Ponting impressed by Khawaja

Usman Khawaja has been backed to shine at the highest level by the man who he will replace in Australia's side for the fifth Ashes Test.

Pakistan-born batsman Khawaja will become the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia when he makes his debut against England in Sydney.

The 24-year-old, who is the leading scorer in Sheffield Shield cricket this year, will take the place of injured skipper Ricky Ponting, who has been ruled out due to complications over his broken little finger.

Ponting, however, believes Khawaja has the technique to prosper at number three in the order - even if it may only be for just the one game.

"Everything I've seen of Usman, I've been very impressed with what he's been able to do. His first-class record is very, very good,"Ponting said.

"Technically, he looks as good as any of the young blokes we've got around Australia, probably better.

"You need to have that really solid technique if you want to stand up at number three at Test level."

Very strong

Australia opener Simon Katich has always been impressed by his New South Wales team-mate having seen his potential from a young age.

"I have been raving about him for some time and I have always thought technically he is one of the best young batsmen going around,"Katich said."He has a lot of time, he is very stylish and great to watch.

"He is very good off the back foot which is a good sign for a batsman from Sydney and he is very strong against the short stuff and is a very good all-round player."

Khawaja - who emigrated with his family from Pakistan when he was just three years old - admits he faces a tall order replacing Ponting at No.3, even if Australia's injured leader has endured a lean time of it during the series.

"He is a legendary cricketer and a legendary bloke,"he said."Me taking Ricky's spot? I highly doubt that.

"I'm not here to fill Ricky Ponting's shoes, I'm going to go out there and try and do the best I can,"he said.

"To replace 12,000 runs is a big feat and I still haven't scored any."

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KP hails current set-up

Former captain Kevin Pietersen has admitted that England would not have been able to retain the Ashes if the previous regime was still in charge today.

The star batsman was replaced as skipper at the beginning of 2009 after a rift with then coach Peter Moores, who was also removed from his role.

Their departures left the way clear for Andrew Strauss to take over the captaincy and Andy Flower to become coach of the side.

The Strauss-Flower partnership is viewed as the key element in England's improvement over the past two years, which has seen the side regain the Ashes in 2009 before retaining them in Australia for the first time in 24 years.

"You know what ... I have never said this before ... I lost the captaincy, I got rid of the captaincy for the good of English cricket,"Pietersen said.

"We would not be here today if I had not done what I did then. There is no way in this world that we would have continued under that regime and won the Ashes again in Australia after 24 years."

Right leaders

He added:"Strauss and Andy Flower need all the plaudits for an unbelievable 18 months and an unbelievable preparation for this team, and they are the right leadership for this team.

"They are just very good at keeping us level-headed and grounded and solid."

Pietersen has also enjoyed personal success in Australia, claiming man-of-the-match honours after a double century in Adelaide and also being a significant contributor to the decisive victory in Melbourne.

But the 30-year-old says that he and the rest of the team will not get carried away with their celebrations and are fully focused on clinching outright series victory in Sydney.

"Sure, we will celebrate this win - and then we will talk about Sydney and trying to win this series 3-1,"Pietersen said.

"There was no huge parade after winning the Twenty20 World Cup in April."

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Maynard could be in limbo

Tom Maynard faces an uncertain future after Glamorgan refused to accept his resignation from the club.

Maynard declared his intention to leave the county in the aftermath of a turbulent close season which has seen them lose captain Jamie Dalrymple, president Peter Walker and Maynard's father Matthew as head coach.

The 21-year-old batsman signed a new contract at the end of the season until 2013, but has now opted to leave.

However, Glamorgan have issued a strongly-worded statement informing the other first-class counties of their contractual claims on the player.

The statement read:"Glamorgan Cricket is both surprised and disappointed to learn of Tom Maynard's decision to resign from his employment with Glamorgan Cricket.

"Over recent weeks, the club's CEO Alan Hamer has contacted all other county CEOs to clarify the club's position and will do so again over the coming days to confirm that the club still holds Tom's resignation and believes that he has unlawfully terminated his contract.

"The club have met with Tom and his advisors on three separate occasions during recent weeks following on from numerous requests from Tom for the club to grant him early release from his newly signed contract extension.

Advice

"At all times, the club have consulted with specialist employment lawyers. Based on their advice - which has also been shared with Tom's advisors - the club has always reiterated that Tom Maynard is under contract to Glamorgan Cricket until 30 September 2013.

"Unlike his old contract, his new contract, which was signed in September 2010, does not contain any early release clauses that are linked to his father's continued employment by the club.

