21.   Australian opening batsman Matthew Elliott was dropped for the three-test tour of India starting this month after a disappointing series against South Africa.

22.   Bangladesh coach Gordon Greenidge, a former West Indian opening batsman, also praised Merhab.

23.   Australian cricket captain Mark Taylor will give himself a month to regain form and prove his worth as an opening batsman on the upcoming Ashes tour of England.

24.   Australian opening batsman Matthew Elliott will be unable to play cricket for about two months because of a knee injury, Melbourne surgeon David Young said Wednesday.

25.   Australian opening batsman Matthew Elliott has vowed to keep playing the risky hook shot despite South Africa targeting it as his weakness for the test series starting Friday.

26.   Australian test wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and opening batsman Justin Langer are among players currently contracted to Western Australia.

27.   But England submerged under a withering barrage from Doull, a former New Zealand medium pacer reinventing his career as an opening batsman.

28.   Captain Harper and opening batsman Stuart Williams are the other two who have represented the West Indies in Tests.

29.   Cullinan has been replaced by left-handed opening batsman Graeme Smith for the second test.

30.   Disregarding fears of terrorist violence, Zimbabwe will keep its date with World Cup matches in Sri Lanka, skipper and opening batsman Andy Flower said Thursday.