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Steve Waugh, the former Australian captain, feels Greg Chappell couldn’t succeed as India’s coach because of the selectors’ lack of patience. Waugh feels India need to focus on the future, concentrating on building a team like Australia did in the mid 1980s.”The toughest job for an India coach is to deal with what the selectors in the country want,” said Waugh on the morning of the third day’s play at the SCG. “If you’re trying to build something for the future you don’t have time to put things in place. I think in some ways the problem in India is patience, or the lack of patience.”[It was the same] with Australia in the 1980s, when they lost four or five players. They picked a core group of people, believed in them and sorted out the tough times. I think the Indian selectors will understand that it’s time to think of the future.”Waugh was referring to the bunch of senior Indian players whose age has been a talking point for a few months now. “We’ve learnt a lot from the Australian players,” he said about older players making way. “I think fitness is the issue. If you’re strong and fit, age really is irrelevant. These days players are much better looked after, there’s good maintenance, and good fitness programmes. Thirty five today is like 30 fifteen years ago. I can’t see why players can’t play till they’re 40. The issue will be if they can stay away from their families.”Waugh shared a particularly spicy relationship with one of those senior players, Sourav Ganguly, but he spoke highly of Ganguly’s comeback. “We’ve met a few times after he retired. I respect him as a player. We had some issues on the field but that’s all part of the game. But it’s tremendous the way he’s come back. He’s playing better than I’ve ever seen him play.”Waugh’s name was doing the rounds when India was looking for Chappell’s successor but he wasn’t keen on a coaching role just yet. “I really enjoy the role of mentoring, if it’s a possibility. But [job of a] coach, selector etc, I don’t get time for. I wasn’t asked by the BCCI for coaching. I consider offers but as of now coaching is not on my radar.”

Hopes that Zimbabwe’s remaining striking players might soon return to the fold appear to be stalling, according to a report in the local Independent newspaper.The stumbling block appears to be the rebels’ demands over the selection process, although other sticking points are said to include their demands for three-year contracts. Few countries give such long-term commitments and it is hard to see Zimbabwe Cricket doing so if that is what it is being asked to do.At the moment the rebel players are in ongoing talks with a committee under the leadership of Addington Chinake. Only when this committee presents its findings will the full board discuss the matter.But one of the rebels told The Independent that some of the reported conditions had never been raised. "It’s mischievous for anyone to claim that we have demanded tax-free salaries and three-year contracts," he said. "So far our discussions with the committee have been promising, though I’m bound not to say much."What appears to be factual is the stalemate over the choice of selectors. The rebels have demanded all along that the national selection panel should be made up of people with first-class cricket experience, or at least a good level coaching qualification. Crucially, that would rule out Max Ebrahim, currently the senior selector, as he has no such background."All we want are selectors with a cricketing background like in any other country," the player told the newspaper. "We’re hopeful everything will work out well because we hear [Peter] Chingoka has been really good and has already tasked a constitutional committee to review the whole selection policy. If Zimbabwe Cricket does not accede to our proposals, that’s it. No rebel will return."

Alec Stewart has followed in his father’s illustrious footsteps by being awarded an OBE for his services to cricket in the Queen’s Birthday Honours’ List.Stewart passed Geoffrey Boycott and David Gower to move into second place in England’s list of Test run-scorers against Zimbabwe at Durham last week, and was also awarded the MBE in the 1998.On receiving the honour, Stewart said: “The great thing is that I’ve now managed to catch up my Dad because he was awarded the OBE a good few years ago.””It’s a terrific honour and it’s really pleasing to be recognised in this way.I’ve always gone about my cricket in a professional way and to be honoured in this way for it makes me very proud and it’s a moment I’ll treasure.”Stewart, now 40, has continued to defy his critics by making more appearances than any other England player at both Test and one-day level, and his ability with the bat and behind the stumps has stood the test of time since making his international debut 14 years ago.He retired from one-day international cricket after the World Cup, but has no plans to do the same in Tests. He recently said: “All I’ve ever said about the future is that while the enjoyment is there and I feel I’m playing well enough to warrant a place in the side, I see no reason to give it away myself.””I feel exactly the same as I did 20 years ago. I have the same buzz and pre-match nerves I’ve always had and that’s a good thing because that shows you’re still up for the game.”

