Haddin Called in as Cover for Wade

Haddin Called in as Cover for Wade (Watch)
Australia's woes in the ongoing tour of India mounted on Monday as they were forced to call in Brad Haddin as cover for wicket-keeper Matthew Wade, who has sprained his right ankle and is in doubt for the third Test starting from Thursday.
"Cricket Australia (CA) advises that Matthew Wade's scans have confirmed a sprained right ankle. Given the uncertainty of Wade's availability, Brad Haddin will fly from Australia to Mohali today to join the squad," CA said in a statement.
The visiting side trails 0-2 in the four-match series. Wade had injured his ankle while playing basketball on Saturday.
"Matt has a complex ankle injury which has been confirmed by the scans and at this stage is in doubt for the Third Test starting on Thursday. A final decision on whether he will be available for the third Test will be made closer to the match," Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said.
Wade was in doubt before the second Test as well after he fractured his cheek bone during training but played through pain and scored a 62 in the first innings.
He has been Australia's first-choice wicket-keeper since last April's tour of West Indies when Haddin left the series midway to be with his ailing daughter.
The 35-year-old Haddin has the experience of playing in India as he was a part of the side that toured in 2008.
He has been in good form in the domestic circuit having scored 468 runs at an average of 52.00 with two centuries in the Sheffield Shield.

South Africa Win Series

South Africa ruined Ricky Ponting's farewell with an emphatic 309-run victory over Australia in the third Test on Monday to clinch the three-match series 1-0 and cement their position at the top of the ICC Test rankings.
Australia, 40-0 overnight, were bowled out for 322 in their second innings and never looked getting anywhere near the victory target of 632 which would have allowed them to leapfrog the Proteas to return to the summit of the game.
Ponting made a modest eight in his 287th and final Test innings but the day belonged to the Proteas, who inflicted a first Test defeat on Australia in 2012.
The hosts had the better of the drawn Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide but the tourists struck back with some brilliant cricket in Perth to become the first team since West Indies in the 1980s and 1990s to win consecutive series Down Under.
Hashim Amla is the Man of the Match. Michael Clarke is the Man of the Series.

Brief scores
South Africa 225 (du Plessis 78*) and 569 (Amla 196, de Villiers 169, Smith 84, Starc 6-154)
Australia 163 (Wade 68, Steyn 4-40) and 322 (Starc 68*, Cowan 53, Steyn 3-72, Peterson 3-127)
Result South Africa won by 309 runs
MOM Hashim Amla (South Africa)
Man of the series Michael Clarke (Australia)

Australia Favorite Against West Indies

A determined last year runner-up Australian outfit will be aiming to eliminate the 'Chris Gayle factor' when they meet a rejuvenated West Indies in the semifinal of the ICC World Twenty20 on Friday.
For Australia, it will be a chance to get into the final for the second time in succession after the 2010 edition and once again stamp their class as world's premier cricketing outfit.
For West Indies, it's more about the identity and trying to fight the inner demons which have affected their cricket since late 80's.
A berth in the final of a global event can be a big boost for the Caribbean nation where basketball, athletics and soccer have captured the imagination of the masses.
On Friday when the two teams lock horns, it will also be a battle between Shane Watson and Chris Gayle.
If Watson, who has won four man-of-the-match awards in five matches will play a key role in Australian set-up, Gayle can change the complexion of the match at any point of time with his ferocious power-hitting.
By sheer statistics, Watson is miles ahead of Gayle having scored 242 runs in five matches along with 11 wickets which makes him the favourite to win the 'Player of the Tournament' award.
However, Gayle who has so far hit 10 sixes in five matches, has scored two 50's and on his day can tear apart any bowling attack in the world.
The law of averages did catch up with Watson in the last match against Pakistan but that means that he will be hungrier than ever to take Aussies to the summit clash.
While Gayle and Watson will hold fort as the main protagonists for their respective sides, there will still be a few competent cricketers who will try to play the supporting roles to the best of their abilities.
Marlon Samuels has beautifully complemented Gayle. He might not look as destructive as Gayle from the onset but once set, can be as devastating as anybody.
For Australia, the main supporting role has been played by Mike Hussey whose responsible innings ensured smooth passage into the semi-finals.
Fidel Edwards has the pace and Ravi Rampaul can be skiddy but Watson has more variations up his sleeve while Mitchell Starc has always been incisive in his first spells.

Teams from

Australia: George Bailey (captain), David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Glenn Maxwell, Dan Christian, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (captain), Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Samuel Badree, Darren Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Smith.

Match facts
Friday October 5, 2012 (day/night)
Start time 19:00 local (13:30 GMT)