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Seeking to remove “misconceptions” that she had something against cricket, Indian Sports Minister Uma Bharti on Wednesday expressed the wish that the game may prosper without commercial considerations spoiling it.”Even my brother feels that I have something against it. But I want to clear that. I want the game to flourish,” Bharti said while inaugurating Bishen Singh Bedi Cricket Trust’s annual camp being held in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.But, she said, the game must be played in the right spirit and commercial considerations should not spoil it. She said the recent match-fixing controversy dented the image of a few cricketers but “happily not of the game itself”.Drawing the analogy of the past when the guru used to teach his wards in the sylvan surroundings of forests, the Minister said she was happy that Bedi was teaching his 75 young students at the beautiful Nehru Stadium.”I am happy Bedi is giving back to the game some of what he got from it,” she said and added that former India captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, who was also present, and Bedi were heroes even for the present day youngsters because “they played the game with passion and for the love of it”.Pataudi, considered the legendary left-arm spinner’s mentor, described Bedi as a good teacher and said though the six-week training period was not a long time for the trainees, “you must all go back wiser from the experience”.”We are happy cricket has gained immense popularity but it was inevitable that it faced some tough times recently. I hope these are behind us now,” Pataudi added. Bedi said “we are not here to churn out just cricketers but to make them good citizens of India”.

	Haroon Lorgat: “We are now exploring whether we should have the championship in two venues – Karachi and Lahore” © AFP

The ICC has set up a committee to look at increasing its relevance in the proliferation of Twenty20 leagues and its role in managing such tournaments, Haroon Lorgat, its chief executive, told Cricinfo. It may even change existing rules to prevent its marginalisation, as national boards plan their own tournaments and collaborative ventures.”The landscape has changed very quickly and we now need to re-look the regulations that were developed some years back,” Lorgat said in an exclusive interview in Mumbai. “The Twenty20 concept really blossomed after the World Twenty20 in South Africa last year with other high-profile events following. The ICC has recognised that and put together this group to have a re-look at our regulations.”Lorgat agreed with Mahela Jayawardene’s views that the number of Twenty20 tournaments needs to be controlled as it may adversely affect the Future Tours Program (FTP). “He (Jayawardene) is asking us as administrators to manage the amount of Twenty20 tournaments we put together. Everybody has recognised that it is such an attraction at the moment and we are beginning to say let’s just be careful how much of a dosage we send out.”Because it would impact on the FTP: there are only 12 months in the year or 52 weeks in the year… We have to be responsible in the way that we manage and allocate the number of Twenty20 games in relation to the amount of FTP and we’ve got to find the right balance.”The other immediate issue the ICC faces is the staging of next month’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan; several teams have expressed security concerns and Lorgat said one way of tackling that could be to strike off Rawalpindi as a venue for the tournament. “One of the points we are mindful of that came out of previous visits by the security consultants was that there were no Asia Cup games held at Rawalpindi. As a result they were not able to assess or monitor any of the security requirements. Bearing that in mind we are now exploring whether it would enhance security and whether it would remove perceptions being created around security for the whole tournament because Rawalpindi was not part of the Asia Cup.”We are now exploring whether we should have the championship in two venues – Karachi and Lahore – and we might make a decision to go in that direction,” he said. “Our objective is to remove the discomfort or perceptions that any of the member countries or players may have.” Players from Australia, New Zealand, England and South Africa had earlier expressed reservations over the security situation in Pakistan.An ICC-appointed task force is overseeing the security situation in Pakistan ahead of the Champions Trophy and will carry out its inspection on August 10 and 11. The tournament, featuring the top eight ODI teams, will be held from September 11-28.

