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Test batting looks too easy when Michael Hussey is doing it. While Phil Jaques set the base on another rampaging day for Australia, Hussey constructed the walls during a thrilling race to his century, which he achieved with four balls remaining in the day.As the Sri Lanka attack tired, Hussey took charge and smacked 81 in the final session as Australia finished at 3 for 329. He started to sprint once Jaques fell for 150, but it was only with four overs to go that reaching three figures became a possibility.”I didn’t think I was going to get there,” he said. “I was 82 and didn’t think I was a chance. When I hit two fours off Lasith Malinga I thought maybe I’m a silly chance. It was probably only in the last two overs I thought about it.”A couple of boundaries from Farveez Maharoof moved him to 96 and meant he could reach the target as long as he remained in control and was given the strike by Michael Clarke. There were a couple of nervous moments as he tried to force the pace, but he eased the stress of a night in the nineties with a crisp pull and finished on 101 not out.”I’d be lying if I said it didn’t worry me,” Hussey said. “The crowd was geeing me up and clapping each ball. I was trying to put it out of my mind, but was keen to get there. The pitch was so good, I was in and I felt pretty good. Maybe I took a couple of unnecessary risks at the end, but I was delighted to get through.”A pull was a suitable shot for the milestone as he had taken advantage of the short bowling throughout the innings. He struck 15 fours, including a string of crisp cover drives, during his 173-ball stay and it was his seventh century in 18 matches. The incredible record includes a live average of 87.19.”I’ve convinced myself it’s going to come down at some stage, but I’m happy to keep it like this for as long as possible,” he said. “I just want to enjoy it while it’s lasting and keep a level keel, not get too excited when things are going well, or too low when they’re not going well.”Hussey’s back-to-back centuries were matched by Phil Jaques and his former mentor Trevor Bayliss is finding him impossible to tame. “As his coach over the past ten years, especially the last three in first-class cricket, he gave me a few heart flutters and the opposition a few chances,” Bayliss said. “In the last two innings he’s still giving me heart flutters even though he’s in the opposition.”He’s been a lot more selective in the way he’s played in the last two matches, cutting out the riskier shots and making it a difficult package to get out. He fully deserves his success.”Jaques felt more relaxed after getting through a tough first hour, when the Sri Lankans “bowled a couple of balls that I wouldn’t have hit in a hundred years”. “I wanted to back myself and show a bit more intent,” he said. “I could express myself better and it worked out pretty good.”After posting 100 in Brisbane, he continued his liking for neat scores. “I really wanted to make a big hundred today and really cash in,” he said. Was 150 enough? “It’s never enough. I have to learn from it and cash in next time.”

Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary

A good day for Bangladesh became even better towards the close as they tightened the noose around Zimbabwe by taking four wickets, to leave them struggling to save the follow-on. The key man today was Mohammad Rafique, who followed an aggressive 69 with two cheap wickets when Zimbabwe went in after tea.It’s an unprecedented situation for Bangladesh, who have not won any of their previous 34 Test matches. At Chittagong they are emphatically in charge, against an admittedly modest Zimbabwe side, after making their highest Test total of 488. Zimbabwe require another 205 just to make Bangladesh bat again, and that will be a daunting prospect if Rafique settles into the same groove with his left-arm spin that he found in the final session today.He came on at first change after Mashrafe Mortaza had gone for a few runs, trying to blast out the batsmen with some short stuff. And Rafique needed just a couple of overs to weave his magic, when Vusi Sibanda made the fatal error of staying back to one that pitched in line, and was leg-before (48 for 2).Rafique then removed the 18-year-old Graeme Cremer, who was rather unwisely sent in as nightwatchman as the shadows lengthened. The unfortunate Cremer had no clue about his third ball, which was a little fuller and trapped him in front for a debut duck (59 for 4).Before that Tapash Baisya had made the first breakthrough. Stuart Matsikenyeri had made a pugnacious start, taking the attack to the new-ball bowlers despite being rattled on the helmet by a Mortaza bouncer. There were some feisty back-foot strokes, against Mortaza in particular, and then he square-cut Tapash for four to reach 28, from 29 deliveries. But the next ball drew Matsikenyeri forward, and the resultant edge flew low to first slip where Habibul