Laxman's English deal falls through

India batsman VVS Laxman's planned move to Nottinghamshire has fallen through after the deal was vetoed by the India Board of Control for Cricket (BCCI), the English county said.

The 33-year-old had been expected to arrive at Trent Bridge in August after Nottinghamshire had received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the BCCI two weeks ago.

However, the BCCI have subsequently withdrawn the NOC by e-mail and Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell said the county will now search for a replacement player.

"We followed correct procedures to complete the deal with the approval of the BCCI and it is extremely disappointing that they have reversed their stance," Newell said.

"We were very surprised to learn about the possibility of the deal collapsing in the media in the first instance.

"The players, management and supporters were looking forward to VVS joining Notts and now we have to pursue alternative players."

Hayden to quit before 2011 World Cup

Bowlers the world over who have suffered at the hands of Matthew Hayden will heave a sigh of relief with the Australian opener announcing to call it quits before the 2011 World Cup in the Indian sub-continent.

Aware that he would have to pave way for the next generation Australians to play for the country just as Mark Waugh had done to make room for him, 36-year-old Hayden has earmarked a ‘transitional period’ after which he will step down from one-day cricket.

"I appreciated what Mark Waugh enabled me to do prior to my first World Cup (in 2003) and that was I had about 50 games under my belt to get well settled and well prepared for the World Cup," Hayden said.

"I've got no intention to go on to the next World Cup (in 2011). There will be a transition period between now and that World Cup. From there I'd like to think I can step aside in a manner which is very unselfish to the preparation of the team moving forward to the next World Cup," he was quoted as saying by the Herald Sun.

Plagued by tendon injuries over the past 12 months, there have been growing calls for the broad-shouldered opener to step down from one-day cricket and concentrate on Tests but Hayden insisted he wasn't ready to give up the limited-overs game so soon.

Hayden said his tendon problems had caused him great frustration but it had been like that for almost a decade.

"It is a tendon that has just been worked. It's a deteriorating injury. It doesn't mean it gets any worse. I've had it in my knees for nine years. Some days they are sore but you play. Other days they hurt badly," said Hayden, who had to miss the Caribbean tour recently due to the injury.

Hayden not keen to 'walk away' from Champions Trophy

Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden says he would love to help Australia secure the Champions Trophy if it is safe for the team to play.

Billed as the second World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to decide this week whether to move the tournament from Pakistan for security reasons.

Australia, England and New Zealand sent security consultant Reg Dickason on an inspection tour after players raised concerns over travelling to the troubled country.

But Hayden says Cricket Australia and the players will be well informed before they make a decision and the motivation is there for Australia to claim its maiden title.

"We're on the eve of competing in what is known as the second World Cup," he said.

"We don't want to walk away, it's a tournament that we've never won.

"We've always come close but never achieved that and it's certainly one that I want to be involved in if it means that my safety is not compromised."

Hayden also weighed into the debate over potential changes to the Gabba's centre wicket amid ongoing concerns about AFL player welfare.

The Brisbane Lions have continued to call for a softer centre wicket, but Hayden said while he understands the Lions' point of view, the switch to a placid drop-in wicket would devalue cricket in the long-term.

"The benign drop-in wickets don't promote a particularly entertaining form of cricket," he said.

"It's very much a grafting style of cricket. Here [at the Gabba] you can come as a spectator and I'm one of those whenever I'm out sitting up in that box watching the competition between bat and ball and I can tell you I don't think there's a better place on earth to play."

Mendis set for test debut against India

Unorthodox spin bowler Ajantha Mendis is set to make his test debut for Sri Lanka against India this week after he was included in a 14-man squad named for the opener of a three-match series on Monday.

The 23-year-old Mendis is expected to be promoted to the test side after his spectacular performance in the Asia Cup final in Pakistan on July 6, where he claimed six wickets for 13 runs to help Sri Lanka overcome India.

The finger spinner, who bowls a mixture of off breaks, leg breaks, googlies and top spinners, is likely to form an intimidating partnership with world record wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan.

In the opening test, starting in Colombo on Wednesday, Sri Lanka should line up with just two fast bowlers with either left-armer Thilan Thushara or right-arm seamer Nuwan Kulasekera taking the new ball with Chaminda Vaas.

Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando was ruled out after suffering knee pain during a three-day practice game against India over the weekend.

SRI LANKA SQUAD: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Malinda Warnapura, Thilan Samaweera, Michael Vandort, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Thilan Thushara, Chaminda Vaas, Prasanna Jayawardene, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekera.

