With a mix of senior and young players making significant contributions, signs for the New South Wales state squad were positive in the season’s opening trial game over the weekend at Coffs Harbour.Seasoned state team stars Brad Haddin, Michael Bevan and Shane Lee were among the runs with the bat, and Stuart MacGill and Lee were standout performers with the ball. But, just as encouraging were the talents shown by the likes of emerging all-rounders Grant Lambert and Aaron O’Brien and young bowler Michael Goldsmith.Along with the talented Michael Clarke (48), Haddin (100*) and Lee (63) were the leading scorers as the Shane Lee XI took the opportunity to bat first on a pitch that played well for the most part. Don Nash also played in typically lusty style, smashing an unbeaten 30 before the innings ended. With the ball, Lambert (3/38), O’Brien (3/33) and Goldsmith (2/39) all caught the eye.In increasingly fading light, the Michael Bevan XI was led brilliantly by its captain in the response. He hit 98 and dominated the scoring, albeit that Greg Mail (20), Matthew Phelps (18) and Lambert (18*) also performed well. The leg spin of MacGill (3/42) was typically teasing, and Lee (2/22) also pinned the batsmen down consistently with his medium pace.For the record, the Lee XI won the match by 79 runs. It scored 9/285 from its allotted overs, before the Bevan XI responded with a total of 7/206.Another trial game featuring some of the state’s leading players is planned for Maitland next weekend.

A change in management always means a shake-up in the establishment. With Jagmohan Dalmiya taking over as the chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the cries of criticism against coach John Wright have steadily gained momentum. The Kiwi’s contract ended a month ago and comes up for renewal shortly. Currently, Wright is in South Africa with the Indian team, playing a limited overs tri-series before heading on to a three-Test series.A string of failures by the Indian team after their historic series win against Australia at home has meant that critics and detractors have had plenty of opportunity to sharpen their knives. A recent report from Reuters in the Indian capital, New Delhi, suggests that Wright might be under pressure to hold his job. There is however, tremendous support for India’s first foreign coach from former cricketers. “Frankly, he’s not been there long enough. To be fair, he should be kept for another term at least,” Erapalli Prasanna, former Indian off-spin great told Reuters. “He’s stressed a lot on the physical aspect of the game,” Prasanna said. “Indians are known to be artistic players but have not really been the fittest. He’s trying to give them that.”Other cricketers, including Delhi mediumpacer Atul Wassan, have also come out in defence of Wright. “I would certainly keep him for now. He’s not done a bad job and his second year should be far more rewarding since he’ll have gained experience,” former Test medium-pace bowler Atul Wassan, said. “Improvements have been there and India’s losing crucial matches is nothing exclusive to Wright’s term. That has been happening for quite a while,” Wassan added.It must be remembered that, only recently, Dalmiya faxed a letter to Wright and physio Andrew Leipus, asking for an explanation regarding India’s recent poor run. With several key players suffering from recurring injuries, the performance of Leipus too has come under the microscope. Having not won a series since the triumph at home against Australia, Wright will have a fair bit of explaining to do.

John Carr (Director of Cricket Operations ECB and Tim O’Gorman (TeamEngland Representative) have now completed their round of meetings inKolkata and Delhi. They would like to thank the President and Hon. Secretaryof BCCI, Mr Dalmiya and Mr Shah and the Government officials with whom theymet, for their warm welcome and co-operation.As well as discussing a number of other administrative issues relating toEngland’s forthcoming cricket tour, a major purpose of the visit to Indiawas to confirm details of the security arrangements with the Indianauthorities.John Carr said:”From the ECB perspective the forthcoming Tour to India has always been onand we are very pleased that the Tour party has now been finalised with theaddition of Richard Johnson and Martyn Ball. It is essential that our Teamand Management can have peace of mind with regard to security arrangementsto enable them to focus 100% on the cricketing job in hand. We are now veryhappy that arrangements can be put in place to achieve this end. We lookforward to a most exciting Test Series.”Tim O’Gorman said:”I spoke to the players before I arrived in India and I believe that alltheir individual concerns can be substantially addressed by the proposedsecurity arrangements. It is obviously now my duty to report back to theplayers on my return to England.”

