No motivation for bowlers - Bailey

George Bailey, the Australia captain, wonders what motivates bowlers on the batting-friendly pitches of India but feels that also renders a tour of the country daunting for sides like his. Australia racked up 359 in the second ODI in Jaipur, only to watch India run it down in 43.3 overs for the loss of one wicket, making it the second-highest successful chase ever.

"The wickets we have played on have been very good batting wickets. It was very tough for the bowlers. It's hard to know what motivates bowlers on these wickets," Bailey said ahead of the third ODI in Mohali. "I would like to see a little bit more help for the bowlers if they bend their backs, and a little bit for the spinners.

"But that's how it is around the world, different conditions. That's how it is everywhere. But that's the beauty of the game around the world. That's what makes touring India such a challenge. That's what makes touring Australia such a challenge for India. Playing at Bellerive Oval compared to the WACA is so different. It would be boring if every wicket was the same. It would be boring if every wicket was flat. It would be boring if every wicket helped pacers or spinners."

Bailey felt the Mohali pitch would not be as flat as the Jaipur one, and said Australia would not mind using the short ball again if the conditions helped them. "It's a matter of summing up the conditions. If the wicket here has some pace and bounce and the boundaries being slightly longer around the squares, it could be something we will explore. But all players are good if they know what to expect, so it's a matter of not getting too predictable."

Bailey backed his bowlers, saying one bad game did not warrant changes, but admitted Australia were considering bringing in Nathan Coulter-Nile. "Yeah, we'll think about Nathan. A little bit of extra pace, a little bit of shape with the new ball… outstanding fielder, good striker of the ball near the end. So he is in the all-rounder category… I think all three guys we have on stand-by should be ready. The beauty of those guys is how ready they are to play whatever their roles might be."

The introduction of a new ball at each end in ODIs has largely taken away reverse swing as a weapon for bowlers towards the end of an innings. Bailey, however, said he liked the ruling, saying it had made things harder for batsmen at the start. "I enjoy it actually. When it first came out, I thought scores would go through the roof. What we have seen is that bowlers have adapted pretty well. England's a good example of how we had to work pretty hard to get through the first 10-15 overs without losing too many wickets. Then if you can reach the back-end, the ball tends to be a bit harder for the batsmen to cash in."

Australia have been getting through the new balls without damage so far on the tour, with Aaron Finch and Phillip Hughes putting on strong opening partnerships in both ODIs. Bailey said that had allowed the middle order to take on the India spinners with more confidence, but denied Australia had a plan to particularly attack the lead spinner R Ashwin, who's gone for 105 in 18 overs. "I don't think we targeted him specifically.

"The guys, especially the right-handers, were comfortable facing him. It wasn't a strategy to go after him. There wasn't much turn on the wicket. But it wasn't like targeting one specific bowler. The key for us really is that we have had good opening partnerships that have given us a good platform. Not losing early wickets has helped the middle order so we have been able to play with a little bit of freedom."

Which is why Bailey also ruled out a return for Watson to the top of the order, saying his presence at No. 3 was important to tackle the spinners. "At the moment it's working very well for us and I don't think there's any need to change it. His versatility there in terms of how well he plays spin… we saw that the other day when he walked in and faced the spinners, he put them on the back foot. It's really important for us if he can bat at No. 3 and get into the middle order a bit."

The disciplinary issues that had plagued Watson and Australia's Test tour of India earlier this year were done and buried, Bailey insisted. "I think he is [over it]. It's a long way in the past. It's been so many months now and he has been at home. It really is a long time back. I have been very impressed by his energy in training."

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Mommsen ruled out of qualifiers

Preston Mommsen has been ruled out of Scotland's World T20 qualifying campaign in a blow to their chances of winning a place in Bangladesh in March.

Mommsen, Scotland vice-captain, has a pelvis injury and won't be able to join his squad for the qualifiers in the UAE that get underway on November 15. He would have been keen to improve his record in T20 internationals, having made only 118 runs in nine matches to date.

His place will be taken by 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Craig Wallace, who appeared in Scotland's previous World T20 qualifying campaign in 2012.

"It's a disappointment to lose a player of Preston's calibre," Scotland coach Pete Steindl said. "Not only has he been a consistent performer for Scotland in recent times, but he has also been one of our leaders.

"However we are looking forward to having Craig as part of the squad. He has worked hard over the last 12 months and has improved as a batter. He is a good fit to replace Preston."

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Kumble regime not to contest KSCA elections

Anil Kumble, the former India captain and current president of the Karnataka State Cricket Associaton (KSCA) has announced that his administration, which includes former India team-mate Javagal Srinath, will not contest the upcoming KSCA elections. Kumble and Srinath, the association's secretary, came to power in November 2010, when they beat Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, the former maharaja of Mysore.

During Kumble's tenure, the KSCA was the only major state association in the country run by former cricketers. The other players on the committee include former India seamers Roger Binny and Venkatesh Prasad, who hold the posts of vice-president. Kumble said that the expectations on former cricketers taking to administration is always greater than administrators from non-cricketing backgrounds.

At a press conference held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore, in the presence of Srinath and Rahul Dravid, a KSCA committee member, Kumble said one of the biggest achievements of his team had been to spread the game and quality facilities to cities and towns outside Bangalore. He added that they hoped their programmes would serve as a template for future administration.

A book citing proof of the work done by his administration was also distributed. His team's reason for not contesting the forthcoming elections was to ensure that a state association must be "constantly evolving" to "accommodate fresh ideas, dependable processes and systems."

Kumble and Srinath stated that the expansion of the game to cities and towns outside Bangalore was also a major achievement. In the last three years, Mysore, Hubli and Shimoga have hosted Ranji Trophy and India-A matches. The three venues hosted matches between India A and West Indies A over the last month and, according to Kumble, grounds in Belgaum and Raichur would soon be ready to host Ranji matches in the upcoming season.

Kumble said that hosting matches featuring the West Indies A squad was "just the beginning" and had been done by giving "support and leadership" to zonal level convenors from the Bangalore headquarters. The expansion of the game across the state, he added, was an ongoing process he hoped the next administration would take forward.

Srinath stressed that the expansion of the game at the "grassroots" had been part of the KSCA's main objective to "give a youngster in a small town facilities on par with that of Bangalore", something which could only be done by maintaining "consistency" in the quality of nets, pitches and outfields across the state. Srinath added that the BCCI's decision to hand over the entire West Indies A series to Karnataka was recognition of the progress made in the state.

"The norm is to organise games across the country but the BCCI acknowledged that we have good facilities here," Srinath said. "That's a testament to our work and it gives us immense satisfaction. When you see the likes of Sehwag and Zaheer playing in Hubli, that is what you want. That should inspire at least 20-25 youngsters to take up the game. That can only come if you take the game to the districts."

He also stated that the KSCA had made itself financially independent for the next 10 years: "We have enough resources for the next ten years. If the BCCI stops paying us from tomorrow, we have enough funds through our fixed deposits and the interest accrued from that."

Srinath highlighted areas where former cricketers could make a difference. "Have we done justice to the kids who are the real stakeholders of this game? Have we provided them with the facilities and opportunities? Coming from a cricketing background, we knew exactly where that had to be stemmed," he said.

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No time for BCCI responsibility - Pawar

Minutes after his return to cricket administration as the elected president of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Sharad Pawar said he couldn't spare any time for the BCCI.

"I don't have time to go to the BCCI as I don't have time for any responsibility. I might go for meetings but I don't have time to take up any responsibility," Pawar, the former MCA, BCCI and ICC president, said after ending his two-year hiatus from cricket administration.

Pawar, who is also the union agriculture minister, will be busy with the forthcoming federal elections, expected to be held in mid-2014. However, his presence at the BCCI working committee meetings may spark the formation of a pressure group against BCCI president, N Srinivasan.

Despite facing probity questions following the IPL corruption scandal, which saw his son-in-law, Gurunath Meiyappan, being arrested and chargesheeted, Srinivasan was elected unopposed in September.

In other results, three of the four Ranji Trophy cricketers who contested for 11 managing committee posts were also elected. While Lalchand Rajput, Abey Kuruvilla and Sanjay Patil got the nod of the 329 voters, Atul Ranade couldn't make the cut. The inclusion of former cricketers in the MCA comes a day after Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath announced they were not going to take part in the upcoming KSCA elections.

BCCI vice-president Ravi Savant, who was the interim president for the last 14 months following the death of former president Vilasrao Deshmukh, was elected as vice-president along with Vijay Patil. Nitin Dalal and PV Shetty retained their positions as joint secretaries. Vinod Deshpande, who was interim vice-president, replaced Mayank Khandawala as the treasurer.

Meanwhile, Pawar quashed the four-member inquiry panel that had been formed to investigate 405 unsold tickets for the World Cup final played at the Wankhede Stadium on April 2, 2011.

Following corruption allegations, the MCA had set up a panel whose report was leaked in the media before it was submitted to the MCA office-bearers in the build-up to the election. As a result, members at the AGM, that was followed by a vote, vociferously opposed the manner in which the inquiry was conducted and and the criticised the information leak. Pawar then proposed that the inquiry panel's report be rejected and the panel be disbanded.

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Disappointed Smith promises to bounce back

Graeme Smith has not worn the look he had on today for 22 months and 15 Tests - the span between losing the first Test against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and their last defeat, to Sri Lanka in December 2011.

In its time away, the expression has grown considerably more tortured. His usual blue eyes become a shade at least five times darker, his mouth remains pursed, as though it is frowning the way a brow does and his jaw, appears more square than ever, jutting out aggressively, ready to protect and defend.

