'I was ready to bat another 50 overs' - Rohit Sharma

After becoming the first batsman in history to record two ODI double-centuries, and breaking the record for the highest score in the format, Rohit Sharma said he felt it was important "to think" about an innings while compiling it. And that's what he did at Eden Gardens, he said.

"It's important to look at the team score, because that's how you will build your innings, you need to know where your team stands," Rohit said, after his 264 off 173 balls powered India to 404 for 5 against Sri Lanka. "It's important to know what the score is and how many overs have been bowled, and how many overs of each bowler are left. I think it's very important to think when you're batting, and that's what I did."

Rohit was playing his first match for India in two and a half months, having been sidelined by a finger injury and a shoulder strain. He had shown signs of hitting the top form straightaway in his return to competitive cricket - the warm-up game in Mumbai against the Sri Lankans before this series - when he scored 142 off 111 balls. After that break, Rohit joked, he was relieved to get time in the middle. "After a few months' break, so I'm not really tired, I was ready to bat another 50 overs," he said, adding that the pitch made it necessary for him to not throw away his start.

"But yeah, jokes apart, I was determined and dedicated to getting a big one. Once I got to fifty, I knew that I had to convert, because it was a good batting wicket. The scores here, even 300-350, are easily chaseable. We wanted to get a big score and that made me stay there as long as possible."

Tendulkar releases autobiography 'Playing It My Way'

Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar released his autobiography "Playing It My Way" at a glittering ceremony here Wednesday.

The batting maestro, who retired from all forms of cricket last year, presented the first copy of the book before the release earlier in the day to his mother Rajni.

"Gave the first copy of my book to my mother. Look of pride on her face was a priceless moment! PlayingItMyWayLaunch," Sachin tweeted, attaching a photograph of him presenting the book to his mother.He presented the second copy to his first coach Ramakant Achrekar on-stage just after the release.

Former greats like Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid among others were attending the release of the book, which has already created some stir.

BCCI demands $42m in damages from WICB

Calling West Indies' pull-out midway into the India tour a "monumental disaster", the BCCI has slapped a US$41.97m damages claim on the WICB. The BCCI also suspended bilateral relations with the WICB till the dispute was resolved, and threatened legal action if the West Indies board didn't respond within 15 days.

Scheduled to play five ODIs, a Twenty20 and three Tests, the West Indies players pulled out of the series after the fourth ODI in Dharamsala on October 17. They cited the failure of West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) and WICB to respond convincingly to their questions related to the memorandum of understanding and collective bargaining agreementsigned by the two parties in September.

In a a stern four-page letter addressed to WICB president Dave Cameron, a copy of which is in possession of ESPNcricinfo, BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel on Friday indicated that if the WICB failed to respond within 15 days about how it intended to compensate the losses in "acceptable terms", the BCCI would initiate legal proceedings. "Pending resolutions of all disputes the BCCI suspends all bilateral cricketing relations with the WICB," Patel's letter stated.

Patel's missive arrived even as Cameron and senior WICB officials were engaged in meetings with players and WIPA in Trinidad to resolve the dispute. The meeting was facilitated by Prime Minister of St Vincent, Ralph Gonsalves, who helped resolve the dispute between Chris Gayle and the WICB three years ago.

Losses BCCI says it has suffered (in INR)* 2160m media rights fee 100.1m title sponsorship 96m team sponsorship 30.5m kit sponsorship 125m ticket sponsorship 75m in-stadia sponsorship

As soon as Dwayne Bravo, the West Indies ODI captain, said that the players would be forced to take extreme steps unless they got clear answers from WIPA and WICB regarding the new MoU/CBE, Patel said the BCCI understood the seriousness of the issue and attempted to avert the debacle.

Patel pointed out that Bravo and his team-mates continued to play till the fourth ODI only because of the intervention by him and the other senior BCCI officials.

Patel stressed that the consequences of the West Indies pullout were "multi-fold and crippling" to the Indian board. "The BCCI is faced with huge revenue losses, a loss of reputation and is at risk of losing valuable commercial partners," Patel wrote. "The consequences of cancellation of a committed home Tour during the biggest festival season Diwali in India is a monumental disaster for the BCCI. It is during this season that our partners derive the most value from their rights.

