Virender Sehwag - Fastest Indian batsman to reach 7000

Virender Sehwag became the 6th Indian batsman to score 7000 Test runs during his unbeaten knock of 97 on the 2nd day(04/08/2010) of the 3rd Test against Sri Lanka. Sehwag reached the milestone during the final session of play when he scored a single off Lasith Malinga.

Virender Sehwag, who was playing in his 79th Test, became the 38th batsman overall to have scored 7000 runs in Test cricket.

Sunil Gavaskar was the 1st Indian to complete 7000 runs in Test cricket many years ago, while the other Indians in the list include Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly. Virender Sehwag also became the fastest Indian to have reached the landmark of 7000.

Sachin completed 48th Test Century

Indian Batsman Sachin Tendulkar hit his 48th Test century to lead India's fight back in the 2nd Test after Sri Lanka's bowling attack ran through the top order.

The world's leading international run-scorer (ODI & Test) was unbeaten on 108 as India, replying to Sri Lanka's 642-4 declared, recovered to 382-4 by stumps on the third day at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Tendulkar, an experienced person of 168 Tests, reached his 5th hundred this year by sweeping Randiv to the square-leg fence for his 13th boundary.

India in South Africa 2010-11, Series Schedule

Date	Match Details	Time IST	Place
Dec 16 - 20	South Africa v India, 1st Test SA won by innings & 25 runs	14:00	Centurion
Dec 26 - 30	South Africa v India, 2nd Test Ind won by 87 runs	14:00	Durban
Jan 02 - 06	South Africa v India, 3rd Test Match drawn	14:00	Cape Town
Jan 09 - Sun	South Africa v India, Only T20I Ind won by 21 runs	-	Durban
Jan 12 - Wed	South Africa v India, 1st ODI SA won by 135 runs	-	Durban
Jan 15 - Sat	South Africa v India, 2nd ODI Ind won by 1 runs	-	Johannesburg
Jan 18 - Tue	South Africa v India, 3rd ODI Ind won by 2 wickets	-	Cape Town
Jan 21 - Fri	South Africa v India, 4th ODI	-	Port Elizabeth
Jan 23 - Sun	South Africa v India, 5th ODI	-	Centurion

The Ashes Series 2010-11

Lasith Malinga out of 2nd Test, Mendis returns

In a major gust to Sri Lanka, fast bowler Lasith Malinga was ruled out of the squad for the 2nd Test because of ‘stiffness in his knee’.

Lasith Malinga was off the field for large parts of the fifth day of the 1st Test, and walked with clear trouble on occasions. Chairman of selectors Aravinda de Silva said Malinga was rested on the advice of team physiotherapist Tommy Simsek.

Malinga will be replaced by Dilhara Fernando in the squad.

"We have to be cautious with Malinga. He was not feeling quite fit to go through a five-day Test. He complained of stiffness in his knee," de Silva said. "We are closely monitoring Malinga's fitness and we are hopeful he will be fully fit for the third Test starting in ten days time."

The second Test starts on July 26, while the third is scheduled from August 3.

In other changes, unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis made his way back into the team after picking up 6-67 against the Indians in a practice match, while Mahela Jayawardene was made the vice-captain of the squad. The earlier vice-captain had been Muttiah Muralitharan.

Ponting joins Tendulkar in 12,000 landmark

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting became only the 2nd batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to score 12,000 Test runs when he reached the landmark against Pakistan on Thursday.

Ponting's edged a four runs to 3rd man off left-arm fast Mohammad Aamer on the 2nd day of the 2nd Test at Headingley gave him the 40 runs he wanted to reach the landmark in what was his 247th innings in his 146th Test.

Sachin Tendulkar also reaches the 12,000 mark in the same number of innings.

Ricky Ponting is one of the outstanding batsmen of his generation and has scored 39 Test hundreds, second only to Tendulkar's record mark of 47.

But the India star made his Test debut in 1990 - five years before the 35-year-old Ricky Ponting's debut - and has played 21 more matches at this level than the Australia batting great.

Tendulkar, 37-year-old, is the only batsman in Test history to have scored more than 13,000 runs. His tally stands at 13,539 runs from 273 innings in 167 matches with 47 hundreds, including a best of 248 not out, at an average of 55.48.

Sri Lanka beat India after Murali's 800 wicket-mark

Muttiah Muralitharan retired with 800 Test wickets as Sri Lanka won India by 10 wickets in their first Test match.

The crafty off-spinner had last man Pragyan Ojha caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene to reach the 800 wicket landmark and finished India's 2nd innings in the post-lunch session of the final day's play.

India, who were made to follow on 244 runs behind, were bowled out for 338 in their second inning, leaving Sri Lanka a modest target of 95 runs in the opening match of the three-Test series.

The hosts cruised home without losing a wicket as Tharanga Paranavitana followed his 1st-innings century with 23 not out and Tillakaratne Dilshan ruined an unbeaten 68 off 47 balls.

Dilshan signalled the emphatic win by lofting off-spinner Harbhajan Singh over long-on for six.

Muralitharan, 38, who has taken more Test (800) and one-day (515) wickets than any bowler in history, remains open to playing limited-overs games.

India, the top-ranked Test side, have not won a Test series in Sri Lanka since 1993.

Muralitharan reached 800-wicket mark in Test Cricket

Retiring world record bowling holder Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka clams 800-wicket mark with his last delivery in Test cricket on Thursday.

Muralitharan, 38, had last man Pragyan Ojha caught at 1st slip by Mahela Jayawardene to end India's 2nd innings after lunch on the final day of the 1st Test at the Galle.

Muralitharan, who has more Test (800) and one-day (515) wickets than any bowler in history, will retire from Test cricket after the 1st test match.

India, who were made to follow on 244 runs behind, were all out for 338 in their 2nd innings.

Sri Lanka needs 95 to win the 1st Test and take the lead in the three-match series.