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The Zimbabwe issue is not about politics in the country or their ICC membership but concerns the development of cricket there, Ray Mali, the ICC president, told Cricinfo on Tuesday. This marks a major shift in stance for Mali who had, last week, placed the Zimbabwe issue at the top of the agenda for Wednesday’s ICC board meeting, pointing to the “worsening situation within the country”.”It’s not a political issue, it’s a cricket issue,” Mali, who later this week will hand over the presidency to David Morgan, said. “We are not the ones to debate on politics. It’s not about Zimbabwe’s membership in the ICC, either. Not at all. What we are concerned about is how to strengthen the game in Zimbabwe, how to encourage more cricketing interaction with them at any level.”That view was echoed by a senior official of the BCCI currently in Dubai for the meeting. There will be a “serious effort” to understand the situation in Zimbabwe, the official said, and there might finally be an “understanding”.What this indicates is that the Zimbabwe issue, which was expected to be the subject of heated discussion within a divided ICC, may revolve around the status of the game in that country, rather than the status of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) within the governing body. In any case, any resolution on Zimbabwe requires seven out of ten votes in the ICC board and the influential Indian board, which has consistently backed ZC in the past, has made it clear it will stand against any move to revoke Zimbabwe’s status as a Full Member of the ICC.As various ‘team camps’ work the phone lines ahead of the meeting, there’s the whiff of compromise in the air. The deal could involve Zimbabwe remaining a Full Member of the ICC but skipping next year’s World Twenty20 so that the ECB can host the tournament. Perhaps even snip ZC’s annual funding from the ICC; anything, really, short of shutting the door.On Tuesday afternoon, the scene at The Westin Hotel told its own story – near the giant glass doors of the sparkling new building, Mali was laughing and shaking hands with Peter Chingoka, the ZC president, and two associates. The two, old comrades, shared a joke on the international media frenzy surrounding the game in that country and walked away together.Chingoka had, in fact, appealed to Mali in a letter last week. “The rules of natural justice, equity and good conscience demand that a fair hearing would need to be given to Zimbabwe Cricket and that would entail the ICC sending a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe if at all it is warranted from a cricket point of view,” he wrote.Surely, though, even as Chingoka presented an unusually relaxed front and BCCI officials, led by their president Sharad Pawar, assembled here to “go through the papers”, some tough talking can be expected on Zimbabwe, at least from the ECB and Cricket South Africa. Both have suspended all bilateral cricket ties with Zimbabwe, and have pointed to a worsening “general situation” that has prevented any meaningful cricket in that country.The views of players – especially from South Africa, who are clear that they will have nothing to do with Zimbabwe cricket – may be presented. And there could be a significant contribution to the debate from David Morgan, who has already declared that he will back action against Zimbabwe.Privately, officials within the ICC and the ECB establishment have also pointed to Chingoka’s ‘close ties’ with the political set-up in Zimbabwe and sought to link that with the climate of uncertainty surrounding their cricket.”Will India take a pragmatic view on this and go with England and South Africa, whose voice, also, may be crucial?” asked an official who is closely involved with the situation. “After all, if Zimbabwe sticks around then everyone will know it will be because of India. India will then take a hit because of that but more importantly the ICC would take a hit and its credibility would, perhaps, be fatally holed below the waterline.”But in the end, the BCCI and its traditional backers – Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – may weigh all opposition to Zimbabwe against the precious vote that Chingoka brings to the table, year after year. And that will mean Chingoka’s sunny smile this afternoon will be on show again, same time tomorrow.