Muttiah Muralitharan spun Sri Lanka to their first Test victory against theWest Indies on Saturday in front of a joyous Galle crowd as theinexperienced tourists batting betrayed their lack of confidence against topclass spin.Starting the final day on nine for one, 132 runs behind Sri Lanka, the WestIndies had had high hopes of batting out the day on a docile pitch, but werebowled out for 144 shortly before tea.Sri Lanka’s openers quickly knocked off the required runs to bring to an enda remarkable fight-back, started and ended by man of the match Muralitharan.On Wednesday afternoon a Sri Lankan victory appeared inconceivable with theWest Indies so well placed on 423 for four. However, Muralitharan inspired adramatic collapse in which five wickets fell for 25 runs to bowl them outfor 448 and let Sri Lanka back into the game.The home batsmen responded with 590 for nine (doubling their previoushighest score against the West Indies of 233 for eight in 1996/7 at St.Vincent) that spanned three days, to give them an unlikely 142 run lead andprovide Muralitharan with a chance to press for victory on the final day. Anopportunity that was taken, as the mysterious off-spinner picked up yetanother five-wicket haul.The victory was comparable in form to Sri Lanka’s equally astonishingvictory against England at the Oval in 1998 when the English scored 445 inthe first innings only to lose after Muralitharan grabbed 16 wickets.Muralitharan was the catalyst for the turnaround in Galle too, although foronce, he didn’t take the key wickets in the second innings. Still, he endedup with five for 44 in the second innings to finish with 11-169 in thematch.It was the eighth time he has taken ten-wickets in his 67 Test career. Itwas also the third time in consecutive Test matches and it is no wonder thenthat Sri Lanka have now won four out of their five last Tests.The day had begun well enough for the West Indies, with a 67 run partnershipbetween Trinidadian opener Daren Ganga and Guyanan number three RamnareshSarwan, but from the time Ganga sweep a ball from left-arm spinner NiroshanBandaratillake straight into the hands of Tillakaratne at square leg, theinnings slipped away.Having survived the best part of two hours without mishap, the West Indieslost Ganga, Sarwan and Carl Hooper all in the space of 22 minutes, to leavethem precariously placed on 92 for four at lunch.Sarwan had lived a charmed life in the middle, surviving an early shout fromChaminda Vaas and some close appeals from Muralitharan, in a memorable eightover tussle, but looked to have weathered the storm when Jayasuriya withdrewhis premier bowler from the attack.The decision, like many made in the day by Jayasuriya, who changed hisbowlers frequently and astutely, immediately brought dividends as Ganga (33)gifted his wicket.Straight away Muralitharan was pulled back into the attack and with hissecond ball he had Sarwan poking indecisively to be caught by theomnipresent Russel Arnold at silly point for 30.West Indian fate now lay firmly in the hands of the two senior players: Laraand Hooper. Lara had raised eyebrows when he had arrogantly declared thenight before that he was going to bag 150 to save the game, but no oneargued that his and Hooper’s wickets were the key.Bandaratillake ended Hooper’s innings, though, moments before lunch as theGuyanan right-handed drove loosely to be caught at short extra cover by ajubilant Jayasuriya.After lunch, Marlon Samuels (2) was hit on the full by Muralitharan andadjudged lbw to bring Ridley Jacobs to the crease with the score on 93 forfive.Jacobs and Lara raised hopes in a 38 run partnership and were on brink ofwiping out the deficit when disaster struck for the tourists.Off-spinning all-rounder Thilan Samaraweera, who had not bowled in theinnings and bowled like a drain in the first, came onto bowl in place ofMuralitharan. Lara relaxed and tried to hit his fourth ball over the top. Hemiscued and Muralitharan clung on safely to the catch at mid-wicket.West Indian hopes evaporated and the remaining four wickets tumbled withouta mumour of resistance. The collapse even surpassed their first inningsdebacle, as the last five wickets fell for just 13 runs.West Indies would have had realistic hopes of victory on Thursday afternoon,but leave Galle one-down and distraught. Their one ray of hope will be thefact that Sri Lankan minds are also ill at ease.Kandy, the venue for the next Test in four days time, has been as bad forthem, as Galle has been good, so much so that the superstitious Sri Lankan’srefer to it as the Kandy Hoodoo.West Indies are down, but by no means out.

