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Not much that is new in cricket is left as a challenge for the all-conquering Australians, but a home Test match against Zimbabwe is one of them, and Test cricket’s second-youngest participants arrived in Perth yesterday for their first crack at the world champions on their home soil. Even international cricket’s newest country Bangladesh have played Tests in Australia before Zimbabwe.It is a task as difficult as any the African nation has faced in the game. They arrived in Australia severely depleted and not fully representative of the advances the side has made since they played their first Test, against India, in 1992-93. They have lost wicketkeeper-batsman Andy Flower, who retired from international cricket after the World Cup to pursue a career with South Australia, his brother Grant Flower cruelly suffered a broken finger just before the side left for the tour and one of its more promising bowlers, Henry Olonga, made a political statement at the World Cup, along with Andy Flower, about events in Zimbabwe, and decided to follow a singing career in exile.For a country so ill-equipped in resources, these were body blows and when captain Heath Streak says his side will be aiming to draw their Test matches it is an indication of the reconstruction the side is having to go through. “If we walked away with a draw, I think that would be a huge achievement for Zimbabwe cricket,” Streak said. “If we had the opportunity for a win, then obviously we are going to go for it. But I think it is going to be a huge learning curve for us on this tour.”If we can take some big positives out of this tour, Zimbabwe cricket will be the better for it. Hopefully, we can come back in a couple of years’ time as a more experienced side and one that can maybe play in a three-Test series.”The first Test of the tour is to start in Perth on October 9, the earliest Test in an Australian season but one that is indicative of the greater pressures on all countries to fulfil their obligations under the five-year plan in the International Cricket Council’s Test championship.In their 67-Test history Zimbabwe have won seven Tests, five of them at home but it has been two years since their last victory, and with such a depleted side at the moment the chances of the next being in the two matches with Australia are slim.Coach Geoff Marsh, the former Australian opener, said the emphasis would be on the batsmen in the series. “The key for us is our batting,” he said. “If we can get to 300, we will be competitive given our bowling line-up. But getting to 300 will be the big test.”Zimbabwe’s official opening match is on Wednesday against the Cricket Australia Chairman’s XI at Lilac Hill but since the announcement of the tour itinerary, an unofficial 12-a-side, three-day match starting on Sunday has been arranged against Rockingham Mandurah at Settlers Hill, Baldvis. After the Lilac Hill match Zimbabwe will have a three-day warm-up match against Western Australia, before the first Test. The second Test is in Sydney from October 17-21.The Zimbabwe touring squad is: Heath Streak (captain), Andy Blignaut, Gary Brent, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Craig Evans, Gavin Ewing, Trevor Gripper, Douglas Hondo, Stewart Matsikenyeri, Ray Price, Tatenda Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Craig Wishart.

Robin Smith has said that he is reconsidering plans to retire at the end of the summer following his good form so far this season.Smith had indicated that this would be his last season and that he would be quitting to concentrate on his business commitments. But five half-centuries have led to a rethink. "My technique has been good, I’m feeling great, my confidence is there and I’ve managed to produce some really nice innings. If it’s to be my last year it would be nice to go out on a high but if I’m continuing to play very well and proving my worth in the team I may give it another year.””I’m fit, the desire, hunger and passion for the game is still there so who knows what will happen? . I’m delighted at how things have gone so far. I can’t remember batting as well as this since I was playing Test cricket."