A third consecutive day of complete West Indian domination put India firmly on the backfoot at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. From an overnight 189/3, West Indies reached a commanding 446/5. The visitors have a handy lead of 88 with two days to play and are in a position to put pressure on the Indians on the penultimate day. The hero, unsurprisingly, was Shivnarine Chanderpaul, with 136 not out, while Marlon Samuels played second fiddle perfectly, reaching an unbeaten 89. The best thing that happened to the Indians, then, was bad light putting an end to their misery nine overs short of the scheduled close.As it so often turns out, India had the best of the first session but nothing seemed to go their way after that. Leg-spinner Anil Kumble struck early in the day, removing Chris Gayle after he had added just eight runs to his overnight score of 80. Poking forward at a delivery that Kumble floated through a bit slower, Gayle gloved the ball to Virender Sehwag at forward short leg off his pad.Replacing Gayle, skipper Carl Hooper batted with composure. The Guyana middle-order bat used his wrists well to keep the opposition spinners at bay. It was, however, a brilliant bit of wicket-keeping that proved Hooper’s undoing. After the second new ball was taken, Ashish Nehra got a ball to straighten. Hooper edged and Parthiv Patel dived full length to his right to snatch the ball inches above the ground. The ball was dying on Patel and the catch proved the young keeper’s pedigree. Hooper made just 19.After pegging the West Indies back to 255/5, India could not make even adent in the proceedings. Chanderpaul hammered out his sixth Test centuryand took West Indies past the Indian first innings score of 358. Samuels, unbeaten on 36, gave Chanderpaul exactly the kind of support heneeded.Chanderpaul’s century was his fifth against India in Tests. The Guyanasouthpaw seems to love the Indian bowling attack. Before the start ofthis innings, Chanderpaul has scored an amazing 1140 runs against theIndians at an average of over 80. This innings, however, has been a touchout of the ordinary. By his own standards, Chanderpaul was aggressive, cracking twelve boundaries and a six in getting to three figures in 179 balls. Also, in the course of his innings, Chanderpaul aggregated one thousand runs in this calendar year. Phew.For his part, Samuels was able to keep the Indian spinners at bay. Batting carefully, Samuels ensured that a mammoth unbeaten 191 runs has been added for the sixth wicket.There’s a century for the taking for Samuels. The twenty-one year old has never reached the three-figure mark in Tests and will certainly be keen as anything when play starts on the fourth day. With that keenness will come the swirling swarm of butterflies in the tummy. What Samuels needs to do, though, is take a leaf out of Chanderpaul’s book.When he reached fifty, Chanderpaul showed little emotion, merely raisinghis bat in understated fashion to several sections of the ground. He then re-marked his guard, focussed and battled on. When he reached three figures, though, there was a release of emotion that would have warmed the hearts of even the keenest Indian supporters at Kolkata. After sprinting two runs, Chanderpaul whipped his helmet off, held both hands aloft, acknowledged the cheers of the crowd, knelt down and kissed the wicket. That’s the sort of gesture that will go down well with the emotional crowds -­ reportedly 66, 548 on the day at India’s biggest stadium.And yes, what would have made it easier for fans to appreciate the Windies was the performance of the Indian bowlers. Anil Kumble was ravaged -­ giving away 150 runs off his 47 overs. His partner, Harbhajan Singh, went for 101 runs off 52 overs, without adding to his overnight tally of three wickets. Tomorrow, two others will aim to reach the 150 and 100 marks, only that will be in the positive sense. Both Chanderpaul and Samuels certainly deserve to reach those milestones.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Lt Gen Tauqir Zia had ordered Pakistan team management to ensure Rashid Latif returns home from Johannesburg Sunday irrespective of injury or no injury.Rashid left with the Zimbabwe-bound contingent as number one wicketkeeper but reported unwell citing neck pains on arrival there.He ruled himself out of the Zimbabwe tour. Later he was flown to the South African city of Johannesburg for medical opinion on his injury.Tauqir on Friday here categorically stated that he had instructed the management to send Rashid back.Tauqir said that he would contact the team management once again to inquire about the results of Rashid’s medical reports.According to Pakistan tour management Rashid is on recovery path and would be fit for South African trip although earlier reports indicated the former skipper’s injury could be life threatening.This is not the first time that a Pakistani player has made himself available for a foreign trip but later becoming “mysteriously” unfit.Rashid’s saga is one of the many incidents that has not done any good to the cause of Pakistan cricket or the country’s image as a top cricket playing nation.Upon his arrival the former Pakistani captain will be subjected to several medical tests by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s own panel of doctors in accordance with the findings of the medical tests and opinions of the South African specialists, a PCB spokesman said Friday.Meanwhile, paceman Mohammad Sami has been held back by the team management after securing clearance from the selection committee.He will now be available for selection in the five-match One-day International series that begins in Bulawayo Nov 23.