"Our broadcaster had committed to its advertisers during this season and on account of your actions, is facing a severe crisis the effects of which are felt by the BCCI. The BCCI holds the WICB responsible and liable for all such consequences and intends to enforce its rights to seek compensation from the WICB to the fullest extent permissible in law."

Patel demanded a written assurance from the WICB explaining how it intended to pay damages claimed by BCCI and warned a failure would mean further sanctions. "In the event the BCCI does not receive such a proposal in acceptable terms, within a period of 15 days from receipt of this letter, please note that the BCCI has peremptorily instructed its attorneys to initiate steps for recovery of the losses by filing appropriate legal proceedings against the WICB in the appropriate Indian Court and you may treat this notice as a formal demand in that regard."

Although SLC has helped fill in the breach caused by West Indies' withdrawal by agreeing to play a five-ODI series, Patel said it was not enough to "offset the loss" incurred. "This is because the Sri Lanka Cricket Board has not committed to any additional tour of India but has only advanced its 2015 Tour to 2014. In return, the BCCI has agreed to tour Sri Lanka in 2015 whereby it has permanently and irretrievably lost a valuable home tour."

Patel slammed the WICB for cancelling the tour "in complete disregard of your legal commitments" despite knowing the damages it would cause. "The adverse financial ramifications and the negative impact of your action to unilaterally cancel the remainder of the Tour was well within your understanding, yet you still went ahead and cancelled the Tour in complete disregard of your legal commitments.

"The WICB is also aware that each National Board is committed to touring each other in a given period such that the schedule of tours between each of the Boards is fixed 8 years in advance. Such touring obligations are on a reciprocal basis so as to reflect not only fairness in ranking but also equal opportunity to each Board. As such, given the limited windows of opportunity and the long-term schedule of tours as between the National Cricket Boards, rescheduling of Tours within the 8-year period becomes impossible."

Tendulkar reveals captaincy despair

There was a phase in Sachin Tendulkar's 24-year international career when he felt so "scarred" and "devastated" by the Indian team's ineptitude under his captaincy that he wanted to completely move away from the sport.

In his autobiography Playing it My Way, to be released on November 6, Tendulkar has dwelled on the frustrations he faced during his tenure as captain. He led India in 25 Tests between 1996 and 2000 - losing nine, winning four and drawing 12 matches.

"I hated losing and as captain of the team I felt responsible for the string of miserable performances. More worryingly, I did not know how I could turn it around, as I was already trying my absolute best," Tendulkar writes in the book. "I confided in Anjali (his wife) that I feared there was nothing more that I could do to stem the tide of defeats. Losing a string of very close matches had left me badly scarred. I had given it everything and was not sure that I could give even 0.1 per cent more.

"It was hurting me badly and it took me a long time to come to terms with these failures. I even contemplated moving away from the sport completely, as it seemed nothing was going my way."

Tendulkar specifically mentions the tour of West Indies in 1997 as a low point of his leadership. After drawing the first two Tests, India needed to score only 120 in the fourth innings in Barbados to win the third match but were dismissed for 81.

"Monday, 31 March 1997, was a dark day in the history of Indian cricket and definitely the worst of my captaincy career," Tendulkar writes. "And yet it had promised so much. In fact, over dinner at a restaurant in St Lawrence Gap in Barbados the night before, I remember having a joke with the waiter, who was predicting a West Indian win. He was confident that Ambrose would bounce India out the next morning.

"Now, in the first innings of this match, Franklyn Rose had bowled me a bouncer and I had pulled him into the stands for six. So I reminded the waiter of the shot and jokingly said to him that if Ambrose tried to bowl me a bouncer, I would hit him all the way to Antigua.

"I was so confident of our chances that I pointed to the fridge and said he should immediately chill a bottle of champagne and I would come and open it the next day and pour him a glass to celebrate winning the match. Instead, we collapsed for a miserable 81 all out, handing West Indies a 38-run victory. Frankly, there can be no excuses for such a poor batting effort, even though it was a difficult track. I certainly don't want to point fingers at anyone for the defeat, as that's not my way. In any case, I was part of that team and as captain it was my responsibility to steer us to victory. I did not get the feeling that we were over-confident, yet none of the batsmen apart from Laxman even reached double figures in the second innings and it was one of the worst batting displays I have been part of.

