At the risk of making Karachi sound like a tourist hotspot, the port city is bathing in sunlight, temperatures are idling in the mid-20s and a cool sea breeze is blowing across the National Stadium. For the important business of Test cricket, conditions are ideal.The good cheer has slipped into the West Indian camp as they attempt to build on a draw in Multan with what would be a memorable, nay, historic win in Karachi. It’s arguable whether they should be so cheery given their recent away record: It’s been over six years since they won a Test abroad against a major Test nation, a harum-scarum innings triumph at Edgbaston.During this period, they have only drawn six of their 44 away Tests against the upper cricketing echelon. They haven’t even drawn a major series abroad since 1995. Precisely why, perhaps, Brian Lara attached such significance to the Multan Test. “We are very optimistic and the drawn Test is a great template for us,” Lara told the media. “We can walk around with that Test in our back pocket.”History is not lost upon him. “One of the motivating factors on the last day in Multan was the fact that we hadn’t won abroad against a major side for so long. First we have to start playing good cricket – that is the first step. But that record shouldn’t affect us negatively and the guys are looking forward to the challenge.”His geography isn’t bad either, correctly locating Karachi in the south, where the sun is out earlier and for longer. He might have added that the combination helps in producing what the local curator called “win-loss tracks.” The last two Tests in Karachi, against India and Sri Lanka, have produced crackerjack Tests for everyone’s tastes: fast bowlers have thrived (even Abdul Razzaq has a five-wicket haul here), spinners have prospered (Danish Kaneria’s last ten-wicket haul was here in 2004), batsmen have been rewarded and officials and spectators have gone home smiling. And even if the pitch currently appears dry and grassless, it is worth bearing in mind that only one of the last ten Tests at this ground has ended in a draw.A draw would be good enough for a series win for Pakistan, though probably not enough to assuage doubts that have gathered around them since the England series. Pre-series scripts didn’t see West Indies dominating a drawn Test (though they probably didn’t expect Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif to be out on drug charges). There are concerns aplenty, though some are greater than others.

Inzamam-ul-Haq’s recent form – without a fifty in eight innings – is one such though it still seems inconceivable that he won’t come good sooner rather than later. Of more concern is Abdul Razzaq’s place. It says much about his career that even a pivotal 80 in his last innings isn’t enough to remove uncertainty about his true worth to the Test side (only his third fifty in 26 Tests). But Karachi has been kind to him; apart from his only Test five-for, his most memorable all-round performance came here, in January against India, seven wickets and scores 45 and 90.The other lingering question is that of Mohammad Sami. One of the problems of non-performing allrounders is the space they deny specialists but what Sami’s primary occupation is remains open to question. It is suspected he is here as a tearaway. His form in domestic cricket has been good, though no-balls continue to plague him. “Sami brings pace if he plays and if he does, hopefully he will perform well. Our bowlers Gul and Nazir have done well for us but the pitch here supports fast bowlers usually so we will see.”Many things can be expected from this Test. Mohammad Yousuf might break one of the longest-standing batting records in international cricket (that of Viv Richards for the most runs in a calendar year). Inzamam might come back into form. Corey Collymore might receive the luck that is so emphatically his due and hustle out Pakistan. Brian Lara might become the first man to score over 12,000 Test runs (he needs 96 more runs). If he does, it is likely that he will move alongside Sachin Tendulkar as the top century-maker in Test cricket. Above all, a result other than a draw, can also be expected.Pakistan (probable): 1 Mohammad Hafeez, 2 Imran Farhat, 3 Younis Khan, 4Mohammad Yousuf, 5 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 6 Abdul Razzaq, 7 Shoaib Malik,8 Kamran Akmal (wk), 9 Shahid Nazir, 10 Umar Gul, 11 Danish KaneriaWest Indies (probable): 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Daren Ganga, 3 Brian Lara (capt),4 Runako Morton, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 DeneshRamdin, 8 Dave Mohammed, 9 Darren Powell, 10 Jerome Taylor, 11 CoreyCollymore

Greg Blewett will consider moving interstate to extend his career after South Australia all but told him his days of playing for the Redbacks were over. Blewett was dropped from the one-day team on Monday after making 26, 16 and 10 in the first three Ford Ranger Cup matches of the season.Blewett, who has not played Pura Cup cricket since 2005-06, said being left out of the Redbacks’ limited-overs line-up was a shock. “I have certainly been disappointed with the way things have transpired over the last couple of days,” Blewett told the .”Last year I can understand getting dropped from the Pura Cup team as my season wasn’t great and I was injured a bit and basically saw it coming. This one hit me for six. I saw in the paper I was averaging 59 [in 2004-05] and last year 39 which in one-day cricket was pretty good.”Blewett, 35, said the South Australia chairman of selectors Paul Nobes had indicated it would be very difficult to regain his place in the side. “After talking to Paul Nobes it was pretty clear I am not in their plans going forward,” Blewett said. “Next year I am under contract but I am sure if I go through the right channels and talk to other states there might be something to look forward to.”Blewett made his debut for the Redbacks in 1991-92 and three years later was in the Australia Test team. He ended his 46-match Test career in 2000 with an average of 34.02.

