Congratulations Sachin!

Congratulations to Sachin Tendulkar on scoring 17,000 ODI runs. He is one the best batsmen of all time. His 17,000 runs have come in 435 matches at an average of 44.3 with 44 centuries and 91 half centuries. Couple this with almost 13,000 test runs at an average of 54.5 with 42 centuries and we have a true legend of the game. All of us who have seen him play are lucky to have witnessed such a brilliant batsman at work. Well done Sachin and here's to many more runs.

Highest first innings scores and highest run chases in India.

UPDATE. Australia's 4/350 places them 7th on the list. Their 13 sixes is the highest against India in India by any team.

Australia are on track for a good score against India in the 5th ODI. Let's take a look at the 10 highest first innings scores in India and the highest successful run chases. There has only been 2 ODIs before this one at this ground and the highest score was 7/290 by Australia in 2007.

Top 10 first innings score in ODIs in India
India 5/387 v England, Rajkot 2007
India 2/376 v New Zealand, Hyberabad, 1999
India 9/356 v Pakistan, Visakhapatnam, 2005
India 7/354 v Australia, Nagpur, 2009
India 5/353 v New Zealand, Hyberabad, 2004
Aus 4/350 v India, Hyberabad 2009
India 6/350 v Sri Lanka, Nagpur, 2004
NZ 9/349 v India, Rajkot, 1999
NZ 9/348 v India, Nagpur, 1995
Aus 2/347 v India, Balgalore, 2003
India 3/341 v WI, Vadodora. 2007

Highest successful run chases in India.
India 5/325 (47.4) v  WI, Ahmedabad, 2002
Pak 6/326 (49.5) v India, Mohail, 2007
Pak 7/319(48) v India,  Ahmedabad, 2005
India 4/303 (46.1) v Sri Lanka, Jaipur, 2005
India 7/302(49.4) v South Africa, Nagpur, 2000

No other score above 300 has been chased down.

It will be a big year for... NSW edition.

The Australian domestic season is underway and the home tests start soon. Let's take a look at those players who have an opportunity to push for a place or cement their place in each form of the game. I will be covering 1 or 2 states each day.

David Warner - Had a great Champions Trophy for NSW and averages 28.71 at a strike rate of 140 after 36 games with only 1 not out score. Has played 8 T20 internationals and averages 34.12 for Australia. Has been included in the NSW one-day squad but not the first class squad. Can expect to play more T20 games for Australia and can push for a recall to the ODI squad with some good performances.

Doug Bollinger - Currently playing his 6th ODI and has 8 wickets at a brilliant average of 20.62. Can cement a place with more good performances in India. Has played 1 test and may get a few more this season with good bowling and the current injury crisis facing Australia.

Moises Henriques - Brilliant in the champions trophy and solid in the 2 games he played for Australia. My favourite domestic player. He has a great deal of talent and is slowing getting his batting average up and bowling average down. May have to wait for an injury to Watson to get a test place and is currently behind Hopes in the pecking order for ODIs. Only 22, Moises has a massive future ahead of him in all forms of the game and a great domestic season should see him permanently in the Australian side soon rather than later.

Phillip Hughes - Dudded by the selectors during the Ashes and was dropped with an average of 52. Averages 61 after 50 first class innings'. People seem to think the English bowlers unlocked some great secret by bowling short to him, this is a myth. Bowlers have been doing it to him his whole career. Phillip was unlucky during the Ashes and extremely unlucky to be dropped.

Josh Hazlewood - Only 18 and has only played 1 first class game (against the touring NZ side last year) where he took 4 wickets. Youngest member of Australia's under-19 world cup squad in 2008. Has a lot of potential and if given a chance this year may be able to show what he has.

Brett Lee - Nearly 33 and starting to run out of chances to force his way back in to the test team. Too many injuries lately but has been bowling brilliantly when fit.

Burt Cockley - Has taken 29 first class wickets in just 8 games with 27 of those coming in just 7 games. Being called up by Australia as cover in the current series in India will give this young fast bowler a whole world of confidence and another season like last year might see him being called up to play, not just as cover.

Usman Khawaja - Only 22 but already averages 40 in first class cricket. Has scored 2 centuries and 2 50s in just 17 innings with a high score of 172*. They say most bastmen don't hit their peak until around age 30, if that is so Usman should have a test spot before his career is over.

Back from hiatus

That is all

Australia fined for slow over rate

Michael Clarke may have escaped with his unbeaten captaincy record intact following Australia's last-gasp victory in the fourth ODI on Friday while he was deputising for the injured Ricky Ponting, but he couldn't avoid a fine for a slow over-rate.

He lost ten per cent of his match fee in his first ODI as captain, the third time he has skippered Australia having led them in two Twenty20s. His team-mates were each docked five per cent after Australia were ruled to be one over short of their target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

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Bangladesh bowled out for 115.

Pakistan has bowled Bangladesh out for 115 in the 12th match of the Asian Cup. After winning the toss and electing to bat Bangladesh would have been to put on a score but it wasn't to be in the overcast conditions with the ball swinging around. Iqbal top scored with 26 while Rauf was the pick of the bowlers with 3/24 from 8 overs. Paskistan has just started the chase.

India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets.

Sri Lanka scored 8/308 off their 50 overs. Kapugedra top scored with 75 while Jayawardene and Silva both scored 50. In reply India lost just 4 wickets chasing down the Sri Lanka's scre with 3 overs to spare. Gahmbir, Dhoni and Raina all scored 50s

Scorecard.

New Zealand smash Scotland

New Zealand has hammered an uninspiring Scotland. Scotland were bowled out for 101 in 33.2 overs. Jacob Oram doing the damage with 3/13 off six overs. Mark Gillespie and Daniel Vettori chipped in with 2 wickets each. Mohammed Qasim Sheik top scored for Scotland with 18. In reply New Zealand took just 14.4 overs and lost 2 wickets in knocking off the required runs. Ross Taylor was not out on 61 off 31 balls.

Scorecard.

Sri Lanka win toss, bat.

Sri Lanka has won the toss and elected to bat in the penultimate match of the 'Super Fours' part of the Asian Cup. Play will begin in a few minutes,

New Zealand win toss, elect to bowl.

New Zealand have won the toss and elected to field in the hotly anticipated match against Scotland at Aberdeen. Scotland are currently 2/13 off 3 overs. Gillespie has taken both wickets and has figures of 2/2.