Bermuda have opted for youth in their side for the forthcoming trip to Kenya and Dubai.The 15-man squad includes five members of the Under-19 team – Malachi Jones, Rodney Trott, Tamauri Tucker, Kyle Hodsoll and Kian Butterfield. Irving Romaine remains as skipper while David Hemp, returning after playing for Glamorgan during the summer, is the new vice-captain.Janeiro Tucker also returns to the squad after missing the European tour, despite again being hauled before the board on disciplinary charges, but there is no place for fast bowlers George O’Brien or Ryan Steede.The squad will depart on October 15 to play two one day matches against Uganda (October 20 and 22), a three-match ODI series and a four-day Intercontinental Cup clash with Kenya. They move on to Dubai on November 5 for a four-day Intercontinental Cup game with the United Arab Emirates.Bermuda squad
Irving Romaine (capt), David Hemp (vice-captain), Dwayne Leverock, Lionel Cann, Jekon Edness, Stephen Outerbridge, James Celestine, Kevin Hurdle, Rodney Trott, Malachi Jones, Tamauri Tucker, Jeneiro Tucker, Kyle Hodsoll, Azeem Pitcher, Kian Butterfield.
Coach: Gus Logie
Assistant coach: Herbert Bascome
Manager: Lionel Tannock
Physio: Craig Brown

Reserves
Jason Simons, Arthur Pitcher, Dennico Hollis, Khiry Furbert

Scorecard

Performances in tour games should not be used to dismiss a team’s Test chances, but the batting displays from the Sri Lankans against Queensland have provided plenty of concern. The top and middle orders struggled in both innings before help came from lower down, and it was the bowlers who frightened the hosts again as they sneaked home by four wickets.With Queensland needing 142 for victory, Farveez Maharoof surged through the first three batsmen and Lasith Malinga’s searing yorkers accounted for Chris Simpson and Andy Bichel in consecutive balls. The Bulls had suddenly lost 5 for 16 and an easy chase of 142 became a seriously difficult one. Clinton Perren (62 not out) absorbed the pressure, coped with the loss of Chris Hartley and led the Bulls with support from Ashley Noffke’s 21.Maharoof, who had six victims for the game, collected a trio of edges, including the important one of Andrew Symonds, who could not make an impact in either innings ahead of his first Test in Brisbane. Mahela Jayawardene grabbed the stunning left-handed catch at second slip to make sure the visiting batsmen will not be the only ones feeling uncertain before heading to the Gabba on Thursday.It is almost impossible to win matches against Australia with a fragile line-up and while the home attack will miss Glenn McGrath there are still plenty of threats for tentative shot-makers. The main worries for the Sri Lankans, who will be without the injured Kumar Sangakkara, are that their captain Mahela Jayawardene and the opener Sanath Jayasuriya have struggled for runs in the springy Queensland conditions.The senior players will be heavily targeted by the Australians and the final day of the tour match at Allan Border Field started with the Sri Lankans hoping Jayawardene would add significantly to his overnight 22. However, the shoulders of the tourists slumped when he edged trying to drive Mitchell Johnson and finished with a double of 35 and 0.A firmer, bouncier pitch than the one produced here is likely for the Gabba, which will intensify the difficulties with rising deliveries. Eight of the Sri Lankans’ second-innings dismissals fell to catches in the cordon as Johnson, Noffke, Michael Kasprowicz and Bichel caused the discomfort. In the final session Sri Lanka returned some of the pain.Queensland’s fast-bowling duties were scaled back after lunch when the legspinner Daniel Doran was given 10.5 overs and was dominated by Chaminda Vaas. Vaas, who outshone his more accomplished team-mates with a sparkling 84 from 76 balls, was the reason the Sri Lankans reached 226.After watching his batsmen fail, Vaas strode out and quickly stepped into boundary mode. Bichel and Symonds were both hit for two fours in an over between point and cover and Vaas’ half-century arrived after 40 balls. His two sixes then came from Doran, who finished the innings when Vaas clipped to midwicket. Malinga had joined the late rally by thrashing Johnson for three fours in an over during a short battle that will be resumed over the next week.The bright conclusion came after the dark start to the Sri Lankans’ morning. Noffke opened with another breakthrough early in his spell when he forced Chamara Silva to deflect a short ball to Maher at second slip, dropping the Sri Lankans to 5 for 64. They were again troubled by Noffke’s pace and movement and he picked up 3 for 21 on the way to match figures of 8 for 57.Jayawardene tried unsuccessfully to steer his side and Maharoof, who is a contender for No. 7 in the first Test, was upset by the lift created by Kasprowicz and edged to Perren. Prasanna Jayawardene offered some promise with a half-century in the first innings and he again seemed in control, hooking a Symonds long-hop for six. However, Jayawardene’s resistance ended on 22 when he became Kasprowicz’s third victim and the side was in deep trouble at 8 for 133. Vaas arrived in a hurry, but his performance could not mask the dangerous problems at the other end of the order.

