Ganguly, 35, one of three Indians to score over 10,000 runs in one-day cricket, was passed over for the Australian tri-series despite his solid performances at test level.

"They (the selectors) just asked me whether I wanted to continue one-day cricket," Ganguly told private television news channel Times Now on Saturday.

"I said, 'yes definitely, at least for the next 7-8 months.'"

Looking ahead at his one-day possibilities, the left-handed batsman said: "There is the Australia series, then India go to Sri Lanka for tests and one-dayers.

"So there are five one-dayers there and then the Champions Trophy in September and rest of the year is full of test cricket."

Ganguly was left out by tri-series selectors after the team's first-round exit at the one-day World Cup and a surprise victory by a young squad in the Twenty20 version last year.

The Edmonton Oilers were simply too slick for the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night, skating to a convincing 4-1 victory.

It marked Edmonton's fifth straight triumph over Chicago at Rexall Place.

Edmonton's Denis Grebeshkov squeezes Patrick Sharp off the puck in a 4-1 Oilers win.

Joni Pitkanen paced the Oilers with one goal and one assist, while Jarret Stoll, Dustin Penner and Ethan Moreau had the other goals.

Rookie Sam Gagner contributed two assists and Mathieu Garon stopped 40 shots in a tidy effort for the Oilers (25-26-5), fresh off Monday's 5-0 whitewash of the Calgary Flames.

Patrick Sharp opened the scoring with a power-play goal for the Blackhawks (23-25-5), who have lost five consecutive outings.

Sharp tipped Duncan Keith's point shot for his 24th goal of the season with 43 seconds left in the first period.

Stoll tied it at 1-1 with a power-play goal of his own, slapping his ninth past Blackhawks netminder Patrick Lalime 2:16 into the second period.  

Penner put the Oilers ahead 2-1 with his 17th on a slick deflection off Gagner's hard pass into the crease at the 8:10 mark.

It was Penner's sixth goal in nine games versus Chicago.

Moreau scored 34 seconds later on a similar play, cruising through the crease in time to tip Ladislav Smid's centring pass by Lalime for his fifth.

Pitkanen completed the scoring 51 seconds into the third period, circling into open ice and unleashing a slapshot that fooled a screened Lalime.

It was Pitkanen's seventh goal this season.

Duke's depth really took care of short-handed North Carolina, keeping the second-ranked Blue Devils alone atop the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Greg Paulus scored 18 points and was one of six players in double figures in the Blue Devils' 89-78 win over the third-ranked Tar Heels on Wednesday night, ending a three-game losing streak in the heated rivalry.

Duke shot 46 percent and went 13-for-29 from 3-point range, with Paulus going 6-for-8 from behind the arc.

Tyler Hansbrough had 28 points and 18 rebounds in what became virtually a one-man effort for the Tar Heels (21-2, 6-2), who looked a step off all night without injured point guard Ty Lawson. Lawson sprained his left ankle in the weekend win at Florida State.

North Carolina twice closed to within a point early in the second half, but Duke never wavered and made it seem like the Tar Heels had to fight the entire way just to stay within reach.

It was a surprisingly one-sided outcome in a rivalry that drew plenty of notable onlookers, including former Tar Heels basketball players Raymond Felton and Sean May, former Tar Heels football star Julius Peppers and even former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards.

As if the rivalry wasn't intense enough already, it was the first meeting since the flagrant foul from Gerald Henderson that left Hansbrough with a bloodied and broken nose in an ugly scene here last March. The rowdy home crowd obviously hadn't forgotten, booing lustily every time Henderson touched the ball and even holding up "Wanted" signs featuring his picture when he went to the foul line late in the first half.

Hansbrough has repeatedly claimed the incident is behind him, but he played like he hadn't forgotten, either. He scored eight points in the first 5 minutes and ended up surpassing Michael Jordan for 11th on the school's career scoring list.

The problem for the Tar Heels was that no one followed his lead.

Wayne Ellington, who came in second on the team at 16.2 points per game, had a miserable shooting night, finishing with eight points on 3-for-14 shooting, including 0-for-6 from behind the 3-point arc. That included a huge miss late on a 3 that looked good until it rattled around the cylinder and rolled out with the Tar Heels trailing 78-70 with 2:43 left.

Meanwhile, sixth man Danny Green finished with three points on 1-for-10 shooting, far below his season average of 12.1 points.

