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Dream start, nightmare finish
Coming back into international cricket after a while, Virender Sehwag had a dream start: the first ball he faced was a trifle short, and Sehwag played a short-arm flick so effortlessly that it was easy to wonder why he had been kept out of the side for so long. The answer wasn’t long in coming: the third ball he faced, his first from Mohammad Asif, did all the things that bother Sehwag – it pitched on a good length, came at a lively pace, and nipped back enough to beat the middle of the bat and take the inside edge. At least Sehwag can’t complain about encountering unfamiliar situations on his return.Uthappa hits back
For nine overs, India danced to the tune of Pakistan’s fast bowlers, especially Mohammad Asif. Then, in the tenth, the batsmen called the shots, albeit briefly. Robin Uthappa first walked down the wicket and creamed Yasir Arafat over long-off for an exquisite six, and then pulled him off the front foot for another. The Indian flags, which easily outnumbered the Pakistani ones today, finally got an opportunity to make their presence felt.The rain dance
To drizzle or not to drizzle? That seemed the perennial question through the first couple of hours of the game. Play started on time, but soon the weather gods decided to intervene, but in such a manner that everyone was kept on tenterhooks, with the covers coming on, going off, coming on,going off, and then again. Once the covers had only managed to travel halfway up to the stumps when the drizzle stopped, and it was time for play again. It served the Pakistan cause nicely, though – twice a wicket fell off the first ball after resumption.b>The last ball
Mahendra Singh Dhoni consulted with almost half the team and then decidedthat the entire team would be in the inner ring, then had a change ofheart and off went Gautam Gambhir to the cover boundary, then finallyraced around to backward point. The entire exercise took at least a coupleof minutes, before Sreeanth charged in and pitched it short. Misbah’s weakstroke couldn’t pierce the infield, and we had the second tie in Twenty20internationals.The Misbah factorWith Pakistan seemingly out of the contest, Misbah-ul-Haq produced thekind of blitz which silenced all the questions which had been raised overhis selection. There were two powerful blows off Harbhajan, but the shotthat showed he had a cool head came off Ajit Agarkar, when, with 18 neededoff eight balls, he coolly moved across his stumps and scooped one overfine leg for four. No fuss, little effort, maximum reward.The comeback kid
Irfan Pathan hasn’t had a whole lot to celebrate over the last year, buthe had a veritable blast here. His first ball produced a wicket – even ifit was a run-out – and after three dot balls it got even better, as YounisKhan chopped one onto his stumps. Pathan leapt up in delight, and the hugesmile that flashed across his face showed just how much he was enjoyinghis comeback.

Seamer Alfonso Thomas and allrounder Pierre de Bruyn have been released from their contracts with the Titans and both will represent the Dolphins for the rest of the season.The pair were acquired by the Dolphins to cover for the loss of former South African players Lance Klusener and Dale Benkenstein to the Indian Cricket League (ICL). Players linked with the ICL have been banned from domestic cricket by Cricket South Africa.”This will definitely strengthen the Dolphins ahead of the MTN Domestic Championship and the Pro20 Series,” Cassim Docrat, the Dolphins chief executive, told Supercricket.Docrat said that Thomas had signed for the next season as well. In six games this season, Thomas has scored 110 runs and taken 11 wickets while de Bruyn has scored 112 runs in four games.

South African players are unlikely to participate in the Indian Premier League tillApril 25th, as they will be involved in the Standard Bank Pro20 matches in SouthAfrica. The franchises were informed of the development by the IPL governing councilin a meeting held in Mumbai, where a host of administrative issues surrounding the league were discussed.Ten South African players have been signed on by the eight IPL franchises, and a few of them, depending on how their domestic teams fare in the Pro20, might join their IPL teams after the tournament ends on 25th.However, a franchise representative was confident the players would beavailable for the full duration. “The decision is not final as yet. We are in the process of talking to the players, their teams and the board and we will work something out.”In among other things that were discussed in the meeting, each franchise has been allotted a liason officer from a South African agency, which was involved with the ICC World Twenty20 held in South Africa, who will travel with the teams and oversee the security preparations.The meeting saw a host of experts from the consulting firm IMG counselling the franchises on the issues ranging from security, accredition, ticketing, and movement of officials across grounds, and entertainment guidelines. “Not many of us [franchises] have prior experience in organising games and this meeting was very helpful in that regard,” a franchise representative said.