	Eoin Morgan is available to face Scotland and New Zealand in the ODIs © Getty Images

Ireland will be without William Porterfield and Niall O’Brien for their one-day internationals against Scotland and New Zealand, in Aberdeen next week, after they opted to stay with Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire respectively. However, Eoin Morgan has been made available by Middlesex.Kyle McCallan will be captain for the ODIs, as well as for the Ireland A Twenty20 match against Bangladesh A, on June 27, and the 50-over match on June 29. Trent Johnston, the former captain, will return to Ireland colours for the Twenty20 clash at Eglinton. Kevin O’Brien, the allrounder, had already been ruled out with a hamstring injury.O’Brien has been keeping and opening the batting during the Twenty20 Cup, while Porterfield, who fielded as a substitute for England against New Zealand at Bristol, has found an opportunity in the Gloucestershire top order after injury to Craig Spearman,”It’s definitely the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, and I didn’t think it would come so early in my time at Gloucester,” said Porterfield. “I’m just embarking on my professional career, and trying to cement my place in the team.”The injury to Craig Spearman has given me an opportunity to stake a claim for a permanent position, and I have to take it. If I don’t, somebody else will. I’m in possession at the moment, and I’ve been assured of my place in the team for the four day game. I feel it’s the right decision for me at this stage in my career.”Coach Phil Simmons admitted that losing two key players wasn’t ideal, but still backs his squad to cover for their loss. “I understand his [Porterfield’s] situation as he tries to establish himself in the county game. He’s a professional, and that’s his job. It’s hard for us losing both Niall and William, but we have got good depth to the squad, and we are also boosted by the availability of Gary Wilson and Eoin Morgan.”ODI squad Kyle McCallan (capt), Andre Botha, Peter Connell, Alex Cusask, Phil Eaglestone, Thinus Fourie, Gary Kidd, Eoin Morgan, Andrew Poynter, Paul Stirling, Reinhardt Strydom, Andrew White, Gary Wilson (wk)T20 squad Kyle McCallan (capt), Andre Botha, Peter Connell, Alex Cusack, Phil Eaglestone, Thinus Fourie, James Hall, Trent Johnston, Gary Kidd, Fintan McAllister, Paul Stirling, Reinhardt Strydom, Andrew WhiteBangladesh A 50-over squad Kyle McCallan (capt), Andrew Botha, Peter Connell, Alex Cusack, Phil Eaglestone, Thinus Fourie, James Hall, Gary Kidd, Andrew Poynter, Paul Stirling, Reinhardt Strydom, Andrew White, Gary Wilson

