Australia v Sri Lanka 2010-11: Dominant Sri Lanka crush Australia

Sri Lanka 3 for 135 (Sangakkara 44*, Dilshan 41) beat Australia 8 for 133 (Haddin 35, Randiv 3-25) by 7 wickets A brutal Sri Lankan performance delivered Australia their first Twenty20 defeat at home as Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara thrust the tourists to a commanding seven-wicket victory. The hosts were first overwhelmed by a stunning bowling display, dropping to 5 for 43 in the 11th over and finishing at 8 for 133, before becoming the victims of an explosive batting effort. The opener Dilshan guided the small chase with 41 off 34 balls while the captain Kumar Sangakkara registered a delightful 44 off 43 and the game was over 21 balls early. With the English squad staying a short walk away as they prepare for the Ashes - Kevin Pietersen was in the stands - Australia suffered their fourth Twenty20 loss in a row and their first in 11 games at home. The defeat felt as severe as the result inflicted by England in Southampton at the start of Australia's failed 2005 Ashes tour. Mahela Jayawardene and Dilshan raced to 35 in the fourth over and Dilshan kept up the pace when Jayawardene went for 24 off 16. Sangakkara joined Dilshan and they were rarely troubled as they drove, flicked and forced boundaries. Dilshan, who was stumped off Steven Smith, finished with six fours and Sangakkara gained six of them as the pair enjoyed tormenting the inexperienced attack. Thisara Perera then arrived to finish the game off by thrashing Smith for a six, a four and another six over long-on to finish the match. Jayawardene crashed two boundaries from Clint McKay's opening over and then blasted two more from Peter Siddle, who got his revenge when the batsman edged behind. Siddle was back in Australian colours for the first time since January and the breakthrough was a relief for the hosts. Dirk Nannes was then fortunate to have Dinesh Chandimal (2) lbw to a ball pitching outside leg, but that was when Australia's luck ran out. Brad Haddin and Smith were in charge of Australia's first-innings rescue and put on a much-needed 66 in 7.2 overs. Haddin, playing his first international since the World Twenty20 in May, showed his elbow was healed with 35 off 30 balls, including a crisp straight six off Dilhara Fernando. However, the offspinner Suraj Randiv dismissed Haddin and Smith (34) in the same over to stop them from racing away. Sri Lanka's attack was brilliant as it dominated on a surface offering some helpful bounce. Randiv was impressive with 3 for 25 off four overs while Malinga (1 for 26) and Fernando (1 for 29) were fast and uncomfortable. Perera also chipped in with a very handy 2 for 22 from four. Clarke delivered an immediate surprise after winning the toss by walking out to open with David Warner, but the restructure didn't provide the required boost as he strolled to 16 off 19. He has been criticised for his run-a-ball scoring in a game that demands much more but the move back-fired, especially in comparison to the output of his opponents. Clarke managed the first four in the third over and also lifted Muttiah Muralitharan for six, but in between the boundaries a frustrated David Warner (2 off 8) miscued Fernando. Fernando then removed Clarke with a spectacular back-pedalling, one-handed catch at mid-on to turn the volume down on a crowd desperate for the locals to fire. The exits of David Hussey (7) and Shane Watson (4) added to the Australian headaches, leaving them at 4 for 31 in the eighth over. When Cameron White edged behind to Malinga five of their main men were gone just after the halfway point of the innings. From that point the game was Sri Lanka's.

Australia v Sri Lanka 2010-11: Australia need to regain momentum ahead of Ashes - Michael Clarke

Clarke. The Australians opened their home season with a demoralising seven-wicket loss to Kumar Sangakkara's men in Sunday's Twenty20 at the WACA, less than a month from the first Ashes Test. It was Australia's first Twenty20 loss at home, and their fifth consecutive defeat across all formats, stretching back to July's Test series against Pakistan. That is hardly the form they want heading in to the battle to regain the urn and Clarke, who captained the Twenty20 outfit, said it was important to use the ODI series to change their fortunes. "You want to win every game you play, in all three forms of the game," Clarke told reporters in Perth after the game. "I was told in the press conference we had won 10 out of 10 in this form of the game in Australia, so it is disappointing to lose our first Twenty20 game in Australia. "It is important that we play good cricket and win these games against Sri Lanka to build momentum into the Test series against England. We need to improve, there is no doubt about it. We are not getting the results we would like in all three forms and we need to get better and keep working on our game, individually and as a team and keep working on the areas that aren't as good as they need to be." Clarke opened the batting at the WACA and battled to 16 from 19 balls, which contributed to the team's below-par total. However, he was far from alone and it wasn't until Brad Haddin and Steven Smith combined for a counter-attacking sixth-wicket stand that the Australians began to find some touch. "I thought it was the right decision for the team," Clarke said of opening alongside David Warner. "I made that decision, unfortunately we didn't score enough runs tonight. I felt good. Both Dave and I hit six balls in the first three overs out of the middle of the bat, but straight to the field, which was a little bit disappointing. If they find the gap we are off to a decent start." Australia rested Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson, who instead turned out for Western Australia in a Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval. It wasn't an enjoyable experience for Hussey, who made a golden duck, and the pair will rejoin the limited-overs squad for Wednesday's first ODI at the MCG.