"I myself got out for just four. In my anxiety to get a feel for the ball I got a tentative edge. I should either have left the ball alone or tried to counter-attack. The defeat left me totally devastated and I shut myself in my room for two whole days trying to come to terms with the loss. I still feel the pangs of that defeat when I look back at the series."

Broad confident of World Cup fitness

Broad believes he is on track to return for England in the one-day triangular series with Australia and India ahead of the World Cup. Broad underwent surgery last month on his right knee after playing for most of the year with patellar tendinitis and is currently undergoing a period of rehab.

Pending assessment by the ECB's medical team, he is set to join the England Performance Programme fast-bowling camp in South Africa before Christmas to work on his fitness for the tri-series, with England's first game on January 18. Fellow internationals Liam Plunkett and Boyd Rankin are part of the seven-man EPP group, who will work with former England bowling coach Ottis Gibson.

Broad last played ODI cricket in March, as England attempted to manage his long-term knee injury. Surgery ruled him out of contention for the Sri Lanka tour in November and December but he will be a key member of England's attack for the World Cup.

"I can't see why I wouldn't be fit," Broad said. "I'm going to Potchefstroom in South Africa in December to do some outdoor bowling. Until you've played a game it's hard to really get that match fitness, but I'll hopefully get on that plane to Australia in better physical shape than I started the summer."

Broad's convalescence may have been interrupted byKevin Pietersen's allegations of his involvement in an "exclusive club" run by the bowlers in the England dressing room. On the day that Pietersen's caustic autobiography was pre-released to journalists, Broad set off for a holiday in Mauritius, tweeting: "Panama hat, passport, long haul. See you when I get back!"

Pietersen's unhappiness was vented at numerous former team-mates, with Broad referred to as "not... the sharpest tool in the box". He also made claims of a bullying culture being allowed to flourish, in which players were abused and made to apologise for mistakes in the field. However, Broad rejected the idea and drew parallels with rugby and football to illustrate the competitive ethic he feels the England team instilled.

"The bullying word has not crossed my mind in eight or nine years of playing international cricket," Broad told the BBC. "It sounds like Kevin didn't enjoy his time in the England side, which is disappointing to hear.

"You would expect guys to be excited and passionate about playing for their country. I look at my heroes growing up, the likes of [former England rugby captain] Martin Johnson. Look at [former Manchester United goalkeeper] Peter Schmeichel, when he conceded a goal he certainly gave Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister an earful. I don't know if that would be classed as bullying, or just the passion of being disappointed."

Broad could find himself training alongside another former England team-mate in South Africa - one with a more realistic chance of returning to international level. Jonathan Trott has been selected for the Lions' two unofficial Tests against South Africa A in January, almost a year after his departure from England's Ashes tour with a stress-related condition, and he has said he will be using the facilities in Potchefstroom as part of his preparation. Broad was positive about his chances of an England recall.

"We all know the quality he brings as a cricketer," Broad said. "I think if I could choose anyone to bat for my life it would be Jonathan Trott. It was really sad to see what happened to him in Australia but credit has to go to him, his family and the people around him to get him back up to playing cricket and scoring runs.

"It will be a test for him in South Africa but he's a proven quality in international cricket and will be desperate to play for England again."

De Villiers happy with NZ outing ahead of World Cup

There's a distinct difference between traveling and traveling for work. The former is about adventure, discovery and relaxation; the latter about going through a process, ticking a box or achieving an aim. Luckily for South Africa, they could combine the two in New Zealand.

They were victorious in the three-match ODI series, which ended up being only two-and-a-third-matches thanks to the weather, and took more much more out of the trip than just a trophy. "It was important for us to acclimatise to the surroundings - getting used to flying here, the jetlag, the crowds, even the food," AB de Villiers said. "Little things that you get used to are important. If you do it for the first time, it's almost a culture shock.