“Taj President. Call me anytime”, came the text message, minutes after I asked Hemang Badani if we could have a word before the Ranji Trophy Final. With the big game starting only on May 4, Badani could have been at his Chennai home, putting his feet up, playing with his 10-month-old son Hrishit and enjoying a lazy May-day lunch. Instead, he was in Mumbai, impatient for the game to begin.You would expect Badani to be keen. The Wankhede Stadium has done more for him than for most Mumbai cricketers. It was here in 2000 that Badani first exhibited his hunger, and ability, to bat at the highest level. In a tense match that Tamil Nadu eventually lost, Badani drove, threaded and whipped his way to a career-best 162 in the Ranji Trophy semi-final. His captain, Robin Singh, made 183 and Tamil Nadu threatened to walk away with the game. Threats, however, don’t work when Sachin Tendulkar is around. Tendulkar played with passion and verve to carve out 233, and Tamil Nadu were beaten – by one man.This time around, though, there’s no Tendulkar to worry about – he’s away getting medical attention in America.”Even the last time,” says Badani, “we were so close to winning. It was always touch and go, even with Sachin [Tendulkar] batting so well. He stole the game away from us, but we did ourselves no favours with our fielding. He was dropped in the slips – a sitter – when he was just 34 and we also missed a few run-out chances late in the innings.””Even after all that, we were never too far away from winning. You know as well as I do that a few decisions went against us,” adds Badani with a rueful chuckle. Perhaps he is speaking of the time S Mahesh had Santosh Saxena trapped plumb in front, only to be denied by the umpire, when Mumbai still needed a run to take the all-important first-innings lead.But despite Tendulkar’s absence, there’s still plenty for this Tamil Nadu team to mull over. The brisk medium-pace of Ajit Agarkar and Avishkar Salvi, on a wicket that has been relaid recently, could ask a few questions of Badani and his team.”I’ve played with Ajit [Agarkar] since the Under-16 level and I know his game really well,” said Badani. “We first toured England together as teenagers for Star Cricket Club and we go back a long way. Salvi is another one to watch out for, with his height and the bounce he generates.””They’ll prepare a wicket that has something in it for the mediumpacers. Their best spinner is Sairaj [Bahutule] and he’ll be wondering how to bowl to all the left-handers in our side. So you would have to say that Agarkar and Salvi are the biggest threats. But we’re not scared, or worried about them,” a confident Badani says.You have to believe Badani when he says so. Despite being out of the Indian team in recent months, he has been discussed at every selection meeting. “The frustrating part about playing for India and then being dropped is the fact that you know you can perform at that level, and you still have to sit out. Whatever anyone might say, there’s a huge gap between playing domestic cricket and playing at the international level. You can make all the runs you want in domestic games but only when you make them at the highest level do you really know that you have it in you,” says Badani.Tendulkar certainly thought Badani had it in him. It was after that memorable 1999 Ranji semi-final that he marked Badani out for higher honours. “Sachin spoke to me after the game and told me one thing. You have a fantastic downswing and follow-through, he said. Whether you’re going through a bad patch or not, never change that. This will make all the difference at the highest level.”Badani will walk out to the middle on the fourth of May with those words in mind. “It could be a very big match for me. I feel this could be the best thing that happened to me – something that needed to happen. If I can make a hundred, and help Tamil Nadu win … ” he trails off. He doesn’t have to say more. You know what he means: this match could be the one that propels him back into the Indian team.

There is no rest for the wicked or the all-conquering Australian cricketteam.Less than 48 hours after retaining the World Cup, the majority of theAustralian players were already counting down the hours at home beforedeparting for the Caribbean.A weary, hungover but still jubilant national team touched down in Perthfor its only public celebration in front of about 7,000 people atForrest Place.Such is the shortage of time it was decided to hold the one-offreception in Perth so players could spend more time off with familiesand friends.The players depart for the West Indies on Monday and will have hadalmost 37 of 40 weeks on tour at the conclusion of the two-month tour.The hero of Sunday’s World Cup final and newly-appointed Test vicecaptain Ricky Ponting said the grinding workload was tough on theplayers after the two-month African journey.”But saying that we’ve been there and done it all before – we’ve beenused to this sort of programming now for the last three or four years,so it’s not too much of a shock to us,” he said.”But there is no doubt that everyone here would like to have a few moredays at least at home to see their families and friends.”Ponting said Test warhorses in captain Steve Waugh and opener JustinLanger would add spark to the side having spent their energies in statecricket over the past couple of months and not the World Cup.The Australians will have plenty to play for in the Caribbean afterBrian Lara’s heroics ensured the four Test series was locked at 2-2 in1999, in Waugh’s first outing as national captain.”We probably went over there expecting to win pretty comfortably lasttime and we were really tested in a couple of games by Lara,” he said.”He really changed the course of the whole series last time.”So I’m sure Steve is looking forward to playing again and Justin(Langer) has had a few weeks off as well, so those guys coming back intothe side will drag all the rest of us along with them I’m sure.””We’re all looking forward to putting the white clothes back on.”Meanwhile John Buchanan, who will be making his first tour of the WestIndies as national coach, said he didn’t think he would have anytroubles getting the players up for the West Indies despite thegruelling set of fixtures.”I think the bottom line is that’s the essence of this team, and theseplayers, that they are able to confront whatever the situation andperform exceptionally well so I don’t see that being any different oncewe get there.”Unlucky paceman Jason Gillespie, who had to pull out of the Australianteam midway through the World Cup, said he was recovering well from afoot injury.The South Australian expected to be fit in time for the opening Test ofthe four-match series starting April 10 in Georgetown.

All teams competing in the ICC Under-19 World Cup starting in Christchurch on Saturday next week will be spoken to by representatives of the International Cricket Council’s anti-corruption unit.Sixteen teams, from all 10 Test playing nations, as well as Scotland, Canada, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Kenya will take part in the tournament which has its opening ceremony in Christchurch on Monday and its first official game at Bert Sutcliffe Oval when host team New Zealand meets Sri Lanka.New Zealand Cricket’s tournament director Tim Murdoch said today that he is scheduled to have a meeting with the ACU people next week.Teams are spread through Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin during the initial phases of the tournament with the top six playing the latter half of the tournament in Christchurch and the next six playing in Auckland.”We’re fully supportive of them being here and taking the chance to talk to these young players,” Murdoch said.”They are the cream of the future Test prospects from around the world and to speak to them about their obligations to the game, and what they should do if they are ever approached will be good educational value for the players,” he said.