Bengal registered a close 17-run victory over Bihar in their RanjiTrophy one-day match at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, on Tuesday.Winning the toss, Bengal skipper Rohan Gavaskar elected to bat first.It looked like his batsmen were out to prove him wrong when the firsttwo wickets fell with just 17 runs on the board. Arindam Das andGavaskar then put on a mini-partnership of 72 runs before the latterwas dismissed for 28.Das also departed soon, for 42 made off 72 balls. Only knocks in thethirties from Soumen Singh, Sanjib Sanyal and Lakshmi Rattan Shuklasaw Bengal cross the 200-run mark.Bihar could only respond with 209 from their 50 overs, as all theBengal bowlers, in particular Utpal Chatterjee, bowled with restraintand guile. T Rehman was Bihar’s highest scorer, making 52 off 95balls. Anirban Das was named Man of the Match for his battingperformance.

Fine bowling by paceman Fazle Akbar (4-17) and an unbeaten46 by Shoaib Malik powered Pakistan ‘A’ to a convincing sixwicket win over Pakistan Seniors in the firstpractice matchat Gaddafi Stadium Tuesday.The encounter was the part of the two-match practiceseriesbetween two teams aimed at to provide the Senior outfitpractice before touring Bangladesh from Jan 2.Fazle Akbar who was not included in the Bangladesh-boundteamdespiteperforming outstandingly in the domesticcompetition, sent down nine overs, three of them weremaiden, toclaim four wickets as Pakistan Seniors were shotout for a paltry 127 in36.5 overs. Promising pace bowlersAbdur Rauf and Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan also bowled well takingtwo wickets eachfor 34 and 38 runs.Inzamam-ul-Haq, who led the Pakistan Seniors,won the tossand elected to bat first but his decision backfired as FazleAkbar removed Shadab Kabir, Naved Latif, Abdur Razzaq andRashid Latif.Pakistan ‘A’, thanks to a breezy unbeaten 46 by ShoaibMalik, reached the target in 30.5 overs.The second match will be played at Murdike Thursday.

Somerset County Cricket Club have signed a new five year deal with Boundary Sports to provide the players clothing.Birmingham based Boundary Sports, pledged their support to the club when they took over running the club shop at the County Ground in December 2000, which has gained over the last twelve months. Last season Boundary Sports sponsored the players kit.In addition they company also sponsor the Somerset C.C.C. youth sides.This season Boundary Sports will benefit from a change in the E.C.B. advertising regulations, which will allow sponsor’s names to appear on the chest of shirts as well as the lapels.Earlier today Chief Executive Peter Anderson told me, “We are very pleased to extend our arrangement with Boundary Sports to continue to supply our players with quality clothing.”Boundary Sports owner Sol Abbas said, ” From a business point of view our tie up with Somerset County Cricket Club has been very good, and we are very very pleased with the performances of last season, which is a vanguard of my publicity.”

Paul Strang has been released from his professional contract with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union.The 32-year old requested the release to take up a commentating job during the Zimbabwe tour of India and, thereafter, a club contract in the Liverpool Cricket Premier Division in England.Although Strang would have left tomorrow with the Zimbabwe Board XI to tour South Africa, the selectors replaced him with Dirk Viljoen, saying that experience should be given to someone who will use it locally.Strang has therefore been released with immediate effect."It’s a positive life decision for myself. I have had a couple of chronic injuries over the past two years, making every day a challenge" said Strang.An all-rounder who will be remembered for his leg-spin bowling, Strang made his Test debut for Zimbabwe in the third match against Sri Lanka, in Harare in 1994.He lists his personal highlights as scoring a century against Pakistan in a Test match, picking up five wickets in the same innings in Sheikhupura 1996/97 and 8 for 109 in the first Test against New Zealand in Bulawayo two years ago.He said he also enjoyed the 3-0 whitewash of England in a one-day international series in 1996, and the World Cup in that country in 1999.Vice-Chairman of the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers’ Association, Strang says he will maintain the office.Zimbabwe Cricket Union Chairman, Peter Chingoka has thanked Strang for his service to the local game."The union is grateful for his eight years to the Zimbabwe Test campaign", said Chingoka.

