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Adam Gilchrist is being rested for Australia’s next two matches in the one-day VB Series. His place will be taken by the New South Wales wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.The selectors decided to leave Gilchrist out of the matches against Pakistan at Sydney on Sunday (Jan 23) and West Indies at Adelaide on Wednesday.Trevor Hohns, the chairman of selectors, explained: “Upon selecting the squad for this series, we said that certain players would be rested from time to time. That was the reason we opted for a larger squad. Matthew Hayden and Glenn McGrath have had short spells so far in this series, and we felt that it was in Adam’s best interests to have some time out prior to the end of the VB Series and the tour of New Zealand. Brad Haddin has been in very good form so far this season and deserves this opportunity.”Glenn McGrath, who missed today’s match against West Indies at Brisbane, rejoins the squad for Sunday’s match at the SCG.

The legspinner, Stuart MacGill, has emerged as a contender for Australia’s make-or-break fifth Test at The Oval next week, as their coach, John Buchanan, sized up the options available to his team. Australia need a victory to secure a 2-2 share of the series and retain the Ashes for the ninth series in a row.MacGill, 34, has taken 160 wickets in 33 Tests since making his debut in 1998, but the pre-eminence of Shane Warne has restricted him to a walk-on role in the Australian squad. Nevertheless, against England, MacGill has a remarkable tally of 39 wickets in just six Tests, and he could be called upon to replace the ineffectual Michael Kasprowicz, and shore up an attack that has relied too heavily on Shane Warne and Brett Lee.”The Oval historically provides bounce and it provides turn,” Buchanan told AFP. “That aids both pace bowlers who hit the deck and spin bowlers because they actually get bounce with some turn. Therefore, I am sure [chairman of selectors] Trevor Hohns would say, Stuart MacGill is very much in the equation.”Buchanan would not be drawn on any other possible changes, which might include the replacing of Matthew Hayden at the top of the order. Until recently, Hayden was ranked as the No. 1 batsman in the world with an average in excess of 58, but he has failed to pass 70 in his last 30 innings, and has been badly found out by England’s pace attack this summer.Buchanan himself is under some pressure as well. His contract as national coach comes up for renewal in October, and though he wishes to carry on in a role he has held since 1999, the prospect of Ashes defeat will not please his employers, Cricket Australia, who might want to consider a change of direction.”I’m not even thinking about that, it’s not a factor,” Buchanan told AFP, as Australia prepared for their two-day warm-up match against Essex, which starts on Saturday. “My consideration is to simply try and make sure we go into this game in the best possible shape and give ourselves the best possible chance to win it.”The match against Essex is Australia’s last chance for practice ahead of next week’s climatic fifth Test, and Buchanan could not help but acknowledge the possibility of the unthinkable. “If we don’t win it well then obviously there are other decisions to be made after that,” he conceded. “But that’s not an issue for me at the moment. We’ll finish this, and then we’ll sit down with Cricket Australia (CA) and work through that process.”

Reports that Stephen Mangongo, the former head of Zimbabwe’s selectors, had been suspended from Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) were confirmed in the weekend’s newspaper in Harare.Mangongo, along with Givemore Makoni, the general manger of Mashonaland Cricket Association (MCA), were suspended for unspecified reasons, although it is thought that it relates to the recent move by the MCA to bring a vote of no confidence against the ZC board.The unrest against the board surfaced last week, and it is believed that senior MCA officials want to take their case to the ICC. The official meeting to discuss the vote of no confidence is due to take place on Wednesday (December 22).But Peter Chingoka, ZC’s chairman, sought to turn the tables on the dissenters, claiming that the MCA’s move was no more than a bid to cover up an investigation into the conduct of some officials, including Mangongo, at the Takashinga club.A local reporter told Cricinfo that the news of Mangongo’s suspension was not surprising. "They are out to fix him," he said, pointing out that his position and influence within the board had been weakening steadily in recent months. He was replaced as head of selectors at the AGM in August, when it was stated that he would be in India on a coaching course for most of the year, but he has remained in Zimbabwe. "That was a way of getting rid of him," the source added, "and it succeeded."There are also reports – unsubstantiated – that was an attempt to remove Max Ebrahim, the current head of selectors, as chairman of Masvingo.

