A petition has been filed in a Chennai Court seeking an interim stay against the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) holding the first Test between India and Sri Lanka, starting December 2.The petition, filed by Suresh Babu of Gummidipoondi, a suburb of Chennai, contends that the October-December period is when the Northeast monsoon settles over peninsular India. Babu’s written petition contends: “It is pertinent to point out that the MA Chidambaram stadium, where the India-Sri Lanka match is to take place, is located less than 500 metres from the Chennai coastline. The respondent, TNCA, knowing fully well about the pattern of rainfall in India, more particularly Tamil Nadu, has made it a habit of deliberately hosting the matches in the monsoon season, with the intention to deceive the gullible public after collecting huge sums of money running into crores of rupees and without refunds of the same.”While seeking a stay on the sale of tickets for the Chennai Test, Babu also stated that he purchased a ticket for the India-South Africa one-day international on November 22 – worth about US$41 – which was eventually called off due to rain. “On three occasions the respondent held the matches in the season and if it had been held in the non-rainy season, I could have watched the matches.” Babu has further contended that “the association has now proclaimed that it is going to conduct India-Sri Lanka Test match from December 2 to 6 despite the warning by the Meteorological Department that there is a low pressure formed over the Bay of Bengal.”A severe cyclonic storm – Cyclone Baaz – building up in the Bay of Bengal has threatened to curtail the Chennai Test. Cyclone Baaz is expected to hit the southeastern coast of India later on Thursday amidst fears of heavy rain in this cricket-mad metropolis already reeling under bad weather over the past month. The South Africa match apart, one-day internationals between India and New Zealand in 2003 and the second Test against Australia in October last year were disrupted due to rain, and Babu’s petition pleading for no more matches in Chennai comes at a critical time.I Pandurangan, a second assistant civil court judge, ordered notice to the TNCA and posted the case for hearing on December 1.

Scorecard

India’s openers flayed some quick runs after tea as the warm-up match against Pakistan A ended in a predictable draw. A superb innings of 87 from Faisal Iqbal and a doughty effort from Zulqarnain Haider had ensured that the Indians would be on the field for most of the day, as bowlers on both sides struggled to get any purchase from an unresponsive pitch.Iqbal, who once smashed a superb 83 against Australia in Colombo before slipping down the pecking order, struck 16 fours in his 171-ball knock, including some fabulous strokes through cover and down to the sightscreen. But for an impetuous shot, he might well have got the century that his display deserved. He and Haider added 88 runs as they defied the Indians for over two hours.After a circumspect start following the early losses of Asim Kamal and Mansoor Amjad, both batsmen grew in confidence, blunting the Indian threat with great assurance before and after lunch. On another distinctly chilly morning, it was hard going for the Indians, but RP Singh and Zaheer Khan gave them vital breakthroughs while bowling with far greater control than they had yesterday.Both bowlers were as parsimonious today as they had been profligate yesterday, finally settling on a restrictive line and length. And both were rewarded with a wicket apiece before the pitch lost whatever little juice it might have had first thing in the morning. Iqbal and Haider defended stolidly in that phase, and then opened out with a sparkling stroke or two as the morning wore on. Neither Ajit Agarkar, the pick of the bowlers yesterday, nor Harbhajan Singh could make an impression, and India were left to await a mistake from two batsmen who were looking increasingly well-entrenched.Iqbal played some fluent drives, including one tremendous off-drive when Agarkar came on to bowl, and reached his 50 just before lunch with a risky single to cover. Haider, who tonked Harbhajan over midwicket for four, was content to be the foil, and the runs mounted much to the satisfaction of the few hundred spectators who were huddled up and peering through the pickets.The Indian bowlers lost their discipline after lunch, bowling four-balls at an alarming rate, and Iqbal took full toll before a hook proved to be his downfall. And in conditions where the bowlers would have struggled even to grip the ball properly, even Umar Gul – not known for his batting prowess – helped himself to three fours before Hasan Raza declared to give his bowlers another go at India’s storied batting line-up.There was to be no joy for Pakistan’s emerging pace bowlers though, with Wasim Jaffer playing some stonking drives in a splendid little cameo before play was called off. At the other end, Gautam Gambhir struck two sublime cover-drives off Mohammad Irshad, but only after being dropped twice, off Gul and Rao Iftikhar. It remains to be seen which opener will walk out with Virender Sehwag at the Gaddafi Stadium when the real contest begins.How they were outAsim Kamal c Dhoni b RP Singh 14 (226 for 5)
Mansoor Amjad lbw Zaheer 0 (227 for 6)
Zulqarnain Haider lbw Pathan 35 (315 for 7)
Faisal Iqbal c Harbhajan b Agarkar 87 (337 for 8)
Yasir Arafat c Dhoni b RP Singh 9 (358 for 9)