Ricky Ponting has called for a greater effort from the Australia batsmen after his side was seriously challenged in their last two CB Series games. Michael Hussey carried Australia home in both matches after the top order struggled to chase small totals.At Brisbane last Friday, Australia were 4 for 48 chasing England’s 156 and two days later at Sydney, the score fell to 3 for 17 in reply to New Zealand’s 218. Although Australia won both games, the form of players like Matthew Hayden and Ponting himself was a worry.”I think we’ve got a bit of work to do, to tell you the truth, the last couple of games we’ve played we haven’t been chasing big totals and we’ve managed just to scrape across the line both times,” Ponting told . “Although we’ve been winning I think we’ve got a lot of areas for improvement, and all of that for us will start today.”Ponting was speaking ahead of Australia’s training session at Adelaide a day before they faced England in the seventh match of the CB Series. The players have had four days’ break in between games and Ponting said he hoped that would freshen them up and ensure they were at their best against England.”We’ve had a couple of days at home after the last game,” he said. “We’ve tried to tailor our training that way so we get some time at home, but when we hit the ground today it’s flat out getting prepared for a big game tomorrow and areas we’ve been deficient in.”

Percy Sonn, the ICC’s president, has said that if cricket is going to continue its development beyond the game’s traditional boundaries initiatives such as the World Cricket League Division 1 are vitally important.Speaking ahead of the inaugural tournament which takes place in Nairobi between January 30 and February 7, Sonn said that there was now an exciting structure of competitive cricket outside the 10 Full Members that gave a real edge to the level of competition being played at that level.”In many ways, the World Cricket League is what the ICC is all about,” Sonn said. “I believe that raising the standard of cricket in the Associate and Affiliate members is one of our primary goals as a governing body. Cricket within our 10 Full Members is obviously vitally important to us but we must also continually redouble our efforts to make sure we do not forget our 87 other members.””Events like the World Cricket League show in a real way how committed ICC is spreading this great game all around the world and giving players opportunities like never before.”The Nairobi event involves the top six Associate teams – Kenya, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Bermuda and the Netherlands – all of whom have qualified to play in the World Cup in March.It is an important event for host country Kenya, too. “It’s a great pleasure for us to be hosting this prestigious event,” said Samir Inamdar, chairman of Cricket Kenya. “We have a long and proud history of cricket in this country and we are determined to put on a great tournament. Cricket in Kenya has been going through a period of transition in recent years but we are very optimistic for the future of the game here and part of the development process for us is being able to host events like this.”There is an added edge in that the top two teams will qualify for the inaugural Twenty20 World Championships, which will be held for South Africa in September.The idea of the WCL is to give regular global one-day cricket opportunities to the top 18 non-Test countries. Apart from Division 1, the next eight best from the ICC Trophy 2005 have been allocated to Divisions 2 and 3 events later in 2007 along with the top teams from the five regional qualifying events.Promotion and relegation will be possible between divisions as each team seeks to move up the world cricket rankings. Events for Divisions 4 and 5 will commence in 2008 as the WCL expands.This gives each of the 87 Associate and Affiliate members a clearly defined pathway to progress and develop in world cricket. Every side can now make its own plan as to how it will some day take its place alongside the very best at the World Cup. It also means that the ICC can identify the relative strengths of these member countries on a more regular basis than ever before.

