I’m thankful for that, I’ve learned a lot and I feel that I’m making good gains.”JL’s been good not only for me but for West Australian cricket, so I’m really looking forward to working with him over the summer again. He’s set clear boundaries for me, which was exactly what I needed and I know exactly where I stand.”

Australia’s No. 1 spin bowler Nathan Lyon consulted his former Test team-mate Michael Hussey before deciding to leave South Australia and return to New South Wales, in a move that will take him closer to his family and also the spin mentoring of Stuart MacGill.Lyon grew up in New South Wales but has not played for the state, having emerged through cricket in Canberra before he took up a job on the Adelaide Oval groundstaff in 2010 and was plucked from there into the South Australia side.Explaining his decision to ESPNcricinfo, Lyon said he wanted to spend the time he had when not on international duty closer to his family, who hail from the town of Young in country New South Wales. Hussey handed Lyon stewardship of the Australian team song on his retirement, and the pair have remained close.”I haven’t taken this decision lightly at all, I’ve spoken to a lot of people I trust,” Lyon said. “Mike Hussey was one of those people I was talking to, we put all the pros and cons down for Adelaide. The cricket structure down in SA has been fantastic, they’ve really given me the opportunity to become an international cricketer and I’ll always pay them the highest amount of respect.”SA and [coach] Darren Berry especially has been fantastic for me and I have so much respect for them and I really love what they’ve done for me. But I have the opportunity to put a really good family support network around me and moving back home, closer to my family so I can have that support off the field that will hopefully help keep my cricket moving forward.”That support network will also include MacGill, the former Test legspinner who recently took up a part-time role with Cricket Australia as a spin bowling mentor. Lyon, MacGill, and the prospective Australia wrist-spinner Fawad Ahmed are presently training together in a spin camp at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.”Stuart MacGill’s record speaks for itself, he’s an unbelievable talent and a past legend of Australian cricket,” Lyon said. “To have a friendship with him and be able to talk cricket with him has been really good and I’ve learned a lot off him. I’ve got a lot of time for Stuart.”I’ve really enjoyed being outside bowling and doing the little one percent things [in Brisbane]. My goal is to become more consistent with my bowling, to play my role in the Australian side better than before.”Lyon’s move means the legspinner Adam Zampa, who the Redbacks have imported from New South Wales, could find himself a regular member of the South Australian side next summer. Zampa and Andrew McDonald, who requested a release from his Cricket Victoria contract to allow him to move to Adelaide, are the two interstate signings South Australia have confirmed in their 15-man squad for the 2013-14 season.The allrounder Daniel Christian has been released from his contract and will join Victoria in what is effectively a straight swap for McDonald, while Cullen Bailey, Jake Haberfield and James Smith have all been dropped from the list. Berry said it was a shame to lose both Lyon and Christian but the team was pleased to welcome Zampa and McDonald.”We were keen to keep both players and they were told that,” Berry said of Lyon and Christian. “It is our job to develop Australian players and we have been able to help both Nathan and Daniel achieve that success.”Adam Zampa broke into the first-class level last season and showed in a number of games that he is an exciting talent and future prospect for higher honours. The opportunity to work with Johan Botha will be a huge benefit to Zampa’s career while bolstering the Redbacks’ spinning stocks. Andrew McDonald is one of the best all-rounders in Australia. He gives us a great batting flexibility in our top order along with another medium pace option to complement our exciting bowling group.”South Australia have one place yet to fill on their contract list and they expected to finalise the squad by Thursday this week. Travis Head and Daniel Worrall have both been promoted to full contracts from the rookie list, while two new rookies – Alex Carey and Nick Winter – have been named.South Australia Johan Botha, Tom Cooper, Callum Ferguson, Peter George, Travis Head, Phillip Hughes (Cricket Australia contract), Michael Klinger, Tim Ludeman, Andrew McDonald, Joe Mennie, Gary Putland, Kane Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa. Rookies Alex Carey, Elliot Opie, Alex Ross, Nick Winter.

