Sydney, Nov. 15 : Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has said both all-rounders Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson must play in the Gabba Test against New Zealand.

"It''s a difficult choice. But Watson did very well (in India) and he might come in as a third quick. I think Australia would like to have both those players in the team if they can," Waugh was quoted as saying by The Australian.

The debate reveals Australia''s embarrassment of riches compared to New Zealand, which lost two key players during the tour match against New South Wales at the SCG yesterday.

Sydney, Nov. 15 : New Zealand''s latest batting sensation Ross Taylor is convinced that the team can achieve the coveted number one position in cricket rankings sooner than later.

The first Samoan to don national colours and the first of Samoan descent to score a Test century, says he is ready to drag the nation out of its cricketing''s doldrums.

Melbourne, Nov. 15 : Former Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne has said Australia is still the world’s champion cricket team, despite being thrashed by India two nil in the recent away series.

Rubbishing India''s claims to champion status despite their 2-0 Border-Gavaskar series win, Warne said that Australia is being challenged, but was still the number one team in world cricket.

The first of a best of three finals for the ICL 20s Indian Championship featured defending champions Hyderabad Heroes take on the mighty Lahore Badshahs in front of an 83,000 spectators’ packed Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad.

An Unbeaten hurricane knock of 65 runs off just 38 deliveries by opening batsman Imran Farhat saw Lahore Badshahs maul Hyderabad Heroes by four wickets.

London, Nov. 15 : The first of seven one-day internationals between England and India in Rajkot was so one-sided, that former England Test cricketer and now cricket writer Derek Pringle has said that England had no choice but to bow to a superior force.

Writing in The Telegraph, Pringle says: “To lose a one-day international in India is nothing new for visiting teams, but to lose one by 158 runs over 50 overs is to bow to a superior force”.

Sydney, Nov. 15 : Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting, team coach Tim Nielsen and the cricket selectors ignored the basics of the game, and that is why they lost the series to India in India two nil, claims former player and noted commentator Peter Roebuck.

Responding to Ponting’s criticism of his write-ups during the series, Roebuck said that Ponting’s leadership was questionable and his field settings were contrived, but added that the pitches were also partly to blame for the final result.