The Asia Cup is back: the latest incarnation starts in Sri Lanka on Friday (July 16). In contrast to the past, when first India then Pakistan contrived to avoid taking part for one reason or another, all four of Asia’s Test nations will be there. Making up the numbers are the United Arab Emirates and, for the first time, Hong Kong, who made their way here via a qualifying tournament.There’s a fly in the ointment. The matches have been scheduled for a time when it invariably rains in Sri Lanka. (Click here and scroll down for a ten-day weather forecast for Colombo: “Scattered T-Storms” are predicted on each and every day.) Also, as if to make up for all the cricket that is likely to be rained off, the organisers scheduled rather too much of it. After all six teams play a league phase, the four qualifiers play another all-play-all round-robin to determine the finalists.But if the rains hold off, the Asia Cup could still serve up some wonderful cricket. Muttiah Muralitharan will be back in the playing arena, India will be looking to recreate the momentum of the last season at the beginning of this challenging one, Pakistan will play for the first time under their new coach, Bob Woolmer, and Bangladesh, coached by Dav Whatmore, will be out to inflict an upset or two. No offence to Bangladesh, but the tournament will certainly be won by one of the other three.Take a look at the ICC ODI table: Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India occupy places 4 to 6, within four points of one another, with Nos 2 and 3 not far ahead. In fact, all the teams barring Australia are bunched so close together that this season represents a great opportunity for one of them to string together some impressive wins and climb to No. 2, and establish a gap on the others. All of these three teams are capable of doing just that, and the Asia Cup will be a good place to start. This is not just another meaningless one-day tournament; it is a vital cog in the progress of each team.India are coming off some quiet months following the successful tour to Pakistan, and they will be quietly confident. Their batting has been excellent of late, and they have had a problem of plenty: so many fast bowlers were in contention for the squad that they were forced to leave out Ajit Agarkar, and a further quandary will present itself if they decide to play just one specialist spinner, and have to choose between Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, who is returning after injury. Sourav Ganguly has also dropped hints recently that the question of who will open the batting is not yet settled, so that will be interesting to watch. Virender Sehwag has indicated that he would like to score one-day international cricket’s first double-century against one of the minnows, and Sachin Tendulkar also has an eye for records – the India v UAE game on July 16 promises to be exciting for that reason alone.But once the tournament gets serious, India might face a problem if one of their batsmen is injured – there are no back-ups for them in the squad. Either Parthiv Patel, or an extra bowler, might have to come into the side then. Patel had been selected as a specialist wicketkeeper even after the team management had made it perfectly clear that they would ask Rahul Dravid to open, and the management and the selectors need to be on the same wavelength if India are to continue advancing in world cricket.Pakistan will also be a side to watch. My colleague, Osman Samiuddin, commented recently on Pakistan’s refreshing decision to opt for continuity, even after their defeat against India, and that, as well as their move to hire Bob Woolmer, indicates that they mean business. From the era of amateur coaches who beseech their team to “put 150% effort” to a professional age, under one of the finest modern coaches – if Pakistan continue on this road, which India embarked upon when they hired John Wright, it could transform their cricket. Will the first signs of change be visible in this Asia Cup? The world will be watching closely.Both India and Pakistan will be hard-pressed to beat Sri Lanka. At home, and with Murali in their ranks, Sri Lanka are a powerful side. Also, unlike their opponents, they come into this tournament with plenty of recent match practice behind them. Will they be sharp after their battles in Australia, or weary (surely that’s just wishful thinking)?And what can Bangladesh do? They almost won a Test in the West Indies, but beyond that, there are few signs that Whatmore has made much difference to a notoriously diffident side. But the process of becoming a contender from a minnow is a long one, and Whatmore has been down that road before, with Sri Lanka. Does he have enough talent available to repeat that process with them? Can Bangladesh cause an upset or two in this tournament? Well, maybe they can. But first, they must get past the even minnower talents of Hong Kong.Amit Varma is managing editor of Wisden Cricinfo in India.