Bashar held on to it in his fingertips (31 for 1).The other opener, Barney Rogers, took 28 balls to get off the mark on his debut, but was then out in unfortunate circumstances. A powerful drive by Hamilton Masakadza ricocheted off Enamul Haque’s hand onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Rogers, who was backing up, short of his crease (59 for 3).Masakadza, who was playing his first Test for three years, had reached a well-organised 28 not out by stumps, but it will be a case of pressure, pressure and more pressure on the third day as Bangladesh try to get closer to their dream of a Test victory.Earlier it had been Rafique and Mortaza with the bat who had tamed the Zimbabwean bowlers. By tea, the Tigers had gone way past their previous highest Test total of 416, which they made against West Indies in St Lucia last year. More importantly, they had made their runs quickly in a session that produced 134 from 28 overs – the pre-lunch session had produced only 68. In that time Bangladesh lost Aftab Ahmed, without adding to his overnight score, and Rajin Saleh for 89 – he gave a return catch to Matsikenyeri after a stand of 58 with Mashud (341 for 6).Rafique made his intentions clear in the first over after lunch, smashing a four off Elton Chigumbura, and then pulling the offspinner Matsikenyeri for a massive six over widish long-on. And then, amid a pulsating beat of drums from the crowd, Rafique dismissed Douglas Hondo for a straight six to bring up Bangladesh’s 400. Rafique was now fully in his stride, but at the other end Khaled Mashud was finding it difficult to come to terms with the legspin of Cremer, who was not introduced until the 42nd over of the day. It was no great surprise that Cremer eventually claimed his first Test wicket when Mashud pushed at one, and was caught at slip one short of a deserved half-century (410 for 7). That ended a 69-run stand that had kept Bangladesh on top after the loss of Aftab Ahmed in the third over of the day.But there was no respite for Zimbabwe as Mortaza joined Rafique, and scored a quickfire 48, from only 44 balls and containing eight fours and a six. Matsikenyeri and Cremer were treated with disdain. Rafique motored to his half-century with his fourth six, to post the fifty partnership for the eighth wicket from just 49 balls. But finally Rafique, who also hit six fours, edged the gangling Chris Mpofu through to Tatenda Taibu (472 for 8). Mortaza pulled and drove a flurry of boundaries before he was the last man out just short of a maiden Test fifty. He was helped along the way by dropped catches by Hondo and Sibanda.The pitch hasn’t changed dramatically in character, although there are some cracks opening up. With the spinners Rafique and Enamul exploiting the odd trick or two in the track, Zimbabwe will have their work cut out tomorrow.

Most people react to being dropped from a side with a shrug and a few muttered oaths. But Lance Klusener has not taken the news of his omission from South Africa’s touring side quite so philosophically – he is planning to sue the South African board for loss of earnings.Klusener’s argument is that he turned down offers of work with English counties after being assured that he would be included in the squad. He claims that he was told that he would be rested for the tour to Bangladesh, but would return for the England trip.”It’s like your boss calling you on a Saturday night and saying, ‘Sorry, old chap, but you don’t have to come to work on Monday. You’re fired. How would you feel if it happened to you?" Klusener told the South African-based You magazine. "Wouldn’t you also be disappointed? Some people may think it’s sour grapes, but that’s not true at all.”It was a shock and a disappointment,” Klusener admitted. “I was here at home and immediately went to tell my wife. England would have been a highlight for me. I wanted to play at Lord’s again. I played for South Africa with pride for eight years. I gave my all."And Klusener dismissed accusations made by Graeme Smith, South Africa’s captain, that the side was better off without him as he was not a team player. “I’m a private person,” Klusener explained. “I hate being around lots of people. It saps my energy. Now people are saying I’m a miserable sod. Why is it if you don’t want to be part of the crowd you’re always seen as different?”While Smith has told reporters that he regrets making the comments, Klusener said that he had yet to receive an apology in person. “Maybe he doesn’t have my number. The whole thing between Graeme and I is a shame. I read what he said in the papers and I still don’t know exactly what he meant."Klusener’s decision to take legal action is unlikely to endear him to the selectors and whatever the outcome of the court case, if it goes ahead, he will only gain financially if he wins. It is inconceivable that any court could force an organisation to pick a player, especially one whose record of late has hardly been outstanding.

