Dhaka, (AFP): Taufeeq Umar rode his luck to crack 130 as Pakistan boosted their chances of gaining the first-innings lead on the third day of the second and final Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Monday.

The left-handed opener hit 16 fours in his seventh Test century, and the second against Bangladesh, as Pakistan reached 292-3 in their first innings at stumps in reply to the hosts’ 338. Pakistan are now just 46 runs behind with seven wickets in hand.
Umar put on 127 for the second wicket with Azhar Ali (57) and 95 for the next with Younis Khan, who remained unbeaten on 48. Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was 26 not out when bad light stopped play.

Paceman Nazmul Hossain, who returned to the Test side after seven years, struck with the second new ball when he had Umar caught by Shahriar Nafees at second slip in the last session.

Pakistan lost just two wickets in the day, adding 205 runs to their overnight total of 87-1 after a delayed start due to fog. Bangladesh also failed to make the most of the chances that came their way, letting off Umar thrice and Younis once.

The first opportunity came when Umar was on 56, but wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim did not even try to effect a stumping off left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan while confidently appealing for a catch down the leg-side.

Umar was lucky to survive on 66 when he cut the first ball after the lunch break off paceman Robiul Islam, but Mohammed Nazimuddin dropped an easy catch at gully. He was on 118 when Nafees failed to hold on to the edge at short-leg off left-arm spinner Elias Sunny, while Younis was dropped on 15 by Shahadat Hossain off Nasir Hossain.

Umar, 44 overnight, went on to complete his hundred when he cut off-spinner Mohammad Mahmudullah for a four in the second session. He played some aggressive shots after reaching his century, driving Sunny through the covers for two successive boundaries.

Bangladesh, who went wicketless in the opening session, struck in the fourth over after lunch when Shakib had Azhar caught behind with a delivery that turned away sharply. Shakib was the most impressive bowler, conceding just 28 runs in his 18 overs.

Azhar, who hit paceman Shahadat for two fours in the opening over of the day, reached his half-century with a boundary off Sunny in the last over of the morning session. He hit seven fours in his 12th half-century in 18 Tests.

Pakistan lead 1-0 in the series after winning the opening Test in Chittagong by an innings and 184 runs.

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Sydney, December 19, 2011 (AFP): A cricket enthusiast listed in the Indian touring squad as an “attendant” is helping Sachin Tendulkar prepare for India’s quest to win their first Test series in Australia, reports said on Monday.
DVGI Raghavindraa has never played first-class cricket but what he lacks in playing expertise he makes up for with enthusiasm and his presence in Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald said.

Raghavindraa is being used on tour for his throw-down skills in the practice nets and the Herald said he has come with strong recommendations from Tendulkar and fellow Indian batsman Rahul Dravid.

The newspaper said Raghavindraa, 27, is listed as an “attendant” on a Board of Control for Cricket in India news release, and is an employee at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

A Herald reporter watched Raghavindraa during a Sunday net session with Tendulkar at Canberra’s Manuka Oval in which he threw balls at the batting maestro for an hour.

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Raghavindraa helped Tendulkar prepare for the barrage of outswingers he is likely to receive from Australia’s rising pace star James Pattinson ahead of the opening Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26.

“The session did not always go to plan. After a series of deliveries on his pads, Tendulkar put his bat down for several minutes to show Raghavindraa the wrist position required to enable the ball to shape away from the right-hander,” the newspaper said.

“Just two deliveries later, Raghavindraa, unleashing from about three metres in front of the popping crease, sent down an outswinger, which Tendulkar, after shouldering arms, described as ‘perfect’ and gave his thumbs up.”

Tendulkar has been a perennial thorn in the side of Australia’s bowlers, averaging more than 60 with 11 centuries in 31 Tests against them and is eyeing his 100th international hundred during the Australian tour.

Greg Chappell, who coached India for a three-year spell ending in 2007, said in a new book released last week that Tendulkar was a prisoner of his incredible fame in India and carried expectations greater than Australia’s iconic batsman Donald Bradman.

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Sydney, December 16, 2011 (AFP): Opener Simon Katich could be in line for a shock recall to Australia’s Test team, reports said on Friday, just weeks after being disciplined for outspoken comments about captain Michael Clarke
The 36-year-old was reprimanded by a Cricket Australia hearing this month after he accused Clarke of playing a part in his axing from the Australian team, despite averaging 45 runs in his 56 Tests.

Katich was controversially dropped from Cricket Australia’s contract list in June and he said at the time he doubted he would play for his country again as long as Clarke was skipper.

But Channel Nine, which televises cricket in Australia, said Clarke was now behind a push to reinstate Katich as the team looks to address their batting woes after a humiliating defeat to New Zealand earlier this week.
Katich’s manager Robert Joske told reporters the player would be “willing, ready and able” to assume a place in the top order if selectors recalled him for the Boxing Day Test against India.

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“If it’s the fact that Michael is talking about Simon in the selection committee meetings I’m very excited and I’m sure Simon would be excited when he hears about it,” said Joske.

“The coach and the chairman of selectors both said the door was always open to Simon and probably now is a very good time for him to walk through it.”

The potential upturn in Katich’s fortunes coincides with a slump in form for opener Phillip Hughes, who scored 41 over four innings against New Zealand and appears likely to lose his place in the Test side.

Katich has previously said he traced his troubles to a 2009 dressing room confrontation with Clarke in which he reportedly grabbed the new skipper by the throat.

Clarke denied playing any part in Katich’s axing.