South Africa have not lost an away Test since Kolkata 2010, and the statistics from 2006 onward show them to be the best travelling team - with a win-loss ratio of 2.14. One defeat cannot erase that, but it has put a stain on otherwise clean sheet and that reality stings.

"It should hurt," Smith said. "But this team has too much ability to make this a habit. This is sport, you do lose and it's natural. We're extremely disappointed. We haven't been in this position too often. And with the standards that we set ourselves, we should have the ability to bounce back."

Smith is already thinking about the next match, perhaps because he wants to forget the out-of-sorts way South Africa performed in this one. After choosing to bat, they were bowled out for less than 250 and their bowlers could not adjust their lengths in time to suit the pitch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, often bowling shorter than required.

South Africa lost their last six wickets for 50 in the first innings but they've been known to respond tenaciously even after lapses with the bat. This time, a refusal to bowl a fuller length meant "we didn't start as well with the new ball," as Smith admitted. With Pakistan registering their first century stand in more than 18 months, South Africa were out of the game before they could bat a second time.

"From a skill perspective Pakistan were better than us over a period of time and we have to be honest about that," Smith said. "The first innings was where we were put under pressure. Irfan bowled really well upfront but we fought hard to get into a good position and then we collapsed. If we'd pushed on to over 300, 350, we could have given ourselves a chance."

South Africa's second essay didn't turn too many heads either. But having been bowled out for 232 - which meant Pakistan needed only 40 runs to win - the way their bowlers approached defending a small target was encouraging for Smith.

Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander found a fuller length straight away and took three wickets in Pakistan's first four overs. "It was bittersweet because it made us think if we have 150 or 200 runs, we could have had a chance. But we were better with the new ball. That's a big step in the right direction."

That South Africa took almost four days to adjust could be seen as an indication they were underprepared for the conditions. They have not played Test cricket since February and their only opportunity to acclimatise was a lone warm-up game. Some of their players like Smith and Jacques Kallis were recovering from injury or enjoying time off to leave them individually short of match practice as well.

Smith would not concede on that front, insisting the team had done enough. "We maximised the preparation time we had," he said. "It's always very difficult to replicate Tests but we worked extremely hard in training.

"There wasn't a lot of time either. Maybe we could have played two two-day games but you also need preparation time to get to the ground you are going to be playing at and that sort of thing. The strength of this team has been the ability to maximise preparation time. This time, we've been outplayed and you have to look at that."

In an effort to polish their skills, South Africa will hold an optional training session tomorrow, before travelling to Dubai on Saturday and will be back at work on Sunday.

"We have to make sure we are not too emotional and that we have clever plans. We need to have good cricket discussions in terms of planning, tactics and skills," Smith said. "The motivation is there. We are really motivated to win the next Test match. That's got to be our ultimate goal. We have to focus on making sure our plans are better. We are one down and haven't played to our potential. I have no doubt we have a team that can come back and square the series."

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Misbah proud of UAE record

The most important thing about thriving in the desert is the ability to adapt to its harshness. Plants store water, animals spend most of the day preserving energy in the shade and the Pakistan cricket team take wickets on tracks where most attacks toil without reward.

Misbah-ul-Haq credited his attack with dealing a decisive blow to South Africa and paving the way to allow Pakistan to break the visitors 15-match unbeaten streak. "The way our bowlers bowled in the first innings on a flat track, they gave us a good sniff by getting South Africa out for under 250," he said. Mohammad Irfan extracted bounce, Junaid Khan found movement and Saeed Ajmal and Zulfiqur Babar troubled South Africa with turn to ensure Pakistan only needed four bowlers to take 20 wickets.

In comparison, South Africa used seven bowlers and needed 45 and a half more overs to bowl Pakistan out in their first innings. On a surface that offered little assistance to either seam or spin, Pakistan relied on guile to do the job. Misbah said that is something learned through experience and time. "With Pakistan, it's a mental game. We always do well here so we have the confidence and the belief that we can do well."

Pakistan have not lost a Test since making the UAE their adopted home in 2010 and have bowled their opposition out in 15 of 18 innings they've taken to the field in. Their spinners are particularly threatening as England, and now South Africa have discovered. Misbah believes defeating another No.1 team in the world would give the team even more confidence.

"Conditions played an important role," he said. "When you are playing at a venue where you've performed well as a team, its a big plus. You really feel comfortable going in search of a win. I always believed this team has the quality to produce this type of cricket. If we can beat the No.1 side in the world, we can do it against any side in the world."

Pakistan's bowling performance was backed up by batsmen who showed more character than they have in the past, particularly the top two. Misbah ensured they shared the credit for the victory. "That really gave us an advantage. The way they started and the way they were attacking, that made a difference," he said. "By scoring at almost four runs an over they gave us that momentum to press on."

Misbah also thought Khurram Manzoor and Shan Masood did the important job of softening up the South African bowlers and making them question their own plans "When you score only 249 on a flat track. different things go through your mind and bowlers try different things. They want to take quick wickets and go for runs."

He did not have much to say about his own hundred, the fourth of his career, and the first in over two years. When nudged, Misbah admitted it was an innings he will cherish. "It is the most precious thing for a batsman to achieve. Such a satisfaction you cant have doing anything [else]. I really enjoyed that. And we won the game so that makes it something special to remember."

If being home has a feeling, that is what Misbah, more than anyone else would have experienced. The supporters cheered his every move and there were plenty of them in the ground. Given that it was played over the Eid holiday, crowds were larger than predicted with thousands in on every day. Despite the heat, humidity and distance of the ground from the city centre, they filled the grandstand and the grass embankments, brought their drums and their flags and cheered on their team.

"That was wonderful, especially to see that after such a long time," Misbah said. "Usually, you only have this support in one-dayers so it was nice to have it in a Test. I can tell you, it really helped the team. It kept the players motivated. I hope people come to the next game as well."

Misbah has promised the Dubai-based fans they will not be in for a draw because Pakistan are not simply. going to try and preserve their lead. "We have just given clear instructions to the groundsman that we want results. We want to exploit our home advantage," Misbah said. "We are not going to think negative because whenever there are negative thoughts in your mind, you don't get results. Whether we win or lose, we want results."

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BCCI, ECB against ICC chairman's role

The BCCI and the ECB are in agreement over the dilution of power to be exercised by the new ICC chairman and would like the role to be reduced from head of executive office in the ICC to that of a convenor. The BCCI president N Srinivasan and ECB chairman Giles Clarke met on Wednesday in London and one of the developments from that meeting is expected to be a proposal to re-examine the powers and responsibilities of the first ICC chairman, a position expected to come into being as of 2014.

Srinivasan and Clarke's discussions took place on the eve of a two-day ICC Executive Board meeting which began in London on Thursday. An official privy to their talks told ESPNcricinfo that Srinivasan and Clarke, "agreed that there is no role for the chairman in the ICC. It is just an additional layer of bureaucracy which they believe is not necessary. So they are proposing the role of the chairman as a meeting convenor or facilitator on a rotational basis."

It is understood that the central reason behind this turnaround of opinion rests on the fact that one of the most powerful committees on the ICC is the Finance and Commercial Affairs committee, chaired by Clarke and of which Srinivasan is a member. It is possible that the prospect of control over this committee being reduced with the arrival of a chairman with greater powers may have played a part in what, if it transpires, will be a change of heart around the new position.

Until Wednesday, both Srinivasan and Clarke were the frontrunners in assuming the role of the chairman which had been recommended by the ICC Board in 2012, in which both Clarke and Srinivasan are members. The move to introduce a chairman in 2012 was taken in order amend the ICC constitution and turn the role of the ICC president into a ceremonial one, while vesting executive powers in a new chairman.

At the time the Board had said then that the creation of the post of chairman was "consistent with recommendations in the Woolf Report." Lord Woolf, leading the ICC's independent governance review, had submitted a 60-page report last year wherein he made 65 radical recommendations around the governance of the ICC. One of his recommendations was a complete revamp of the ICC's executive structure, while another suggested a decline in the role of Full Members and the handover of powers to independent directors. Of all the Woolf recommendations, the creation of the post of chairman was being taken on by the ICC's executive board with alacrity, but may be curtailed even before it begins.

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Pakistan of Abu Dhabi v Pakistan of Harare

Self-belief, brave selection and an aggressive mindset helped Pakistan bounce back from a loss to Zimbabwe to beating the No. 1 Test team comprehensively

There is supposed to be some kind of certainty in covering the teams at the top and bottom of the Test rankings. You have a fair idea of who is expected to win and who is expected to lose. In the last month, that assumption has been twisted out of shape and it's all because of Pakistan.

It was barely believable that they lost to Zimbabwe in Harare and almost equally surprising that they dominated South Africa to earn such a comfortable win in Abu Dhabi. Misbah-ul-Haq put it down to conditions but there's much more to Pakistan's performance than just the comfort of a flat track.

For a start, the pitch at Harare Sports Club would be flattered to be classed under the bowler-friendly category. Although conducive to quicks in the morning, especially on the first and second days, it's closer to the harmless Natal green snake than the mamba it has been made out to be.

Pakistan's defeat was a result of carrying an unsuccessful opening pair, who were separated all too easily, having their younger batsmen frustrated by an inability to score runs through disciplined if not exactly scary seamers and three batsmen, Tino Mawoyo, Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor, who have developed as players of spin and have the temperament to bat out tough periods.

