Anxious to field a competitive outfit for the 2007 World Cup, the West Indies board has announced that it plans to have a short list of 30 players by September this year, who will be put through special training for the event. A report in The Jamaica Observer states that Teddy Griffith, the president of the WICB, has asked the selection panel to look out for players who could feature in the 30-man squad.”They [the players short-listed] will be engaged in their cricket, but they would also be involved in a programme using the facilities at the St George’s University in Grenada and the University of the West Indies in Barbados,” Griffith said on a cricket discussion on CBC-TV. “Granted there may be people who may drop out and other people [may come] in, but [we] want to get this done by the time the team returns from the Champions Trophy in England in September.” West Indies will feature in another one-day competition before that, when they battle it out with England and New Zealand in the NatWest Series tournament later this month.West Indies have recently struggled in both forms of the game. Though they beat Bangladesh 3-0 in the one-dayers, a couple of games could easily have gone the other way. Before that series, they were thrashed by England in the Tests, but made a better fist of it in the ODIs, holding them to a 2-2 draw in a rain-affected series.Griffith also clarified that no foreign team would be invited for this season’s Carib Beer Cup, West Indies’ domestic four-day tournament. Overseas teams have been playing in the competition for the last four years – A teams from England, Bangladesh and India participated, as did Kenya’s national team – but Griffith ruled out another invitation next season.”First of all, it’s very expensive to bring foreign teams for our first-class competition and so if we are going to have them they must be of the best quality,” he said. “In the first year, England came and that was marginally successful, but certainly with the other teams it was not so.”

Gary Hopkins, an English ex-pat businessman who has been living and working in the United States for 14 years, has been appointed chief executive of an ICC development project, designed to promote cricket in the USA.The appointment follows the ICC’s commitment to developing cricket around the world, and is the first step in a strategic project to increase the profile and participation levels of cricket in the USA. The initiative was given the support of the ICC’s executive board in October last year.”The ICC is delighted that, after a vigorous world-wide selection process, Gary has accepted this unique role,” said Malcolm Speed, the ICC’s chief executive. “This is an exciting and challenging time for cricket in the United States and he brings to the position a wealth of relevant experience and expertise.”A passionate cricket follower, Mr Hopkins has extensive experience in the US sports industry, and has held senior executive positions with Octagon, API Sponsorship and the International Academy. He spent eight years assisting the United States Soccer Federation with their commercial development, as well as five years rebuilding the sponsorship, event and broadcast programs for USA Track and Field.”I am excited to be able to help cricket expand its presence in the United States,” he said, “and look forward to introducing the excitement of one-day international games to fans across the country.” His appointment was made in conjunction with the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA), whose president, Gladstone Dainty, welcomed the appointment. “USA Cricket eagerly looks forward to the possibility of one-day international cricket on our soil,” he said. “We look forward to working with Gary to achieve just that.”The President of the West Indies Cricket Board, Mr Teddy Griffith, said the West Indies was fully behind the appointment and development of cricket in the USA. “As a Full Member of the ICC and the Americas Development Region, the West Indies Cricket Board is fully committed to supporting this special project for cricket in the United States. The WICB looks forward to doing all it can to bring the desired events to fruition.”Mr Hopkins, who will be based in Pennsylvania, will take up his position from Monday, August 16.

The Jamaican fast bowler Jermaine Lawson has dropped out of the West Indian squad for the Champions Trophy. Lawson, 22, has a newly diagnosed stress fracture of the lower back, and will be out of action for at least six weeks. Darren Sammy has been called up as a replacement.Sammy, 20, is the first international cricketer to emerge from the Caribbean island of St Lucia. He made his one-day debut during the recent NatWest Series in England, although there wasn’t actually any play in the match for which he was chosen – the heavens opened after the toss was made in the match against New Zealand at the Rose Bowl, and no play was possible. But the ICC ruled that the match counted in the records, as the toss had taken place.

