Michael Clarke's absence. Watson caption

Melbourne, Mar 13-Australian cricket Coach Mickey Arthur has reckoned that Watson has done an outstanding" job and exceed hope in leading the ODI squad in Michael Clarke's absence.

Shane's been really good, he has been outstanding. He's led very well, he's led with power. He’s almost performing above probability in that area, which is great," The Age quoted Arthur, as saying. Arthur said the hamstring injury that has ruled Clarke out of the ODI series in the Caribbean could prove a silver lining by giving Watson the experience to happen to a captain in future.

If things happen to Clarke we want to have an able vice-captain who can take over's also a vice-captain playing all forms of the game. Shane Watson can give huge support to Michael through the Tests and ODIs and to George Bailey through the Twenty20s," he added. Arthur described foreign situation and a largely unknown opposition as biggest challenges confront the Australian squad.

An unknown opposition does present more challenge. They can hit you hard up face and we could be chasing our tails for the rest of the series. We've get the week now to make sure in all discipline we're right to go on Friday," he added.

Srikanth confident by Indian team in Asia Cup

Mar 12: Chief selector K Srikanth is confident of a strong comeback by the Indian squad in the ongoing Asia Cup. The Asia Cup is vital for the status of the country, Srikanth told media here.

The Asia Cup is between India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and I think, any win will definitely boost the morale of cricket in any part of the world, especially in India and I am sure, our Indian team will do well. I am very confident, and I think, this particular contest is a very main tournament as far as Indian cricket is fretful, and I am very confident that we will do well," he said.

We will also have to accept the fact that cricket is a game; sometimes there are ups and sometimes there are downs, but I am sure we have for all time comeback and fought back and done well so if you see the Indian cricket history itself, we have always bounced back and done well. I am sure Indians will jump back and do well," he added.

The Indian cricket team:

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni departed for Bangladesh on Saturday, to restore their lost prestige in the upcoming Asia Cup, after their dismal presentation in the triangular series in Australia. The four-nation Asia Cup, which starts on Sunday, would conclude on March 22.

Australia aim to continue winning in the West Indies tour

SYDNEY: Australia’s one-day side had barely 12 hours to celebrate their Tri-series victory before desertion for the Caribbean on Friday and stand-in captain Shane Watson conceded there be some tired players in his squad.

The hosts triumph win by 16 runs in Adelaide on Thursday to win the final series against Sri Lanka 2-1 and take down the curtain on an Australian summer of international cricket that has continuous almost unabated since December 1.There's no doubt there are a few guys that have played the full summer who are going to be a little bit tired but in the end, that's part and parcel of playing international cricket,"Shane Watson Watson told newspapers at Sydney Airport.

You are playing just about all year round, and you've got to stumble on ways to be able to freshen up whenever you probably can and to be able to keep doing all you can to stay as fresh as you can to be able to perform."All rounder Watson will captain the side for the 5-match one-day series, 2 T20, 3 test matches. On first match star the next Friday. St Vincent as Michael Clarke recuperates from a left hamstring injury.

Australia only have to win or tie just one of the matches to be sure of retain the number one spot in the ICC ODI rankings but Watson said their ambition were much higher than that after a very well performance against Sri Lanka on Thursday. We need to keep up that standard because if we do bowling and field like that we're going to win just on all game that we play, he said. I think we really set a normal last night that we need to maintain no matter what and I truly believe that we can do it.

It's a challenge to be proficient to continue to get up like that all single game but we are playing for our country, so there's no excuse. Another injury concern is fast bowler James Pattinson, who traveled with the team but is suffer from a strained buttock muscle. It’s big to be able to see a fast with a bit of mongrel about him and has the skills to rear it up," Watson added.

India Reentry Uthappa, Y Pathan. Schwas outside.

Robin Uthappa makes his way come back into the Indian Twenty20 side that has no place for Virender Sehwag India has left out Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan from the 15-man squad announce for the one-off T20 international against South Africa later this(march) month. Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan and Ashok Dinda all make their way back in this match.

Sehwag and Zaheer were earlier left out of this month’s Asia Cup ODI team by the Indian selectors (Srikanth) who claim that the duo was rested due to small injuries. The one-off T20I is part of an already jam-packed schedule and income the Indian side will travel all the way to South Africa to play the Proteas at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg on March 30th.

The 2012 ICC World T20 will be held in Sri Lanka from September 18th to October 12th. India won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2007.

Indian squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virat Kohli (vice-captain), Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Rahul Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Manoj Tiwary, Irfan Pathan, Ashok Dinda.

West Indies cricketer Runako Morton is death

Port of Spain, March 5: West Indies cricketer Runako Morton was killed in a car accident here Sunday night.

The 33-year-old, one of the few cricketers to come out from the island of Nevis, lost control of the car he was driving and hit a pole, according to reports. He died on the spot. Morton had played 15 Test matches, 56 ODI internationals and seven T20s for the West Indies since make his international first appearance in 2002. He last played in February 2010 in a T20 against Australia in Sydney.

Previous West Indies Chris Gayle, under whom Morton played in the national team, "We lost a True Warrior W.I Cricketer Runako -May is soul rest in peace! Our memoirs together Live On!-My pity to his Family."West Indies player Carlos Braithwaite also opens his condolences. "RIP Runacko Morton. Gone but not forgotten," he tweets.

England star batsman Kevin Pietersen also spoken his shock on Twitter. My thoughts go out to Runako Morton's family this morning... Such sad news!! What a good-looking guy & fierce competitor!! RIP bossman!!!" he said. Morton had represent Trinidad and Tobago, Leeward Islands in Nevis. Morton scored 5980 runs at an average of 39.60 in a 1st class career that span over 17 years.

Morton's career, however, was never short of controversy. He was excluded from the West Indian Academy in July 2001, for a series of rule breaches but a good run with the bat for Leeward Islands in the Busta Cup forced the selectors to recall him in 2002 as a substitute for Marlon Samuels.

His career seemed almost over in September 2002, when he pulls out of the ICC Champions Trophy in September 2002, after lying about the death of his grandmother. In January, 2004, he was detained but released without charge next a stabbing event.Morton and Leeward Islands all-rounder Tonito Willett were under arrest, before being released on bail, in March last year for control of marijuana.