Those who were at HSC may well say Zimbabwe won because they were the more determined side, or in clichéd, cricket-speak, the side which 'wanted it more.' And the same could be applied to describe the way Pakistan performed at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

They went into the game confident of their ability in the UAE. The insecurity of an unfamiliar surface was absent and so was their biggest weakness. Dropping Mohammad Hafeez robbed Pakistan of experience and an additional bowler, but it appears the bravest, and perhaps even the best decision, the administrators have made.

Hafeez's awareness of the off stump may have been better in these conditions but his form against top-class bowlers has been wanting and benching in him in favour of players with a more sound technique to man the opening slot was the right decision.

That does not mean Khurram Manzoor or Shan Masood are the future. Not yet. They were both dismissed in Hafeez-esque ways in the second innings but they showed promise. They have a balance between patience and intent that saw Pakistan score at a rate between three and four runs an over, while giving them a base to build from and allowing the middle-order to bat without the pressure of survival is what set Pakistan up for victory.

The quality of Pakistan's innings was aided by a confused performance from their opposition, who misunderstood the length required of them. But it was also spurred on by a more aggressive mindset from Pakistan. Everyone from Manzoor to Adnan Akmal seemed to understand they could score runs. In Zimbabwe and in South Africa earlier this year, Pakistan played as though they thought they could not.

Since 2010, Pakistan have not lost in the UAE. It is not their home but they have come to think of themselves as having ownership here. They allowed themselves to drive Dale Steyn through the offside when he ventured too wide or pulled Morne Morkel if he dropped it short.

It is also on these surfaces where they know their ability against spin can come to the fore, be it while bowling or batting. South Africa's spin department for this Test was weak and Pakistan took full advantage. While Robin Peterson offered them too much flight and bowled too many full tosses, the South African middle order were easy targets for Saeed Ajmal and Zulfiqur Babar.

South Africa are not bunnies against spin. They have decent records against the likes of Graeme Swann and even Ajmal from the last tour. But just as they have improved in their footwork and ability to read a turning ball, Ajmal has become more cunning. Faf du Plessis and most of the tail were troubled by him and because he can bowl all day, Pakistan used him in that capacity.

Though, Pakistan did not rely solely on Ajmal. Babar was a more than adequate back-up and the two seamers were exceptional. Mohammad Irfan has worked on his stamina and can bowl longer spells without the fear of breaking down. Junaid Khan was described by Zimbabwe's players - who will be quietly chuckling to themselves that they are now the yardstick - as the most improved bowler from the Pakistan of two years ago. He is dangerous with both the new and old balls and creates problems with his angle.

With all of these elements working together, Pakistan put on an all-round performance they can be proud of. They were committed in the field as well, with Irfan showcasing many inelegant but effective methods of saving runs. This was the performance of a team who had something to prove, against one who may have felt their long unbeaten record on the road meant they had already shown what they are capable of.

It is not like South Africa to take things for granted but with minimal preparation and a long absence from Test cricket, they still declared themselves ready to play, from mid-way through the warm-up match when some of their players said they would be able to walk into a Test match, "tomorrow." Pakistan might have sensed that as over-confidence and they pounced on it.

The importance of this result for Pakistan and their personnel was highlighted merely by watching Dav Whamore's reaction. When Misbah launched Peterson for six, Whatmore was out of his seat almost before the ball had landed on the other side of the boundary and was on his way to shake hands with the South African support staff.

He waited on the sidelines for Misbah, to whom he offered no outstretched hand. The pair were couched in a bear hug which said more than any words could. They were joined in relief and joy, knowing some part of the job is done but there is still more to do. Just a few weeks ago, they were united in embarrassment following the loss to Zimbabwe.

Is this the same team who were humiliated in Harare? Some parts of it are and the parts that are not appear improved, infused with optimism and in touch with what they need to do to win.

'Pakistan will get stronger after win' - Waqar Younis

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Batsmen must be self-reliant - Katich

Last week, Cricket Australia assembled more than 20 of the nation's sharpest cricket minds at the SCG in an attempt to work out how to help the nation's struggling batsmen. Simon Katich was not among the delegates, but he has a simple piece of advice for those players fighting to establish themselves as consistent run-makers at state and international level - no one else can do it for you.

Katich's message of self-reliance was significant both for how true it was to him, as the owner of a proven batting technique few coaches would admit to having suggested, and for how far out of step it is with the ways of the 21st century game. Australian batsmen have never been surrounded by more mentors and minders. But as Katich stated so bluntly, at the moment of critical importance it is just them against the bowler.

"The harsh part of this game is that even though it's a team game it's very much an individual game, particularly batting," Katich said after making 67 for Western Australia against Victoria at North Sydney Oval. "So you can help as much as you can with advice and passing on experience, but at the end of the day you're out there on your own.

"One thing I've gathered from my career is the more self-sufficient you become as a batsman the better off you'll be, because unfortunately no one can bat for you. Everyone can help, coaches and team-mates can help with advice, but in the end it's just you against the bowler and you've got to win that battle. There's some good kids floating around the state system, no doubt, and it's a matter of them grabbing their opportunities and making the most of it."

Alongside the grabbing of opportunity and the fostering of independence, Katich joined his fellow late 30-somethings Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey in arguing that the current crop of international batsmen needed to be granted faith and continuity. He recalled taking time to feel settled as an international batsman himself, and wondered if his successors have been given enough of a chance to find their feet.

"I just think people have got to be patient because it's not that easy to step into international cricket and perform straight away," he said. "There's many guys in the past that have taken time, I know myself it took time to feel comfortable at Test level. So it doesn't happen straight away but if there's patience and persistence with guys then hopefully at some point they'll reward the selectors and keep churning out consistent runs."

Katich is playing for WA after a decade out of the yellow cap due to a request by his former team-mate Justin Langer to reinforce an alarmingly thin Warriors batting order, beset by injuries, national call-ups and a wider malaise affecting the state. So far he has agreed only to play in the domestic limited-overs matches in Sydney, but Langer is pushing him to go on to four-day duty.

"I want to be able to walk in the front door of my house in the next couple of months," Katich joked in reference to a Sheffield Shield schedule of six matches in as many weeks after the limited-overs tournament concludes. "I'm pretty sure Justin will keep chipping away at me, he has been the last few months.

"But I'm happy with my decision, I'm happy to be helping the boys out as well, in extreme circumstances, where a number got injured before the Champions League and we've lost three or four of our senior players to the India tour. I guess the timing of it all was nice to try to help the boys out by playing this week and giving them some experience. I am grateful for having started my career in WA, and from that point of view it's nice to help out in this way."

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Tendulkar available for Mumbai's season opener

Sachin Tendulkar will warm up for his farewell Test series by appearing in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy opener against Haryana, to be played in Lahli from October 27 to 30.

A day before Mumbai's selection panel, headed by former India opener Sudhir Naik, is to select the squad for the match and name the captain for the season, Mumbai Cricket Association joint secretary Nitin Dalal confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that Tendulkar "has made himself available" for the Ranji match.

Tendulkar will then join the Indian team one last time for the two-Test series starting on November 6. He had announced his decision to retire after the second Test, his 200th, to be played at his home ground, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. After leaving international cricket, Tendulkar is unlikely to return to the domestic circuit, so Mumbai's match against Haryana may mark Tendulkar's last appearance in Indian domestic cricket.

He had made his maiden first-class appearance almost 25 years ago, against Gujarat on December 10, 1988, and has played 37 Ranji Trophy games so far over the years. Despite wanting to be part of the Mumbai dressing room more often, a packed international calendar prevented him from doing so. After retiring from ODIs last year, Tendulkar appeared in four Ranji games for Mumbai last season, scoring two centuries and a fifty in five innings. It was the first time since 1994-95 that he played more than three Ranji games in a season.

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South Africa err in length and selection

The over-reliance on short-pitched bowling and lack of a penetrative spinner forced South Africa to endure their toughest day in the field in 11 months

On pitches that do not facilitate bounce, like the one at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, fast bowlers need to be patient and disciplined. Their reserves of guts and imagination will be tested and the levels of intensity and mental focus needed are higher than normal. That's what South Africa's bowling coach Allan Donald said was required of his attack before the series began. However, with Pakistan on 263 for 3, ahead by 14 going into the third day, the challenge has seemingly proved more than what the bowlers could handle.

South Africa endured their toughest day in the field in 11 months, since Brisbane 2012. On day four at the Gabba, they had conceded 376 runs for one wicket. It wasn't as bad this time but the same issues remained: an over-reliance on short-pitched bowling and the lack of an attacking spinner.

The problem with length can be fixed through technical adjustments, which Donald seemed certain his charges would make in time for the first Test. He said he had impressed on them that they could not simply, "turn up, bowl back of a length and expect to take wickets." That is the default South African way of doing things as the coach Russell Domingo admitted, but Donald will have to strategise a plan B for pitches that do not have much in the way of bounce.

Donald was looking for a slightly fuller length, a line that did not stray down leg side and early breakthroughs created by making batsmen play as much as possible in the first 20 overs. South Africa's four quicks allowed Pakistan to leave more than six overs' worth of deliveries, 37 to be exact, in the first 19 overs.

Some of those deliveries were too far outside off stump to tempt Shan Masood and Khurram Manzoor, but the majority of them allowed the pair to duck underneath or watch them pass tamely over the stumps. There were 27 short balls in the first 114 deliveries. The surface did not suit the ploy and the openers, particularly Manzoor, displayed solid defensive ability on the back foot. As Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander discovered, the better plan was to bowl fuller and try to induce an edge. Steyn got it right against Masood but the chance he created was fluffed in the slips.