New Zealand may not immediately seem entirely foreign to South Africans, but it is the furthest place a South African cricketer can travel to. The 11-hour time difference takes a few days to get over and temperatures tend to be few degrees lower. De Villiers wanted his men to familiarise themselves with that because they will play half their World Cup group stage games and possibly a knockout or two there.

"Even though New Zealand is similar to South Africa in the way that people do things here, a few little things are different. It was important for me that the boys experience it so it's not a different thing for them in the World Cup."

Adaptation, in other words, was what de Villiers was after and South Africa managed that seamlessly. They understood conditions at Mount Maunganui - the venue of the two completed games - far better than their hosts, for example.

The Bay Oval had only hosted one ODI before this series and the surface, which was a touch slower than expected, required adjustments particularly from the batsmen. While New Zealand struggled to make them, South Africa showed patience and aptitude when chasing a target and setting one. "We did the basics well, certainly better than New Zealand. That gives us a lot of confidence."

Luke Ronchi led the batting charts with two half-centuries but just nine runs behind him was the only series centurion Hashim Amla. Ten runs fewer than Amla was de Villiers and Quinton de Kock came in fourth.

Amla and de Villiers' capacity to perform in different circumstances is well-known but for de Kock, whose undefeated 80 in the wash-out was his first half-century in six innings, to show the same aptitude was heartening. "In his last few games, he has probably not scored as many runs as he wanted to but that tells a story about where he's at with his cricket. To still keep his head up high and try and work hard at his game, and come through with a decent knock was really important."

De Kock's journey through a patch of poor form confirms for de Villiers that he is maturing well. "At first, I also thought he was a flashy player, going hard at the ball all the time but then I realised he actually has the other side of the game as well. For a 21-year-old to have that in his gameplan is amazing. I certainly didn't have it at his age."

While South Africa have answered that question about their batting, they still have a question mark over the final position in their top six. Neither David Miller nor Rilee Rossouw had any stand-out performances but they will both have opportunities over the next month in Australia to change that. The pair will know that back home, domestic players have been competing in the one-day tournament and a player like Farhaan Behardien has shown promising form and could force his way back into the selectors' minds ahead of the World Cup.

So could some of the franchise bowlers, like Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who is the leading wicket-taker in the domestic tournament. Tsotsobe has made a full recovery after undergoing ankle surgery and his current form will put pressure on the likes of Kyle Abbott and Wayne Parnell for a place in the final XV.

Convener of selectors Andrew Hudson previously said Tsotsobe would be considered when he was "back to his best," and few would argue that time is not looming in the near future, especially as South Africa are also still searching in the bowling department. Although they have confirmed that Vernon Philander can step up in shorter formats - he was the joint-highest wicket-taker with four scalps at 16.25 in New Zealand - South Africa still lack an option at the death. None of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel or Ryan McLaren could find strangling lengths, the kind that Imran Tahir has mastered.

The legspinner had the lowest economy-rate overall and could be South Africa's weapon at the next World Cup, as he was at the 2011 tournament. Tahir hurt his shoulder while fielding but will be back for the Australia series and will, in all likelihood, keep Aaron Phangiso - who is out of action with a finger sprain for now - and Robin Peterson, out of the playing XI.

Tahir encapsulates where South Africa are in their World Cup preparation. They're performing as well as anyone would want them to but they're still working on their fine-tuning. "It's a matter of being more ruthless in certain areas," de Villiers said. "I still believe we can improve, but we're going in the right direction." More travel, more discovery and more box-ticking will ensure that by the time the tournament rolls around, they would have prepared in the best way possible.

Teams look for fresh start

      Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe Test Series

A glance at Bangladesh's cricket statistics in the last three years would rate Khulna as one of the happier hunting grounds for the Tigers at home.

The Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, which stands tall along the Khulna-Jessore highway, witnessed a number ten batsman score a century on his Test debut back in the winter of 2012. The player in question, Abul Hasan, is currently on a comeback trail following a series of injuries. 

Opener Anamul Haque scored his first century here in the same year. His 120, in only his second ODI, helped the Tigers to a thumping win over the West Indies back then.

In addition, the Tigers enjoy a hundred percent record at the SANS in ODIs. They have won all four ODIS played here. It was a mini-carnival of sorts the last time the Tigers played here in 2012, with immense support pouring during the ODI series against the West Indies.