A review of Cricket Australia’s anti-drug policy that is underway may, in future, prevent the type of controversial ruling that has allowed Shane Warne to play charity and testimonial matches while serving a ban for drug use.Peter Young, Cricket Australia’s (CA) general manager of public affairs, told Wisden CricInfo that CA’s anti-drug policy, which was based on that of the Australian Sports Commission, was under annual review. Young didn’t indicate how long it would take for any possible changes to be put in place, but stressed that the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) would be consulted, as they were a significant stakeholder in the game.The loopholes in the policy came into sharp focus after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) strongly condemned the arbitration ruling which permitted Warne to train with St Kilda club, Victoria and even Australia, during his one-year ban. David Howman, chief executive of WADA, believed the wrong clause in CA’s anti-drug policy may have caused the problem. He said that the arbitration decision clearly stated that Cricket Australia (CA) did have the power to enforce a ban, but the clause which it invoked – and which was in turn contested by the ACA – wasn’t the one which allowed it to prevent Warne from playing.”It [the CA] has full, unfettered jurisdiction under clause 12.4 (b) of the memorandum of understanding which states: ‘Nothing in paragraph (a) above prevents the ACB from refusing to approve a player’s request to play in a particular match or from imposing additional conditions upon its approval for a player to play in a particular match.”The WADA’s view was criticised by Tim May, chief executive of the ACA. He said that Howman didn’t appear to understand the principles behind the decision. “The arbitration was not about Shane Warne, it was about whether or not CA has the ability under its anti-doping policy to extend a ban to testimonial and bona fide charity matches. It has been proven – it does not.”Whether the ACA, CA, WADA or the man in the street thinks that a cricketer found guilty of a breach of the anti-doping policy should or shouldn’t be allowed to play in charity matches becomes irrelevant. Governing bodies can only penalise players according to the rules and agreements that exist at that time – penalties cannot be based upon the wishes and demands of people supporting some alternate policy or alternate view.”May stated that the ACA supported WADA’s charter to rid the world of drugs in sport, but at the same time it supported the adherence to pre-existing agreements made between two or more parties.Howman, meanwhile, said that while May might be doing his best for the cricketers, he needed to see the issue from an international perspective in the battle against drug use. He added that CA and the ICC needed to fall in line with the mainstream world of sports and sign up to the world anti-doping charter.

Australia 401 and 375 beat Sri Lanka 407 and 248 (Jayasuriya 51, Samaraweera 53, Warne 4-92) by 121 runs, and won series 3-0
Scorecard

Sri Lanka stopped Shane Warne from overhauling Courtney Walsh’s 519-wicket world record – but could not prevent Australia from inflicting their first series whitewash on home soil with a 121-run victory at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Warne played his part, snapping up four wickets in the final session, as Sri Lanka came within eight balls of saving the game before they were finally bowled out for 248.During the afternoon, the band played, Warne toiled, and the threat of SriLanka’s first home whitewash seemed to be fading as Thilan Samaraweera and Mahela Jayawardene battened down the hatches after lunch, and added 64 in 160 balls for the third wicket.Warne had failed to make any headway despite the dusty dry pitch, and Australia’s seamers were also beginning to show signs of tiredness after an exhausting tour, although Michael Kasprowicz was still gunbarrel-straight and Jason Gillespie occasionally conjured up some real devil from the placid surface.But as tea approached, Darren Lehmann – the Man of the Match after 153 in the first innings and five wickets in the game – reclaimed the initiative for Australia with the wickets of Samaraweera and Jayawardene. At 186 for 4, the Sri Lankans sipped their tea nervously.Samaraweera, pushed up to No. 3, had bedded down on his favourite home pitch (he has scored all three of his Test tons here) and looked set for a long stay as he passed 50 again. But then he was drawn down the pitch and stumped (156 for 3). Then Jayawardene, who had batted so well and watchfully for his 97-ball 37, was given out caught behind off Lehmann, although the TV replays showed the ball had only brushed his pad (181 for 4).After tea, Warne finally claimed his first wicket of the innings as KumarSangakkara – who was shifted down toNo. 5 after Samaraweera’s promotion – patted a legbreak defensively which then spun between his legs onto the stumps. He made 27 (191 for 5).