The Indian board has announced that Australia will tour India every yearfrom 2007 to 2009, and that after the 2006 Champions Trophy it will notparticipate in further editions of the tournament. Lalit Modi,vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, said that theywere also in talks with the England board regarding touring schedules.”As far as England are concerned, after this series we have one scheduledin 2009,” Modi said. “We are in active negotiations with England and othercountries to see who can come to us on a reciprocal basis.” He added thatIndia will play seven ODIs when Australia tour India in 2007, four Tests when they come in 2008, and seven or eight ODIs in 2009. India would tour Australia in 2007-08 for four Tests and seven or eight ODIs.Replying to a query about whether India would avoid playing teams such asBangladesh, Modi said, “Bangladesh made a request to us and we’ll betouring them next year…” He was interrupted by IS Bindra, former BCCI president, who said:”They make more money by our going there. If they come to India, they willget only meal allowance. If we go there they make huge television revenueand title sponsorship.”On this day of announcements with far-reaching consequences, Modi revealedthat India and Pakistan would play two one-dayers at Abu Dhabi in Aprilfor earthquake relief. When the calender is released shortly it is likelyto be unlike what the ICC envisaged.Significantly, Modi also said that the BCCI would produce its owntelecasts, which includes choosing commentators. Invites would be sent tomajor production houses shortly. Channels carrying the feed would merelybe carriers, and would have to carry the BCCI logo.”The way we are planning to do this is, in regards to production, we willbe going forward and putting out a tender for the BCCI to appoint its ownproduction company to do all production on the behalf of the BCCI goingforward,” said Modi. “In other words, BCCI will be the producer of allseries played in India on a regular basis. We will make sure we provide aworld class feed. We have also decided that, for the first time in globalhistory, we will produce a high-definition feed. It’ll be the best qualityfeed that has ever been produced by any cricket board anywhere, and forthat we will invite the world’s best production companies.”We will have all the latest gimmicks that Australia or England provide.We will not, in any which way, cut corners in our production. Usually whatused to happen is because of a shortage of money or other issues, peopleused to cut back on value additions in terms of production. All theanchors will be BCCI anchors. They will be hired by the BCCI. We will alsoproduce programs prior and post matches which will be bundled in with ourproduction feed. The BCCI network logo will also be put on the feed. Itwill be produced in multiple languages. You will have Hindi, English,Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, and as the market demands, we will have more.”The total value of the bids, Modi said, was expected to be at least $350million. This is a conservative estimate, and if a single bidder pays morefor all the tenders than do all the highest bidders for each seperatetender, it will take away the rights. Modi and Bindra, mostly silentbeside him, said that it was about extracting the most value for theboard.”The global bid encompasses all rights, and all country rights,”Modi said. “So if you have the appetite to bid for all rights globally,and for all media, you have an opportunity to put in a number. Then thereis part B: if you are interested in bidding for television rights in theUK market, you can do that alone. A second person may only be interestedin radio rights in Sri Lanka, so he can bid for that. If the aggregationof the bids for all the rights is higher than the global bid, the rightswill be farmed out to individual players. Thereby, people in theirparticular domain can bid for rights interesting to them. They don’t haveto go begging and pleading to a third party for our rights.”He said that everything would be ready by March. “We are very quick ingetting our tenders out and closing them. Like we’ve demonstrated in thepast, we’ll be fully open and transparent,” he said, grinning.Also in the pipline was a move to ensure that Indian series played abroadwere broadcast prominently at home. “The rights outside India are not inthe purview of the BCCI,” Modi said. “The BCCI will propose at the nextICC meeting that the rights when we are touring should be widely broadcaston Indian platform. Those rights belong to those boards. There is nothingwe can do but advise those boards.”Rebutting criticism that the BCCI had become a money-making machine,Bindra said that it was part of the professionalism of the new regime, andthe rash of initiatives involved building the BCCI’s brand. The air was also thick with talk of’products’, which the BCCI was looking to add to its product line. Amongthem was domestic cricket, of which 70 days would be broadcast live withcommentary. “In our tender process we will also have 70 days offirst-class cricket, so you will have the domestic trophies running liveon television. That number will only increase year by year as we add moreproducts to our product line. There will be live commentary, and livetelevision.”Modi also revealed that India would play a one-day series at home before theChampions Trophy in October, which would help them with their one-dayform. Also, before the World Cup, two teams (yet to be decided) would beinvited to play in India for one-dayers as preparation.

