Sachin reaches 48 centuries as India fight back

"The little master" continues to impress, even 20 years into his career. It seems like an eternity ago that Sachin Tendulkar made his first Test hundred way back in 1990 at Old Trafford. It was just his second Test. His latest hundred- his 48th, has come in his 168th Test. This highest number of Test matches played by a single cricketer, a record which Tendulkar shares with the "Ice Man" Steve Waugh.

It was a special ton and it came at an ideal time for India, suddenly 3-173 after crusing at 0-165. Virender Sehwag had come within 1 run of scoring his fourth century in consecutive Tests(109 and 165 vs South Africa, February 2009, following his century in the Indian second innings of the Test prior to this one) but was stumped by Sangkkara off the wily spin of Test newcomer Suraj Randiv. Rahul "the wall" Dravid, came and went, another dismissal for Randiv, although this was a controverial LBW.

Tendulkar brought up his century on the sweep, dispatching Suraj Randiv for his 13th boundary of the innings. While some have complained that his strike rate has slowed in the past few years, this has merely showed his adapability in engeneering his batting to suit the flow of an innings. And it is not as if he is not able to score at a canter- during this year's edition of the IPL, Sachin carried the bat with an unbeaten 89 from 59 deliveries. The knock was enriched with 10 boundaries and 2 sixes. It was a wonderfully timed innings, which began slowly, lasting through an early collapse before unleashing into top gear for the final three overs of the Mumbai innings.

If hewas to reach the coveted 50 century milestone before the end of the series, it another tick off to-do list for Tendulkar- when he broke Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries against Sri Lanka, Colombo, 2005, Gavaskar spoke to Sachin and threatened to come after him for breaking the record unless he scored 50 centuries for India! Ever since Gavaskar's threats, it has been his main ambition to reach the 50 century milestone.

Sri Lanka takes the attack to India on day 1

Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakarra and his loyal top-order batsmen have smashed India all over the park throughout all of day 1 and early into day 2.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Tharanga Paranavitana clattered the Indians for 99 runs during the opening 18 overs at a stunning run rate of 5.5.

Dilshan was finally dismissed for 54 from just 42 deliveries, but Paranavitana continued beyond the lunch break. When he was finally dismissed for an even 100 before stumps, it was too little, too late. Sangakkara was unbeaten on 130 and Jayawardene was settling on 7.

Paranavitana added 174 with Sangakkara in a boundary-light hundred.

The score is curently 3-500 wtih Jayawardene on 88 and Thilan Samaraweera.

Aamer impresses again as shaky Pakistan scrape over the line

Stunning teenage paceman Mohammad Aamer took 7-106 as Pakistan finally managed to break Australia's 13 Test match winning streak over the mercurial squad.

Young Aamer has exploded onto the world cricket scene in the year since his international debut in the WorldTwenty20- the firebrand enjoyed a fantastic tour of New Zealand before showing promise in Australia. So far the 18 year old has taken 25 wickets in a mere 8 Tests.

Aamer hit the stumps twice and generated some extreme swing in taking 3-2o in the first innings as Australia were demolished by Pakistan's attack, dismissed for a paltry 88. He then provided the necessary goods during the second innings, bowling Simon Katich before the Australian captain and his deputy took charge and fought back to have the Australians 2-136 at stumps on the second day.

Aamer then came back on the third morning of the Test match and ripped the heart out of Australia's middle order, taking 3 Australian wickets (Ponting-66 North-0 Hussey-8) in the space of 16 balls. He held his nerve on a tense fourth morning to giude his team to a three wicket triumph with Umar Gul.

800 wickets for a true champion

During his final Test match, Muttiah Muralitharan showed the world that at even at 38, he still has what it takes to bowl his country to victory.

India sat comfortably at 3-140 during the first Test in Galle after Sri Lanka scored 520-8 dec. and the second day was washed out. The match appeared to be petering out to another tame draw when Muralitharan finally began to weave his magic, snaring 5-63 as India were bowled out for an inconceivable 276 and forced to follow on.

Lasith Malinga impressed on his return to Test cricket, taking 5-50 during the Indian second innings but all eyes were on "Murali" as he strove to become the first man to take 800 wickets.

He then completed a remarable tri fecta- he became the only man in the history of Test cricket to take 800 wickets, took a wicket with his final ball and ended the Indian innings. The final wicket also held significance for his long-time captain, Mahela Jayawardene, who held a low catch at first slip. A world record 67 of Muralitharan's wickets read:
c.Jayawardene b. Muralitharan.

There could have been no better end for a truly remarkable cricketer.

Watto perfornance

Shane Watson took a superb five wicket haul on a Lord's pitch which seemed especially tailored to his own swing bowling. In doing so, he joined Glenn McGrath on the esteemed Lord's honors board for cricketers who have taken a wickets or more in an innings at the hallowed turf of the home of cricket.

Watson took the wickets of both the Akmal brothers as well as key men Shahid Afridi and Salman Butt, the latter of whom was bowled by a magnificent inswinger. Afridi was also a key wicket as he was a man on a mission having smashed 31 from a mere 15 deliveries.

As brilliant as Watson was, Pakistan fought back to have Australia 4-100 at stumps.

Who will be selected for Pakistan's clash with the Aussies?

Although the current Pakistan squad is missing the services of veterans Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan, it has the bright young talents of Umar Akmal and Mohammad Aamer available well into the future.

Opening batsman Salman Butt seems to have set his place into concrete, despite causing a number of rather embarrasing run outs in the past few months. As far as the other opening slot goes, Fahwad Alam would be a fantastic foil for Butt. Alam has been played in the middle order of the ODI squad recently but originally was played as Test opener against Sri Lanka last year, where he made an impressive 168 on debut.

In terms of the middle order gap left by Younus Khan and Yousuf, the fighting Khurram Manzoor would be a excellent suggestion- the toiler having made a fighting 77 from 139 deliveries during his last Test against Australia. Despite the fact that it was a dour innings in an attempt to save the Test match for Pakistan, the knock was still enriched with 8 fours.

In terms of bowling, while Asif and Aamer are certain selections, the final pace spot will be a fight between workhorse Abdur Rauf, speedster Mohammmad Sami and the ever-economical Umar Gul.

As for spin, Danish Kaneria should be preferred over Saeead Ajmal, who has recently made his name as a limited overs bowler.

Top 10 Young Cricketers

While there is a large proportion of major international cricketers that have hit the halfway mark of their careers, there has been some extremely encouraging youth development within each Test nation.

Here are my evaluations as to the best young players from around the world that have emerged throughout the past two years:

1. Mohammad Aamer- allrounder(Pakistan)
2. Angelo Matthews- allrounder(Sri Lanka)
3. J.P Duminy- allrounder*(South Africa)
4. Umar Akmal- batsman(Pakistan)
5. Steve Smith- allrounder(Australia)
6. Tim Southee-allrounder(New Zealand)
7.Adrian Barath- batsman (West Indies)
8. Craig Kieswetter- batsman(England)
9. Kemar Roach- Fast bowler(West Indies)
10. Tamim Iqbal- batsman(Bangladesh)
*Duminy has been playing ODIs for South Africa for a couple of years now, but only made his Test debut in the 2008-09 summer against Australia on home soil.