Former Calmore Sports team-mates Paul Draper and James Hibberd are having a personal duel to see which of the two all-rounders can score the most runs and capture the most wickets."There’s nothing on it, except personal pride," says Hibberd, who lies a single run behind Draper in the batting stakes but one wicket ahead of his South Wilts rival.Both players have done well this summer, with Draper scoring 416 runs and taking 20 wickets for his new club South Wilts, and Hibberd making 415 runs for Calmore, in addition to snapping up 21 wickets with his medium-pace.But Draper has already scored two important successes over his old Calmore team-mate."We’ve beaten Calmore twice this season and I got scores of 88 and 42 without being out. I’m happy to dine out on that," chuckled Draper, who will have Hibberd’s full support in nextFriday’s SEC Cup final at the Rose Bowl.Leading individual performances:Premier 1
Batting: Damian Shirazi (BAT Sports) 501, Luke Ronchi (Bashley Rydal) 491, Russell Rowe (South Wilts) 473, Matt Swarbrick (Bournemouth) 459, Paul Draper (South Wilts) 416, James Hibberd (Calmore Sports) 415, Neil Thurgood (Bashley Rydal) 411, Roger Miller (Andover) 368, Alistair Gray (Liphook) 360, Dave Banks (BAT Sports) 300.Bowling: Dan Golstraw (BAT Sports) 32, Malcolm Hobson (Havant) 28, Richard Dibden (BAT Sports) 25, James Hibberd (Calmore Sports) 21, Kirk Stewart (BAT Sports) 20, Richard Hindley (Havant) 20, Kevin Nash (Bashley Rydal) 20, Paul Draper (South Wilts) 20, Christof Bothma (Calmore Sports) 20.Premier 2
Batting: Charles Forward (OT & Romsey) 582, Danny Peacock (Lymington) 441, Aaron Heal (Lymington) 430, Iain Brunnschweiler (Hampshire Academy) 411, Jason Laney (Hungerford) 405, Owen Dawkins (Hungerford) 397, Jeff Anning (Rowledge) 355, Max Smith (OT & Romsey) 333, Gary Hounsome (US) 329.Bowling: Damien Carson (United Services) 27, Nick Wood (OT & Romsey) 26, Steve Green (Easton & Martyr Worthy) 23, Aaron Heal (Lymington) 23, Danny Peacock (Lymington) 21, Jeff Anning (Rowledge) 20.Premier 3
Batting: Will Prozesky (Purbrook) 610, Mark Parker (St Cross Symondians) 524, Matt Digweed (Hartley Wintney) 501, Chris Baumann (Waterlooville) 482, Michael Howard (Leckford) 429, Colin James (Paultons) 411, Steve Watts (New Milton) 368, Ian Hunter (Purbrook) 368, Michael Heffernan (Alton) 359, Simon Greenfield (Havant) 345.Bowling: Nathan Collins (Gosport Borough) 26, Bob Paul (Bashley Rydal II) 23, Neil Doods (Ventnor) 22, John Barrett (Hambledon) 22, Andy Cattle (Leckford) 22, Julian Ballinger (Alton) 21, Andy Snellgrove (New Milton) 20, Ben Neal (New Milton) 20, Mark Stanley (Purbrook) 20.All Divisions
Wicketkeeping: John Burton (Redlynch & Hale) 14, John Harris (Hursley Park) 14, Dave Banks (BAT Sports) 14, Keith Trodd (OT & Romsey) 13, Lee Wateridge (Andover) 13, Dave Coles (Lymington) 13.Catches: Richard Hindley (Havant) 10, Stuart Tulk (OT & Romsey) 9.