ScorecardNew South Wales’ campaign to retain the Pura Cup title hit a big hurdle today as Queensland piled up a huge 287-run first-innings lead. Martin Love’s 116 and half-centuries from Andy Bichel and Daniel Doran saw Queensland amass a mammoth 456 before Phil Jacques steered NSW to 1 for 63 by close of play on the second day at Brisbane. NSW will now have to bat out of their skins in the remaining two days to escape an outright defeat.Love, resuming on 77, lost his overnight partner Clinton Perren to Stuart MacGill the very next ball after bringing up his century. Soon MacGill struck again, trapping Love and Grant Lambert removed the next man in, Chris Hartley, to reduce Queensland to 6 for 268. But Bichel shared in two fifty-plus partnerships with Brendon Nash (42) and Doran to keep NSW hopes at bay. MacGill and Lambert shared seven wickets between them but the Queensland tail wagged – the last two wickets added 48 – to extend the agony for NSW.Jaques, who lost his opening partner Craig Simmons in the final over, guided NSW to stumps, remaining unbeaten on 37.

Kenya fly out of Nairobi today to start their five-ODI tour of Zimbabwe, and Steve Tikolo, their captain, was in bullish mood.Kenya were in Zimbabwe in October when they won all three matches against an A side. But Zimbabwe fielded most of their Test team, and since then a number of them, including Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu, have quit.”If we are going to play the same team we met last year, then Zimbabwe should brace themselves for a tough competition,” Tikolo told the Daily Nation. “This time, the selection was done when some regular players have injuries which gives the youngsters an opportunity to prove themselves.”Tikolo also said that Roger Harper had given the side a new professionalism. “His work ethic is very professional which is good for the boys,” he explained. Harper was reported to be surprised at the diet and fitness of the side, and he has been working hard over the last fortnight to bring them up to speed.Harper has given each player a personal training schedule on as well as advice on food and alcohol. “The consumption of alcohol has a dehydrating effect, takes a while to get out of the system, slows you down and prevents you from functioning efficiently,” he wrote to them. “We have to decide what we are and what we want to be: a Formula One racing car or some old tired truck.”

Gary Stead, the former New Zealand and Canterbury batsman, has announced his retirement from the game.”I am very content in all that I have achieved during my career but it is now time to focus on the next phase of my life – my family and my job,” Stead, 34, told . “I have loved every minute and I leave the game with no regrets.”A top-order batsman, Stead played five Tests for New Zealand in 1999 and scored two impressive half-centuries – against South Africa and India – at an average of 34.75. He was called to the national side for a series against South Africa after the loss of Stephen Fleming, Craig McMillan, Matthew Bell and Chris Cairns through injury and illness and made his Test debut in the Second Test at Christchurch.His last Test was against West Indies at the Basin Reserve in Wellington following which he was dropped from the national side. He made his provincial debut 12 years ago and scored 4,410 for Canterbury in 101 first-class games. He led Canterbury for five seasons from 1998-99 in a period when they were struggling.Stead said he would stay involved in cricket as a coach at New Zealand Cricket’s High Performance Centre in Lincoln.