Pakistan v South Africa ODIs: Rampant Abdul Razzaq stuns South Africa

Pakistan 289 for 9 (Razzaq 109*, Afridi 49, Alam 48) beat South Africa 286 for 8 (Ingram 100, Amla 65, Duminy 54) by one wicket There are match-winning centuries and there are Match-winning Centuries. You will travel far and wide, maybe even go back in time, but you will struggle to find a more remarkable game-stealing hundred than the one the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi saw tonight. An outrageous 72-ball 109 from Abdul Razzaq dragged Pakistan to a series-levelling target of 287 against South Africa, one ball and one wicket left. It was scarcely-scriptable and only when Razzaq hit his tenth six in the last over, slogging Albie Morkel over midwicket to climax an unimaginable orgy of power-hitting, was a Pakistan win even worth contemplating; until then he had played to a backdrop of impending, imminent doom. To even get to that point needing 14 was a feat because for 99 overs Pakistan looked a distant second best; a solid, now-to-be-forgotten century from Colin Ingram, hands from Hashim Amla and JP Duminy and the continuing refusal of Pakistan's top order to turn up, the distinct story till then. Shahid Afridi and Fawad Alam had tried gamely to make something of the disaster of 70 for 4 in the 19th over. The spinners were on, Afridi was around so inevitably some fun was had. When Afridi went in the 30th, the score at 136, still the best they could hope for was an honourable scrap. Razzaq began quietly, expressive as a stone, and even a dance-down six off Robin Peterson four overs after Afridi left felt decorative. Alam, meanwhile, was getting bogged down by his own inability to clear a field. But South Africa relaxed, the pair stuck at it. Alam suddenly got going and Razzaq smoked a couple more sixes. By the 40th over, at 200 for 5, theoretically it looked possible - in this age of Twenty20 at least - even if, in reality, it didn't feel gettable. But for once, Pakistan timed their Powerplay right and when Johan Botha was taken for 11 in the very first, a little tension crept in. Only a little though, for Alam went soon, Morne Morkel bowled two fine overs, there was the inevitable run-out and even though Razzaq had reached his fifty, it was done and dusted. The 47th over, bowled poorly by Charles Langeveldt, was pivotal. Razzaq launched a sequence of length balls for three sixes in his favourite areas - flat-batted over extra cover, high over long-on and down the ground. Eighteen runs but no expression. Wahab Riaz's run-out off the last ball was merely collateral damage as 53 from 24 became 33 from 18. Razzaq had decided at the fall of Alam that if the match was to be won, it would be by him alone, so with the tail in, several singles were turned down. With 25 needed from 12, Langeveldt was lofted down the ground and then pulled with cartoonish violence to midwicket. By the time Razzaq had taken the 14 needed off the last over he had scored 63 of the last 65, effectively from the 45th over onwards. Six sixes came in the last four overs, and only at the very end, after crashing a drive through point, did he let his emotions out, dropping his bat and trying to run but not knowing where to go. That put to shade all that went before it. South Africa's real work had been done with the bat and Ingram's second ODI century was a real old-school effort. The start was edgy, even if it contained a classy punch through midwicket. But once he jumped down the track and lofted Razzaq down the ground, nerves were shed. most sixes in an ODI innings behind Xavier Marshall (12), and Sanath Jayasuriya and Shahid Afridi (both 11). The 12 sixes in Pakistan's innings were the second highest number in an innings while chasing. This was the fifth occasion that Pakistan have won a match by one wicket. All five wins have come against a different opposition. Razzaq's 72 ball century was the fifth fastest century by a Pakistani batsman in terms of balls faced. This was the fourth highest total chased successfully against South Africa in ODIs and the tenth highest by PakistanThis was Razzaq's first 50-plus ODI score in more than four years, and his first century since September 2004. --> Thereafter, singles and doubles rolled by and so incongruously did he go about it that his fifty, at the halfway mark, was actually a surprise. He never fully got hold of the spinners but neither did they really trouble him and a pattern emerged. There was a missed stumping, but a ball previous, he had driven solidly through covers. Five times an edge was drawn and each time a boundary was the result. He might even have been run out on 73, but so settled was he that a century never looked in serious doubt. Every time the spinners erred, he took advantage, cutting and pulling efficiently. The running was the highlight, aggressive throughout. But it was Amla who had set the tone and allowed Ingram such comfort. His ODI batting has been a revelation since his late debut in 2008; he now has nine fifties and five hundreds in just 34 games. At a 90-plus strike rate, they don't come slowly either. But most revelatory is the persistent quality of his stokeplay, unique and utterly compelling. So quick are the hands and wrists that the feet don't need to move. He began with a burst of boundaries, four in the first two overs, rotating his bat like a wand for flicks and cuts through point. More cuts, whips and a rare drive through the off kept coming so that even when singles dried up, the runs didn't. A fifty, off just 47 balls, was merely statistical embellishment to a wondrous hour of batting, especially on a surface slow enough to hamper timing. He is not the modern macho ODI opener, and it cannot be disputed the format needs such flair over brutality and function. Across the desert in Dubai, as Botha was winning the toss, Mohammad Amir's suspension was not being lifted and how his absence was felt by Pakistan. In turn, they were awful, complacent, solid and special. Shoaib Akhtar and Razzaq are a different proposition altogether than Amir and Mohammad Asif, as their opening spells - short, wide and inconsistent - proved. There came brief spells of tight work, from the spinners, but never prolonged. The best they saved for last and it came from the impressive Wahab Riaz. Just when South Africa were looking to explode in the batting Powerplay, yorkers, short balls and cutters ensured only 25 runs came, Riaz picking up two of the three wickets to fall. It felt a relative victory then, a twinkling cameo from Duminy highlighting its hollowness. A potential target of 300-plus became 287; Pakistan's best chase against these opponents was 223 and they had only chased down 250-plus twice in the last two years. And they certainly hadn't chased them down like they finally did here.

Spot-fixing controversy: Butt and Amir's appeals dismissed, players remain suspended

Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir remain provisionally suspended by the ICC on charges of spot-fixing after their appeals were rejected during a two-day hearing in Dubai.

Michael Beloff, the ICC code of conduct commissioner who chaired the hearing, said the players - who cannot appeal this verdict - will now appear before an independent anti-corruption tribunal that will look into the actual charges and give a verdict on whether the players are innocent or guilty.

"Having considered every aspect of the case I dismiss their appeals and they remain suspended," Beloff told reporters outside ICC headquarters. "The players have denied the charges, but they will remain suspended before a code of conduct commission is formed to hear the case.

"It was not up to me to decide whether they committed any crime, the commission will establish their guilt and if they are found guilty then they will be given punishment as per the ICC code of conduct."

There is no time limit for when the tribunal will be set up, the ICC saying in a statement only that it will happen in "due course." The ongoing criminal case against the players in the UK - where Scotland Yard has handed over evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service - is likely to factor into any decision on when the hearing happens.

Butt's lawyer Khalid Ranjha indicated there was a 40-day time frame, but that span works from the day of the suspensions on September 2. That has since elapsed by mutual consent between players and the ICC, so that any date will now be as soon as practicable. "The decision has left us unhappy," he told reporters. "The hearing was fair and thorough, and now we have 40 days to fight the disciplinary case and we will decide our course of action."

The PCB's legal adviser Taffazul Rizvi said the decision was within the ICC jurisdictions and will not affect the actual case itself.

Mohammad Asif, who chose to withdraw his appeal, also remained provisionally suspended, along with Butt and Amir, from all forms of cricket pending the outcome of the independent anti-corruption tribunal, which will hear their disciplinary cases in due course.