The England and Wales Cricket Board have been handed a stark ultimatum by Sport England: get your act together or risk losing funding.Roger Draper, chief executive of Sport England, said: “We are concerned that the governance of the ECB may threaten the future growth and success of this sport. We may have to consider future funding if significant changes are not made before cricket’s four-year business plan is submitted in November.”Draper, speaking in blunt terms, was critical of the board which he said was unaccountable and undemocratic. He was speaking following the publication of The Sports Nexus Report on English Cricket today.The survey claimed that England’s recent good form has failed to lift the pervading sense of gloom around the national team. ECB officials will be disappointed to read that nearly half of the supporters questioned said that they should be given only little or absolutely no credit at all for the national team’s success.And equally damning was the assessment of the job the ECB is doing with the grass-roots game. Around 53% of those questioned were either fairly or very dissatisfied with the structure and support given to cricket at the lower levels.A statement from Sport England said that they had, "become increasingly concerned by the governance of English cricket and have endeavoured to work with all parties to modernise this sport. The approach to the ECB has been inclusive, charting a course of reform from within. Sport England has worked with all key partners including the ECB, the MCC, cricket sponsors and broadcast partners.”

In an interview with London’s Daily Telegraph, Clive Rice, the former South African captain, has slammed the “inverted racism” he claims is threatening to turn South Africa into another Zimbabwe.Speaking on the day England start their tour with a game at Randjesfontein, Rice said that the blame for South Africa’s decline lay with the United Cricket Board (UCBSA). “It’s apartheid in reverse,” he explained. “White players are being driven out of our country in droves. Good luck to them. There’s no future here.” Rice was instrumental in persuading Nottinghamshire, his old county, to sign Kevin Pietersen, the Pietermaritzberg-born batsman who recently made his debut for England after deciding his opportunities were too limited in South Africa.Rice was especially critical of what he claimed was an overreaction in the desire to redress the racism of the apartheid era. “The board have got it into their heads that there’s a generation of black and coloured players straining at the leash to play Test cricket and that holding back whites is the only way they’ll ever get a chance to shine. Wrong. Tiger Woods isn’t a great golfer because he’s black. It’s because he’s a great golfer. Nobody would welcome an influx of top-quality black cricketers more than me. We desperately need them. Unfortunately, few black South Africans regard cricket as their national game. They are more interested in football. They talk about players from Soweto but most of them have been Kenyans imported to make it look good.”Although the UCBSA claims that the quota system was jettisoned in 2002, Rice dismissed that as “absolute bullshit” and added that the bias against whites was driving them away from cricket as well as rugby. “Why do you think South Africa are slipping down the rankings? We aren’t much better than Zimbabwe or Bangladesh, who are, frankly, pathetic. They call it Test cricket when it’s no better than a series of charity matches. The public aren’t stupid. Mediocrity chases crowds away. That’s why our grounds are half-empty.”And he said that the UCBSA stifled free speech in a bid to paper over the cracks. “No one in the press is allowed to criticise the regime,” he told the Daily Telegraph’s Tony Francis. “Television commentators have to present a sugar-coated view of South African cricket when it’s crumbling before their eyes. Once Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis and Herschelle Gibbs have retired, it’s Old Mother Hubbard time.”