ScorecardVictoria virtually ensured their hold on the Pura Cup, as Queensland ended the fourth day of the final on 2 for 56, needing a further 520 on the last day. Earlier, Victoria declared their second innings at 1 for 140, after bowling out Queensland for 275 in their first innings.Full report follows …

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Powered by some lusty hitting by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina, Rajasthan Cricket Association President’s XI chased down the 297-run target in the last over. All the Indian batsmen, except Mohammad Kaif, had a useful outing. As for the bowlers, however, only Munaf Patel and Harbhajan Singh came away with their honours intact. Interestingly, none of the Rajasthan batsmen were given a chance to bat.In a game where the focus was clearly to get some practice – Dhoni and Kaif batted for both teams, Raina batted and bowled in the same innings, and India XI only had one regular bowler in RP Singh – the three chief disappointments were Irfan Pathan, Kaif and RP Singh. While Pathan bled 83 runs, Kaif, despite getting two chances to bat, totalled all of eight runs and RP Singh was carted for 83 in 8.5 overs.If Pathan went into the match hoping to salvage his reputation as a strike bowler, he was to be disappointed. Maybe, even shattered, as he was destroyed by Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar. He bled in fours and sixes as the duo went after him with gusto. Pathan, as he has been doing in recent times, sought relief with his bat.Given the onslaught at the other end, Munaf’s was a creditable performance.While the openers were indulging themselves on Pathan’s offerings, they were forced to deal in singles and twos against the economical Patel. He picked up the wicket of Tendulkar before coming back for a second spell to curtail a promising knock from Yuvraj Singh. Ajit Agarkar, although not as expensive as Pathan, leaked 62 runs in his 10 overs.Sehwag made merry with a 91-ball 107 that was studded with 13 fours and two sixes before retiring hurt to make way for the other batsmen. Tendulkar gave him good company with a 45-ball 39. After Kaif was run out, Yuvraj and Rahul Dravid stitched together a fine partnership to push the score along. Dhoni retired hurt after making 17 – he was to return to wallop the India XI bowlers – and Dinesh Mongia did not get much time in the middle.The RCA XI were given a rollicking start by Dhoni and Raina who tore apart RP Singh. Interestingly, the Rajasthani bowlers, Mathur and Gehlot, were not that profligate. Both the openers retired but Kaif could not make use of his second opportunity with the bat, falling to Yuvraj. Pathan, however, made a well-compiled 42. He shared useful partnerships with Agarkar and Harbhajan to steer his side close to the victory. Though Pathan fell in the last over, with still five runs needed in four balls, Harbhajan and Ramesh Powar took RCA XI home.

The Tasmanian Selectors have today announced the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers team to play New South Wales in the Cricket Australia Cup match at the TCA Ground in Hobart, from Monday 9th to Thursday 12th February 2004.

ScorecardThree quick wickets from Robert Croft put Glamorgan in a strong position against India A at Swansea. A spell of 3 for 3 in 14 balls from Croft helped reduce India A to 149 for 6 before the rain came down in the 53rd over.After they won the toss and chose to bat, India A were in early trouble after Glamorgan’s David Harrison struck twice early on to leave them teetering on 26 for 2. Satyajit Parab was the first to go when he was caught by Croft for only 4 (7 for 1), and then Shiv Sunder Das was also caught, by Dean Cosker for 14.However, Sridharam Sriram (62) and Rohan Gavaskar (61) then led the recovery. They put on 116 in 35 overs before both were dismissed by Croft. Gavaskar was well caught by Owen Parkin at short third man as he miscued an attempted drive off Darren Thomas (142 for 3). And Sriram was later caught at first slip by Mike Powell, after hitting six fours in his patient innings (149 for 6).In between those wickets, Hemang Badani was Croft’s second victim when he was adjudged lbw for 0 as he padded up (146 for 5) and Vijay Bharadwaj also fell leg before, to Parkin (154 for 4).That all meant that India A had lost four wickets for only seven runs, but heavy rain meant that no further play was possible.