Abdul Razzaq has taken back his decision to retire from international cricket and is available once again to represent Pakistan. The allrounder’s decision comes after discussions with his local club and long-time coach.”I have reversed my decision and am available for Pakistan once again,” Razzaq told Cricinfo. “I have had many discussions with P&T Gymkhana and my coach, Azhar Zaidi, and we felt it was better if I took back my original decision. Maybe I made that in the heat of the moment.”Razzaq announced his retirement from international cricket in August, in protest at being ignored by the selectors in the squad for the ICC World Twenty20. He accused the selection committee and the board of not treating him with enough respect and dropping him for matters other than his form. The selectors maintained that he was still in their plans for ODI and Test cricket, though his form in those formats has been unconvincing over the last year or so. In his last 15 ODIs, he averages 17.30 and has taken only 12 wickets.Three fifties and 38 wickets in his last 15 Tests have also done nothing to help his cause, though injuries have hardly helped the process. He missed the Test series against South Africa late last year and the World Cup in the West Indies subsequently. In 2005, he also missed the home series against England with an elbow injury.Razzaq now plans to take part in the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam trophy for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL). The doors back to international cricket will not open immediately, however. Salahuddin Ahmed, chief selector, said Razzaq would need to show that he was back to his bristling best. “Let him play first-class matches first and prove his form and fitness there. After that, the doors are always open for every first-class cricketer in the country,” Salahuddin told Cricinfo.And further obstacles may exist in the form of the Indian Cricket League (ICL). Razzaq was one of four Pakistani players to sign up for the league and the Pakistan board still maintains that anyone who does turn out in the ICL will not represent Pakistan.Mohammad Yousuf, another player to sign for the ICL, was convinced by the board to opt for Pakistan instead, though no similar efforts were made with Razzaq. The league has threatened legal action against Yousuf. Razzaq says, however, he will wait and see how matters develop before deciding on a course of action as far as his contract with the ICL is concerned.

Dale Steyn has been rewarded for his outstanding bowling in the Test series with a place in the South African squad for the three-match ODI series and the one-off Twenty20 game. Steyn inclusion, in place of Justin Kemp, is the only change from the squad that won the ODI series in Pakistan earlier this year.The selectors have also put Morne van Wyk, the right-hand batsman, on standby for Herschelle Gibbs for the one-day series. Gibbs hurt his knee during the second Test in Centurion, which South Africa won by an innings and 59 runs to wrap up the series 2-0.Explaining the decision to replace Kemp, a batting allrounder, with a fast bowler, selection convener Joubert Strydom said: “With the number of allrounders in our squad we are happy with the depth we have to our batting. Dale gives us an exciting extra option as a wicket-taking bowler.” New Zealand were clueless against Steyn’s pace and swing in the Test series – in two matches he took 20 wickets at a remarkable average of 9.20, with a wicket every 16.8 deliveries.The Twenty20 match will be played at the Wanderers on Friday, while the ODI series starts in Durban on Sunday.Squad
Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Albie Morkel, Vernon Philander, Johan Botha, Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn. On standby: Morne van Wyk.