Hashan Tillakaratne and Tillakaratne Dilshan held Australia’s bowlers at bay for nearly an hour. Tillakaratne blocked each delivery, while Dilshan played his natural free-spirited game, hitting five fours and speeding to 31 from 44 balls. But Dilshan’s aggressive approach eventually proved his downfall, as he miscued an attempted inside-out drive over cover and was caught at mid-off (232 for 6). The breakthrough opened up Sri Lanka’s lower order – and, crucially, the new ball was just moments away.Tillakaratne’s last innings as captain ended shortly after the start of thefinal hour when he was trapped in front by Jason Gillespie, who was hunting for his 200th wicket with a shiny new ball. Warne returned to the attack to snare Nuwan Zoysa four overs later.Chaminda Vaas resisted for 74 minutes for his 9, eschewing thedaring approach that had cost Sri Lanka dearly in the second Test at Kandy, but was finally trapped lbw by Warne in the 13th over of the final hour. Next over, the penultimate of the series, Kasprowicz pinned Rangana Herath leg-before for a duck, to seal Australia’s victory.Sri Lanka’s morning had started brightly, with Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu extending their opening partnership to 45. Jayasuriya cut a couple of early boundaries and Atapattu drove crisply straight down the ground. Kasprowicz was denied Jayasuriya’s wicket on 28 when Adam Gilchrist floored a difficult one-handed chance.But Kasprowicz was not to be deprived for long, as Atapattu’s off stump was sent cartwheeling by an offcutter, a carbon copy of his first-innings dismissal. He made 14 (45 for 1). It was the sixth time in 11 innings during this tour that Atapattu’s stumps had been rattled, a worrying statistic for an opening batsman.Jayasuriya’s 131 at Kandy was an electric innings, a knock that carried SriLanka to the brink of a famous win, but today’s was more sedate. There was the odd signature rifle-cracking boundary through the off side, an area the Australians protected with a deep point, but he stopped short of an all-out assault.Nevertheless, Sri Lanka were scoring at a good rate, and local dreamers might have started to ponder a remarkable victory. But an umpiring blunder quashed those hopes when Jayasuriya was given out caught at backward short leg off Lehmann’s first delivery of the morning. Like Jayawardene’s dismissal later on, the ball appeared only to brush the pad.It was that sort of day for Sri Lanka. And the news didn’t get any better after the match, when it was revealed that Chris Broad, the match referee, was reporting Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling action to the ICC. Broad, it seems, has reservations about Murali’s newish doosra delivery.

As England wrapped up a 4-0 series whitewash with victory in the fourth Test at The Oval, the British press looked forward to one thing: The Ashes. Second to that was Brian Lara’s dilemma. He has probably played his last Test in England, but has he also played his last as West Indies’ captain?The Mail on Sunday‘s headline said it all: “Glorious England cry – Now bring on the Aussies.” Underneath that, Peter Hayter let England’s statistics speak for themselves. “Eight England batsmen have contributed 16 centuries this year – Trescothick, Vaughan and Graham Thorpe three each, Andrew Strauss and Andy Flintoff two apiece, and one each for Nasser Hussain, Geraint Jones and Robert Key.”England’s bowlers have taken 20 West Indies and New Zealand wickets all but once in 11 matches, and while Steve Harmison dominated proceedings with 53 wickets, three more of his colleagues have collected more than 30 – Matthew Hoggard, Flintoff and Ashley Giles.”For Hayter, Lara’s emotional farewell was just a detail: “For, by the time Vaughan and his men began their slow lap of honour around the ground, those who have suffered Ashes humiliation for so long were well into their thoughts of what may be to come. After all, if Richie Benaud believes England have ‘a very good chance’ and bookmakers William Hill have slashed the odds on their winning to 7-2 from the 9-1 they offered prior to the 2002 trip Down Under, they may be on to something at last. The rest, as they say, may be