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The ongoing season of the IPL will be Rajasthan Royals captain Shane Warne’s last one as a player. He will most likely continue to be associated with Rajasthan as a coach or advisor in the future.”Yes this is my last year playing IPL – please come down and support RR last 2 home games v Chennai & Bangalore ! We need your help !!!!”, Warne wrote on Twitter. He confirmed that this meant he would not play any more professional cricket matches after this IPL. “A big thank you to everyone that has helped me – supported me through all the ups and downs – hope you have enjoyed watching me play,” he added.Warne captained Rajasthan to victory in the inaugural season of the IPL but the franchise’s fortunes slumped in the next two seasons. He has played 52 games for Rajasthan so far picking up 56 wickets at an average of 24.66. Rajasthan are currently fourth in the points table in this edition and Warne called on Rajasthan’s fans to support them in their last two home games.”We have a spirit in the squad similar to IPL 1 – it would be great to leave on a high – I’m proud of the way we have developed young players,” Warne wrote.Australia allrounder Shane Watson, who plays under Warne in the IPL, told ESPNcricinfo in an interview that Warne was keen to leave the game on a winning note, whenever that happened. “I think he’s very motivated,” Watson said. “After last year the way things panned out for Rajasthan, I think he’s very motivated to make sure that whenever he leaves the game he leaves in a really good place. Warney’s bowling unbelievably well and has been since the start of the tournament. There’s only really one person who’s ever been consistently able to do it as a legspinner and he’s bowling absolutely beautifully.”The team released a statement praising Warne for his contribution while making clear his retirement as a player was not the end of his association with the franchise. “Shane Warne has been an integral part of Rajasthan Royals for the last four years,” Raghu Iyer, the chief marketing officer, said. “He has been instrumental in nurturing young talent in the team and making Rajasthan Royals a formidable force in IPL. He will continue his association with the Royals in coming years and will offer his invaluable guidance to young players.”We are looking forward to him assuming a larger role in the team and continuing adding value to the team’s success.”

Carlton Baugh has replaced Devon Thomas as the wicketkeeper in the West Indies squad for the first two one-dayers against Pakistan in St Lucia. Thomas has been diagnosed with chicken pox. Baugh will join the squad in Barbados for the ongoing pre-series camp.Baugh’s call-up is another setback to Denesh Ramdin’s hopes of mounting a comeback. Baugh was part of West Indies’ World Cup 2011 squad but had to pull out of the tournament with a hamstring injury sustained during the warm-up game against Sri Lanka. His place was taken by Thomas who played all of West Indies’ seven games in the tournament. Thomas was also part of the squad for the tour of Sri Lanka last year as second-choice wicketkeeper behind Baugh.West Indies meet Pakistan in the first two games of the five-match ODI series at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia on April 23 and April 25.

The last time Junaid Siddique played England at home was more than a year ago, in February 2010. He scored a duck then. Since then, Junaid has played 19 ODIs, and has been dismissed in single figures only twice. Even those two instances have occurred only recently, after an unbroken run of double figures in 14 games. That’s a record any No. 3 in the world would trade, but then again this coin has the other side too. Twelve of those promising starts have ended for scores less than 40, which is Junaid’s average for the same period is 35.Of late, though, Junaid seems to have shown a bit of confusion as to what his role in the side is. He has become more free flowing, but that seems to have cost him his wicket too often. And in a side that has shown it needs somebody to put a heavy price on his wicket, someone who puts his head down and faces the heat, Junaid’s recent adventures haven’t quite helped.Two days ago, the coach Jamie Siddons identified Junaid as one of the men capable of playing long innings. “Imrul [Kayes] and Imrose [Junaid] are the two players that are expected to do that,” Siddons said. “Imrose was playing a lot of shots, I have spoken to him about that. That’s not his role in the team.”Junaid still believed that it was important to be positive, but acknowledged he needed to convert the starts more often. “I have been playing a few shots because I think playing positive cricket will count in the end,” he said. “I have been playing well getting starts, but have not been able to carry on. I am scoring the first 30-40 runs very confidently, but getting out. My coach has also told me, and everyone is also helping me prepare. I don’t want to get out in the next match, and that is what I have been trying at the nets.”His last sentence is important. Bangladesh nets sessions are usually a place where the batsmen don’t spend a lot of time defending or fine-tuning defensive shots. Perhaps it is just because this is one-day cricket, perhaps the recent defeat makes it more conspicuous, but the Bangladesh nets sessions seem to feature much more merry hitting than other teams’. Over the last two or three days, though, Junaid and Mushfiqur Rahim have been more focused on playing the correct shots first before the adventurous one.”Yes, we have not been able to put up big partnerships in any of the three matches so far, and that is the main reason why our batting could not perform,” Junaid said. “We have to try that and ensure a big score from our top order. That is the target of our top order. We have always played shots at the nets, and now we are sincerely trying to stay there.”On a personal level I have been trying for some time now to get a big score, play a long innings. I am going to try and do that against England. If I get a start, I will definitely try and play a big knock on Friday.”

