'Ishant should step up and lead attack' - Zaheer

Zaheer Khan wants Ishant Sharma to take over from him as the leader of India's fast-bowling group.

Zaheer Khan wants Ishant Sharma to take over from him as the leader of India's fast-bowling group. Ishant, according to Zaheer, has enough experience to be able to guide his fast-bowling colleagues during India's five-Test series in England. Of the six frontline seam bowlers in India's squad, Ishant is the only one who has toured England before. Zaheer, who has been part of three England Test tours, missed out on selection with a side strain.

Ishant Sharma (R) during a training session in Leicester."It is Ishant who has played the most number of matches and he has been around for a while," Zaheer told ESPNcricinfo. "It is time he steps into that role. For Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] and [Mohammed] Shami, it is their first (England) tour so they will look to Ishant and [bowling coach] Joe Dawes for inputs to perform in those conditions."

Despite having played 55 Test matches, Ishant hasn't really shown signs that he could be looked at as the bowling captain. He has only played four Tests in England, during India's 2011 tour, during which he took 11 wickets. Incidentally, it was Praveen Kumar who led the attack - after an injured Zaheer limped out of the tour after just 13 overs in the first Test - and finished the series as India's best bowler, with 13 wickets in three Tests.

Ishant was India's best bowler in the two-Test series in New Zealand earlier this year, with 15 wickets at an average of 25.13, and bowled diligently during the South Africa tour before that. Zaheer, though, was present on both tours to mentor Ishant and Shami.

Zaheer was impressed with Shami, who he said possessed "very good pace" and complemented the rest of India's seam attack very well. "I was also impressed by someone like Mohammed Shami, who was able to perform the pace bowler's role very nicely," Zaheer said. "For a successful bowling unit you require a good fast bowler with very good pace and Shami has that. And that helped me cope with my workload. You do need a balanced bowling attack. You can't have bowlers with similar styles. It was a perfect combination we had, I felt. Ishant, being a very tall guy, adds that extra bounce on helpful pitches. If conditions are suitable for swing, I come in and also bring the experience."

Shami was once again the pick of the bowlers in the Indians' first warm-up match, a three-day game against Leicestershire that finished in a draw. Although Shami remained wicketless, he hurried the batsmen with his speed and movement and was able to make use of the overcast conditions much better than his senior partner Ishant. Ishant started with a no-ball - he finished with an embarrassing count of seven in just nine overs - and was constantly riled by Indian fans from the sidelines.

Zaheer pointed out that a long series always provide the potential to settle in, and it would help India's fast bowlers to play as many matches as possible. "If you hit a good rhythm a series like this is the best thing that can happen to a bowler," he said. "Play as much as possible. It is important to get the confidence of bowling in those conditions and the two practice matches are crucial for the bowling unit to get used to the conditions and hit the ball in the right areas."

Zaheer said he would dearly miss being part of the Test series, having been part of three England tours in the past and played a key role in winning the 2007 series with 18 wickets. During the New Zealand tour, Zaheer said, the team management had told him to stay prepared for the England tour and manage his workload accordingly. He suffered a side strain during the IPL, however, and is still four weeks from being able to bowl again.

"That was the whole plan (playing in England)," Zaheer said. "I have been working towards this tour for the last year. I was focusing on Test matches. Even through the IPL my routines were working towards the England tour. Considering all that it was disappointing to miss out. I just hope that Indian team does well on English soil."

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Dravid joins Indian team as mentor for England tour

The batting great with a steller record in England takes his first step towards coaching India.

Former India captain Rahul Dravid has been appointed in a mentoring role to the team in the run-up to their five-Test series in England. Dravid will have a few sessions with the players before the series begins on July 9. He is expected to join the team latest by Monday.

Rahul Dravid in action during the 2011 England tour.The move was initiated by the team management, according to BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel. "It was the coach (Duncan Fletcher) who approached us on behalf of the team and said it would be good to have Rahul with his vast experience spend some time with the boys ahead of the series," Patel told ESPNcricinfo. "We immediately requested Rahul and he readily agreed."

This will be the first time Dravid, who has been mentoring IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals after retiring from international cricket in 2012, will be associated in such a capacity with the national team.

In March this year, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar had said that Dravid should take over as India coach, but the latter had declined the suggestion citing lack of time.

"Rahul Dravid is one man who is enormously respected and was a successful captain, having won series in West Indies and England," Gavaskar had said. "When he speaks, the Indian players, some of whom are superstars, listen to him as they know how much preparation went into his game."

"I am happy that he (Gavaskar) said I am capable of doing the job," Dravid had said. "But the job requires a lot of time, almost 11 months a year. I have just retired and at the moment because of time constraints, I have to decline."

Dravid was India's best batsman on their previous tour of England in 2011, his three centuries the only bright spot in a 0-4 rout. In all, six of Dravid's 36 Test hundreds came in England, where he made 1376 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 68.80. He also had a successful stint with county side Kent in 2000, scoring 1221 runs in 16 matches at 55.50 with two centuries.
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Ton-up Angus Robson pummels India

Tour match — Experienced seamer Ishant Sharma saw 41 runs scored off his first four wicketless overs, a spell that included six no-balls.

