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The Indian fans who took umbrage at India’s drop to eighth place in theICC’s latest ODI rankings can take heart from the Test ratings. India havemoved up one spot to fifth place in the ICC Test table. In the latest updateto the table, India have gained three points for a tally of 94, primarilybecause results from the period August 1999 to July 2000 were dropped off.India lost five out of eight Tests during that year – a 0-3 drubbing inAustralia was followed by a 0-2 whitewash at home against South Africa.

Meanwhile, England, who lock horns with South Africa in a five-Test, have achance to make some big moves in the rankings. Even if they win the series1-0, they will supplant New Zealand in third place on the table. This comesabout because results from three years ago drop off the official table, andthat includes the 2-1 series victory New Zealand achieved over England in1999.

To move to second, England needs to achieve at least a 4-0 series win. Thisis despite the fact that in the re-shaping of the championship South Africaare the team to have benefitted most. South Africa could consolidate itsplace on the table by winning the series. But even if it were to achieve animprobable whitewash of England it would not be sufficient to overhaul therampant Australians in top position.

When the update occurs on August 1, the positions will be: (with ratingchange in brackets)
1 Australia 129 points (presuming it beats Bangladesh in second Teststarting Friday in Cairns) (0), 2 South Africa 119 (+ 4), 3 New Zealand 107(+ 3), 4 England 101 (+ 3), 5 India 94 (+ 3), 6 Sri Lanka 91 (- 6), 7Pakistan 90 (- 1), 8 West Indies 83 (+ 1), 9 Zimbabwe 58 (0), 10 Bangladesh(-2).

An easterly wind blew into Port Elizabeth on Wednesday, shrouding St George’s Park in drizzle and driving South Africa into the indoor nets two days ahead of the second Castle Lager/MTN Test match. At the same time, though, the direction of the wind would have set India thinking about the composition of their side for what could prove the deciding match of their South African tour.Local wisdom has it that the ball swings at St George’s Park when the wind comes in from the east. When the westerly or prevailing wind blows, however, the pitch dries out and, if it blows for long enough, spinners can come into their own on the fourth and fifth days of a Test.So should India, who seem bound to play only four bowlers once again, go in with two and two, or should they field three seamers and leave out a spinner? If the latter is the case, the word is that Anil Kumble will go, leaving Harbhajan Singh to wheel away on his own.Two days ahead of a Test match that India cannot afford to lose if they are to stay in the series, the St George’s Park pitch looked hard beneath a generous covering of grass. It will be shaved on Thursday, but the South African coach Graham Ford seemed to be happy with it.”It looks as if it will have some pace and carry,” he said. “That’s really all we ask for. We’ve never asked for greentops and the ball to go sideways, but if there’s pace there our guys enjoy bowling and batting on it, and I think it makes for entertaining cricket.”None of which is really any help to Sourav Ganguly, Indian coach John Wright (whose contract, curiously, now comes up for renewal in mid-tour) and the touring team, who have to find away to turn around a nine-wicket defeat in Bloemfontein’s first Test.If it is any comfort to the Indians, Ford is wary of describing the margin of victory as an accurate reflection of the difference between the two teams. “For three days it was anyone’s game before they had their collapse,” he said. “What pleased me was the way we came back after they’d had much the better of the first day. They’re a good team, make no mistake.”Are they good enough, though, to beat South Africa on South African soil, something no Indian team has succeeded in during two previous tours? And to make the task just a little more difficult, it now seems to have emerged that no one wants to open the batting with Shiv Das.Rahul Dravid filled in at the top in the first Test, but if the whispers from the Indian camp are to be believed, he has said no thank you to a repeat performance. And neither, apparently, does VVS Laxman want to go in at the top of the order. It may come down, then, to Ganguly taking on the role, a prospect which will not displease the South Africans who will have noted his discomfort against the short, lifting ball in Bloemfontein.Not that Ford is about to make too much of this. “That’s their problem, but you’ve still got to get them out wherever they come in,” he said.South Africa, meanwhile, are likely to go into the match with the team that won in Bloemfontein. This would mean there will be no place at this stage for Jacques Rudolph, although his presence in the squad inevitably puts pressure on Boeta Dippenaar, who was the only South African in the top six to fail in the first Test.”Boeta’s very level-headed,” said Ford. “He deals with the ups and downs of cricket very well. I’m not worried about him.”So India, really, are the team that has to make the tough choices. Three seamers or two? And if there are only two, will Ashish Nehra partner Javagal Srinath or will it be Ajit Agarkar who, Wright conceded at the end of the first Test, should have played in Bloemfontein?Agarkar is held in some esteem by the South Africans who respect his willingness to run in. At the same time, it is true that the home side probably haven’t seen the best of Nehra, although the washout of the East London match last weekend prevented the left-armer getting more overs under his belt.It’s a hard call for the tourists, whichever way they choose to play it. And the answer, as Bob Dylan noted nearly four decades ago, might well be blowing in the wind.

