Ricky is the right man to lead Aus for the Ashes: Warne

While suggesting that Ricky Ponting is still the best man for the captaincy, Shane Warne has written on his own website that there was no rift between Ricky and himself, and that he never ever told that Ricky's time as Aussie captain is over.

Former Aussie players including Geoff Lawson have been advised Ricky to give up captaincy and focus on his batting which has seen a slump in the last few seasons. The issue has occupied abundance of airtime on sports talk back radio stations over the past week, but Warne doesn't agree with the many callers who think Ponting's reign should end.

"Ricky Ponting, to me, is the right man to lead Australia for the Ashes Test Series," Warne wrote. "It's a great opportunity for him to show his leadership skills. He also looks in super touch with the bat; I am sure he's going to fill his boots this summer.

"This Ashes series is going to be the biggest of his and the Australian team's career. I think Ricky is at his best when he shows his Tassie devil side which is, aggressive with a dash of flair."

India sweep the test series 2-0 against Australia

Debutant batsman Cheteshwar Pujara proved an unlikely hero as India thrashed Australia by seven wickets in the 2nd and final Test on Wednesday to sweep the Test series 2-0.

Pujara hit 72 as the hosts, set 207 runs to win on a wearing wicket, cruised home soon after tea on the 5th and final day at Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru.

"University of Cricket” Sachin Tendulkar, who hit a double-century in the 1st innings, remained unbeaten on 53 as India enhanced their reputation as the world's No.1 Test side.

Ricky Ponting's Australia Team, preparing for next month's start of the Ashes series at home against England, slipped to 5th place behind the Indians, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the England.

Match Summary:

Aus 1st Innings 478/10 M. North 128 R. Ponting 77 H. Singh 4/148 P.Ojha 3/120	India 1st innings 495/10 S.Tendulkar 214 M. Vijay 139 M. Johnson 3/105
Aus 2nd innings 223/10 R. Ponting 72 Z. Khan 3/41 P. Ojha 3/57	India 2nd innings 207/3 C. Pujara 72 S. Tendulkar 53*

Man of the match: Sachin Tendulkar

Man of the Series: Sachin Tendulkar

Gautam, Ishant sharma ruled out of 2nd Test against Aus

In a huge blow to the Indian cricket team, Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma were ruled out of the 2nd Test against Australia due to knee injuries while VVS Laxman was rendered doubtful on account of back spasms.

The celebrations of a narrow 1-wicket win over the Australia had not even ended when the Indians were left to deal with the twin loss ahead of the 2nd and final match of the test series scheduled from October 9 in Bangalore.

"I have an injury and I won't be playing in the Bangalore Test," Gautam Gambhir told PTI.

The BCCI named batsman Abhinav Mukund and fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat as replaces for Gambhir and Ishant sharma.

"Gambhir and Ishant have been ruled out of the 2nd Test against Australia in Bangalore, on number of injuries to their right knees."

"The All-India Selection Committee has picked Abhinav Mukund and Jaydev Unadkat in their place. Mukund and Unadkat will be replaced in the squads for the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy by Harpreet Singh and Pankaj Singh respectively," BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan said in a statement.

While Mukund plays for India Red, Unadkat represents India Green in the tournament.

It was one of my best knocks: VVS Laxman

After single-handedly guiding India to a 1-wicket victory over Australia in the nail-biting 1st Test, VVS Laxman termed his unbeaten 73 as one of his best innings of his career.

"It is definitely one of my best innings. I have always enjoyed batting in such situations and I feel disappointed if I do not perform in such situations. I was able to deliver," he said after helping India taken unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.

"Whatever knock you play, if it helps the team in winning it feels really satisfying," he added.

VVS Laxman gave credit to the tailenders Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha for supporting him in completing a unforgettable win.

"It was a great effort from Ishant at the other end because with an injured leg he played and showed his character. He displayed great temperament. The partnership with Ishant was very important," said Laxman.

"All our tailenders take a lot of pride in their batting and they work really hard on their batting," he said.

Asked about how he reserved his best for the Australians, Laxman said, "You always feel good when you play well against Australia. Each session, the fortunes were fluctuating."

Injured Laxman guides India to nail biting 1 wicket victory

VVS Laxman defied a back injury to make an unbeaten 73 as India rushed a amazing 1-wicket victory from the jaws of overcome in the first Test against Australia on Tuesday.

In a nail biting encounter, India sealed the cliffhanger by 1 wicket. India thrashed Australia in the1st Test of two-match series here at PCA ground in Mohali on Tuesday.

It was the Very Very Special Laxaman innings, which helped Team India to take 1-0 lead in the two test-series.

VVS Laxman made crucial 9th wicket partnership with Ishant Sharma (31) to take India close to the target of 216 runs.

However, Ishant Sharma fell prey to wrong decision of umpire Ian Gould, bringing Australia back to the match.