The three players, prior to the suspensions, were charged with various offences under Article 2 of the ICC's anti-corruption code. The suspensions came after the News of the World tabloid claimed to have exposed a scam in which deliberate, planned no-balls would be bowled by Amir and Asif during the Lord's Test against England, with the involvement of Butt, who was then captain.

These hearings only concerned itself with the matter of the provisional suspensions and whether or not the ICC followed the correct procedures in taking that action. The matter of the players' innocence or guilt and the actual charges against them was not heard.

Butt was represented by his lawyer Aftab Gul, a former Test cricketer, and Ranjha, a former law minister. Amir was represented by Shahid Karim, the lawyer who defended Asif in a doping case in October 2006.

The Ashes 2010-11: 'I feel fantastic now' - Pietersen

England batsman Kevin Pietersen has said he is feeling "fantastic" after working on some technical and mental aspects of his game with coach Graham Ford during his time with the Natal Dolphins.

Before joining up with the England squad in Perth this weekend, Pietersen spent four weeks in South Africa attempting to regain his form, and while he managed to play just two first-class innings, scoring 36 and 0, he insisted the trip had been a positive and helpful experience.

"I feel fantastic now. I've had a lovely little break from the international circuit which has been very, very refreshing," Pietersen told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme. "I'm really, really excited about what could be one hell of an interesting and positive winter ahead."

"I put myself under a lot of pressure by going to South Africa knowing that every practice session and every hit I had would make headlines in the cricketing world but that's what I wanted to do because I know it's going to benefit me in the long run. Fordy's been somebody I've worked with throughout my life so it was amazing that I could go and spend two weeks with him and gather back that confidence and that free spirit."

"He knows me as a person. I haven't given a lot away about me as a person here, especially playing for England, but Fordy knows where I'm from, knows everything about me so he can talk to me in a very different way, more than anyone in this country probably apart from my brothers and my parents. He picked out one little thing that I haven't been doing in the last six months, since the Caribbean in the World Twenty20 and we worked on that little thing in particular.

Pietersen, who has not struck an international hundred since March 2009, hit out at the intense media attention given to his struggle for form ahead of England's defence of the Ashes in Australia. He empathised with footballer Wayne Rooney, who has also been the focus of negative publicity recently.

"I wasn't fed up with the scrutiny, I found it funny," he said. "The journalists get paid to make opinions and the punters have the right. But people don't realise we know as sportsmen if we're not playing well. We actually know as sportsmen if we are not playing well, if we are letting ourselves down or letting people down, so the more times that people hammer you about it, it doesn't really help.

"I look at the Rooney situation - he's getting killed every single day and it will definitely not be helping the lad and he shouldn't have to go to Dubai to get away from things. He should be supported. The man's a genius, he will be a legend of the game and he should be supported rather than be hammered about stuff."

Pietersen also insisted he would not be drawn into a war of words with the Australian camp before what is sure to be a keenly-contested Ashes series. Australian captain Ricky Ponting recently suggested that Pietersen "is a big question mark for them [England] at the moment" and that opener Alastair Cook and middle-order batsman Paul Collingwood would be "nervous" after their own struggles for form during a successful English summer.

"This is my fourth series against Australia," said Pietersen. "Every single time I have played against Australia, for the months leading up to it a lot of things are said which have absolutely no bearing after the first ball is bowled. I am not prepared to get involved. I'm not prepared to add any fuel to any fire that they might have started. I just want to go out and play some really tough, hard cricket and challenge myself against the Australians in Australia."

India news: Adjusting to formats not a problem - Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar has said his decision to skip India's last three one-day assignments was not predetermined, and that he had no difficulty in switching across the three versions of the game. It has been eight months since Tendulkar's last ODI, in which he scored the format's first double-century. Since then, he has missed the Asia Cup and the tri-series in Sri Lanka, as well as the home one-day series against Australia. In the meantime, he has been in top form in Test cricket, where he is currently ranked No. 1 in the world, and in non-international Twenty20s for the Mumbai Indians franchise.

"The decision to skip the last two ODI series was taken at the last moment and was not pre-decided. My kit always contained coloured pads," Tendulkar said. "I have been playing cricket for some time now. If I was not playing cricket there would be something to think about. Having been around for some time, I know how to adjust to the formats. I know my body. I would do whatever is needed for the World Cup and it won't be pre-decided."

Tendulkar was guarded against losing sight of the upcoming New Zealand series by focusing on the potentially bigger challenges that lie ahead. "It's tough to talk now about the South Africa series and the World Cup. The focus is on the Test series against New Zealand. We have got three Tests to play before South Africa. When we go there the focus would be on that. Before the World Cup, there's lot of cricket to be played."

Tendulkar's form in Test cricket has coincided with India's rise to the top of the world rankings, and he cherished being a part of it. However, he was keen to keep improving as a batsman. "What we have been able to achieve as a team in the last few years is remarkable. We want to continue doing this. It feels good to be No. 1, but we want to continue playing well to stay there.

"I would like to do better, would like to work harder. I don't like to count the numbers. The closer I look at the ball is more important than the numbers."

Tendulkar will seek to score his 50th Test century during the series against New Zealand, which begins in Ahmedabad on November 4.

Australia v Sri Lanka 2010-11: A warm-up for bigger things

Sri Lanka's limited-overs team is peering towards the World Cup and Australia's players are trying not to think about the Ashes starting next month. A Twenty20 and three one-dayers have been squeezed in to shine some light on the start of the Australian cricket season, but both outfits are concerned more about the bigger challenges on the horizon.

One-off matches provide little in the long term but each squad has a host of players trying to prove they are worthy of more international action. Michael Clarke's performances in this format always come under scrutiny, with his vibrant leadership sitting next to overly cautious batting. If Australia's version of the three Ws - Warner, Watson and White - fire it won't matter too much what Clarke does with the bat.

Sri Lanka are in some good form after two comfortable warm-ups, but the intensity will increase when they step out on the WACA on Sunday afternoon. Mahela Jayawardene and Suraj Randiv, the offspinner, performed well in their win over New South Wales on Wednesday while Kumar Sangakkara hit form with a century against Queensland in a one-dayer last week.

Form guide (most recent first)

Australia LLLWW

Sri Lanka WLLWL

Watch out for...