Match facts

Thursday, October 8, 2015
Start time 1900 local (1330GMT)

Big picture

A show whose credits have already rolled has come to the biggest theatre in town and Eden Gardens could be forgiven for thinking it has received a raw deal. This is the only match the venue will host on South Africa’s marathon tour, and its result will have no impact on the series.The trophy is already in the visitors’ hands and the sting was taken out of the contest when crowd trouble in the form of a bottle-throwing incident interrupted the second match in Cuttack. By then, however, South Africa’s superiority was confirmed. They had skittled India out for their lowest T20 total at home and their second-lowest overall, and were well on their way to chasing down the target. At least, Kolkata can hope for a better performance from the home side.India have a lot of work to do before the World T20 but MS Dhoni does not seem to be panicking. He understands his batsmen need to take more responsibility and his bowlers need to show more initiative. They should need no more motivation than salvaging pride, especially as South Africa will be eyeing a clean sweep. Although it would be easy for South Africa to switch off, in search of a few days break ahead of the ODIs, the appeal of a whitewash against India in India does not only speak to a rise up the rankings but is also the perfect preparation ahead of the World T20. Expect them to come out fighting.

Form guide

(last five completed games, most recent first)
India LLLWL
South Africa WWLWW

In the spotlight

India’s middle-order has marshmallowed in both matches, first squandering a strong start in Dharamsala and then completely collapsing in Cuttack. In terms of reputation, they have names to produce better numbers and MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu are due a few more runs. The captain has looked uninspired so far and, given the impact he can have on his charges, if he ups his game, the rest may follow.They were supposed to be flummoxed by conditions but South Africa’s seamers have adapted well so far and will want to continue proving coach Russell Domingo – who said they would be the difference for the side – correct. Kagiso Rabada has managed to mix aggression with change of pace, Kyle Abbott has been accurate at the death and Albie Morkel’s return to the highest level after 18 months in Cuttack was promising. Can they produce an encore in Kolkata?

Team news

India have reasons to make changes and the most anticipated one could be Amit Mishra’s recall in place of either Axar Patel or Harbhajan Singh. Shikhar Dhawan’s dual failure at the top could result in a shuffling of the batting line-up or the inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane.India: (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 MS Dhoni (capt, wk), 6 Ambati Rayudu, 7 R Ashwin, 8 & 9 Axar Patel/Amit Mishra/Harbhajan Singh, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mohit Sharma/S AravindWith the series already won, South Africa could consider giving an opportunity to legspinner Eddie Leie and perhaps uncapped batsman Khaya Zondo. They will also ponder reintroducing Quinton de Kock into international cricket perhaps to give Hashim Amla some time off on a long tour and think of bringing back Marchant de Lange to bowl at a venue he knows well.South Africa: (probable) 1 AB de Villiers (wk), 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Faf du Plessis (capt), 4 JP Duminy, 5 Khaya Zondo, 6 Farhaan Behardien, 7 Chris Morris, 8 Albie Morkel, 8 Marchant de Lange/Kagiso Rabada, 9 Kyle Abbott, 10, 11 Imran Tahir/Eddie Leie

Pitch and conditions

Both Sourav Ganguly, who is now joint secretary of the Cricket Association of Bengal, and Eden Gardens’ groundsman Prabir Mukherjee have promised a batsman-friendly pitch, but, with India having conceded the series, a full house may not be on the cards. Still, at least 40,000 people could pile in to the iconic venue. Another hot, humid day is forecast with temperatures at 31 degrees, humidity over 80% and the possibility of some showers.

