London, Dec 7: England''s decision to return to India to play two Test matches, a fortnight after the terrible terror attacks in Mumbai commands respect for two reasons, says noted cricket commentator Peter Roebuck.

According to Roebuck, first, it shows that captain Kevin Pietersen can lead a team through a crisis, and second, England''s willingness to go back, makes the long-awaited split on racial lines less likely.

In his article for the Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck contrasts this with the lack of spunk shown by the Australians, saying that cricketers from Down Under "have repeatedly turned to jelly in the face of arbitrary danger."

Sydney, Dec. 7 : Out of favour Australian left-arm swing bowler Nathan Bracken is trying to force his way back into the Australian Test squad as a spinner.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Bracken, who was ranked the world''s No. 1 one-day bowler, has secretly been working on his spinners in the nets and is hoping to unleash them soon in a game.

"I''ve been practising them a fair bit. I''ve been bowling them at training but the hardest thing has been trying to get the chance to bowl them in a game," he told the Sun Herald.

During the last Sheffield Shield game against Tasmania, where Bracken took a match total of eight wickets, he asked Blues skipper Dominic Thornely for the chance to bowl spin in the second innings.

Sydney, Dec. 7 : Former Australian captain and opener Bobby Simpson expects current opener Simon Katch to maintain technical poise and adapt a simple approach while dealing with the South African pace trio of Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel during the upcoming Test series.

"I''m very pleased and proud of what he''s been able to do. He''s a lad who''s approached the job in the simplest possible way, which is the way I like it. He''s sorted out the technical things we''ve talked about and he''s now doing them exactly as we planned about two years ago. I''ve got great pleasure from that, the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Simpson, as saying.

Dubai, Dec. 7 : International Cricket Council (ICC) President David Morgan has urged the Indian public to support the upcoming two-Test series between the hosts and England.

According to an ICC press release, Morgan said good attendances at the matches in Chennai and Mohali would be a demonstration that people would not be dictated to by terrorists.

He also confirmed he and ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat would be present during the series to show solidarity and support for the people of India and the two teams.

"Safety and security of the players, officials and spectators must be the key consideration at all times," Morgan was quoted, as saying.

Lahore, Dec. 6 : The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Saleem Altaf has said that Pakistan is preparing for next month’s series against India despite doubts being raised about it being held in the wake of last week’s terror attacks in Mumbai.

Altaf said that cricket officials are making all possible arrangements to ensure a successful series.

From giving a comprehensive facelift to the venues involved to getting solid assurances from the authorities over security arrangements for the visitors, Pakistan are trying to ensure that they are fully ready for the series, reports The News.

Sydney, Dec. 6 : The Australian cricket selectors are under fire for treating New South Wales wrist spinner Beau Casson poorly.

Casson has been reduced to a Sydney club bowler only months after reaching an intoxicating high of becoming Australia''s 401st Test player in Barbados.

Casson, 25, is confused and struggling to deal with being passed over for Bryce McGain, Cameron White, Jason Krejza and Nathan Hauritz as Australia makes some inexplicable spin selections.

Earlier this year, Casson was being hailed as the answer to Australia''s great spin debate but the confidence of the sensitive youngster has been battered so badly he has just 1-304 from five first-class matches for NSW this season.