Australia hope to avoid losing record

In the blue corner is Sri Lanka, the happiest team in the world, the one deservedly still celebrating their first series victory Down Under. Slumped in the really blue corner is Australia, the side trying to avoid setting their worst losing streak in history. It is usually the touring teams that feel this low here, but the faded green and golds have lost their sheen. And the Ashes starts in 19 days.

Sri Lanka's breakthrough tour began with a Twenty20 victory and was followed by a great escape in Melbourne. They then ensured Sunday's third ODI would be a dead rubbed with a controlled victory in Sydney. Sri Lanka are a highly professional outfit with men for any conditions, so not much will bother them at the Gabba.

Australia are currently on a seven-match losing streak in all forms of the game. The last time they won was the first Test against Pakistan in July. Not since 1996 have they lost seven in a row - England also beat them in seven consecutive Tests between 1885 and 1888 - and they have never been defeated in eight straight. Michael Clarke is in charge of making sure that doesn't happen following Ricky Ponting's decision to miss the match to prepare for Tasmania's Sheffield Shield game on Wednesday.

Ryder and Williamson defy India

Jesse Ryder, playing his first Test in 14 months, and Kane Williamson, playing his first Test, batted with the assurance of gnarled pros to help New Zealand clamber out of trouble to a position where they have an outside chance of a first-innings lead. The prospect of New Zealand being asked to bat again had loomed large at lunch, after they lost both Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor in the space of six runs when they were less than halfway to the follow-on mark.

Ryder and Williamson put on 194 - New Zealand's second-highest stand for the fifth wicket - as India's bowlers toiled for more than two sessions without success. It was only in the final over of the day that India broke the partnership. Two deliveries after Ryder brought up his third Test century - all of which have been against India - with a carve through cover, Sreesanth got one to nip past Ryder's bat and into the pad. By then, New Zealand had belied expectations that they would be rolled over by the world's No. 1 side.

The pair had just about survived a nervy six-over spell before lunch, but were more confident after the break - Williamson began the session with a wonderful back-foot drive through cover. Both batsman were circumspect early on, with few attacking strokes against India's senior bowlers Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan. They started to be more enterprising once Sreesanth and the part-time spinners - Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina - were brought on. Sreesanth nearly got the breakthrough when Ryder wafted at a wide delivery on 11, only for Rahul Dravid to fluff a shoulder-high chance at a wide first slip.

After that, Ryder dished out plenty of boundaries, using his feet and punching Raina past mid-on, and pulling Sreesanth to midwicket. Williamson was also secure at the other end, using the sweep and cut whenever the spinners dropped short and made unfussy progress towards a half-century. India were out of ideas on a pitch with nothing it in to alarm the batsmen, and even called on Sachin Tendulkar for a rare bowling spell.

Even with the second new ball, India couldn't hassle batsmen much. Ojha got the odd one to turn and beat the outside edge, and India's one big chance after tea was when Williamson nicked Zaheer to the keeper when on 56, but the umpire Kumar Dharmasena didn't pick it up, to the disbelief of the Indians.

New Zealand will be particularly pleased with the fightback since they had to battle spin for much of the innings. This is their first international match since the drubbing in the one-dayers in Bangladesh last month, a series in which their batting was clueless against Bangladesh's army of slow bowlers.

Ryder called for a runner before tea, as he was struggling with cramps, but even that didn't hamper his footwork against spin. One of the highlights of his innings was when he sashayed down the track to loft Harbhajan over long-on for six.

His partner Williamson had started his one-day career with a couple of ducks, but there was no such stuttering start to his Test career. Plenty of times he showed why people in New Zealand rave about his backfoot technique, rocking back to crash the ball through covers. It was a dead track, and it's still early days, but New Zealand seem to have unearthed a solid batsman their traditionally fragile batting could do with.

Even before Ryder and Williamson came together, the New Zealand batsmen were comfortable against everything thrown at them by India. McCullum, needing to justify his place as a specialist batsman after giving up wicketkeeping gloves earlier this year, continued the form that has resulted in his most productive phase in Tests - two hundreds and three half-centuries in his previous six Tests.

Taylor barely scored in the V and used the cut to make much of his runs. It was only after McCullum began to open up with a lovely on-drive against the turn off Ojha and a powerful uppish cut off Zaheer more than half an hour after the start, that Taylor switched gears - a bunch of boundaries against Harbhajan bringing up his half-century. Soon after, he gifted his wicket, gently clipping Harbhajan to midwicket, and trudged off with his hand on his forehead.