Where the quicks, barring Steyn, did well upfront was in keeping the run-rate down. Morne Morkel and Philander were miserly and built pressure but could not sustain it because of their continued relapse into old habits. Domingo, however, did not regard the approach as a mistake even though it yielded so little. "Every time we play subcontinent sides, we always look to target them with short-pitched bowling and it's definitely something we will continue doing," he said.

If that is the case, South Africa may only end up enabling Pakistan's batsmen, who showed greater intent than they have done recently. Against Zimbabwe, albeit in completely different conditions and against a different kind of attack, they rarely scored at more than three runs an over. Here, that was their regular pace - a refreshing change from the mindset of survival they have had to employ in recent matches.

Their scoring increased further against the slower bowlers. Robin Peterson was hardly threatening and expensive. For Pakistan, facing him was like asking a university graduate to write a high-school essay. They handled his flight with ease and brought South Africa's selection policy into question, because they did have another option in legspinner Imran Tahir.

Peterson was picked on protocol and sentiment. He has been South Africa's lead spinner since late 2012 and displacing him was considered unfair, especially because he had not done much wrong. That policy worked when all South Africa's spinner had to do was play a bits-and-pieces role in the shadow of the quicks, and it even helped lengthen their batting line-up.

On a pitch that will suit spin, however, there is no legitimate excuse for not playing the person who can turn the ball most. Tahir is not the best spinner in the world and the practice match was evidence of that. His assortment of full tosses and needless variations bled runs in his first spell in Sharjah, but he caused problems once he got it together. In the circumstances, South Africa should have used him in Abu Dhabi.

Domingo disagreed, and said Peterson had good enough performances over the last year to bounce back. "I am sure he will be the first to admit he didn't bowl as well as he could have. We know he will get better."

Peterson's performance will lead to deeper questions about the development of the available spin talent in South Africa - with Warriors' offspinner Simon Harmer being bandied as a possibility for the future - but right now the situation does not merit such severe introspection.

All that should be questioned is why South Africa did not use their best resource and whether they made the right decision in expecting JP Duminy to be the second spinner. Duminy has potential and was the better of the two slow bowlers today.

This is not the first time they picked an XI not best suited to the conditions either. That day in Brisbane, South Africa were so convinced by the pre-match hype of a green top that they played four seamers and relied on Duminy to do the work of a spinner. The pitch was one of the flattest in recent memory, and Duminy was injured before he could play any part in the match, which was drawn after a day was lost to rain.

There's unlikely to be a similar reprieve in this Test so South Africa will have to rescue themselves, and before they can consider doing that with the bat, they have to rectify their shortcomings with the ball.

"Having not played for a lengthy period of time, it always takes some time to get going," Domingo said. "You have to go back and remind yourself why this side is No.1 in the world and how they got there." They can start by remembering their rise up the rankings came through solid performances away from home, which were achieved by adapting to conditions quickly. They will need to do the same here.

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From wildcard to senior

Khurram Manzoor looked tentative on his Pakistan comeback but, two Tests later, made a century against the No. 1 Test attack alongside a debutant opening partner

For a significant portion of Dav Whatmore's tenure as Pakistan coach, he has looked worried. Occasionally that expression becomes something less stressful and sometimes it completely disappears and is replaced by calm. Even rarer are the times when it moulds into optimism. One of those times was between Test matches in Harare.

"Khurram Manzoor, he's back and he's looking quite good," Whatmore said in casual conversation with journalists one evening. Manzoor had returned into the Pakistan side to partner Mohammad Hafeez and fix one of Pakistan's most pressing concerns. But he did not look too convincing on first sighting.

He scored 11 and 5 in the first Test, appeared uncomfortable with the angle created by Tinashe Panyangara from around the wicket and was out lbw twice. Height was a concern on both occasions but without referral technology it was difficult to know for sure. Even ignoring that, Manzoor looked tentative and even a little out of his depth.

Whatmore must have known something others did not because in the next match, Manzoor scored twin half-centuries. Hafeez departed cheaply twice. Manzoor was more settled against the quicks, more in control, especially on the drive, and used his feet well against spin. Although Pakistan suffered a surprise defeat, there was one positive to take out of it: Whatmore had found his man.

Those knocks meant that when Hafeez was dropped for this series, Manzoor went from a wildcard who was handed a comeback after being dropped following seven reasonable Tests - which included a 93 against Sri Lanka and a 77 against Australia - to the one certainty in the Pakistan opening pair. With the search on to find who would share top-two duty, Manzoor became the more experienced opener, almost overnight.

It was a responsibility he handled from the first ball when he took strike against Test cricket's top-ranked bowler. He could have been overwhelmed but he was bullish - with bat and in attitude - instead. Ten runs were scored off three deliveries in the opening over, a rarity for Dale Steyn, and an appetiser to what Manzoor and his partner, Shan Masood, went on to produce.

They put on Pakistan's best opening stand since January 2012 and gave the middle order a reprieve from their rescue-effort duties. They have also given Pakistan hope that another new combination at the top of the order could be a successful one by wearing down a lethargic South Africa attack through watchfulness and calculated aggression.

Masood said this was the third century stand they have shared in. He recalled previous occasions during a warm-up match in Pakistan and an A game in West Indies and said that explained their understanding. "He is my senior partner and I felt very comfortable with him," Masood said.

Manzoor seemed to allow Masood greater freedom earlier on, even though they scored at similar rates. While Masood took on the short ball, Manzoor was happy to get on the front foot, push forward and nudge into gaps to ensure runs accumulated.

	With the milestone out of the way, Manzoor played with freedom and a surprising amount of self-expression. He seemed to laugh in the face of a frustrated Steyn by blowing him a sarcastic kiss

In that way, Pakistan were never in the slow-scoring rut they have found themselves in before and were still applying the requisite caution needed against South Africa's pace bowlers. When spin was introduced as lunch approached, Manzoor came into his own. His footwork appeared second nature as he struck JP Duminy and Robin Peterson for three fours in three deliveries, placing the ball where he wanted it to go each time.

It was a small bit of fun and Manzoor did not allow himself to be carried away by it. After the break, he was back to holding the fort. His ease in handling the short ball was a hallmark of his defence as he judged expertly when he needed to be on the back foot. When he reached fifty, it seemed a natural progression from where he left off in Harare. This time, he also showed he could convert.

Masood made what he termed a mistake in "missing a straight one" from Duminy, which trapped him on the pads. He acknowledged that he and Manzoor had exceeded expectations by the time he departed. "We wanted to try negotiate the new ball and set a good platform for the experienced and dependable middle order," he said.

The way Manzoor played afterwards illustrated his maturity. Pakistan lost two wickets for five runs and Manzoor needed to consolidate, even though he would have had his own milestone in the back of his mind. He spent 29 deliveries getting from 85 to 100, including an over from Vernon Philander where the bowler showed glimpses of the line and length that has worked so well for him in other parts of the world.

When Manzoor started to get itchy feet and thought about chasing a wide one, he immediately meted out a self-inflicted punishment. A thump on his own helmet with his bat was enough to remind him to advance cautiously. He allowed himself to let loose against Peterson, against whom it was only fitting that he brought up his century.

With the milestone out of the way, Manzoor played with freedom and a surprising amount of self-expression towards the end of the day. He seemed to laugh in the face of a frustrated Steyn by blowing him a sarcastic kiss. That kind of attitude is what's needed to overcome an attack who rely on their reputation to do some work for them because it will send a message, as Masood outlined later, saying: "We wanted it more." And Manzoor seemed to want it most.

How much more he wants could be decisive in the lead Pakistan take after the first innings. Masood suspects it will be a large amount, given the time left in the game. "We've got a guy who is batting tremendously on 131 and the captain," Masood said. "If these can two can bat for the first hour or first session, we are talking about taking the game by the scruff of the neck. The pressure is on them."

South Africa have already conceded their first century opening stand in 34 Test innings and could have another record against them broken too. Manzoor is now six runs away from overtaking Azhar Mahmood as the holder of Pakistan's highest individual score against South Africa. If you'd asked Whatmore in Harare that night whether he thought a feat like that was coming, despite all his confidence in Manzoor, he may have been hesitant to commit that much.

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Pakistan ruing lack of third seamer

Mohammad Irfan's temporary exit from the field illuminated the issue of not having a third seaming option, with captain Misbah-ul-Haq having Saeed Ajmal operate at one end in order to rotate his depleted attack

When Mohammad Irfan left the field two balls into his fourth spell, Pakistan were already playing with limited bowling options. With only a pair of specialist seamers and spinners each, without him, Pakistan were down to three bowlers, and when he walked off, it seemed that could cause some problems.

Hashim Amla and JP Duminy were playing fluently, and with barely any turn on a deck that was flattening out, Pakistan seemed to be in for the long haul. They had already shown their reluctance to use Younis Khan's medium-pace when Zulfiqur Babar was brought on as first-change in the 10th over. The left-arm spinner's first spell was placid, as he tossed it up generously and offered some relief from one end.

Despite that, they managed to put the world's top-ranked team in a precarious position using only four bowlers, thanks largely to the efforts of Junaid Khan upfront, and the spinners later on. Junaid opened with a four-over spell and obtained significant movement to make Graeme Smith's stay at the crease uncomfortable. After a four-over break, he returned for another, beating Hashim Amla's bat on occasion, and getting the crucial wicket of Jacques Kallis with what was probably his delivery of the day - one which bent back in and took the inside edge.

But with the older ball, the South Africans found him easier to play, and that may have been where Pakistan missed a third seam-bowling option. Their lack of a pace-bowling all-rounder seems to offset the balance of their team and they will have to rely heavily on the spinners to make up for that.