FULL NAME: Dirk Peter Viljoen
BORN: 11 March 1977, at Harare
MAJOR TEAMS: Young Mashonaland (1994/95-1995/96); Mashonaland (1996/971999/2000); Mashonaland A (2000/01); Midlands (2001/02 to date);
present club team Old Hararians.
KNOWN AS: Dirk Viljoen
BATTING STYLE: Left Hand Bat
BOWLING STYLE: Slow Left Arm
OCCUPATION: Professional cricketer (formerly draughtsman)
FIRST-CLASS DEBUT: Young Mashonaland v Mashonaland Country Districts,
at Alexandra Sports Club (Harare), 15 September 1995
TEST DEBUT: 14 March 1998, v Pakistan, at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
ODI DEBUT: 3 April 1997, v Sri Lanka, at Sharjah
BIOGRAPHY (revised September 2002)Late in the 1996/97 season, Zimbabwe’s selectors caused a surprise by introducing a very promising left-handed batsman, Dirk Viljoen, who had just turned 20 when he went to Sharjah as part of the national side. Neither was this the end of his overseas trips for the season, as on 24 May he travelled to Australia on a month-long scholarship to the Australian Academy, an annual award to a promising young Zimbabwean cricketer jointly sponsored by the Australian High Commission and Qantas.Since then, though, this promising all-rounder has had a mixed career. He has frequently been on the fringes of the international team, although he was given a long and moderately successful run in the one-day team. He has still played only two Test matches and at the start of the 2002/03 season did not seem close to the national selectors’ minds.For a long time Dirk promised much but failed to achieve, and even today he still has only one first-class century to his credit. It took him until the 1999/2000 season to record his maiden fifty in first-class cricket, by which time he had already played in a Test match and nine one-day internationals. It was his promise and his positive, determined attitude more than anything else that kept him in the selectors’ eyes for several years, until they quietly put him aside during the 2001/02 season.Dirk was first introduced to the game at a very young age by his father, who was a Mashonaland Country Districts player; Dirk names him as his major inspiration and remembers with gratitude all the help and coaching he was given. It was by no means plain sailing from the beginning, though, as he confesses to having been a very weak player at colts level in his junior school, Eaglesvale, a non-bowler who batted at number ten. It was at this stage that his father stepped up the coaching and encouragement, and he has never looked back.He improved enough to be scoring fifties and sixties, and was chosen to play for the Mashonaland team in the national primary schools week; he also attended the Under-13 trials, captaining his team, and was made a reserve for the national team. At Under-15 level he was selected for the Fawns, the national side, having attended the trials at Plumtree and playing a match against Matabeleland Under-16 side. In his second-last year at high school, he came on in leaps and bounds, scoring four centuries and averaging about 60. His `gentle’ left-arm spin was also developing well, and he averaged about 11 with the ball. He was twice chosen for the national schools team to attend the South African Schools Weeks, in 1994 and 1995, at Durban and East London respectively. He did well enough to average about 50 at Durban, and at East London scored a fifty against Griqualand West.Following this, he went overseas for a year and played a season for a team in Coventry, averaging about 60 and recording a century in one match. On his return, he was selected to captain the Zimbabwe Under-19 team to South Africa over New Year 1997, beginning with 89 and 50 in the first three-day game against Easterns, and 200 not out and 22 in the second match against North-Western Transvaal. His bowling was less conspicuous, but he worked hard at his ambitions to become an all-rounder at international level. He practised seriously against national players, which he said forced him to improve his line a lot. He was given a spell in the spinners’ camp while at the Australian Academy in Adelaide in 1997 and learned more there. Gradually his bowling improved, and in fact during his two seasons as a semi-regular in the national one-day side he featured more as a bowler than a batsman, a left-arm spinner who pushed the ball through and kept a brake on the scoring.Dirk enjoyed a good league season in 1996/97, scoring two centuries, and such was his potential that he was chosen for the powerful Mashonaland side in the Logan Cup ahead of such players as Glen Bruk-Jackson and Danie Erasmus. Early in his career he used at times to open the batting in his first-class games; while he prefers the middle order, he was willing to open if necessary, and this was actually his role when he made his Test debut, although it appeared to have been a wrong decision by the selectors. Dirk first read in the newspaper that he was a possible candidate for the scholarship to the Australian Academy, before he was approached by Ian Robinson, in his role as ZCU administration manager, and told that he had received the vote.He was naturally very much in the selectors’ minds at the start of the 1997/98 season, and a candidate as Grant Flower’s opening partner for the Tests against New Zealand. But fine early form saw Gavin Rennie take the position and make it his own. Dirk had still not yet produced high enough scores at first-class level, although it was not for want of trying and hard work. Unfortunately, with such a restricted Logan Cup programme, opportunities were limited.Dirk spent several years working as a draughtsman in Southerton, Harare, before accepting an offer from ZCU for a professional contract. His company was very good to him and gave him time off to play whenever he needed it. At club level he has continued to play for Old Hararians, after his school had been approached by the club which was looking for good young players. He played a season in the second team, with the odd senior game when the national players were away, and did well enough to retain his place when they returned.Dirk pays tribute to the Test players, most of whom he says were very helpful to him during his early years. Dave Houghton, also an Old Hararians player, gave him a great deal of help when not on national team duties, while Paul Strang was also a great help, especially on the mental side of the game.As a batsman, Dirk is a strong driver off the front foot, although short balls do not bother him. Remarkably, he played for Zimbabwe in Sharjah in 1996/97 despite not yet having scored a first-class fifty, as the selectors continue their enterprising policy of identifying and exposing gifted players early on. He remembers being phoned at work by Dave Houghton and told he was in the national squad for training and should attend net practice; after about three weeks, he heard that he was in the side for Sharjah. It was not the first time he had trained with the national players, as he had also done so before the England tour, but this was the first time he had been included in a specific small group with a tour in mind.In Sharjah he filled the place vacated by Dave Houghton, absent coaching Worcestershire, and his scores of 17, 22 and 25 showed great skill under rather difficult and unfamiliar conditions. "It’s a big jump from facing bowlers here who bowl you two half-volleys and a short ball every over to guys like Mushtaq Ahmed and Chaminda Vaas who don’t give you any width or any free balls," he said. He named Mushtaq Ahmed as the most difficult bowler he had to face, especially on the Sharjah pitch where the ball was turning sharply, especially from the rough – but Mushtaq did not get his wicket while he scored 25.He toured Sri Lanka and New Zealand with the national side during 1997/98, but only played in one first-class game altogether, a warm-up match in New Zealand. He did play four one-day internationals in that country, though, and his 36 in his first opportunity was the highest score of the innings. But batting at number seven or eight in one-day cricket is to be virtually on a hiding to nothing, with little or no chance of a big innings and plenty of room for failure, and he did not succeed again.He won a surprise Test debut on his return to Zimbabwe. Gavin Rennie had failed in New Zealand, as had the team as a whole, and the selectors appeared to be desperate when they dropped him for the First Test against Pakistan and asked Dirk to open with Grant Flower. Again the likelihood of failure was too great; he had to open against bowlers of the quality of Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar armed with the new ball and without a first-class fifty behind him, and he failed to score in either innings. He was promptly dropped for the Second Test and Rennie reinstated.That was his only Test appearance for some time, although the 1998/99 season brought him greater success than before with the bat. He had spent a season in England, when he had gone over to visit relatives and ended up playing for Barnt Green, thanks to the help of Andy Flower. He was learning to play straighter and to concentrate on spending time at the crease. At last the elusive fifty came, fore Mashonaland A against Matabeleland in Bulawayo, and with 92 he almost turned it into a century. Later in the season he recorded two more against England A, from whom he learned a great deal more about batting. He had played larger innings in the past for the Zimbabwe Board XI, in non-first-class fixtures; now he recorded 155 against Namibia and 100 against Border B. Promise was gradually turning into productivity.He was selected for the World Cup in England in 1999, although many considered him fortunate to get the vote ahead of Craig Wishart, who had begun the season most impressively while opening the innings. He played in only one match, that against Australia at Lord’s, scoring 5 before being given out stumped in controversial circumstances; many felt that there was insufficient evidence on the camera replay for the third umpire to rule him out.On his return he was overlooked for the national team until England visited for a one-day series in February 2000. He failed with the bat, but his tight flat bowling did its job and he took three cheap wickets in the final match. This persuaded the selectors to persevere with him throughout the tours of West Indies and England; in fact, for a further eighteen months.As a batsman he always went in between numbers six and nine, and more often at eight or nine, when either quick runs were needed or the side was in trouble. It actually took him 18 matches since he reappeared against England before he even reached double figures; then runs could not have returned at a more valuable time. Zimbabwe were struggling against Sri Lanka in Sharjah when Dirk at number six contributed 63 not out, which remains his highest international score; in the return match against the same team he scored 60.However this did not earn him promotion, and he continued to go in at seven or eight. Ironically it was another home one-day series against England that cost him his place at the start of the 2001/02 season; little success with the bat low down and some more expensive bowling, together with a team failure that left the selectors looking for new faces, saw him lose his place and to date he has not returned.He has played one more Test match, in India in 2001/02, and must have been relieved to score some runs this time. After 19 in the first innings, batting at number seven and playing as an all-rounder, he made a valuable 38 in the second, sharing a partnership of 113 with Andy Flower that helped to save the match. But the thought obviously was that he was a one-day specialist, as he has not been given a further chance.On the domestic scene he has still not fulfilled his potential and his career batting average remains under 30. He has recorded just one century, a dominating 173 not out for Mashonaland against Matabeleland in Bulawayo during the 1999/2000, during which he shared a massive 330-run partnership with Craig Evans (who scored 153), and was not overshadowed by his powerful partner. But since then his highest first-class score has only been 79.With the strength of the Mashonaland team at this time, he was signed up by Midlands for the 2001/02 season, and took over the captaincy when regular captain Doug Marillier was on international duties. Probably with Marillier’s expected absences in mind, he was confirmed as official provincial captain for 2002/03 – but he would no doubt prefer to be back in the international side, and especially in the Test team.Back home Dirk’s family suffered disaster during 2002 when they were evicted from their farm under the `land resettlement’ programme. At the age of 25 and having lost his place in the national side, his own future is very much in the balance. He will need to make more of an impact in future and do enough to force his way back into contention, or he may well fade out with promise unfulfilled. He has enough years left in him and enough skill to be able to succeed even now.

