The youngest Test nation has bagged the name of the youngest Test centurion in the game’s 124-year old history. This is a marvelous performance from a kid (17 years & 63 days), who not only saved his side from further disgrace but also rallied their spirits. Ashraful, the diminutive right-hander has shown the hope – a hope that was only flickering while the recognized super powers of cricket were crushing us in Multan and Colombo.The name of Wahidul Ghani is spreading far and wide after Ashraful hit the headlines. Wahidul Ghani, an ex-cricketer and the mentor of this whiz kid, runs a cricket-coaching center called “Ankur” and Mohammed Ashraful is a fruit of this less known academy.When Ashraful was selected for Wahidul Ghani’s camp, he was only eleven years old. Before that he used to play with his mates in the neighborhood. Ghani, an utterly dedicated soul to cricket spotted the genius in Ashraful who only needed congenial atmosphere and support to sprout. He knew that the kid was a prodigy and he needed to be groomed properly. That was the job Ghani did with success.He infused confidence and necessary props to this youth when he needed these most. In January 2000, Ashraful played the Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka where he had to endure the contemptuous notions over his frail and childish physic. In home, the local coaches shared out the same view, which to some extent frustrated the boy. It was the time when Wahidul Ghani stood beside him to usher him to the right direction.This former national cricketer trains kid cricketers by his own volition and without fees, which is an exceptional and outstanding approach in a country like Bangladesh. He carries out coaching sessions thrice a week in the Indoor of Abahani Club and gives added attention to prodigious kids.Being a very humble fellow, Wahidul Ghani refuses to take any credit for himself of his student Ashraful’s brilliant success in Sri Lanka. Conversely he says it is only Asraful’s talent that did the magic.”Ankur” cricket academy is open for everyone but Wahidul Ghani carefully chooses his students among the crowd. He only includes those who are promising and would not give up cricket after a few months training. The right-arm fast medium Mohammed Shaif, who had his debut against Zimbabwe, sprouted from “Ankur” alike his buddy Ashraful. They are very similar in a single point of view – both were unknown even a year ago and came into the hit list abruptly.Wahidul Ghani is optimistic about another lad named Sagar, who can deliver “dusra ball” or “drifter” that he learnt from Saqlain Mushtaq when Pakistan came in 1997 to take part in Independence Cup. According to Wahidul, Sagar plays a key role to Ashraful’s achievement. Sagar used to apply the secrets of spin bowling that he learnt from Saqlain in the nets – particularly to Ashraful. He was getting familiar with handling a delivery like “dusra ball”. Later it worked when he took on Muralitharan who tried to bit him by releasing those vicious “drifters” repeatedly.Arif Hossain, a right arm leggie, is going to come into sight soon – Wahidul believes. Arif was sent to Australia to have training there and has a bright future.Wahidul Ghani played a solitary ODI against Pakistan at Chittagong in Asia cup 1988-89. He has a good track of records as a right arm leg spinner and a handy lower order batsman.

The second day of the West Indies first warm-up game in Sri Lanka was completely washed out after heavy rains in Colombo on Saturday night and Sunday morning.Frustrated players waited throughout the morning, before the umpires officially called off play at 2pm. Worryingly, the monsoon rains were so heavy that the outfield is now saturated. Further rains before the start of play could well force the abandonment of the match.This is not good news for the West Indies. The batsmen had a good workout on Saturday, but the bowlers will be itching to acclimitise to the slow pitches and steamy climate.They are only two warm-up matches scheduled before the first Test at Galle on 13 November; this match in Colombo against Sri Lanka A, and another three-day game down south in the coastal town of Matara on 8-10 November.Traditionally, November and early December is a monsoon period in Sri Lanka, so the scheduling of the tour at this time was always a calculated risk.West Indies last tour of Sri Lanka in 1993 was also marred by frequent interruptions because of the weather. The one-off Test match, controversially played in Moratuwa, was eventually abandoned because of a waterlogged outfield.