Jacques Kallis has said South Africa are “better prepared than we have been for any World Cup.” It’s no different to what any of the other members of the squad have preached in the build-up but coming from the team’s premier allrounder’s lips, it sounds different.Kallis is, by far, South Africa’s most experienced player in the tournament, with this World Cup being his fifth. His analysis has context: that of the being part of the 1996 team that had one bad day in the quarter-finals, the 1999 team that missed on a final spot in dramatic fashion, the 2003 team that didn’t make it past the first round of the competition played on home soil and the 2007 team that crumbled to Australia – twice.This time Kallis feels the make-up of the squad is different. “We’ve covered all our bases,” he said. “We have the balance in the team to be able to play on any type of tracks that come in front of us, which is something we really haven’t had for a while.”The one glaringly undercooked element of South African squads of the past has been the lack of an attacking spinner, something has Kallis has lived through. “The last unorthodox one [spinner] might have been Paul Adams,” he said, which is why the inclusion of Pakistan-born legspinner Imran Tahir is exciting so many people, including Kallis. “He creates some doubt in the batsmen’s mind and he’s fitted in fantastically into the squad.”Kallis added that together with pace attack that has “produced the goods recently,” South Africa can “adapt to any adapt to any conditions put in front of us.”He was mindful not to neglect mentioning, with a glint in his eye, that one of the cogs in that attack is an “old allrounder who bowls a bit.” It’s refreshing to see the lighter side of Kallis, a testament to the shift in the mindset of the South African squad that both their own and other journalists have noticed.The change in attitude, according to the ageing man himself, can be attributed to the sense of belonging each squad member feels. “Each guy knows his role which is major part of feeling relaxed. You get quite nervous when you’re not sure where you fit in. The team has spent a lot of time together now as a unit.”With what Kallis sees as a complete line-up he is encouraging the team to revel in the experience. “Guys can go out there and really enjoy it, which is something that as a senior player I’ve been wanting to get across.” After the disappointment of four World Cups, Kallis knows what he’s saying when he dispatches the advice to have fun. “The thing with a World Cup is once it starts it goes by in the blink of an eye, so I want to encourage them to enjoy it.”

Australia will risk both Brett Lee and Shaun Tait at the World Cup after they were chosen in the 15-man squad for the trophy defence beginning in India next month. Peter Siddle and Xavier Doherty were not included while John Hastings, the Victoria allrounder, was named along with the injured duo of Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey.Hussey picked up a serious hamstring tear in Sunday’s ODI win over England and underwent surgery today, while Ponting is recovering from an operation on his little finger. The pair will not appear in the rest of the one-day series and Shaun Marsh will supplement the remaining 13 players for the next three matches.Hussey and Ponting do have time to recover before the tournament reaches the knockout stages, with the quarter finals beginning on March 23. Australia’s opening match of the campaign is against Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad on February 21.While Australia are now mid-table in Tests, they remain the No.1 side in the 50-over game and are aiming for their fourth consecutive World Cup win. Seven players who were part of the unbeaten 2007 success in the West Indies will attempt to achieve more glory.Lee and Tait are returning from long-term elbow injuries but the selectors have kept faith in their speed, bodies and shock value. Lee, 34, captured two wickets on Sunday in his first ODI since October 2009 as he reached 150kph, while Tait missed the game with a back injury. Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger are the other quicks in the unit, with Hastings and Shane Watson enlisted to provide support.”Hastings has been selected as he adds variety to our bowling options,” Hilditch said. “We feel his bowling is well suited to subcontinent conditions and his all-round skills with bat and ball add to the flexibility of the squad.”Nathan Hauritz is the sole recognised spinner but Steven Smith and David Hussey will also be relied on to deliver regular overs. “Nathan is our preferred spin option and his one-day record in India is excellent,” Hilditch said. Hauritz has played seven 50-over games in the country, taking four wickets at 70.75. Hilditch’s panel did not pick Hauritz during the entire Ashes campaign but now he expects the offspinner to “be an important part of our bid for this fourth World Cup”.David Hussey’s mix of hard-hitting batting and part-time offspin have earned him a trip, despite him playing his first one-day game in more than a year on Sunday. “We feel he will play a crucial role for us in sub-continental conditions,” Hilditch said. Tim Paine is the back-up wicketkeeper and will also be a standby batsman.Australia squad Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Cameron White, Tim Paine (wk), Steven Smith, John Hastings, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, Doug Bollinger.