The Final of the Under 19 County Championship was concluded on the first day after Hampshire were dismissed for 125 in 57.3 overs.Hampshire chose to bat and lost early wickets to Parsons and Kelly before Snell with 39 gave the innings some substance. His dismissal in the over before lunch, leaving Hampshire at 83-5, effectively ended Hampshire’s chances of posting a competitive total, and two run outs, one a deflection by the bowler to dismiss Thane, the non-striker, did not help.Kelly finished with 3 for 34, Parsons with 2 for 21 and Andrew returned to the attack to take 2 for 17.Although Stokes was soon out mistiming a hook Webley played some excellent strokes in reaching 70 not out and with Andrew on 34 Somerset won by 8 wickets, reaching their target in 25.2 overs.Ken Standring, Chairman of the ECB Schools, Junior and Youth Group presented the Cup and medals.

Firstly Brad congratulations in receiving your ACB contract. As a full-time professional cricketer, are you viewing the game any differently?No, not at all. I try and keep myself busy in the off-season as much as I can. I enjoy doing a bit of work around the house. Last year I was still painting houses and that’s what I do by trade. So, no I don’t think that I view it any differently. Obviously it gives you a bit more incentive. That’s about it.Right now you are looking slim and strong. Injuries have been the major concern for you in the past, so how are you keeping fit during the off-season?What I’ve really enjoyed, especially over the last couple of years, is doing gym work and I do a lot of bike work now just to try and stay off my legs a little bit. Over my career I’ve got to know my body inside and out as well as I could, and now I know what I can and what I can’t do. I suppose you get to know your limitations.One that Dennis Lillee would most likely ask is – Have you been keeping up your core strength through your torso?Yeah, obviously having stress fractures when I was younger I’ve always had a little bit of lower back problem. I always keep my sit-up routine, make sure that I do it every day. That’s just part of life for me now.Brad, December 23 2001, the MCG verses your old state. Did you need much motivation for that match?You never need much motivation to play Victoria when you’ve left them I must admit.That display was rated by many, as the fastest, and most hostile, spell seen on the Australian domestic circuit in years. Perhaps since November of 1999, when Brett Lee broke Jo Angel’s arm. How do you rate that spell?Every time I walk out onto the ground no matter where you are or what you’re doing, I always give 110%. That was no different and it just happened to be against an old team. I suppose that I just happened to have a little bit more of a fire in my belly.Three wickets in seven balls and you could have easily had a hat-trick. It’s the kind of burst, which can swing a match in a matter of minutes. Can you reproduce that on the international stage?Given the opportunity I hope I could. Obviously if you get enough balls in the right area then you never know. If it’s your day, it’s your day.The Vic’s actually won that match but a few months later at the WACA it was a different story. How do you rate the four for 34 you took to help dismiss Victoria for 98, and win, after being made to follow-on?It was a very frustrating game for us. We were still half a chance of making the Pura Cup final. I know, when we went out there and we only had a hundred on the board, I was pretty pumped actually. I thought that we were still half a chance to win outright. I don’t think Victoria’s batting depth is great so I went out there with the view that if we can make some early breakthroughs then we could put them under a bit of pressure. They had a lot of youngsters out there in their side. I didn’t think that they could stand up, and it proved so.What was the biggest thrill, being 12th man for the Boxing Day Test or being chosen in the XI for the one-dayer against New Zealand?That’s a toughie, I must admit just being part of the Boxing Day Test was a big thrill. But actually playing for Australia would have to take the cake I think. Yeah, just playing at the MCG and making your debut for Australia was pretty special.You have chosen to wait until you get picked in the Test XI before you are officially presented with your ‘baggy green’. Is that the major driving force in your cricketing life, to get a berth in a test XI for Australia?Just playing for Australia in general is my major driving force. Now that I’ve had a taste of it, I just want it even more than when I was younger. Because it’s just an unbelievable feeling, it’s something that no words could describe.When you were chosen to make your international debut against New Zealand on the January 11, 2002, did you feel like you had finally ‘arrived’ in the game of cricket?Not finally arrived. I saw it as an opportunity to play for Australia which maybe two or three years ago I thought may never happen. And just being there and being given the new ball for Australia, as I say, was an unbelievable experience.Yet following multiple injuries and operations in the 2000/1 season you were on the verge of retiring, weren’t you?I don’t know about the verge of retiring. I was definitely getting frustrated with having so many injuries through my career. But you talk to