Kapil Dev lashes out at Yuvraj for bad performance

Former Indian captain and ace-all rounder Kapil Dev has advised India's One-Day specialist batsman Yuvraj Singh to concentrate more on the game and improve his performance.

Kapil also advised Singh who has been dropped out of the Indian team for the three test away series against Sri Lanka starting on July 23, to be focused. Sachin has never been thrown out of the team because of the immense capability he has displayed all the time. Yuvraj should also show that much capability. Everybody says and even I acknowledge that the amount of talent he has is rare. He should make use of his talent at the right place. Sometimes, I feel he does not make use of his talent at the right place," he said.

Drawing parallels between Yuvraj and his father Yograj Singh, a former Test cricketer, Dev said that if Yuvraj devoted even 50 per cent of the hard work that his father put in, no one could stop him from remaining in the Test team.

Kapil also praised Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis for his innovative bowling, and said that he introduced a new style to the cricketing world.

AB Sets The Record Straight On `Catch`

AB de Villiers has sought to set the record straight over his first-day slip 'catch' in the second Test against England at Headingley.

The South African claimed to have caught Andrew Strauss but replays showed the ball to have hit the ground and the batsman was given not out by the third umpire.

Speaking at tonight's press conference, De Villiers said: "This is the truth and nothing but the truth.

"The ball hit my right hand and went straight into my left - and I was pretty sure that I took the catch.

"But I went straight to my captain and told him, 'Listen, I'm not 100% sure. What shall we do about this?'

"I saw a bit of grass on my left 'pinky'. He said, 'No worries, we don't have to go anywhere. The umpires are better referring it to the third umpire'.

"There was no way in this world I was going to let Straussy walk off the field without telling the umpires I wasn't sure.

"The captain said, 'It's no bother - there's nothing you can do'.

"I'm not a guy who could go to bed at night knowing a batsman wasn't out and had to walk off the field."

Tendulkar set to hijack Sri Lanka series

Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar's bid to become the world's leading scorer will dominate the three-Test series against Sri Lanka starting here on Wednesday.

Tendulkar is just 172 runs away from surpassing the 11,953 clocked up by retired West Indies captain Brian Lara -- a task within the reach of the Indian batsman who likes Sri Lankan pitches.

The star averages 111.66 from six Tests in Sri Lanka with four centuries. His last Test in the country was in 1999 when he cracked a half-century and a hundred in the Asian Test championships.

The 35-year-old already holds three major batting records -- the highest number of centuries in Tests (39), and the most runs (16,361) and hundreds (42) in one-day internationals.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting (10,099 runs) and India's Rahul Dravid (10,098) are the only active members of the elite 10,000 club.

Tendulkar, known for his flair and flamboyance at the crease, returns to Test cricket after four months due to a groin injury.

"He (Tendulkar) is too good," said Sri Lanka's senior wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara. "We know for sure that he is going to come hard at us at some point in the series and our bowlers will have to get him early.

"I know it's not going to be easy, but we have to hit the right areas to apply constant pressure on the Indians. And Sachin's wicket is a prized possession."

Tendulkar is one of the five veterans returning to Test cricket to boost India's chances of avenging their 2-1 defeat on the last tour of Sri Lanka in 2001. The others are Test captain Anil Kumble, Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Venkatsai Laxman.

India will pin hopes on experienced players to win the first away Test series under Kumble, whose side has so far lost in Australia, but won at home against Pakistan and South Africa.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh returns to the side after a five-match ban for slapping team-mate Shanthakumaran Sreesanth during a domestic Twenty20 match in April.

The tourists' pace attack also looks sharp with the presence of Zaheer Khan, coming back after a spate of injuries, and the fast-improving 19-year-old Ishant Sharma.

Dinesh Karthick looks set to pip Parthiv Patel for the wicketkeeper's job left vacant by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has opted out of the Test tour due to fatigue.

Sri Lanka, always formidable at home, go into the series after beating South Africa, England and the West Indies in the past four years.

Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said the series would be closely contested as both sides had "quality players".

"We enjoy playing India at home or away. It's always been a tough challenge. There is good rivalry with our neighbours," he said.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, Test cricket's leading bowler with 735 wickets, is prepared to unsettle the Indians on his country's low, slow pitches.

The hosts have another surprise weapon in Ajantha Mendis, a spinner with clever variations who could make his Test debut after proving his credentials in one-day internationals.

