Australia, India and Sri Lanka sweep up off all the CEAT Cricket Rating (CCR) awards between them.

Australia had won the ‘CEAT International Team of the Year’ award and Mitchell Johnson had won the ‘CEAT International Test Bowler of the year’.

Gautam Gambhir from India had won the ‘CEAT International cricketer of the Year’ award for his consistence performances in all the structure of cricket. Also he was awarded as the ‘CEAT International Test Batsman of the year’. Virender Sehwag had won the ‘CEAT International ODI Batsman of the Year’ and Harbhajan Singh had won the title ‘CEAT International 300 Wickets Felicitation Award’.

Sri Lankan players like Ajantha Mendis had won the ‘CEAT International ODI Bowler of the year’ award and Thilan Samaraweera had won the title of ‘CEAT International Spirit of Cricket Award’.

West Indies batting great Brian Lara was awarded with the honorary membership of the Order of Australia in credit of his service in improving Australia-Caribbean relations through cricket.

Lara has been essential in enabling cricket training workshops to be held for talented young cricketers.

By facilitating the use of Australian training staff locally, he has been the solution to furthering a optimistic image of Australia in the Caribbean.

From the 131 Tests he played, Lara had scored 11,953 runs, second only to India’s Sachin Tendulkar, at an average of 52.88 with 34 hundreds.

Also he was averaged more than 50 against Australia while scoring nine centuries.

The Order of Australia was recognized in 1975 for the need of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for their achievement or for praiseworthy service.

Rahul Dravid lay the stage for the hosts with a calm, yet powerful 144 before Yuvraj Singh and VVS Laxman hit easy fifties to guide India to a place of immense strength in Kanpur. India merge their place further by removing Tillakaratne Dilshan for a first-ball duck, and would also have be boost by a inquiring spell from Harbhajan Singh and an hopeful one from Pragyan Ojha. Sri Lanka found a cause to smile owing to Rangana Herath’s five-for that finished the Indian innings just following tea but it was a slight too late for the guests and the effect of the game will now depend on how the pitch behave.

Spare a consideration for Dilshan, although. After toil in the field for almost two days, he was out initial ball, getting a most important edge while attempt to flick an inoffensive delivery exterior leg stump from Zaheer Khan. Contrast it with the fortune of Virender Sehwag who was drop in the initial over yesterday. It has be that type of Test for Sri Lanka; not much has happen for them and till Herath introduce some drama into the game, not anything went right for them yet today.

It was a typical grind-to-dust approach by the Indians lead by Dravid, who, throughout the course of his 28th century go past Allan Border’s run compute in Tests. The stand-out issue in Dravid’s batting through this series has been his intention. He’s been important, in defense and attack, and has been forcefully look to score. Today he display the full range the charge down the track, the beautiful inside-out cover drives on a prolonged front foot, and the skillful punch off the back foot all were present but what stand out was a delayed cut next to Mendis.

Dravid seem not possible to dismiss, and when his finish came, it was strange and possibly, as that cricketing truism goes, the simply way he would include got out today. VVS Laxman strike one tough back at the bowler Rangana Herath, who spill the catch, and the ball cut down on the stump with Dravid out of the line at the non-striker’s finish.

Dravid missing after leading India’s indict and, in a setback of their customary roles, was the main batsman in a 94-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar didn’t strike a particular boundary till his 87th delivery, when he prance down the way to lift Mendis in excess of long-off.

Yuvraj, who can be an risky starter next to quality spin, faced no troubles as he developed in with commanding drives and a little sweep shots. His greatest was a late cut next to Mendis. He had presently lift the preceding delivery to long-on boundary and Mendis reduced the length of the after that one and got it to slip left from the stumps. Yuvraj go back and play a late slice cum cut to the third-man boundary. It reflect his confidence next to his preceding nemesis and also supposed much about the condition of the pitch and the game.

Laxman, too, look set for a hundred until he slice a flighted release from Herath directly to mid-off. Till then, he work the angles well next to the spinners, using his wrists to tap and drive the ball, and unfurl couple of caress drives next to the seamers.