AFP – 10 hours ago

Dhoni (R) walks past Greg Smith (L) and Angus Robson in Leicester.

LEICESTER - A week after his older brother Sam made his maiden Test hundred for England against Sri Lanka, Angus Robson showed centuries run in the family by reaching three figures for Leicestershire against India on Saturday.

India's bowlers were given the run-around by Robson (126) and Greg Smith (101) in a second-wicket stand of 221 before both retired at tea, that took Leicestershire to 349 for five before a draw was agreed on the final day of three at Grace Road.

The one consolation for India was that if ever there was game to get the rust out of the system, this was probably it, as they had already declared on 333 for four on the first day of the opening game of their tour before rain washed out the second.

Experienced seamer Ishant Sharma, set to be a key member of India's attack in the upcoming five-Test series with England, saw 41 runs scored off his first four wicketless overs, a spell that included six no-balls.

The 22-year-old Angus Robson, watched by his Australia-born father and English-born mother Rosamunde, as was Sam at Headingley, gave his parents a fresh reason to be glad they didn't go home to Sydney after their older son's
disappointing Test debut at Lord's.

The Leicestershire opener was quickly into his work with all of his 11 boundaries in a run-a-ball 50 coming off Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the new ball.

He carried on in similar fashion to race to a hundred in just 102 balls with 20 fours.

'SPECIAL DAY'

But the only downside for the Robson clan was that Angus was denied a maiden first-class hundred for Leicestershire when India stripped the match of its status by opting to use all 18 members of their squad, while only batting 11.

"It's been a pretty special day really," said Robson. "Mum and dad were both here all day. It's funny how it works out -- two Saturdays in a row, they've seen us both get hundreds.

"They're thrilled to bits... and I couldn't be happier."

As to whether Sam would pick his brains about India's bowlers ahead of next month's first Test in Nottingham, Angus said: "I think he'll call me ... and might ask me a few things.

"I'm not sure I'm the man to tell him, but maybe I've seen something that can help."

Reflecting on the quickfire start to his innings, Robson said: "I've tried to add a few more shots to my game, and each time I seem to have scored a bit quicker.

"In a way, I'm a natural opener. But I like to get out of the blocks early...Thankfully it came off."

Robson also tried to put his innings in context by saying: "It is just a warm-up game for them (India), so they're still feeling their way into conditions and will probably be better for the run -- and I'm sure they'll keep improving.

"But it was obviously a great thrill to get runs against a Test attack."

India did manage an early wicket when Pankaj Singh, the pick of the seven seamers in their Test squad who all bowled Saturday, had Robson's opening partner Matthew Boyce brilliantly caught one-handed and above his head by third slip Ajinkya Rahane.

Smith, though, enured there was no respite for India's bowlers, completing a run-a-ball century with successive straight sixes off Ravindra Jadeja.

Both batsmen retired at tea but Dan Redfern (58) helped keep the runs coming before he was caught off Sharma at mid-wicket.

India's bowlers will look for an improved performance in their second and final warm-up fixture against Derbyshire before the first Test at Trent Bridge starting on July 9.

Srinivasan under fire from Aussie media

The ICC's inaugural chairman came under fire from Australian media over allegations of corruption.

Indian powerbroker N. Srinivasan's appointment as the ICC's inaugural chairman came under fire from Australian media Friday over allegations of corruption as cricket officials insisted no wrongdoing had been proved.

In the line of fire: N SrinivasanSrinivasan was anointed despite being suspended by India's Supreme Court as his country's top cricket official after being named in a damning report into corruption allegations in the Indian Premier League.

The Age newspaper said the sport had made a fool of itself.

"Even if, as Srinivasan says, he is proven to have done nothing wrong, the fact that other members of the ICC endorsed him for the chairmanship hardly inspires confidence in their collective desire to stamp out corruption from the sport," its cricket writer Chloe Saltau said.

"Srinivasan's very presence at the Melbourne conference as the ICC's newly inaugurated chairman was a fresh attack on cricket's credibility."

The Australian broadsheet said there was little member nations could do to stop him taking charge of the International Cricket Council at its annual conference this week.

"While member nations were uncomfortable with Srinivasan taking over the world game while battling corruption allegations at home, they received legal advice there was nothing to stop him and no country was willing to risk the Indian powerbroker's wrath," the newspaper's Peter Lalor wrote.

He said Srinivasan, Cricket Australia chairmen Wally Edwards and English cricket chief Giles Clarke met during the Perth Test between Australia and England this year "to sign off details of a coup in which the three grabbed control of the ICC through the chairmanship and a new executive committee which they dominate".

"As part of the move, a former equal distribution of cricket revenue was changed to give India the greatest share. England and Australia also benefited financially," he said.