India have already failed once against Mendis, who grabbed 6-13 to script Sri Lanka's victory in the Asia Cup final in Pakistan earlier this month.

Teams get 'unmatched' security: Shoaib Malik

Pakistan cricket captain Shoaib Malik has reportedly urged the international teams showing reluctance to playing in Champions Trophy in Pakistan to shun their fear, saying that the kind security that foreign teams get in Pakistan was unmatched.

Players from Australia and England teams have been expressing fears about playing in the tournament, particularly the recent spate of violence in the country including bombings in Karachi and Islamabad.

Malik urged these teams to dispel their concerns about security in Pakistan ahead of tournament in September.

'I have been to most of the Test playing nations and other countries where cricket is played and the security foreign teams get in Pakistan is unmatched. I request all teams to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy as the event is very important for us and our people,' Malik said

He added “South Africa, England, India, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe they all have toured Pakistan in the last few years without any problems. We also hosted the Asia Cup just now without any problems.”

Malik said he had no doubt the Champions Trophy in Pakistan would the best since its inception in 1998.

Harmison bitter over Pattinson

Steve Harmison said England's decision to select Victoria's Darren Pattinson for the second Test against South Africa betrayed a lack of confidence in the country's young quicks.

Ashes-winning fast bowler Harmison, currently out of the England side after being dropped following the first Test in New Zealand earlier this year, was one of several seasoned bowlers overlooked when Ryan Sidebottom became doubtful with a back strain.

Instead, the selectors opted to hand a debut to Australian-raised but Grimsby-born Pattinson, 29, a Nottinghamshire colleague of left-arm seamer Sidebottom who only began his Trent Bridge career at the start of the season.

Harmison's fellow 2005 Ashes-winning quicks Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones also had reason to feel hard done by as did longstanding reserve Chris Tremlett, not to mention a crop of promising pace bowlers.

"The amount of money the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) have pushed into young bowlers, taking them to Chennai and the Academy - are we saying the young bowlers aren't good enough?'' Harmison said.

"I haven't seen him (Pattinson) bowl - I was asleep when we played them. But good luck to him, he has taken his chance. If he deserves it I'm not sure, but good luck to him.''

Pattinson, a product of Melbourne club side Dandenong who has played five games for Victoria, was plucked from obscurity having only played 11 first-class matches in his career and taken 29 wickets in six matches for Nottinghamshire this season.

He did, however, go some way to answering his critics by taking the only wicket to fall, before bad light and rain stopped play, on the second day at Headingley.

Harmison's Durham teammate Paul Collingwood was dropped from the England side at Yorkshire's headquarters after a run of low scores but Harmison was confident the all-rounder would not be in the Test match wilderness for long.

"The best thing for 'Colly' now is to come down here and score some runs, that's the best way to answer somebody,'' Harmison said.

"If he scores some runs he is back in the spotlight and the next man back in if the batters are struggling for form.''

Cricket star gets female guard

Indian cricketing hero Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been provided an all-female police force to protect him from his female fans, police say.

Dhoni recently opted out of playing a series in Sri Lanka because of fatigue.

But ever since he landed in his home town of Ranchi, in the eastern Jharkhand state, to get some rest, his fans have refused to leave him alone.

Dhoni is the captain of India's one-day cricket team and has cult following in a nation crazy about the sport.

His good looks and powerful performance on the field have earned him many fans, including a lot of young women who regularly mob him for autographs.

Last year, at Calcutta's Eden Gardens, an 18-year-old girl broke through the security cordon, ran out into the field and hugged him.

The cricketer's close friends say Dhoni is yet to get over the embarrassment.

'Difficult'

"Dhoni has a Z-plus security cover [the highest level provided by the state]. Yet it is difficult to keep the female fans away," senior police officer Manvinder Singh Bhatia told the BBC.

"So we decided to deploy women commandos for his security as they can do the job with ease," he said.

Another police officer said, "The next three weeks that he is here we will ensure that he does not have to face any kind of embarrassment like the one in Calcutta."

For the 15-odd women commandos from the Jharkhand Armed Police constabulary who have been entrusted with the task of keeping Dhoni's boisterous female fans away, this is an unusual posting.

Trained rigorously in warfare and ambush techniques, they say they never thought they would be deployed to keep an eye on the state's most eligible and sought-after bachelor.

Ask one of the commandoes, Seema Toppo, a tribal, about her new assignment and she blushes.

"I watched him play on television and never thought I would see him from such close quarters," she giggles.