The first session witness a appearance of a battle, at least in the initial hour, but the rest of the day was a one-way road, with India completely leading. Gautam Gambhir jagged up his seventh hundred in nine Tests and his fourth on the trot Virender Sehwag finished a spirited century, Rahul Dravid was seal to his ton and the end-of-day score was the uppermost in a day for India.

The circumstances was summed up by the view of Rangana Herath bowling over the stump and outside leg when Dravid had now walk out to the crease. It said the whole thing concerning Sri Lanka’s attitude and India’s total power. With the pitch predictable to help spin later in the Test, it might get even tougher for Sri Lanka in excess of the next few days.

It wasn’t immediately the runs, it was the way in which they were compile from the second hour on that was effective. The batsmen seem to do as they wish Gambhir punctuate his charge down the wicket with fragile late cuts, Sehwag go either inside-out or carved crosswise the line.

Inevitably, there were abundance of records to memo it was the initial time India score over 400 in a day, it was the uppermost opening partnership among Gambhir and Sehwag, and even Muralitharan, at single point, was leak more than 6 runs per over.

The most effective marker was the spinners’ figures. Sri Lanka had manage to keep the score rate down with the new ball but belongings went pear-shaped for them following the spinners were introduce, with Sehwag and Gambhir prowling 73 runs off nine overs before lunch and small varying after the break. They weren’t allowable to resolve in by the openers.

What facilitate India’s supremacy was the clearness of consideration in the approach by all the batsmen. Gambhir pace himself beautifully, on stage out the new ball, and then indulge himself next to the spinners on a first-day track. There were a pair of occasions when he hang his bat out to the new ball and was seen right away reprimand himself. Gambhir had dissimilar approach to the spinners he step out often next to Herath, used his crease well next to Muralitharan, going moreover well back or stretch forward, and worked the angles next to Mendis. There were quite a few delightful late cuts that showcased his skill but his stand-out fondle was a gorgeous, almost nonchalant.

Dravid was important in all he did right from the create. When he protected he showed the full face of bat and deploy soft hands, and when he choose to attack, he either prolonged well forward to drive or rocked exact back to punch during the off side. There were a lot of skilful punches on the back foot but his top shot was a beautiful inside-out extra-cover drive off Muralitharan.

However, the most attractive of the three knock was Sehwag’s. Initially, It seem he was wage a battle next to himself. He chase the third ball he face a wide rescue from Welegedara and edge it but was drop when Prasanna Jayawardene dived crossways and unfocused Mahela Jayawardene at first slip. Sehwag then try to go hard at Angelo Mathews a couple of period and was compressed. That his first boundary come only off his 27th release said much concerning his mindset. There were a lot of typical forceful hits but what stand out was a fragile late steer to third man off Welegedara, when he wait on the front foot before opening the bat countenance at the final minute to get it between gully and the slip barrier.

Two different cricketing style will be on vision in Dunedin from Tuesday. New Zealand are well-organized they strive, and regularly succeed, in making finest use of frequently limited property. They win admirer because they are typically the underdogs and they hit over their weight. Pakistan on the further hand, have no lack of talent and style and, if they made constancy a habit, would be world beaters. It’s their randomness, though, that make them convincing to watch. They can swing from abysmal to amazing, and back again, sometimes despite of the quality of resistance.

And yet, these very dissimilar team go into the three-Test series in front of similar challenges, and how they manage and their methods will be diverse could decide the winner.

Pakistan have a new skipper, Mohammad Yousuf, after Younis Khan quit subsequent the one-day series beat next to New Zealand in Abu Dhabi because of lack of carry from his team-mates and took a break from international cricket. It is supposed that Shoaib Malik was the leader of the set that was miserable with Younis. Whether the side will gel under Yousuf remains to be see, for Yousuf was liberal in his disapproval of Malik’s captaincy after he tied the ICL.

New Zealand, too, have had their divide of leadership troubles in the new past with the players’ sadness over the payment of coach Andy Moles leading to him resign at short notice. Daniel Vettori, the team jack of rough trades, unspecified a greater leadership position in Abu Dhabi, to go with his duty of selector, skipper, leading bowler and crisis batsman.