State Auckland Aces coach and convener of selectors, Tony Sail has today named a strong team to play current State Max and State Championship title holders, the State Wellington Firebirds in a three-day warm up game starting on Monday at the Devonport Domain.Changes to the team that played the New Zealand Academy team in Christchurch last week include the selection of Rob Nicol and Richard Morgan for Aaron Barnes and Mark Haslam, who are both unavailable because of work commitments. Reece Young replaces Stephen Pearson as wicket-keeper having fulfilled his duties with the New Zealand Academy.Eighteen-year-old Nicol, New Zealand Cricket’s Young Player to Lord’s for 2001, will make his debut for the State Auckland Aces.”Rob Nicol has been putting in some top performances for Cornwall in the early rounds of the Crown Relocations Cup.”This gives him an opportunity to further his claims for selection in the State Aces, and the New Zealand Under-19 team to be named at the end of November.”Rob further strengthens the middle order and gives us another slow bowling option in the game,” Sail said.The State Auckland Aces team is:Tim McIntosh, Matt Horne, Llorne Howell, Richard Pudney, Rob Nicol, Tama Canning, Kyle Mills, Brooke Walker (captain), Reece Young, Andre Adams, Richard Morgan, Chris Drum.

Herschelle Gibbs and Javagal Srinath were the outstanding performers for the two sides in the recent India-South Africa series that concluded at Centurion Park on Tuesday. While Srinath defied his age and his critics to grab a haul of 13 wickets, Gibbs showed that he has recovered from the trauma of match-fixing ban and drugs scandals that have dogged his career over the last two years. Gibbs scored two centuries in the first two Tests and a 59 in a final game that at the moment has the status of an unofficial Test. Here the two chief performers of the series cast a look back.Q: Looking back at the series, you must be happy with your performances…Gibbs: I am not through yet. I am playing cricket with a lot more confidence. The balance is really good. I am choosing the right ball to hit.Srinath: I have done well, but there is disappointment that we are still searching for that elusive win against South Africa away from home. This is perhaps my last trip to South Africa and, in that respect, I am disappointed.Q: The Indian bowling, except for Srinath, was not all that great. Do you agree with that assessment?Gibbs: I would say that the other bowlers are a bit inexperienced. They also struggled to find the right length and pace for these wickets. But they will get better with more experience. It is a learning curve. Someone like Srinath, who has done a world of good for India’s image, could be a role model.Srinath: I can’t blame them. I also have failed to rise on occasions at times. I agree that a few of our new medium-pacers are raw, but they will get better in due course.Q: How do you assess each other’s performance?Gibbs: Javi (Javagal) is very experienced. He has done really very well every time that he has toured South Africa. You can’t ask for more than that.Srinath: Gibbs has been a fantastic entertainer. He has had ups and downs in his career but has shown remarkable character to come out of the trough. It is not a joke to recover as he has done. I am sure he is only going to get better in coming times.Q: What do you think the future holds for you?Gibbs: My priority will be to do well in Australia. Most of their wickets are like ours, except perhaps for Melbourne. I also know that the Australian media always targets the key players of the opposition. You know they will chirp, you know how they play the game, so you have got to be prepared for it. There is no point in contemplating in what will happen next. You just accept it and get on with the job.Srinath: I am taking it series by series at the moment. I have reached that stage of my career when I have to plan my cricket. I have cut down on my pace; I don’t think I am as fast as I used to be. I understand that I am ageing and must bowl accordingly. I have enjoyed every moment of my career. There have been disappointments along the way for sure, but overall I owe a great deal to the game.Q: Do you think you are right there at the top of your game at the moment?Gibbs: I think I have improved since I first started opening the innings. My shot selection has improved, and I have become a tighter batsman than before. Gary (Kirsten) has also been a great help, and we share a wonderful understanding.Srinath: I know it I am not a Glenn McGrath or a Wasim Akram or a Waqar Younis. So I have to keep going within my limitations. I am out for the first Test against England at Mohali, but I am pretty sure that I will be available for selection for the final two Tests of the series.