Nadeem Ghauri, the Pakistan umpire, has been handed a four-year ban by the PCB after its integrity committee found him guilty of being willing to accept money for favourable umpiring decisions. His colleague Anis Siddiqi was banned for three years.The allegations against the umpires first came up after a television sting operation last year. The PCB set up an inquiry committee soon after and passed on its findings to the board’s integrity committee to determine the punishments.The sting, broadcast by India TV, claimed to have “exposed” several first-class umpires from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan who were allegedly willing to give decisions favouring players for a fee. In the sting, conducted in July and August 2012, the reporters claimed to belong to a sports management company and promised the umpires officiating assignments in events of all kinds around the world, largely domestic Twenty20 leagues.A PCB release detailed the decisions of the integrity committee which included PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf. It explained why the board was harsher on Ghauri, who has stood in five Tests and 43 ODIs. “Mr. Nadeem Ghauri being a former Test cricketer and also elevated to the elite panel of umpires of ICC and PCB’s International panel (with 13 years standing) straight away agreed to extend undue favours for material gains.”The ruling on Siddiqi was a bit more lenient. “Mr. Anis Siddiqui being only a domestic umpire with lesser experience of only eight years did not straight away fall prey to the undue suggestions made by India TV Sting Operatives and kept on resisting their undue demands repeatedly, but finally conceded to them on their persistence. Keeping in view his limited exposure to International Cricket and Codes of Conduct, his case is of mitigating circumstances.”The PCB studied the raw, unedited footage of the operation from India TV, besides evidence from the ICC and investigated it with the help of the Punjab Forensic Science Agency .The Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka boards announced investigations following the broadcast of the sting operation in October. The Bangladesh umpire Nadir Shah was handed a ten-year ban by the BCB last month. The SLC began its investigation into the matter in October but hasn’t yet announced their findings.The Pakistan board has endorsed the recommendations of the integrity committee. “The PCB has a zero-tolerance policy for corruption or indiscipline,” the chairman Ashraf said. “We are committed on creating awareness amongst our players and officials with regards to the possible pitfalls, and are determined to adopt all vigilance and security parameters, which are in line with the laid out procedures of the ICC. Today’s decision reiterates the commitment of the PCB to keep our great sport free of all corrupt practices.”

ScorecardThe Warriors comfortably chased the Dolphins’ target in East London to win by nine wickets. Dolphins won the toss and batted first, but were in serious trouble as they lost both openers for seven runs on the board. Cameron Delport’s cameo of 23 off 14 was cut short when he was caught by Ayabulela Gqamane off Simon Harmer, leaving them at a precarious 38 for 4. The most experienced pair in the squad, Ravi Bopara and Vaughn van Jaarsveld, put on 98 runs for the fifth wicket to revive the innings. Van Jaarsveld top-scored with 58 off 41 balls, as the Dolphins put up 136 for 4 at the completion of their 20 overs.The Warriors started assuredly, with their openers putting on a 73-run stand. Once Christiaan Jonker fell, Colin Ingram came in and helped opener Ashwell Prince maintain the course. They eventually steered the Warriors to victory, achieving the target with 15 balls to spare. Prince finished unbeaten on 70 off 55 balls.
ScorecardThe Knights won a low-scoring thriller against the top-placed Lions at the Wanderers. The Knights were put into bat, but despite the openers getting a start, none of the batsman were able to capitalise, with only Rilee Rossouw (33) and Johan van der Wath (24) passing the 20-run mark. The Dolphins’ bowlers bowled as a unit, with Aaron Phangiso, Imran Tahir and Hardus Viljoen picking up two wickets each. The Knights finished their quota of 20 overs with 125 for 9.The Lions simply couldn’t string substantial partnerships together as they attempted to chase the Knights’ target. Jean Symes top-scored with 46 off 37 balls, but once he was dismissed off the second last ball of the innings, the game was heavily in favour of the Warriors as van der Wath bowled an excellent final over, picking up Temba Bavuma as well. His final over clinched the game for the Knights, who moved to third place in the points table.

Sri Lanka’s new selection panel has said its selections would remain transparent throughout its tenure, at a meeting with players, coaches and officials, held at Sri Lanka Cricket headquarters on Wednesday.The panel also committed its two full-time selectors, Hashan Tillakaratne and Pramodya Wickramasinghe, to be present at every international match and team training session. In addition, the selectors outlined their expectations of the players – particularly the national team, emphasising fitness in particular, both as a way to enhance performance and remain injury free.SLC’s match referees were also asked to play a part in feeding information about domestic players to the panel. “The selectors told the match referees that they see all matches, and are in the best position to identify talent,” an SLC release said. “They were requested to give them information on noteworthy players.”The selectors’ meeting with the players came after a week of discussions held with domestic cricket coaches, clubs and match officials, whose views had not been canvassed systematically by previous panels.