David Warner has had a strange month. Everyone knows he's a T20 expert but he craves more and was rewarded with a trip to India for three ODIs. He didn't play in any of them and when he returned home was dropped for the 50-over games against Sri Lanka. More quick runs are the only way to get back in.

Kumar Sangakkara juggles so many balls but is able to catch them all. As captain, wicketkeeper and senior batsman, it would be easy to be weighed down. Watch him in the field or at the crease and it soon becomes obvious that he is a master of everything. He and Jayawardene are the biggest threats for Australia.

Team news

Dirk Nannes is the veteran of the bowling attack with 14 Twenty20s for Australia, while Peter Siddle, Clint McKay and John Hastings are his possible support partners. Siddle is the only one of that trio with T20 experience, having appeared in one game. Steve O'Keefe, the left-arm spinner, will be looking for his second match after debuting against Pakistan in July.

Australia squad David Warner, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Michael Clarke (capt), Cameron White, David Hussey, Steven Smith, John Hastings, Steve O'Keefe, Peter Siddle, Clint McKay, Dirk Nannes.

This will be the last chance for Australians to see Muttiah Muralitharan Down Under before he retires after the World Cup. That is a relief for the local batsmen. Whether Sri Lanka pick Randiv as well will depend on the pitch, but they also have the options of using the part-time turn of Jeevan Mendis or Tillakaratne Dilshan. With 16 men in the squad, they have a lot to choose from.

Sri Lanka squad Kumar Sangakkara (capt, wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Suraj Randiv, Dammika Prasad, Dinesh Chandimal.

Pitch and conditions

It's easy to think of Perth, speed and bounce together, but the combination hasn't happened a lot lately. If the pitch is springy it will aid the home team, although Lasith Malinga might also have some fun. The weather forecast is sunny with a maximum of 29C.

Stats and trivia

Sri Lanka have won eight matches in Australia against the hosts in all formats, but have never taken a series

In a throwback to the 1800s, all of Australia's squad comes from New South Wales or Victoria

Australia lead the head-to-head contests with two wins in three matches

Australia have lost their past three Tests, three T20s, and one ODI

Quotes

"He has nothing to prove to anyone right now. The last year or so I think we've seen a different Murali, more relaxed, I reckon, especially in the dressing room.''Mahela Jayawardene

"They've got a pretty good team, a very good team, not to be taken lightly.''Cameron White is wary of the opposition.

The Ashes 2010-11: Alastair Cook has 'point to prove' against Australia

Alastair Cook, the England vice-captain who has a modest record against Australia, has said the experience gained since his first visit Down Under will help him do better during the 2010-11 Ashes. Cook averages 26.21 in 10 Tests against Australia, and could manage only one significant score when England were blanked 5-0 in 2006-07, a second-innings 116 in Perth, but was confident of better returns this time.

"The one side I haven't played as well as against than the other sides has been Australia," Cook told AFP. "I have got that point to prove over the next three months. Last time [in Australia] I was obviously 21-years old; to come here as an opening batter, as a youngster, was a very tough learning curve. It was my first year in international cricket as well. So to have 50-odd more games under my belt, seen a lot more, I think that experience will help."

Cook, who will open with Strauss, was mindful of the importance of good starts to compete in Australia, something England struggled to do in recent visits. "Obviously Straussy and I have been at the top of the order for a while now, we've done reasonably well and there's always the pressure as an opener to set the tone," Cook said. "We've got that job, we've had that job for a while and we've done it well. It's an area we appreciate we've got a lot of responsibility. Obviously as captain and vice-captain as well, we like to set the tone for the rest of the team."

Cook also backed his under-fire team-mate Kevin Pietersen to shrug off his indifferent form and be a force during the Ashes. Pietersen has struggled in the longer formats, and has not hit an international century in nearly two years. Despite his effectiveness in the 2010 World Twenty20, the England selectors dropped him from the limited-overs side against Pakistan, leading to a Twitter outburst that resulted in him being fined by the ECB.

"He has obviously had a difficult 12 months with his form, but his work ethic over those 12 months has been the hardest I've seen him work at his game," Cook said. "Talent like that and the stats he's got behind him show what a great player he is. Great players might lose their form for a little bit, but they come back and a big series like this, I think it's just about the right time to come back. I know he's desperate to prove to people he's still a great player."

Pietersen has been at the centre of most of the banter between the sides in the lead-up to the Ashes. John Buchanan said Pietersen could be a 'major problem' for England, to which he retaliated by calling the former Australia coach 'a nobody'. Michael Clarke was wary of Pietersen's ability to turn things on in big matches, while Andrew Strauss rubbished suggestions that he had a divisive influence on the squad. On Friday, Australia fast bowler Doug Bollinger talked about his plan to keep quiet while bowling to Pietersen since "I think that's what he likes".

Australia v England: 'No room for passengers' - Strauss

Andrew Strauss has warned that England "can't afford any passengers" as they aim for a successful defence of the Ashes and their first series win on Australian soil for more than 20 years. Strauss, who addressed a press conference within an hour and a half of reaching the England team's Perth hotel, stressed that in order to win in Australia "you need all 11 to be performing and standing up at the right time".

"It's that balance, and being able to adapt to different circumstances in the game, that is more crucial than one or two players having a great series," he added. "You've got to be fit, strong, mentally very stable and, ultimately, you've got to grind Australia down.

"Our greatest strength is maybe intangible in that we're a pretty tight unit. We don't rely on one or two players. All 11 guys have been putting their hands up, certainly in those crucial periods to make sure we get through them and win tight games. That is a great strength to have. But it will be tested over the course of the next three months. We need to remain resolute."

England arrived in Australia after a successful 18 months, during which they regained the Ashes on home soil, drew in South Africa and most recently beat Pakistan to cap six consecutive series victories, across all formats, at home this summer. But despite England's recent successes, and Australia's dip in form, Strauss suggested that his team's 5-0 thrashing four years ago under Andrew Flintoff's captaincy had not been forgotten.

"We've all learned lessons - certainly the guys who were on the tour here last time - about the style of cricket you need to play if you want to be successful out here," he said. "We're in a nice, stable place at the moment. But we're not arrogant enough to think everything's going to be hunky-dory for all three months of the trip."

After weeks of pre-Ashes hype in the build-up to England's departure, Strauss insisted that his side's arrival in Australia had sharpened their focus on the task that awaits them. "Now we've touched down on Australian soil, everything is that bit more at the forefront of our minds - what lies ahead of us, what massive opportunities there are, and how determined we are to play well here. We want to acclimatise quickly, but also we have to factor in that it's going to be a long tour, and you don't want to burn out in the first week."