MELBOURNE, Dec 15 AAP – Champion Australian leg spinner Shane Warne suffered a dislocated shoulder here tonight in the one-day cricket match against England.The joint was put back in the dressing room, but he had not yet gone to hospital.An Australian Cricket Board spokesman confirmed the nature of the injury.He added Warne would see a shoulder specialist and undergo diagnostic scans to determine the extent of the damage.”More will be known in due course,” the spokesman said.Warne hurt his right shoulder after diving to field a ball off his own bowling in the 28th over of England’s innings.Television footage showed him clutching his bowling shoulder in agony and he was stretchered from the field a few minutes later.There were immediate fears he could be ruled out for the World Cup tournament in six weeks in South Africa.He missed much of the 1998-99 season after needing a reconstruction of the shoulder.Warne also was out of action for several months during the 2000-01 season when he broke the spinning finger in his right hand in a fielding accident.Warne, Test cricket’s second-highest wicket taker with 491, underwent a strict fitness and diet regime this year to prolong his career.Australian team physiotherapist Errol Alcott said the best-case scenario for Warne was four to six weeks in the stands.”We know he’s actually dislocated his shoulder. He’s got what’s called an anterior dislocation,” Alcott said.”It was put back in by the ACB chief medical officer Trefor James. It went in really well, so we’re happy about.”Now we need to just wait a little bit to see if there’s any further damage.”First of all, we need to establish if there’s any boney injury, so we need to get some plain x-rays done on it.”And then he’ll be seen by a specialist, a shoulder specialist who has actually done his surgery before.”Our main concern is his prior history. He’s had surgery on that shoulder before so we need to have a look and see if there’s perhaps further damage done to that already damaged joint.”We’re looking four to six (weeks out) to start with. It might be more four than six but it depends if there’s anything else injured.”If there is something more, than we’d probably have to add on the weeks.”Warne’s injury is almost certain to rule the 33-year-old out of the remaining two Tests of the Ashes series against England.Ponting said he was not a medical person, but thought Warne would be out of action “for quite a while”, given it was a shoulder dislocation and his history of problems with the joint.”It was a sad thing to happen in a good game and we don’t know the full extent of it just yet,” Ponting said.”Obviously, it’s a shoulder dislocation and apparently it went back into (the) joint fairly easily.”He’s off tonight, X-rays and scans, and we probably won’t know until later tonight or early tomorrow morning just how bad it is.”It’s pretty safe to say he will be out for quite a while yet.”