Shane Warne wants Michael Clarke to succeed Adam Gilchrist as Ricky Ponting’s deputy in all forms of the game after his strong performance as Twenty20 captain. The idea has been dismissed by Ponting, who said Clarke’s opportunity for a full-time promotion would come if he maintained his standards of the past 12 months.Admitting Clarke was one of his best mates, Warne said he was the standout candidate and now was the time to groom him. “The best way to do this would be to elevate him to the vice-captaincy in all forms of the game,” Warne wrote in his column.”Gilly has done a wonderful job but won’t be around for too much longer in all forms of the game. I reckon he will hang the gloves up and decide to play only one form, probably Test matches.”Warne’s relationship with Gilchrist is not strong and the wicketkeeper was rated 20th in Warne’s top 50 players despite dominating for a decade. Gilchrist has said Clarke was not the only one who could replace Ponting when he eventually stepped down and Michael Hussey was another contender.The appointment of Clarke for the Twenty20 win over New Zealand on Tuesday was a one-off, but Warne said he was ready for more senior responsibilities. “When you win the toss, hit the first ball you face for four and win the match in your first game as national skipper, you would have to think it’s not a bad start,” Warne said.”He has all the attributes and the image, flair, confidence in his own ability, respect for the game and respect from his team-mates, which has been earned. He knows himself, understands his own game and is hungry for success.” Warne also wants Clarke to be captain of New South Wales when he returns for occasional state games.Ponting said Clarke had grown into a leader over the past year but there was no rush to fast-track him. “I don’t necessarily agree with [Warne],” Ponting said in Adelaide. “I don’t think that needs to be the case right now. Gilly’s not going to play forever, we’re all not going to play forever, but Michael’s opportunity is going to come.”He expects Clarke will be his deputy in the future. “The day will come when Michael will get his opportunity,” Ponting said. “It might not be right now, it might not be six months’ time, but that opportunity will come and he will step into the vice-captain’s role. Hopefully I can stay around for another few years and keep him out of my position for a bit longer.”

Queensland have regained James Hopes for their Twenty20 match against South Australia on Friday after he missed the opening game due to illness. The Bulls lost their encounter against Victoria and are hoping to inflict the Redbacks’ second defeat of the competition.While Hopes is back, Queensland are still without Chris Simpson, who will miss not only Friday’s Gabba outing but also the Bulls’ trip to the WACA on Sunday with a finger injury. They have named the same squad of 13 for both matches.After the Perth match Queensland travel to New South Wales on Tuesday before finishing their Twenty20 campaign at home against Tasmania next Thursday. The Bulls ended up second-last in the 2006-07 competition.Queensland squad Jimmy Maher, James Hopes, Shane Watson, Nathan Reardon, Clinton Perren, Craig Philipson, Aaron Nye, Lee Carseldine, Michael Buchanan, Ashley Noffke, Chris Hartley (wk), Michael Kasprowicz, Grant Sullivan.

Smiling, just as he was after overcoming the might of Australia at theWorld Twenty20 group phase, Robin Brown sits down to talk about a groupof internationals who don’t play Test cricket. Zimbabwe had just lost afour-day tour match in Karachi by an innings – albeit against a bunch of strongPakistan hopefuls – a detour possibly to their road back to Test cricket.Brown, appointed Zimbabwe’s coach in September last year, chose, however,to concentrate on the positives. “Yes, we lost by a big margin but wemanaged to get a lot out of it,” he told Cricinfo. “I think a result wasthe only thing we failed to achieve because our bowlers got a chance tospend time bowling to good opposition under new conditions. Our batsmen,even though only a couple went past fifty, spent time in the middle andadjusted to the low bounce and slowness that is the subcontinent pitch.It’s a learning process, whether it’s accompanied by a win or a loss.”He agreed that there were spurts of impatience from the batsmen – mostly due to a lack of match experience. Tatenda Taibu, for example, had justescaped with a rash stroke away from his body when, to the followingdelivery, he slashed again – to one close to being called a wide. Taibudeparted, having faced 131 deliveries.”Players need to own up, they need to take responsibility,” Brown said.”They all know how vital they are to the team’s cause. We have done awaywith the ‘senior’ tag so be it a debutant, or someone whose played overfifty matches, they are all equally responsible.”Zimbabwe cricket has been in turmoil for some time now. They voluntarilygave up Test status in 2006, having lost almost their entire first teamduring the player revolt of 2004. Brown admits that it greatly affected theside, but quickly adds that no player goes on forever in any case, sobackups should have been in place. It gave, he reasons, younger players achance to step up though the very basics, which, when he took over, had to berevisited.”Rebuilding is a gradual process, especially when you have a young sidewith limited international experience. When we set about the process, wetook players to nets to work on basics. Batsmen need to put their feet inthe right places, play balls on merit and learn how to spend time at thecrease.”Bowlers were given a channel to bowl in. We worked at those basics forsix-seven hours a day for six weeks. Players had a set routine. They knewwhat they would be doing two weeks ahead. There is a set plan now in placefor every member and that has helped immensely.”

