Ed Hawkins is at HQ for day one of the first Test. Play is underway and there's been an early wicket!

13.40 New Zealand 3-1
I reckoned that it would be worth backing England at [1.91] before play began and that first wicket has given punters the opportunity to lay off at [1.73]. Probably worth holding fire for a bit, though because batting conditions are tough and another wicket could be just around the corner.

13.32 New Zealand 2-1
Aaron Redmond has gone for a duck as James Anderson get ones to leave the right-hander, who is well held at slip by Cook. And congratulations to Anton from Essex who emailed in the lunch break to tell us that he was on England for highest first innings opening partnership. "By my count only three of NZ's last 20 opening partnerships have been 50 or over, eight of them in single figures." Worth remembering for the rest of the series that stat  read more »

Hosts Pakistan and the 3 minnows - Bangladesh, UAE, and Hong Kong kick off their Asia Cup campaigns from tomorrow, while India and Sri Lanka play their first games on the following day. Here we take a look at the form these teams are bringing into the tournament. Bangladesh Wins: Since beating India and South Africa in last year's ODI World Cup, Bangladesh have only beaten Ireland 3-0 in an ODI series they played at home. Losses: They have lost 21 ODIs in this 14 month period losing series' to all the big teams - India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa, and Pakistan. Asia Cup '04: Bangladesh were pitted with Pakistan and Hong Kong in Round 1 and managed to qualify for Round 2, where they lost all their matches to the Asian Big 3.  read more »

Author: mihir_ozz
Subject: Do Ireland deserve Test Status?
Posted: 09 April 2008 at 6:53pm  read more »

On the eve of the final test match in the India vs Pakistan series, there is a lot to play for. India is up 1-0 in the two match series, they have not won a test match in Bangalore since 1995 and Pakistan have never lost a test series in India since 1979/1980.

Looking back at 1979/80, things are back full circle. In that series, the first test was played at Bangalore and in the current one, the last test is being played at Bangalore. A look back at the scoreboards of those 6 test mat  read more »

South Africa were this week confirmed as the number one ODI side in the world. This came during the same week in which they beat India away by an innings and ninety runs, in the process losing only seven wickets themselves. Whilst Australia and India have been drawing the medias gaze over the past year or so, Graeme Smiths side has been going quietly about winning series after series in all formats of the game. Since 2006 they have beaten India (Home (and lead 3 match series 1-0 Away), Pakistan (Home and Away), New Zealand (Home), the West Indies (Home) and Bangladesh (Away) in Test Match series. Meanwhile they have triumphed over India (Home), Pakistan (Home and Away), New Zealand (Home), West Indies (Home), Bangladesh (Away), Zimbabwe (Home and Away) and Ireland (Away) in ODI series.  read more »

Author: mshakir56 Subject: Ireland in Bangladesh Posted: 04 April 2008 at 10:00am Originally posted by Sledger Don't get me wrong mate , I want Bangladesh to become serious opponents to the established countries. I just feel that the improvements I expected aren't coming as quickly as they should. Yes , India and NZ took ages to win their 1st test , but back then they played very little cricket. Bangladesh have probably played more test cricket since admission than those two countries did in 30 years ! You are right about the rate of improvements being slow. Its slow for my liking as well. There is improvements certainly, but its happening pretty slowly. I am hoping that by the time 2011 world cup arrives in the subcontinet, Bangladesh will become a formidable side !  read more »

Author: mshakir56
Subject: Bangladesh in Pakistan
Posted: 02 April 2008 at 10:05am  read more »

Betfair's resident Kiwi Dean Roulston tells us why the experience of Styris and Oram coupled with the fireworks of Fulton and McCullum can lead the Black Caps to victory

While this week's two Twenty20 internationals between the Black Caps and England are probably considered a lower priority in relation to the ODI and Test series, there is no doubt that both sides will be keen to get off to a flyer and inflict a few early mental scars. The kiwis will be hoping that there is plenty of rust in the England team given that they've only had a couple of one-day matches against a weak Canterbury side since their tour of Sri Lanka last November. England in return will be looking to expose a relatively inexperienced side which only has a whitewash against a pitiful Bangladesh side to crow about for the last few months.  read more »

Despite losing to Pakistan in the Kitply Cup final, India retained their fourth position in the latest ICC ODI Rankings released yesterday. South Africa leads the table with 127 points, while Australia too have 127 points. New Zealand are at third spot with 113 points, while India too have 113 points.

ICC ODI Ranking:

1. South Africa

2. Australia

3. New Zealand  read more »

Author: Sledger
Subject: Ireland in Bangladesh
Posted: 03 April 2008 at 7:47am

Don't get me wrong mate , I want Bangladesh to become serious opponentsto the established countries.  I just feel that the improvements Iexpected aren't coming as quickly as they should.  Yes , India andNZ took ages to win their 1st test , but back then they played verylittle cricket. Bangladesh have probably played more test cricket sinceadmission than those two countries did in 30 years !