ScorecardA century from Peter Ingram was the one bright spot for Central Districts after they won the toss and chose to bat against Auckland in their State Shield match at McLean Park in Napier. Only two other batsmen made it to double figures as Central Districts collapsed to 181 all out. Chris Martin, the 33-year-old swing bowler, was the wrecker-in-chief for Auckland, picking up 5 for 48. He was well supported by Andre Adams, who picked up three wickets. When it was their turn to bat Auckland found the going tough initially, losing three wickets for only 35 runs, but managed to fight back through Rob Nicol (36 not out) and Colin de Grandhomme (65 not out), who added an unbeaten 100-run-plus stand for the fourth wicket, taking Auckland to 137 for 3.
ScorecardOtago put on a healthy 366 with one wicket still in hand at the end of the first day of their State Shield match against Northern Districts. After being put in to bat at the University Oval in Dunedin, Otago suffered an early wobble, being reduced to 49 for 3. But then, Neil Broom (61) and Gareth Hopkins (110) added 94 for the fourth wicket. Even when Broom was dismissed Hopkins continued on, hitting 11 fours and a six on the way to his century. When he was dismissed, the last man to go on the day, Otago had managed to push their score on to 366 for 9.
ScorecardA century from Michael Parlane, the Wellintgon captain, helped his team get to 314 for 8 against Canterbury, but had it not been for his innings, Leighton Burtt’s 5 for 30 might well have put Canterbury right on top. After winning the toss and chosing to bat at the Basin Reserve, Wellington lost the experienced Matthew Bell for a duck, and then soon after Sam Fairley, the other opener, departed. Michael Parlane, batting at No. 3, took control of proceedings, spending more than four-and-a-half hours at the crease for his 116, and shared in a 139-run stand with his brother, Neal Parlane, who chipped in with 52. At the end of the day, Wellington reached 314 for 8.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary

India batted first, racked up 300, kept Netherlands down to 118, and cantered to victory by 182 runs in their warm-up match at Trelawny Stadium, Jamaica. All went pretty much according to script, but then the real point of this match, at least for the Indians, was to get in some meaningful practice before the tournament gets under way in right earnest. Some people used it to do just that, while others couldn’t make the most of the opportunity.One of the players the game was critical to was Virender Sehwag, whose form has been more down than up in the recent past, so much so that he was rested for a series, and he did not quite cash in. On a pitch that could be fairly typical of what to expect in the West Indies – slightly sluggish, occasionally affording the ball some grip, and rather dry – against an attack that was fairly friendly, Sehwag clattered four boundaries in pretty customary fashion, but lost his wicket to carelessness, playing and missing a ball that was slanted in to him.Sourav Ganguly too fell to a soft dismissal, but he is not in the same boat as Sehwag, having batted so well since his comeback to the side. He was undone as much by the lack of pace and direction of the long-hop that came his way as the lack of needle in the contest. Robin Uthappa, after the two openers had fallen, should have taken the chance to fill his boots, but he too chose flash over preparation, cracking a couple of deliciously lusty shots before chopping one back onto his stumps.With the top-order having made starts and failing to go on, it fell to Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar to show the way. The two veterans could not be bothered with showing off their not inconsiderable skills. Instead, they chose to spend time at the crease. Full-tosses were patted to long-on for ones and twos, and half-volleys were eased into the gaps in the off side. Tendulkar spent 59 balls at the crease, Dravid 92, as they got a feel for how the ball was coming onto the bat, how quick the outfield was, how the white ball was swinging or spinning. That they helped themselves to half-centuries, Tendulkar 61 and Dravid 74, in a partnership of 116, was only incidental.Sandwiching the innings of Dravid and Tendulkar were cameos. Just as those that came before the pair, the ones that came after got starts – Yuvraj Singh (14) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (21). Irfan Pathan sealed the deal with an unbeaten 25, and India ended on an even 300 for 9. In all this, Ryan ten Doeschate helped himself to 5 for 57.

From the outset, Netherlands were pretty clear that there was no chasing 301. Instead they concentrated on keeping the bowling out. Pathan, another man to whom this match was crucial, disappointed. Although the ball was shaping in nicely, and he only conceded 12 runs from a first spell of six overs, he lacked penetration and hardly troubled the batsmen. At his quickest he was short of 125 kmh, and unless he picks himself up dramatically, it’ll be hard to see him fighting off Sreesanth or Munaf Patel for the third seamer’s slot if Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan are sure starters.In the event Pathan did manage a wicket, trapping Darron Reekers in front in the 9th over, and that opened the account for India. From then on, though troubled by Sreesanth, Netherlands’ batsmen managed to hang in there till the advent of Harbhajan Singh. They simply could not read the and any attempt to use their feet resulted in a stumping. Harbhajan picked up two quick wickets, Anil Kumble barged in with two of his own, and amazingly, Yuvraj Singh tossed up his left-arm spin for figures of 4 for 12 from 3.5 overs as Netherlands slumped to 118 all out and defeat by 182 runs. The game was a mismatch from the start, and it played out without any surprises.