historic.””Nobody will know until this time next year exactly how close England have come to Australia,” said Scyld Berry in the Sunday Telegraph, “but for a certainty Vaughan’s men are closing the gap rapidly on Ricky Ponting’s. In the eight previous Ashes series Australia held all the aces, but now England at long last have three of their own.”And those three aces are: Steve Harmison, who, “if not better than Jason Gillespie, is fitter and more likely to last five Tests in as many weeks,” Andrew Flintoff “with his three-dimensional skills (even Adam Gilchrist has only two)”, and finally England’s team spirit, “which includes their support staff, which Australia’s does not. Above all it has been Fletcher’s reading of human character – his elimination of the weak or egotistic – which has created an environment highly conducive to individual growth (eg Matthew Hoggard – strokeplayer!)”As for Brian Lara, “This must be the end of his captaincy,” said Berry. “He has gone on far too long as it is – once England had gone 3-0 up in Barbados that was the time for him to resign. His diplomacy and statesmanship in public disguise his lack of those skills in the dressing-room, his failure to motivate players who manifestly do not want to play for him. The causes of West Indies’ decline are numerous and complicated, but at one single stroke they can begin the long haul back. Lara’s genius as a batsman is as undeniable as his inability to lead.””Nobody was quite sure whether Lara planned to return in four years’ time,” said Mike Atherton, also in the Sunday Telegraph, “but his valedictory wave to the crowd suggested he has made up his mind. This great player has played his last Test innings in England, and the Oval crowd warmly acknowledged the fact.”Athers continued, “Deep down, he must also know that he has captained the West Indies for the last time in a Test match. It is a sad thing to say, because he is a likeable man and, by common consent, he has buckled down better than when he took the job for the first time from Courtney Walsh. He has also had the great misfortune to be captaining the West Indies at their lowest ebb. Captain Ahab couldn’t stop this ship from sinking.”But its not all doom and gloom. “The talent is there,” Atherton concluded. “With commitment, dedication and, if the common good can rise above island insularity, West Indies cricket can rise again. It will not be easy, and it is not Lara’s destiny to be the man to do it.””By winning seven consecutive Test matches,” wrote Stephen Brenkley in the Independent on Sunday, “Michael Vaughan’s men have assembled a run – yes, one that deserves only to be called magnificent – that has eluded every England team for 76 years. In a sequence spanning the home summer of 1928 (also against a raw West Indies side, playing Tests for the first time) and the first four matches of the following winter against Australia (containing a raw Don Bradman playing his first Tests) the team led by Percy Chapman won seven in a row.”But human nature and human desire being what they are, everybody’s hearts and minds are already jumping forward to next summer and indeed to what may happen at The Oval next year. This young, assured England team, comfortable in each other’s company, would receive more than a roar if they were to take Australia to the wire and beat them to it.”Elsewhere in the IoS, Tony Cozier admits that the rebuilding of West Indian cricket “is a monumental task that involves all aspects of the game, mental, technical, physical, attitudinal, and that has to deal with the pettiness of insular politics that is peculiar to West Indies.”But there is some hope for the future. “There are not many 20-year-olds who could have made such an impression as Dwayne Bravo on debut in a losing team,” said Cozier. “Fidel Edwards and Tino Best possess pure pace. The two Smiths, Devon and Dwayne, already have Test hundreds against quality opposition to their names.” Cozier concludes that the change in the attitude of the team “will not come overnight, yet it should end the era of mediocrity that has left West Indies cricket in such a state of depression. But everyone has to buy into the change to make it a success.”