Under the ICC's new structure, an ICC executive committee has been formed chaired by Edwards, with Clarke heading up the finance and commercial affairs arm.

'Allegations we know nothing about'

New Zealand Cricket director Martin Snedden said if a problem arose over the investigations into Srinivasan down the track then the ICC would deal with it then.

"(They are) allegations that we know nothing about made by people that are highly incentivised to get rid Srinivasan," he told New Zealand radio Friday.

"The (Indian Supreme) court has said that they're untested and no inference is to be taken from the fact that they've asked for them to be investigated.

"But in three or four months time, that investigation will be complete, the results will be given to the court, they'll be made public. If, at that point, there is a problem, then the ICC can deal with it then."

Sneddon said while his election was a "huge about-turn", overall it provided the international cricket community with more certainty.

"Having India inside the camp is a huge about-turn from where it's been throughout the time I've been involved in the ICC," he said.

"India's been an outlier, they've caused all sorts of havoc and uncertainty from time to time and it's made it extremely difficult for other countries -- New Zealand's been on the receiving end of that, so have a number of other countries.

"As a result of what these (big three) countries have done, yes, they've used their collective advantage in some ways, but at the same time, what they are doing is providing the overall international cricket community with a lot more certainty."

Newspapers also queried Srinivasan's assertion on Thursday that India had not threatened to walk out of the ICC unless it received a greater share of the global game's revenues.

"Australia and England have said, privately and publicly, that they had to appease India to stop them from breaking away and taking their lucrative tours with them," The Age said.

"Srinivasan baldly denied that India had dreamt of such a power play, placing him in direct contradiction with Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards, who was in the room at his press conference, and one of his own colleagues."

India on top despite Dhawan injury scare

Tour Match — The visitors cruised to 333 for four at stumps on the first day of the opening match of their tour of England against Leicestershire.

Dhawan receives treatment after being hit at Grace Road in Leicester.

LEICESTER - Shikhar Dhawan was hit on the arm but did not suffer major damage as India cruised to 333 for four at stumps on the first day of the opening match of their tour of England against Leicestershire at Grace Road on Thursday.

Test opener Dhawan retired hurt for 60 after being struck by a short ball from left-arm seamer Atif Sheikh. However, team management subsequently confirmed it was not a serious injury.

Dhawan was one of several batsmen who cut short their innings to give team-mates a chance of time in the middle with Gautam Gambhir (54) and Cheteshwar Pujara (57) also making fifties.

The match lost its first-class status after Leicestershire agreed to India's request to play as many of their 18-man squad as they wished.

However, the tourists -- coached by former England boss Duncan Fletcher -- will only bat 11.

Leicestershire, right at the bottom of the two-division County Championship table and without a win in nine matches this season, fielded a second-string team.

Nevertheless they still nearly dismissed Dhawan for a duck when, after India won the toss on a green-tinged pitch, the first over of the match saw Dan Redfern unable to hold a head-high chance at third slip off the bowling of Anthony Ireland.

Dhawan went on to complete a 79-ball fifty, including 10 fours.

India lost their first wicket on 46 when Murali Vijay edged a swinging Ireland delivery to gully.

Dhawan got to fifty shortly before lunch but went off early in the second session when a Sheikh bouncer that didn't climb as much as he expected hit him near the elbow.

Gambhir got to his half-century in 95 balls before retiring to allow fellow top-order batsman Virat Kohli some time in the middle.

Kohli fell when he drove loosely at Shiv Thakor and was bowled for 29.

Pujara then called time on his own innings, with Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma seeing India through to stumps.

After this match, India make the short journey to Derby for another three-day warm-up fixture before remaining in the Midlands for the first of a five-Test series against England at Nottingham's Trent Bridge starting on July 9.

'India performing on the big stage will be good for women's cricket'

Former England bowler Isa Guha talks about the support women's cricket needs from national boards, being a role model to Asians in the UK, and the tough decision she made to quit the game early

What are the most pressing issues in women's cricket at the moment?

At the age of seven to ten there's a real opportunity for young girls to be able to mix with the boysThe main concern is that some countries will fall behind while others progress at a fast rate. In recent times, we've seen a huge amount of growth in women's cricket and, at global events, Sri Lanka, West Indies and South Africa are holding their own against the consistently stronger sides. However, with England going professional, which is an unbelievable feat in itself, other countries will have to follow if they are to keep up. That means more support from respective governing bodies. Currently, Australia are probably the closest to England when it comes to professionalism. There is also support for West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand but not to the same extent that the ECB supports their women's team.

If the BCCI are serious about their women's team performing on the biggest stage then improvements are necessary and that doesn't just include player remuneration. Rounded infrastructure support with regards to coaching, medical and physio accessibility, facilities and competitive fixtures will also be important.

What should administrators do to increase viewership for women's cricket across formats?