The allrounder James Hopes has been placed on standby for his injured Queensland team-mate Shane Watson, who is battling a left calf strain. Watson was hurt bowling against Bangladesh on Saturday and is waiting for a review from the physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, confirmed Hopes as a shadow player, but he felt Watson would regain his fitness before the end of the tournament. “The intention and the expectation is that Shane will recover and play a vital part in the World Cup,” Hilditch said.Hopes said that he would relish the challenge of playing in a World Cup. “If I had to walk into a World Cup semi-final it would be daunting but it’s a challenge I’d like to face and it would be a place to make a name for yourself,” Hopes told AFP. “I’ve seen most conditions and played in them so I’ll back myself to perform in one-day cricket wherever it’s played and if it’s in a World Cup semi-final it will be a World Cup semi-final.”The announcement is a blow for Cameron White, the Victoria allrounder who played during the CB Series, although Brad Hogg’s strong form has negated the need for another slow bowler. Hopes, 28, is a similar player to Watson and has appeared in nine one-day internationals. He has scored 84 runs at an average of 28 and taken four wickets at 67.25.Watson’s aggressive middle-order batting – he has scored 77 runs at more than one-and-a-half runs a ball during the World Cup – and his containing bowling have made him a valued member of the side. Brad Hodge, who scored a century against The Netherlands in his last game, is likely to replace Watson for Sunday’s match with England.

Ramnaresh Sarwan, West Indies’ middle-order batsman, is all set to be named as captain for their next month’s tour of England, replacing Brian Lara.Lara is likely to face the axe after West Indies’ unimpressive World Cup performance, one where they have lost their first four Super Eights matches.There are chances Lara, who will play his last two one-day internationals this week, may not be selected at all for the tour of England in May where the West Indies play four Tests and three one-day internationals.”I think the two names of Sarwan and Daren Ganga have appeared. Sarwan has been the vice-captain, so it’s up to the board to decide on the recommendations made by the selectors,” said former captain and current manager Clive Lloyd.Sarwan has been Lara’s deputy since 2003 and many believe he is the right choice to carry the West Indies team forward. Sarwan last week suggested he was ready for the responsibility.”If given the opportunity I will grab it with both hands,” said Sarwan, 26, who may get a chance to follow his fellow Guyanese Rohan Kanhai, Lloyd, Alvin Kallicharan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul as West Indies captains.He has led the West Indies in four one-day internationals, winning three. Ganga has led the West Indies A team and skippered the Trinidad & Tobago side to a domestic tournament win in January this year. When asked of Lara’s chances not being selected at all, Lloyd replied: “That is up to the selectors, I am not among them.”

Muttiah Muralitharan, the Sri Lanka spinner, has no plans to retire and intends to play both Test and one-day cricket for at least two more years.The past six months has seen several high profile names bow out of the game – Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath the two most notable. But Muralitharan, a youthful 35, has no such desire.”I will have to call it a day some time. But I am hoping to play for at least another two years and see how good it is and how my fitness is,” he said. “I need to be involved in the game to be fully motivated and interested.”He is but a spring chicken to his team-mate Sanath Jayasuriyra, though, who turns 38 at the end of June, and Muralitharan is adamant age should not be a factor in limiting a player’s career.”Sanath is very fit and although he is nearly 38 he can play in any ODI side. He can play as long as he is fit,” Muralitharan said. “And knowing Sanath he looks after himself so well. And [Chaminda Vaas] is just 33. [Courtney] Walsh played until he was 37 or 38, [Curtly] Ambrose too played well into his late 30s and [Glenn] McGrath was 37 when he retired.”I don’t think Vaas should be looking to retire. He should maintain his fitness and continue and should be looking at the next World Cup too. As for [Russell] Arnold, maybe he thought it was time. He was somebody who was in and out of the side and it is only he who knows what the best time is to quit. I think he has realised it is now.”Muralitharan is second on the all-time list of wicket-takers in Test cricket with 674, trailing Warne’s 708. He is also placed second in one-dayers with 455, just 47 behind Wasim Akram.

Andrew Flintoff has said his friendship with Michael Vaughan remains as strong as ever, despite Vaughan’s comments about Flintoff’s conduct at the World Cup. Flintoff labelled his skipper’s interview with this week “a storm in a teacup”.”We sat down and spoke about a few things and, as far as we’re concerned, it’s finished,” Flintoff told Sky Sports in an interview at Old Trafford. “We’ve got a great friendship and something like this, a bit of a storm in a teacup, isn’t going to affect that.”Flintoff, who has undergone a third bout of surgery in as many years on his troublesome left ankle, was on hand to see Vaughan receive a mixed reception from Flintoff’s home crowd during the third Test. However, Flintoff said: “I’m looking forward to getting back on the field, playing under him [Vaughan], as quick as I can.”I’ve spoken to him, we’ve cleared it all up and we’ll take it forward from here. From my point of view, it’s something that happened a while ago. The one thing I’m concentrating on at the moment is not what happened six to eight weeks ago, it’s getting back on the field.”I’ve just had an operation on my ankle, I’ve got a rehab programme in front of me. All my focus and all my energy has got to go into that because I desperately want to get out on the cricket field.”