Sri Lanka give themselves a smallest amount of 135 overs and an plenty cushion of runs to attempt and register their initial Test win in India, but the Ahmedabad pitch got deader with each passing minute. Gautam Gambhir get into extended innings mode, evocative of his game saving attempt in Napier previous this year, but Chanaka Welegedara bring Sri Lanka back with Rahul Dravid’s wicket 15 minutes before end of play.

Sri Lanka seem a little anxious by a enamored innings from Virender Sehwag who survive his own determined mindset to score an violent half-century. The Sri Lankan fast bowlers unsuccessful to repeat the swing they get in the first innings, and separately from a few moment of indiscretion from Sehwag, it seem they would use the day without a wicket.

Sehwag runaway three chances before his final dismissal in the last session. In the first over he edge a no-ball, in the subsequent one more edge fly between wicketkeeper and first slip. He went on to take a desperate run off a back-foot punch directly to mid-on, and then cut and edge precedent slip in the final over before tea. Kumar Sangakkara made the similar mistake as MS Dhoni and set suspicious fields too soon.

In between, for a short while imminent tea, Sehwag did make tighter his game he left balls outside off, protected with soft hands, look to run singles and turn strike. Herath get Sehwag’s wicket to a slog-sweep. Both Gambhir and Dravid look to play as late as probable. Even if they do play rear to a fullish release, there was sufficient time to get well.

During 15 over of spin, they added 41, without give any of the close-in fielders a possibility. Sangakkara bring back to Dammika Prasad and Welegedera. Prasad beat Gambhir with late movement accurate away, and five overs afterward Dravid too poke outside off. Just previous to stumps Sri Lanka got fortunate when Welegedera got Dravid with a behind swinging ball from round the stumps.

Night watchman Amit Mishra and Gambhir saying out the rest of 15 overs, without incident. The first partially of the day, too, was with no incident. India ongoing by waiting, nay eager, for a declaration from Sri Lanka, but the Jayawardene accumulated ruthlessly, scoring at close up to four an over, almost building sure Sri Lanka would not have to bat once more. Along the method Prasanna go past 150 – his second Test ton – Sri Lanka register the highest total in India, and their 351-run partnership was a original world record for sixth wicket.

Mahela Jayawardene view the bowlers into the Ahmedabad dust, almost verdict out a beat for Sri Lanka in the first Test. This was just the second time that Sri Lanka take a first-innings lead in India, and only the initial time they cross 450 in the country.

Jayawardene was support by Thilan Samaraweera in the initial session, Prasanna Jayawardene in the next and third, and by mixed-up thoughts from India in both. Their fast bowlers couldn’t make any swing but still look the only ones able of making things occur. The only jinx for Sri Lanka came when Samaraweera was put up by Zaheer Khan and dismiss by Ishant Sharma, but Jayawardene had in progress assuredly, and never give India a grave look-in. Despite that Mathews wicket to what bowed out to be the final ball before lunch, the Jayawardenes let down any hope of a quick Indian comeback.

Sri Lanka in progress the day 151 runs at the back, significant they wanted a lead of at least 70 runs to recompense for having to bat last on a field that was turning. But the difficulty with that turn was its slowness, and both Jayawardene and Samaraweera negotiate it contentedly in the morning. India was ready to bowl spinners for the first 10 overs previous to the new ball were due. And in a go that spoke a set about their approach, they came out in the repression form, with a deep point for Harbhajan Singh.

The only mark on Jayawardene’s morning came when Amit Mishra draw an edge from him, but the ball die on Rahul Dravid at slip. The 6^th over with the new ball, bowled by Zaheer, was the most excellent of the day from India’s viewpoint. He strike Samaraweera with an away-going release, got him into an unsure spot with a bouncer. Ishant constant from there in the subsequently over, thrashing him with one that detained its line.

Jayawardene made certain India wouldn’t sense too eager when, two overs later, he herd Zaheer for three boundaries in four balls. The spinners come on rapidly, and unsuccessful to make an crash as Sri Lanka started to progressively push the accelerator.