South Australia have named the fowllowing team to play Tasmania in the ING Cup at Launceston on January 6:

• Darren Lehmann (Captain)
• Greg Blewett (V.Captain)
• Nathan Adcock
• Chris Davies
• David Fitzgerald
• Mark Harrity
• Ben Higgins
• Ben Johnson
• Graham Manou
• Paul Rofe
• Mike Smith
• Paul Wilson
• Bradley Young

India’s Under-19 World Cup team came back to earth with a heavy thud today after their demolition of South Africa yesterday, going down by two wickets to Bangladesh.In the ICC Under-19 World Cup battle of the subcontinent neighbours, the Bangladeshi opening attack of Ashiqur Rahman (three for 17 off 10) and Shafaq Al Zabir (two for 21 off nine) tore through the Indian top order, literally in the case of Paul Valthaty, the opener needing a trip to hospital after Shafaq got one through his visor.India never recovered from the early damage as the Bangladeshis, looking far happier with themselves than after they allowed Canada in for a tie on Tuesday, took full advantage of a two-faced Albany pitch and some tentative Indian batting.Only Stuart Binny (17), the last man Siddarth Trivedi (16 not out) and extras (18) managed to reach double figures in a score of 77.While the rest of the Bangladeshi bowlers were left to share the crumbs deposited by their opening duo, there was time to glimpse the bowling skills of their Test batsman, Mohammad Ashraful, spinning a web around the Indians.His three overs cost just three runs for the wicket of Binny when the Indian all-rounder was threatening to become established.With a mediocre score to defend, the Indians were not about to lie down.Lift from a good length interspersed with low balls kept the Bangladesh batsmen watchful. Enthusiastic, if unsuccessful, appealing tightened the tension.The task was clearly not easy. A mixture of caution, occasional shots in anger and a liberal contribution from wides saw Bangladesh through to 50/4 at the lunch break.Despite Bangladesh needing just 28 after lunch, survival became just as important as runs.The Indian pace duo, Trivedi (three for 24) and Chandrashekar Atram (two for 24), took up where their Bangladeshi counterparts left off, enjoying a pitch that gave them considerable help. Fifty for four was soon 52/6.Their departure from the crease provided little relief as 63/6 became 64/8 before Ali Arman and Ashiqur saw Bangladesh through to the victory in the 33rd over.But what a struggle – the last 28 runs after lunch took 18 overs as the lower order withstood the Indian pressure – which at times tended towards over-enthusiastic.Their contribution was recognised with the Man of the Match award for Ali’s undefeated 12 as he led the crawl to 78/8 – of which extras contributed 27.Bangladesh picked up a bonus point for their two-wicket win, leaving their future in the tournament in the hands of the South Africa-Canada match tomorrow. India had already booked their ticket south but will make the trip with some trepidation.

