Tendulkar became the fourth centurion of the match having seen Kumar Sangakkara (219), Mahela Jayawardene (174) and Tharanga Paranavitana (100) reach three figures on the first two days and then team-mate Virender Sehwag fall for 99 earlier on the third day.

Sehwag, who hit 15 fours in 101 balls, became off-spinner Suraj Randiv’s first Test wicket when he was stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene looking to reach his century in style and his dismissal ended a 165-run stand for the first wicket.

Randiv struck again shortly after to have Rahul Dravid trapped for three and with that coming three overs after Murali Vijay (58) had been trapped in front by Ajantha Mendis, India had lost three wickets for the addition of just seven runs.

Tendulkar, along with VVS Laxman (29) steadied the ship with 68-run stand for the fourth wicket, which came when Laxman was leg before to Mendis having faced 98 deliveries for his runs.

Debutant Suresh Raina took a little while to get off the mark, but settled to push India towards their target of avoiding the follow-on by making an unbeaten 66 in 133 balls which included eight fours.

Mendis, who tormented India in their last tour and also in the only practice game ahead of current series, today took two of the four wickets but gave away 83 runs in 25 overs.

“He is a difficult bowler but our batsmen have sorted him out. We have figured out his strengths and so we try not to bat to his strengths. He has done well against us but now it is an even contest,” Tendulkar, who scored his 48th Test century on Wednesday, said.

Mendis trapped both Murali Vijay and VVS Laxman while off-spinner Suraj Randiv dismissed Sehwag and Rahul Dravid. Tendukar praised both Mendis and Randiv for their efforts but said it will be difficult for them to fill in the vaccum created by the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan.
“Both the bowlers did very well. Of course, it is always difficult to emulate Murali and it is not going to be easy for Mendis and Randiv. It would be a big responsibility for them to fill up his place,” Tendulkar said.

Bedi, an untiring critic of Muralitharan by repeatedly calling him a “chucker”, found support from two other Indian spinners Erapalli Prasanna and Maninder Singh who said the Sri Lankan was given the licence by the ICC to bend his arm.

In an uncharacterictic attack, Muralitharan described Bedi a controversy monger and an ordinary bowler who would have been thrashed by any batsman had he been playing in the modern era.

Asked for his reaction to Murali’s verbal volley, Bedi said, “I don’t want to react. Don’t want to comment. I don’t want to say anything to be honest. You know my views. I don’t want to stoop to his level. I don’t call Murali a chucker. He is a chucker.”

Former Indian spinner Prasanna threw his weight behind his former teammate, saying Murali’s attack was “totally uncalled for”.

“He (Murali) should have avoided it. Murali should have been little more mature. He just can’t make such loose comments that anybody could have achieved Bishen’s feat. We all admire him for his achievements. He should have avoided making such comments”, Prasanna said.

“The fact of the matter is that ICC bent its rules for Murali. With that, flexibility was allowed to him and most of the bowlers,” he said.

“He doesn’t fit into the slot of conventional bowler but fact of the matter is ICC bent the rules and permitted him. Therefore it’s ok”, he said.

Bedi has been an untiring critic of Muralitharan by repeatedly calling the Sri Lankan a “chucker” and asking the ICC to ban the Sri Lankan’s “doosra” as it was illegal.

Muralitharan, who retired last week after completing 800 Test wickets at Galle against India, made an uncharacteristic attack on Bedi, saying that he was just an ordinary bowler.

Asked about the lack of world-class spinners in India, except for Harbhajan Singh, Muralitharan said Bedi was not in the league of BS Chandrasekhar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Erapalli Prasanna.

“Bedi, I don’t think he even comes to a contest on that. I saw some (of his) bowling of his playing days. In modern era, if he plays he will get hammered every ball, that is what will happen. So no comparison,” the world’s most successful spinner said.

“Prasanna is a good bowler. I have seen his bowling. Venkataraghavan is good. But Bedi does not come under it,” he said.

Though without mentioning the constant criticism he got from Bedi, the affable Sri Lankan advised the former Indian captain to refrain from whipping up controversies.

“He (Bedi) is also a controversial person. He has lot of controversies everywhere in the world. And he should think about himself first rather than talking about other people,” Muralitharan said.

In the light of India’s struggling performance in Sri Lanka, Waugh said: “India don’t look like the No.1 side. The Indian team is struggling at the moment with their bowling and the team does not have the bowlers to take 20 wickets.”

The 45-year-old legendary batsman said India are only a tough team to beat at home, and it will be difficult for Australia to defeat them in the series, comprising two Tests and three one-day internationals, that starts on October 1 with the first Test in Mohali.

“It will be close and a tough series. The team which plays better cricket will win,” said Waugh.

Waugh, who was in the capital for a promotional event, said the Indian team is suffering due to the absence of injured fast bowling spearhead Zaheer Khan.

