Gautam Gambhir showcased his talent in the 2nd T20 but India will need him to do that all this series as they face a gruelling Triangular series with Sri Lanka and Australia. He might be demoted down to 3 to allow Sachin Tendulkar to bat at 2 but if India can get off to a good start Gambhir will be able to play freely which is his natural game. The bowling attack for Australia is almost completely different from the tests except Ryan Harris. Ryan Harris and Brett Lee will have a big task ahead of them in the early overs as they should take the new ball. The key is the wicket of Sehwag who is always a dangerous prospect in the 50 over format.

The MCG is often a surface that the batsmen gets full advantage and bowlers must bowl at their best to do well. The forecast for the afternoon is showers so hopefully they hold off. Shaun Marsh has been ommitted from the ODI squad therefore the Autralian selectors have a big decision which is deciding who will open the batting with David Warner. Matthew Wade showed great talent in the T20′s and he is the tip to open with Warner but other players in the team like Clarke, Ponting and M Hussey have excelled in the role over the years.

More Highlights: India vs Australia Series | Scorecard

Australia vs India, 1st Match
February 5, 2012, Commonwealth Bank Series 2011-12, Melbourne Cricket Ground (D/N)
Umpires: N Llong (ENG) and B Oxenford (AUS) Third Umpire: P Reiffel (AUS)
Match Referee: A Pycroft (ZIM)

Even that achievement required assistance from the elements. Colin Blythe, the revered Kent left-arm spinner, loved nothing better than a wet pitch and he took 15 wickets as Leeds drizzled loyally upon him. There was little point in Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann gazing to the heavens in the hope of a sudden downpour, not in these parts.

Azhar took over the No. 3 batting spot in Pakistan’s Test side from Younis Khan. Today he followed up Younis’ hundred with one of his own. It was a restrained, dutiful innings which left England struggling to stay in contention on a pitch that is expected to turn increasingly sharply as the match develops.

England’s only success before lunch was the wicket of Younis, who added only 12 to his overnight 115. One cover drive against Anderson was as polished as anything in his innings, but he fell ten overs into the day when Stuart Broad had him leg before, extending the record number of lbws in this three-Test series to 38.

More Highlights: Pakistan vs England Series | Scorecard

Pakistan vs England, 3rd Test Match, Day 3
February 5, 2012, Pakistan and England in UAE 2011-12, Dubai International Cricket Stadium
Umpires: B Bowden (NZ) and B Oxenford (AUS) Third Umpir

Match Information :

February 6, Whangarei
Starting Time: 1100 Local Time

How the Teams Stand:

Zimbabwe looked to be moving up in the World and it seemed this tour of New Zealand could earn them some respect but at the moment they are gaining none as they have been thrashed by the home side. The problem for Zimbabwe has been the batting, they have struggled and struggled to build partnerships. The key to Zimbabwe having any success in New Zealand is to build big partnerships. New Zealand also have to work on their batting but in particular the lower middle order, in the 1st ODI New Zealand were looking at a score of around 300 but the lower middle order let them down to only reach 248 and be bowled out. The bowling has been spot on from New Zealand but at the moment Zimbabwe are playing some horrid shots.

Taitenda Taibu on nature isn’t a very attacking playing and he fits in the role at no.5 perfectly but he must work together with the in-form Brendan Taylor to at least get Zimbabwe to a decent score. An average of only 29.09 does not resemble how talented Taibu is, all he needs to do is support the batsman if any that is doing well so that a pile of wickets don’t fall and put Zimbabwe in danger of being bowled out quickly. New Zealand will experiment during this match as they prepare for their biggest test of the year to date against South Africa. Nathan McCullum is a very talented bowling all-rounder and he might be in the team specifically for his bowling but his batting is key for when New Zealand face challenges because a good team like South Africa won’t let anything away. McCullum at 7 has to make sure the lower order doesn’t collapse and even if New Zealand adds only another 20 runs to the total that is better than less than 10.

Pitch Report:

The pitch is expected be very flat so it will help the batsman and there should be some huge totals in front of a small crowd.

Team News:

Everyone but one from the squad of 14 from New Zealand has played in this tour and at the expense of a bowler Tarun Nathula should be able to debut.

New Zealand: (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Rob Nicol, 3 Brendon McCullum, 4 Kane Williamson, 5 Tom Latham, 6 Dean Brownlie, 7 Nathan McCullum, 8 Jacob Oram, 9 Tarun Nethula, 10 and 11 Kyle Mills/Tim Southee/Doug Bracewell

The fragile middle order for Zimbabwe has been a concern all this tour and if they are looking to compete in this 2nd ODI they may be willing to include Tino Mawoyo or Forster Mutizwa at the expense of Stuart Matsikenyeri or Regis Chakabva respectively.

Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Regis Chakabva, 4 Brendan Taylor, 5 Tatenda Taibu, 6 Malcolm Waller, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Keegan Meth, 9 Shingi Masakadza, 10 Ray Price, 11 Kyle Jarvis