Stats and trivia

• South Africa have won two of their last three T20 series, both in the subcontinent. They drew the other won against New Zealand at home and have not lost a T20 series since defeat to Australia last November.
• India’s total of 92 in their previous game is the lowest T20 total by a Test-playing nation this year. They have not won a bilateral T20 ‘series’ since their one-off victory over Australia in October 2013.
• R Ashwin has dismissed AB de Villiers five times in T20s, the most by any bowler. Two of those dismissals have come in this series.

Quotes

That’s what has been the quality of this team. They have stuck to the players they believe can win the game and that’s what we need to do as a team – reunite ourselves and give our best performance.

Hanuma Vihari scored his fourth first-class double-hundred as Andhra took comprehensive strides towards an outright win against Tripura in Valsad. Vihari went from an overnight 144 to an unbeaten 233 (482b, 17×4, 4×6) as Andhra declared on 524 for 5, having established a first-innings lead of 353.Bowling 47 overs, the left-arm spinner Gurinder Singh finished as Tripura’s most successful bowler, with figures of 4 for 166. With 42 overs left to bat out before stumps, Tripura lost three wickets, ending the day 165 for 3, still trailing by 188, with Yashpal Singh, their experienced import from Services, batting on 46.Half-centuries from Bipul Sharma and Sumeet Verma gave Himachal Pradesh a 76-run first-innings lead in a closely contested match against Chhattisgarh in Kanpur. Both teams ended day three with a chance of winning outright, with Chhattisgarh 175 for 4 and 99 ahead, courtesy an unbeaten 69 (156b, 7×4, 1×6) from opener Abhimanyu Chauhan.Himachal began the day trailing by 28 runs. Bipul scored 86 (179b, 4×4, 4×6) and Sumeet 68 (195b, 5×4, 2×6) as the pair stretched their overnight seventh-wicket stand of 60 to 130, before Himachal lost their last four wickets for 34 runs. Left-arm spinner Sumit Ruikar took two lower-order wickets to finish with figures of 7 for 112, his best in first-class cricket.Seamers Vinod Kumar and Sandeep Warrier shared seven wickets between them to help Kerala take a 56-run first-innings lead against Goa at the Brabourne Stadium. Goa, six down and 173 behind at the start of the day, got as close as they did to Kerala’s first-innings total thanks to Shadab Jakati’s 85 (162b, 13×4) from No. 8.Kerala stretched their lead to 210 by stumps, with Rohan Prem following up his first-innings century with an unbeaten 60 (128b, 7×4), and Mohammed Azharuddeen scoring 56 not out (101b, 7×4). The two came together after a three-wicket burst from Saurabh Bandekar had reduced Kerala to 54 for 4, and added an unbroken 100 for the fifth wicket. During the course of his innings – which was his fifth consecutive score of 60 or more – Prem went past Sunil Oasis to become Kerala’s highest-ever run-getter.A four-wicket haul from Sanjay Pahal helped Haryana enforce the follow-on against Jammu & Kashmir in Cuttack. Batting at No. 3, Pranav Gupta scored 94 (189b, 16×4), but J&K’s batting fell apart around him as they were bowled out for 262 in their first innings, 89 short of avoiding the follow-on. Opener Shubham Khajuria, who resumed on 48, only added four runs to his score before falling in the eighth over of the morning. He had put on 89 for the second wicket with Pranav. The wickets fell steadily thereafter, with only a sixth-wicket partnership of 65 between Pranav and wicketkeeper Puneet Bisht resisting Haryana for any length of time. With 19 overs left at the end of the day, J&K went to stumps 38 for no loss in their second innings.A century from Shamsher Yadav and a 90 from Nakul Verma helped Services defy Hyderabad at the Bandra-Kurla Complex, as they ended day three with reasonable hope of taking one point from a run-heavy game. Coming together at 116 for 3, after Services lost three wickets for the addition of only 39 to their overnight score, Shamsher and Nakul put on 84 before the latter fell for 90 off 178 balls (13×4). Even as wickets fell steadily around him, Shamsher remained at the crease through most of the rest of the day, before he was ninth out two overs from stumps for 104 (196b, 13×4, 1×6). Services were 360 for 9 at stumps, still in danger of following on, trailing Hyderabad by 220 runs, but with a fighting chance of saving the match. Seamer Ravi Kiran was Hyderabad’s most successful bowler with figures of 3 for 68.