Australia hold the advantage going into the second Test against Pakistan, which starts on Friday at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium. In the end, Australian experience may count against a young Pakistan side that is still getting its act together. The decision by Wasim Akram and Saeed Anwar to rest and play two exhibition games in the UK has clearly weakened the Pakistan team.When it comes to experience, no one in contemporary cricket has played more Test matches than the Aussie skipper Stephen Rodger Waugh. Tomorrow will mark his 150th Test appearance, second only to Allan Border’s 156 in all-time Test records. Together, the Waugh twins have played 270 Test matches and scored 14,635 runs, including 47 hundreds. Steve Waugh has 104 Test catches and Mark holds the world record number of catches with a whopping 176. Though in the twilight of their careers, the Waugh twins could have a crucial role to play in the second Test.This “home series” is being hosted at neutral venues due to security concerns which prompted Australia to refuse to tour Pakistan. The remaining two Tests are to be played in the emirate of Sharjah in UAE. In the first Test at Colombo, the inexperienced Pakistan team showed a lot of resilience to bounce back, making the all-conquering Aussies sweat it out for a 41-run win. One over from Shoaib Akthar in the Australian second innings changed the scheme of things; he dismissed Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh in four balls.Pakistan will hope for a performance of similar fire from the “Rawalpindi Express”, and for Waqar Younis to fire on all cylinders. “I’m at my best. I am running fast, and the rhythm and flow is there,” Shoaib said yesterday. “I feel very strong in the legs. I’m always keen to do well against Australia. They are the best batting side in the world, and it gives me a lot of motivation to destroy this line-up.”Sharjah has provided many golden moments to Pakistani cricket. Javed Miandad’s last-ball six to clinch an unbelievable victory over India in a limited-over game should still motivate young players in the current team. Pakistan have played two Tests at Sharjah, while this is Australia’s first.Given the nature of the pitch, spinners will have a crucial role to play. Shane Warne and Saqlain Mushtaq have already shown that they are in prime form, and Australia might give young off-spinner Nathan Hauritz his first Test cap. Jason Gillespie has pulled out of the series with a calf injury. If Australia decide to go in with just one spinner his place will go either to Andy Bichel or Brad Williams.Australia may even drop one of their batsmen, which would probably be Mark Waugh. “Playing five bowlers in a Test match like this when it’s going to be hard work for the bowlers in a lot of heat – that’s one option that’s been talked about,” Steve Waugh said. But Australia might not want to leave out their best batsman of spin.Pakistan will take heart from the performance of their new young opener Taufeeq Umar and the middle-order batsman Faisal Iqbal, both of whom impressed in the first Test. But with the injured Inzamam-ul-Haq still missing, the Aussie attack might prove a handful as it proved in the first Test.This is going to be a battle royal. All eyes will be on Shoaib Akhtar, but Australia will no doubt come out fighting. The counter-attack might come in the form of Matthew Hayden, who has a proven record over the last couple of years. Australia will also take comfort in the good form of Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting, who top-scored with 141 in the first Test. Their bowling will rely heavily on Glenn McGrath’s ability to strike early, but the real edge will be provided by Shane Warne, who has considerable success against Pakistan. Warne has picked up 60 wickets in 10 Test matches against them, and took 11/188 in the first Test of this series.Teams (from):Australia: Steve Waugh (captain), Justin Langer, Matt Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel, Nathan Hauritz, Glenn McGrath, Brad Williams.Pakistan: Waqar Younis (captain), Taufeeq Umar, Imran Nazir, Abdur Razzaq, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Rashid Latif, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami.