I think T20 cricket has become the flagship spectacle for women's cricket. For the last six years, the semis and finals of the global tournaments have been played on the same day as the men. It draws in the crowds and people who wouldn't necessarily watch women's cricket. These days there is greater depth in players with the ability to hit the big sixes, bowl bouncers or other variations as well as some dynamic fielding. You may be treated to all these skills in T20 cricket over the course of three hours, whereas during a Test it is spaced out.

Don't get me wrong. The most recent women's Test in Perth. It has to be one of the best matches I've ever seen, yet there was hardly anyone watching. There was no TV coverage either, although I was covering it for BBC/ABC radio. There is a Catch-22 situation where people don't want to advertise unless they've got people coming to games, but you're not going to attract big crowds unless you market them properly.

In England last year, the ECB held a standalone T20 at Chelmsford between England and Australia and it was a packed house. Essex Cricket did a really good job of marketing it and I think boards around the world could follow.

Will getting girls playing with boys from a younger age, at school and club level, help? 

I think so. Certainly between seven to ten there's a real opportunity for young girls to mix with boys. It's only when boys reach the age of 12-13 where strength takes over. I'd even say that girls' skill levels are better at seven to ten, because they listen more at that age. Many England girls have grown up playing men's cricket and trained in county men's academies, so they've faced 70-80 mph bowling. So when it comes to the women's game you have a 75mph bowler who's not as tall and not getting as much bounce, you feel more assured.

Was it easy to find a women's team to be a part of when you were young?

At the start there weren't any girls teams around or my family wasn't aware of any, so my dad formed a girls team at High Wycombe Cricket Club, alongside another parent, Bob Lester, who has sadly passed away now. It was a really fun team to be a part of. I also joined Gerrards Cross women. Through that I was selected for age-group county cricket and eventually I was introduced to a Premier League team called Ridgeway, which then became Reading Ridgeway. That was my first taste of playing with international or former international cricketers so I was gaining experience from quite a young age. I think I joined them when I was 11.

Should women be playing with men more often at the higher levels as well? 

England Women regularly play against Under-15 and U-17 county men's sides, which is great for the girls to take them out of their comfort zones. It's important to find a balance, though, because the way in which women's cricket is played is still very different. In men's cricket you are playing on the back foot more than the front and you are bowling different lengths to men than you do to women.

How sustainable are Tests in women's cricket, considering the growth of T20s for men and women?

I actually thought that women's Tests were going to die out because it was only England and Australia that wanted to play, coupled with the fact that T20 was bringing more viewership and money to the game. However, the introduction of the multi-format bilateral series based on a points system has taken a step towards saving women's Test cricket. I think it should be used for future series between other countries too.

What more should be done for the viewers or fans to say, that women's cricket is as entertaining as men's?

Shorter boundaries. I also think we need to see the best players playing against each other. India have really slipped in terms of the way they are competing at global events. They have so much talent in their side yet they are not performing. Now if someone could take them by the scruff of their neck and transform them into a world-beating side, it would be significant because women's cricket needs India performing on the big stage.

The men's calendar is packed through the year. Won't it be tough to get broadcasters or sponsors for women's cricket?

The Indian channels are constantly filling with previous games. Star Sports have got four channels so there's always room to cover games, and in England there is plenty of space too. Certainly in India I know the viewership for World T20 was still better than any English Premier League football match. There is definitely a market for women and it just needs the support and people to actually realise that it is a viable product. Ten to 12 years ago you wouldn't want to watch women's cricket because the skill levels weren't there. Since then, it has improved substantially, the girls are fitter and stronger than ever, you've got maybe five or six players in a team now that can hit sixes and there are two or three bowlers who bowl in excess of 70 mph, alongside spinners who have several variations.

Do you support the idea of men getting more prize money than women for the same events, like the World T20?

It's something that we have learned to accept over the years. We have to be realistic as men's cricket has historically brought the spectators and money to the game. I don't think the girls are far off but until they can bring the crowds in on their own, equal pay won't happen. However, there is a real disparity between the pay, so it probably could be evened out slightly. In spite of that, this is the most the girls have ever received before so it is nice to see that it is gradually improving.

You played a lot of other sports while growing up. Do you think cricket has done enough compared to other sports to encourage women, or is it lagging behind?

In England, there was a real culture shift in perception of women's sport after that Olympics. Jess Ennis, Chrissie Ohuruogu, Vicky Pendleton and Laura Trott, to name a few, have acted as female role models in England. The government is also making a big push, and the media are now covering more women's sports. During the Women's World T20 the girls were on the front and back covers of leading newspapers. Sky and BBC are also getting behind women's cricket. Former and current international players are also taking the game more seriously, which speaks volumes for the direction women's cricket is heading in.

Compared to when you started playing, in 2002, how much sexism do you still see in the game?

Still a little bit. I used to get really frustrated, but then I kind of accepted that it is a male-dominated sport and you are constantly trying to prove yourself. I definitely think there's been a culture shift in the last couple of years and I think that comes from guys who are role models for youngsters, like international players and commentators.

The Women's International Cricket League may be played in Singapore. What immediate benefits will it bring for women's cricket?

