Andrew Strauss steps aside from clinical England

Skipper Andrew Strauss said he was leaving England well-placed for more success following their crushing one-day series win over the West Indies.

Won by 58 runs here at Edgbaston gave England the three-match campaign 2-0, with one washout, after they'd massed up 328 for seven - their highest one-day international score against West Indies.

Andrew Strauss has opted out of next month's World Twenty20 Championship in England because the left-handed opening batsman does not consider he is a good enough player in that form of the game.

Instead all-rounder Paul Collingwood will skipper England in that tournament before Strauss, who is set for a age of rest followed by County Championship action, regains the leadership ahead of the first Ashes Test against Australia on July 8.

In the meantime Skipper Strauss can reflect on two victories by vast margins in England's brief Test series against the West Indies and a duo of equally convincing one-day victories over Chris Gayle's far from inspiring side.

"I like the way we were clinical right through the Tests and the one-dayers," Strauss told reporters after Tuesday's win.

"New players came in and did well but normally there was a level of consistency there which is very important”

"We are far from the finished piece at this stage but what I am really excited about is that the guys are very eager to improve.

England's latest Test and one-day series wins were achieved without injury-prone all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, ruled out this time with a knee problem which threatens his participation in the World Twenty20.

"We always want 'Fred' involved and it has been very frustrating for us, and more importantly for him, that he has picked up these injuries over the last couple of years or so," Strauss said of Flintoff, the star of England's 2005 Ashes series triumph. "What is absolutely crucial in the long term is having a good squad of players you can pick from so that you don't have to play the same XI in every game," Strauss explained.

Kevin Pietersen, England's other star name, missed the one-dayers with an Achilles problem but team officials remain optimistic that the South Africa born batsman will be fit for the World Twenty20.

In his absence, wicket-keeper Matt Prior took over at No 3 and on Tuesday he made a career-best 87 that saw him win the man-of-the-match award at Edgbaston.

Any disappointment Prior may have felt in not being selected for England's World Twenty20 squad has been tempered by the knowledge that a break now will help with his recovery from a finger injury. "There is this period now to get ready and feel as fresh as possible for the Ashes," said Prior. "To get that opportunity at three was fantastic, now I am looking forward at what is to come."

West Indies captain Gayle admitted the tour had been one of his worst experiences in international cricket.

Kevin Pietersen out of West Indies one-day series

Former Skipper Kevin Pietersen has been ruled out of the whole of England's one-day series against West Indies with an Achilles injury.

England will play the first of three one-dayers against the West Indies here at Headingley on Thursday.

However, the ECB insisted that by resting and undergoing treatment now, Pieterson would be fit for next month's World Twenty20 in England and the Ashes Test series against Australia.

"The Achilles injury blazed up following the second npower Test match in Durham and the best course of treatment is for Kevin to rest throughout the NatWest Series," Peirce said.

"The injury would not necessarily stop him from playing but by giving him a precautionary period of time out to receive some concentrated treatment and rest we are enabling the niggled to settle down in preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 and the Ashes.

"This is not an injury that would prevent him from participating in either event," Peirce stressed.

Pietersen added: "I'm extremely disappointed to be missing the NatWest Series as I was looking forward to playing a important part in what should be an exciting and closely-fought one-day series.

"The medical advice is to rest the Achilles and although I'm frustrated to be leaving a happy and successful dressing room I'm absolutely confident this will help me overcome what has up until now been a minor ongoing injury," the former England skipper added.

"I hate missing out on playing for England but understand that in this instance it's necessary in order to overcome the injury," Kevin Pietersen said.

"I'm looking forward to being back in the England line up for the World Twenty20 and the rest of an exciting summer of cricket."

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India to play Four one-day Matches in Caribbean

India will play four one-day matches in the Caribbean after the Twenty20 world championship in England June, the Indian cricket board said on Thursday.

If India, the Twenty20 defending champions, makes the knockout stages of the competition, they will fly straight from London to Jamaica for the one-day series, which is part of the International Cricket Council's Future Tours Programme.