The early signs suggest they can. Saeed Ajmal's stamina meant he could easily operate from one end all day once he was brought on, and it seemed that would be the case when he came on before lunch. He bowled non-stop from the 22nd over till tea, making it 17 overs on the trot.

Although he was fairly unthreatening in that time, the South Africans treated him with the respect his reputation has earned, and having him as a constant allowed Misbah-ul-Haq to rotate the rest of the bowlers from the other end. That may be the way Ajmal is used in the early exchanges between these two sides, as a slow poison of sorts to create frustration and allow things to happen at the other end before striking himself.

An example of that came when the man stationed in an unconventional position behind square leg for JP Duminy's sweep shot gave Babar his first Test wicket. And then things started to turn for the spinners, with Babar and Ajmal taking advantage. With South Africa at 222 for 8, they could have finished them off for under 250, but it was perhaps the lack of an additional bowler which made it difficult for them to achieve that.

Misbah will probably have to call on Younis at some stage, but will be relieved that Irfan was able to get back on to take the second new ball. The tall man later confirmed it was nothing more than a case of cramp, exacerbated by slight dehydration, and that he felt better after increasing his water intake. He confirmed he would be able to play a part in the rest of the match but predicted he may not be the danger man.

"At the end of the day, the spinners dominated," Irfan said. "Although it is not turning that much, our spinners are still getting something out of it, and will hopefully have more in the second innings."

Pakistan would have thought they were in a similar position of advantage after they bowled South Africa out for 253 in their first innings at the Wanderers in February. That was the first, and only time, in the home summer that South Africa were challenged, and that too in conditions tailor-made for their pace attack. All Pakistan could muster in response was 49 all out, thanks to a Dale Steyn special of 6 for 8 in 8.1 overs.

Nothing as emphatic should be expected tomorrow, given the conditions, but Duminy hinted the seamers are already smarting on behalf of their batsmen and will want to make up for a day which they "definitely" felt they ended "behind" on. "Having the bowling line-up that we do, you've got to back us to do a great job," Duminy said.

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Tucker appointed captain for qualifiers

38-year-old veteran Janeiro Tucker has been appointed Bermuda captain for next month's World T20 qualifier, for which they named a 15-man squad.

Bermuda aim to shrug off the one-hit wonder tag at the tournament as they target a place back at a major event for the first time since the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies - to date their only appearance at a global competition.

"I am happy to congratulate Janeiro Tucker on his appointment," Bermuda Cricket Board president Lloyd Fray said. "Janeiro has been an outstanding player at domestic and international level for a number of years and has a keen cricket mind. He is respected by the players and our community and is a proven leader on and off the cricket field.

"Many of us remember one of Bermuda's proudest moments in July 2005 when Bermuda qualified for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. I hope that we all remember that is was Janeiro Tucker who was captain at that time, he had taken over the reins when Clay Smith was injured in an early match, and he lead our country to qualification. I hope that proves to be a lucky omen for our country in next month's tournament."

The squad will travel to Dubai on November 8 for two warm-up matches against Italy and Canada before their first qualifier in Group B against Scotland on November 15.

Bermuda squad for World T20 qualifier
Janeiro Tucker (capt), Dion Stovell, Kwame Tucker, Christian Burgess, David Hemp, Terryn Fray, Tre Manders, Christopher Douglas, Allan Douglas Jnr, Jacobi Robinson, Derrick Brangman, Lionel Cann, Malachi Jones, Kamau Leverock, Kamal Bashir

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Amla, a master of patience and adaptability

Hashim Amla began his innings like he has often done this year - inside the first ten overs - and batted with simplicity and consideration to bring up his 20th Test century

Perhaps the most remarkable fact about Hashim Amla's triple-century at The Oval last July was that he did not change batting gloves once in the 13 hours and 10 minutes he spent at the crease. He took them off, of course, and dried them at lunch, tea and stumps but put the same pair back on when he resumed his innings.

Amla does not have a Neil McKenzie-type obsession with superstition; it was simply a case of not changing something that was still of perfectly good use. It was about getting rid of the unnecessary, which Amla has become better at as his career has progressed. The results are evident in his significantly less eye-catching back lift and his ability to capitalise when others are not able to.

JP Duminy aside, Amla was the only batsman who looked like he belonged to the No.1 Test team on the first day in Abu Dhabi. The openers struggled against a new-ball assault, which included extra bounce from Mohammad Irfan and movement from Junaid Khan, and Amla found himself walking out before three overs were up. He went on to play with the understanding of a man who had read this book many times before.

Amla has been in before ten overs have been bowled in five out of eight innings this year. Making up for the deficiencies of South Africa's openers has not been a burden, though, but a chance to do something special: Amla has gone past 50 each time and converted two into hundreds.

His patience has been praised at length on these pages and many others. Today Duminy called it "immense," how Amla resisted early in his innings against a tough seam attack and later on, when heat and spin could have worn him down.

Amla relied on simplicity of technique in those testing periods, and an awareness of his off stump allowed him to leave the ball comfortably, when others were more hesitant. It cannot be coincidence that Amla is the only South African Test player with first-class experience in the last month - a stint with Surrey - while his team-mates have either been recovering from injury or playing limited-overs cricket. Duminy also had some first-class cricket, although that was in August against India A.

The assurance that comes with game time was evident in the way Amla approached the practice game in Sharjah, where he attacked the bowling soon after settling, and the way he began his innings here. After ten balls of making the right decisions about what to leave and defend, Amla drove Junaid through mid off. If not for the sluggish outfield, he would not have had to run three.

Once he was satisfied that there were no dangers in the pitch, Amla wanted to get on with scoring. After pushing into the covers, he set off quickly for a run and had to be sent back by Jacques Kallis, a man who prefers to take his time. He was nearly run out. Amla had been part of several misunderstandings between the wickets last summer, and although he couldn't explain why, his enthusiasm for getting a move-on may be behind it.

After being reminded of Kallis' more leisurely preference, Amla adjusted to meet his partner's pace of scoring boundaries when they were available and ambling runs at other times. Amla has excelled at adapting to the tempo of his partner, which makes playing his own game easier, irrespective of who is with him.

When AB de Villiers, who found rhythm immediately, came in, Amla raised his strike rate from 44 to 60, the highest of his innings. With Duminy, who was making a comeback to Test cricket after 11 months, Amla assumed responsibility and scored in more measured fashion, allowing his partner time to feel comfortable.

Duminy said having someone of Amla's quality at the other end made batting easier. Amla is calm on the outside but intense within. Batting may seem as easy as breathing to him, but when he is out there he is thinking of ways for both he and his partner to profit.

If Amla sees that his partner has taken a liking to a certain bowler, he will happily let him have the strike. Duminy was enjoying playing the spinners and there was a five-and-half over period in which Amla faced just six balls.

Amla approached his century in his typical method - slowly. He spent 30 balls in the 90s and saw Duminy depart in that time. Soon after he enjoyed his 20th hundred, Faf du Plessis was out and Amla had to consolidate again. He let Robin Peterson and particularly Dale Steyn play with freedom, in the knowledge that he was there to hold fort. He saw off the second new ball with the same focus that he used for the first and will be back on the second morning to try and complete South Africa's escape.

Overnight, Amla is unlikely to have any anxious thoughts. He may enjoy a latte, one his favourite refreshments, and begin tomorrow as though he was batting for the first time. These are all indicators that Amla does not want for a lot to do his job properly. Duminy confirmed it. "All he basically needs is a sip of lukewarm water, even in that heat, and a towel on his head and he is pretty good," Duminy said. A change of batting gloves? Don't be silly.

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India begin Project Raina

India are trialling Suresh Raina at No 4 as back-up for Yuvraj Singh ahead of the 2015 World Cup. But does Raina have the game to succeed in the top order?

As he dissected India's performance after their heavy defeat to Australia in the first ODI, MS Dhoni also revealed an important development: India are trying to develop Suresh Raina as a No 4 batsman with an eye on the 2015 World Cup. This was why Raina had been sent in ahead of long-time No 4 Yuvraj Singh in Pune, and he would bat there for a while, according to his captain.

"As of now what we want is for Suresh to bat at No 4 for a considerable period of time," Dhoni said. "It's only Yuvraj Singh who we have got and if he is in good form and we go till the World Cup without anything happening, then he will bat there. But if he doesn't, all of a sudden we can't say we do not have a No 4 batsman.

"All the other slots, we have players and we even have replacements. But apart from Yuvraj, I don't see anybody who has batted 50 ODIs at No 4. That can be a concern and we will have to rectify that from this point. No point going too late and then saying we don't have time to do anything."

Dhoni's rationale in wanting a back-up for a crucial batting position is understandable, especially given Yuvraj's recent history. Yes, he's made his second comeback since recovering from cancer but it is still unclear how his form will hold up as the World Cup approaches. He is obviously the first-choice No 4 but there is every reason to have a contingency plan in place.

So for the second time in his eight-year international career, Raina will get another sustained run up the order. The first opportunity had come in 2008, when over 13 successive innings in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India, he produced one century and four fifties at an average of nearly 40.

As his career has progressed, Raina's desire to gain a promotion in the line-up has increased. He's seen Virat Kohli come in and establish himself at No 3 with a string of hundreds. Raina knows that for all the death-over slogging, it is the centuries that catch attention and bring lasting recognition. Last year, Raina pointed out that he'd "scored only three (ODI) hundreds", as he staked his claim for elevation again.

While Raina's desire cannot be faulted, mere elevation in the batting order will not result in more hundreds. They will have to be earned by taking on the responsibility of building an innings, something Raina hasn't exactly shown the inclination for when he has been given the chance. Captaincy should ideally translate into more cautious batting, as in Dhoni's case, but when Raina led India in Zimbabwe in 2010 and in the West Indies in 2011, he refused to change his aggressive approach.