Auckland ripped through Canterbury today on the third day of their State Championship match at Eden Park as the visitors appeared to forget that the primary aim of batting is to score runs.Ninety-four was the paltry return from their first innings as Chris Drum attacked from one end and Brooke Walker spun a stifling web around the batsmen at the other.The Canterbury opener Shanan Stewart’s 27 was the only score past 20 as the Canterbury batsmen appeared to be following the patient example set yesterday by the young Aucklanders Reece Young and Rob Nicol. The problem for the Canterbury batsmen was their failure to find the loose balls to punish while losing wickets regularly.Drum, with pace and bounce, troubled all the batsmen, a testament to his accuracy being the three lbws and the one bowled that went towards his five-wicket bag. He finished with five for 22 from 17 overs. To Walker, the batsmen concentrated on defending, the few attacking shots they offered bringing about their demise. The leg spinner ended with four for 10 from 15 overs.The Canterbury innings had struggled to 79/5 – it fell away completely from there, the last five batsmen including the injured Warren Wisneski contributing just 15 runs.Forced to follow on 178 behind, the innings started in similar vein, Jarrod Englefield’s stay less than four overs, adding just three to his first-innings eight when the score was five.However, Stewart (35) and Robbie Frew (9) saw them safely through to 49/1 at stumps, still requiring 129 to make Auckland bat again.The highlight of the morning session was the completion of a 150-run partnership by Young (86) and Nicol (74). In the process they removed the long-standing eighth wicket Auckland record against Canterbury of Verdun Scott and Jim Blandford. Their 143 had stood since the 1939/40 season.However, most of the work for that had been done yesterday. They added just 14 in the morning session before Young gave Gareth Hopkins his fourth catch behind the stumps, this time off Stephen Cunis. The partnership ended at 153, leaving Auckland 258/8.There was long enough for Nicol to go to 74, his highest first-class score, and for Hopkins to collect his fifth catch of the innings as Auckland ended on 272.The wickets were shared, Chris Martin (three for 67 from 32), Cunis (three for 66 from 31) and Ryan Burson (three for 63 from 27.4) ending with remarkably similar figures.Tomorrow Canterbury will need considerably more application than that shown in the first innings to rescue this one.

Queensland cricket captain Jimmy Maher conjured a memorable outright victory over South Australia today as the Bulls extended their lead on the Pura Cup table.Maher arrived at Adelaide Oval for the final day today perhaps the only person believing maximum points were possible to gain.After all, SA’s reply to the visitors’ first innings had not been completed.But in an astonishing turn of events, Maher today claimed first innings points, smashed a half-century from 38 balls and boldly declared before his bowlers routed the Redbacks in the afternoon.Maher set SA an enticing 239 from 60 overs to win and then watched paceman Ashley Noffke destroy the Redbacks by taking 5-31 as the home side was bundledout for 132.Queensland won by 106 runs and now enjoy an eight-point buffer from the chasing pack on the cup table.Today’s fluctuating fortunes began when Noffke completed a four-wicket haul in SA’s first innings of 392 – a total 111 behind the Bulls’ first innings of 5(dec)-503.Maher then led a brazen Bulls assault with the bat, blasting a half-century from 38 balls which included seven fours and a six – a timely reminder to national selectors of his strokeplay as speculation of Mark Waugh’s one-day demise continues.The acting Bulls skipper fell for 52 – the first victim in a stunning slump of 7-27 during a reckless quest for quick runs.During the chaotic collapse, Redbacks spinner Brad Young and medium pacer Greg Blewett were both on hat-tricks – and both were denied the feat.With Queensland’s overall lead of 238 and his side’s second innings at 7-127, Maher bravely declared with a minimum 60 overs remaining.He then unveiled an unexpected trick – he wanted to again use the ball which Queensland used for 144.2 overs in SA’s first innings.But Maher failed to ask his Redbacks counterpart Blewett and under cricket’s laws, both captains must permit the old ball to be used again.On this occasion Blewett refused, preferring a hard new ball for his batsmen on a wearing pitch.It mattered little.After reaching 2-98, SA lost 8-34 and was all out with two overs remaining.

SYDNEY, Jan 2 AAP – Mark Butcher and Nasser Hussain made Australia pay for a raft of missed opportunities to steady England after a worrying start to the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.By tea on the opening day, the pair had steered the tourists to 2-150 with an unbroken partnership of 118.Butcher was not out 67 and Hussain was on 57.Both had survived dropped chances in the first session and Butcher was handed another life after lunch.Australian legspinner Stuart MacGill spilled a straight forward caught and bowled chance off Hussain when he was on six with England floundering at 2-63.Butcher was lucky on 13 when Damien Martyn got a hand to what would have been a spectacular catch off Andy Bichel’s bowling.On 43, Butcher edged a Jason Gillespie delivery which bounced in and out of Adam Gilchrist’s gloves as the wicketkeeper stretched to his left.Earlier, Gilchrist managed to hold an excellent catch, launching himself high to his left to dispose of Marcus Trescothick (19) off Bichel.That dismissal left England in trouble at 2-32 after opener Michael Vaughan had been caught by Gilchrist off Brett Lee in the fourth over of the match for no score.Bichel received treatment on the field for what appeared to be a dislocated left index finger after fielding Hussain off his own bowling.