The first two one-days will be held at Sabina Park, Kingston, on June 26 and 28 and the remaining two at Gros Islet, St Lucia on July 3 and 5.

Schedule:

June 26: 1st one-day, Sabina Park, Kingston

June 28: 2nd one-day, Sabina Park, Kingston

July 3: 3rd one-day, Gros Islet, St Lucia

July 5: 4th one-day, Gros Islet, St Lucia

MS Dhoni retains No. 1 in ODIs

Australia has retained their 2nd position in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship after their 3-2 One day series win over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. Australia now got 124 points, two behind leaders South Africa & two ahead of India in the 3rd spot.

According to an ICC release, Indian Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni retains his No.1 spot in the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen.

ODIs RANKINGS

TEAMS: 1. South Africa; 2. Australia; 3. India; 4. New Zealand; 5. Pakistan; 6. England; 7. Sri Lanka; 8. West Indies; 9. Bangladesh; 10. Zimbabwe.

BATSMEN: 1. M.S. Dhoni (Ind); 2. C. Gayle (WI); 3. S. Chanderpaul (WI); 4. Y. Singh (Ind); 5. M. Hussey (Aus); 6. AB de Villiers (SA); 7. V. Sehwag (Ind); 8. G. Smith (SA); 9. H. Gibbs (SA); 10. J. Kallis (SA)

BOWLERS: 1. N. Kulasekara (SL); 2. K. Mills (NZ); 3. M. Muralitharan (SL); 4. D. Vettori (NZ); 5. S. Al Hasan (Ban); 6. N. Bracken (Aus); 7. M. Johnson (Aus); 8. M. Mortaza (Ban); 9. A. Flintoff (Eng); 10. S. Afridi (Pak)

ALL-ROUNDERS: 1. S. Al Hasan (Ban); 2. A. Flintoff (Eng); 3. Y. Singh (Ind); 4. S. Afridi (Pak), S. Malik (Pak)

Clarke, Watson blunted Pak in Aussie's series win

Skipper Michael Clarke struck a luminous hundred as Australia beat Pakistan by eight wickets in the fourth day-night international here on Friday to take an incontrovertible 3-1 lead in the one day series.

The 28-year-old Australian skipper hit an unbeaten 100 and was well supported by Watson (85 not out) as the brace added 197 for the third wicket to ease Australia past a modest 198-run target with 5.4 overs to spare.

Pakistan bowled out for 197 in 48.4 overs with Australian left-arm pacer Doug Bollinger taking 5-35 in only his second international one-day match.

Pakistan won the first match by 4 wickets before Australia came back powerfully to win the second by six wickets and the third by 27 runs. The fifth and final match will be played here on Sunday.

Sachin turns 36 - has one dream left

Sachin turns 36 today. The master batsman has scaled every peak in the game - except for one. He has not yet been part of a One Day Internationl World Cup winning team. But come 2011, the master blaster is all set to change that, when the World Cup is detained on the subcontinent.

When asked at a latest function what his dreams were, he laughed off the question saying, "You only dream when you are asleep." But then he added, "I want to win the World Cup for India."

The captain of the IPL Mumbai Indians got a surprise from his team when he set up that they had organized a surprise birthday party at the team hotel.

Speaking to reporters, the always modest Sachin said, "It is the good wishes and blessings that count a lot. My family is joining me tomorrow, so am really looking forward to it."

The little master also said that he was still enjoying every moment of playing Cricket. "I would like to achieve the enjoyment factor. It is important to enjoy the game and only then will you come out with your best and that's what I want to do," he added.

Shahid Afridi's best helps Pakistan beat Australia

Shahid Afridi returned career-best bowling figures and then contributed with the bat to anchor Pakistan's four-wicket win over Australia in the first day-night international here on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old exposed Australia's frailties against spin with 6-38 to help Pakistan bundle their opponents out for a paltry 168 before hitting a whirlwind 24 to help the team chase down the target in 44.1 overs.