Phil Jaques is unlikely to play for Northamptonshire this season after they decided to abandon their bid to have him classified as an English-qualified player.Jaques, who was born in Australia but has a British passport, scored more than1400 runs in all competitions last summer, but jeopardised his England-qualified status by turning out for New South Wales in Australia this winter, which effectively re-classified him as an overseas player in the eyes of the ECB.Northants considered challenging the ECB’s registration regulations in court in order to hang on to Jaques, but have now decided not to pursue the case. In a statement issued today, they said: “As a result of detailed discussions with the ECB, Northamptonshire have recognised that as Phil Jaques opted to qualify for Australia by playing for New South Wales during the winter, he contravenes current ECB regulations and would therefore not be able to play for Northamptonshire as a ‘qualified’ player in the 2004 season.”After considerable thought and consultation, the committee fully supportthe need for regulations which focus on the development of cricketers who arecommitted and qualified to play for England. In view of the above, the application to register Phil, as a result of holding a British passport, has been withdrawn.”Northants have already signed the South Africans Martin van Jaarsveld andJohann Louw as their two overseas players for the coming season, leaving no place for Jaques.Simon Schanschieff, Northamptonshire’s chairman, said: “Phil is an outstanding talent and we were delighted with the way he grasped his opportunity with us last season. We were naturally keen to retain his services, but we also support the governing body in their efforts to produce a successful England team. It is very disappointing for us, but it will give emerging players in our squad the opportunity they want to perform in first-division cricket.”And David Kemp, the chairman of the ECB’s Registration and Contracts committee,was delighted with the decision. He said: “The committee are very pleased this issue has been resolved. We are charged with drafting and implementing registration regulations agreed by the first-class counties, and we always aim to ensure these regulations best serve the interests of cricket in this country whilst being in accordance with the law.”

The New Zealand and South Africa cricket teams, in the midst of a one-day series, have donated bats and shirts for auction to raise money for victims of the recent storms and floods that lashed the southern and central North Island and the northern areas of the South Island.Graeme Smith, South Africa’s captain, hoped the contribution would make a difference.”We often see the devastation caused by storms and floods from afar,” Smith said, “but being so close to the worst affected areas makes us realize just how quickly lives can be seriously disrupted and we hope that in making this donation we can make a difference to those people whose lives have been severely affected.”New Zealand Cricket announced that ticket prices for the third one-day at Wellington would be slashed, and a certain amount donated for every adult ticket sold.

Punjab completely dominated the first day’s play of their three day North Zone Cooch Behar Trophy (under-19) match against Jammu & Kashmir at the Dhruv Pandove stadium in Patiala on Tuesday. At stumps they were 140 for two in reply to J & K’s first innings total of 126.Winning the toss, J & K ran into trouble against A Uniyal and G Mandora and lost six wickets for 51 runs. A seventh wicket partnership of 64 runs off 24.4 overs between V Kaw (38) and A Mongotra (28) produced a recovery of sorts. But then three wickets fell with the total on 115 and J & K were all out for a highly adequate score. Uniyal (3 for 19) and Mandora (3 for 23) were the wreckers-in-chief while SP Singh hastened the end of the innings by taking two wickets for two runs off 3.4 overs, of which two were maidens.When Punjab batted, SP Singh (60 not out) and opener Binwant Singh (41) with a second wicket stand of 77 runs off 14 overs steered the side to a strong position by close. While Binwant faced 51 balls and hit five fours, the more aggressive SP Singh faced 69 balls and hit five fours and three sixes.