Trinidad and Tobago are looking to maintain their reputation as the leading team in the West Indies when they travel to Grenada for this weekend’s Grenada Cricket Festival.The Trinidad and Tobago squad have a lot to live up to as they contest the triangular Twenty20 tournament featuring Grenada and Antigua, but Omar Khan, the team manager, is confident, even though they will be without Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul.While this was not high on the priority list for the national team, as they prepare for the KFC Cup regional limited overs competition in Guyana later this month, Khan was adamant they will give a good account of themselves, saying: “We are going there to win and I believe that we have enough talent in the squad to come out on top.”It is a full-strength squad and it will be an opportunity for the guys that are going to continue their preparation for the KFC Cup, which is our top priority,” Khan said.Trinidad and Tobago, the defending KFC Cup champions, had reached the final of the Stanford Twenty20 Tournament last year but stumbled against Guyana. They will be using the Grenada Cricket Festival as a starting point for building their line-up for the 2008 Stanford Tournament, scheduled for January.”The KFC Cup squad still has to be cut down to 14 so these guys will have a further opportunity to impress the selectors,” Khan said. “The coach and training staff will also get a chance to do some extra work with the team in Grenada because it is all about performing in a different environment and conditions and the extra work there will pay off in the KFC Cup.”The squad leave today and play their first game tomorrow against Grenada at the National Stadium and take on Antigua at the same venue on Monday.Trinidad and Tobago Twenty20 squad:
Daren Ganga (capt), Denesh Ramdin (wk), Rayad Emrit, Richard Kelly, Amit Jaggernauth, Nicholas Ramjass, William Perkins, Mario Belcon, Keiron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Sherwin Ganga, Andre Browne
Coach: David Williams
Manager: Omar Khan
Physical Trainer: Gerald Garcia

Mohammad Asif, the Pakistani fast bowler currently being investigated on doping charges, is still eligible for the Emerging Player of the Year award at next month’s ICC awards. Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, confirmed this with Cricinfo while announcing the short-lists for the awards presentation on November 3 in Mumbai.”Under the anti-doping policy he is not ruled ineligible for awards for performance prior to his doping offence,” Speed said. Asif, who along with Shoaib Akhtar tested positive for nandrolone, a banned steroid, will submit his written statement at a second hearing of the tribunal investigating the case on October 26.Ricky Ponting has been short-listed in four categories for the ceremony. After averaging 58.22 and 48.42 in Tests and ODIs, Ponting, 31, picked up nominations in the Player, Captain and separate Test and ODI Player of the Year sections. Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan and Mohammad Yousuf were also short-listed for Test Player of the Year. In the ODI category, Ponting is up against his team-mate Michael Hussey, Yuvraj Singh and Mahela Jayawardene.In addition to the individual awards and the Spirit of Cricket prize, this year’s ceremony will also feature the Test and ODI Teams of the Year. And for the first time there is an award for Women’s Cricketer of the Year.”The past year has been another exciting one for cricket fans around the world and these players have contributed hugely to our enjoyment,” Speed said.”This is the third annual ICC Awards night and it promises to be a fantastic evening with some very tough decisions to be announced. It is also a pleasure that for the first time we will be presenting the award for the Women’s Player of the Year. Now that the women’s game is under the auspices of ICC it is important that we acknowledge the marvellous contribution that female players are making.”The short-lists were announced after the votes were submitted by members of the voting academy. The 50 Academy members were asked to pick players nominated by a selection panel chaired by Sunil Gavaskar. The period of contention was between August 1, 2005 to August 8, 2006

At SuperSport Park, Northerns captain Pierre Joubert lead from the front as he took 6 for 39 in nearly single-handedly bowling North West out for 204. Was it not for Goolam Bhayat, batting at No. 11, North West might well have faced a bigger first innings deficit than 60 runs. At stumps on the second day Northerns had moved to 79 for 2, a lead of 139.In Johannesburg, a last-wicket partnership of 128 between debutante Michael Masinga (48 not out) and Patrick Thompson (66) gave Gauteng a healthy 115 run lead over Easterns. The Easterns second innings started poorly as they ;lost both openers with one run on the board. By the close they had recovered to 126 for 4, with Goolam Bodi not out on 57.