COLOMBO – Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist feels he’s close to abig score and would love to get one against cricket minnow Bangladeshhere on Thursday.Gilchrist has been hammering rapid-fire 20s, 30s and 40s over the pastfew weeks, including an excellent 44 off 30 balls against New Zealand onSunday, which set up Australia’s massive 164-run win.But the man labelled “The Destroyer” by Champions Trophy promoters,feels he’s only taking pot-shots at bowlers at the moment.”I’ve been happy with the way I’ve been hitting them,” Gilchrist toldAAP.”It was good to get to 40 again the other day but it’s stilldisappointing to have got out.”In the context of the game it provided a good start, it was a launchingplatform to get a massive total [7-296] … but it would still be niceto get a big score.”Since making a half-century against Pakistan in the three-match winterseries, Gilchrist has been averaging a shade over 20. Even though he’sstill scoring quickly, he hasn’t been able to get a really big score -but that may come against the inexperienced Bangladesh outfit.Australia has played the newest Test nation just once, in the 1999 WorldCup.In that match the Aussies needed a big win to boost their run rate inorder to make sure of their place in the next round of the tournament.After Bangladesh made 7-178, Australia rattled off the runs in 19.5overs with Gilchrist making a stunning 63 off 39 balls to ensureAustralia won easily.Gilchrist also needs just one more catch behind the wicket to become thefirst keeper to record 200 catches in one-dayers.

In an ironic twist, the next round of championship games, following on from the first Test, have prompted the England team management to show great kindness to the counties which have contracted England players. Alex Tudor in particular has been given a rest, although the others were able to put their feet up for most of the last three days. The batsmen were all able to get some practice against left arm quick medium bowling, a particular boon for Stewart, Butcher and Thorpe, who welcome Somerset and left arm seamer Matthew Bulbeck to the Oval.Given the easy pace of days four and five at Lord’s, and the lack of recent practice evident in the side’s performance in the first three days of the Test, it makes perfect sense that the contracted players will also be free for this round. It would, after all, be a shame if the series were to be lost because the Sri Lankans have had more practice in English conditions than their hosts this summer.