Having been involved with the IPL over the last few years, I thought it would be a great idea to have a women's IPL. Shaun Martyn and Lisa Sthalekar have taken it on board full time making it their sole aim to get it off the ground. It was a shame to hear that the ECB and CA will not be supporting the tournament. However, these governing bodies have made great strides themselves to support the women's game. I'm not entirely sure what the ICC stance is but I think if the WICL is to go ahead then it will be important to gain their backing.

Do you think Asian women in the UK face greater challenges than men in making it to the top in cricket?

Yes. I was fortunate that my parents were unbelievably supportive of me. I don't know if a lot of Asian females in England receive the same sort of support. I just think it's a lot tougher with the traditional mentalities of Asian families who say it is much better to focus on your studies. However, the opportunities for the girls to become professional might change that mindset and the general perception of women in sport.

Do you see yourself as a role model for younger Asians?

I never used to. But the message I always try and get across is that it is possible to do both. I went to university and I still played cricket for England and actually quite a lot of the girls in the team have done the same. If I can act as a role model for young Asian women then that's great. I want to encourage young Asian girls to get involved in cricket because there are so many opportunities through playing. I feel very fortunate.

Talking about your own career, the England team won the World Cup, the World T20 and three Ashes in that time. How did England transform into this strong side?

It wasn't overnight. In 2005 we lost in the World Cup semi-finals to Australia but the belief was there that we could actually beat them. Then in that summer we were 2-0 down in the one-day series against Australia. We went to Stratford and we knew we had to win. We ended up putting 200 on the board, which was pretty much unheard of for the England team against Australia. And we narrowly won - the first time we had beaten Australia in ten years. That gave us the momentum to win the Ashes back after 42 years. In breaking their stranglehold we finally justified our belief that the number one spot was within our reach.

The introduction of lottery funding from 2002 meant more of us could spend more time training; strengthening conditioning coaches at the English Institute of Sport meant that we were the fittest we had ever been. When I first started we had John Harmer coaching us and he introduced a lot of biomechanics skills. Then we had Richard Bates, who introduced a lot of tactical awareness. Then Mark Lane, who allowed us to play with a lot of freedom - he'd encourage us to bowl the slower ball, and go out and play with no fear when we were batting. He made us ruthless too.

In 2008 when we were 2-1 up in the one-day series in Australia, we had the opportunity to win the series, yet we lost that final game. In the dressing room everyone was still quite upbeat but I remember Mark Lane saying we had missed a massive opportunity to win in Australia and that we should be disappointed more than anything. He was completely right. Then we went to New Zealand and did exactly that, winning 3-1.

That was the beginning of an 11-game winning streak prior to hitting the World Cup so we were peaking at the right time. Even in the final, we had a bit of a batting collapse, but the two cool and calm heads of Nicky Shaw and Holly Colvin saw us over the line. It really was a tournament where everyone performed at different times and I'll treasure those memories forever, because it wasn't just the two weeks, it was a period of seven years to get to that point.

What were the low points of your career?

In 2005 we had just beaten Australia and we went to India and ended up being whitewashed. So after such a high, we ran into a huge low. Also, I found it hard coping with pressure of being the No. 1 bowler. It was just a tag but I really let it affect me. I felt the pressure of expectations every time I went out to bowl and when things didn't go to plan I would get quite frustrated. It followed a real purple patch in my career including the Bowral Test match and successive games after that. I tried to rediscover those moments every time I went out to bowl and when it didn't happen I would try even harder. It also coincided with me not knowing what I was doing with my life. I was 26, it was 2009, we had won everything, and I didn't know whether to carry on or whether to stop after achieving so much and moving on to a proper career. There were other low points but it is how you cope with those situations that make you a better cricketer.

How difficult was it to manage a career like that along with education?

It was tough but I would never change it. It was always important for me to have something else to do. There are some girls who surround themselves with cricket and they absolutely love it but I needed to escape it every now and then. The reason I chose to do the PhD was because it allowed me to obviously prioritise my cricket but then in my own time I could focus on my studies.

How big a role did it play in your early retirement?

I wouldn't say that that was my main reason for retiring. I had already been thinking about retiring in 2009. I knew that I wanted to better myself as a cricketer so I carried on from 2010 to 2012. It was during this time that I started to find myself yo-yoing in and out of the squad. I captained the academy side against the England team. Although I was excited about the prospect of leading these young and talented cricketers through the system I didn't like feeling disconnected from the core England group so it made me strive to get back in.

We had just won the 2011 Quadrangular Series. Six months before, I had started to have problems with my back. At the end of the tournament I thought, "Is this the right time to leave the game, or can I actually keep going another couple of years?" The next goal was the World Cup 2013. I said I want to be a part of a consistent force of dominance for England.