Stats Guru: Croft’s Test career
Stats Guru: Croft’s ODI career
England offspinner Robert Croft has announced his retirement from international cricket.”I’ve come to the conclusion that I will no longer offer myself for selection for any future England Test or one-day side,” he said. “In making this decision I was conscious that I’ve had a challenging and full career with England both at Test and one-day level of which I am extremely proud.””It’s been a great honour and privilege to represent England as much as I have and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I would also like to thank my fellow players for all their help and huge contribution to my career over the years.”Croft made his debut for England against Pakistan in 1996, but struggled to hold down a regular place in the England side. In 21 Tests he took 49 wickets at 37.24, but no great turner of the ball, he was more effective overseas. In nine Tests abroad he took 35 wickets at 24.65, compared with 14 at 68.71 at home.His best performances for England were in Sri Lanka three years ago when his nine wickets and useful contributions with the bat helped England come back from behind to win the series 2-1. But after what turned out to be his final Test appearance, against Australia in 2001, he refused to tour India in 2001-02 because of security concerns and he was always on the periphery thereafter. He was picked for the Sri Lanka tour this winter, but he remained on the sidelines for all three Tests as England persevered with Ashley Giles and Gareth Batty.In one-day cricket, Croft was a useful utility player, taking 45 wickets in 50 matches, the last against Australia in 2001.Croft, 33, now intends to concentrate on Glamorgan, and said that he has “another four or five seasons” in him. “As captain of Glamorgan I intend to concentrate my efforts to further develop our success and to be consistently competitive in the four-day championship and one-day competitions.”Those efforts will involve not only actions on the field but also the further nurturing of our young Academy players and the development of many exciting plans for the future of Glamorgan.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said that it will not force its players to play in the Afro-Asia Cup to be held in South Africa in August. It has said that the cricketers could decide whether they wished to play in the series comprising three one-day internationals between Asia XI and Africa XI .”No player would be pressed to play the matches which have been given official status by the International Cricket Council (ICC). We’ll ask them [players] if they want to make themselves available, but if any player wants to skip the event it’s all right with us,” said a senior PCB official quoted in Apart from Shoaib Akthar, Younis Khan and Danish Kaneria, who are playing for English counties, none of the other Pakistan cricketers have any cricket commitments until October when England is scheduled to tour Pakistan.Saleem Altaf, PCB Director Cricket Operations, said that the Asia XI selection committee would meet in Dubai on August 1 to select the squad. “Majid Khan [Pakistan], Ravi Shastri [India]. Graeme Labrooy [Sri Lanka] and Shafiq-ul-Islam [Bangladesh] will meet to finalise the Asian XI squad,” said Altaf. “But before that we’ve to inform them about the number of players available for selection.” He also said that he hoped that the best players would be available to play.The first game of the Afro-Asian Cup, which has been given official status by the ICC, will be held at Cape Town on August 17. The proceeds from the tournament will go to the Asian and African cricket associations and also to the recently-formed Afro-Asian Cricket Council.

Zimbabwe lost another of their experienced players today with a statement from Craig Wishart that he was retiring from the game.Wishart, 31, recently turned down one of the new – and contentious – contracts offered by Zimbabwe Cricket and this is thought to have prompted his decision. He said that “stress from the problems in local cricket” was behind his announcement.Wishart played 27 Tests and 23 ODIs for Zimbabwe, averaging 22.40 and 23.22. His unbeaten 172 against Namibia in Harare was the highest individual score in the 2003 World Cup.”It’s a hard decision, but I can safely confirm that I have retired from all forms of cricket.” Wishart said. “Yes, I was offered a contract but I was not happy with it, and to be honest, I was just tired of Zimbabwe cricket, the fighting, and everything.”I think we are under a lot of pressure. If we do not sort out things now we might destroy everything that we have built and there will be no cricket for youngsters in the future for coming through the system.”Trevor Gripper, one of the senior Zimbabwe players now on the sidelines of international cricket, said he will be playing club cricket but added he did not believe he will ever be selected for Zimbabwe again despite insistence by the board that non-contracted players can be picked. Gripper plays for national league side Old Georgians Sports Club in Harare. Zimbabwe’s provincial club cricketbegins on Sunday.”I will play for my club when work allows”, said Gripper, who has just retuned from a honeymoon after his marriage last month. “But on the national team, we have to stop dreaming. These guys have never done what they say they will do. We are told that if you score runs and take wickets you’ll get selected, but I doubt if that is going to happen.”I am happy to play club cricket, and I’m willing to offer my advice if anyone wants it, and help out the youngsters at the club. But the reality of the situation is that club cricket is in a terrible state. First-class is a joke. Standards have gone down. Honestly, where in Zimbabwe can we get players for five first-class sides? If we can’t do that then that won’t be first-class cricket.”ZC have added a fifth first-class side in Masvingo province, but in a plan to incorporate the province into Zimbabwe’s first-class competition, the Logan Cup, has not yet been announced.The statements by Wishart and Gripper further undermine attempts by the Zimbabwe board to show the world that the situation in the country is on the mend. Earlier in the month, the national players issued a statement condemning the behaviour of the board, and immediately after the board’s AGM was held in near farcical conditions with journalists barred and stakeholders prevented from quizzing senior officials.