a lot of people who have represented Australia and played some sort of cricket for Australia and after talking to them it still keeps your motivation going.Mark Taylor never showed any obvious signs of fear during his career, yet rumour has it that the thought of facing you had him scared witless. Rashid Latif who has earned praise the world over for his courage, was renounced for facing up to the fastest bowlers in the game without a helmet. Yet just a few balls from yourself and he was in genuine fear for his life, calling for a helmet, with a grill. Do you feed off the fear, which you can generate as one of the game’s truly frightening bowlers?No, I think you can definitely use it to the best of your advantage and if they’re scared and thinking about how fast you’re bowling then it takes their focus off their batting. So you can definitely use it to your strengths.Do you ever feel sorry for a batsman when you strike him?No, not at all. They’ve got a bat in their hand so if they miss it, or if they don’t get out of the way quick enough, then that’s their problem.As a young bowler, you forced Allan Border to retire hurt for the only time in his first-class career. How were you feeling when you realised that you had broken AB’s arm with one of your thunderbolts?That was an interesting one actually. I don’t know if he didn’t pick it up, or if he thought it was going to bounce more or what, but he just stood there and it hit him in the arm. He didn’t flinch at the time so I didn’t think it had even hurt him. I walked down to fine-leg and then I turned around and he was walking off the ground. Then Dean Jones came up to me at lunch and said, “Did you know that that is the first time Allan Border has retired hurt in his career?” I had no idea and then news got back later in the day that he had a broken arm. But it didn’t stop him from coming back out and batting. So you’ve got to have a bit of respect for a bloke who can come out and do that.Was Allan Border one of your childhood heroes?Yeah, definitely.Your first One-Day International and Steve Waugh asks you to open the bowling ahead of Brett Lee. What did you think of that?I remember sitting in the rooms and I just presumed that I’d be bowling first change behind Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. I remember sitting there and I was just putting my boots on ready to go out onto the ground and Steve said, “Yeah, you’re opening the bowling with Glenn”. I’ve never, ever, been in that situation, where I was relaxed, I was ready to go and then suddenly nerves just hit me and I started shaking and everything. But it was a special feeling I must admit.You seemed to bowl brilliantly in tandem with McGrath. Was it a pre-meditated plan for McGrath to attack from one end whilst you bowled for containment at the other?No not at all. My strength beforehand, to get picked to play for Australia, was my consistency and I believe in one-day cricket your main goal is to go for as least amount of runs as possible and not so much taking wickets. That’s the way I have viewed my oneday cricket over the past three years and I just believe that was my role in that game.You were the most economical bowler in that match by the way. In that match, you opted for control and bowled well within yourself being constantly around the 140kph to 143kph mark and only conceding 31 runs from your 10 overs. How tempted were you to go full throttle and see just how fast you could bowl?No, I wasn’t tempted at all. I was pretty focused in that game. My main goal was to try and keep the runs down and I just stayed focus throughout the whole game. I tried to go for under 35 and I achieved that. So it was my day I suppose.You average over 15 with the bat in first-class cricket, won a one-dayer for WA striking a six with two balls remaining last year, and you were 13 not out for Australia when your thumb was broken. What view do you take of your batting?It needs a lot of improvement. I enjoy my batting. I admire guys like Brett Lee, who give a fair bit out but he handles the bat pretty well and can take anything that gets dished back. It’s a pretty important part of my game and something that I really want to work hard on and improve.It looked as though the broken thumb, courtesy of Shane Bond, may cost you an ACB contract. Has that been something you have thought about over the past few months?Not over the past few months. Obviously when it happened I was extremely disappointed. You get your opportunity to play for Australia and I thought my first game wasn’t too bad and to end up with a broken thumb out of it, it rips your heart out to a degree because I thought my dream had gone. But now I’m focused again, working hard again and once I get back out there, hopefully I can prove it again.You are a similar age, pace and stage of development to Bond. Will you have a few special deliveries of your own lined up for him on your next encounter?Yeah, hopefully I’ll get to bowl to him one day, that would be nice. I wouldn’t mind giving him some of his own medicine back.Only six bowlers in the world have exceeded 150kph over the past couple of years. Do you have designs on being No 7 in the ‘express paceman’s’ club?I wouldn’t say that was a goal of mine but I believe it’s in my ability to achieve it and if it happens, it happens. I mean it’s all about rhythm