Manoj Vatsyayana

Ricky Ponting has lauded Shane Watson for his match-winning century that led his side to victory over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final.

Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson has bagged the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy after being named the ICC Cricketer of the year on Thursday.

Pakistan qualified for the Champions Trophy semifinals after the India-Australia match was abandoned due to rain on Monday night.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is looking forward to an improved performance from his team in a crucial match against formidable Australia.

Bowlers could be forgiven for breathing a sigh of relief ahead of the Champions Trophy as some of the world's big-hitters will me mssing the action.

Australia waited eight years to win the Champions Trophy in 2006 and are not expected to relax their grip easily when the 2009 tournament begins.

Twenty20 was considered a spinners' graveyard till a skilful band of slow bowlers changed it all with bewitching shows in the IPL in South Africa.

Mahela Jayawardene equalled former Australian legend Don Bradman's record of nine centuries at one venue to put Sri Lanka in command against India.

Sourav Ganguly cracked a gutsy 87 on a difficult pitch to help India gain a slender advantage on the second day of the third and final Test against South Africa in Kanpur on Saturday. India were struggling at 123-4 before reaching 288-9 in their first innings at stumps in reply to South Africa's 265 on a day of fluctuating fortunes.

Teenage paceman Ishant Sharma and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh shared six wickets as India restricted South Africa to 265 in the third and final Test in Kanpur on Friday. South Africa were comfortably placed at 152-1 before losing their way on a spin-friendly pitch. Skipper Graeme Smith (69) and Hashim Amla (51) led the way with solid half-centuries.

A buoyant South Africa will be keen to capitalise on India's form and fitness worries ahead of Friday's third and final Test in Kanpur to complete a hat-trick in the subcontinent. The visitors lead 1-0 in the series following their crushing win by an innings and 90 runs in the second Test in Ahmedabad last Saturday after the opening match ended in a draw in Chennai.

South Africa relied on their bowlers' disciplined performances to thrash India by an innings and 90 runs on the third day of the second Test on Saturday. Trailing by 418, India were bowled out for 328 in their second innings despite fighting half-centuries from former captain Sourav Ganguly (87) and wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (52).