Lancashire 311 and 99 for 3 drew with Gloucestershire 311 for 8 dec and 289 (Keedy 7-132)
ScorecardGary Keedy, Lancashire’s left-arm spinner, picked up 7 for 132 on the final day at Old Trafford, but Gloucestershire, helped by a century from Chris Taylor, still made 289 to set Lancashire an improbable 290 to win. Keedy’s second innings haul, after his 7 for 95 in the first, took his match tally to 14 for 227 – a career best.Gloucestershire lost Craig Spearman, caught by Mark Chilton off the bowling of Sajid Mahmood, with only 10 on the board this morning. After that, wickets fell regularly as, Apart from Taylor, no batsman made more than Mike Hussey’s 45. This was Hussey’s last match for Gloucestershire, as he takes over as Durham’s new captain next season.After Keedy had wrapped up Gloucestershire’s innings by having Ian Fisher caught behind by Warren Hegg, Lancashire found themselves in some trouble at 12 for 3 in reply, with Iain Sutcliffe and Andrew Cook both out for ducks. But Mal Loye (45) and Carl Hooper (43) made sure that was as bad as it got for Lancashire with an unbeaten 87-run stand, although the match was overshadowed by the confirmation of Lancashire’s relegation.

Shane Warne might be serving a one-year ban from cricket for drug abuse, but the Australian board showed its support for him by naming Warne as one of 12 players who will participate in a media session in Sydney on Friday, July 11. The session is part of the Australian Test Cricketers’ Cap Presentation Reunion ceremony, and the players have been selected to represent Australia’s rich cricketing history – there is at least one from each of the last seven decades.Warne’s off-field exploits have been as controversial as his on-field ones have been spectacular. His latest controversial act – and the resulting one-year ban – raised speculation that he might not return to international cricket, but Warne himself has stated that he has been working hard to stay in shape for a comeback. The decision to name him in such an august list indicates that the board has forgiven him for his past sins.The representatives from each decade
1930s Bill Brown
1940s Sam Loxton and Arthur Morris
1950s Alan Davidson and Bob Simpson
1960s Ian Redpath
1970s Jeff Thomson
1980s Allan Border, Merv Hughes and David Boon
1990s Shane Warne and Justin Langer

The possibility of an innings victory over Jammu and Kashmirwas converted into a reality by Haryana’s bowlers today.After a dismal display last year Haryana came to life with arejuvenating outright trumph over Jammu and Kashmir in theopening encounter of the North Zone Ranji Trophy league at theMaharaja Aggarsain Stadium today. In the process they alsoavenged their defeat suffered at the hands of same opponentslast year at Jammu. On the third and penultimate day of thematch , Haryana registered a convincing victory over theirrivals with an innings margin.After facing the humiliation of follow-on, Jammu and Kashmirneeded another 282 runs to make Haryana bat again with ninewickets intact at draw of stumps yesterday. Today, Haryanabowlers spent a frustating first session as Jammu andKashmir’s overnight-unbeaten pair of batsmen ­ Raju Sharma (57in 227 minutes) and Kavaljit Singh offered resistance andregistered hundred run partnership for the second wicket in144 minutes off 223 balls.The partnership was terminated when leg-spinner Amit Mishraprovided the much needed breakthrough, but not before the pairhad added 140 runs. Kanwal scored 71 runs in 206 minutes off174 balls. He hit twelve fours. His dismissal cleared thedecks for Haryana’s outright victory. Jammu and Kashmir lostthe remaining wickets in quick succession. It was young leftarm spinner S Vidyut who was playing his first match forHaryana after migrating from Tamil Nadu who did the damage.Vidyut struck in a big way and bagged 6 wickets afterconceding only 24 runs in 21 overs. The Jammu and Kashmirinnings folded at 179 to give Haryana a victory by innings.Haryana managed to garner as many as 8 points whereas Jammuand Kashmir got no points from the match.