"It is good to be deployed for his security," says another.

Dhoni arrived in Ranchi recently to rest and recharge his batteries after a hectic schedule playing the Indian Premier League, the triangular series in Bangladesh and the Asia cup in Pakistan over a period of three and a half months.

But in his home town, he is a celebrity whose every move is followed closely by his fans and the media.

Even a routine trip to the doctor or dentist results in fans making a beeline for him wherever he goes.

I’ll gain rhythm within two weeks: Shoaib Akhtar

Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said that he needs two to three weeks for fitness and he would begin physical training from Sunday.

Talking with media after bowling practice at the National Cricket Academy, Shoaib Akhtar said that he would give dope test on Sunday because he has no fears and would also give fitness test once he gains rhythm.

He said that he moved to dispel any suggestion he was running away from dope tests
ahead of the Champions Trophy, saying he would be the first to give a sample.

The PCB will conduct dope tests on its 30-man preliminary Champions Trophy squad on Sunday to avoid any further embarrassment following paceman Mohammad Asif's failed test in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The 32-year-old Shoaib Akhtar was named in Pakistan's provisional squad earlier this month after Lahore High Court suspended a separate 18-month ban for ill-discipline.

The PCB on Friday left out Akhtar from a 24-member training camp starting later this month on fitness grounds, saying the paceman has asked for time to gain full fitness.

Pakistan feature in a proposed four-nation Twenty20 event in Canada to be held from August 14-17 before hosting New Zealand for a three-match one-day series in late August.

Asif lawyer wants extension in 'B' Sample testing

The Lawyer of beleaguered Mohammad Asif is seeking adjournment of Asif's 'B' sample testing in Switzerland.

Shahid Karim advocate said "I am making a request to the Indian Premier League (IPL) officials that since Swiss Embassy in Islamabad takes 3-4 weeks to process Visa, it will not be possible for Mohammad Asif and his Lawyer to reach Switzerland on 28th, July to be present in the concerned LAB at the time of examination of Mohammad Asif's "B" Sample."

Shahid Karim said that "I am requesting the IPL to mover forward the B testing date after Mid-August so that we can acquire Swiss Visa."

Asif is accused to have failed the dope test during IPL in May. His test shows traces of Nandrolone to the quantum of 6 nenograms that is beyond the accepted limit of 2 nenograms.

PCB not sure which drug Mohammad Asif consumed

The PCB has said that it was not sure about the drug which fast bowler Mohammad Asif had consumed while playing in the IPL.

A PCB spokesman said here last evening that they had not received any information from the IPL officials or any other body about the substance Asif had consumed.

“The mail sent to us by the IPL only informed us that Asif had tested positive that is all. It does not mention which substance he tested positive for. And I don’t think they will declare the substance until his ‘B’ sample test is conducted and a conclusive report comes,” the Daily Times quoted the spokesman as saying.

Asif’s first urine sample came up positive for a banned substance during tests conducted by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory and the pacer has now asked for a test of his ‘B’ sample.

Asif’s lawyer Shahid Kazmi reportedly told an Indian TV channel that the embattled pacer had tested positive for nandrolone during the IPL. However, when contacted he denied making such a comment. “I have not mentioned nandrolone or any other substance because we have still not got a detailed report from the IPL about the first test,” he claimed. Kazmi said the IPL committee had already sent them a reply to the request for the ‘B’ sample test that would be carried out on July 28.

Ishant is a real threat, feels Vaas

India’s latest pace sensation Ishant Sharma seems to have won over a yet another admirer. The latest addition to his ever-growing fan-list is none another than Sri Lankan new ball spearhead Chaminda Vaas. Vaas even considers Ishant ‘a real threat’ for his batsmen in the forthcoming Test series starting from July 23.

"I am really impressed with Ishant’s progress in international cricket. He is the bowler to watch out for. He is tall and has a top-arm action, which makes it difficult for the batsmen to judge length perfectly. He is also very fast," Vaas said.

As far as the Lankan bowling attack was concerned, Vaas insisted that Muttiah Muralitharan, world’s highest Test wicket-taker, would be the main threat to the visiting Indians, Ajantha Mendis’s presence notwithstanding. "Don’t discount Murali. He is the main threat to the Indians, despite Mendis making rapid progress during the Asia Cup” he said.


The tussle between their spinners and Indian renowned batting line-up would be the one to watch-out for.
“Mendis will be playing Test cricket for the first time and that too against quality batsmen like Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V V S Laxman, who are excellent against spin bowlers. It will be a great contest to watch," Vaas said.