So I went to India and spent six weeks there. I trained at the CCFC [Calcutta Cricket & Football Club] and in Pune at the Global Cricket School. That was a wonderful experience and by the end of that trip I felt the best I've ever felt bowling. I came back and went straight to New Zealand on an England tour where I didn't feature in the T20s. I was obviously knocking on the door for a place in the team before it came to the ODIs but I was not selected. Obviously I was upset and usually my instinct and motivation would take over to do everything possible to get back into the side, but this time it was different. I felt really good with my cricket, the girls were unbeaten in the series, and there were lots of talented youngster coming through. Georgia Elwiss was given the opportunity ahead of me in the ODIs and I was OK with that. I accepted that this was the nature of sport and it was testament to how well the girls were playing. I just felt I couldn't give any more physically and mentally.

Was that a tough decision, with less than a year to go for the World Cup?

It was very tough but that's another reason why I thought it was a good time to go. It gave England an opportunity to bring someone else in and give them an opportunity ahead of the World Cup. The hardest thing for me was telling Charlotte Edwards. I remember the conversation we had and I just broke down in tears because I didn't want to let her down, I didn't want to let the team down either. It was hard telling my parents as well and I think they struggled knowing they couldn't be out there with me. I look back at it now and I think that it was a good decision to make. Little did I realise but the constant pressure of wanting to be better was all-consuming and it was making me unhappy. Since retirement I've been able to experience many things that I neglected whilst playing. I'm also very thankful for the opportunities that cricket has brought me and I am excited by the future.
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N Srinivasan confirmed as ICC chairman

N Srinivasan has been confirmed as the ICC's first chairman after constitutional changes to the governing body were passed at the annual conference in Melbourne on Thursday.

N Srinivasan has been confirmed as the ICC's first chairman after constitutional changes to the governing body were passed at the annual conference in Melbourne on Thursday.

Smooth passage of the changes devised by the "Big Three" of India, England and Australia had been expected after a set of broad resolutions were approved by Full Member nations earlier this year.

Make way for the IndianSrinivasan had been barred from his role as BCCI president due to an India Supreme court investigation into IPL corruption but had spent the preceding two days, with Australia's Wally Edwards and England's Giles Clarke, explaining the new landscape to delegates, including Associate and Affiliate members.

"It is an honour to be confirmed as the Chairman of the International Cricket Council," said Mr Srinivasan, adding: "I will leave no stone unturned in trying to strengthen the pillars and foundations of our sport, both on and off the field. I want to ensure that cricket retains and grows its popularity, and that the ICC plays a leading role in this global growth.

"I want to see more strong teams in international cricket. For this to be achieved, we all need to work hard to develop local talent in our countries. Naturally, there will be more support to those who first show they can help themselves.

"The ICC is a Members' organisation and the pathway is now there for any Member to play Test cricket or in the major ICC events if it performs well enough over a sustained period of time."

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Sri Lanka snatch Leeds thriller with one ball left

Moeen's defiant ton in vain as Sri Lanka take the series 1-0.

Sri Lanka 257 (Sangakkara 79, Plunkett 5-64) and 457 (Mathews 160, Jayawardene 79, Sangakkara 55, 4-112) and England 365 (Robson 127, Ballance 74, Bell 64, Mathews 4-44, Eranga 4-93) and 249 (Moeen 108*, Prasad 5-50) by 100 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

Sri Lanka won when they had almost abandoned hope. From the penultimate ball of a gripping final day, Shaminda Eranga found a hostile delivery to bring their first series win in England. James Anderson, who could only fend it to the leg side in self-preservation, dropped to his haunches in despair. Moeen Ali's immense maiden Test century was briefly forgotten, submerged beneath an ecstatic Sri Lankan celebration.

An indomitable backs-to-the-wall display by Moeen had come so close to sparing England: an unbeaten 108, unblemished even, made from 281 balls. England's last five wickets had clung on for all but two balls of the final day. Pride had been salvaged, perhaps a captain had been spared too, but it is Sri Lanka who can celebrate a special moment in their Test history.

Sri Lanka's last pair held out for five balls in the first Test at Lord's. This time the task was much harder for Moeen and Anderson: 20.2 overs. Even in Cardiff, when Anderson and Monty Panesar famously held off Australia in 2009, they only saw out 11.3. This time Anderson summoned a heroic 55-ball nought, all signifying nothing.

Tension slowly seeped into the final day as it only can in Test cricket. The crowd was sparse - Yorkshire had folded its arms in condemnation, convinced like all but the most incorrigibly optimistic that England's abject collapse to 57 for 5, well adrift of a target of 350, had sealed their fate - but a night's sleep had cleared muddled heads and Headingley, treacherous Headingley, not the sort of pitch to turn your back on, behaved like an old softie. At only a fiver entrance fee for the final day, Yorkshire had turned its back on a classic.

Moeen Ali showed plenty of heart and grit. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Only with nine wickets down did Moeen seek to steal the strike, only now did his timing begin to go awry as the demands weighed upon him. But his concentration was unwavering. His century came with half-an-hour remaining, flicking Nuwan Pradeep off his pads, but it had always felt like an afterthought in an innings where he appeared entirely consumed by England's survival. This was not as much an innings as personal growth before your eyes.