The final schedule for England’s tour of Sri Lanka later this year has been confirmed after slight changes by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka.The BCCSL is determined to take cricket away from Colombo to more far-flung areas, where larger crowds can be expected, and has now scheduled the first one-day international at Dambulla, and the second Test at Kandy rather than the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.England will play a total of three ODIs before a three-match Test series, which will start at the picturesque Galle International Stadium on the south coast.Schedule:November 13: arrive in Colombo
November 15: v Sri Lanka A, Moratuwa (previously Colombo)
November 18: v Sri Lanka, first one-day international, Dambulla (previously Colombo)
November 21: v Sri Lanka, second one-day international (day/night), Colombo
November 23: v Sri Lanka, third one-day international (day/night), Colombo
November 26-28: v Sri Lanka A, Colombo
December 2-6: v Sri Lanka, first Test, Galle
December 10-14: v Sri Lanka, second Test, Kandy (previously Colombo)
December 18-22: v Sri Lanka, third Test, Colombo
December 23: depart for England

On Pakistan’s bowling problems in the ODIs and the first Test
We have had some problems with our bowling and we haven’t bowled well thus far. The discipline continues to be a bit weak. We improved on the second day considerably and I thought we were unlucky. The fielding has been poor in this game. A long bowl will help us in a way, because it gave the bowlers a chance to get their rhythm back. The Indians stuck to a line and length and they bowled well.On the pitch
We want to play on positive, sporting pitches. These types of wickets do not suit us or help us to play positive cricket. Our attack consists of pace bowlers, not seamers, so we would like hard and bouncy pitches. There was communication between the team management and the curator as regards the pitch, but that type of wicket obviously couldn’t be produced.On the need for a bowling coach
If spinners don’t bowl well, do we then need a spinning coach as well? How many coaches do we need? If a team doesn’t perform well once or twice, it doesn’t suddenly mean that we need all sorts of coaches.On saving the match
It is difficult but if we continue to bat as we did today, when we were attacking, we can do it. There is still a lot of life in the match. Our batting has been good throughout the series and we performed well today – 364 for 6 isn’t such a bad score, it just seems small against a score of nearly 700. Razzaq, who batted well, is still there and Saqlain and Sami can bat. We need 111 runs to save the follow-on and if we bat like this tomorrow, I am confident we can save the match.On Yasir Hameed and the nervous nineties
If he keeps getting nineties all the time, I won’t be too displeased. He played well today, but maybe he gets nervous when he gets close to the century. If so, then he needs to work on that.On debatable dismissals … like his and Yousuf Youhana’s
All the batsmen were well set when they got out, so it was very disappointing. I can’t say anything about the dismissals, but you have all seen the TV replays so it is up to you to decide whether or not they were debatable.On Saqlain’s poor performance, and an extra spinner
He has been out for some time but he tried very hard on a very flat pitch. Let’s see what happens in the remainder of the match. An extra spinner would not have made much of a difference on what is a batting paradise.On not congratulating Sehwag, and Tendulkar’s near-miss
All the players did congratulate Sehwag on his effort, but I will do it now officially: Congratulations Virender Sehwag, on your magnificent triple-hundred! [Referring to Tendulkar:] Every team plays to its own plans. If someone was so close in my team, I would let them bat on for the double-century.

Ajay Jadeja, the former Indian middle-order batsman, is due to return from the USA without playing in any of the American Pro Cricket (APC) matches. This came about after the Board of Control for Cricket in India instructed the players to keep off the event following instructions from the International Cricket Council.The ICC had clearly said that the only body that they recognized was the USA Cricket Association (USACA), an associate member of the ICC, which would mean that this tournament would not come under their purview.The Indo-Asian News Service quoted Jadeja’s wife, Aditi Jaitly as saying, “Ajay is not playing in the matches over there and he is coming back home within a week. He is coming back because there is no clarity in the instructions issued by the board.”Aditi confirmed that Jadeja had not played in any of the matches in the league. “I was also in the US until June 29, and to the best of my knowledge, he has not played any match of the league. He only played an exhibition match on June 19. Subsequently, he withdrew after the BCCI issued its instructions. But I don’t know if there was any written contract between APC and Jadeja.”Besides Jadeja, Rahul Sanghvi and Nikhil Chopra – both former Indian cricketers – were also in the USA to take part in the eight-team league, which began on Friday. Whether both of them will be returning along with Jadeja, is not known at the moment.The same agency reported LK Sanghvi, Rahul’s father, as saying, “I don’t think he will be returning home soon, but I have not talked to him.” The official site of APC, mentions that Jadeja, Sanghvi and Chopra, will conduct a three-day cricket camp for Under-15 cricketers.However, the BCCI’s stance is still unclear and whether this ruling holds for contracted players from the Test-playing countries or for all first-class cricketers is not certain. “The instructions from the ICC were very clear,” said SK Nair, the secretary of the BCCI. “The contracted players cannot play in the league, and we put that out in a press release last month.”Several cricketers – including Vinod Kambli, Sanjay Bangar and Deep Dasgupta – had initially sought permission from the BCCI to play in the league.