Strauss also dismissed the notion that England would underestimate an Australian side that has recently slipped to fifth in the world rankings and has been defeated in its last three Tests. "If there are any question marks that are preoccupying Australia at the moment, that's good for us," said Strauss. "But my past experience is that if you say too much about opposition players it can come back and haunt you.

"The Australian side now doesn't have those very experienced, legendary players it once had. But they've got some very good players, and certainly at home they're going to be a very strong side. For us to expect Australia to be in any way less competitive than they have been would be a bad way of playing things. We're expecting them to be very strong, very determined and clearly massively motivated to win back the Ashes."

Adam Gilchrist, who was part of all-conquering Australian teams under Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, believes the series will be a keenly-contested one. "Either team could win it and I think everyone is anticipating another tight series," he told BBC Radio 5 live. "In 2009 you didn't know what the match situation was going to be at the end of each day. It will be a hard-fought, closely contested series."

Gilchrist suggested that home conditions would favour Australia, but that the hosts' weakness might lie in their unsettled bowling attack.

"Australia play the conditions well and Ricky Ponting plays particularly well in home conditions. There is going to be a lot of weight on his shoulders if they're to be successful and I suspect he'll be up for it too. But there is uncertainty about what their best 11 is when everyone is fully fit. The bowling has suffered a great deal of disruption and that makes it difficult. The spin bowling position has always been under question since Shane Warne left.

"The team have taken a blow in confidence with a series of negative results and I think we are realising we don't like losing and took for granted that we were winning so often."

The Ashes 2010-11: Shane Watson sends out Ashes warnings

Shane Watson believes Stuart Broad is the biggest fast-bowling threat during the Ashes but expects James Anderson and Steven Finn to struggle in Australian conditions. While the three men starred during the 3-1 home win over Pakistan, Watson has told them it will be a different game Down Under.

Watson, who has grown into one of Australia's key men, said Broad had the skills to adapt to the harder, flatter surfaces during the five Tests, but he is not convinced by the credentials of the other two members of England's first-choice attack. When asked by ESPNcricinfo if he thought Anderson and Finn would struggle he said: "I do. It's obviously a very challenging place to come out and play and it's very different to England with the way the ball swings all day.

"That's why Jimmy Anderson is so skilful when the ball is swinging. When the ball is not swinging it makes it easier to bat." Watson is looking forward to the period when the Kookaburra loses its shine and there is less risk in driving through the off-side.

When Anderson was in Australia four years ago he took five wickets at 82.6 while Finn, the 21-year-old, will be on Ashes debut. "There's no doubt it's a really big challenge for Anderson," Watson said. "There's no doubt he'll have some mental scars from the last series he played out here. But he'll be trying to find a way to be more successful."

Watson also offered a warning for Finn, who has stormed to 32 wickets in his first eight Tests. "It's something very new to him," he said. "The ball won't be moving around here anywhere as near as much as it did in England, so it's going to be a really big challenge."

The home side has won the Ashes in the past four series and Watson is convinced Australia will be more comfortable than they were in 2009. "It is different to England, no doubt about that," he said. "It's going to take the English quite a while to be able to adapt and find ways of being successful over here, that's our big advantage."

Watson has excelled at Test level since returning to the side during last year's Ashes defeat, so his opinions are gaining weight. He is unsure whether England's seamers will focus on a fuller length in the hope of achieving any available swing, or operate more in line with the Australian method of bowling shorter and pushing the batsmen back.

He felt Broad was the only England fast man who could fulfil both roles. "Stuart Broad is a very skilful bowler," he said. "He will be their main man out here. He's got the skills to adapt to different conditions, and got the height to make the most out of his bounce. I really think he's going to be their main man. If we're able to negate him that will be a big plus."

England arrived in Perth on Saturday afternoon ahead of three first-class tour matches. Their opening game is against Western Australia from Friday while they also face South Australia and Australia A before heading to the Gabba for November 25.

Pakistan v South Africa ODIs: Smith, Kallis doubtful but heat on Pakistan batsmen

Pakistan's batting is going through one of its worst phases, not far behind the shambolic Sharjah Test in 2002 against Australia when their 20 wickets scrounged a total of 112 runs. For 30 overs of Friday's game, Pakistan seemed to have overcome their woes: Younis Khan and Mohammad Hafeez resorted to the old-school formula of conserving wickets and setting up a late surge, a method that has been the cornerstone of Pakistan's many memorable one-day successes. However, the middle order imploded once again; Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq exited to strokes whose replays should have made them cringe, while Abdul Razzaq fell fending lethargically at one that angled in. The fact that some of their most accomplished players were at the forefront of the collapse suggests the current phase is a crisis of confidence and attitude, more than a question of talent.

Pakistan's senior batsmen have to do some serious introspection, and they don't need to search too hard to find inspiration. After nine months of upheaval, when he possibly visited tribunals and disciplinary committees more often than the batting nets, Younis walked into the middle overs with the assurance of someone completely at ease with his methods. Inevitably, there was some rust - he survived a palpable lbw shout, and managed only two boundaries in the sapping conditions - but unlike his colleagues, the rust was restricted to the physical aspect of Younis' game, while his mind remained uncluttered. Can Afridi rally his team-mates to follow Younis' example?

Having sealed three easy wins on the trot, South Africa's main concern will be that they are not being stretched enough in subcontinental conditions, ahead of the World Cup. Their batsmen were challenged more by the elements than by Pakistan's attack in the opening ODI, and the question mark over Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis' availability for Sunday could even things a bit. Lonwabo Tsotsobe has been the star of the tour so far, but even he will be a little surprised by the success his honest off-cutters and in-duckers have courted. The conditions, and a look at the schedule, may prompt South Africa to consider rotating their players, but they won't want to give Pakistan an opportunity to draw level either.

Form guide

(most recent first)

South Africa: WWWWW

Pakistan: LLWWL

Watch out for...

While Pakistan's middle-overs batting has been a problem, their bowling in the same period, led by Saeed Ajmal, has been impressive. Ajmal's doosras and changes in length often had Kallis and JP Duminy groping without conviction. Only AB de Villiers seemed to have a measure of his guiles, before he too fell to a floater. Ajmal can pose a huge threat if he has the cushion of runs. Are Pakistan's batsmen listening?

