Test rejects Yuvraj Singh and Wasim Jaffer enhanced their claims for an India comeback by pounding Australia's bowlers in a practice match on Sunday. Left-handed Yuvraj struck a belligerent 113 with seven sixes and as many boundaries while Jaffer hit 93 for the Indian Board President's XI on the final day of the four-day match here. Yuvraj and Jaffer put on 200 for the third wicket as the home team, resuming at 110-2 with an overall lead of 251 runs, hammered 130 runs in the two-hour morning session. The hosts piled up 292-4 in their second innings before skipper Yuvraj declared 50 minutes after lunch to set the tourists an improbable victory target of 434 in a minimum of 53 overs. Australia used the time to get in valuable batting practice ahead of the first Test in Bangalore from Thursday, making 127-2 before the match was called off as a draw after 38 overs. Skipper Ricky Ponting, looking to make amends for a disappointing average of 12 in eight Tests on Indian soil, followed his 41 in the first innings with an unbeaten 58. Vice-captain Michael Clarke made 36 not not, sharing a third wicket stand of 75 with Ponting after openers Simon Katich and Matthew Hayden had fallen cheaply. Scores: President's XI 455 and 292-4 declared; Australia 314 and 127-2. Mushtaq to coach England Former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed said he could start as England's spin-bowling coach from next month after being asked by head coach Peter Moores to help develop the team's options. The 38-year-old Mushtaq, who was on Pakistan's World Cup-winning team in 1992, could start part time and is also considering an offer to work with his former county team Sussex. He is yet to sign a contract for either role. “Peter Moores asked me if I can spare some time during the summer (in 2009) or winter to work with the young England spinners and also the main spinners (in the senior team),” Mushtaq told The Associated Press from Lahore. “It is about making an average talent into a good talent, or a good talent into a great talent.” Mushtaq, who took 185 wickets in 52 Tests, was Bob Woolmer's assistant coach with Pakistan for two spells, the last at the 2007 World Cup. He had to retire from playing at First-Class level during the recent English season due to a chronic knee injury, but will continue to play Twenty20 cricket in the non ICC sanctioned Indian Cricket League. “My agent is doing the deal with the (England and Wales Cricket Board), so until anything is officially agreed I don't know when I will be starting or what I will be doing. But Peter suggested there might be an opportunity for me to work with their academy players in India after I complete my ICL commitments in November,” Mushtaq said. Moores was Mushtaq's coach when Sussex won its first County Championship in 2003, with Mushtaq taking 103 wickets for the club - the first time a county bowler had claimed 100 wickets in a season for five years. “I believe there are more opportunities for spin-bowling talent in England than in Asia,” Mushtaq said. “I saw a very good prospect at Hampshire (Liam Dawson), there is Adil Rashid at Yorkshire. Of course there's Monty, and I know there are plenty of other spinners out there in county second teams.” NZ wary of Tigers New Zealand will have to be on top of its game to avoid an upset this month against Bangladesh, skipper Daniel Vettori said in Dhaka on Sunday. New Zealand will play three One-Day Internationals from Oct. 9-14, before the first of two Tests starts on Oct. 17. HK, Afghanistan win Hong Kong and Afghanistan both enjoyed winning starts to their World Cricket League Division Four matches in Dar Es Salaam on Saturday as they took steps closer to the 2011 World Cup. Hong Kong beat fellow favorites Italy by 46 runs in a match reduced to 41 overs per side. They scored 210-5 with Zain Abbas (70), Ilyas Gul (48) and Butt Hussain (44) all making runs. Afghanistan clinched an 80-run victory over Fiji. They struggled to 132 all out in the damp conditions with Iniasi Cakacaka (4 for 26) and Waisake Tukaha (3 for 16) doing most of the damage. However, Fiji were undone by some excellent bowling led by Hamid Hassan (4 for 25) and they only managed to muster 52. Host Tanzania beat Jersey by 34 runs in the other match.