India had sent second-string sides for both tours, and Raina mostly came in with plenty of overs to go after a top-order wobble. In nine innings over those tours, he averaged 23.57, including two not-outs in chases that were almost over by the time he walked in. Three times he failed going for his favourite slog-sweep when the situation demanded restraint.

In Pune, Raina looked to launch James Faulkner over midwicket, after gaining a hard-earned start against Mitchell Johnson's pace, and fell for 39. It was not the ideal response from a No 4 batsman at that point in a tough chase. Raina, however, is used to going for similar strokes to similar deliveries. Aggression comes naturally to him. Also, an overwhelming majority of his career has been spent at No 5 or below. Often, he doesn't have the luxury of getting himself in so these shots are instinctive.

It is not to say Yuvraj would have never gone for the same shot at that moment. But at No 4, a batsman must temper the urge to turn a 10-run over into a 16-run over with an eye on the big picture. Yuvraj has done that successfully for more than a decade. He can hit six sixes in an over in a Twenty20, but he also makes sure he lasts long enough to get the big scores that win ODI games. That necessitates controlling the urge to deposit one more over midwicket. It needs one to duck under a few short balls early on rather than try to work them for singles, one of Raina's preferred ways of handling the bouncer barrage he usually faces. Dhoni knows Raina will need some time to unlearn and adjust.

"We will have to give him some kind of experience at No 4," Dhoni said. "He's batted too long at No 6. That is why sometimes you see these instinctive shots, when the batsman sees and goes after them. It is very important that he uses these opportunities well. Then we'll have two batsmen who have a fair amount of exposure at No 4."

Raina has the chance to increase his centuries from "only three." Will he able to adapt and rein himself in? India will have a clearer picture of his ability by the end of the Australia series.

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Bangladesh's greater unity brings rewards

Bangladesh are more cohesive than they were two years ago, and that's because of Mushfiqur Rahim's leadership and the rise in status of players like Sohag Gazi

If David Boon hadn't dived two feet to his right at short leg, there wouldn't have been an MCG hat-trick for Shane Warne. At Eden Gardens in 2001, it was Sadagoppan Ramesh's swift right hand that gave Harbhajan Singh his famous hat-trick. And today, Sohag Gazi needed Shakib Al Hasan to dive from leg slip and catch the ball as it was about to drop in front of first slip, after the edge from Doug Bracewell had ricocheted off the wicketkeeper Mushiqur Rahim's pads.

The catch that gave Gazi his hat-trick was stunning, because of the distance Shakib had to cover and his courage at not giving a hoot about the fielder who was about to swoop in from first slip.

Shakib's feat said a lot about this Bangladesh team. Gazi had talked about how senior players like Shakib and Abdur Razzak had talked to him about his bowling, when the Bangladesh board had made it clear that the spin consultant Saqlain Mushtaq would not be available before 2014. Gazi had never had a bowling mentor before, and he needed Saqlain at a time when his form had taken a dip.

The development of a more congenial environment in the team has not been talked about outwardly, but there have been moments in the field that indicate Bangladesh are a cohesive unit, and not a divisive one.

Bangladesh had gone through a hard time when there appeared to be a gap between Shakib and Tamim, and the rest of the team. It had to do with the high profiles of those two celebrity players, but the number of performers has increased over the last couple of years. Nasir Hossain, Mominul Haque, Robiul Islam and Gazi have not reached the status of Tamim or Shakib, but they are getting there. Within the team environment, it has become easier to handle stars and treat everyone more equally than before.

The captain Mushfiqur Rahim must take most of the credit, but he too has had to overcome difficulty. He took over two years ago, at a time when Bangladesh cricket was going through a tumultuous phase, having lost to Zimbabwe and with Shakib and Tamim being abruptly removed from leadership. Mushfiqur has handled several issues adroitly, such as the players regrouping after a controversial first BPL. He was in the most trouble for speaking out about the unpaid fees.

Mushfiqur picked that moment to inspire his side, and they won ODIs against India and Sri Lanka, and were eventual Asia Cup runners-up after a heart-breaking loss in the final. Mushfiqur also had to tackle long breaks between seasons, because Bangladesh do not get a lot of Test cricket.

After this year's BPL, Mushfiqur saw several players turning up injured for their preparatory camp ahead of the Sri Lanka tour, creating a chaotic situation with long queues outside the physio's room. He managed to shift the focus to Test cricket again, overcoming worries about injuries and more unpaid BPL wages.

Mushfiqur also had to battle his own demons. After losing the ODI series to Zimbabwe in May, he suddenly resigned. There were rumours flying about but it was clearly an emotional decision. He was quickly reappointed, but there was going to be a lot of pressure on him from the BCB directors had Bangladesh not done well in this game. It is necessary to understand the background of this team's development, when putting Gazi's hat-trick into context.

Gazi had done extremely well in first-class cricket but since he played for Barisal Division, one of the worst teams, he had gone unnoticed. Under Mushfiqur and former chief selector Akram Khan, however, the focus has been on good performers, regardless of their pedigree. Gazi is a product of all the troubles Mushfiqur had to solve. He is here because Bangladesh cricket is slowly moving away from the tradition of promoting talented cricketers from age-group competitions.

Ever since his Test debut, Gazi has made headlines. Mushfiqur asked him to open the attack against Chris Galye in the Dhaka Test last year. It made Gazi the first offspinner in Test history to bowl the first over of a match on debut, and the first debutant spinner to do so in 103 years. Within a few overs, he dismissed Chris Gayle, who had earlier smacked him for a six off his first ball. Gazi took nine wickets in the match, and on his ODI debut, he was the Man of the Match for his four-wicket haul, which won Bangladesh the game in Khulna.

Gazi's fortune dipped in Sri Lanka where, on his first tour, he had to be the lead bowler in the absence of Shakib. The Zimbabwe tour wasn't great either, as he struggled in different conditions. There was a poor tour of England two months ago, as well as unremarkable performance in the Dhaka Premier League too.

However, as Gazi felt the arm ball slide out of his fingers and then saw it dip and nick Doug Bracewell's edge, clip Mushfiqur Rahim's right pad and fall into Shakib's diving fingers, the hat-trick was completed and the place in history secured. But he had done the same thing nearly a year ago.

Only a small group of most ardent followers in Bangladesh and highly-aware cricket statisticians around the world know that Gazi has scored a hundred, taken a hat-trick and a five-wicket haul in a first-class match, for Barisal against Khulna in the National Cricket League.

He took the wickets of Taposh Ghosh, Rubel Hossain and Al-Amin Hossain, which gave him seven wickets in the innings and nine in the match. Earlier in the game, Gazi had struck 119 off 93 balls, after reaching the century off 76. It was the second fastest first-class century in Bangladesh, just behind a 67-ball century in October 2011 - his own feat.

Gazi's set and broken records in the month of October, in 2011, 2012 and 2013. What will October 2014 bring, when Zimbabwe tour Bangladesh?

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Spin and heat lessen mismatch

Match facts

October 14-18
Start time 10.00 am local time (6.00am GMT)

Big picture

South Africa have shown their dominance at home, blanking opponents in both series last season, and in England and Australia, where they have won on their previous two visits. Their focus will now turn to underlining their superiority on the spin-friendly tracks in the heat of Asia. They get fewer matches in Asia - Vernon Philander, an integral member of the side, is yet to play a Test there - and they haven't quite been as commanding on visits there: South Africa drew against India in 2008 and 2010, and shared the series against Pakistan in the UAE three years ago. Though they were not outclassed in any of those contests, the series win has proved elusive in recent years.

While South Africa are a settled unit, three of their regulars are returning after lengthy breaks: Graeme Smith was out with a foot problem, Jacques Kallis opted to take a break after the IPL and JP Duminy, while he has made limited-overs appearances recently, last played a Test nearly a year ago after being sidelined with an Achilles injury.

Pakistan, in the meantime, have had a humbling year. They were out of their depth in South Africa and only managed a draw in the series in Zimbabwe last month. They are far more in their element in the UAE, where the pitches give their spinners more to work with. The big question mark for Pakistan remains their batting, and whether it has the backbone to keep out a potent South Africa attack. Misbah-ul-Haq has become a master of the firefight after his top-order batsmen keel over, but he'll need more support if Pakistan are to pose a challenge to the No. 1 side in the world.

Form guide

Pakistan LWLLL (last five matches, most recent first)
South Africa WWWWW

In the spotlight

Pakistan's top order has been a huge problem: in ten Test innings this year, the top three wickets have only had two half-century stands, and there have been 15 partnerships of ten or less. Pakistan have discarded Mohammad Hafeez, and have a couple of uncapped players vying for an opener's spot. The 'established' opener is Khurram Manzoor, only nine-Tests-old himself, and having only returned to the side after a three-year absence in the recent Zimbabwe series.

For over a decade Graeme Smith has been an effective, if not elegant, run-getter for South Africa at the top of the order, shielding his middle-order batsmen from the new ball. He hasn't played much cricket in the lead-up to this series, however, having been out of competitive cricket for over 21 weeks with a foot injury. He didn't get much time in the middle in the practice game either, but he is confident he is ready for the rigours of Test cricket.

Team news

There was some concern over Smith's ankle but he is expected to play and has trained a day ahead of the match. South Africa are likely to go in with one frontline spinner in Robin Peterson, and Dean Elgar is set to make way for Duminy.