Players will be able to challenge umpiring decisions in one-day cricket for the first time this Sunday, as Australia and England trial the decision review system in the lead-up to the World Cup. Despite the BCCI’s continued opposition to the UDRS, it will be used for the duration of the World Cup, which starts on the subcontinent on February 19.Hot Spot is likely to only be available for the final stages, as there are not enough Hot Spot cameras to be sent to all the pool matches. Until now, the UDRS has only been used in Test cricket, but it relies on the boards of both countries agreeing, and only four of the past ten Test series have featured umpire reviews.However, the ICC is keen to see the system implemented in as many series as possible, and has encouraged countries to test it in bilateral ODI series before the World Cup. The Australia-England matches will be the first one-day games to include reviews, with teams expected to be allowed two incorrect referrals per innings as in Test matches.The third-umpire duties for the seven-match series will be shared between Billy Bowden, Tony Hill, Asad Rauf and Marais Erasmus – all members of the ICC’s elite panel who will then go on to the World Cup. The UDRS has been used in Tests since 2008, and the ICC cricket committee will evaluate its long-term viability after the World Cup.The UDRS was introduced in an effort to remove umpiring howlers from the game, and it has taken players some time to work out how best to use the system without wasting their chances. During the recent Ashes series, Australia and England each asked for 20 referrals, with England having eight decisions overturned and Australia seven.By the end of the series, the players were much less hasty with their reviews, and the Sydney Test featured only one referral by each team. At the Gabba and the Adelaide Oval, the teams requested a combined 11 reviews, and the number peaked at 12 during Australia’s victory in the third Test at the WACA.However, the use of the system was not without incident. Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting was fined for a prolonged debate with the umpires at the MCG, where he felt that Hot Spot had showed Kevin Pietersen edged the ball, but the third official did not interpret the vision the same way.

Mountaineers strengthened their position at the top of the table after a four-wicket haul by fast bowler Tendai Chatara carried them to a 43-run victory against Mashonaland Eagles at the Harare Sports Club. The match was fought closely all the way through, and entered the fourth day with both sides in with a chance to win.Eagles were chasing 202 but found themselves a wicket down in the second over after fast bowler Silent Mujaji trapped opener Nick Compton lbw. They never recovered from that blow and collapsed to 95 for 9. Mark Mbofana, who was Eagles’ highest scorer in the first innings, survived the hostile spell from Chatara, and finally found a partner willing to stay with him in No. 11 Innocent Chinyoka. Chinyoka hung around for 95 minutes and forced the match into the 78th over of the final day. He was finally dismissed, caught by Mark Vermeulen off Mujaji, leaving Mbofana stranded on 64, after the two had added 63 for the last wicket.Eagles’ bowlers had brought their team back into the game on the third day, bowling Mountaineers out for 218 in their second innings after they were comfortably placed at 164 for 3. Legspinner Tinotenda Mutombodzi ran through Mountaineers’ tail and finished with figures of 4 for 35. Mountaineers captain Tino Mawoyo had given them a solid start in the second innings with his 82.The sides were on even pegging after the first innings, with Eagles taking a 17-run lead thanks to half-centuries from Mbofana and Trevor Garwe. Mountaineers recovered from 23 for 3 to score 283 in their first innings. Greg Smith’s 118 and Vermeulen’s 86 accounted for most of their runs. Eagles are yet to win a game this season and are second from bottom in the table.A solid first-innings batting performance from Mid West Rhinos set up a comprehensive innings-and-57-run win over Southern Rocks at the Kwekwe Sports Club.Rhinos’ first-innings total of 459 was set up by centuries from Vusi Sibanda and Malcolm Waller. The duo added 209 for the third wicket at nearly five runs an over. The partnership finally came to an end when Brian Vitori dismissed Sibanda for 136. Waller fell soon after for 102, and Rhinos lost quick wickets, slipping from 309 for 2 to 341 for 6. However, any hopes that Rocks might have had of wrapping up Rhinos’ innings quickly were dashed by an 87-run seventh wicket partnership between Mluleki Nkala and Roland Benade, who helped the side reach 459.In reply, Rocks started poorly, losing two wickets within the first 11 overs. A 94-run partnership between Roy Kaia and Richmond Mutumbami steadied the innings. However, Mutumbami’s dismissal with the score on 122 triggered a collapse. Ian Nicolson and Simon Mugava ran through the Rocks batting, sharing seven wickets as Rocks crumbled from 122 for 2 to 197 all out, 262 runs short of Rhinos’ first-innings total.Rhinos enforced the follow-on, but Rocks made a better start to their second innings with openers Samuel Mwakayeni and Kaia putting on a century partnership. However, once Mwakayeni was dismissed by Waller, the Rocks’ batting line-up collapsed again. They lost nine wickets for 101 runs, with Mugava and Waller picking up seven wickets between them. With No. 11 Michael Chinouya unable to bat because of an injury, the Rocks innings ended on 205, as the Rhinos completed their victory in just three days.