"This new contract was reviewed, checked and approved by Matthew Maynard prior to being signed by Tom who did not raise any objections or queries.

"As such, regardless as to how Tom may feel, he cannot, nor will the club allow him to, walk away from his contractual obligations. Nor is he able to enter into discussions with other counties without the club's prior permission."

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Wickets tumble in Durban

A total of 18 wickets fell on day two of the second Test between South Africa and India in Durban, with the tourists ending on top after three chaotic sessions.

India built a lead of 166 by the time bad light brought the day to an end, despite finishing their first innings having been bowled out for only 205 in the morning as Dale Steyn claimed 6-50.

But the Proteas, who are 1-0 up in the series, then squandered the chance to take command as they were rolled over for 131 by tea with Harbhajan Singh taking 4-10 in a brilliant spell.

South Africa did manage to keep their hopes of victory alive as a string of quick wickets reduced India to 92-4 by the close.

India seemed set to rack up a considerable advantage as they reached 42 without loss, but three wickets in as many overs turned the tables.

Lonwabo Tsotsobe struck first, as Virender Sehwag was caught behind by Mark Boucher for 32 from 31 balls before Morne Morkel removed Murali Vijay for nine.

Strikes

Tsotsobe then struck for the second time to remove Rahul Dravid (two) - again caught by Boucher - and later Steyn chipped in with the prize wicket of Sachin Tendulkar (six), who edged to AB de Villiers at slip.

VVS Laxman (23 not out) and Cheteshwar Pujara (10no) put on an unbroken stand of 36 to end the day, but both sides will still have their sights set on victory.

Earlier, Harbhajan took four wickets in just 7.2 overs as South Africa were dismissed for a mere 131 by tea in their first innings at Kingsmead.

Returning bowler Zaheer Khan also claimed three wickets as the hosts were skittled inside 38 overs for their second lowest ever score at the ground.

The seamer, who missed the first Test in Centurion due to injury, showed no signs of rust as he dismissed Proteas skipper Graeme Smith for only nine after an edge behind to Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Alviro Petersen followed as Zaheer bowled the opener around his legs for 24 while Jacques Kallis (10) was the third man out with the total on 57 after being short of his ground as Sreesanth deflected a Hashim Amla drive onto the stumps.

Trouble

De Villiers (nought) and Amla, whose 33 would be the top score of the innings, were then dismissed by Sreesanth and Harbhajan respectively to take the total to 96-5.

And South Africa found themselves in deep trouble when Ashwell Prince was bowled by Zaheer (3-36) as he dragged onto his stumps after scoring only 13.

Boucher tried to steady the ship - finishing unbeaten on 16 after an hour at the crease - but the tail crumbled around him as Harbhajan skittled the lower order, with one wicket coming courtesy of Dravid's 200th catch in Test cricket.

It marked a dramatic turn around in fortunes from the early stages of the day's play, when the tourists resumed from their day one total of 183-6 and were quickly on the back foot again as Steyn completed a five-wicket haul in the fifth over of the day.

The paceman had Harbhajan (21) caught by de Villiers at third slip before claiming the valuable scalp of India captain Dhoni (35), who was caught in the deep by Petersen to hand Steyn a sixth wicket.

At the other end, Morkel was also hitting his stride and struck twice to remove Zaheer and last man out Sreesanth, both of whom fell for ducks.

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England seize control

England atoned for their heavy defeat in Perth in devastating fashion, blasting out Australia for just 98 on day one at the MCG.

James Anderson and Chris Tremlett each took four wickets as skipper Andrew Strauss' decision to ask Australia to bat paid off to perfection.

England's attack took full advantage of seamer-friendly conditions in front of a huge Boxing Day crowd, as the tourists moved closer to retaining the Ashes.

And with England's batsmen advancing to 157 without loss at the close, they look well set to claim the victory that would give them a 2-1 lead with just next week's Sydney Test to play.

It was little surprise when Strauss opted to bowl after winning the toss - his opposite number Ricky Ponting admitted he would have done the same - but Australia's collapse was little short of shocking.

The batsmen singularly failed to cope in ideal conditions for England's pace attack.

The ball moved around in the air and off the seam and the result was a full house of dismissals from edges either to wicketkeeper Matt Prior - six - or catchers in the slip and gully cordon.

Hapless Aussies

But the conditions were not completely to blame as Australia's hapless batsmen slumped to their side's lowest total against England on this ground - much to the delight of the England supporters in a huge holiday crowd.

Anderson (4-44) was the pick of an impressive bowling display, despite having no luck in his new-ball spell.