There’s a thrilling climax in prospect at the Hampshire Rose Bowl, with five clubs still harbouring play-off hopes in the NatWest Bank Under-16 Indoor Cricket League.Havant threw their hat into the ring with back-to-back wins over Locks Heath and Basingstoke & North Hants – a handly 23-point haul from the evening’s work lifting them into third spot.Top place could be decided on Sunday when leading pair Fair Oak and St Cross Symondians clash. But Andover, BAT Sports and Havant are very much in contention for the April 14 championship showdown.Five-wicket winners over Locks Heath, albeit with only two balls to spare, Havant pulled off a thrilling six-run victory over Basingstoke.Defending a modest 108-1, Havant had the May’s Bounty youngsters on their knees – only for West of England Under-15 all-rounder Mitchell Stokes to produce a splendid solo performance.Stokes cracked 61, but was bowled at 102-5 with Basingstoke a mere seven runs away from victory, with two overs left.Basingstoke got themselves out of jail in their previous match, with last pair Alex Hughes (33) and Ashley Taylor (16) lifting their total from a desperate 32-4 to a victorious 106 against unlucky Locks Heath.

South Africa have taken the First Castle Lager/MTN Test by the scruff of the neck as the visitors collapsed from 81/1 at tea to 120/8 when bad light brought another early end to proceedings in Durban.In just 16 overs the hosts tipped the scales completely in their favour, with the pace of Makhaya Ntini and Mornantau Hayward ripping the heart out of the Pakistan top and middle order.An excellent opening partnership from Taufeeq Umar and Saleem Elahi gave Pakistan a very good start. After seeing off the new ball they gradually upped the tempo, with Umar playing some graceful straight drives.Up to tea, the South African bowlers tended to bowl too wide and too short. They lacked penetration and did not cause any real problems. The pace of the pitch seemed to favour the batsmen and with the likes of Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana to come South Africa’s 368 did not look to be a problem.Hayward had begun fairly ineffectively but the wicket of Umar, caught at slip for 39, injected some new live into the South African attack. The opening partnership of 77 had set the innings up for the batsmen following but they failed miserably.Khan shuffled in front of one from Shaun Pollock to be trapped leg beforefor one – 83/2. Elahi, who had batted so well, mistimed a pull from Ntini to be caught for 39 – 83/3.Inzamam, fending Ntini off the body, was caught for 18 – 107/4. Faisal Iqbal was run out by Pollock for six – 119/5. Youhana, fending Ntini off the body, was caught for 12 – 120/6.Abdur Razzaq, driving at Hayward, was caught at gully for one – 120/7, and Saqlain Mushtaq was clean bowled by Hayward without scoring – 120/8.The Test had been turned around, and Pakistan’s immediate target to avoid the follow-on is 169. With the South African bowlers looking forward to an overnight rest, there is no doubt that if Pakistan fall short, Shaun Pollock will ask them to bat again.The day had started well for Pakistan, dismissing Jacques Kallis for 105, only adding one to his overnight score when he shouldered arms and was bowled by a Mohammad Sami reverse swinger.Pollock looked comfortable enough in scoring 21 but it was Mark Boucher whoplayed a gem of an innings to reach his twelfth Test fifty, and in so doingbecame the eighth wicket-keeper to reach the milestone of 200 dismissals and2,000 Test runs. After the loss of Kallis, Boucher was mainly responsible forseeing South Africa to lunch and a final total of 386.Waqar used the four bowlers at his disposal well, with Saqlain taking 4-119 off 37 overs, Sami 3-92 off 26 overs and the captain himself 3-91 off 25. The only bowler not to get a wicket was Abdur Razzaq.For Pakistan the day ended with a nightmare that they will want to forget. Unless they sort out their technique against the short ball, they can kiss this Test and the series goodbye. To come back from this position will require a brilliant performance from one if not all of their batsmen.