SHANE Watson says he hopes a surprisingly good pitch turns devilish today and swallows up India in the first Test after he and Brad Haddin kept Australia's hopes alive.

WA have been set 223 runs for victory in their Sheffield Shield clash with NSW after Blues skipper Dominic Thornely and opener Greg Mail posted important half-centuries.

POWERFUL all-rounder Jacob Oram shone with bat and ball to help New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 75 runs in the second one-day international in Dhaka.

THE NSW Blues began their domestic season during the week, but coach Matthew Mott hasn't heard from Stuart MacGill in almost two months.

THE NSW Blues are 2-62 in their second innings at stumps on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash against the WA Warriors at the WACA Ground in Perth today.

BAD light has stopped play just as Tasmania had Queensland on the rack in their Sheffield Shield clash. Among the carnage were three batsmen out for ducks.

NEW Zealand have beat Bangladesh by 75 runs in the second one-day international at Shere Bangla National Stadium. Jacob Oram was named man of the match.

WEST Indies captain Chris Gayle has been named skipper of the Stanford Superstars who will face England in the $29m Stanford 20/20 on November 1.

MIKE Hussey, the man forced to wait 11 years before playing Test cricket, continued to make up for lost time when he pulled Australia from the furnace with a vital century.

THE $30 million Stanford 20/20, the world's richest cricket match which had been in danger because of a row over commercial rights, will go-ahead as planned.