The WACA ground’s Farley stand is scheduled to be completely demolished later this week, on either Friday or Saturday, when Brajkovich Demolition Contractors bring in the Excavator Machine to take down the remaining walls and roof of the veteran grand stand.The WACA ground’s Farley stand is being demolished as part of the West Australian Cricket Association’s (WACA) refurbishment of the WACA ground.The essence of the refurbishment project is to transform the WACA ground into a stadium that primarily embraces the cricket spectator, and also provides the ability to accommodate other sporting events and a permanent winter tenant.Part of the WACA’s refurbishment plan involves; reducing the size of the ground by 15m on both the east and west sides of the ground, to bring spectators closer to the action; extending the grassed seating and shaded areas, so as to revitalise the ground’s family atmosphere and; raking the perimeter seating around the ground so as to provide better quality spectator viewing from an elevated position.WACA Chief Executive Officer Kath White said, The final demolition of the Farley has taken some time, but finally, the old warhorse will be disappearing. Much of the internal material was salvaged so bits of the Farley stand will find their way into various structures around WA.

South Africa has been given a lifeline after the West Indies match was washed out in Benoni as a no-result. With West Indies only securing two points from the match, South Africa has been given a further option of squeezing their way into the Super Six stage.South Africa has to win all their remaining games with a further loss sure to see them exit the tournament in round one. The scenario is also based on no further games being washed out by rain. By winning the remaining games South Africa will end on 16 points. Any loss will see 15 players and a nation into further rain dances.New Zealand, who have completed their matches against the "stronger" teams in the group are going to lose four points for their decision not to go to Kenya and should, on present form, also end on 16 points.West Indies, by winning all their remaining games will end on 18 points, which makes the game against Sri Lanka vital for them to progress to the second round. A loss against Sri Lanka will see them end on 14 points.Sri Lanka holds the key to the group. By beating West Indies and South Africa they will top the group unbeaten on 24 points. Losses to both the teams will see them also finish on 16 points. Net run-rate will then decide the two teams to progress to the second round with West Indies.The following points position are possible accepting that New Zealand will win all their remaining games.Sri Lanka wins all their games the points will be:
Sri Lanka 24, New Zealand 16, West Indies 14, South Africa 12.Sri Lanka beats West Indies, loses to South Africa:
Sri Lanka 20, New Zealand 16, South Africa 16, West Indies 14.Sri Lanka beats South Africa, loses to West Indies:
Sri Lanka 20, West Indies 18, New Zealand 16, South Africa 12.Sri Lanka loses to South Africa and West Indies:
West Indies 18, Sri Lanka 16, New Zealand 16, South Africa 16.
With two of the three teams on equal points qualifying on net run-rates.For South Africa then it is imperative that they win all their remaining games well (to up their net run-rate) and that Sri Lanka beats West Indies on the 28th February at Newlands.

The wicket at New Road continued to favour the bowlers as a further twelve wickets fellon the second day of the Championship match between Glamorgan and Worcestershire.Worcestershire gained a first innings lead of 81 runs as they dismissedGlamorgan for 156 with Matt Mason taking 3/22 and David Leatherdale 2/18. Then in thefinal session, the home team extended their lead to 201, but lost four wicketsin the process, finishing the day on 120/4.Morning rain once again prevented any play until 12.10pm, with Glamorgan resumingon 0/2 after their dramatic start last night when they lost Jimmy Maher andnight-watchman David Harrison in Nantie Hayward`s opening over. Nevertheless,Ian Thomas and Jonathan Hughes adopted a positive approach, with bothof the young batsmen driving powerfully in an arc between cover andmid-on. The pair had added 56 in 15 overs, before Hughes was bowled by Mason with thefinal delivery of the morning session.Seven wickets then fell between lunch and tea, as Glamorgan added a further 100runs. Mason made the early inroads, striking twice during his accurate spell fromthe New Road End, bowling Michael Powell for a duck, and having Matthew Maynardcaught in the slips by Stephen Peters. Thomas continued to pierce the field withsome firm strokes, and reached his first Championship half century of the summer,lofting Hayward back over his head, having faced 94 balls and hitting 9 boundaries.However, the introduction of Leatherdale halted Glamorgan`s progress as theWorcestershire beneficiary had Thomas caught at slip, before trapping Robert Croftleg before on the back foot. Leatherdale might have taken a third wicket hadAnurag Singh held onto a top edge from Mark Wallace. But Kabir Ali returned from theDiglis End to dismiss Darren Thomas and Michael Kasprowicz, whilst Gareth Batty hadWallace caught at cover, as Glamorgan`s innings ended with their score on 156.When Worcestershire batted again, Glamorgan`s seam bowlers also found early assistanceas Alex Wharf had Anurag Singh caught at second slip by Jimmy Maher and then two overslater Wharf yorked Graeme Hick. But Peters showed that run scoring was not impossible,and the opener played some well timed cover drives in reaching 50 from 74 balls. Togetherwith his captain Ben Smith, they added 66 for the third wicket, before Peters dragged the ball onto his stumps trying to sweep Croft.Then in the final over the day, Croft had Vikram Solanki caught at short-legby Ian Thomas, with Worcestershire 201 runs ahead with 6 wickets in hand.