Shaharyar Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan board, believes Bob Woolmershould not be giving out unnecessary statements to themedia. There were reports in some sections of thelocal press in Pakistan on Tuesday that Shaharyar had called Woolmer toask him to avoid making comments to the press. TheNews quoted sources within the board: “Basically thePCB chief told Woolmer he should only speak when it isabsolutely necessary to the press and only give issue-related statements.”The source added, “Shaharyar told him that too many statements didn’t help the team or thePCB and only made things more complicated foreveryone.” Apparently, Khan also discussed theincreasingly contentious issue of Woolmer’s website,which he has used often to answer criticism from thelocal media, and also his ongoing verbal battle withex-coach Javed Miandad.Abbas Zaidi, the PCB’s media director, toldCricinfo: “I cannot say exactly whether or not thechairman has spoken to Woolmer about it. But I cantell you that he does believe Woolmer shouldn’t bemaking all these comments, at least not to the extentthat he has been. The reasoning behind it is that itthen becomes a slanging match – he said this and hesaid that – and he should keep a distance from thesethings.”Zaidi did reveal that Shaharyar had spoken to the teamin Australia. “He believes there is no point incriticising the team further. They are already shakenand embarrassed, so hitting them while they are downwill further damage their morale. But he has conveyedto them some words of encouragement, as a chairman, totry and forget what has happened and move on toMelbourne [the venue of the second Test, which starts on December 26].”Shaharyar’s words of encouragement come in the faceof increasingly hysterical and trenchant criticism inPakistan at the nature of the team’s capitulation atPerth. Some journalists and ex-players have reignitedthe issue of Woolmer’s passport, questioning whether aforeign coach can work successfully with Pakistan.Even the Federal Minister of Sports, Ajmal Khan,weighed in with his views, claiming he didn’t think aforeign coach would communicate effectively withPakistani players.Most vocal has been Javed Miandad, who has repeatedlyquestioned Woolmer’s aptitude for the job as well ascasting doubt over his commitment. Miandad had reactedangrily to statements that Woolmer was seeking theservices of a sports psychologist for his “mentallyawed” team after the defeat. He told Dawn newspaper:”Criticising one’s own team with such remarks is aninsult of not only the players but of the entirenation, and it would be better if the coach handles thesituation by motivating the players. To me by usingthe word mental confusion, the coach is labelling hisplayers as mentally disturbed people and that is alsothe insult of the nation.”Zaidi responded to the barrage of criticism: “We runthe game, so we take the blame. The media arebasically relying on people for quotes who have beensacked by us. So it isn’t surprising that they aremaking these sort of comments.” There have been someex-players, however, like Imran Khan and Rameez Raja,who have cited poor technique, an outcome of poordomestic playing standards, as the cause of thedebacle.There were isolated outbreaks of public outrage too. InKarachi, for example, protestors burnt effigiesof the captain and coach in front of the Press Club.Around 150 protestors also smashed up a public television onTuesday.Zaidi said of the public reaction, “I think there is amisperception among the public that we are a verytalented and good side. The fact is that we are yet tobecome a good side and people should realise this.They have beaten India four times since the series athome, but that shouldn’t instill false optimism in thepublic.”

Shoaib Malik, the Pakistani offspinner, will have his bowling action re-tested at the University of Western Australia, Perth, to get clearance ahead of the VB Series, which also involves Australia and West Indies and begins on January 14. Malik, who played in the second Test at Melbourne but did not bowl, missed the Sydney Test because of a split webbing in his right hand.Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, was quoted by AFP as saying that Malik had already left for Perth, and he was hopeful that he would be cleared to participate in the one-day series. “He went to Perth today. He’s been working on his action and we want to try and get him cleared before the one-day series.”Malik was reported for a suspect bowling action after a one-day game against Sri Lanka in October last year, after which he was asked to undergo a test which revealed that his normal ball, as well as his doosra, had elbow bends which were above the prescribed tolerance levels. The biomechanical experts had recommended remedial action and further tests.”He’s going for re-testing on Monday,” Woolmer said. “It’ll be interesting. We’ve been working on his action to try and correct it. I’ve watched him. And I cannot see any semblance of a throw at all, not one. A genuine throw and a bowl with a slightly bent arm are two different things. Hopefully, the university in Perth will clear him.”While the ICC rules state that a fast bowler’s arm can flex up to 15 degrees, only five degrees is currently permissible for spinners. However, under the new proposals, 15 degrees would be the norm for all types of bowlers.

Scorecard

Dan Cullen, the 20-year-old offspinner, captured his first five-wicket haul as he kept South Australia in the match against Queensland at the Gabba. On a pitch made for fast bowling, Cullen elbowed his way in and was responsible for a collapse of five wickets for 32 runs as the Bulls stuttered while trying to set a large victory target.Leading by 56 on first innings, Queensland were travelling comfortably at 2 for 129, but Shaun Tait dismissed Shane Watson and Cullen took the next four wickets, including Martin Love, who reached double figures for the first time this season. Cullen finished with 5 for 78 but the Bulls have earned a 313-run lead thanks to Craig Philipson’s unbeaten 64.Ashley Noffke wrapped up three wickets as Queensland collected two valuable first-innings points before lunch. Resuming at 5 for 68, South Australia added 13 before Andy Bichel bowled Greg Blewett and then Noffke hit Graham Manou, Cullen and Ryan Harris in his best spell of a tough season. Queensland’s two points moves them ahead of New South Wales into second position behind Western Australia.