Prasanna look to sweep Harbhajan, while runs kept approaching effortlessly for Jayawardene. Dhoni extend the field, but Mishra and Harbhajan struggle to keep the same batsman on strike for a substantial period. Despite the suspicious mindset, India could supervise only four maidens in the initial two sessions. India’s bowling was most dull in the next session and the Jayawardenes capitalized completely. Without much fuss, Prasanna reach 42 by tea, and Jayawardene 142, another of his tons that seem predictable once he got in. By tea, the two had further 108 off 27.4 overs.

Tillakaratne Dilshan become the first Sri Lankan to achieve a century in India since 1997, to go with Sri Lanka’s high-quality bowling begin to the second day, but India claw their way back in the last session through a stirring spell by Zaheer Khan follow by a few testing spin bowling. Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera signaled the come back to Test-match mode they protected watchfully, and wait for bad deliveries, which was barely the case in the initial five sessions.

The emphasize of the day, though, was Dilshan’s extraordinary knock. It was not all bang bang his boundary shots were barren by India, but he displayed the additional aspect of his game placing the ball and scamper through for runs. It was an evenly smart bowling attempt in the morning session that took India’s final four wickets for 41, fatefully Rahul Dravid for no adding up to his overnight 177.

It seem MS Dhoni thinking Dilshan play only one game, and give Zaheer Khan a deep point, a deep fine leg in the initial over. Zaheer in progress with three consecutive bouncers, hitting the batsman with one of them. But Dilshan refuse to be rattled, twice in the initial three overs taking singles beating slightly to the right of Ishant Sharma at mid-on.

Tharanga Paranavitana got a main share of the hit throughout a 74-run first-wicket partnership, and though not completely convincing he was effectual in punishing width, which he got sufficient of. Both Zaheer and Ishant supervise to disturb him, but never time after time attack the area around and just outside off stump. When Ishant got three successive delivery to land on middle and leave off.

Dilshan, at the further end, hardly look in any discomfort. The mix of endurance and urgency prove effectual. He didn’t get aggravated by superior shots fetching him just singles; rather he in progress developed couples.

Zaheer and Ishant bowled superior spells following lunch, and while given owing admiration they were not allowable to resolve into rhythm. The spinners were both attack in their initial overs Harbhajan Singh go for seven in his initial over, Amit Mishra was step down to and fixed for two boundaries in his initial.

Kumar Sangakkara got a little loose delivery to get into the act smoothly, even as Dilshan play the more eccentric shots the inside-out drive next to Harbhajan’s offbreaks. Zaheer come back for a spell previous to tea, and was welcome by a drive through extra cover and a bright push to the third man boundary, which take Dilshan to 78 off just 87 delivery. The first ball he face subsequent to tea summed up his innings.

After tea, Zaheer establish instant results. Dilshan look to hook but was confined by the angle from round the stumps, Sangakkara hooked but establish that the ball was still climbing as it reach him.

Both spinners originate turn and bounce, six runs come in five overs, and Jayawardene had to pace out and loft Harbhajan for a six. Both spinners attack, both batsmen defended resolutely. Harbhajan look like he would locate a gap between Samaraweera’s bat and pad, but the batsman kept receiving his bat down in point. Mishra draw an edge from Jayawardene with a googly that jump, but it fly wide of slip.

Rahul Dravid’s 27th ton and tenth 150-plus score carried more intention than almost certainly any of his Test innings, and help by MS Dhoni’s second ton and Yuvi seventh half-century, led India’s extraordinary reply from 32 for 4 in the initial half hour. Along the method, he take fraction in his 77th and 78th 100-run partnerships , score more runs than he forever has in a day’s play, cross Steve Waugh to turn out to be the fifth-highest run-getter in Tests, reach 11,000 career runs, and most prominently undid the excellent start that two rookies give Sri Lanka.

Test cricket it may be, but it upset along at wonderful pace and refuse to slow down even with wickets declining. At the spirit of it was Dravid. He outscored Yuvi through their 125-run fifth-wicket partnership, the major characteristic of which was royal driving by equally batsmen. He then set aside up with Dhoni, who made him run anxiously between the wickets during their 224-run place. Dravid, maybe weary of the running, kept judgment the boundary all through his innings, attainment his fifty in 79 balls, hundred in 158, and 150 in 216.