Frizzell County Championship Division OneP   W  L  D  Bat Bowl  Deduct PointsSurrey                    3   3  0  0  11   9    0.25   55.75Leicestershire            4   2  1  1  15  11    1.00   53.00Lancashire                4   2  1  1  11  12    0.00   51.00Hampshire                 4   1  1  2  13  11    0.00   44.00Somerset                  3   1  0  2  11   8    0.00   39.00Kent                      3   1  1  1  10   7    0.00   33.00Sussex                    3   0  1  2  11   8    0.00   27.00Warwickshire              3   0  2  1   5   7    0.00   16.00Yorkshire                 3   0  3  0   2   9    0.00   11.00

Surrey v Somerset, Kennington Oval (24th – 27th May)Viewed from The Oval, the table has a rosy glow. Since the round three dispatch of Lancashire, Martin Bicknell has returned to form with five for 26 and Ali Brown has delivered a trademark 40-ball half century. The entire top order took advantage of the university match at Fenners, and the Lord’s Test, to occupy the crease after a feeble first innings effort against a keen and accurate Lancashire attack.In recent years home advantage has been key in this fixture, with Somerset winning well in `98 and having the better of rain-affected draws in 2000 and 2001. But their hosts have dropped just a single point out of 60 in the last three Oval meetings.Surrey’s Ian Salisbury has secured 33 wickets against the visitors in the past four seasons, and he also welcomes back his spin twin Saqlain for this fixture. The runs have been spread around too, with 11 Surrey players posting first-class fifties so far, and six with centuries. With a full cast to choose from and 20 wickets a game so far in the course of their three convincing wins, Surrey will be looking to pull even further ahead in the early stages of the title race.For Somerset Cox and Bowler are once again the core of a batting side that also features wicket-keeper Rob Turner and hard-hitting spinning all-rounders Keith Dutch and Ian Blackwell. The availability of Andy Caddick, who enjoys bowling at the Oval, may be crucial to their chances, especially if Richard Johnson’s hamstring still rules him out, in what seems likely to be an uphill struggle for the Cidermen.Either Surrey’s 100% record or Somerset’s undefeated status will be lost in this contest between the two highest-placed sides, who each have just three games under their belts. In recent seasons even one-sided games between the two have provided captivating cricket, and with both teams loaded with internationals, veterans and up-and-coming prospects, this should be no exception.Sussex v Leicestershire, Horsham (24th – 27th May)Sussex are likely to be without the exceptional form of their captain and leading batsman Chris Adams, who was injured in training for their B&H quarter-final defeat, Adams’ 466 runs, with three centuries in three games have been the highlight of their season so far. His supporting cast has been on song too though, with Michael Yardy and overseas player Murray Goodwin scoring well, backed up lower down the order by the likes of Robin Martin-Jenkins. They score their runs at a fair rate too.The South coast team, one of three sides yet to record a victory, will be hoping that the cloudy conditions forecast for this weekend will help their seam attack improve its penetration and take 20 wickets for the first time this season. The first two years of the two-division championship have shown that the key to success in the top flight is the ability to bowl sides out twice, and only Jason Lewry and James Kirtley have so far achieved strike rates sufficient to the task.Leicestershire have weathered the extraordinary exodus at the end of last season amazingly well, recording two wins in four games and losing narrowly in their nail-biting season opener against Lancashire. They have outshone both the other promoted sides by significant margins already.Darren Stevens, in his sixth year as a first-class cricketer, has scored just 1711 from 66 innings, but 395 from six this season has delighted the county’s fans as their unexpected star turn, showing once again the ability of the club’s highly-rated Jack Birkenshaw to spot and develop talent. The rest of the batting has been strong too, and Leicestershire have the highest batting points average in the division, with 15 out of a possible 20.The bowling is lead by the vastly experienced Test veteran Phil DeFreitas, who has had excellent and unexpected support from Darren Maddy, whose 15 wickets continue the late blooming he started last season. But Devon Malcolm has yet to produce one of the spectacular wicket-hauls that have characterised his seemingly unending first-class career.Weather permitting, this looks likely to be a high scoring encounter, but it remains to be seen whether either side can force a win.Yorkshire v Hampshire, Leeds (24th – 27th May)With the wheels hanging off the creaking Yorkshire bandwagon, out of the B&H and last in Division One, this match against promoted Hampshire approaches the status of a must-win contest. Yorkshire come into this game after five straight championship defeats (fortunately just three this season) since claiming the 2001 title, this includes two innings defeats by championship leaders and arch-rivals Surrey.The champions at least come into this game with their captain, overseas player and batting mainstay Darren Lehmann showing some of the form that brought the championship to Headingley for the first time since 1968. The return of their Test players also gives a fillip to their chances, especially given the Test century by their own Pennine-hopping run machine Michael Vaughan. So far they have raised a paltry two batting points while seven of their rivals have already reached double figures. The good news is that the batsmen put up a fight in their game against Somerset and produced some runs, but they have still only mustered one century in six innings, from Craig White, and no batsman has passed the 200-run mark for the campaign.Their bowling too has failed to prosper in the usual fashion – the only five wicket haul so far being the inimitable Steve Kirby’s 5-129 achieved while Surrey were peppering the boundary boards. Sidebottom and Hoggard have disappointed so far, but both are hard-working young men with real talent who will surely improve as the season goes on. Given targets to bowl at their seam attack, all-conquering last year, should prosper again.Hampshire bring the best record of any of the promoted teams into this game, and John Crawley returns from international duty to strengthen their batting, which has benefited from improvements by Shaun Udal and the arrival of South African wicket-keeper Nick Pothas, as well as the contributions of overseas player Neil Johnson and captain Robin Smith.Bowling success has been headed by Dimitri Mascarenhas, who spearheaded their home victory against Kent, and Chris Tremlett, with neither of their internationals, Alan Mullally or Udal, at their best yet.Despite some batting success, Hampshire have been forced to follow on twice and their bowling has been taken for huge first innings totals in three of four matches. The contest between their varied bowling and Yorkshire’s erratic batsmen is set to be one of the most interesting of this round of matches.

