ECB expressed hope to the beginning of the Test tour, following a security report in the next 48 hours. Hugh Morris, the ECB's managing director disclosed this in a press conference on Saturday.

Morris told, "The only reason why we decided to suspend the tour and return home was to assess the safety situation in India in a comfortable environment." He further added, "The ECB was waiting for a security report of the situation in India within the next 24 to 48 hours and a decision would be taken on Monday."

London, Dec. 2: Former England captain Graham Gooch doubts the England cricket team will return to India despite the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) agreeing to shift the venue of the first Test from Ahmedabad to Chennai.

"The players have returned home, they''ll have spoken to their families and young children and it''s a tremendous pull on the heart-strings," The Telegraph quoted Gooch, as saying.

Adelaide, Dec. 2 : Australian skipper Ricky Ponting''s amazing slip catch to dismiss New Zealand batsman Jamie How has been described by faster bowler Brett Lee as the best he has seen.

Ponting made a spectacular leap to a wide second slip after Lee had squared up How with a ripper delivery and took the catch one-handed.

"That was the best catch I have seen live. There''s obviously been a lot of great catches around since cricket has been on. Playing in games and watching a game live, that is the most amazing catch I have ever seen," the Herald Sun quoted Lee, as saying.

Ponting, 33, expressed his delight by setting off on a celebratory sprint and out sprinting his pursuing teammates.

According to former Pakistan cricket skipper Wasim Akram, both India and Pakistan should play a test match in terrorist-hit Mumbai.

Speaking with the media persons, Akram said, “Cricket is not on anyone's mind at the moment, but after three to four days both the countries must take a positive step. I suggest Pakistan and India play a Test in Mumbai so to give a clear message that we will not give in.”

Adelaide, Dec. 2 : Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has backed all-rounders Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson to fire at the WACA during the contest against South Africa, which begins from December 17.

Ponting has said that he will contact Perth curator Cameron Sutherland well before the first Test to uncover whether he plans to use an old strip or one of the WACA Ground''s recently relayed pitches.

The latter wickets have provided pace and bounce for domestic fast bowlers all season, and if Sutherland indeed intends to use a relayed surface for the match against South Africa, Krejza may be facing a third consecutive Test as Australia''s unlucky loser.

Adelaide, Dec. 2 : In form Australia fast bowler Brett Lee has said that he is ready for a showdown with Proteas counterpart Dale Steyn.

After taking five wickets for 105 runs against New Zealand and ending up with career-best match figures of 9-171 in the second Test here, Lee said he was looking forward to the contest against the South Africans.

"I lost a lot of strength, it only feels now over the last couple of weeks that the strength has come back. The results show that as far as pace and wickets, I have been improving every match,” Fox Sports quoted Lee, as saying.