Former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson considers the forthcoming short visit by his country's cricket team to India as a very important tour in the background of the 'spot-fixing' scandal that has engulfed the game.

After Brad Haddin and Shane Watson, now fast bowlers Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson also say they were approached by the same Mumbai gangster, who targeted their team mates, for information during last year's Ashes in England

Melbourne: Australian cricket great Shane Warne has called for life-bans to be imposed on players found guilty of match-fixing.

Australian cricketers Shane Watson and Brad Haddin were approached by a suspected Mumbai gangster, linked with bookmakers in India, during the tour of England last year, a media report claimed on Tuesday.

New Delhi: Australian batsman Michael Hussey considers India the toughest country to tour and says the October series here is ideal preparation for his team's fourth World Cup title defence next year.

Tim Nielsen has been reappointed as coach of Australia until the end of the next Ashes series in England in 2013.

London: Stuart Broad is adamant the England attack are sufficiently versatile to take wickets in Australian conditions when they defend the Ashes 'Down Under' later this year.

CA chief executive James Sutherland told contracted Australian players at their camp at Coolum on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast today that Nielsen will remain at the helm through the next two Ashes' campaigns as well as Australia's bid to win a fourth consecutive World Cup in early 2011.

Matthew Hoggard, the Leicestershire captain, has demanded the immediate removal of the club's chairman, Neil Davidson, according to Cricinfo.

Sydney: Australian batting great Greg Chappell has been appointed the country's first full-time selector, Cricket Australia said on Monday. Chappell, 62, will leave his current position as head coach of the national centre of excellence to take up the official role of national talent manager.