Stephen Fleming, New Zealand’s captain, has urged his batsmen to put more runs on the board in the second Test against South Africa starting today. New Zealand collapsed to 120 all out in their second innings at Centurion, which South Africa won by 128 runs.”We’ve got to get more runs on the board, that’s been something that has concerned the side for a number of tests,” Fleming told Reuters on the eve of the Test. “We’ve been able to bowl well enough to win matches against the West Indies and to compete against other sides but we’ve got to consistently get more runs from the top order. That gives the bowlers more time to recover, and it gives us more opportunities to win games rather than chase games.”The pitch at Newlands has shown bare patches, a fact that urged Fleming to mention the possible inclusion of Jeetan Patel, the offspinner, as Daniel Vettori’s spin partner: “We think there are enough options with our all rounders to accommodate a second spinner.”Fleming added that Shane Bond, who will miss yet another test through injury, was not expected to be out of action long. “It’s an inflammation injury that will settle down with a period of rest, we haven’t been able to get him enough rest,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a career-threatening injury, just annoying.”

The Pakistan Board says it will try to persuade Shahid Afridi to withdraw his decision not to play any Test matches until the 2007 World Cup.Shaharyar Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, told the Karachi-based “We think he has taken an emotional decision because he has been playing Test cricket regularly now for the last one year. And we are going to speak to him about it and ask him to change his decision.”Afridi announced his ‘retirement’ from Test cricket recently, citing the increasingly hectic international schedule as the main reason for his decision. But Shaharyar felt Afridi had taken the decision under pressure after failing in a couple of matches.”The strange thing is that since making his announcement he has been under more pressure because everyone is saying he should also be available for Test matches. Even people in Abu Dhabi who met him told him to take back his decision. So we are hoping he has already realised his mistake.”Various parties have already tried to change Afridi’s mind. Bob Woolmer, Pakistan’s coach, made an effort to speak to him in Abu Dhabi, in order to persuade him to reverse his decision. Cricinfo has learnt, however, that Afridi remained unconvinced after their discussion. Additionally, Afridi’s hometown cricket association, KCCA (Karachi City Cricket Association) has also publicly urged him to reconsider. Wasim Bari, chief selector, has reiterated in recent statements that Afridi is still up for selection in both squads for the tour to England as has not informed the PCB in writing of his decision.One factor likely to play a part in any discussions is that of central contracts. Pakistan’s cricketers, Test and ODI, are on rolling central contracts, divided into three categories based on seniority and experience. Afridi is in Category A, whereby he earns Rs 200,000 a month. But if he doesn’t change his mind, this position, says Shaharyar, is likely to be reviewed when the new contracts are handed out in July.”He is a very good player and we want him for both forms of the game. We can’t have players picking and choosing when and what they want to play. But if he wants to skip Test matches then we have to see what sort of contract he should be given. Currently all the players to whom we’ve given contracts are available for Test and ODI cricket. Afridi is not an automatic choice for Tests but his availability is important for us.”Afridi is currently due to play for Ireland in the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy, though he missed its opening match after his daughter fell sick. The decision to play for Ireland, soon after complaining of a heavy workload, has not endeared Afridi to PCB officials either. One said he was surprised Afridi was going to play for Ireland, “given that he said he was too tired at the moment and wanted to spend more time with his family.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