Worse followed as McCullum, hoping to become the first New Zealand opener since Stephen Fleming in 2004 to make a Test century on tour, fell to a classical spinner's dismissal: a loopy delivery dipped in and spun sharply away, dragging him out of the crease and beating his bat, and MS Dhoni did the rest. New Zealand were in deep trouble at 137 for 4 before another big partnership made it their day.

Australia run out of focus

No moment highlighted Australia's fall from world beaters to stragglers more than when Shane Watson's right knee stopped a certain run-out on Friday night. Watson's leg wasn't the only thing being blamed and the slapstick incident had its owner smiling, in frustration and humour, after arriving in Brisbane today.

For the past two decades Australia have been so well drilled in the field, but when Upul Tharanga ended up at Kumar Sangakkara's end the locals fell apart. And it was not the fresh faces who lapsed, but three seriously senior men.

When Brad Haddin collected the ball all he needed was a vaguely accurate lob to the bowler's end, but he overshot wildly. Michael Clarke backed up well and then made the mistake of aiming at the stumps instead of sending the ball to Watson, or running up to remove the bails himself. While the throw was on target, Watson was too slow to move and was struck an embarrassing, but not painful, blow on the leg. As the ball rolled away from the stumps, Tharanga finally regained his ground and went on to an unbeaten 86.

"I thought I was involved in a game of brandy with a cricket ball," Watson said. "Next time I need to get out of the way." Clarke hasn't offered Watson a free shot as payback, but the blow hasn't changed Watson's belief that Clarke is the best man to lead the team in Ricky Ponting's absence on Sunday.

Australia have lost seven games in a row in the game's three forms but the missed-run-out episode, played over only a couple of seconds, was a snapshot of how deep the problems have become. In the past the team's batting has stumbled and the bowling has been loose, which are often forgivable offences. Results in the field have always been non-negotiable.

Even before Mike Young, the former baseball coach, joined the squad to refine techniques, the work of the fielders was expected to be perfect. The area was used as the team's performance barometer, but as the side's Test ranking has slipped and its one-day reputation has eroded, the pressure they now place on the opposition is seriously low.

Watson insists Australia aren't far off clicking and, like most of the players in the squad, believes their efforts have been close to the standard required. But if they can't win on Sunday it will be the first time the national outfit has been defeated in eight matches in a row.

"It's not an ideal situation for the games we've lost over the last little while, but it is a new era of Australian cricket," he said. "Let's hope we can come together and make sure it is a successful period. It hasn't been for the last little while, but we know we're not far away from getting it right. So we hope people stick by us."

Watson will open at the Gabba - he still calls it his home ground despite moving to New South Wales last year - and will be particularly wary of the Sri Lanka seamers in the bowler-friendly conditions. The visiting fast men have gained significant movement in the opening two matches to hold Australia to 210 on Friday and 8 for 239 on Wednesday.

"The Sri Lankans have bowled very well, especially Nuwan Kulasekara and Lasith Malinga with the new ball," he said. "It's been hard to get them away. Let's hope they get carried away tomorrow night [in the conditions]." Only recently have Australian teams had to start hoping for opposition mistakes.

Pakistan A tour of West Indies

Denesh Ramdin, the Trinidad and Tobago wicketkeeper who was cut from the West Indies contract list earlier this year, has been named to the West Indies A one-day squad that will play three games against Pakistan A starting on November 9.

"This is an opportunity for Denesh to regain some confidence and form even as he helps to develop younger players by imparting knowledge gained while playing for the West Indies senior team," Clyde Butts, the chairman of the WICB selection committee, said.

Ramdin lost his central contract following "less than favourable" performances over the past year, prompting the T&T board to arrange for him to work under the supervision of former West Indies opening batsman Gordon Greenidge. Ramdin has averaged 15.75 in Tests during 2010, a tick over seven runs below his career average.

In addition to Ramdin, 20-year old Nevis opener Kieran Powell, who has played two ODIs, finds a place, as does Antigua fast bowler Gavin Tonge, who has played one Test and five ODIs. However, Jonathan Foo who was named in the T20 squad, misses out.