Surely, Test cricket never came any better than this. Three innings of class and aggression, from Alec Stewart, Adam Gilchrist and above all from Steve Waugh, for whom you simply couldn’t have written a better script. On his home ground, after becoming only the third batsman to pass 10,000 Test runs, the Australian captain drove the final ball of the day from Richard Dawson to the cover boundary to complete his 29th Test hundred, equalling Sir Donald Bradman’s record. England, truly combative at last, are still 125 runs ahead with Australia on 237 for five.Waugh and his vice-captain resume an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 87 tomorrow, which threatens England’s hopes of a substantial first-innings lead. They came together at a paltry 150 for five, after first Andrew Caddick and then Steve Harmison had shown rare fallibility in Australia’s top five. Their response was immediate and electrifying. Waugh’s 102 came off just 130 balls, while Gilchrist, perhaps more predictably, rattled off a run-a-ball 45.The day ended amid high drama, as the will-he-won’t-he issue of Waugh’s hundred kept virtually every spectator glued to his seat until that memorable last ball. With Gilchrist blazing away in idiosyncratic style, it was a joyful reminder of cricket’s capacity to entertain regally on multiple fronts. Hardly in the game’s history can gate money have been better spent.Australia’s initial response to England’s 362 had been far less imposing. Three wickets for Caddick had reduced the hosts to a perilous 56 for three, and brought the Somerset opening bowler to 227 Test wickets, just one behind his former new-ball partner Darren Gough.Matthew Hayden, after an attacking 15, was first to go, lbw to a swinging full toss. Ricky Ponting followed in Caddick’s next over, trying to leave a lifting delivery that brushed his bat on the way through to Stewart. Four overs later Justin Langer, trying to hook, got a top edge for Matthew Hoggard to run in from the long leg boundary, doing magnificently well to take a high, swirling catch.Waugh then joined Damien Martyn to feature in the first of two telling partnerships. The two put on 90 for the fourth wicket, with Waugh racing to his 50 off just 61 balls. He joined Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border on the 10,000 run landmark with a back-foot push for four off Dawson, but lost Martyn (26), playing a wild pull at a short ball from Harmison which was caught by Caddick at wide mid-on, leaving Australia on 146 for four. That became 150 for five when Martin Love edged a lifting Harmison delivery to Marcus Trescothick at slip.Waugh’s record-breaking knock was not the first of the day. Stewart, England’s veteran wicket-keeper batsman, overhauled Geoff Boycott’s 8,114 runs to become England’s third-highest run scorer, and then treated another sell-out SCG crowd to a delightful display of strokeplay. He hit 15 boundaries in an 86-ball innings of 71 before he was bowled off his pad trying to put an Andy Bichel half-volley through mid-wicket.Stewart, who had shrugged off a bout of chicken pox, received a standing ovation on the ground he regards as his second favourite after Lord’s, but was quickly followed by Dawson as England’s innings went into a tailspin. The Yorkshire off-spinner was caught behind pushing firm-footed at Bichel.Caddick became leg-spinner Stuart MacGill’s first wicket of the innings, bowled trying to sweep, and Hoggard was stumped in MacGill’s next over. Last man Harmison was run out at the non-striker’s end to finish the innings, leaving John Crawley unbeaten on 35. England had lost their last five wickets for only 30 runs in 13 overs.