As a result, the BCB's initial decision to not include Khulna in this tour raised a few eyebrows. A day after the official schedule was announced, a section of the media criticised the move. Soon after the board decided to send an inspection team to Khulna and eventually altered the schedule to make room for a Test here.

It's something that the city, which has produced some of Bangladesh's finest sporting athletes, deserves.

The players had their first training session at the SANS yesterday. Batting was the key weakness for both sides during the first Test. While the Zimbabweans faltered against spin, the hosts looked out of place against the extra bounce that the pacers generated.

ICC Chairman N. Srinivasan congratulates Nepal and Uganda for qualifying for Pepsi ICC WCL Div 2

ICC Chairman Mr N. Srinivasan has congratulated Nepal and Uganda for qualifying for Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 2 (WCL Div.2), which will be played in Namibia from 17 to 24 January 2015.

Nepal and Uganda sealed their progression after reaching the final of Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Thursday. In the final, Nepal defeated Uganda by 62 runs and the two sides will now join host Namibia, Canada, Kenya and the Netherlands in WCL Div.2.

Mr Srinivasan said: “The two finalists competed consistently over the past week, and deserve to be promoted.  Their performances demonstrate the strong standard and depth of cricket in Associate and Affiliate countries, and I congratulate both teams on their achievements.

“Nepal and Uganda now progress to Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 2, which is the final step in the qualification pathway to the ICC Intercontinental Cup, as well as the 50-over Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Championship.  Following the recent decision to provide Associate and Affiliate Members a clear pathway to Test cricket through the ICC Intercontinental Cup, these two teams are taking the next step on that pathway towards Test cricket, and I wish them well,” he said.

Mr Srinivasan also thanked the tournament organisers and the venues for staging a successful tournament.

“I would like to thank the Malaysian Cricket Association, the venues and all the staff and volunteers for their role in organizing this important ICC event,” he said.

ICC backs chucking crackdown

Cricket's global governing body Monday justified its crackdown on bowlers with illegal actions, vowing to only allow unorthodox deliveries like the 'doosra' within the rules. The International Cricket Council (ICC) in its major drive to root out the problem of illegal deliveries suspended high profile bowlers like Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal, Sri Lanka's Sachitra Senanayake, Zimbabwe's Prosper Utseya and Bangladesh's Sohag Gazi in the last four months. New Zealand's part-timer Kane Williamson was also suspended in this period while Bangladesh's medium pacer Al-Amin Hossain was reported for suspect action. Under the ICC rules bowlers are permitted to straighten their bowling arm up to 15 degrees, which has been established as the point at which any straightening will become visible to the naked eye. ICC chief executive David Richardson said rules must be followed. "The principle has always been to make sure that we try and stick to the law which says that you must bowl the ball and not throw it," Richardson told reporters at ICC headquarters in Dubai. Richardson said the majority of stakeholders do not agree on bending the rule to allow off-spinners like Ajmal to bowl the doosra, a controversial delivery which turns the other way than a normal off-spin. "We had that debate that should we allow a change in the law, to allow them to straighten their arm to bowl the doosra, there were arguments but majority said 'no' and said stick to the law. "If you want to promote the unorthodoxy then there are people in the history of the game like Johnny Gleeson (Australian spinner of 1967-72) who suddenly learnt how to spin the ball with his fingers, there are legitimate ways you can do something special without changing the principle, so we hopefully encourage the unorthodox action or deliveries but within the rules." Richardson denied Ajmal was targeted. "There was no question of penalising bowlers from some countries. The best thing in our cricket committee is that there are players from around the world in it who are doing everything for the good of the game and I don't think there was any kind of underhand motive. "The game as a whole has a problem, bowlers have been reported from a range of countries New Zealand, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and I don't think any country will be spared if they got bowlers with suspect actions." Richardson also refused to accept the timing of the crackdown, with the World Cup in February-March next year, was wrong. "If something is wrong with the game why should we wait till after the World Cup," said Richardson of the event to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. "We reached the stage where there were just too many bowlers starting to emerge (with suspect actions) that people were starting to worry about, its arguable that we could have taken this kind of action earlier, so we realised that we must draw the line sooner (rather) than later."