Scorecard
The West Indians continued to warm-up well ahead of next week’s first Test on the second day of their tour match against Sri Lanka A at Shenley. Resuming on 351 for 6, Ridley Jacobs and Omari Banks added a further 183 runs together as the West Indians declared at 534 for 7. Sri Lanka A then closed at 271 for 6, with Banks taking three of the wickets to fall.Just as they did yesterday, the West Indians managed to prove that they can score runs without Brian Lara, as Jacobs and Banks continued the run fest. Jacobs, resuming on 30 not out, finished unbeaten on 117, with 17 fours and a six. While Jacobs is a certain starter next week at Lord’s, Banks pushed his case with an entertaining 90 from 85 balls, with nine fours and six sixes. He put on a commanding stand with Banks until he was caught by Malintha Gajanayake off Thilan Thushara.Ramnaresh Sarwan, the acting captain, immediately closed the innings with West Indies at 534 for 7, after all five of the Sri Lanka bowlers finished with at least 90 runs against their names.However, Shantha Kalavitigoda and Ian Daniel proved they could live with the big boys too. They put on 92 for the opening wicket before Kalavitigoda was caught by Tino Best off Dwayne Bravo for 27. Daniel continued his good form on the tour, and he had made a quick 72 when Fidel Edwards had him caught by Bravo.Malintha Gajanayake and Jehan Mubarak carried on the good work, adding 78 together. Gajanayake, though, was caught by Devon Smith to give Best his first wicket of the match. Banks then followed up his impressive performance with the bat by grabbing three wickets. The first to go was Mubarak, caught by Dwaye Smith for 61. Then Bathiya Perera was snaffled behind by Jacobs for 19, and Kaushal Lokuarachchi was also caught, by Edwards for 10.Prasanna Jayawardene and Thushara were then left holding the fort at the close with Sri Lanka A still 263 runs behind.

The reaction to India’s current dip in form has been similar to the invective thrown at them before the start of the World Cup last year. Batsmen have been described as “playing like millionaires”, bowlers criticised for being “clueless”, and the attitude branded as “demoralised”.Two suggestions have been doing the rounds: the first is with regard to the batting order, where most have advocated a change in the opening combination. The other relates to picking a specialist wicketkeeper to relieve Rahul Dravid of his “burden behind the stumps”.The said: “Sourav Ganguly should continue to open the innings, with Yuvraj [Singh], and push Sehwag down the order, making very clear that it is not a demotion but an opportunity for him to show what he can do in the middle order.”The , meanwhile, called for a change but felt that Ganguly would be better off batting at No. 5 or 6, with Yuvraj and Sehwag opening the innings. also said that Ganguly should go down the order, and was critical of his “inflexibility when it comes to shifting the batting order. Despite his limitations while facing pacers, Ganguly insists on batting at the top.”On the Dravid issue, the wrote: “Dravid may toil manfully and quietly but the strain of the double duty is now clearly evident in his batting stats.”And there were other thoughts too. India’s decision to field first in the second match at The Oval prompted Kris Srikkanth, the former Indian opener, to write in the : “It is high time we made it a law that when a toss is won, we must bat. We Indians are very poor chasers and unless and until the conditions are totally in favour of bowling first, we must always choose to bat when the option to do so is ours.”Ganguly has all along insisted that it was just a matter of getting it right in one game and that the team’s fortunes were bound to improve. It probably takes about the same time for the reactions to swing to the other extreme. Over to Lord’s.