The ongoing row between the West Indies board and the players took another twist with a warning from the board’s CEO that the appointment of Bennett King as coach heralded a new era of discipline."I think they will recognise straight away that the people who are in charge have a very different outlook with respect to discipline, fitness, commitment and passion," said Roger Brathwaite. "Those who don’t share that philosophy unfortunately will be told that perhaps they should be doing something else. It is going to be very clear going that if you want to represent the West Indies you have to share these qualities. That will be across the board."The West Indies’ management have been criticised for several years for allowing a culture of indiscipline to go unchecked, but Brathwaite argued that was not the fault of the board. "Whatever was done was to ensure that decisions which were taken were consistent with the board’s code of conduct," he told The Nation newspaper. "That has not changed. The code of conduct has been revised and … it is very clear with what is expected of players and officials."The three-week training camp which was supposed to have started in Barbados today was postponed at the last minute as the dispute over contracts rumbled on. It had been thought that the breakthrough in negotiations last week had freed the way for the pre-tour training to go ahead. Nine of the 25 squad members have signed the new contracts and they have already arrived in Barbados.

Even by Shane Warne’s soap-operatic standards, this past month has been turbulent in the extreme. Another sordid tabloid exposé led directly to the break-up of his ten-year marriage, surely the worst-possible preparation for the intensity and emotions of an Ashes series. And yet, for all his off-pitch problems, Warne was adamant that he could put the bad thoughts to one side and raise his game to another level for the challenges ahead.”I’m pretty keen and anxious to get into the Tests,” Warne told a press conference at the Australian team hotel in South-West London. “Obviously this has been a difficult period of my life, but I’ve just got to deal with it and get on. I’ve been having my good days and bad days, and some days it can be hard to move on, but there’s really nothing more I can do. I just hope to enjoy the series and make it one of my best ever.”Warne and controversy go together like Lord’s and Australian Test victories, but now, in the twilight of his career and with nothing left to hide either on or off the pitch, he was in particularly candid mood. “I couldn’t give a rat’s **** what people think of me or say,” he said. “Everyone’s had an opinion, and I’ve loaded the bullets on a few occasions, but unfortunately we live in a society that’s pretty judgmental about what you do in your life.”That is as true for Warne’s cricket as it has been for his private life, but his attitude to both is phlegmatic. “My bowling is how it is,” he shrugged. “It’s different from how it was when I first started, different from what it was five years into my career, and different again from four years ago.”In the old days we used to bat first every time and I’d get to bowl into the fifth-day footmarks. These days there aren’t so many five-day Tests, so there’s not as much spin on offer. Plus we often bowl first these days, so I need other ways to get wickets on first-day pitches. That’s where I think I’ve improved, I’ve learned to adapt a bit better, and seeing as I’ve just had one of my best years ever, I think I’m going okay.”Warne, however, wasn’t deluding himself as to the ravages of time, and has had operations on his right shoulder, spinning finger and left knee as testament to his 15 years at the top. “Physically, it would be impossible for me to still be at my absolute peak,” he admitted. “There aren’t many days when something isn’t hurting, but I feel as fresh as a nearly-36-year-old can feel. When you get to this age it’s all about management, you can’t go to the nets and bowl hour after hour after hour – you have to save as much as you can for the games.”But after every game I’ve played, someone has either said: ‘he’s not as good as he was’ or ‘he’s getting better with age’. That opinion changes no matter what, so all you can go on is results, and in the last year as successful as at any stage. Whether I’m a better bowler or not, who knows? I guess you’d have to ask the batsmen that, not the people watching.”With three Ashes tours and six consecutive series wins to his name, Warne accepted that he would not be seen again in a baggy green in England. “I’m not going to be around in four years’ time,” he said. “It’s sad in a way, but it’s also very enjoyable because for the first time in eight series, I honestly believe England have got a chance.”They’ve got two matchwinners in [Andrew] Flintoff and [Steve] Harmison and, if Kevin Pietersen takes to Test cricket like he has done in one-dayers, then he could be phenomenal. It’s a brave decision and good one from the England selectors, because he’s the most dangerous player in England.”But overall, Warne was in a reflective mood, and accepted that this series would prove to be one of his greatest challenges, for more than just the cricketing reasons. “We’ve got five Tests in eight weeks and human nature is bound to take over for periods,” he admitted. “Looking back over the years it’s generally been the case that the tougher the situation the better I respond.”But nothing like this has ever happened in my life before, and I have to deal with as best I can. It’s not the way I wanted it to be, but I’ve just got to concentrate on my cricket and be there for the guys, because at the end of the day, that’s my job and, much as I see it as a hobby and a passion and a love, I have to turn up no matter what.”