On his own bowling, 35-year-old Vaas admitted, that he never had great pace and was more of a swing bowler. "I don’t know why people refer to my pace all the time. In fact I never had express pace. When I started off, I used to bowl at 137 kph to 140 kph. Right now, I am bowling at 130 kph. It’s more important to swing the ball and pitch it in the right areas," he observed.

Shoaib left out of training squad over fine dispute

Shoaib Akhtar has been left out of a Champions Trophy training camp after the Pakistan Cricket Board blocked his attendance over an unpaid fine.

Chief selector Salahuddin Ahmed told Reuters the board had not cleared Shoaib to be among the 24-man party despite being named in the initial preliminary squad for the Sept 11-28 tournament.

"We will call him for the camp once the board gives us the clearance," Ahmed said.

Shoaib had been asked to pay a fine of seven million Pakistan rupees ($98,660) by July 14 to be considered for selection.

The fine was imposed on him by an appeals tribunal that last month cut from five years to 18 months the ban that was handed down after various acts of indiscipline by the pace bowler.

However, Shoaib's lawyer informed the board he would only consider paying the fine when the High Court took a final decision on his petition against both the ban and fine.

The court had suspended the ban but not the fine.

"We had to give his name because of the ICC deadline. But now until this fine issue is cleared we are not considering him for selection," Ahmed added.

Pakistan is due to play a Twenty20 four-nation tournament in Toronto from Aug 17 and then host New Zealand for three one-dayers before the Champions Trophy.

TRAINING SQUAD:

Shoaib Malik (capt), Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Khalid Latif, Ahmed Shehzad, Yasir Shah, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Fawad Alam, Abdul Rehman, Mansoor Amjad, Umar Gul, Mohammad Ali, Rao Iftikhar, Sohail Khan, Abdur Rauf, Mohammad Aamer, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Saeed Ajmal, Wahab Riaz, Anwar Ali.

Aussies in shock over Pattinson's England call-up

The Australian cricket community was caught by surprise on Saturday at Australia-raised paceman Darren Pattinson's bolt from obscurity to the England Test team.

The 29-year-old Nottinghamshire bowler was a surprise choice to replace his injured county colleague Ryan Sidebottom in the England side for the second Test against South Africa at Headingley on Friday.

Although born in Grimsby, northern England, Pattinson grew up in Melbourne and his Australia-born younger brother, James, has represented the Australia Under-19 team.

Cricket officials from his home state Victoria admitted surprise that Pattinson, who is contracted with Cricket Victoria, was not an Australian citizen and even eligible to play for England.

"We didn't realise he wasn't an Australian citizen and didn't have an Australian passport," Victorian general manager of cricket operations Shaun Graf said.

"He actually only had a British passport and hence when he came home from playing overseas a couple of times he needed to get a visa which is a little bit strange."

Pattinson's opportunity only evolved when Cricket Victoria received an offer to play with Nottinghamshire, Graf said.

Former Australian swing bowler Damien Fleming said he was shocked when he heard that Pattinson, a roof-tiler by trade, was making his debut for England two seasons after playing his first match for Victoria.

"It's unbelievable. I don't reckon he'll be doing any roof-tiling for a while," Fleming told The Age newspaper.

"He's got good attributes. He's a pretty strong fellow, he's nice and tall, and he gets really good bounce.

"He has a pretty uncomplicated action, so not much can go wrong, and he's a ripping bloke, so I don't think temperament would be an issue either."

Former Victorian all-rounder Brendan McArdle, who helped set Pattinson up initially with clubs in Yorkshire, was another surprised by his sudden elevation.

"It was in his mind to play county cricket, but we never thought England," McArdle said.

"He's so Australian in his ways you would never believe it. He's a competitive bugger."

If Pattinson kept his English origins quiet while he was playing in Australia, it wasn't for fear of being sledged.

"People wouldn't have a go at Darren," his former Dandenong club coach Warren Ayres said. "He's pretty big and pretty wild."

Asif demands B sample test from IPL

Fast bowler Mohammad Asif has formally contacted the Indian Premier League for getting a ‘B sample’ test after testing positive for a banned substance during play in the IPL.

His lawyer Shahid Karim told that he has held a detailed meeting with Mohammad Asif in which it was decided to make an immediate contact with the IPL and demand for a ‘B sample’ test.

The IPL management has been mailed and asked that Asif wants a ‘B sample’ and seeks guidance in this regard.