“India are a very good side. The batting line up is among the best in the world. But the bowling attack seems weak in the absence of senior bowler like Zaheer Khan,” he said.

Waugh was also disappointed with an inconsistent Harbhajan Singh.

“I don’t see a match winning spinner in the team. Harbhajan Singh is good but he is not consistent. He only seems to be doing well against Australia. India’s bowling has weakened after the retirement of Kumble,” Waugh said.

India need to win the crucial match, beginning on Monday, to square the series. The left-hander, who has been struggling of late, was a flop in the first Test at Galle where he got out in the very first over of both the innings.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said he is not sure of Gambhir’s availability for the match.

“As far as injuries goes Gautam is having a problem with either the left or right knee. I am not 100 per cent sure which knee. So we will take a call may be in the evening or tomorrow morning before the game,” Dhoni said.

India are already missing fast bowlers Zaheer Khan and S Sreeanth due to injuries.

The bidding parties will need to fulfil the eligibility criteria and other requirements as specified in the bid document.
The last date for bid submission is July 30.
The bids are likely to be opened on July 31, when the BCCI Working Committee meeting is schedule, a BCCI official said.

Sehwag, who scored 109 and 31 in the Test which India lost by 10 wickets, has opened up a 14-point gap over second-placed Kumar Sangakkara.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s iconic off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who spent a record 214 Tests and 1,711 days at the number-one spot, retired from Test cricket at third spot in the bowling chart.

In the Rankings for Test batsmen, Indian opener Gautam Gambhir, middle-order batsmen Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni have failed to retain their places.
Gambhir has slipped six places to 10th position, Laxman has fallen two places to 15th position, Dravid has dropped one place to 18th place while Dhoni has fallen four places to the 40th spot.

India were without pace duo of Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth and Dhoni said although the inexperienced seamers — Ishant Sharma and debutant Abhimanyu Mithun did not fare too badly, the lack of experience showed.

“Looking at the conditions here, I think we lacked experience in bowling. It was a learning experience for the seamers, who did a decent job after the first day,” Dhoni said after India succumbed to a 10-wicket defeat.

“It was not a kind of start that we were looking for. We lasted just three sessions today. But there are some positives. It was good to see the way Mithun bowled and Sehwag also batted well.

“There are plenty of areas to work on. Hopefully we will learn from mistakes and come good in the next match,” he said.

The idea Headingley could effectively become a home from home for Pakistan was one of the reasons Yorkshire opted to forego the Test between England and Bangladesh in favour of the neutral contest.
Yorkshire has one of the biggest Asian populations in the country and the club have made determined efforts in recent years to engage with the Asian community.

The summons were issued on July 19 by the Office of Assistant Director of Income Tax, Mumbai to BCCI secretary N Srinivasan, asking the latter to present himself or a representative on Wednesday and furnish details related to the IPL bids, a source said.

In reply, the BCCI on Wednesday informed the IT authorities that a representative of the Board would be present before it on July 23.

Eight of the nine already-qualified teams have named their preliminary squads, with Wayamba the exceptions while the tenth place in the tournament will be taken by the winners of the Caribbean T20 tournament, which concludes on 31st July.

The competing teams must reduce their squad to 15 members by 9th August.

Flintoff is joined in reigning Indian Premier League champions Chennai’s squad by fellow overseas players Muttiah Muralitharan, Albie Morkel, Doug Bollinger, Thilan Thushara, Thissara Perera, Mike Hussey and Matthew Hayden.

A number of players are included in two or more squads, who are Ross Taylor, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Cameron White. Should players play for a side that is not their ‘home’ side – that is, the team from the country for which they play international cricket, the ‘away’ side must compensate the ‘home’ side.

He had Pragyan Ojha caught by Mahela Jayawardene for 13 as India ended their second innings on 338 having been asked to follow on, which set Sri Lanka 95 to win.

Tillakaratne Dilshan blasted an unbeaten 68 in 47 balls as Sri Lanka cruised to 96 without loss in 14.1 overs.

VVS Laxman played the lead role with an innings of 69 in 127 balls but the early dismissals of Mahendra Singh Dhoni (4) and Harbhajan Singh (8) set them back.

Dhoni was bowled by Lasith Malinga, who returned figures of five for 50, and Harbhajan became wicket number 799 for Muralitharan when he was trapped in front.

The veteran slow bowler finished with figures of three for 128 from 44.4 overs having picked up his 67th five-wicket haul in Tests earlier in the match, when India were bowled out for 276 in reply to 520 for eight declared – Tharanga Paranavitana and Kumar Sangakkara scoring centuries as Sri Lanka took control of the match from an early stage.

Mendis was left out for the first match in Galle, which ended with a Sri Lankan ten-wicket victory and Muralitharan bowing out with 800 Test wickets.

Replacing him as vice-captain is Mahela Jayawardene, former captain of Sri Lanka and fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep is called up for the first time.

