Zaheer Khan ruled out of 3rd Test

India were dealt a big blow ahead of the 3rd cricket Test against New Zealand with pace head Zaheer Khan being ruled out of the final rubber because of a groin injury.

Young left-handed pacer Jaydev Unadkat has been drafted in the team in place of him.

Zaheer suffered a groin injury during the 2nd cricket Test, which ended in a domestic draw at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.

"Zaheer Khan is injured and is unavailable for the 3rd Test against New Zealand, to be played at Nagpur from 20th November to 24th November," BCCI secretary N Srinivasan said in a release.

"The All India Selection Committee has chosen Jayadev Unadkat to replace Zaheer Khan in the squad," it said.

Zaheer was off the field for a good part of the 4th day. The left-handed pacer bowled just 3 overs during the 5th day.

McCullum 225 secures draw for New Zealand

India made 68/0 at close after the visitors declared their 2nd innings at 448/8 at tea, setting the hosts an improbable target of 327 runs to win in 30 overs.

Virender Sehwag returned to hit an unbeaten run-a-ball 54, studded with six boundaries and a six, to bring up his 2nd half-century of the match. Fellow opener Gautam Gambhir stayed not out on 14.

Brendon McCullum (225) frustrated the Indian spinners with his quick footwork and clever reverse sweeps. He was dropped on 148 by substitute fielder Cheteshwar Pujara at short leg off Harbhajan Singh's bowling.

The stylish right-hander reached the coveted double hundred mark with a paddle scoop to the fine leg boundary off part-time spinner Suresh Raina.

"It was quite important for us to bat some time and score some runs, else we were in danger of losing the Test," man of the match McCullum told Neo Cricket channel.

Resuming on 237 for four, McCullum and Kane Williamson (69) added 124 runs for the 5th wicket before the latter was out, adjudged leg before to Harbhajan.

McCullum perished trying to hit paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth (3-121) for the third consecutive boundary, skying a slower ball for Raina to take a well-judged catch.

The three-match Test series is tied at 0-0 after the first two tests.

Harbhajan Singh slams maiden century, match ends in draw

India found an unlikely batting hero in Harbhajan Singh, who produced a match-saving maiden Test century to turn his team to safety along with VVS Laxman as the first Test against New Zealand ended in a draw on Monday.

Harbhajan (115) notched up his only first class century and combined with experienced person, VVS Laxman (91) as the duo spoiled New Zealand's push for victory with a solid 163-run partnership for the 7th wicket.

Resuming their 2nd innings at a precarious 82/6, Laxman and Harbhajan saved India the blushes by batting carefully before the innings folded up for 266 shortly after the tea break for an overall lead of 294.

The Kiwis were 22 for one in their second innings before both captains decided to call off play.

It was Harbhajan who stole the spotlight on the final day's play and had it not been for his valiant batting effort, the story could have been quite different for the home team.

Harbhajan, who made his highest score of 69 in the 1st innings, achieved his dream of scoring a century in Test cricket. His 115 came off 193 balls and contained 13 boundaries and three sixes.

Harbhajan reached his maiden ton in style with a six off Vettori and held his bat in the air to return the applause of his teammates in the dressing room.

The stylish Laxman, who has bailed India out of many a crisis, was a picture of poise and concentration as he held the innings together and kept guiding Harbhajan.

Laxman was wrongly given out leg before wicket to rival team captain Daniel Vettori by umpire Steve Davis as TV replays showed the ball had deflected on to the pad off the inside edge of the bat.

Laxman and Harbhajan took India from a difficult 65 for six last evening at the fall of captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's wicket and were not separated till close to the tea interval when Vettori won the verdict against the former. The partnership was together for 10 minutes under four hours and faced 328 balls.


Man of the Match: Harbhajan Singh

Gambhir, VVS and Ishant return for test series against Kiwis

India are back to their full power side as the three injured players - Gautam Gambhir, VVS Laxman and Ishant Sharma, returned to the side for the three match test series against New Zealand. The above mentioned players had missed the 2nd test match against Australia at Bengaluru with injuries.

Ishant and Gambhir were stressed with knee problems and VVS had to bat with a runner, due to a bad back in that marathon chase at Mohali. Due to the injuries continued during the opening test at Mohali.

Gambhir would be under pressure to perform against the New Zealand. An in-form Murali Vijay, is breathing down Gambhir's neck.

Though Cheteshwar Pujara played an outstandingly well on his debut, retains his place, making a crucial 72 in a match winning chase, he will have to sit out of the playing eleven as Laxman would take his place. Suresh Raina would maintain to bat at No. 6, while an under pressure Dravid will get a chance at 3 to make some crucial runs before the arduous away tour of South Africa.

Yuvraj Singh, was again left dissatisfied when the selectors preferred Pujara as the standby batsman in case someone suffers an injury. Yuvraj Singh, has not played a test match since the 1st test against Sri Lanka at Galle where he scored 52 and 5.

Indian Test Squad: MS Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice-capt), Gautam Gambhir, M Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, VVS Laxman, Cheteshwar Pujara, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra.

New Zealand in India 2010, Schedule

3 Match Test Series Schedule
Date	Match Details	Time IST	Place
Nov 04 - 08	India v New Zealand, 1st Test Match Draw	09:30	Ahmedabad
Nov 12 - 16	India v New Zealand, 2nd Test	09:30	Hyderabad
Nov 20 - 24	India v New Zealand, 3rd Test	09:30	Nagpur
5 Match ODI Cricket Schedule
Date	Match Details	Time IST	Place
Nov 28 - Sun	India v New Zealand, 1st ODI	08:30	Guwahati
Dec 01 - Wed	India v New Zealand, 2nd ODI	14:30*	Chandigarh
Dec 04 - Sat	India v New Zealand, 3rd ODI	14:30*	Vadodara
Dec 07 - Tue	India v New Zealand, 4th ODI	14:30*	Bengaluru
Dec 10 - Fri	India v New Zealand, 5th ODI	14:30*	Chennai

* - Day-night Match...