Hard work is paying off, as is cooperation from Zimbabwe Cricket. Before, according to Brown, facilities were not provided simply because players never asked for it. Now there are professional trainers, sports psychologists and world-class training facilities. “The board is working with the players now. We have a lot of talent and the board has realised that and invested time, effort and money into it.”The return of some experience has also helped. Without delving into the reasons behind their exits, Brown welcomed back Taibu, Ray Price and Gary Brent, highlighting their value to the team from the tour match alone. Taibu scored 46 and 30, Price managed a four-for and Brent was involved in a defiant 96-run seventh-wicket partnership to delay the inevitable.”Experience improves the side. While they perform, they can share the magic with younger players and pass on advice. Their return also fires a warning to players whose spot they have occupied, as they now need to work extra hard elsewhere and warrant selection in the playing eleven. It’s healthy competition.”Vital to maintaining that competition will be the ability of the domesticstructure to churn out talent. Brown says matters are rapidly improving,pointing out that provincial sides managed to beat the Kenyans easily lastseason. “It was beneficial for Zimbabwe to have invited Kenya to play butit was pleasing for our players to be winning against them. It just showshow much depth we have in our talent pool. We also have A and B teams,with international coaches coming in. It is definitely on the rise.”There are still kinks, for example the fielding, which saw a number ofgrassed chances in Karachi. Brown recalled that it was Zimbabwe’s fieldingthat played a key role in the upset win over Australia, so giving away “60crucial runs due to sloppiness” against the Patron’s XI wasn’t good.”Sometimes they switch off on the field,” Brown admits. “It is difficultto keep them motivated as we, before this hectic schedule recently, barelyplayed any cricket. I would love to see them play more, ideally ininternational cricket but even if its club cricket. Playing under variousconditions different to back home would help the players develop a greatdeal.”So what does Zimbabwe need to get back into the Test arena?”Nothing,” Brown says without hesitation. “I think we’re right up therewith most of the teams on the Test circuit. Obviously, competing againstthe top two will be difficult, but against the likes of Bangladesh, WestIndies and New Zealand I’m sure the team will perform well.”So a humble enquiry is put forward: on the performance of the tour match,would a Zimbabwe Test against Bangladesh last five days? “Obviously it won’t. We will beat them in four.”

Umar Gul is due to travel to Australia for a medical check-up on a longstanding back problem, and one that prevented him from taking any part in the Test series against India last year. It puts in to some doubt his availability for the series against Australia, due to be held in March-April.”I will be going to Sydney in a couple of days’ time, but it is just for a check-up on the back,” Gul told Cricinfo. “It is the same problem that troubled me in India and though I have been doing my training in the gym, I haven’t bowled since. If they clear me, then I will begin bowling again.”Whether or not the problem is linked to the stress fractures of the back that kept him out of the game for over a year soon after his entry into international cricket in 2003-04 is not entirely clear.According to a board official, doctors confirmed that there was degeneration of a bone in his back, a condition that was initially spotted three years ago; around the same time of the first injury. “It was initially spotted three years ago and the MRI scan before the Delhi Test showed this again,” Shafqat Naghmi, the Pakistan board’s chief operating officer, told Cricinfo.”The doctor said he didn’t see further deterioration which is a positive but Gul complained of pain so it needs to be looked at. The board decided then that we should seek another opinion and that is why he is travelling to Sydney. If it had been a new injury, it would’ve been problematic but as it is the same one as before, it is a positive.”Whether or not Gul will be fit in time for Australia’s scheduled visit in March-April is unclear. Naghmi only said the situation will be clearer once the doctors have seen him in Australia. “We can’t say right now but let’s just keep our fingers crossed.”Indeed Pakistan will, for Gul has developed over the last two years, into one of their brightest fast-bowling prospects. He has been, unfortunately, an injury-prone one, having also missed an entire series in South Africa last year with an ankle injury. It has limited him to just 16 Test appearances since his debut. Gul wasn’t selected for the recent series of five ODIs against Zimbabwe, on grounds of fitness and selectors asked him to prove his fitness in the upcoming Pentangular Trophy, to begin from February 10. But he will definitely not play now in at least the first round of matches for NWFP.Pakistan are also waiting on their other promising young fast bowler, Mohammad Asif, to recover from an elbow injury that has kept him out of cricket since October last year. Asif underwent surgery on his right elbow in Australia at the start of the year and has since started bowling. But Naghmi said it would be another 2-3 weeks before his fitness could be properly assessed.