Ed Cowan confessed to a “pretty flat” net session as Australia trained ahead of the third Test in Sydney, and it was hard to escape a sense of New Year’s lethargy around the SCG on the first morning of 2013. Given the injuries and poor results enveloping a bedraggled Sri Lanka, it may be attitude rather than opponent that provides the hosts’ greatest barrier to completing a 3-0 series sweep.As usual, Australia’s search for an exemplar of preparation with purpose did not need to venture far past the captain Michael Clarke, who is no longer in much doubt to play. Fastidious as ever, he completed a fitness test in front of the team physio, Alex Kountouris, comfortably enough, and now appears highly likely to be ready in time to toss the coin on January 3.Clarke and the rest have the motivation provided by Michael Hussey’s final Test – as they did when succumbing to South Africa in Ricky Ponting’s final match – while a schedule warped by the BBL also means this match will be the last chance for many members of the team to play in conditions that will give them some idea of the challenges presented by India in February. The SCG curator Tom Parker’s pitch is well grassed but has time to dry, leaving both sides to consider twin spin.”We have spoken at some length about our determination to make sure we win this series 3-0,” Cowan said. “We experienced some disappointment earlier in the season, and this is us trying to vent that a little bit and we are pretty keen to see Mike off with flying colours.”It’s not like we’re flying out [to India] tomorrow and are dumped in the middle of Hyderabad and told good luck. It’s six weeks [away]. Some guys are going over earlier, there’s going to be a huge amount of preparation time. I’m pretty keen to face spin [in the Sydney Test] if the wicket looks like that, because I don’t think it’s going to turn very much, so if Sri Lanka want to play two spinners that’s probably to our favour.”Hussey’s retirement, alongside Clarke’s flirtation with hamstring trouble, has forced the rest of the team to at least think about walking taller. Such is the paucity of leadership and experience left now that Hussey and Ricky Ponting have both departed that Cowan has been seriously discussed as a potential captain, while even the uncomplicated fast man Peter Siddle fielded questions about his leadership capabilities.”In the Australian cricket team it’s important to have multiple leaders, and not just guys who are captaincy material,” Cowan said. “We’ve seen people like Ponting and Hussey and those kinds of guys set standards around training, around how the team behaves on and off the field. For a strong group, which we aspire to be, you need to have a great captain, and we’ve got that. And you need some guys to step up and take over those responsibilities.”It’s nice to be mentioned, but I don’t think that changes anything about how I try to contribute to the group. From the first day I’ve tried to be myself, and contribute and give to the team and make sure we’re winning Test matches. If there’s 10 or 11 other guys doing that, that’s how culture is built. I believe pretty firmly in that.”Australia’s culture did not look particularly strong on the 2012 ODI tour of England when the team was routed 4-0, when both Ponting (dropped) and Hussey (parental leave) were absent. Cowan acknowledged the hole they left, but argued that in Clarke the team had a captain worth following, and simply needed a new generation to step into the front rank.”You can say what a hole it leaves; it’s pretty obvious. He [Hussey] is a phenomenal player, he’s still playing as well as he ever has, so sure it’s going to leave a hole,” Cowan said. “But the other side is it’s an opportunity for this team to move forward how they want to, be shaped not by the past but have a real crack with a new group shaping a new Australian cricket team.”That’s exciting, and it has to be. If we don’t think that’s exciting then we’ve got an issue. I think we’re inspired by the way the captain preforms. I think we’re inspired by the way he goes about his business and gives of himself to the group, and so he’s the guy who we’ll continue to look to. And he’s excited by it, so if he’s excited I think you’ll see a whole group of merry men following.”One area in which Cowan is seeking to improve in Sydney is to not allow himself to be distracted by a dismissal, as he admitted took place when Phillip Hughes was run out late on Boxing Day. There, Cowan lost focus, and nicked a skittish cut shot to slip to be out for 36 – the sort of middling score he needs to build on more often.”On reflection, it probably did [affect me]. It shouldn’t have, I was disappointed that it probably did,” Cowan said. “It was one of those moments when you’re travelling nicely in your own little bubble and controlling the game, and then when that bubble breaks momentarily it’s hard to get back into it quickly when your emotions are flying around.”In terms of learning, that’s what I took out of the last innings, not letting little situations like that take their toll.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
The ball that started the great Indian slide•BCCI