The victory, only Pakistan's second in their last 11 matches against Australia, gave them a 1-0 lead in the five-match one-day series.

Pakistan made heavy weather of the modest run-chase as they lost opener Salman Butt (five) and captain Younus Khan (11) before Kamran Akmal (48) and Misbah-ul-Haq with an unbeaten 30 avoided any further hiccups.

Akmal hit nine boundaries during his 62-ball knock, while Afridi notched five boundaries during his 16-ball stay but Australia made regular inroads, dismissing Shoaib Malik (24) and Nasir Jamshed (nine) to keep a check.

Afridi hit two boundaries off Stuart Clark and then took 16 off a Ben Hilfenhaus over before holing out at mid-on to the same bowler.

At 6-152, it looked either way, but Haq kept his cool as Gul (eight not out) hit the winning boundary.

Pakistan captain Younus praised Afridi for his brilliant bowling.

"It was fantastic team effort," said Younus. "The fast bowlers did well to check the openers and then Afridi and Saeed Ajmal bowled very well. We wobbled a bit when batting but its (all's) well that ends well."

Australia captain Michael Clarke blamed poor batting for the loss.

"No excuses, we batted poorly and all credit to their bowlers," said Clarke, standing in for regular captain Ricky Ponting in this series. "We were 70-80 short but it was a good effort to not let Pakistan win until 44 overs."

Earlier, Australia were well placed at 95-1 with opener Brad Haddin (40) and Shane Watson (40) before losing eight wickets for 27 runs as batsmen crumbled on the untested pitch at the new Dubai Stadium which Wednesday became the 172nd one-day venue.

Afridi's previous best one-day bowling of 5-11 came against Kenya at Birmingham in 2004.

James Hopes, who top-scored with 48 not out, added 46 for the last wicket -- a record against Pakistan in one-dayers -- with Hilfenhaus (four) to give some respectability to the total.

Haddin along with Shaun Marsh had given Australia a brisk 41-run start before Marsh, requiring a runner after pulling his hamstring while taking a quick single, was run out.

Shane Watson (40) helped Haddin add 54 for the second wicket but once the spinners came, wickets fell like nine pins as Afridi first had Haddin in his fourth over, caught off a miscued drive.

Haddin hit three fours and a six off 52 balls.

Watson looked dangerous during his 47-ball knock and hit two boundaries and a six off Afridi before the leg-spinner dismissed him and returning all-rounder Andrew Symonds in his sixth over.

In between Ajmal (2-19) had Clarke caught behind for four.

Afridi also dismissed Callum Ferguson (two), Nathan Bracken (one) and Clarke (two) as Australia were on the verge of being shot out for their lowest total of 120 before Hopes averted that with flurry of strokes.

Hopes hit five fours and a six during his 46-ball knock.

Australia bat against Pakistan in first one-day Match

Australian skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bat in the first one-day international against Pakistan at the Dubai Stadium here on Wednesday.

Clarke is standing in for regular skipper Ricky Ponting in the One day International series, which was moved to the United Arab Emirates after Australia refused to tour Pakistan owing to security fears.

All-rounders Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson, as well as pacer Stuart Clarke, returned for Australia after missing the last few months due to fitness problems and injury.

Pakistan selected for medium fast bowler Rao Iftikhar instead of slinging left-arm paceman Tanvir, and also included off-spinner Saeed Ajmal in their squad.

The only Twenty20 international will be played here on May 7.

Australia Vs Pakistan Schedule in UAE, 2009

Date	Time	Match Detail	Place
22 Apr	10:30	Pakistan v Australia, 1st ODI	Dubai (D/N)
24 Apr	10:30	Pakistan v Australia, 2nd ODI	Dubai (D/N)
27 Apr	10:30	Pakistan v Australia, 3rd ODI	Abu Dhabi (D/N)
01 May	10:30	Pakistan v Australia, 4th ODI	Abu Dhabi (D/N)
Sun 03	10:30	Pakistan v Australia, 5th ODI	Abu Dhabi (D/N)
Thu 07		Pakistan v Australia, T20I	Dubai