South Africa: 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Alviro Petersen, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers (wk), 6 JP Duminy, 7 Faf du Plessis, 8 Robin Peterson, 9 Vernon Philander, 10 Dale Steyn, 11 Morne Morkel

Besides the top-order conundrum, Pakistan have to pick the support quick bowler for Junaid Khan - one of Mohammad Irfan or Rahat Ali. The rest of the side is fairly settled.

Pakistan: 1 Shan Masood, 2 Khurram Manzoor, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Younis Khan, 5 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Asad Shafiq, 7 Adnan Akmal (wk), 8 Abdur Rehman, 9 Saeed Ajmal, 10 Junaid Khan, 11 Mohammad Irfan

Pitch and conditions

Smith expected the pitch to be similar to the one South Africa played on in 2010, when these teams were involved in a high-scoring draw. It is warm in Abu Dhabi, with temperatures likely to be in excess of 30 C over the course of the match. The South African players have been using ice vests to try and get some relief from the heat.

Stats and trivia

• South Africa lead the head-to-head record in Tests against Pakistan 11-3
• Pakistan (23) and South Africa (24) have played the fewest Tests among the top eight countries in the last three years

Quotes

"There are a great bunch of boys and I had a good time with them in Zimbabwe. Even though we lost a Test match, overall the performance and the conduct was wonderful. It's good for me to be around them and I know a lot of them - like when Misbah made his debut, I was the captain."
Moin Khan, the Pakistan team manager

"We haven't dwelled on any past experiences. But every time you win away from home you gain an inner strength. That confidence has grown because we know we've been able to compete in all conditions away from home.
Graeme Smith on South Africa's unbeaten record away from home, which has stretched to seven years

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Elation and disbelief for Gazi after hat-trick

Sohag Gazi watched as everything seemed to moving in slow motion. He had just delivered the ball, hoping for a hat-trick. It had taken the edge and struck wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim on his right pad. Nasir Hossain at slip came forward, slid a little, then stopped. Shakib Al Hasan had by this time slunk over from leg-slip. He dived and completed the catch. Gazi ran away, chased by Robiul Islam, Marshall Ayub and Nasir. He couldn't believe it and, even hours later, he found it hard to describe the moment.

"I just couldn't believe what was happening," Gazi said, as he walked with a group of journalists after the game. "The hat-trick was 99% Shakib bhai's doing.

"I was stunned into silence when the ball hit Mushfiq bhai's pads and had taken off. Everything was happening in slow-motion for me from that point. Nasir was standing still, and in that last moment, Shakib bhai dived in."

Gazi had targeted the same spot from which he got the previous delivery to jump at BJ Watling. It took the edge, slammed into Mushfiqur's chest but was eventually caught, giving him two from two.

Mushfiqur added a leg-slip to complete the umbrella around Bracewell. Sohag had his eyes on that spot which didn't have a crack, but offered him some promise.

"Mushfiqur bhai always sets the field. I talk to him if I need to make little changes. Ahead of that hat-trick ball, I didn't say anything to him, or want to make any changes. I just wanted to bowl the same delivery as I did the previous ball. I was hoping to land it there and let it go straight. He could either edge it or miss it."

He fended off questions about what he felt before, during and after the hat-trick. He had done the same after he had scored the hundred on the fourth day. But the fact remains, there was a lot on Gazi's mind ahead of the game.

He had been earmarked as one of the less fit players in the team, and the situation was magnified when the media picked up on it. There wasn't much talk about it publicly, but there must have been reactions internally, within the Bangladesh setup. Gazi said that had been a motivating factor: "There was so much talk about my fitness. I took this Test match as a challenge. I really wanted to prove that I am fit."

Mushfiqur, too, said Gazi needed that six-wicket haul in the second innings, and praised his maiden century, terming it a "smart knock". "I was hoping that I could take the catch [to complete the hat-trick], but unfortunately I couldn't. But I am very happy for him," Mushfiqur said. "He really needed this performance. I would hope for him to hold on to it.

"He gave us that crucial lead in the first innings. I have seen him hit around before, but he batted very smartly in this innings. He controlled himself according to the fields that were set to curb him. He added 100-odd with Robiul Islam. It was a matured innings."

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'Disappointed to settle for draw' - Mushfiqur

The first Test in Chittagong was only Bangladesh's second drawn match against New Zealand but the home captain Mushfiqur Rahim was not satisfied with the result.

"We are disappointed to settle for a draw," he said. "It was an opportunity, and if the wicket was any different, it would have been a different ball game for our spinners. We could have lost, but at the same time we could have used our full strength. Credit goes to them also, they played well."

Five out of New Zealand's eight wins against Bangladesh were by an innings and the only time the margin was tight was during the 2008 Chittagong Test, which New Zealand eventually won by three wickets. With a head-to-head like that, the expectation was on New Zealand to seize the initiative in the second innings, especially with a lead of 85 runs at the start of the final day.

"On that wicket it was hard to generate a good strike-rate, " McCullum, the New Zealand captain, said. "When we looked to go after the bowling, a couple of balls kept low, a couple turned. They made it difficult for us by picking up wickets. I certainly can't fault our batting tactics. We are happy with 256 off 46 overs. We played some good cricket in this game. Bangladesh did well too. None of the teams gave away an inch. It is a nice way to start a tour."

McCullum's calculations had not revolved around a total as much as protecting his fast bowlers on a pitch that had nothing for them. "The way we batted before lunch and just after lunch prior to the hat-trick, we set a target in mind. But it was about the number of overs we leave for our seamers to bowl. We didn't want to leave too many overs.

Mushfiqur hadn't expected New Zealand to attack any more than they did in the one-and-a-half sessions they batted. "I wasn't too surprised at their approach in the second innings. We pretty much knew that they wouldn't attack us early. They always had to take a safe option from where they couldn't lose. We knew that they wouldn't want to lose wickets. We knew they'd attack after lunch, so Gazi's spell was just amazing"

Mushfiqur was pleased with the performances of his spinners Gazi and Abdur Razzak, who had to shoulder a greater share of the 247.1 overs bowled by Bangladesh, because Shakib-Al-Hasan and Robiul Islam were returning from injury.

"We had to be careful managing the load of the bowlers," he said. "Sohag and Razzak are good bowlers, and we had to make sure Shakib slowly comes back to full load. Robiul has also been injured for the last three months, so he too bowled less than Rubel, who took up the responsibility."

McCullum was content with his side's batting after Kane Williamson and BJ Watling's centuries set up a huge first-innings total and he saw encouraging signs from his spinners as well, who claimed five wickets between them. "Our batting was a positive. We got 469 batting first with couple of guys getting big scores. The second innings was positive too. We were behind the game but the guys still applied their processes and plans so that we could set a declaration. We need to improve our fielding. The pacers did well in trying conditions. The spinners did better as the game went on."

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Questions for both sides in opener

Match facts

Sunday, October 13, 2013
Start time 1330 local (0800 GMT)

Big Picture

If you trace a line through the venues for this ODI series, it starts from western India and runs across the northern, eastern and central parts of the country before culminating in the shape of a question mark in the south. As India and Australia traverse that line for the next three-and-a-half weeks, they will doubtless ask questions of each other. The foremost for Australia will be - can this squad, sorely lacking experience compared to previous sides, come close to matching their limited-overs deeds in India?

The last ODI Australia played in India was the quarter-final of the 2011 World Cup. The churn Australian cricket has gone through since then is reflected in the fact that only three members of that XI are part of the current touring party. Previous Australia ODI visits to India have been successful due to two big factors; powerful, dominating batsmen who have taken toll of India's relatively weaker attacks on benign pitches, and bowlers of real pace who have squeezed enough out of those surfaces to prevent the home batsmen from running amok.

Names such as Brett Lee, and later, Doug Bollinger, come to mind, hustling India batsmen with extra speed. Mitchell Johnson is the only such bowler in the present squad, although Nathan Coulter-Nile can produce bursts as well. However, Australia are well served on the power-batting front, Aaron Finch, in Rajkot, providing enough evidence of that.

India's No 1 ODI ranking is on the line, although it will require a 1-6 hammering, something that would leave Australia captain George Bailey "very surprised" if it happens. For MS Dhoni, as always, the question is not how to make runs, but how to prevent them from being made by the opposition. The new ODI rule restricting deep fielders to a maximum of four has only added to his problems. "I don't know where to bring in that one fielder inside in the last ten overs when the batsmen are intent going for the bowlers," Dhoni said. "That's one area where we have to work on. We have to see how to use that channel to put pressure on the opposition."

Form guide (Most recent games first)

Australia WLWWL
India WWWWW

In the spotlight

Rohit Sharma has reinvented himself as an ODI opener following successful outings in the Champions Trophy, in the West Indies and in Zimbabwe. The promotion had come at home against England earlier this year. But his strike-rate has taken a beating at the top of the order. The needs in overseas conditions were different, but in Indian conditions, he will be required to provide explosive starts.

The last time Australia toured India for a bilateral ODI series, in 2009, Shane Watson was their highest wicket-taker and third-highest run-getter, after Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting. Those two are no longer around, meaning extra responsibility for Watson. More pertinently, he had an agonizing time during the Test tour earlier this year leading to much upheaval within the team and will have to play a role completely different from the divisive one he did then.

Team news

India have the same squad that played the solitary T20 and should stick to the same XI, unless Vinay Kumar, who hurt his left wrist in Rajkot, fails to recover.

India (probable) 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Vinay Kumar/Mohammed Shami/Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Ishant Sharma

Callum Ferguson and Phillip Hughes are the additions to the Australia squad from the T20 one. Nic Maddinson impressed on debut in Rajkot, but he isn't part of the ODI group, which means one of Ferguson and Hughes should come in.

