Australia keep its playing XI under wraps

Shane Watson and Chris Rogers are expected to open the batting but captain Michael Clarke has refused to confirm that. One could also see Clarke batting at number four, a place higher than where he has been most successful. He scored 124 off 98 balls at number four in a warm-up game against Worcester. 

‘We’ve spoken about five and four but where he bats, that is his (Clarke’s) decision,’ Lehmann said. Clarke, on his part, said he was open to changing his batting position. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever said I’d prefer to be at five. I’ve batted four my whole career in first-class cricket, batted five for Australia the past couple of years, and had a bit of success there, but I’ve said for a long time I’ll bat wherever suits the team, and this series will be no different,’ said Clarke.

Clarke and Lehmann have expressed their desire to have David Warner back in the side post his one-month suspension. He could bat at six. Steve Smith is also now in the reckoning after doing well in the drawn tour match against Worcester, which ended on Saturday. A certainty is Ed Cowan batting at number three, where he made a half-century in the first innings against Worcester.

Lehmann, however, said there were no guarantees about Cowan’s place in the side. ‘He got some runs in this game. You’d love him to make hundreds and put his position beyond doubt. He’s made some runs and we’ll just have to sit down and work out whether he’s in that top six or not,’ said the former Australia all-rounder. 

IAAF meet: Gowda ends 4th

Newly-crowned Asian champion Vikas Gowda finished a creditable fourth in the ninth leg of the 

prestigious IAAF Diamond League athletics series in Paris. Gowda hu