Scorecard
Ashish Nehra continued his wicket-taking spree in the Duleep Trophy tournament as a strong South Zone batting line-up was kept down to 327 for 9 on the opening day at Indore. Robin Uthappa, VVS Laxman and Sridharan Sharath stroked half-centuries but Nehra’s regular strikes prevented them from gathering too much momentum.Having chosen to bat first, South were given a fiery start by Uthappa, the opener from Karnataka, who carted 15 fours in his 95-ball 80. Nehra’s double strike pegged South back to 125 for 3 but Laxman and Sharath ensured any collapse with a fighting 87-run partnership.Sharath’s dismissal, though, left North with only the tail to contend with. Dinesh Karthik remained unbeaten on 49 when stumps were drawn but South’s inability to make a big total might prove decisive when one considers their relatively inexperienced bowling attack

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

Anil Kumble proved irresistible on the fifth day, as he has so often inthe past, and sent Pakistan skidding to 226 all out, taking 7 for 63 andgiving India victory by 195 runs and a 1-0 lead in this series. Even onthe final day the Eden Gardens pitch had no demons in it, apart from the very odd ballthat either zipped low or kicked up, but the pressure Kumble exertedensured that the batsmen had no chance of sticking it out in the middle.India started the day as favourites, as neither of the two options before Pakistan – scoring 327 for a victory, or surviving 90 overs for a draw – were easy to achieve. Kumble made matters worse for Pakistan when he slid the first ball of the morning down the leg side, and Younis Khan overbalanced. Dinesh Karthik’s fine Test match continued as he pulled off a smartstumping (95 for 2).The early wicket completely changed the odds, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, who camein next, was not his assured self. He poked and prodded, pushed and blocked, but could not get his normal flow going. And Kumble used this to full advantage, settling into a choking line andlength. After a little more than half an hour at the crease that yielded amere 13 runs, Inzamam was put out of his misery. He could not keep out aquick delivery from Kumble, and the ball squirted onto the stumps via batand pad (115 for 3). Inzamam’s wicket was undoubtedly the key for India,and even the unperturbable John Wright had to vent some emotion, pumpinghis fists on the dressing-room steps.Just as the idle whispered that this match had shades of theIndia-Pakistan Delhi Test of 1999, and that Kumble had taken all thewickets to fall thus far, Lakshmipathy Balaji produced a high-qualitydelivery that was pitched in the right spot and swung away late to get theedge of Taufeeq Umar’s bat. Umar had spent two unconvincing hours at thecrease for 35 runs (115 for 4).Of all the batsmen who played on the final day, Yousuf Youhana appearedthe most relaxed. Although he was not his bustling, fluent self, he was firm in defence and positive in outlook. But he came across Kumble in themood, and one popped off the inside edge to Gautam Gambhir at forward short leg (178 for 5).Abdul Razzaq joined Asim Kamal, Pakistan’s rock-solid revival man, andsilenced an increasingly vociferous Sunday crowd with a brutal heave offKumble that sent the ball soaring into the stands. The blow was trademarkRazzaq, and was not so much a declaration of intent, as a gentle reminderthat Pakistan were not going to roll over and play dead. But Kumble is thesort of man who takes every six off him personally. He struck back with aripping topspinner that Razzaq only manged to edge back onto hisstumps (188 for 6).Kamal quietly compiled runs at his end, sometimes breaking the mould andattacking the spinners when the ball was a bit full or wide. But he lacked support at the other end. When Kamran Akmal, the hero of Pakistan’s rearguard in Mohali, played well inside a straight one from Harbhajan Singh and was bowled (203 for 7), the result appeared a foregone conclusion.With tea just around the corner Kumble picked up his sixth wicket, whenKamal attempted to flick the ball and only managed to pop it up to Mohammad Kaif, substituting for VVS Laxman, at forward short leg (214 for 8). The respite at tea proved temporary as Kumble struck yet again, with his first ball after tea, trapping Mohammad Sami plumb (223 for 9). The end came soon after, when Danish Kaneria played all over a quicker one from Harbhajan and was bowled.How they were out
Went forward to a full ball down leg, missed it, stepped out, stumped.
On the front foot, quickish ball, played on.
Edged a ball pitched on the perfect line and length, slanting away from him.
Edged to forward short leg.
Dragged a quick topspinner back onto his stumps.
Played well inside the line of a straight one.
Flicked to the onside and edged to short leg.
Plumb in front to a straight one on middle and off.
Played down the wrong line and found his off stump pegged back.