England in tatters after Hussey sets up Australia

Australia are closing in on a series-levelling victory at the WACA after ripping out five England wickets during the final session to back up Michael Hussey's 116 which continued his phenomenal series. Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris both struck in the final five minutes of play to finish with two apiece while other scalp, the key one of Kevin Pietersen for 3, went to the hardworking Ben Hilfenhaus as England lurched to stumps on 5 for 81. Those final few moments did huge damage to England who were already struggling. Jonathan Trott had played well for 31 before fencing at Johnson and, in a sign of how fortunes have changed, Ricky Ponting parried the ball at second slip only for Brad Haddin to snap up the chance. Ponting immediately left...

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Solid South Africa assume complete dominance

India's away record may have improved dramatically over the past decade but, so far in Centurion, they have looked like the terrible travellers of the pre-Sourav Ganguly era. On a sunny second day at SuperSport Park, along with the clouds, the demons on the pitch had gone missing and South Africa were set for a massive lead after blunting India's attack in the first couple of sessions. The openers, Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen, made half-centuries to take their side close to the lead, before two of their middle order run-machines, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis, increased the advantage to 100 by tea. India's vaunted batting order had been dismantled on the first day, and there was more punishment in store as Smith and Petersen...

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'I'm cooperating with PCB for clearance' - Kaneria

Danish Kaneria the Pakistan legspinner, has said he is confident of returning to the national side pending clearance by the Pakistan board. Kaneria was speaking after a meeting on Wednesday with the board's integrity committee, which he described as "fruitful and positive." "I am providing the board with whatever details they have asked for," Kaneria said. "Now it is just a case of waiting for their decision. I am cooperating in every way. Obviously I am keen to have this stigma off my name and play for Pakistan again." He said the board had asked him to submit details of his bank accounts and other assets and he had already provided them with some at Wednesday's meeting. Kaneria was the subject of a criminal investigation in August...

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Johnson's six gives Australia advantage

An enthralling day of action moved the third Test along in fast forward at the WACA with Mitchell Johnson reviving his career and Australia's Ashes fortunes with a brutal 6 for 38 to dismiss England for 187. However, the home side didn't extend the advantage without further top-order failures as Steven Finn and Chris Tremlett caused problems although by stumps Shane Watson was unbeaten on 61 and the lead was 200. After eight days of England dominance this one went comprehensively to Australia and how desperately they needed it. If the visitors had batted throughout the day the Ashes would have been hard to save, but by the close Australia's belief was being restored after the efforts of their most mercurial cricketer. Johnson's...

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Injured Sohail Tanvir out of New Zealand series

Sohail Tanvir, the Pakistan fast bowler, has been ruled out of the New Zealand tour that starts later this month due to a knee injury. His place in the Twenty20 squad will be taken by 24-year-old top-order batsman Asad Shafiq, while no replacement has yet been named for the Tests. "He is not fully fit, he tried hard in the camp, but he requires more time as he faces problems while fielding," the Pakistan team manager, Intikhab Alam, said. The squad is currently taking part in a preparatory camp in Lahore ahead of the tour. Tanvir, 26, burst onto the scene during the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007, surprising batsmen with his awkward wrong-footed delivery, but has struggled with injuries over the past couple of years. He suffered...

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Australia show fight after Tremlett strikes

Chris Tremlett's impressive return to Test cricket helped give England the advantage on the opening day at the WACA as Australia reached tea on 6 for 179. That, though, represented a fightback from the hosts after they'd slumped to 4 for 36 after being put into bat. Tremlett claimed two in his first spell and was well backed up by James Anderson, but it was Graeme Swann who claimed the vital afternoon breakthrough to end Mike Hussey's counterattacking 61. Although not quite matching the drama of Adelaide, it didn't take England long to make early inroads as Tremlett struck in his first over to win the battle of the recalled players against Phillip Hughes. Ricky Ponting fell to a stunning catch at third slip and Michael Clarke failed...

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