He covers for Lasith Malinga, who took seven wickets in Galle, but suffered an injury in the process.

Sri Lanka Test squad: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Mahela Jayawardene (vice-captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Thilina Kandamby, Prasanna Jayawardene, Ajantha Mendis, Chanaka Welagedara, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Dammika Prasad, Dilhara Fernando, Lahiru Thirimanne, Nuwan Pradeep

Ryder has been ruled out of the ODI tri-series which also includes India due to an elbow injury and Ingram, who has played two Tests, six ODIs and three T20 Internationals, is set to travel to Darwin to join up with the squad for a week’s preparation.

Ingram made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in February, where he scored 69 before going on to play two further matches against the same opponents and then three matches against Australia in March.

New Zealand begin the tri-series when they play India on 10th August in Dambulla.

New Zealand ODI squad: Ross Taylor (captain), Kyle Mills (vice-captain), Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Peter Ingram, Nathan McCullum, Andy McKay, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson

Muralitharan, playing his final Test, left it late to reach the milestone, as with one Indian wicket remaining, he had 799 before he had Pragyan Ojha caught by Mahela Jayawardene for 13.

He finished the innings with figures of three for 128 from 44.4 overs having taken five for 63 to force India to follow on in the first innings.

That was his 67th Test five-wicket haul and he will finish his Test career with 22 ten-wicket match hauls.

795 of his Test wickets have come for Sri Lanka and he took five playing for the ICC World XI in a one-off Test against Australia in 2005.

The left-hand opening batsman was unbeaten on 112 having shared a second-wicket stand of 181 with captain Kumar Sangakkara, who also reached three figures when play was ended due to bad light with the home side on 256 for two after 68 overs.

Having won the toss and decided to bat, Sri Lanka made a solid start before Tillakaratne Dilshan became debutant Abhimanyu Mithun’s first Test wicket when he edged an attempted horizontal-bat shot to wicket-keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Mithun had only just replaced Ishant Sharma following a drinks break and that left Sri Lanka 55 for one but they would be forced to wait another 50 overs for their next wicket.

In the meantime, Paranavitana stroked his century in 201 balls with 11 fours to reach the milestone in Tests for the first following four previous dismissals between 50 and 73 in ten matches.

Sangakkara reached 103 in 145 balls in 12 fours before he pulled a Virender Sehwag long-hop to Sachin Tendulkar in the deep.

Mahela Jayawardene was unbeaten on eight when the decision was taken to call off play for the day with the threat of rain also looming.

Three men scored centuries as the Board XI, captained by Thilan Samaraweera, racked up 514 for nine before declaring and India, despite Yuvraj Singh’s century, could only reply with 291 all out.

The Board XI batted again and reached 260 for six with Lahiru Thirimanne becoming the fourth Sri Lankan in the match to reach three figures.

Upul Tharanga (110), Thilina Kandamby (101) and Samaraweera (102) were the chief run-scorers as India’s inexperienced bowling attack struggled.

Thirimanne added 66 and Dinesh Chandimal was unbeaten on 47 before left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha enhanced his chances of playing in the first Test in Galle with five for 153.

Aside from Gautam Gambhir’s 89 in 114 balls and Yuvraj’s 118 in 146 balls which included six sixes, the Indian batting failed to deliver with no other player so much as reaching 20.

Rarely can the four big names of Virender Sehwag (18), Rahul Dravid (11), Sachin Tendulkar (4) and VVS Laxman (6) have mustered so few runs in an innings.

Ajantha Mendis, who is likely to return to Test cricket when Muttiah Muralitharan stands aside after the first Test, returned six for 67 while there were two wickets apiece for Chanaka Welagedara and Sachitra Senanayake.

Batting again, Thirimanne made a fluent 102 and Chandimal 69 batting at number three to confirm the dominance of the home side throughout the match.

Experienced bowlers Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth all missed the match while the latter two will miss the entire series due to injury.

Modi’s attorney Mehmood Abdi, accompanied by three other lawyers, said before going into the meeting with the BCCI panel that his camp would raise the issue of recusal of interim IPL chairman Chirayu Amin and Arun Jaitley from the Committee.

on Thursday, the Bombay High Court refused to grant any relief to Modi and left the issue of reconstituting the Disciplinary panel on the members.

Although New Delhi does not figure in Australia’s itinerary, the Commonweath Games will have to compete for attention with India’s obsession especially with such a high-profile home series at the same time.

According to the schedule released on Friday by the BCCI, Australia will play the first Test in Mohali from October 1 to 5, while the second Test will be played in Bangalore from October 9 to 14. The Commonwealth Games will be held from October 3 to 14.

The Australian team will arrive in India on September 21 and will play a three-day practice match in Chandigarh from September 25 to 27.

The Aussies will after the Tests play three one-dayers with the first ODI on October 17 in Kochi, the second on October 20 in Vizag and the third in Goa on October 24.