Ricky Ponting has avoided the need for surgery on his broken left thumb, and is hopeful of returning to action with Australia’s Test team as soon as possible.Ponting, who was due to lead Australia in their pursuit of a first series victory in India for 35 years, has already been ruled out of the first Test in Bangalore. He suffered the injury while dropping a slip catch during Australia’s Champions Trophy defeat against England at Edgbaston on Tuesday.He is unable to pick up a bat for two weeks, so there is still no guarantee that he will be match-fit in time for the second Test at Chennai, but the avoidance of an operation has boost his prospects. He was examined in Sydney on Saturday by a specialist, Dr Ian Hargreaves, who diagnosed a fracture to the distal phalanx of the left thumb.”After discussion with Ricky, we have decided he should rest for the next few days,” said Dr Trefor James, Cricket Australia’s medical advisor. “We will organise a re-examination for later next week to check his progress and better assess when he might be able to grip a bat and field.”Fortunately, the specialist has advised that the bones are sitting well and surgery will not be necessary, but it is difficult at this stage to assess how long will be needed before he can resume playing. While it is difficult to assess, it is highly unlikely he will be ready to play by the time of the first Test, which is due to start at Bangalore on October 6.”Ponting admitted he was “shattered” to have suffered the setback ahead of such a critical series for Australia. They have not won in India since Bill Lawry’s 3-1 victory in 1969-70, and on the last tour in 2000-01, they lost a thrilling series 2-1, in spite of leading after a handsome victory in the first Test at Mumbai.”We’ve been looking forward to the Indian tour for a long time, and for me personally, being captain of the side, I was pretty keen to get there and play well,” said Ponting. “Knowing what the build-up will be like in India, it’ll be huge over there … everything was pointing to the direction of it being a huge series. It’s just a real big blow for me and a big blow for the team. It’s going to be a frustrating couple of weeks.”

Worries about his health have forced the former Test fast bowler Wes Hall not to offer himself for re-election as the president of the West Indies Cricket Board next month.The Rev. Hall issued a statement today saying he had informed the West Indies Board and the Territorial boards of his decision before the annual general meeting on July 13. “I am not seeking re-election because of a pre-existing medical condition which is exacerbated by stressful situations and constant travel,” he said. “As a consequence, I have decided to pay maximum attention to my health at this time.”He added that these were exciting times for West Indies cricket, and that he would have liked to have been involved in the processes – but he admitted that his unspecified condition meant he would have to help where he could from “beyond the boundary”.According to Hall, the continuing climb towards regaining the goal of sides of excellence from the region, and the hosting and winning of the World Cup in 2007 were two aspects of this development in the West Indian game. “I would wish to have continued in the capacity of president to guide the organisation along the path of achieving these and other goals, but I must now be contented to help wherever I can from beyond the boundary.”At this stage I would first like to thank God for his guidance and allowing me to continue to fulfill my desires which include serving West Indies cricket. I would also like to thank the many persons and organisations who have been helpful in expediting my duties as president.”And he concluded: “I look forward to observing the steady progress of West Indies cricket at a time that presents many challenges but even greater opportunities.”

Shane Warne became the first bowler to take 600 Test wickets when he had Marcus Trescothick caught behind on the first day of the third Test at Old Trafford. He reached the landmark in his 126th Test when, in his fifth over, Trescothick attempted a sweep and was caught behind off the back of the bat by Adam Gilchrist.Warne made his Test debut against India at Sydney in 1991-92, but he made his name at Old Trafford 12 years ago when, with his first ball in Test cricket against England, he bowled Mike Gatting with a viciously turning legbreak that pitched outside the batsman’s pads and clipped the top of off-stump.In the second Test at Edgbaston Warne, who returned figures of 10 for 162, became the first bowler to take 100 Test wickets in a single foreign country. Before this match, Warne had taken 16 wickets in the first two Tests of the series at an average of 15.31 with a best of 6 for 46 in the second innings at Edgbaston.The table below shows the major staging posts on the road to the world record.