"In selecting the team it was to ensure that players who can go on to play immediately for the West Indies team in case of injury to any player on the West Indies squad have cricket under their belt," Butts said. "It was also with a view to the development of young players who show potential for the future, and finally ensuring that players who have done well in regional competitions are exposed to higher level competition."

Pakistan A's tour of the West Indies began on November 3, and consists of two Twenty20s, three one-day matches and two four-day games.

Pakistan Vs South Africa 3rd One Day International 2 Nov Live

South Africa might still be sitting in their rooms bewildered at what happened at Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Sunday. Charl Langeveldt and Albie Morkel might still be having night mares of Abdul Razzaq clearing his left leg and hitting them straight over their heads. Series has come alive suddenly, Pakistan never looked like making an impact and out of nowhere they did, or only Abdul Razzaq did. The two teams meet again on 2nd November for the third of the five match ODI at Dubai Cricket Stadium in Dubai.

Pakistan, the home teams in their captain's words are feeling good about themselves and are more committed as a unit to win now. They have to beat the fact in mind that they were completely outplayed by South Africans for the 96 overs of the game; it was only the individual brilliance of Abdul Razzaq that took them home.

Pakistan are making ridiculous changes to their squad, leaving their two best players Umar Akmal and Umar Gul out of the team. The bowling in the both the games have been inconsistent an unplanned. The conditions in Tuesday's game are very unlikely to be different. The bowlers might struggle in front of strong South African batting. It would be fascinating to see if Pakistan can build on their success.

Pakistan have managed three victories off their last five ODIs

Abdul Razzaq's on slaught brought an end to South Africa's run of 10 successive wins. The Proteas dominated 90 percent of the game but ended up on losing side. An over shadowed hundred by Colin Ingram, and positive forms of Hashim Amla and JP Duminy are a good sign. South African captain Johan Botha can be blamed for the loss, poor bowling selection and ineffective field settings gave Razzaq free hand to smash the ball all over the park.

Horrific form of Albie Morkel ahead of the World Cup is a worry for South Africans, but the country has never been short of quality all rounders. Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis are not yet certain to play in the third ODI on Tuesday. LL Tsotsobe was again the pick of South African bowlers in a high scoring game taking one for 39 in his ten.

The surprise selection of Robin Peterson, the left arm spinner worked well for South Africa. It is likely that Kallis and Smith will return. South Africa would surely be relieved to see their captain back on field if that happens.

Australia Vs Sri Lanka 1st One Day International 3 Nov Live

The short but important series is going to kick off on 3rd November. The series is important for two reasons: World Cup is just around the corner, Ashes is next month. The tour opener T20 was won comprehensively by Sri Lanka. That result may play a significant role on Wednesday's game.

Australia just lost their first ever T20 game at home. There is little doubt that Australian team is going through a horrendous time, nothing seems to be going right for them. The former imperial master is losing its way, that too at the worst possible time.

Australia would be strengthened by the return of Ricky Ponting, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson. The return of the embattled captain Ponting may not be as welcomed as it seems. Shane Watson however has been in supreme form for a long time now, perhaps the only Australian in recent times who have shown the true class that Aussies once had.

Nathan Hauritz, the struggling Australian spinner will be accompanied by Steve Smith and the surprise selection Xavier Doherty, the Tasmania spinner. The return of injured keeper Brad Haddin was a decent one. Australians are surely feeling the heat; it would be interesting to see how they cope with it. Michael Clarke said that Australia need to find form before the Ashes. Australia are always a tough team to beat at home. The game on 3rd November can spark an Aussie revival or can further dump them down.

Australia have won two of their last completed 5 games.

Sri Lankans are having problems of their own. Back in home there have been criticisms on the national teams and involvement of politics in cricket. Sangakara, the Sri Lankan captain remains positive and says their team is preparing for the World Cup amid controversies.

Sri Lanka have had a decent time on the field, winning Asia Cup and Triangular series in Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka looked a well gelled unit when they crushed Australia at WACA. Angelo Mathews return from an injury will boost Sri Lankan bowling and lower order batting.

Murlitharan has only one day cricket on his mind now. Sri Lankan bowling made Australian batsmen hop around at WACA; Suraj Randiv was the most impressive. Lasith Malinga found excellent form and rhythm on the tour opener. The Sri Lankans know that Australia is a tough opponent at home, but they would be confident ahead of Wednesday's game.

Sri Lanka have managed three victories out of their last five games.