Even in defeat, there should be no doubt who will be the recipient of England's annual Beard of the Year award - and, if that is one of the most frivolous awards around, this time it would have a more serious message. There are times when the wider social impact of a performance in sport must also be recognised even in a match report - and this was one of them.

A sole spectator earlier in the Test who observed, however unthinkingly, that Moeen's beard suggested he should be blowing up buildings was rightly reported to stewards and warned. Muslim cricketers have played for England before, but none had been so visibly proud to be a role model. With every stout-hearted block, Moeen made such comments appear ever more ignorant and, for those who questioned as much, integrated himself - and more importantly his beard - deep into the fabric of the England side.

There were two umpiring reviews for Moeen to survive along the way, both optimistically sought by Sri Lanka for leg-side catches. On 52, a delivery from Rangana Herath, the left-arm spinner, found its way to leg slip, on 71 Eranga flicked his thigh pad on the way through to the wicketkeeper, but he was confident that his survival chances were 100%.

Such was his selectivity that it was hard to recall another blemish. On another occasion, he had an inadvisable flirt when Herath slanted a low-arm delivery across him, but generally he curbed his attacking instincts with great resolve, only occasionally allowing himself to sweep or come down the pitch to Herath, choices he made with impeccable judgment.

England set the tone for the final day by making only 26 in nearly 18 overs during a drizzle-interrupted morning. Root clearly relished the chance to produce an innings of Boycottian bloody-mindedness in front of the Yorkshire crowd; strokelessness is no hardship for him when the match dictates it.

Not shy of a word or two himself - the innocent countenance is misleading - he became the victim of prolonged sledging from the Sri Lanka captain, Angelo Mathews, who was instructed to curb his behaviour more than once by both umpires, and whose victory celebrations looked bound to be interrupted by an audience with the match referee. He should offer him an arrack and see if he can get away with it.

If Mathews was in danger of getting sidetracked, it did not show in his captaincy, which remained well judged. He shuffled his bowlers endlessly in the final hour to try to unsettle England's last pair and it paid off when he flung the ball to his most aggressive bowler, Eranga for one last effort - although not before he kept Mooen off strike with his own excellent over.

Sri Lanka's bowlers, by and large, were disciplined as the wickets came only slowly. Eranga adopted a short-ball policy in mid-afternoon, but it seemed a legitimate tactic at the time and unsettled Root. Herath lobbed up over after over accurately, but found little turn. Instead Root was unpicked by an outswinger from Pradeep, a leading edge flying low to gully where Lahiru Thirimanne held a smart catch.

Prior became a fifth victim for Sri Lanka's fourth-day hero, Dhammika Prasad, a well-directed ball into his body and a deflection which was expertly snapped up by Kaushal Silva low down at short leg - not the first time he has fallen in such a fashion.

It was Prasad's effort ball and it almost resulted in his first no-ball of the match - the TV umpire requiring innumerable replays before concluding, fairly enough, that he got a sliver of boot behind a wonky front line. The match referee, Andy Pycroft, was quick to advise that if there was any uncertainty - and there was uncertainty - the decision should rest with the bowler as there was not definite proof he had overstepped.

That decision, as it happened, was balanced out early in the final session. With the second over of the new ball, Chris Jordan drove loosely at Eranga and edged to second slip, only for another hair's breadth decision this time to fall in England's favour; again legitimately so.

There was further encouragement for Sri Lanka when a delivery from Pradeep went through the top and jagged alarmingly away from Jordan. Herath was reintroduced with the new ball seven overs old and he removed Jordan lbw with his second delivery. England's review had an air of desperation.

Indifferent light became Sri Lanka's next problem as the emergence of a blinking Stuart Broad coincided with the first appearance of the umpires' light meters. Sri Lanka were forced to resort to Mahela Jayawardene's little-used offspin - six wickets to his name in 145 Tests - but, while the restrictions were in operation, Broad's 24-ball nought ended when Herath straightened one to have him lbw.

Sri Lanka's recovery had been admirable - England had been 311 for 3 in their first innings at one stage, ahead by 54 - and over-excitability was the only explanation for wasting their second review, with 16 overs remaining, a futile search for an lbw decision for Herath against Anderson. Over-excitability became concern, became desperation, before desperation - at the last - was transformed into utter delight.

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'We know what our challenges in England are' - Dhoni

Dhoni said comparisons should not be drawn between the famed batting line-up of the last two decades, and the young lot of 2014.

India coach Duncan Fletcher expects an interesting series for India in England, terming the home team as a side that is "rebuilding". While captain MS Dhoni preferred to focus on India's strengths, Fletcher assessed the England side in comparison to the one that whitewashed India in a four-Test series in 2011.

"I think they [England] have lost some crucial players," Fletcher told reporters during the team's pre-departure media conference in Mumbai. "[The loss of Kevin] Pietersen has been a huge blow to them. And looking at them, they are in a rebuilding phase as well, so that's going to make the series quite interesting.