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

A magnificent innings from Michael Hussey, a top-notch allround display from Shane Watson and a searing first spell from Brett Lee were the main talking points as Australia pulverized an abysmal World XI side to clinch the Super Series by an emphatic 3-0 margin. Rated underdogs heading into the series, Australia underlined just why they’re on another planet as a one-day side, skittling out the World XI for just 137 to complete a 156-run rout.Lee did the early damage to finish with stunning figures of 4 for 30, and there were four scalps as well for Watson, whose dismissal of Andrew Flintoff and spectacular run-out of Virender Sehwag stymied any faint hopes the World XI had of overhauling a daunting total. Watson had played his part with the bat too, smashing a splendid run-a-ball 66 as he and Hussey added 145, including 95 from the final 10 overs.That partnership turned a game which appeared to be in the balance when Muttiah Muralitharan and Daniel Vettori picked up three wickets for five runs in just 19 balls. With Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds and Damien Martyn back in the warren in quick succession, a collapse was on the cards, but Hussey and Watson, first with cleverly placed singles and twos and then with mighty hits to the fence, thwarted the World’s finest with such composure and aplomb that recent predictions of a winter of Australian discontent seemed like the ravings of madmen.Having runs to play with, Lee’s early incisions made the top order resemble a hapless pub side. He was on a hat-trick and the World XI tottering at 27 for 4 when Flintoff walked out, right wrist taped after being struck by a fierce Ponting drive that forced him off the park when bowling. He and Sehwag added 60 in just 7.1 overs, reminding the Sunday crowd of the talent in the ranks. Unfortunately for those craving a genuine contest, Watson sneaked one through Flintoff’s defence to leave the World side at 87 for 5, and well on the slippery slope to defeat.Their pursuit of 294 had started disastrously, with Chris Gayle helping on a 145.8 kmph special from Lee, and when the in-form Kumar Sangakkara impetuously skied a pull off McGrath, the portents were ominous. Jacques Kallis and Brian Lara had failed to ignite in the opening two matches, and any thoughts of stroke-filled explosions were ruthlessly quelled in a Lee burst that left World XI supporters stunned.With the innings in disarray, Sehwag – who had been put down by Michael Clarke at point off McGrath when he had made just two – decided to back his instincts, clattering McGrath over the off-side cordon for two fours before skimming one over cover for six. Flintoff joined in the fun with two meaty swipes off Nathan Bracken, who went for 29 in two utterly radar-less overs, as the best of the rest gave a fleeting glimpse of what they were capable of.After Ponting won his third straight toss, Adam Gilchrist had set the tone with another thrilling cameo. Makhaya Ntini had raised visions of an improved performance by snaffling Clarke early, but with Shaun Pollock struggling with no-balls and looking increasingly pedestrian, there was no halting the Australian momentum. Gilchrist and Ponting worked the ball around, and when Ntini dropped one in far too short, Gilchrist smacked it nonchalantly over midwicket for six.The game sparked to life in Ntini’s next over as Ponting – who had flicked one over midwicket and cut another past point for fours – was caught palpably plumb in front. Aleem Dar refused to refer to the third umpire, and appeared to indicate that the ball would have passed over the stumps, giving Ponting – then on 19 – the slice of luck he needed to plunder more boundaries. With Martyn swinging his bat with the cavalier air of a man giving an exhibition, Ponting focussed his attention on Australia’s Ashes tormentor, Flintoff. Each time Flintoff dropped short, the savage pull came into play, and when he erred on the side of fullness, the flick through or over midwicket exacted a heavy toll.To exacerbate the World XI’s woes, Flintoff was then forced off for treatment on his wrist, and having seen the back of what one fan called Pommie Granite, Ponting then lofted one back over Kallis’s head to raise his 50. A century appeared to be his for the taking until Murali chipped in with a bit of magic.Hussey and Watson, however, had no intention of surrendering the initiative, plundering the bowling as it grew increasingly ragged once Murali and Vettori had finished their 20 overs for combined figures of 3 for 72. Fielders were too often caught on their haunches, catches went down or were taken off no-balls, and Pollock, Ntini and Gayle got a real pasting at the death. There was even time for Hussey to thump the steel ceiling with a steepling hit off Ntini, surely the emblematic moment of a day when awesome Australia truly raised the roof.

AustraliaMichael Clarke lbw Ntini 3 (15 for 1)
Adam Gilchrist c and b Pollock 32 (58 for 2)
Ricky Ponting c Lara b Muralitharan 68 (143 for 3)
Andrew Symonds c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 1 (146 for 4)
Damien Martyn lbw Vettori 33 (148 for 5)
World XIChris Gayle b Lee 0 (0 for 1)
Kumar Sangakkara c Martyn b McGrath 13 (20 for 2)
Jacques Kallis c Hussey b Lee 2 (27 for 3)
Brian Lara c Gilchrist b Lee 0 (27 for 4)
Andrew Flintoff b Watson 21 (87 for 5)
Virender Sehwag run out (Watson) 37 (99 for 6)
Rahul Dravid c Martyn b Lee 16 (119 for 7)
Daniel Vettori c Clarke b Watson 0 (120 for 8)
Shaun Pollock c White b Watson 8 (137 for 9)
Shahid Afridi c McGrath b Watson 16 (137 all out)