Pakistani spinners Saqlain Mushtaq and Danish Kaneria shared ninewickets to leave Bangladesh in the dumps on the opening day of thesecond and final Test here Wednesday.Off-spinner Saqlain captured 5-35 and leg-spinner Kaneria 4-62 asBangladesh were bowled out for 148, failing to last two full sessionsafter electing to bat on a good batting wicket.Pakistan, in reply, were 99-1 at close, with opener Taufiq Umer andYounis Khan batting on 47 apiece.Saqlain, who went wicketless in the first Test at Dhaka, struck in hissecond over and continued to torment the batsmen with turn and bounce.It was Saqlain’s 12th haul of five or more wickets in an innings andmarked the 25-year-old’s return to form after a lean period last year.Saqlain began by surprising opener Javed Omar with steep bounce toclaim his first wicket to a catch at silly-point.Habibul Bashar was caught down the leg side, while Sanwar Hossain wasclaimed leg-before as Saqlain stuck to a tidy line and length.Kaneria pegged away at the other end, having Enamul Hoque, AminulIslam and Fahim Muntasir caught in the close-in field. However hisbest wicket was that of Mehrab Hossain, who failed to read a googlyand was bowled while shaping to cut.The 21-year-old Kaneria now has 25 wickets in three Tests againstBangladesh, having taken nine in the first Test at Dhaka and 12 in theAsian Test Championship tie at Multan last year.Opener Al Sahariar was the only batsman to fall to a seamer, caughtbehind while trying to drive Waqar Younis.Bangladeshi captain Khaled Masud (28) and Aminul Islam (25) were theonly ones to offer some resistance.In reply, Pakistan lost an early wicket of Shadab Kabir for four, butTaufiq and Younis batted through till close, hitting eight boundarieseach.Pakistan included controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in place ofthe injured Wasim Akram from the side that won the first Test at Dhakaby an innings and 178 runs.Shoaib is under scrutiny from the International Cricket Council afterhis action was questioned for a third time in four years. The 26-yearold faces a one-year ban if he is reported again for throwing.

Tasmania’s attack suffered the same fate as the WACA’s fast-disappearing Players Stand as century makers Damien Martyn and Murray Goodwin set the Tigers a 244 run final day target.The pair posted a state record fourth wicket partnership of 321 before the home side declared at 7-594 with a 257 run first innings lead.In reply the Tigers were 0-13 at stumps, with Jamie Cox on eight and Dene Hills five.Goodwin and Martyn put on 321 to push the score to 3-554, before the Tigers took a rash of late wickets.But while the stand is being torn down with heavy machinery, Martyn and Goodwin were more meticulous in their demolition.At no point were they forced to slog for runs as they kept the scoreboard ticking over with an array of risk-free shots to all parts of the ground.Martyn followed up his 108 from Wednesday’s ING Cup clash here with his first Pura Cup century of the summer.His 189, his tenth ton against the Islanders from just 18 matches, came from 250 deliveries and included 23 fours and a six.Goodwin, who played the anchor role throughout the first 200 runs, cut free late in his innings when he advanced from 100 to 141 in just 16 balls.His 141 was his best return for the Warriors since returning from a stint in the international arena with Zimbabwe last year.Goodwin fell with the score on 554, bowled while attempting to hit Shane Watson (1-126) out of the park.The need for fast runs also brought about Martyn’s downfall 16 runs later when he lofted Daniel Marsh (2-111) to Damien Wright at cover.Marcus North (1) and Adam Gilchrist (19) also fell in the hectic final five overs.Martyn confirmed after the match that Gilchrist had set the side a target of building a 250 run first innings lead, but also wanted ten overs at the Tigers before stumps.”We’re hoping we don’t have to bat tomorrow and if we do hopefully we won’t be chasing too many,” he said.”The wicket’s flat in periods once the new ball goes, but there’s cracks there and there’s variations still so if we get the ball in the right slot tomorrow it should be good.”Martyn also revealed his thigh had come through the marathon 320 minute knock unscathed.”It’s not bad, it’s still a bit sore but it handled the work load and came up pretty well after four or five hours batting,” he said.