Going by his recent appetite for runs, Hashim Amla will be disappointed with his dismissal after a quick 35 on Friday. His last ten innings have included four centuries, and two near-tons. Sunday could be the day when the 'Monk' graces the Middle East.

Team news

Smith and Kallis are both under observation as they recover from a finger injury and cramps respectively. Kallis had to be administered an intravenous drip after suffering dehydration on Friday, and Albie Morkel will fancy his chances of replacing him. X-rays have revealed Smith has not endured a fracture but, given his history with finger injuries, South Africa may want to give him time to recover completely. The lack of a specialist replacement opener in the squad, though, could make things interesting vis-à-vis the batting order. Colin Ingram might be forced to open if Smith does not make the cut.

South Africa (possible): 1 Graeme Smith (capt) / Colin Ingram, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 AB de Villiers (wk), 4 JP Duminy, 5 Jacques Kallis / Albie Morkel, 6 David Miller, 7 Johan Botha, 8 Morne Morkel, 9 Robin Peterson, 10 Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 11 Charl Langeveldt

While Pakistan need massive changes in their approach, they don't have too many resources available to make changes to their line-up. Umar Akmal, who was excluded for the first game, may return in place of Fawad Alam.

Pakistan (possible): 1 Asad Shafiq, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq, 5 Fawad Alam / Umar Akmal, 6 Shahid Afridi (capt), 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Zulqarnain Haider (wk), 9 Umar Gul, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Saeed Ajmal

Stats and trivia

During the course of his half-century in the first game, Kallis hit his 129th six, the most by any South Africa batsman. Afridi, with 276 sixes, sits atop the overall list

It has been more than four years since Razzaq either scored a fifty or took more than two wickets in an ODI innings

de Villiers has so far amassed 806 runs this year, the joint third-highest behind Tillakaratne Dilshan (866) and Cameron White (813). Amla is four runs behind de Villiers

Quotes

"Losing players from your top eleven is never easy. I sincerely hope they are cleared and are available to play for Pakistan because they are key players."Pakistan coach Waqar Younis hopes for a favourable outcome from the spot-fixing hearings in Dubai

"I must say I have been working very hard to get where I am now."Tsotsobe reaps the fruits of hard work

Australia v Sri Lanka 2010-11: A warm-up for bigger things

Sri Lanka's limited-overs team is peering towards the World Cup and Australia's players are trying not to think about the Ashes starting next month. A Twenty20 and three one-dayers have been squeezed in to shine some light on the start of the Australian cricket season, but both outfits are concerned more about the bigger challenges on the horizon.

One-off matches provide little in the long term but each squad has a host of players trying to prove they are worthy of more international action. Michael Clarke's performances in this format always come under scrutiny, with his vibrant leadership sitting next to overly cautious batting. If Australia's version of the three Ws - Warner, Watson and White - fire it won't matter too much what Clarke does with the bat.

Sri Lanka are in some good form after two comfortable warm-ups, but the intensity will increase when they step out on the WACA on Sunday afternoon. Mahela Jayawardene and Suraj Randiv, the offspinner, performed well in their win over New South Wales on Wednesday while Kumar Sangakkara hit form with a century against Queensland in a one-dayer last week.

Form guide (most recent first)

Australia LLLWW

Sri Lanka WLLWL

Watch out for...

David Warner has had a strange month. Everyone knows he's a T20 expert but he craves more and was rewarded with a trip to India for three ODIs. He didn't play in any of them and when he returned home was dropped for the 50-over games against Sri Lanka. More quick runs are the only way to get back in.

Kumar Sangakkara juggles so many balls but is able to catch them all. As captain, wicketkeeper and senior batsman, it would be easy to be weighed down. Watch him in the field or at the crease and it soon becomes obvious that he is a master of everything. He and Jayawardene are the biggest threats for Australia.

Team news

Dirk Nannes is the veteran of the bowling attack with 14 Twenty20s for Australia, while Peter Siddle, Clint McKay and John Hastings are his possible support partners. Siddle is the only one of that trio with T20 experience, having appeared in one game. Steve O'Keefe, the left-arm spinner, will be looking for his second match after debuting against Pakistan in July.

Australia squad David Warner, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin (wk), Michael Clarke (capt), Cameron White, David Hussey, Steven Smith, John Hastings, Steve O'Keefe, Peter Siddle, Clint McKay, Dirk Nannes.

This will be the last chance for Australians to see Muttiah Muralitharan Down Under before he retires after the World Cup. That is a relief for the local batsmen. Whether Sri Lanka pick Randiv as well will depend on the pitch, but they also have the options of using the part-time turn of Jeevan Mendis or Tillakaratne Dilshan. With 16 men in the squad, they have a lot to choose from.

Sri Lanka squad Kumar Sangakkara (capt, wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Silva, Jeevan Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedara, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekera, Dilhara Fernando, Muttiah Muralitharan, Suraj Randiv, Dammika Prasad, Dinesh Chandimal.

Pitch and conditions

It's easy to think of Perth, speed and bounce together, but the combination hasn't happened a lot lately. If the pitch is springy it will aid the home team, although Lasith Malinga might also have some fun. The weather forecast is sunny with a maximum of 29C.

Stats and trivia

Sri Lanka have won eight matches in Australia against the hosts in all formats, but have never taken a series

In a throwback to the 1800s, all of Australia's squad comes from New South Wales or Victoria

Australia lead the head-to-head contests with two wins in three matches

Australia have lost their past three Tests, three T20s, and one ODI

Quotes

"He has nothing to prove to anyone right now. The last year or so I think we've seen a different Murali, more relaxed, I reckon, especially in the dressing room.''Mahela Jayawardene

"They've got a pretty good team, a very good team, not to be taken lightly.''Cameron White is wary of the opposition.

New Zealand news: Blunt coach Mark Greatbatch blasts New Zealand for Bangladesh loss

New Zealand's coach Mark Greatbatch has delivered a candid verdict on the efforts of his players in Bangladesh, declaring that they "played like d****". Greatbatch was also scathing of the top order, suggesting that some of the batsmen simply weren't good enough, and that it was "inexcusable" to lose 4-0 to Bangladesh.

New Zealand play India in a three-match Test series that begins in Ahmedabad next Thursday. Although the format is different, Greatbatch hopes his players can use the Tests to regain some form and pride after the Bangladesh debacle, which resulted in meetings between senior New Zealand Cricket officials and team management.

