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Paul Harris is a character straight out of a Vegas gambling film. He says “perception is often reality” and batsmen perceive him to be an innocuous bowler, and that’s where he says he gets his wickets. He played around with his own perception to become the most successful spinner in the match, his “innocuous” outside-the-leg line from over the stumps getting him the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and M Vijay, the only men who looked like they could deny South Africa. Thanks to Harris, the fast bowlers didn’t need to bust their gut in consigning India to their third innings defeat at home in the last 10 years – all three to the same opposition.

John Dyson was sacked as West Indies coach because he hadn’t signed a contract during his 18-month stint, a senior WICB official has said.

Conde Riley, a director of the board from Barbados, said that they had been left with no option but to sack Dyson, who left his position last month following Test and one-day series defeats against Bangladesh.

“People would say we were weak, or that he should not have started to work, but there were two CEOs who were employed with Dyson, who were trying to get [him to sign],” Riley told a press conference in Barbados on Tuesday. “We discussed it last November in Antigua. Dyson was at that meeting, and then the team was off to New Zealand, came back, played against England and Bangladesh, and the directors took a decision.

The IPL final could have gone either way but Andrew Symonds’ back-to-back strikes tilted the balance in favour of Deccan Chargers, according to captain Adam Gilchrist and his Bangalore counterpart Anil Kumble.

Chasing a modest 144, Bangalore looked on course for victory until Symonds struck twice in the 15th over, removing both Ross Taylor and Virat Kohli with the second and third deliveries respectively. Gilchrist believed the match was evenly poised until then and congratulated Bangalore on making it a great contest. “I think for us, Pragyan Ojha did really well claiming three crucial wickets but those two wickets in two balls, that really hurts especially when a team is chasing,” Gilchrist said.

Pakistanis have always remained very loving and attached to their cricketers especially the middle order batsmen. They have always idealized the likes of Mushtaq, Haneef, Javed Miandad, Inzamam and Mohammad Yousaf. Regardless of their performances, nation has always given them their respect and regard and reward. The middle order batsman has always been the most influential player in the team.

The Indian team had mixed news from the sick bay ahead of the second ODI against South Africa on Friday. While S Sreesanth has been ruled out of the match, and Gautam Gambhir was also deemed unfit, MS Dhoni and Ajit Agarkar appeared to be ready for selection.

“Sreesanth is still not well. He’s definitely not well enough to play tomorrow (Friday)”, said Rahul Dravid, the India captain, after the fast bowler did not turn up for practice.

Gautam Gambhir, the opening batsman, has also joined the sick list. “Gautam Gambhir has also had a bit of a viral fever so he’s in the hotel”.

Dav Whatmore, who was interviewed by the Pakistan board this morning, said he was up to the challenge of taking on one of the more demanding jobs in world cricket.

Whatmore met the three-man PCB committee constituted to find a successor to Bob Woolmer, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for nearly two hours. Speaking to reporters after, Whatmore said, “The interview went very well. It was a good discussion. Coaching the Pakistan team represents a challenge and if given this opportunity, I can produce good results. I think I am up to the challenge.”

Steve Harmison intends to postpone his hernia operation until after the Test series against India and possibly his county Durham’s appearance in the Friends Provident Trophy final on August 18.

Harmison learned he required surgery during England’s final Test against West Indies in Durham, but having retired from ODIs and appearing to have regained some of the form that made him such a threat once, he is reluctant to lose any opportunity to play. “I will try to play as long as I possibly can, whether it be to the end of the season, whether it be August 18, or whether it be to the end of the Test series against India,” Harmison said.

In the world cricket, normally the awe surrounds the blasting batsmen or the lightening fast bowlers. There are very few examples of spinners inducing excitement and thrill. Shane Warne of Australia is the best spinner of all time without any shade of doubt. His right arm leg break is second to none. His nearest opponents in the matter of spinning the ball are far behind. His majestic finger voodoo has ruled the world for 16 years with a style.

Three Sri Lankan batsmen are competing for the void created by the self-imposed absence of former captain and opening batsman Marvan Atapattu for the series against Bangladesh.

Thilan Samaraweera, Jehan Mubarak and Michael Vandort were all picked to represent the Sri Lanka A team here on Tuesday in the three-day tour match with the visitors starting on Wednesday (today).

The 31-year-old Samaraweera who captains the A team averages 41 in Tests with five centuries. Mubarak, a 26-year-old left-handed opener, has been named vice-captain and fellow left-hander Vandort has averaged 51 in six Tests.

Former England batsman Geoff Boycott has backed Kevin Pietersen to become the new captain of the national one-day side after Michael Vaughan stepped down from the role.

Vaughan resigned on Monday after four years in the post — although he will remain as the captain of the Test side — and Paul Collingwood is favourite to be named as his successor when the one-day squad is announced on Friday.

However, Boycott believes Pietersen would be an exciting option as England look to regroup following their disastrous World Cup campaign in West Indies.