For a major part of Saturday, the Barmy Army’s band played loud and cheerfully at Eden Gardens as England all but consigned India to their first set of consecutive home Test defeats since 1999-2000.It was fitting that the “band” drowned out the despondent Indian contingent in the stands, putting in place the jingoistic advertisements put together by the host broadcasters, which ridiculed English people.The England supporters, though, were silenced a little in the morning session by a mini comeback from India. It was ruthlessly stomped over by Graeme Swann, so far a great support act to Monty Panesar in the series. Just when it seemed India might be slipping away from them for the first time in the Test, Swann assumed the lead role just after lunch.India had taken England’s last four wickets cheaply, then gone to lunch without damage but Swann came back to burst through Virender Sehwag’s gate. Cats among pigeons cause less panic. Under relentless pressure, India batted and ran like headless chickens, and went from 86 for 0 to 239 for 9.When England went into lunch having lost four wickets in 4.3 overs and then conceded 86 runs in 21 wicketless overs, there might have been thoughts of Chennai 2008-09 at the back of their heads. Swann had himself dropped Sehwag on 7 and seen him race to 49 by the break. India were only 121 behind. Out comes Swann and tosses one outside off, putting all his might in trying to turn the ball, creating a gap between Sehwag’s pad and his open face, and then hitting the top of off.India were now like a house of cards in a bicycle stand. Gautam Gambhir, who was assured in Sehwag’s company, and Cheteshwar Pujara looked like they would get out any ball. Steven Finn, bowling reverse swing at high pace, and Swann were relentless. The pitch that had looked docile thus far began exploding all of a sudden. It was merely the amount of action put into the ball.After just 12 runs in close to eight overs in that partnership, Gambhir called Pujara through for a risky single and Ian Bell hit the stumps direct from short midwicket. You could imagine England bowlers fighting to get a bowl now; there were easy wickets on offer.Gambhir was nearly gone when a replay to check the validity of a low catch off Swann revealed he hadn’t edged it at all. In the next over, Gambhir went driving at a wide and full ball from Finn, edging him through to Matt Prior. Just to prolong his agony, the umpires asked him to wait at the edge of the boundary as they checked for a foot fault that wasn’t.With Gambhir finally gone, focus turned to Sachin Tendulkar, playing surely his last Test innings at Eden Gardens. He had got four with a trademark lap sweep but, two balls later, stayed back to an offbreak pitched on a length. The ball from Swann didn’t turn as much as he expected it to, and took the outside edge to Jonathan Trott at slip: 107 for 4.Before India could draw breath, Finn was replaced by an even more threatening James Anderson. Reverse swing at high pace again. Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh somehow added 15 before Anderson bowled one short of a length, and it shot low to take the bottom edge and crash into Yuvraj’s stumps. MS Dhoni came in. MS Dhoni got one short outside off. MS Dhoni followed it tamely. MS Dhoni went back: 122 for 6.Kohli was next, beautifully set up by Finn. Immediately after reversing one ball in to Kohli’s bat handle, Finn inverted the shine of the ball and got it to move away. Kohli didn’t have the discipline, followed it, and was taken at the wicket. He followed it with a symbolic wicket of Zaheer Khan with a reversing inswinger. Here was a former master of reverse swing who has become an innocuous trundler being shown how to do it.A bit of comedy followed. Panesar, who had been sawn off for a golden duck in the morning, had both Ashwin and Ishant Sharma missed off his bowling. If looks could kill, England would be looking for a new wicketkeeper.R Ashwin, arguably India’s most consistent Test batsman this year, continued to show he is a better batsman than he is a spinner. In the company of the obdurate Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha, he added 80 in 29.3 overs. All it did was help find the spirited Indian crowd some voice, avoid an innings defeat, and take the match into the final day.It also brought up a statistic that sums up India’s series. His batting average for the series now crossed 50, behind only Pujara’s, but it was still lower than his own bowling average.

Injured India batsman Manoj Tiwary has been replaced in the India squad for the Twenty20s against England by Ambati Rayudu. Tiwary’s injury was diagnosed as a side strain. He had picked up the injury, which will keep him out of action for six weeks, during a Ranji Trophy game on Sunday, while batting in Bengal’s first innings against Saurashtra.Rayudu, who has played for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy since the 2010-11 season, has had a prolific run this year, with scores of 64, 85, 10, 54, 1, 131 and 58 in his previous five games. A bit-hitting middle-order batsman, Rayudu did not have too much success on his last Twenty20 assignment: October’s Champions League T20, where he played for Mumbai Indians. But in IPL 2012, he was Mumbai Indians second-highest scorer behind Rohit Sharma, with 333 runs from 15 innings at a strike-rate of 132.14. He is yet to debut for India across formats.For Tiwary, who captains Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, this is a second setback in quick succession – he had suffered a wrist problem earlier in the season. When fit, he had shown some good form, scoring 191 against Gujarat, and also making 93 against England for the Board President’s XI last month.India play two Twenty20s against England, on December 20 and 22, and that is followed up by limited-overs series’ against Pakistan running into the first week of January. Later in January, England return for a one-day series.