As another English season draws to a close, the trees turn yellow and the temperature falls, cupboards will be raided for fleeces and pullovers. England’s cricketers, however, will be polishing their sunglasses, ironing their linen shirts and stocking up on sun lotion, preparing for a return to serendipity.Eighteen months after their glorious series-sealing victory against Sri Lanka at the grassy-banked Sinhalese Sports Club, Nasser Hussain’s side is returning to Colombo, one Asia’s most laidback capital cities, hoping to kick-start their World Cup preparations with a successful ICC Champions Trophy.Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will hope that they will be followed by their famously loyal supporters, eager to top-up their tans before another long dark winter. The bitter memories of a shock home defeat may still linger, but the locals still reminisce fondly about England’s carnival-like tour.

Barmy Army had a ball in Sri Lanka

For two months England’s Union Jack clad Barmy Army cheered on their team, sung their songs and twisted their hips to the rhythmic drumming of local bands. Sri Lanka’s gyrating spectators couldn’t hide their delight – Nasser’s supporters also loved a cricket party.In the 1990s English supporters started to flock to the West Indies, especially Kensington Oval, Barbados and St. Johns, Antigua. The stadiums were been filled to the rafters, the supporters happily intoxicated by a heady mixture of cricket, Calypso and rum.The West Indies was attractive. Cricket was loved; a pastime with a permanent place in their cultural heritage and a glue that bound together different ethnicities. And aside from cricket there was paradise: sunshine, golden beaches and turquoise seas. For those wishing to party, the nightlife was exhilarating.No other destination could match the Caribbean’s intoxicating charm. Until, that is, a long time overdue, those men in grey suits at the home of cricket finally agreed to a full Test series in Sri Lanka. A new paradise was discovered.Sri Lanka is Asia’s Caribbean, a small island of great beauty, populated by a charming people. Elsewhere in the subcontinent travel can be an ordeal – in Sri Lanka it’s easy: the laid back pace of life coupled with the generousity and politeness of its inhabitants makes it so.Like in the Caribbean, cricket is cherished. Nowhere else in the world does a three-day school game attract 5,000 cheering spectators – in Sri Lanka such crowds are seen every year as Royal College take on St Thomas. From gabbling tri-shaw drivers to reclining beach boys, from blue suited businessmen to gossiping housewives, the game is followed with passion.In fact, it goes deeper than love. Success in cricket feeds the soul of country. The 1996 World Cup victory became an important marker point in the nation’s post-independence history – a source of confidence and pride.So it should come as no surprise that England’s supporters quickly warmed to Sri Lanka. Traipsing from the coconut palm-fringed beaches surrounding Galle International Stadium, to the lush hillsides hugging Asgiriya International Stadium, thousands enjoyed the holiday of a lifetime.Many will consider a return for the ICC Champions Trophy and those that do will discover a new spirit of confidence. A new government came to power in December, initiating a peace process that has gathered momentum by the day. Six months on and a civil war in the north is no longer; guns swapped for telephones, bunkers for the negotiating table. The resultant air of hope is intoxicating.