South Africa’s shellshocked cricket team arrived back home on Tuesday night, with their captain, Graeme Smith, brushing aside the relevance of his side’s slump into the bottom four of the recently-updated one-day international rankings.At the start of the year South Africa were second in the rankings, but since then they have been given hidings in New Zealand and Sri Lanka, and were bundled out of the Champions Trophy in the very first round. Consequently they are now eighth, ranked alongside Zimbabwe, Kenya and Bangladesh.Smith, however, appeared unconcerned when asked at a press conference in Johannesburg how he felt about his side’s tumble down the rankings. “There are a minimal amount of points between No. 2 and No. 8,” he said. “It will just take one series win to send us back up again.”Of far more pressing concern, according to Smith and the team’s coach Eric Simons, is that the team are lacking confidence after their unprecedented run of defeats.”The squad have been superb practice-wise and I can’t criticise their work ethic, preparation or motivation,” said Smith. “Maybe we’re actually trying too hard and have tried to force one or two things. It’s got to the stage now where there’s almost a fear of losing and maybe that’s why we didn’t drive it home when we were in winning positions.”Simons also pointed to the team’s lack of confidence, but he believed five weeks of domestic cricket could provide the solution ahead of the daunting tour to India.”From the sidelines their lack of self-belief was evident,” said Simons. “They just need to turn round that confidence in their own ability. Winning is a habit, but now they are scared of losing.”Playing back in conditions that they are more comfortable in is just what the guys need right now and in their next five games with their franchises it is vital that they find some confidence and form.”Smith added that it was important that the players went out and dominated in provincial cricket, to prove they are the best players available.The future of Simons, a former one-day international player, as coach of the South Africans is obviously in doubt, but he is not about to quit. “We’ve had a run of bad form,” he admitted, “but I will never walk away from a challenge.”But whatever the decision of the National Cricket Committee [NCC], I will accept it because it’s up to them to decide what the solutions are and what we need to do from here.”The NCC will meet with the South African team management on September 30.Ken Borland is a journalist with the MWP Sports Agency in South Africa.

Five former Test players have been included in the South Africa A team for their three-day match against England which starts in Potchefstroom on Saturday.HD Ackerman, Mark Boucher, Justin Ontong, Martin van Jaarsveld and Charl Willoughby have the chance to stake their claim for future Test selection, and Ackerman will lead a side which also includes some younger players. “He has vast experience as a captain and has been in fine form with the bat,” explained one of the selectors, Haroon Lorgat.Boucher has the opportunity to make a strong case for a return to the Test fold, and has already received the backing of Ray Jennings, the South African coach. “I don’t really know why he was taken out of the equation, but I think he’s paid his dues and I think he will definitely be back in contention for the national team,” Jennings told the SuperSport website.Boucher was left out of the South African team that toured India in November. His replacement, Thami Tsolekile, hardly distinguished himself, although he has been named in the squad for the first Test against England which starts on December 17.Van Jaarsveld and Ontong each played one Test during the recent two-match series in India but did not distinguish themselves. Van Jaarsveld, a top order batsman, scored a total of 15 in his two innings in the first Test, while Ontong picked up one wicket in the second Test. Langeveldt, meanwhile, was selected for the Indian tour but withdrew through injury.Squad HD Ackerman (capt), Justin Ontong (vice-capt), Mark Boucher, JP Duminy, Charl Langeveldt, Ethy Mbhalati, Alsbie Morkel, Andrew Puttick, Alfonso Thomas, Martin van Jaarsveld, Charl Willoughby. Coach: Vincent Barnes.

