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Shahid Afridi walked to the crease for his first Test innings in nearly four years with Shane Watson sitting on the imposing figures of 2 for 0 from seven deliveries. But instead of going block-block, Boom Boom went bang-bang. Second ball, Afridi nonchalantly flicked a boundary over midwicket and followed with another four and a six. It was much the same in the next over, including a six over long-off, but Watson had the last laugh when Afridi was caught at mid-on trying to clear the infield again. It left Watson with the Twenty20-like figures of 3 for 30 from three overs, including a maiden, while Afridi departed with 31 from 15 balls in a 15-minute cameo. "That`s probably the only way he knows how to play," Watson said. "That`s the reason people love him but also people can get a little bit frustrated with him at times. I had no answers for a couple of overs. Every time I bowled a ball that I felt came out well he just hit it for four or six."
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Nottinghamshire captain David Hussey led from the front with a perfectly judged unbeaten innings of 47 off 35 balls as the Friends Provident t20 North Group leaders beat Durham by four wickets with three balls remaining. Needing 56 off the last five overs and with 18 balls left, Hussey combined with tail-ender Graeme White (26 not out) to fashion an unlikely victory and continue the Outlaws` march towards the quarter-finals. Click here more news

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New sports minister Hugh Robertson has given a strong hint that the Conservative government will abandon plans to put home Ashes Tests back on free-to-air TV.

The previous Labour government appeared to be backing proposals to return cricket to terrestrial TV, which created much opposition from the ECB and counties which feared a major loss of income, but when a decision wasn`t made before the general election there was always a chance the plans would change.
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Pakistan fast bowler Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has said he is ready to meet the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt to "clear things out" with regard to the one-year ban slapped on him by the board. Naved-ul-Hasan`s appeal hearing was postponed until June 26 and in the meantime he was asked to approach the PCB and request it to reconsider his punishment.

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For all his indubitable class, Michael Clarke has never quite convinced as a limited-overs batsman, and as captain in the Caribbean recently, he singled himself out as a scapegoat after coming in at No. 3 in the final and plodding his way to a run-a-ball 27. So, what is there to say about his latest effort - 87 not out from 97 balls? On the one hand, it met the needs of his team entirely, as he stabilised the innings from a dicey 98 for 4, and enabled Australia to bat out the remaining 28 overs of their innings. On the other hand, it lacked a critical final measure of oomph, as 12 singles and a two from his final 13 balls would testify. With better support, it might not have mattered, but in a new-look side, the onus was on Clarke to be anchor and impetus. Click here more news

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Even games into the tour and West Indies still don`t know how to beat South Africa, irrespective of the format. This West Indies team is a pale shadow of the one that fought bravely in Australia just a few months ago. Injuries to key players like Ramnaresh Sarwan and Fidel Edwards may have pegged their fortunes back a bit, but unfortunately, the other senior players look a deflated bunch. The intimidation from Chris Gayle is missing, so is the stodgy resistance from Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
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After Tuesday`s hard-fought tournament opener, the second match turned into another chapter of the Asia Cup`s long history of one-sided encounters. India won`t be complaining though after a hassle-free victory over Bangladesh in a match in which they welcomed seven regulars back to the XI.
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Shahid Afridi backs day-night Tests

Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan captain, has backed the idea of day-night Tests, saying the concept will draw in bigger crowds, increase viewership and generate greater revenues for the game. Afridi echoed the views of the outgoing ICC president David Morgan, who had said "it won`t be too long" before day-night Tests are played in India or Australia, and former Australian captain Steve Waugh.

"I definitely support this idea to have Test matches under lights because in this changing world it is necessary to make changes according to times," Afridi told PTI. "When you can have Twenty20 cricket and 50-overs cricket under lights, why not Test matches? I think it would increase the crowd participation and increase revenues and viewership for Test matches."

The prospect of day-night Tests has been raised to increase crowds but the concept has been held back by problems with coloured balls lasting more than 80 overs. Afridi, however, believed things would fall into place once the idea was implemented. When they used white ball for the first time in one-day cricket, it took time before things fell into place.

"It is the real test for cricketers but it is also a fact that nowadays people don`t have time to go to the grounds for five days during the day time. I support any move that is aimed at betterment in the sport."
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After suggesting that the Pakistan cricketers boycott this year`s Champions League Twenty20 and the 2011 edition of the IPL, the country`s sports minister Ijaz Jhakrani has asked the Indian government to start an inquiry into why not a single Pakistan player was bid for in the IPL auction on January 19.

"We want the government of India to intervene in this issue and let us know who was responsible in keeping Pakistan cricketers away from the IPL," Jhakrani told AP. "From day one our stance is that the IPL decision was an influenced one."

The eight IPL franchises did not consider buying anyone from Pakistan because they were uncertain of their availability, despite all 11 players obtaining the necessary clearances from their government and the Pakistan Cricket Board. India`s home minister P Chidambaram sympathised with the players, saying their non-selection was a disservice to cricket. Shah Rukh Khan, the co-owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, said their exclusion was humiliating.