"When you play badly like that you've got to front up," Greatbatch told LiveSPORT. "It's very devastating. We played like d**** really and I suppose there's one positive thing, we've got a chance next week to actually put it right.

"I think some [of the top order] aren't good enough. I think some think they are better than they are and the third one I think is the mind. We've got to get our mind right and sometimes that requires patience, sometimes it requires being aggressive. What it requires is actually sorting out the cricket smarts and weighing up the situation that you're playing in and we've got some work to do in all those areas."

Part of their plan to address the top-order problems, in the longer format at least, is for Brendon McCullum to move up into the top three for next week's Test. McCullum made 86 in his four ODI innings in Bangladesh and he said it was to be expected that the players would come under the microscope following the disappointing tour.

"I guess when you lose 4-0 in Bangladesh you can't come home and expect a parade," McCullum told the Dominion Post. "We didn't play well and we've just got to cop it sweet. There's no point in crying into your beer about it. You've just got turn the page and move on to the next tour. As long as we learn some lessons it'll probably be good for us. It could be the best or worst thing that could happen."

Following the Ahmedabad Test, New Zealand travel to Hyderabad and Nagpur, and Greatbatch said given India's strong record at home two draws from the series would be a good result. After the Tests there is a five-match ODI series, before the players fly back to New Zealand for a short break before taking on Pakistan at home.

The Ashes: Doug Bollinger to keep quiet against Kevin Pietersen

Doug Bollinger is never shy of giving out a few words to the batsmen, but he plans to offer Kevin Pietersen the silent treatment when the Ashes gets underway next month. Bollinger is confident that he is on track to recover from his stomach injury in time for the first Test in Brisbane on November 25 after returning early from the tour of India.

If Bollinger regains fitness he is likely to slot straight back into the team having taken 49 wickets at 23.79 in 11 Tests, but he has no plans to chirp at Pietersen even though the batsman has been going through an extended form slump and has scored an international hundred since March 2009.

"I don't think I will say much to Kevin Pietersen because I think that's what he likes," Bollinger told AAP. "I think I might put him off his game by not saying anything and let his ego get him out."

However, the rest of England's batting line-up won't escape some words of advice from Bollinger should he be ready to share the new-ball. "I tend to say a lot of things when I get angry and get a bit upset and a bit hot and flustered, but we're playing for the Ashes," he said.

"It's a massive thing. It's something I've always wanted to be part of my whole life and I'm sure it is for everyone else. So if one of the guys gets into a contest I'm going to be right behind them as a team should be."

Bollinger's participation in the first Test has been put in doubt after he suffered a stomach strain during the first Test against India last month and he is still two weeks away from a return. He will miss the one-day series against Sri Lanka and has just one Sheffield Shield match to prepare himself for Brisbane, but insists he will be ready to regain his place. "I'm 100 percent, I feel really good, I'm getting back into everything, so I'm going to be fine come November 25."

Spot-fixing controversy: Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir in Dubai for appeal

Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir arrived in Dubai on Friday to appeal against their provisional suspensions for alleged involvement in spot-fixing. The pair left Lahore accompanied by their lawyers and will now appear at a hearing over Saturday and Sunday with Michael Beloff, the chairman of the ICC's code of conduct commission. Butt and Amir, along with Mohammad Asif, were suspended by the ICC on September 2, after being charged with various offences under Article 2 of the ICC's anti-corruption code; Asif has since withdrawn his appeal. The suspensions came after the News of the World tabloid claimed to have exposed a scam in which deliberate, planned no-balls would be bowled by Amir and Asif during the Lord's Test against England, with the involvement of Butt, who was then captain. The ICC had initially wanted the PCB to take action against their own players, but were compelled to step in eventually after Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, indicated that the trio was available for selection for the ODI series that followed. Eventually, the players "voluntarily" withdrew from that series and the ICC handed out notices and suspended them the same day. The hearings will only concern themselves with the matter of the provisional suspensions and whether or not the ICC followed the correct procedures in taking that action. The matter of the players' innocence or guilt and the actual charges against them will not be heard. Thus, even if the suspensions are lifted and the players allowed to return to cricket, a full hearing into the case will still take place later to determine their innocence or guilt in the matter. This is thought to be one of the reasons why Asif withdrew his appeal; unlike Amir and Butt, even if his suspension is lifted, he would not have been able to play for Pakistan immediately because he is barred - for a drug-related offence - from entering the UAE, where Pakistan's current series against South Africa is taking place. The hearing is expected to be a detailed one where the players and their lawyers will be allowed the opportunity to build their cases. The ICC lawyers will be the only other people inside the hearing and though there is expected to be evidence from the ACSU placed in front of Beloff, he is expected to only listen to the arguments of the players and not argue or discuss their innocence or guilt. The players cannot appeal against the decision of these hearings. The next step, irrespective of the outcome here, will be the full hearing before the independent tribunal. The date of that is not yet decided and may well depend on the outcome of the ongoing police investigation over the matter in the UK, where the case against the players is with the Crown Prosecution Service. Of the three, Butt has been increasingly vocal over the last few weeks, making a number of public statements expressing confidence that his suspension will be lifted and that he will eventually be cleared. Before leaving early on Friday morning, similar sentiments were expressed once again. "Either you are guilty or you are not, and I think I am not guilty and I am sure about it," he told reporters at the airport. He will be represented in Dubai by his lawyer Aftab Gul, a former Test cricketer, and Khalid Ranjha, a former law minister. Both share the confidence of their client. "We are going for justice in their court," Gul said. "We can't pre-empt what decision they give, it's their discretion, but our case is very good. There is no strong evidence against Salman Butt on the basis of which we can say that he should remain suspended." Amir, who has not made a statement throughout this time, said on departure that he hoped he could return to the side. He will be represented by Shahid Karim, the lawyer who defended Asif in a doping case in October 2006. Though two full days have been set aside for the hearings it is not certain that it will take that much time to reach a judgment. The two days were scheduled keeping in mind that there were three players initially appealing. "It will be eight hours hearing daily, but I don't think it's a 16 hours case," Gul said. A swift return for Butt and Amir could be on the cards should a favourable decision be reached. Mohsin Khan, Pakistan's chief selector, told Dawn that he would seek a no-objection certificate from the PCB immediately should they be cleared to play by the ICC.