All four wickets for Sri Lanka had approach aggressive the stumps, and they constant doing just that. Dravid and Yuvraj, having realized this wasn’t a creature to bat on, counter attack. Dravid got going through delayed clips off his pads, Yuvraj through a thick edge precedent gully.

Yuvraj face the initial over from Murali, and show good judgment of the top spinner and regular off break. Driving through the line up look easy while the two were at it. Rangana Herath playing in front of Ajantha Mendis was by no means allowable to settle, and was limited to bowl flat deliveries, that also only minutes before the initial two session breaks.

Dravid see off Welegedara’s swing by means of three boundaries in single over just after lunch, which summed up how fine he played. One of the them was curt late, to the right of midwicket, the subsequently was cover-driven all down the ground, and the third flick to the left of midwicket all in spite of the swing.

Yuvraj’s innings wasn’t as immaculate, in spite of three high elbow off-drives for the photo book. Prasad, in his afterward spells moreover side of lunch, establish his body with bouncer. Yuvraj bottom edge a drag for four, upper-cut in excess of slips for another, but then made his initial outright error in Murali’s after that over, the bowler’s seventh. He step out, saw he was compressed in the flight, but as opposite to thrust his pad forward, he accessible it together bat and pad.

There was small delight for Murali separately from that, as Dravid play two of his best drives off murali very soon before tea one next to the spin throughout extra cover, the extra straight down the ground. The next one passed him to 98, and Dhoni by that time had reticently reach 29 off 49 balls. Between those shot, Dravid took a single run to arrive at his hundred, and even before he complete the 100th run he exult, as affectionate a celebration for a century as Dravid has still got into.

Dhoni reach his century with a characteristic, step-out-and-push, but chop just before stump, which gave Sri Lanka a glimpse but it seem to get Dravid final in on a double they would require more than now the sight.

England’s new brave batting come close to, lead by an bold 45-ball 85 from Eoin Morgan, got their worldwide winter off to a charming start, but it necessary an correct over from James Anderson to protected England the opening T20 international. After redeployment 202 for 6, their maximum score in T20s, England twisted the D/L equation into their favor after South Africa had be in the captivating position an over previous to and when a thunderstorm here at the Wanderers the dwelling side wanted to be 129 after 13 overs, but Anderson had agreed just six from his third over.

Although England will gladly obtain the result it was an unrewarding finish to a match packed with commanding hitting as Morgan lead the way, with England’s maximum individual T20 score, adding up 98 in nine overs through Paul Collingwood who club 57 off 32 deliveries in a filled blooded batting act.

South Africa respond throughout Loots Bosman as he crazed 58 off 31 balls, adding up 97 for the initial wicket with Graeme Smith in 8.3 overs, previous to England claimed vital wickets. Collingwood deserve credit for production the right call in recall Anderson to the attack, after South Africa moved in front of the D/L aim.

Alastair Cook pull off a vital diving put aside at backward point to stop a certain boundary as of Anderson’s second ball rear and after yielding a wide he respond by going for two off the subsequently three balls. When AB de Villiers might only club a single to midwicket England were in front.

When Bosman and Smith were jointly South Africa was creation rapid progress towards the aim in a parallel manner to how they chase down 206 to strike West Indies here during the opening game of the 2007 World T20. England’s quick’s try to mix up their deliveries but overdo the diversity. Bosman’s 26-ball half century was the second fastest for South Africa, but when Smith fixed to deep cover England in progress to claw back. Collingwood detained a steepler to finish Bosman’s charge and Mahmood intent JP Duminy lbw for 6.

Following the bowler gracious circumstances of the Champions Trophy, this was the Wanderers rear in more familiar form as boundaries flow across and over the boundary with reliability. Although the match lost seven overs, 17 sixes were hit which is sufficient to make the bowlers inquiry their profession.

The first-ball release of Joe Denly meant an early on arrival to the middle for Jonathan Trott for the the majority hyped homecoming as Kevin Pietersen. After a unsurprising first-ball bouncer he completed England’s initial declaration of the tour with four successive boundaries off Dale Steyn’s initial over.