Australia (probable) 1 Aaron Finch, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Shane Watson, 4 George Bailey, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Brad Haddin (wk), 7 Moises Henriques, 8 Nathan Coulter-Nile/James Faulkner, 9 Mitchell Johnson, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Xavier Doherty

Pitch and conditions

The Maharashtra Cricket Association's new stadium on the outskirts of Pune will make its ODI debut. Its pitch has played notoriously and stubbornly slow and low during IPL seasons. The IPL comes at the end of the season, but even during the early-season Ranji Trophy matches, the venue hasn't seen much life. Last November, Maharashtra declared on 764 for 6. Uttar Pradesh replied with 669 for 7, and their coach Venkatesh Prasad was moved into terming the surface "pathetic", albeit for a four-day match.

The start time for all games this series has been advanced by an hour to 1.30pm to try and counter the autumn's prospect of dewy nights. Before that, the match will have to weather the 50% rain that is forecast for the day, although not much of it is expected in the evening.

Stats and trivia

• India have won their last eight ODIs
• The MCA Stadium in Pune will become India's 42nd ODI venue. The Nehru Stadium, the old international venue in the city, hosted the last of its eight matches in November 2005.

Quotes

"I don't think there's any advantage. It's a nice statistic though but there's no advantage to be gained from this. I don't worry about it too much. I am not really thinking about maintaining the streak."
George Bailey on Australia's ODI record in India

"Australia have good batting depth and can bat up to No 9. That's their strength and that is why in the T20, they were not too concerned about losing wickets and adopted an aggressive approach."
MS Dhoni

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Parnell's six snuffs out Knights

Warriors 242 for 8 (Ingram 79) beat Knights 231 (van Biljon 67, Parnell 6-51) by 11 runs
Scorecard

An extraordinary six-wicket haul from Wayne Parnell gave Warriors a winning start to the Momentum One-day Cup with an 11-run win over Knights at Kimberley.

Parnell ran through the middle order for his best List A haul and took the wickets of Pite van Biljon and Quinton Friend, who both threatened to rally Knights to their target of 243. But they were bowled out with more than four overs remaining.

Parnell began with a wicket in his third over but it was his second spell that did the damage with five wickets in six overs. His side needed wickets because they were leaking runs at a healthy rate and van Biljon's 65-ball fifty led the chase. But when he was seventh out to Parnell, Knights were running out of room. Friend revitalised the chase with 35 in 30 balls but Parnell again removed the danger and Andrew Birch claimed the final wicket.

Having been put in to bat, Colin Ingram played the strongest hand in Warriors' solid total. He struck seven fours and a six and added 75 for the third wicket with Ryan Bailey. Useful cameos from Christiaan Jonker and Simon Harmer boosted their total, which Parnell ensured was healthy enough.

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Gazi's batting vindicates shift in policy

Bangladesh have often used a specialist batsman at No 8, but Gazi's growth as an assured strokemaker could help them save a key position in the future

With his maiden Test century, Sohag Gazi has reiterated his value as a batsman. If he can continue making such contributions in future, Bangladesh can finally relinquish their preferred policy - one they have stuck to for 17 Tests since 2009 - of using a specialist batsman at No 8.

It is the second Test in a row when Bangladesh have chosen not to play a batsman at No 8, a position traditionally meant for bowling allrounders and wicketkeepers. The change was effective in the previous Test in Zimbabwe, but at home, the assurance of that extra batsman is still felt within the dressing-room. It takes time to get used to a subtle change in mentality but Gazi's unbeaten 101 should be a step forward.

Gazi's performance also brings into focus the importance of having handy tail-enders. Bangladesh's batting coach Corey Richards has said that there is ample opportunity for bowlers like Gazi to work on their batting.

"It really isn't too difficult for bowlers to practice their batting at any stage of the year particularly in our structure," Richards said. "We encourage the bowlers to spend time in the nets. I am always available to help as is Shane [Jurgensen] or it could be as simple as pairing up with a "buddy" for practice.

"As we saw today and in the New Zealand innings, lower-order players who can bat can completely change the course of a game. It is crucial that they practice as often as possible."

The belief of Gazi the batsman grew as he moved past the half-century mark after starting the day on 28, although, he did appear nervous in the nineties when he tried to slog four times.

"Sometimes it [the slog] comes naturally," Gazi said. "I was trying my best to stay calm for as long as possible in that situation. Throughout the innings, I tried to bat like I would in the National Cricket League [the first-class competition]. I would like to continue like this."

Richards too was impressed with the innings, particularly because of the potential deficit that Bangladesh had to avoid. The home side were 89 runs behind New Zealand's 469 at the start of the fourth day, but the 105-run ninth-wicket stand gave Bangladesh a 32-run lead.

They have never taken a lead batting second against New Zealand, so it was as much about mental edge as about runs. "It was an extremely good innings," Richards said. "To score the runs under pressure and be involved in an important partnership with Robiul really turned the game around for us. We could have been 70 runs behind New Zealand, so to have a 32-run lead was a fantastic effort."

In a career of only seven Tests, Gazi has already done things to get people who work with him excited. He was Bangladesh's leading wicket-taker in Test cricket last season with 26 wickets and he has been useful in close finishes with his batting. But the Test century, in the opening Test of the 2013-14 home season, would help raise his confidence as a batsman.

Off late however, his bowling has been off-colour despite taking 10 wickets at an average of 17.50 in six Dhaka Premier League matches. The five wickets he took at 70.00 in Bangladesh A's tour of England in August was the cause for real concern. Also, he was among six cricketers whose fitness levels were not up to the mark before they left for the UK.

Richards has said that he must work hard on all aspects of his game to have longevity to his international career. "Sohag Gazi has all the attributes to be a fabulous long-term international cricketer for Bangladesh, provided that he continues to stay focused and work hard on all aspects of his cricket.

"As he showed today, he can turn the course of a game with his batting, and he is obviously capable of doing the same with the ball." Richards said. "I'm sure that he will get an enormous amount of confidence from today. I hope that this is the start of him showing what a talented allrounder he is for Bangladesh."

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Ponting reveals Clarke doubts

Ricky Ponting has revealed the doubts he harboured about Michael Clarke before his ascension to the Australian captaincy, saying his deputy did not contribute as much as desired and that for some time senior players "wondered if he'd lost a little of his sense of team".

In an extract from his forthcoming autobiography At The Close Of Play, Ponting frames his relationship with Clarke against his own decision to give up the captaincy following Australia's defeat to India in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final in Ahmedabad. He is frank in describing how Clarke took a back seat to proceedings as vice-captain, despite being asked numerous times to take on more responsibility by Ponting and the former coach Tim Nielsen.

"It wasn't that he was disruptive or treacherous, and publicly he said all the right things, but he had never been one to get too involved in planning sessions or debriefs at the end of a day's play, or to volunteer to take on any of the captain's workload," Ponting wrote in the extract published by News Ltd. "More than once, Tim Nielsen and I had encouraged him to take on more of a leadership role within the group, but when Pup was down on form or if he had a problem away from cricket, he'd go into his shell."

At the time of Australia's 2006-07 Ashes victory over England, Ponting said Clarke had emerged from a run of poor form to grow in maturity and presence, and had begun looking like a potential captaincy successor. But over the following two years Ponting described Clarke as moving "in a different world to the rest of us".

"It never worried me if a bloke didn't want a drink in the dressing room, but I did wonder about blokes who didn't see the value in sticking around for a chat and a laugh and a post-mortem on the day's play," Ponting wrote. "This was the time when we could revel in our success, pick up the blokes who were struggling, and acknowledge the guys who were at the peak of their powers.

"Pup hardly bought into this tradition for a couple of years and the team noticed. At times, he reminded me of a team-mate from earlier in my career, who'd be chirpy and bubbly if he was going well, but appear a bit grim if things weren't working for him. The best team-mates are the ones who can keep their moods in check for the sake of the group."

Tension over Clarke's contribution to the team bubbled over following the January 2009 Test win over South Africa at the SCG, during an infamous confrontation with Simon Katich. Ponting states that Katich's anger about Clarke's desire to get away from the dressing room after a victory summed up the feelings of more than one member of the team at the time.

"We wondered if he'd lost a little of his sense of team," Ponting wrote. "It was our first significant Test win in exactly a year, almost certainly Matt Hayden's last Test, yet Pup wanted to get away. I didn't actually witness what went on, but as I understand it he asked if we could do the anthem sooner rather than later, Mike Hussey said he'd have to wait, the point was pushed, Kato suggested Pup be patient, and when Pup continued to complain Kato grabbed him and again told him to be patient.

"Okay, it might have been a bit spicier than that, but that was the gist of it. Michael left immediately after the confrontation, while we just shrugged our shoulders and said, 'That's Pup'."

Following the incident, Clarke's standing within the team was gradually repaired, helped by a staunch performance during the 2009 Ashes series in England and his success in New Zealand in 2010 having flown home to put an end to his engagement with Lara Bingle. Ponting wrote that the pair grew closer again over this time.

"I wouldn't say we were tight after that, but we were better. His official reign as Australian captain started on a high, with ODI wins in Bangladesh and ODI and Test wins in Sri Lanka, and he quickly took his batting to a new level, to the point that it seemed he could almost score big hundreds at will.

"He was training hard when we were together and obviously doing a lot of extracurricular work on his fitness and his game as well, which was inspirational. He now seemed happy to take on the planning, media and administrative duties that he'd veered away from when he was vice-captain and the mood in the Aussie dressing room was positive. Perhaps I'd been wrong to be so concerned for so long."

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