Match facts

November 23-27
Start time 10.00 (04.30 GMT)Chris Gayle’s 333 formed the cornerstone of West Indies’ impressive performance in Galle•AFP

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Sri Lanka were grateful for some assistance from the weather in Galle after West Indies produced their finest overseas performance since beating South Africa in Port Elizabeth three years ago. The visitors were inspired by Chris Gayle’s monumental 333, a fantastic innings which began as a destructive opening-day onslaught before he methodically consolidated the team’s position.And if anyone thought Sri Lanka would the pile up 600 themselves that was dashed as Kemar Roach and Shane Shillingford led a committed bowling display which ended with the home side three runs short of saving the follow-on. However, time was already becoming tight and once Sri Lanka edged into the lead they could breathe a little easier. But they have been put on notice: West Indies aren’t here just to make up the numbers.Sri Lanka’s major issue is with their bowling attack, not entirely surprising given they have lost Muttiah Muralitaran’s 800 wickets. Ajantha Mendis collected six in Galle, but most of them came long after Gayle had set up a huge total, while Suraj Randiv wasn’t particularly threatening on a docile surface. Aravinda de Silva, the chairman of the selectors, was exasperated when talking about the problems trying to find pace bowlers with particular mention of Lasith Malinga who is being saved for one-day and Twenty20 action.West Indies, though, have issues of their own after Shillingford, the offspinner, was reported to ICC for a suspect action. He is still allowed to play pending the investigation, and has received the backing of the coach Ottis Gibson, but it is hardly the ideal preparation for a Test match when a bowler knows all eyes will be on his elbow.However, given the travails of West Indies in recent years to be entering the second Test of an away series still on level terms isn’t an achievement to take lightly. If Gayle continues his form and gets the same support from his team-mates as at Galle then this series can remain an unexpectedly tight contest.

Form guide (last five completed matches)

Sri Lanka DLDWL
West Indies DLDLL

Watch out for…

Ajantha Mendis made a belated mark on the opening Test as he ran through West Indies’ lower order. While the late spell didn’t change the course of the innings it was a warning of the impact he can have on new batsmen who have yet to settle and emphasises the importance, as shown by Gayle, of batsmen not throwing their wickets away when set. Mendis’ success rate has slowed since the heady days early in his career when no batsman appeared able to pick him, but following the retirement of Muralitharan it’s time for him to show he can lift his game and become the leader of Sri Lanka’s spin attack.You almost had to rub your eyes watching Darren Bravo bat on his Test debut. The similarities to a certain BC Lara were just uncanny. From his profile, to his stance, then the back lift and the flowing cover drive. There have been players who model themselves on their heroes, but Bravo has taken it to a new level. The key, though, is that Bravo can really play. He has long-since been earmarked for an international career and a debut innings of 58 at No. 3 was a fine way to start. Endless comparisons with Lara won’t help his development, but he looks like a cricketer who can have a major part in West Indies’ future.

