Challenger Trophy on September 10
India's domestic one-day tournament, The Challenger Trophy will start on September 10 with the final slated for September 16.
The Indian team will assemble in Bangalore for the conditioning camp, which starts on August 14. After a five day break a cricket camp will follow from September 1-6.
Streak upbeat despite defeat
Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak was in an optimistic mood even though his team's tour of England ended with a crushing seven-wicket defeat by South Africa in the Natwest triangular series.
Streak once again led from the front, his 50 not out top score in Zimbabwe's meager 173 for eight after winning the toss in the first international staged at Hampshire's Rose Bowl ground.
For Zimbabwe this defeat meant they ended their tour with just one series win to go with their two innings defeats in their Tests against England earlier in the season.
Streak, whose own individual performances never slackened, despite the pressures on him, admitted: "Losing is always disappointing."
However, Streak was positive about his team's prospects following a tour which some wanted cancelled because of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe's alleged human rights
abuses.
"I've seen a lot of talent amongst the guys. There's a lot to work with. Geoff (Marsh, Zimbabwe coach) and I have got a long road ahead but in two or three years' time this could be a good side," 29-year-old fast bowler Streak said yesterday.
Unfortunately for Zimbabwe their next international assignment is even tougher - a Test and one-day series away to world champions Australia starting in October.
Bangladesh takes three late-day wickets
Bangladesh, preparing for next week's first cricket Test against Australia, picked up three quick wickets after being bowled out for a first-innings total of 139 by the Northern Territory Chief Minister's XI here today.
At stumps on the second day, the Northern Territory was 32-3 in its second innings after making 189 yesterday.
Michael Clarke, who made a solid 79 Thursday, was bowled for just one run by left-arm seamer Manjural Islam early in the second innings to reduce the side to 5-3.
It was Manjural's second wicket in his first three overs after he took the wicket of local Nick Berry for a duck in the first over.
Ian Redpath was the second Northern Territory wicket to fall, bowled by quick Mashrafe Mortaza in the second over, also for a duck.
Local Ashley Williams and Kenneth Vowles consolidated and at stumps Williams was unbeaten on 13, while a six helped Vowles to 16 not out.
Earlier, the Bangladesh batsmen folded under the pressure of the Territory bowling attack with Australian one-day hopeful Nathan Hauritz taking two wickets for 37 runs from 21 overs.
Opening batsman Hannan Sarkar was the top scorer for Bangladesh, making 34 before he was bowled by Redpath.
The Bangladeshi tailenders tried to give the score some respectability, Mortaza making 20, Tapash Baisya scoring 11 and Mohammad Rafique finished the innings undefeated on 10.
The first of two Tests against Australia starts on July 18 in Darwin.
West Indies celebrates 75 years of its entry to Test cricket
Paying tribute to the great West Indian cricketers, former fast bowler Wes Hall has exhorted the younger generation to strive for regaining the past glory of West Indian cricket.
"West Indies team should strive for heights yet unscaled, to break records yet unbroken and to ensure that the rich legacy of West Indies cricket is passed on to generation yet born," Hall said in his message on the 75th anniversary of West Indies' entry into Test cricket.
"As a former Test player, I am acutely aware of the importance of highlighting the great achievements of West Indies teams, particularly to our young people," said the outgoing president of the West Indies Cricket Board.
He said a number of activities had been planned for the anniversary, which is being celebrated this month and has "Uniting the Region... Exciting the World" as its theme.
"We are delighted to pay tribute posthumously to the brave band of West Indian cricketers who set sail for England in 1928 to take on the MCC, who were at the time the titans of cricket.
"They lit the cricket flame that still burns brightly in the hearts of West Indians all over the world. We are honoured that their descendants have accepted our invitation to be part of the celebrations," he said.
Bradman would average 100 today, say Aussie Test greats
Australian Test greats Arthur Morris, Steve Waugh and Bill Brown claim Don Bradman would still be averaging around 100 runs per innings if he were playing Test cricket today.
As 150 of Australia's 197 living Test players attended a gala function in Sydney to receive commemorative baggy green caps, the incomparable deeds of the 'The Don' remained the subject of widespread discussion and disbelief.
"He'd be averaging 99 these days, believe me, and he might even get himself up over the 100 because Sir Donald Bradman was a unique batsman," said Morris, who was a member of Bradman's 1948 Invincibles touring team to England.
"He was a great, great player. He had tremendous determination and concentration and he had all the shots. He was amazing. We really can't compare anyone with. Nobody comes close.
"There have been very good fast bowlers over the years but there were very good fast bowlers in his day, too. Bodyline (England's 1932-33 tour to Australia) was impossible to bat against.
"If you had all the fast bowlers of today, bowling straight at the head with six fellas on the leg side, how would they go?
"Bradman had to play against that, and he didn't have a helmet," Morris said.
The question of how Bradman, who averaged 99.94 in 52 Tests between 1928 and 1948, would fare against the finest bowlers of recent times such as Curtly Ambrose, Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner, Wasim Akram, Richard Hadlee and Muttiah Muralitharan is one that fascinates contemporary cricket followers.