At least some of that could be attributed to the absence of Lawson, the speedy sophomore who powers the Tar Heels' fast-paced offense and gets them plenty of easy baskets. Quentin Thomas performed capably in Lawson's absence, finishing with 10 points and seven assists with six turnovers.

The Blue Devils, meanwhile, did exactly what they needed to do to offset the Tar Heels' advantage up front. They repeatedly spread the floor on offense and got open looks off penetration and kickouts. Paulus was the biggest beneficiary, hitting his first five 3-pointers. But, unlike Hansbrough, he had plenty of help.

Freshman Kyle Singler had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and DeMarcus Nelson had 13 points. Duke also got a boost inside from Lance Thomas, who had 10 points and five rebounds while battling North Carolina's bigger front line all night.

Henderson finished with 12 points.

Cricket-Row delays naming South Africa squad for Bangladesh tour

DURBAN, South Africa, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Disagreement between South Africa's selectors and administrators has delayed naming the squad to tour Bangladesh this month.

The list of players was due to be decided in a teleconference on Tuesday but the announcement was deferred after Cricket South Africa (CSA) president Norman Arendse refused to approve the selectors' decision.

"If two of the players selected for Bangladesh are not fit and will undergo fitness tests on Monday, why don't we wait until Monday before we announce the squad?" Arendse told Reuters on Wednesday.

Arendse said he was referring to batsman Neil McKenzie, who tore a calf muscle in the second test against West Indies in Cape Town last month, and fast bowler Andre Nel, who has been struggling with a sore neck.

Arendse denied reports that he wanted two players who were apparently not in the squad, opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs and fast bowler Monde Zondeki, to be included.

"At no stage did I say I'm insisting on Gibbs and Zondeki," Arendse said. "I did not mention their names."

LONDON (Reuters) - West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels will undergo independent analysis of his fast delivery in England next week to determine whether the action is legal, the International Cricket Council said on Wednesday.

The ICC said the analysis will be performed by Mark King, a member of the cricket body's panel of human movement specialists, at Loughborough University's National Cricket Academy on Monday.

The Jamaican, an occasional off-spinner, was reported for a suspect illegal bowling action during the third test match between South Africa and West Indies in Durban from January 12-14.

The ICC said the independent specialist would compile a written report within 14 days of the analysis being carried out.

"If the analysis confirms that it is his 'fast' deliveries only that are illegal, then he would be allowed to continue bowling in international cricket without using that delivery," the statement said.

It added that this would be "subject to the warning that should he bowl his 'fast' ball he would run the risk of being reported a second time."

However should the analysis find that the Jamaican player generally bowls with an illegal action, he will be suspended from bowling in international cricket until he has corrected his action and submitted to a fresh independent analysis.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Justin Palmer)

Team in touch with Tait: Hussey

Melbourne: Stunned by Shaun Tait's decision to take a long break from cricket, Australian middle-order batsman Michael Hussey said the entire team is in touch with the pacer to talk him out of the mental turmoil that has derailed his career.

"All the guys go through tough periods and I think one of the great things about cricket in Australia is that for a long time we have all looked out for each other," Hussey was quoted as saying by The Australian.

"I know all the guys have been in touch, offering their support and I know as a team we are hoping he can get through this and be back in the squad," he added.

Hussey said the 24-year-old Tait's announcement was a bolt from the blue for the world champion.

"Whenever you notice someone battling you try to pick them up or take them out for a nice meal or something.

"With Shaun we didn't pick up on much. He is a genuine guy and great to have around but obviously deep down he was doing it pretty tough," Hussey said.

The left-hander said he was hoping to see Tait return to the field as a stronger player.

"I'm sure Shaun will find a way through it and come out the other end a stronger and better person," he said.

Tait had cited mental and physical exhaustion as reasons for his taking a break from the game and Hussey said he could understand the young pacer's problem as he himself felt such pressure after debuting for Australia.

"I don't know what it was like in eras past but I do think it is very difficult sometimes and a lot tougher than people think," Hussey said.

"What I have learnt and experienced in my time in the Australian team is that life as an international cricketer includes so many things. The playing of the game, which is hard enough itself, is actually just one small part of playing for Australia," he added.

Hussey felt travelling, having to spend time away from family and other off-field activities also contribute to the pressure on current players.

"There's appearances, travel, media commitments, sponsors, official functions, training and of course time away from your family and friends," he pointed out.

"This all has an impact on you and how you cope and it is really tough," Hussey said. - PTI

Oz cricket tour to Pak limited to four venues