Tremlett (4-26) grabbed two of the first three wickets to fall, and Tim Bresnan - called up in place of Steven Finn - also got in on the act.

Opener Shane Watson was the first to depart after being dropped twice in his 12-ball stay.

Second slip Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen at gully both gave Watson a life off Anderson, but Tremlett quickly got England out of potential trouble with a brute of a delivery from just short of a length.

Phil Hughes never looked comfortable, falling to first-change Bresnan's seventh delivery of the series - crashing a drive on the up straight to Pietersen.

Excellent

Ponting had reached 10 when Tremlett - switched to the Southern Stand end - got another to spit and take the splice for an excellent catch high at second slip by Graeme Swann.

Ponting has made just 32 runs in his last five innings and much depended on Australia's next pair, Michael Clarke and the previously prolific Michael Hussey.

Strauss brought Anderson back just before lunch at the Members' end, and he delivered a telling blow when Hussey almost immediately edged a swinging delivery behind to make it 58-4, before rain brought an early lunch.

But England continued where they left off after the break, with the next four wickets falling for just 11 runs.

Anderson was still moving the ball superbly in the air and off the pitch and finally got the rewards he deserved as Steve Smith, Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson all edged behind.

Bresnan had Brad Haddin nicking to slip when he went after a slightly wider ball.

It was only a matter of time before the last two wickets fell in similar fashion, as the hosts even failed to get into three figures.

Advantage

It was important that England hammered home their advantage by getting off to a decent start with the bat and Strauss and Alastair Cook duly obliged, although not without some alarms.

Cook took full advantage of the review procedure after being given out lbw to Hilfenhaus with the score on 70, the video replay showing a thick inside edge.

When they took the score beyond 98 it was the first time that England's openers had given their side a first innings lead against Australia since 1912. And they continued on to 157, advancing the lead to 59 by the close.

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Bangladesh v Zimbabwe

Abdur Razzak took a hat-trick as Bangladesh won the second one-day international against Zimbabwe by six wickets.

Razzak returned figures of 5-30 to back captain and fellow left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan's 4-39 as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 191 in 46.2 overs.

Bangladesh overhauled the below-par target in only 39.4 overs thanks mainly to half-centuries from Raqibul Hasan and left-hander Junaid Siddique.

The home team have now levelled the five-match series 1-1 after their surprise nine-run defeat in the opening match at the same venue a couple of days ago.

Bangladesh dominated from the beginning - which also included winning the toss - and made life difficult for the Zimbabwe batsmen, who were exposed by a lack of experience.

Shafiul Islam removed Chamu Chibhabha early on but a 40-run partnership between Brendan Taylor and Regis Chakabva raised hopes of a revival.

Hapless

Razzak and Shakib had other plans however and the two left-arm spinners wreaked havoc on the hapless Zimbabwe batsmen, who had to face spin as early as in the seventh over.

Shakib removed opener Taylor for 28, and moments later Chakabva was stumped attempting to attack a Razzak delivery, reducing Zimbabwe to 56-3.

Keith Dabengwa (30) and Tatenda Taibu (21) could not capitalise on the start they got and were claimed respectively by Shakib and Razzak and by 37 overs the visitors were reeling on 132-6.

Craig Ervine and Prosper Utseya put on 67 for the eighth wicket before Utseya became Razzak's third victim, caught at long off by Naeem Islam to leave Zimbabwe on 189-7.

With three wickets in hand and five overs to go Zimbabwe could have easily fancied another 30 runs but a late hat-trick by Razzak finished things off quickly.

Keegan Meth became Shakib's fourth victim and then Razzak, who had taken a wicket in the previous over, completed his hat-trick by snaring Ray Price (one) and Chris Mpofu lbw.

Ervine was left stranded on 42 at the end of the innings.

Bangladesh began their chase on a confident note as Tamim Iqbal and Siddique added 49 runs for the second wicket after the early loss of Imrul Kayes (10).

When it appeared as if the Tigers were cruising home without any hiccup, Tamim threw his wicket away after holing out to Mpofu off Price.

Useful

That brought Raqibul Hassan and Siddique together, and they defied Bangladesh further success and stitched a very useful partnership.

Siddique brought up his fifth 50, but a rush of blood three runs later saw him stepping out to Price only to be stumped by Taibu to leave Bangladesh on 147-3.

Raqibul took over from then on and executed some fine cover drives and lofted shots en route to his eighth half-century.

The right-hander provided some fireworks towards the end, moving to 65 off just 79 balls but fell when Bangladesh needed five runs for victory.

However, skipper Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim ensured there was no more damage as the unbeaten pair took Bangladesh home with more than 10 overs remaining.

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