As if England’s impending defeat was not enough to dampen the spirits in the dressing-room, the news that Andrew Flintoff was suffering from”discomfort in his left side” was the last thing they needed. Add to that afreak injury in the nets for Matthew Hoggard, and it all made for asour-faced press conference from England’s coach, Duncan Fletcher.As a precaution, Hoggard did not bowl after being struck on the back ofthe heel in the morning practice session, but it was later revealed to beno more serious than soft tissue bruising. Flintoff’s problem, however, is more serious and will have to wait until the morning until its full extent is unveiled. Hewas checked by a doctor after lasting just 45 minutes in the field this morning,but Fletcher remained optimistic that all would be fine.Less fine, however, is England’s match situation. They finished the day on151 for 5, with just Graham Thorpe of the specialist batsmen remaining.And once again, Fletcher’s rage was communicated in his peculiarly pent-upmanner, as he chastised some of his players for their “soft” dismissals.”We turned it around at Durban,” he said, “but it’s up to individuals toshow more patience. Some of the batters wanted to play attacking cricket.”Fletcher brushed aside criticism of Michael Vaughan’s form: he hasmanaged just 84 runs in the series so far. “It was the same with Nasser[Hussain],” he shrugged. “We see him as an allrounder as he’s captainedthe side well, and I’m sure he’ll get runs soon.” But he did suggest thathis team ought to have learned from the example set by the home boy,Jacques Kallis, one of Fletcher’s own charges during his time as coach ofWestern Province.”Kallis sometimes gets criticised by his own people,” said Fletcher, “butwith the amount of times he’s played here, he knows it’s not an easywicket. It can lull you into a false sense of security. It’s very slow,but then one bounces on you, and if you’re playing a shot you’re introuble. You’ve got to concentrate as much as on a wicket that is zippingaround.”South Africa have had no such problems about learning from their mistakes,however, as Shaun Pollock was proud to point out. “You’re bound to makemistakes in Test cricket,” he said. “It’s how you react to them and learnfrom them that counts, and I think we’ve learned well. We weren’t verygood at Port Elizabeth, nowhere near where we needed to be, but we’veresponded well to that.”After letting England off the hook in the second innings at Durban,Pollock was cagey about predicting victory tomorrow, but he admitted he wouldbe “very, very disappointed” if England got away again. “We’ve bowled wellas a unit and we’ve got the big five out, but now we’ve got to push theadvantage home.””Hanging on in Durban gave us momentum,” said Pollock, who added thatwinning the toss and sticking England back out in the sun just two daysafter that game had worked in their favour. “Graeme [Smith’s] been superbwith the toss. I’ve been there as well, and to be back in the field aftera long bowling session, mentally it works on mind and plays on body. Theway we’ve gone about it is bearing fruit.””To have been 2-0 behind here would be a big ask. But the new ball’s due,the guys fresh, and after a good night’s rest, we’ll make the new ballwork in the morning.”

Scorecard

An outstanding 278-run stand between Michael Bevan and Daniel Marsh helped Tasmania recover from early setbacks and finish the first day of their Pura Cup match against Western Australia well in command. After being put in to bat at Hobart, Tasmania slumped to 3 for 23 before Bevan and Marsh came together. When rain caused play to be curtailed 18 overs early, they were still undefeated, with Bevan on 161 and Marsh on 113.Their partnership was a new fourth-wicket record for Tasmania, obliterating the 258 of Danny Buckingham and Michael Taylor in 1987-88. Marsh’s century, which came off 147 balls and included 17 fours, was his first since December 2003, and finally ended a poor run with the bat this season.”I’ve been pretty disappointed that I haven’t been able to help the team out and get some runs,” Marsh said afterwards. “I’ve been working really hard in the nets and I think mentally the hard work’s going to pay off. I probably just made some better decisions and had a bit of luck today.”Western Australia are currently third in the Pura Cup table, and their excellent start would have given them hope of sneaking a place in the final – but Bevan and Marsh ensured that, by the end of the day, the Warriors were staring at a huge first-innings total. “There was some brilliant batting in the end, but we allowed them to get into form,” said Wayne Clark, the coach. “We bowled Dan Marsh into form early, and from then on he batted as dangerously as we know he can, and unfortunately we’re the ones he’s taken it out on.”

