Pace bowler Glenn McGrath thinks Australia have time to turn around their form slump before beginning their World Cup defence next month in the Caribbean. The world champions suffered a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand, the rout completed by a one-wicket win for the Kiwis in Hamilton

Darrell Hair, who was offered a job by England and Wales Cricket Board, has rejected to be on their reserve umpires list for coming season. The Australian, who was one of the best umpires on the international cricket council elite panel, was banned in November following forfeiture of a

Pakistan completed dope tests on all but three of their World Cup 15-man squad and five reserves, but tests on Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were deferred, an official said. Asif is in England for a reassessment of his elbow injury and on his return will give a test, in the next few day

After winning his first series award in six years, Sourav Ganguly today said that both his personal form and that of the Indian team were peaking at the right time for the World Cup. "We are going into the World Cup with the right frame of mind. We will get similar wickets in the We

Pakistan dope-tested most of its World Cup cricket squad with the futures of key fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif hanging in the balance. Thirteen of the 15-man squad plus five reserves were tested after flying back from South Africa, officials said on Friday. Akhtar and Asi

Kenyan cricket chiefs have settled a pay row with World Cup-bound players who staged a one-day sit-in earlier this week. Kenya captain Steve Tikolo said on Friday the players held a meeting with Cricket Kenya officials on Thursday where the dispute which threatened World Cup preparati

England left-arm spinner Monty Panesar said the side remains focussed on performing well at next month`s World Cup and will not be distracted by last week`s tri-series finals success over world champions Australia. England recovered from a 5-0 Ashes series drubbing to overcome Aus

Riding on the back of his powerful comeback, left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan has jumped ten places to 27th position in the latest LG ICC ODI rankings. Another Indian pacer Munaf Patel leaped eight spots to 39th to record his career best haul of rating points. Zaheer was rewarded for his m

Australia are in danger of losing their top position to a resurgent South Africa in the International Cricket Council (ICC) One-day International (ODI) Championship table following the Proteas' series win over Pakistan. ICC said Thursday that if Australia (120 points) lose their up

Australia's stand-in captain Mike Hussey is determined the world champions will not lose their position at the top of the one-day rankings under his leadership. Australia's shock tri-series finals defeat by England and South Africa's win over Pakistan have put Hussey's side under pres

Having shown strength of character in turning things around to win the triangular series Down Under, England can win the World Cup if they sustain their brilliant form, according to English spinner Monty Panesar. "I think there is lot of character shown by the England team especiall

Shane Warne suffered an injury scare in practice on Tuesday in Perth ahead of the third Ashes Test. Warne hurt his right elbow during fielding practice. However, after treatment the 37-year-old appeared to recover quickly and team bosses were quick to play down any concerns about his abi

The England World Cup squad that lands in the West Indies next month could look very different from the one announced by Chairman of selectors David Graveney on Wednesday. The selectors decided it was worth the risk of naming captain Michael Vaughan and seamers Jon Lewis and James Anderso

England coach Duncan Fletcher said Mother Teresa`s inspirational words kept him going during the bleakest period of the Ashes. ``Mother Teresa said that when you are successful, you win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies,`` Fletcher said. ``I am quite philosophical about i

Canada's cricket World Cup squad includes a forklift driver, accountant, salesman, and teacher. With just two pros among the 15 players named yesterday, Canada will be rank underdogs in its Group C matches against England, New Zealand and Kenya in the Caribbean next month. But coach Andy

The ICC nominations committee will meet in Dubai today to consider the two nominations for the next ICC President. BCCI President Sharad Pawar and England and Wales Cricket Board Chairman David Morgan are the two nominees to succeed current ICC President Percy Sonn. The members of the

Sri Lankan coach tom moody believes that Australia would regroup after their shock loss to England in the tri-series finals and come back with renewed vigour to mount a tough challenge in the Cricket World Cup. "World cup is a completely different tournament. Obviously Engl

Pakistan and India will play a friendly one day cricket match at the Lords on July 12 to raise funds for a charity headed by Prince Charles. "The Lords game is confirmed and it is not only for a good cause but will also provide Pakistani and Indians living in England to watch their

Veteran Australian pace spearhead Glenn McGrath has conceded that thoughts of retirement crossed his mind during the tri-series finals against England. "When you announce your retirement, the last thing you want to do is actually retire before you play your last game. I think I did l

Five members of England cricket team including batsman Andrew Strauss and a member of its medical staff were robbed in a Sydney hotel, a media report said here today. The four assailants broke into the Radisson Plaza Hotel and forced staff to the ground. They demanded money and asked abou

England registered a win by 92 runs over the mighty Australians in a tri-series one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. The victory ends a run of nine straight losses to Australia. Joyce made 107 and Ian Bell 51 to help England an imposing total of 292 for seven from

Cricket's top officials called for umpires to be stripped of the power to end a match prematurely, as the sport seeks to avoid a repeat of the turmoil sparked by Australian official Darrell Hair last year. In an August Test match in London, Hair accused the Pakistan team of cheating by t

Sourav Ganguly, who led India to the 2003 World Cup final, believes England are one of five teams with a chance of winning the World Cup this time around. Ganguly, recalled to Indias one-day squad after 16 months on the sidelines, told BBC Sport there was enough talent in the Engla

New Zealand and Sri Lanka shared The National Bank ODI Series after the fifth and final match between the sides at Hamilton was abandoned due to rain without a ball delivered. The teams also drew the test and Twenty20 series last month, with the 50-over contest now shared at two g

Australia set a new record Twenty20 international score as England began the limited-overs section of their tour down under. Ricky Ponting's Australians, looking to inflict further misery after the Ashes whitewash, surpassed their previous best by seven runs to post 221 for five at the

Former England all-rounder Ian Botham has said that the Australian spin wizard Shane Warne is the greatest player to have graced the game of cricket, sources said. "In my opinion Shane Warne is the greatest cricketer who's ever lived," the legendary all-rounder said. Wa

According to reports in the Sydney Morning Herald Glenn McGrath's final match in international cricket will be the Sydney Test against England. McGrath's hometown newspaper said they had certified that he would not be playing at the World Cup in March nor will he be continuing his one-da

Chairman of selectors David Graveney refused to be drawn on whether Michael Vaughan will captain England in the one-day series in Australia after the Yorkshire player was included in the squad. The 32-year-old has not played international cricket since being forced home from the to

Star legspinner Shane Warne today announced his retirement from International and Australian Cricket at the end of the current Ashes series against England. The 37-year-old Australian legspinner, test cricket's leading wicket taker with 699 dismissals, made the announcement on Thursday at

Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes his team's ability to dig in and fight was the decisive factor in winning back the Ashes. They turned a potential loss into an an amazing victory in Adelaide and a 206-run win in Perth sealed the series. Ponting said: "What this team has been g