these days. If I can stay fit enough and if your rhythm’s out there on the day, and if their happens to be a speed gun there, then it’s certainly achievable.As a very young bowler you were clocked at 146kph v NSW. No doubt you’ve far exceeded that speed at times. Do you feel that despite the injuries you are capable of bowling as fast today as you ever have?I believe these days I’ve got the ability to bowl faster at times. I’ve gotten smarter over the last few years and I know that I can’t do it every ball, but as Dennis Lillee would say to me, “It’s not about bowling your fastest ball every ball, it’s a matter of being consistent, being able to produce that quicker one”.What is your fastest spell to date?This year against Queensland, my little mate Ryan Campbell (wicket-keeper) was standing outside the 30-metre circle. It was the quickest I had bowled this year and I wouldn’t have minded seeing a speed gun there that day to see what I was bowling at.In Lee and Jason Gillespie, the Australian cricket team is lucky enough to have two of the fastest bowlers on the planet. You are a ready-made replacement if either of them are injured, but barring that, how do you plan on getting into the Test XI?That’s a tough one. Obviously those two there are quality bowlers and to even put your name alongside them is a great thrill. But, as I’ve said in the past, my main goal three years ago when I moved to Perth was to be more consistent and I still believe that these days, if I can be more consistent then everything else takes care of itself.Do you have any advice for young bowlers who dream of one day being as fast as you?All I can say is that I don’t think it’s all about bowling fast. Rhythm is a main key to bowling fast and as long as you let your body develop, the rest of it takes care of itself. It’s a little bit of natural ability, but if you can get your action right and rhythm’s there then you can still bowl fast.Who is the fastest bowler you have ever seen?Probably Allan Donald in his prime. He was inspirational to watch. When I was young I saw the tail end of Marshall and Garner and those and they were pretty fearful.And yet I read that Paul Reiffel rated yourself in ’97 as faster than Donald.Did he really? Oh, that shocks me. In his prime Donald was quick.

The decision by the Australian Cricket Board to pull out of their scheduledtour of Zimbabwe next month might have plunged the country’s cricketfraternity into turmoil but the Zimbabwe Cricket Union are still hopefulthat the tour will be revived.A visibly dejected ZCU chairman Peter Chingoka told a press conference inHarare on Wednesday that they would try and convince the ACB to reconsidertheir position on Zimbabwe. He ruled out staging the two-Test and threeone-dayer series at a neutral venue.”We received the news with a very heavy heart, but we are also working veryhard to ensure that the tour will take place as originally scheduled. Ourposition is that there is nothing to fear and that there should be noconcerns at all about safety.”We are terribly disappointed with this development and we are workingvigorously for the travel restrictions, which led to this withdrawal, to belifted. The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture and the Sports andRecreation Commission are both being helpful in this matter and we remainhopeful as there is still time enough to restore the tour,” said Chingoka.Chingoka said that there was still enough time to try and persuade theAustralians to change their position. “We still believe that there issufficient time between now and 11 April to try and get a positive review ofthe travel restrictions from the Australians. A decision can be made aslate as possible because the Australian cricket team is currently on tour inSouth Africa, which is just next door. We stand ready to host them asscheduled, the grounds are ready and I’m sure that the hospitableZimbabweans will be very willing to receive them.”Although there had been speculation that the ZCU would approach their SouthAfrican counterparts with a request to move the tour to the neighbouringcountry, this has been shot down. Agreeing to move the tour to South Africawould mean that the ZCU are concurring with the Australians that Zimbabwe isnot safe to host the current world Test and one-day champions.”Moving the tour to South Africa is totally out of question because webelieve that it is extremely safe for the Australians to visit Zimbabwe atthis time. We believe that there is no need to look for a neutral venue.”Australia are expected to play their 2003 World Cup group match againstZimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo but they have not yet made adecision on that match.”We are very confident that there will be no change whatsoever to the WorldCup programme where we will be hosting Australia, England, India, Pakistan,Namibia and Holland. The ACB have limited their focus to the tour, whichwas due next month, and not the World Cup.”Chingoka was not willing or able to reveal the amount of revenue thatZimbabwe stands to lose following the late withdrawal from the tour byAustralia. “It’s quite a substantial amount of money but I can’t reveal theactual figures. It’s a significant amount, which would have gone to lookingafter the national team players, and also we were hoping to use part of theproceeds from the tour