Trinidad (West Indies), Mar. 13: The blitzkrieg launched by the Indian batting machine in New Zealand has driven England star bat Kevin Pietersen crazy, so much so, that he is desperate to play in the Indian Premier League next month and wants all selected England players to go with him.

KP is insisting that he will fly off to play for the Bangalore Royal Challengers unless the security risk is so strong that he is told to stay at home.

Pietersen said: “India are taking cricket to a new level. Have you seen their scores in New Zealand? It’s ridiculous.

Hamilton (New Zealand), Mar. 13 : Northern Districts fast bowler Brent Arnel hopes to play against Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar in his debut Test, and says it would be a "dream come true" to get him out.

The Te Awamutu-born, Waiuku-raised 30-year-old bowler was quoted by the Waikato Times as saying: "Playing him would be a dream come true, getting him out would be the best moment of my career."

New Zealand cricket has a long history of giving young bowlers a chance, the bowlers getting injured then coming back as mature cricketers.

Sydney, Mar. 13: A day after it was revealed that aging fast bowlers Brett Lee and Stuart Clark would have to put in good performances in the remaining first class matches to be considered for the upcoming Ashes tour, Lee defiantly vowed to take up the new ball in the first Ashes Test against England at Cardiff.

Lee''s position has come under threat after Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus ensured Australia maintained their No. 1 world ranking by rattling South Africa in their own backyard.

Dubai, Mar 13 : Indian opener Mithali Raj, who scored 59 against England and 75 not out against Sri Lanka, has swapped places with Lisa Sthalekar of Australia who has slipped to third place after some disappointing performances with the bat by her high standards.

England duo of Claire Taylor and Isa Guha, and Lisa Sthalekar of Australia, have retained top spots in the ICC Women's ODI Player Rankings after the completion of group stage in the Women's World Cup.

Brisbane, Mar. 12: Queensland fast bowler Ben Laughlin, who has taken 20 wickets at an average of 15.85 to guide his team to the Ford Ranger Cup final, has been called into the Australian squad for the Twenty20 and one-day clashes with South Africa.

Laughlin, 26, snared 3-25 in the final as Queensland stunned hot favourite Victoria.

"Ben has had an extremely good summer for Queensland and was instrumental in their one-day final victory," chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said.

"Ben will add to the versatility of the Australian bowling line up as we continue to look at options progressing forward to the 2011 World Cup."

Lahore, Mar. 12: Terming match referee Chris Broad’s statement on the Lahore terror attack as ‘appalling’, Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has sought an apology from Broad.

“I must say that I was hurt by Chris Broad’s appalling allegations against Pakistan as well as our cricket team after the incident. He must apologise for those comments,” The News quoted Alam, as saying.