Adam Gilchrist has jumped to the defence of his Indian wicketkeeping counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was found to have worn illegal gloves during the match against Australia on Sunday. Gilchrist said there were no hard feelings after he fell to a diving catch from Dhoni, whose gloves had webbing that did not meet the ICC regulations.”I don’t think they were glaringly obvious to be different to what I use or anyone else at the moment or what is legal at the moment,” Gilchrist said. “But they were just a bit too big. And it was an outstanding catch.”A new regulation was brought in within the past decade which altered the amount of webbing that was allowable. Dhoni’s supplier also provides Gilchrist with his gloves, and Gilchrist said he liked to have match referees check the legality of his equipment at least once a season.”The guy that makes [Dhoni’s] gloves makes my gloves as well,” he said. “Not for a moment am I insinuating that MS Dhoni intentionally wore them out there. Whether it’s a manufacturing error I’m not sure. I know the gentleman that makes them and he’s the best in the world, they’re brilliant. Maybe just in the manufacturing process – they’re all hand-made and hand-stitched – so they may have just used a little bit too much leather in that area.”Dhoni’s gloves were found to have extra webbing between the thumb and the forefinger and the match referee Jeff Crowe asked him during Sunday’s game to switch to a different pair. Dhoni was not given a penalty by the ICC and Gilchrist said that was the appropriate result.”They’re nothing like what we were wearing when I first started my career,” he said. “We were wearing gloves that were almost like a baseball mitt. They were getting out of hand and the ones that Dhoni used the other day were nothing like that. I have absolutely no doubt that he hasn’t intentionally done that.”

Zaheer Khan, India’s left-arm fast bowler, will take time to regain full fitness according to Venkatesh Prasad, the bowling coach.”I have been talking to him (Zaheer),” Prasad said. “As far as I am concerned, when you get a break, you have to work that much harder to get back into rhythm. He is working hard on fitness and bowling. It will take time.”Prasad also said that Anil , the Test captain, and Gary Kirsten, the newly appointed coach, will take a decision on whether Zaheer needs to be a part of the team for the first two Tests against South Africa starting March 26.Zaheer dropped out of the team after the first Test against Australia last year with an ankle injury, and has since visited the Centre for Sports Medicine in Johannesburg for rehabilitation.”When you are coming back after injury, you need to be slightly cautious as to how you are going to push,” Prasad said. “Zaheer is working hard on his fitness and slowly raising the load factor and am sure he will be fit for the Test matches.”Prasad also confirmed that he had formally signed on as coach with IPL’s Bangalore Royal Challengers and said that he had not heard from the BCCI in this regard. “I have no communication with board about this (IPL). I personally feel it should be OK.”The Indian Board had earlier told Cricinfo that they were yet to take a decision on allowing the Indian coaching staff to tie up with IPL teams, fearing a clash of interests.Prasad was speaking to reporters along with Bangalore’s IPL captain Rahul Dravid and their Chief Cricket Officer Martin Crowe hours before the Royal Challengers officially launched their team.While Crowe said Dravid would “reignite the great skills he has got in Test cricket in Twenty20”, the former India skipper said he was excited about “the chance to share a dressing room with international stars like Jacques Kallis”.”We are very conscious of the fact that they are going to come at the last minute because of international commitments,” Dravid said. “It is going to require some interesting moments. We are conscious of that fact that we wanted to pick people who will believe in the concept of a team, who gel well. We had a chance to interact with some of the players we picked, and all are excited to be part of it.”Among Bangalore Royal Challengers’ overseas signings are Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Cameron White and Misbah-ul-Haq.