Scorecard
Offspinner Amit Jaggernauth and seamer Ravi Rampaul took seven wickets between them to send CCC crashing to 97 before Kieron Pollard scored 85 off 79 balls to help Trinidad take a 127-run first-innings lead in their Carib Beer Series match in Bridgetown.Trinidad’s openers, William Perkins and Lendl Simmons, put on 44 runs for the first wicket, but both were removed by Kevin McClean before tea. Pollard, who came in at No.4, was in an aggressive mood, bringing up his half-century off 48 balls. In the mean time, he added 117 runs for the third wicket with Darren Ganga, who made 47. Jason Bennett, the right-arm seamer, then dismissed both batsmen, before Denesh Ramdin slogged at the third-last ball of the day from Shirley Clarke, the CCC captain, to be bowled for 18.In the morning session, Rampaul took three wickets in a ten-over opening burst to leave CCC at 29 for 3. The introduction of spin hastened the end of CCC’s innings as Jaggernauth, who was included in West Indies’ Test squad for the coming series against Sri Lanka, took 4 for 35, including the wicket of their top scorer, Nekoli Parris, who made 27. Dave Mohammed, the left-arm spinner, complemented Jaggernauth by taking two wickets – he had Kurt Wilkinson caught at cover and induced a top-edged sweep from Bennett.
Scorecard
Guyana, aided by a four-wicket haul from offspinner Zaheer Mohammed, restricted Leeward Islands to 204 before they made their way to within 67 runs off taking the first-innings lead in St. Thomas.Lionel Baker, the Leewards seamer, took two wickets to have Guyana at 17 for 2 before Krishna Arjune, who made 35, and Travis Dowlin (26) resurrected the innings. After both batsmen failed to extend their scores, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Guyana’s batting mainstay, anchored the innings with a patient 36, and with Ramnaresh Sarwan (16*), ensured that there was no further damage.Put in, Leewards lost Austin Richards and Runako Morton before a run was scored, both of whom were removed by Esuan Crandon. Shane Jeffers and Tonito Willett, who scored 37 and 34 respectively, steadied the innings, before they were dismissed by Brandon Bess. The Leewards’ middle order, comprising Orlando Peters, Steve Liburd, and Jahmar Hamilton, could not build on their starts, all of them falling to Mohammed, edging to Sarwan in the slips. Lionel Baker scored a quick 26 to stretch Leewards’ score, before Mohammed returned to finish off the innings by getting rid of Bront de Freitas.
Scorecard
Windward Islands’ bowlers combined well to keep Jamaicia down to 232, but they conceded the momentum when they lost Devon Smith and debutant Raymond Casimir to the fiery Daren Powell with only a run on the board just before the close of play in St Elizabeth.Windwards’ decision to field reaped immediate reward when three early wickets by Nelon Pascal had Jamaica on the back foot at 95 for 3. Jamaica slipped further when Chris Gayle was caught behind off Deighton Butler for 55. Shane Shillingford, the offspinner, then ran through the middle order, taking three wickets including the prized scalp of Marlon Samuels for 28, before returning to dismiss Nikita Miller, who also made 28. The tail was taken care off by Butler, who removed Carlton Baugh for 25 and had Jemore Taylor caught behind for a duck to finish with figures of 3 for 35.