"I do believe though that they have got some quality batters who have got a lot of experience at Test level. [Alastair] Cook and [Ian] Bell have scored some big runs up the order. The focus will be to get them out as cheaply as we can. The bowling side is fairly well-balanced.

"They have got [James] Anderson and [Stuart] Broad who have been bowling well and picking up wickets. We will focus on going there and producing as good cricket as we can. We have done that in India and we will look forward to adapt to the conditions as quickly as possible and will look to put them under pressure."MS Dhoni: Prepared for a tough tour. (Getty Images)

Fletcher termed the 2011 series whitewashes in England and Australia "not easy to take", but added that the recent performance during the two Test series in South Africa and New Zealand has given the team much-needed confidence. The key, according to the coach, will be to take the lead in the series.

"Obviously it was disappointing. The 4-0 losses to England and Australia were not easy to take. It is difficult to tour England with a young side, but sometimes it results in an advantage," Fletcher said. "You go out there and play some good cricket - as we did in South Africa and New Zealand - and you learn from there and I hope we can do that. I think it's important to win a match early on in the series. It will give us the confidence that we can win the series. And you never know what the end result will be after that."

After the forgettable outing three years ago, the India line-up has seen drastic changes. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have all retired, while Viredner Sehwag has lost his place in the side. Dhoni said the series will provide yet another opportunity to the youngsters who fared well in South Africa and New Zealand to showcase their talent.

"Quite a few of the players will be playing their first series in England. But most of the players in the squad have got exposure in South Africa and New Zealand, so they have got a few games behind them and they know what the challenges will be," Dhoni said, adding that the team's early departure - two weeks prior to the start of the first Test on July 9 - will benefit them.

"The good thing will be we are going a bit early, so we can take our time to get into the groove, play a few practice games and prepare ourselves," he said. "Besides, it's a five-match series and I don't think any of us have played a five-Test series. Overall, it should be good, the reason being we have enough time to prepare ourselves."

Dhoni said comparisons should not be drawn between the famed batting line-up of the last two decades, and the young lot of 2014.

"It will be very difficult to fill the shoes of Sehwag as an opener and Rahul at No.3, Sachin coming in and then Laxman and Sourav. I think we shouldn't compare, but think more about the current generation," Dhoni said. "They have come in and are going to serve Indian cricket. It will be a big challenge for them. The good thing is they have had good exposure, playing a few games abroad and having played a lot at home. They have the talent. It's just that they have to get used to the conditions, apply themselves and give respect to the opposition and read the conditions."

Besides the lack of experience in the batting unit, India will also be without veteran new-ball bowler Zaheer Khan, who has been sidelined with an injury, and Dhoni hoped that India would not suffer in his absence.

"Zak is someone who reads the game really well and I always felt that left-arm fast bowlers really have the advantage. They can bring the ball back in and add variation of the ball going away from the batsmen. I felt from the first game he played in South Africa till the last game, there was a considerable amount of improvement.

"Zak is someone who loves to play games. The more games he plays, the better he gets. As far as missing Zaheer is concerned, I can't really say much because with the kind of experience he has, the fast bowling unit doesn't really have that kind of experience. Hopefully we won't miss him, but as I said, I can't really say anything."

Dwelling on the disastrous 2011 series, Dhoni said the team had learned its lessons from the twin tours of England and Australia. "You can call it 7-0 [8-0] because after that we went to Australia and that was also a tough series for us. As I said, it's a constant process. I think those were very difficult periods for us.

"We were not winning games. We were behind in the games and were not able to compete. So the focus will be initially to get into the groove and to create competition. Once we are in a position when the game is kind of 50-50, that's the time when we want to capitalise, so that's what it's all about and we are looking forward to it.

"You go through tough times. What I personally believe in is you should forget the stats. But also, it pushes you to see the areas where you have to work on to be a consistent team. These were the lessons that came out of those tough twin tours. It helped us when we came back to India and when we went to South Africa."

Taking into account that this will be India's first five-Test series in England for more than five decades, the national selectors have opted for an 18-member squad. Dhoni termed it as a "good decision" since it will not only help reserves get acclimatised to the conditions, but also benefit the team immensely during practice sessions.

"What an 18-member squad does is that in case of an injury, the players who would be replacing the injured players are already used to the conditions, especially if you see the duration of the tour," he said. "In a way, it will help us if needed and at the same time, we can get some really good practice and it will give us good bench strength. They will know the conditions and what lengths to bowl. And also the batsmen, they can get used to playing the fast bowlers a little more.

"Once the series starts, the main bowlers who have bowled a lot during matches tend to take time out [in the nets] and the other lot of bowlers will bowl at batsmen. I think it's very important to have good practice sessions because it reflects in the games.

"It's a good decision but at the same time, it's something that is really needed because last time we lost quite a few players [to injury] and [replacement] players had to be flown in. We had to play them without them getting used to the conditions. It will be a good environment for the reserves to get used to the conditions, and help us when it comes to going ahead with them."