But After several ups and down, Laxman and Pragyan Ojha took India home. It must be one of the greatest innings by Laxman, who was playing with a runner due to back stiff.

Earlier, Zaheer and Sachin Tendulkar started final day's proceedings on positive note but Zaheer khan was dismissed by spinner Hauritz for 10 runs.

Later, Tendulkar and Laxman embarked on run chase brilliantly but confident Sachin Tendulkar was caught at Gully region off Bollinger for 38.

After Tendulkar’s dismissal India lost skipper Dhoni (2) and Harbhajan Singh (2) in fast session.

Credit should go to Ishant Sharma, who shown brilliant spirit against might Australian fast bowling attack.

Sharma's crucial partnership with Laxman helped India to win the Mohali Test.

Match Summary:

Aus won the toss elected to bat first

Aus 1st innings: 428 all out S. Watson 126 T. Paine 92 Z. Khan 5/94 H. Singh 3/114 Aus 2nd innings: 192 all out S. Watson 56 Z. khan 3/43 I. Sharma 3/34

India 1st innings: 405 all out S. Tendulkar 98 S. Raina 86 M.Johnson 5/64 India 2nd innings: 216/9 VVS Laxman 73 not out B. Hilfenhaus 4/57

Man of the Match: Zaheer Khan

Australia in India 2010, Schedule

Clarke wary of India's bowling ability

Australian Vice-Captain Michael Clarke is hopeful his team will be able to counter India's bowling attack in home conditions in a two-Test series starting on 1st Oct 2010.

The hosts' attack has been supported with the return of left-arm Fast bowler Zaheer Khan, who was forced to miss a recent Test series in Sri Lanka due to an injury.

"Zaheer and Ishant Sharma are two very good bowlers of reverse swing. It can be very hard to combat at times and we have experienced that in the past," Clarke told reporters in Chandigarh on Tuesday.

"But we've been preparing and batting against reverse swing and against spin bowling too. Hopefully, come Friday, we'll be able to do well."

Harbhajan leads India's spin attack, having already given a good account of himself against the Australians with 79 wickets in 14 Tests.

The off-spinner rose to fame in 2001 when he took 32 wickets in three Tests series against Steve Waugh's Australians to lead his side to a stunning 2-1 series victory at home.

"Every player plays spin differently. I think individually we all have a plan and it's all about trying to adapt to the pitch conditions and the bowler," said Clarke.

"I have a plan against the spinners and will try to stick to that. Hopefully, it works."

Australia, who lost the last Test series in India in 2008, will play the opening Test in Mohali and the second match in Bangalore. The Tests will be followed by three ODI internationals.

Indian squad announced for Aus Test Series

Cheteshwar Pujara, after his excellent performances in the recent times, finally he get the place in the Indian team when the selectors met at Chennai to select the team for the Test series against Australia.

Gautam Gambhir also returned to the Indian squad after missing out of the last two Test match against Sri Lanka while the youngsters Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay retained their places in the team.

Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman were the regular choices.

Spinner Harbhajan Singh and Faster Zaheer Khan also returned from their wound layoffs to boost the Indian bowling attack.

Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth were the other seamers in the team while both spinners Pragyan Ojha and Amit Mishra were included.

India Team: MS Dhoni (c & w), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, M Vijay, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Sreesanth and Amit Mishra

India-Aus series important for cricket: Lawson

Former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson considers the forthcoming Australia tour of India 2010 as a very important tour in the conditions of the 'spot-fixing' scandal that has engulfed the game.

"This series is very important. A good, tough and hard series before the Ashes Series will do a whole world of good for the Australian team. People's faith in the game will return if they see good cricket. They will start thinking about the current action, not the one which has happened in the past," said Lawson.

"If the players play good cricket, the public will forget what's gone before. The people want their heroes to play well. There wasn't a hero in this argument," he said.

The former cricketer, who was the coach of the Pakistan team for two years and has seen the spot-fixing tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir from close quarters, was secure the game would come out of the latest scandal as it has done several times in the past.

"Cricket is a very resilient game. People in Australia are looking forward to this series as well as the Ashes. The game will move on if better and competitive cricket is played at regular intervals," said Lawson when asked whether the game can bounce back in style.

Australia in India 2010, Schedule

Date	Match Details	Time	Venue
Oct 01 - 05	India v Australia, 1st Test Ind won by 1 wickets	9.30	Mohali
Oct 09 - 13	India v Australia, 2nd Test	9.30	Bengaluru
Oct 17 - Sun	India v Australia, 1st ODI	9.00	Kochi
Oct 20 - wed	India v Australia, 2nd ODI*	14.30	Vizak
Oct 24 - Sun	India v Australia, 3rd ODI	9.00	Margao

Australia v Pakistan in England 2010