Australian news: Investors offered 33% stake in Big Bash teams

Private investors will be allowed to buy a 33% stake in eight city-based franchises that will form Australia's Big Bash League in 2011-12. Cricket Australia's board gave approval for the Twenty20 expansion in Melbourne today and the organisation will own and control the competition. Reports this week said Indian corporations had already bought shares of around A$60m in some of the proposed franchises. However, Cricket Australia believes the value of the teams will rival the biggest sporting clubs in the country. The Brisbane Broncos rugby league team was priced at A$36m this year. James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said private investment would be allowed from minority stakeholders, but the individual teams would be owned by the state associations. "The board has taken a position that it will be less than 49% [minority share], probably more likely to be 33%," Sutherland said. "We're very excited and optimistic of the existing interest in these teams and the Big Bash League. Some of the valuations we have done recently put these teams immediately into the upper echelons of Australian sport in terms of value in sporting teams." The idea is unashamedly based on the India Premier League, but Cricket Australia is determined not to make the same mistakes over ownership that have plagued the competition this year. Two franchises, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, have been struck out following broken agreements, while Kochi, one of the expansion teams, is on the verge of being dumped due to issues with investors. When asked whether fit and proper testing of owners would occur, like what happens in the English Premier League, Sutherland said, "Under the licensing agreement, which each of the states and teams will be bound by, there will be a process of Cricket Australia maintaining the rights to vet or approve any investors in any of these teams." Sutherland said there was a lot to be learned from the IPL. "I mean that in a positive and negative sense," he said. "There is a model there that exists that has been incredibly successful. "It's important to reflect that part of the reason this competition is already attracting investors here and abroad is the fact that it is extremely high profile, by virtue of Big Bash teams having qualified for the Champions League, and been very successful. It's also because the game of Twenty20 is popular around the world, and it's a unique opportunity for cricket." An IPL-style auction is not an option to distribute the playing talent but there will be a strict salary cap and a draft will be considered. There are hopes for a January window to ensure Australia's international players and big-name overseas stars are available for the entire tournament, but that will not happen at least until the current TV rights deals run out in 2012-13. "We see great merit in having Australian players playing in this competition but obviously that needs to be balanced with our commitments to international cricket," Sutherland said. "We want Twenty20 to complement, not compromise, international cricket. Finding that balance is important." Six of the sides will come from the cities that already host domestic cricket, but the state concept will be abolished for the Twenty20 tournament. Expressions of interest will be taken from other areas of the country over the next couple of months and a decision on the final two teams will be made in February. The inaugural tournament will be held in December and January 2011-12. Crowd numbers for the Big Bash, which started in 2005-06, increased by 80% last year to average more than 18,000 per game. Cricket Australia was initially reluctant to join the Twenty20 revolution when it began in England, but quickly swung behind it when realising how popular and lucrative it could be. Cricket Australia has done modelling 20 years into the future and Sutherland is convinced the tournament will be a massive success. "It gives us a huge amount of confidence in how this competition is going to grow," he said. "In the first couple of years, the cash flows are somewhat handicapped by existing media rights deals, so the marginal revenues may not be quite as large, but we would expect those to kick in from year three and beyond." While there are expectations the other two domestic competitions will be cut back, Sutherland said the Boxing Day Test was "safe". "From an international programming point of view, our priority rests with international cricket," he said. "But all of the research we have done very strongly indicates that the enjoyment that people get from the game of cricket can be spread over the three formats, or discreetly held with one format of the game."

The Ashes: Andrew Strauss excited by Ashes challenge

Andrew Strauss is ready to deal with the pressure of expectation as England prepare to depart for Australia with their best chance of winning down under in more than 20 years. The pre-Ashes hype is well underway on both sides of the world although Strauss doesn't feel the need to be drawn into any slanging matches before the action gets underway.

England haven't won in Australia since 1986-87 but on the back of a successful 18 months which has seen the team win the Ashes at home, draw in South Africa and beat Pakistan 3-1 there is a feeling that the squad has the ability to turn over the hosts who have lost their last three Tests and slipped below England in the rankings. Victory in Australia would cement Strauss's position as one of his country's finest captains, but he is putting individual thoughts to one side.

"I think we all feel a slight burden of responsibility but that's mixed in with a huge amount of pride in representing our country in what is a massive series," Strauss said. "From my own point of view I'm relaxed but excited about our prospects. Those of us on the last tour know what a tough place it is to tour but we also know what an amazing thing it would be to win out there. I think we have a great chance. The only time the 5-0 result will be wiped out is if we go out and win this time. That's our challenge."

There is unlikely to be any shortage of mentions of what happened four years ago when England arrived holding the Ashes before being thrashed by a rampant home side, but already there are differences from that tour. The squad is settled and the ECB have gone to great lengths to lay on the ideal preparation with a month-long lead-in period before the first Test including three first-class matches.

"We've had a lot of success over the last 18 months so confidence levels are very high," Strauss said. "Our preparation has been very good and so there's a feeling of relaxed excitement of what lies ahead. We have an excellent chance of winning out there, we are a nice tight unit and know what to expect.

"We've left no stone unturned in making sure that we hit the ground running. Ultimately preparation only takes you so far and you have to front up in the crucial sessions but I have every confidence our players will be able to do that."

Strauss also attempted to put to bed talk about injuries sustained during the team's bonding camp in Germany. James Anderson returned with a cracked rib and it also emerged that Chris Tremlett suffered bruising, but both are not causing the captain any concern. "Chris is 100% fit. I think he had a tiny niggle but it hasn't affected his preparation at all," he said. "Jimmy Anderson is coming on well and we fully expect our squad to be 100% fit by the first Test."

TEST ICC Rankings COUNTRY

Team

Points

Rating

1

Australia

4294

130

2

India

3993

117

3

South Africa

2326

116

4

Sri Lanka

3458

115

5

England

3147

112

6

Pakistan

2176

99

7

New Zealand

2307

96

8

West Indies

1207

67

9

Bangladesh

1867

67

10

Ireland

425

39

11

Zimbabwe

1110

37

12

Netherlands

103

17

13

Kenya

1

0

TEST ICC Rankings COUNTRY

1

India

4433

130

2

South Africa

3463

119

3

Sri Lanka

2635

115

4

England

4355

112

5

Australia

4061

110

6

Pakistan

1918

83

7

West Indies

1668

79

8

New Zealand

1946

78

9

Bangladesh

131

7