to accelerate our development programme.”Our agent had already worked on the tour itself with regard to televisionrights and there is obviously a negative impact if we are not able torestore the tour. There is also a question of our sponsors, team sponsorsand the series sponsors that we have to address, and various organizationsthat had also made commitments for boundary-board advertising and otheractivities. So there is a big impact on us financially.”Zimbabwe had made four overseas tours since their last home series and theZCU had been banking on the Australia series to make up for the expenditureincurred over the past five months. The national team has been to Sharjah,Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India since hosting England in a five-matchone-day series in October last year.There had not been any tour arranged for Zimbabwe between May and Octoberwhen the Pakistani cricket team is expected. Chingoka was pessimistic abouttrying to get a replacement series.”My office is currently looking at trying to come up with an alternativetour but it is with great difficulty. I believe that India will be touringthe West Indies, while Sri Lanka are in a triangular tournament with NewZealand and Pakistan. I am not quite sure with the Bangladeshi commitmentsat the moment but England are definitely out of question. Their owndomestic season is due to start soon and they normally do not like to makechanges to their programme.”

Despite a dressing room riddled with flu and a brave, if unexpected, third wicket partnership between Russel Arnold and Kumar Sangakkara, South Africa seemed to be heading for a second successive victory inside three days at stumps on the second day of the third Castle Lager/MTN Test match at SuperSport Park on Sunday.With this Test match roaring along with much the same pace and fury as had been evident on Saturday, South Africa are so much in command that any result other than comprehensive victory is almost inconceivable.At the close on Sunday night, Sri Lanka were 184 for three in their second innings, having been bowled out for 119 earlier in the day. All this was in response to South Africa’s 378.It may seem, it certainly did seem that some of the puff went out of the South Africans in Sunday’s final session, but it has emerged that several of the side were not feeling at all well on Sunday. Neither manager Goolam Rajah nor coach Graham Ford were at the ground for the second day and at one point or the other Allan Donald, Boeta Dippenaar and Daryll Cullinan were all treated for nausea.A bug has gone around the dressing room, hardly surprisingly considering the close quarters in which the team lives, and it may explain the listless apparent in the late afternoon.It is all the more remarkable, then, that South Africa have so dominated this match. The Sri Lankan first innings was a shambles, closely resembling the capitulation during the first day at Newlands. If anything, it was a worse batting performance because Donald was obviously out of sorts even if he managed to capture two first innings wickets.From the moment that Marvan Atapattu was needlessly run out for 3, Sri Lanka contrived to keep on handing the initiative to the home team. Sanath Jayasuriya committed a schoolboy’s error when he top-edged Donald to third man, Sangakkara played on off a cross-bat defensive stroke and perhaps only Aravinda de Silva, quite brilliantly caught at point by Herschelle Gibbs, could count himself unfortunate out of the top order.Shaun Pollock couldn’t take a wicket after his maiden century on the first day and Donald was struggling, but Makhaya Ntini took four for 39 either side to underline the huge strides he has taken as an international bowler this season.And with Justin Kemp taking two maiden Test wickets, Sri Lanka lasted less than 37 overs in the first innings.The follow on was the obvious next step and although Pollock managed to break through with Atapattu’s wicket while Jacques Kallis got rid of Mahela Jayawardene at 43 for two, Sri Lanka finally managed to summon up some resistance.Donald had two dreadful overs that cost him 21 as Arnold slapped him all over the place and the Sri Lankan third wicket pair added113 in 106 minutes to check the South African steamroller.Throughout Pollock attacked, deigning the use of a third man which accounted for probably half the runs scored by the Sri Lankans and it was the spinner Nicky Boje who finally broke through, Arnold top-edging a sweep to be caught at slip for 71.It was a handy innings and demonstrated again that he is a doughty fighter and with Sangakkara ending the day unbeaten 64, Sri Lanka weren’t quite as embarrassed at the close as they might have been.There is still some batting to come. Jayasuriya has held himself back in the second innings and has yet to come to the crease. There was speculation that the flu bug might have crossed the glass barrier that separates the two dressing rooms but a more likely explanation is that he has played so poorly that he decided to see if someone else could do better.De Silva has also only just arrived at the crease, but the Sri Lankans have a long tail and if the wicket juices up overnight – as it did on Saturday night – the tourists could crumble quickly. Put it this way, a number of golf matches have already been arranged for Tuesday’s fourth day.