The IPL has also been asked that what the procedure was adopted for the first sample test.

Shahid Karim told that no letter regarding suspension has so far been received from the Pakistan Cricket Board and the future strategy would be decided after receiving the letter.

Lee salutes Flintoff's return

Australia pace bowler Brett Lee has saluted England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff's long-awaited return to Test action.

Flintoff is due to play for England in the second Test against South Africa at Headingley on Friday after finally recovering from a series of ankle problems and a side strain.

Lee knows it has been a long and painful journey through rehabilitation for Flintoff and was quick to express his admiration for a rival who became a close friend during the 2005 Ashes series.

"Flintoff is a once-in-a-generation player," Lee said. "I liken him to the great Ian Botham. They are guys who can change a game at the drop of a hat with bat and ball and also field.

"He was the standout in the '05 Ashes over there, he's also a very close friend of mine but a magnificent player on and off the field.

"He's a great guy and the type of guy who can change the game. I am looking forward to having him back definitely."

Lee, 31, has been keeping a close eye on the series between England and South Africa as he prepares for a forthcoming series against the Springboks and next year's Ashes clash in England.

"I'd be lying if I say I haven't been doing a bit of homework on the series that is happening now because we have got South Africa and England coming up shortly," he said.

"I have been doing a bit of homework and watching their players. They have got a lot of young guys coming through who have been very impressive so I am looking forward to playing against both of those sides."

After helping Australia to a 2-0 Test series win over West Indies, Lee has taken some time off with his family but the Ashes are never far from his thoughts.

"I have actually tried to get away from cricket for a short period of time," he said.

"It's really good to refresh the batteries and get ready to go for what is going to be a massive summer and even a big 18 months.

"We've got the Ashes coming up as well which we are not directly looking forward to right now because we have a few things in place that we have to take care of first.

"I would be lying if I didn't say I was looking forward to the Ashes next year."

Bradman bats stolen from Australian sports shop

Four valuable cricket bats signed by Australian batting legend Sir Donald Bradman have been stolen from a sports shop, police said on Thursday.

The bats, together valued at 40,000 Australian dollars (39,050 US), were taken from a shop in the northern city of Darwin. Thieves smashed in a front window, police said.

Shop manager Graeme Flesfadar told AFP the bats were part of a rare set of memorabilia and were irreplaceable. Thieves had clearly targeted them specially.

"They knew exactly what they were after. They didn't touch the till," he said, saying the set was being kept for his children.

"It was being put aside for my kids. I just want it back. Money is not going to replace it."

Darwin police official Gavin Kennedy said it would be hard to sell the items within Australia without being caught and expressed optimism the thieves would be tracked down.

Bradman, who died in 2001 at the age of 92, is regarded as the greatest batsman of all time. He achieved a Test average of 99.94 in his 20 years of playing international cricket for Australia between 1928 and 1948.

Bell Shoots Up The Rankings

Ian Bell may have fallen one run short of his maiden Test double century at Lord's, but his 199 against South Africa was enough to catapult him to a career-high 13th place in the Reliance Mobile ICC rankings.

The Warwickshire batsman, who averages over 44 in Tests, has risen nine places and now ranks alongside Indian great Sachin Tendulkar in equal 13th.

Despite failing to beat the tourists, other Englishmen profited from their performance in the first Test.

Kevin Pietersen's 152 against his native country has seen him rise three places to seventh, his highest position in the rankings this year.

Andrew Strauss completes the trio of England batsmen now in the top 20, although his 44 was not enough to prevent the opener sliding one place to 17th in the list.

Ryan Sidebottom's three wickets in the match ensured that he leapfrogged South Africa seamer Makhaya Ntini, who failed to strike at Lord's, into a career-best fifth place.

Monty Panesar's four-wicket haul ensured he retains his place at 11th in the rankings.

Andrew Flintoff will be hoping to be recalled to the England XI for the second test at Headingley on Friday in order to improve on the 19th place he currently holds in the bowling standings.

The Lancashire star - who has not played a Test in 19 months - still lies well behind Jacques Kallis and Daniel Vettori in the all-rounder rankings in third.

England's James Anderson continues to climb, up four places to 22nd while further down the list, South Africa seamer Morne Morkel has broken into the top 50 for the first time to 46th after taking 4-121.

England still occupy fourth place in the overall Test rankings, but a series victory by a two-Test margin would see them move up to third with India remaining second and the Proteas slipping to fourth.