Team news

Sri Lanka will have two new quick bowlers as Dammika Prasad and Thilan Thushara were both omitted from the squad. Shaminda Eranga is an uncapped paceman, but the selectors may opt for the experience of Dilhara Fernando.Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Tharanga Paranavitana, 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (capt), 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Thilan Samaraweera, 7 Prasanna Jayawardene (wk), 8 Nuwan Kulasekara, 9 Suraj Randiv, 10 Ajantha Mendis, 11 Dilhara Fernando.Despite the issues over his action, Shillingford appears set to play and be partnered by Sulieman Benn who is now available following suspension. Andre Russell is the likely man to make way which means the new ball will be in the hands of either Darren Sammy or Dwayne Bravo.West Indies (possible) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Adrian Barath, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 5 Brendan Nash, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Carlton Baugh (wk), 8 Darren Sammy, 9 Sulieman Benn, 10 Shane Shillingford, 10 Kemar Roach

Pitch and conditions

The pitch is an unknown quantity for everyone having been relaid ahead of the World Cup and this is the first first-class match it will be used for. In the days leading into the Test it was on the damp side, which suggests some early movement for the quicks, but the issue with new surfaces is whether they can last the duration.

Quotes

“We expect to play a lot better from ball one of the game, to make sure we are focused on our game plans and executing them.”
.”Sri Lanka are one of the best teams in the world. We are expecting them to come back strong. I hope they will come hard on us. But we have prepared sufficiently.”
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The IPL governing council will meet on Wednesday in Nagpur to decide the fate of the Kochi franchise. “The only point on the agenda is Kochi,” one of the BCCI officials said on the content of the short notice sent to the five-member panel.Last week the two warring factions in the Kochi consortium had, through their solicitors, submitted individual replies to the BCCI showcause notice (on October 12) asking them to register a company and settle their internal dispute. Though both the groups – Rendezvous Sports and rival group led by Anchor’s Mehul Shah – tried hard to come to a settlement through numerous meetings, the exercise proved futile as neither group was willing to come down from its original demand. Still, reportedly, both asked for a 10-day extension from the board in a last-ditch attempt to save the franchise from getting terminated.Shashank Manohar, BCCI president, said that his legal team was studying the replies closely and would come to a decision at some point this week. Manohar also clarified that the Kochi case was completely different to Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, the two franchises terminated on October 10. “Kochi have not breached any agreement, our issues with them are different,” Manohar said. He stressed that the the main problem with Kochi was the “huge differences” between the five-partner consortium which bid $333.33 million earlier this March to become the tenth franchise in the league.Despite the Kochi dispute taking longer than intended to get resolved, Manohar was confident that it would have no impact on the player auctions.

It was so typically and positively Australian. Six runs were required, an lbw appeal – which looked plumb by the way – had just been turned down, and the batsman was out of his crease. Steven Smith, not even playing the Test, on as a substitute for Doug Bollinger, let the throw rip with nobody backing up. Not many young substitutes in the world would have had the presence of the mind, or the heart to go for that throw. It narrowly missed the stumps and went for four overthrows. The Indian batsmen jumped for joy, and the crowd went delirious. Johnson then fired one down the leg side, and it was all over.This play will be remembered for how it released the pressure that was built through hard work over the three preceding overs, but we wouldn’t have it any other way from an Australian. If there is a direct hit that can get Australia a win, it has to be gone for.Ricky Ponting, still coming to terms with this gut-wrenching defeat, spoke candidly in the post-match press conference. He was a defeated man, but still deservedly proud of his team. Smith’s work was a perfect example of how much value Australia added to the Test. “You feel sorry for Smithy,” Ponting said. “Young bloke always looking for ways to win the game. Had he hit the stumps it would have been game over. That’s what we expect from our guys. If there is a half chance we are going to take it.”If that was me, I would have done exactly the same thing. I wouldn’t have worried about who is behind the stumps. If I have a chance to hit the stumps and win a Test match, I am going to take it. There is certainly no blame going Smith’s way. That’s a great attitude for the young bloke to have.”Smith was obviously disappointed during that chaotic last over. “We have all spoken to him,” Ponting said. “He was a bit disappointed coming off the ground, but there is no need to be, he saw the stumps, he saw the win there, he had a go and missed. Cost us four runs. Not much more you can say.”This wasn’t obviously all that Australia brought to Mohali, but it summed up their attitude over the last five days. They might not be the same dominating side of the last decade, but they are going to make it difficult for sides to beat them. They just won’t go away, and whenever there is a single stump visible for a Test win, they will go for it. That played its part in making this Test great. That is what Australia need to be thanked for.