Sri Lanka: a tropical paradise

So although a difficult year for tourism worldwide, Colombo is bracing itself for a party. The two stadiums are being revamped, tour operators are busy plotting excursions, hoteliers are planning banquets and bars are signing up live bands.But the number of travellers is difficult to predict. Few expect the numbers that poured in for the England series. However, it is hoped the prospect of an exciting tournament, wedded to happy memories, a quickly maturing peace process and value for money, will attract large numbers of supporters.Indeed, Sri Lanka offers the cricket tourist unbeatable value for money. Some operators are offering 14-day package tours for as little GBP 620, inclusive of first class accommodation and a return flight. Tours to Australia and South Africa later in the winter cost significantly more.There is another reason for traveling – the cricket could be exceptional. The world’s best players will be playing, on pitches tailormade for blistering batting. “Come done Jayasuriya, Tendulkar, Lara, Klusner, Gilchrist and Flintoff…time to entertain.”So if haven’t yet planned an Autumnal sojourn, the time has come to scribble out that holiday leave form. The party starts on 12 September, England’s first game on 18 September. Don’t miss out on the trip of a lifetime.

BRISBANE, Oct 18 AAP – New South Wales dug in for the long haul towards first innings points against Queensland on the third day of the Pura Cup match at the Gabba today.At tea, the Blues were 2-218 in their first innings – still trailing the Bulls by 289 runs in a match which needs a rush of wickets to have any chance of a result.That won’t happen if the match maintains a pattern which has yielded just two wickets in the last five sessions, but it hasn’t been a batting paradise.Matthew Phelps has taken 258 balls for his 80 not out, while Michael Clarke, who joined Phelps at the crease in the 37th over, was unbeaten on 75 at the break.Michael Bevan was the only batsman out today when he was softened up by consecutive short balls from Michael Kasprowicz (1-45) before edging a pull shot from the next delivery to wicketkeeper Wade Seccombe.Bevan failed to add to his overnight score of 23 despite facing 25 balls today.Phelps and Clarke struggled for runs against some tight bowling, taking 16 runs from one 15-over stretch dominated by Bulls paceman Ashley Noffke (0-46), who went 44 deliveries without conceding a run.But Clarke still showed why he is rated as one of the most promising batsmen in the country, playing some delightful shots mixed with some streaky swings as he tried to increase the run-rate.

Poor application on the part of Central Zone batsmen saw East Zone take firm control of their Duleep Trophy match at Kolkata on Thursday.East reached 365 in their first innings after starting the second day on 261 for four. Deep Dasgupta, East’s centurion, could only add three runs to his total, falling for 112 off 290 balls, with 13 fours, as the first wicket of the day.Pravanjan Mullick, who had retired hurt the previous day, came out again to make 34 off 56 balls, with five fours. His was the sixth wicket to fall. Laxmi Rattan Shukla, the overnight batsman, made 40 off 98 balls, with six fours, before he fell.The tail could not add much to the total, although Utpal Chatterjee showed some resistance to make 22 off 32 before getting out. East ended their innings in 121 overs and 499 minutes. For Central, Kulamani Parida took four wickets for 41 runs.Central Zone opener Jyoti Yadav top-scored for his side with 48 off 96 balls. None of the other batsmen who were dismissed could even cross the 20-run mark. Yadav shared a good partnership of 71 runs for the third wicket with Yere Goud, but after Yadav got out, wickets tumbled in a hurry.At the close of play, Central Zone were 136 for five off 57 overs. Goud was unbeaten on 34 off 156 balls, desperately looking for partners to stay with him at the crease. Raja Ali was unbeaten on 5 off 58 balls at stumps.