Sri Lanka’s leading cricketers snubbed the Premier League last weekend when they preferred to participate in the Mercantile Cricket Sixes, which was won by a powerful Hatton National Bank side, rather than play in the crucial second stage of the Premier League Trophy.Approximately 25-players refused to play for their clubs, upsetting some teammates who were forced to play in depleted teams. The Sinhalese Sports Club and the Tamil Union were particularly badly hit, losing over half of their team. Both sides were defeated.The players have a particular strong allegiance to their Mercantile teams, who double up as their employers during the week and provide crucial monetary support in the amateur club game, and their reluctance to forfeit the popular weekend spectacle for the hastily rearranged Premier League matches was therefore understandable.The incident does, however, raise the question of just how important the Premier League is perceived to be by those who play it. If Sri Lanka’s best cricketers feel they can miss a potentially crucial three-day game for a jolly six-a-side tournament, then all is surely not well with the cradle of Sri Lanka’s cricket.Hatton National Bank emerged as winners in the tournament, largely thanks to the swashbuckling batting of Avishka Gunawardene, who plays his club cricket for SSC. He scored 44 runs in the final against John Keels and was awarded the Best Batsmen award, the Player of the Final award, and an award for hitting the most sixes in the tournament.

Manicaland moved closer to their first Logan Cup victory of the season at Mutare Sports Club yesterday by forcing Matabeleland to follow on 330 runs behind. With another first session lost to bad weather yesterday time will become a big factor in deciding Matabeleland’s survival or Manicaland’s victory. Needing a further 283 to make Manicaland bat again, Matabeleland need to bat three sessions to safety. Openers Siziba (31 n/o) and Walker (11 n/o) made a good start by seeing off 23 overs before bad light stopped play for a third day running.Resuming their first innings score on the overnight 142 for three, Matabeleand lasted just 38 overs to finish on 244 all out off 70 overs. Only Strydom (72) offered worthwhile resistance and he remained positive throughout. This wish to dominate noticeable in all the Matabeleland batsmen may be the key to Manicaland’s chances of success on the last day. The pitch is unlikely to change significantly so it will be up to Manicalands bowlers to tempt and provoke indiscretion from the Matabeles. Paul Strang is the most likely to succeed in this tactic, having already lured Mbangwa to a swift stumping in the first innings. His repetitive forearm-stress-fracture forces him to bowl loopy leg-spinners these days and in some grades of cricket this is enough. Although this match has been designated first-class status, a lot of Matabeleland’s batting looks sub-second league class.It is likely that Alistair Campbell and Ian Coulson will be used for long periods during the day with Kingsley Went as an additional off-spinning option. Strang left the field late yesterday to seek physiotherapy treatment so his fitness is in question. The other three have had little impact on the game so far so will be fresh to answer their captain’s callings. ‘Jumbo’ King looked good for his 43 in the first innings, and with Siziba and Strydom showing good touch Matabeleland might just frustrate the home side.