India’s batting finally hit the high notes it was expected to throughout this series, and with a forecast of thirty percent chances of rain tomorrow – there were heavy showers in the evening – the first Test in Antigua is tantalisingly poised.Wasim Jaffer creamed a delightful maiden Test double-century, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni lit up the ground with some murderous hitting in an innings of 69 off 51 balls which ended with the umpires providing some farcical entertainment of their own. The fallout was an Indian declaration on 521 for 6, leaving West Indies with a target of 392. By close of play they had reached 13 without loss.The Indian batsmen had underperformed on this tour so far, but here – on a pitch which had settled into an excellent batting strip after assisting the bowlers earlier – they found their groove, with Jaffer leading from the front with his 212. He added 203 for the third wicket with Rahul Dravid (62), while Yuvraj Singh (39) and Mohammad Kaif (46 not out) added valuable runs as well.West Indies clearly had the worse of the day, but they had a hero as well in Ian Bradshaw, who bowled with exceptional control and stamina, sending down an incredible 25 overs at a stretch – interrupted only by the lunch and tea intervals. Keeping a tight leash on line and length, Bradshaw only conceded 47 in those overs, covering up superbly for the absent Fidel Edwards, and finally nailing Jaffer with a fine delivery as well.Before that ball which sneaked through his defences, though, the day had been all Jaffer’s. It was a mixed innings – there were plenty of occasions when he played and missed outside off, or mistimed his strokes – but in between those blemishes, he unfurled some gorgeous strokes. Particularly impressive was his driving: when the bowlers offered him width, he leant into the ball and sent it scurrying to the cover fence; when it was straighter, he dispatched it down the ground with élan; and anything on the pads was easily put away past midwicket. The confidence of runs under his belt also showed in the manner in which he tackled Dave Mohammed, going down the pitch and hoisting him for six over long-on early in the day. He received fine support from Dravid, who buckled down and played with typical caution after showing some flourish at the start.

West Indies had a few half-chances early on, but Chris Gayle failed to latch on twice at slip when both Jaffer and Dravid swished at deliveries outside. After those early lapses, though, neither batsman was too bothered even when Brian Lara opted for the new ball. The absence of Edwards meant there was no bowler who could attack with genuine pace, while Corey Collymore bowled only nine overs today.The rest of the bowlers primarily had a containing job to do, which they did pretty well: Yuvraj and Kaif struggled to come to terms with the lack of pace in the wicket, taking 18 overs to put together 44. When Yuvraj left, India needed more runs – and very quickly – to feel that they had enough on the board to put West Indies in to bat in the evening. Dhoni was just the man for the job.In the one-dayers, he had only modest success, but here he was in his elements from the start. Using his powerful arms and quick footwork, he immediately took the attack to the spinners: he tonked Gayle through midwicket for four to announce his intent, then took on Mohammed, clobbering him to deep cover and then hoisting him over midwicket for two successive sixes. He showed he could be cheeky as well, nudging Gayle over the wicketkeeper’s head in bizarre fashion. The finale was truly spectacular, as he launched into Mohammed for three consecutive sixes, all of them launched into the orbit with plenty of bottom hand, and all of them ending with a spectacular twirling flourish of the bat in follow through. Then he went for another six, and what followed was utter mayhem.The ball soared towards midwicket, where Daren Ganga took the catch apparently right at the fence. The television replays were inconclusive on whether Ganga touched the ropes while taking the catch, and as Billy Doctrove, the third umpire, passed on the decision-making back to the on-field umpires, complete confusion reigned. The umpires seemed unable to decide, and finally seemed to indicate that Dhoni could bat on, only for Lara to angrily intervene. A long discussion between the umpires, Lara, and the batsmen ensued, after which Dhoni finally decided to take Ganga’s word, and was declared caught for 69. That brought the Indian innings to a close, setting up the prospects of an enthralling final day.

Rahul Dravid c Bradshaw b Mohammed 62 (350 for 3)
Wasim Jaffer b Bradshaw 212 (375 for 4)
Yuvraj Singh c Chanderpaul b Gayle 39 (419 for 5)
Mahendra Singh Dhoni c Ganga b Mohammed 69 (521 for 6)
End-of-day interactive video highlights from the Test series are available for $9.95 to Cricinfo users in the USA and Canada.