Shahid Afridi has said that he harbours ambitions of making a century while batting in the lower order and has cited Adam Gilchrist’s fantastic 113 at Sydney recently, against Pakistan, as a knock that inspired him. He added that he was not planning to change his dare-devil approach to batting, which brought him success on the tour, and hoped that he could boost Pakistan’s chances of upstaging India in the much-anticipated forthcoming rubber.”I think I’ve been selected for this tour as a bowler who can bat instead of 1999 when I was picked as a batsman who could bowl,” Afridi told the Press Trust of India. “Which means batting down the order and bowling more than before.”Afridi had a scorching run in the VB Series, where Pakistan lost in the final, with 231 runs at a stunning strike-rate of 167.39. His power-hitting proved crucial in a number of games, he even notched up the record for the most sixes in ODIs, as fielders were reduced to spectators in the big Australian grounds. “I want to continue with my style of batting which is extremely simple: hit the ball back with same force,” he added. “I like hitting the ball into stands and want to hear the cracking sound that comes out of my bat. I don’t know why but that sound [of wood] and sight of seeing the ball land in enclosures gives me immense pleasure and satisfaction.”Afridi has had success in India earlier: he scored a matchwinning 141 in the Chennai Test in 1999 and helped Pakistan clinch an epic encounter. He has tormented India regularly and has one century and four fifties against them. The last tour of India saw Afridi the opener display his destructive ability. This series, though, may see Afridi the legspinner and lower-order dynamite prove a point or two.

The International Cricket Council has stated that India could host the Champions Trophy next year only if the tax-exemption issue was sorted out soon. Ehsan Mani, the ICC president, told Press Trust of India that despite discussing the issue with Indian officials last month, the ICC has failed to receive any response from the government or the BCCI on the matter.”The important point that we are going to discuss here is the Champions Trophy to be held in India, but India needs to clarify the tax position,” said Mani, who is in India for the ICC executive board meeting. “I met union finance minister P Chidambaram and sports minister Sunil Dutt – they were kind enough with their patient hearing but we are still waiting for their answers in the next couple of days.”Last year, the ICC had warned the Indian board that India’s chances of hosting a major tournament might be in jeopardy due to the high tax rates. “India is seeking to hold high-profile events including the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games besides the ICC events. India need to address this issue immediately. They must have absolute clarity on the issue.” He also added that the ICC was still facing tax-related matters from the 1996 World Cup which was held in the subcontinent.

The appointment of El James as Bermuda’s coach appears to have ruffled more than a few feathers, according to a report in the island’s Royal Gazette.James’s management technique has upset several members of the national side, and some of them are intending to take the matter up with the Bermuda Cricket Board ahead of this summer’s ICC Trophy. They would prefer Wendell Smith, the interim coach, to travel with the side to Ireland.James, a former BCB president and a member of the side which competed in the 1982 ICC Trophy, said he was surprised to learn of the unease. "I have no time to deal with any ignorance. When are we going to get positive? I’m shocked, but I guess there will always be negativity. I’m not out to make friends. I’ve only been asked to do a job which I intend to do to the best of my ability. And my track record speaks for itself."The appointment comes amid rumours that Gus Logie, the former West Indies batsman, is on the verge of being named as Bermuda’s new coach. "There’s a strong possibility that he will be coming," a board spokesman said. "We can’t say yes yet because there’s a contractual agreement and other things that have to be looked into. All those things have to be decided first."

Scorecard and ball-by-ball
The hosts Nepal crashed out of the ICC Intercontinental Trophy despite crushing the UAE by 172 runs in their ICC Intercontinental Cup match in Kathmandu . Binod Das continued his outstanding form, but it was not enough for Nepal, who finished 0.5 points behind UAE in their group. The UAE, who were set 249 to win after Nepal’s second declaration of the match, were reduced to 29 for 6 by Das before eventually blundering to 76 all out – and yet still qualified for the semi-finals.Das, the medium-pacer, finished with 5 for 27, to go with the 6 for 29 he took against Hong Kong last week. Only Ahmed Nadeem, who punched four fours and a six in his defiant 32, and the opener Arshad Ali, who made 18, reached double figures. Victory moved Nepal to within 0.5 points of the UAE, but it was not enough.