Frizzell County Championship Division One
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Lancashire 225 for 2 v Sussex at Old Trafford
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Leaders Sussex, requiring 10 points from their remaining two games to secure their first title, were frustrated by the rain and then Lancashire in a shortened day’s play at a gloomy Manchester. After the morning had been washed out, Lancashire soon lost openers Mark Chilton, superbly caught behind, and Iain Sutcliffe (52 for 2). But then Mal Loye (110 not out) and Stuart Law (65 not out) revived the innings with an unbroken stand of 157 for the third wicket. Mushtaq Ahmed toiled in vain for his 100th wicket of the season, but despite remaining wicketless he was the pick of the Sussex bowlers.Leicestershire 151 for 6 v Kent at Leicester
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Only 47 overs were possible at Grace Road today due to rain, in which time John Maunders scored 76 not out for Leicestershire, but Muttiah Muralitharan struck back with 3 for 17 to give Kent the edge. Maunders and Brad Hodge (31) made a good start to reach 71 for 1, but then Murali turned it on. He took three wickets in nine overs as Leicestershire faltered to 151 for 6.Nottinghamshire 316 for 5 v Middlesex at Lord’s
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They may be down, but Notts finished their first day against Middlesex on a high, reaching a healthy 316 for 5. In the 77 overs possible, Russell Warren led the way with an unbeaten 100 from 161 balls, including 13 fours. Jason Gallian gave Notts a good platform with 73 at the top of the order, and Kevin Pietersen (70) then added 128 with Warren to give Notts a rare good day’s work in the Championship.Frizzell County Championship Division Two
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Somerset 409 v Derbyshire 32 for 0 at Taunton
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Ian Blackwell marked his return to the England one-day international team with a blistering 247 not out from 156 balls, including an astonishing 27 fours and 11 sixes. Blackwell came in with Somerset struggling at 31 for 4 after Dominic Cork, who took 6 for 92, ripped out three early wickets. Blackwell then put on partnerships of 64 with Richard Johnson (25), and 70 with Simon Francis (18), but they were then eclipsed when Nixon McLean, dropped at slip by Andrew Gait before he had scored, settled in to score 39 and add 163 with Blackwell, a last-wicket partnership record for Somerset. Blackwell clubbed his maiden double-century off only 136 balls, with the second hundred coming off 41 deliveries. The amazing onslaught took the shine off Cork’s excellent bowling in the morning session and loosened Derbyshire’s grip on the game.Northants 319 v Glamorgan 20 for 0 at Cardiff
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Mike Hussey followed such esteemed names as Sir Donald Bradman and Brian Lara by scoring his fifth consecutive century, for Northants against Glamorgan. He hammered an imperious 147, including 25 fours, as Northants amassed 319. Hussey was finally the last man out, receiving support from only Tim Roberts (41) and Phil Jaques (28). Meanwhile Robert Croft showed the England selectors what they will be missing in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka this winter with 5 for 93 to peg back Northants’s progress. Jimmy Maher and Mark Wallace guided Glamorgan to 20 for 0 at the close.Gloucestershire 374 v Durham 2 for 0 at Bristol
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As Jonty Rhodes nears his retirement, he bid farewell in style with a stylish 103 to put Gloucestershire in command against Durham. Rhodes hit 10 fours and three sixes, and added 131 with Tim Hancock, who scored 97. Craig Spearman also hit 59, while Shoaib Akhtar and Graeme Bridge took three wickets each as Durham closed the first day on 2 for 0.

Wasim Akram has denied claims that he coached the Indian side, or had plans to do so, and insisted that an action against him accusing him of doing so was born out of malice and was little more than an attempt to gain cheap publicity by the petitioner.Akram was appearing in front of a civil court in Lahore in a bid to have the petition, which seeks to prevent him coaching any Indian players, dismissed. “I have no such intention to coach the Indian cricket team," he told the judge. "Nor I have been approached by the Indian cricket board." Akram explained that the petition had caused him "mental torture" as well as damaging his reputation."If anyone seeks my advice I am duty-bound to help him." Akram continued. "Indian bowlers Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan used to call me and take advice, there is nothing wrong with that because when I was young I took advice from Kapil Dev and the late West Indian Malcolm Marshall."I am amazed at the narrow-mindedness of the people, they make mountains out of a molehill," he added. "I am going to sue them instead. "Akram also faces another appearance in court, again because of a petition filed by a member of the public, following his appearance in a liquor advertisement in India two years ago.The judge adjourned the current case until December 8.

Medium-pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji claimed five wickets to propel Tamil Nadu to a convincing 132-run win over hosts Delhi in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group semi-final that ended at the Feroz Shah Kotla on Tuesday. Tamil Nadu now take on Mumbai in the Ranji final to be played at Mumbai from May 4.It did not take long for the outcome of the match to be settled after play resumed on Tuesday. In Balaji’s third over, he castled Virender Sehwag (98 not out overnight) with an excellent off-cutter. Sehwag was stranded on 99.With their star batsman back in the pavilion, Delhi’s challenge quickly fizzled out. The remaining four batsmen lasted just 13 more overs as the hosts folded up after the addition of just 41 runs to their overnight total.Tamil Nadu captain S Suresh expressed his happiness with his team’s performance in his post-match interview with the Press Trust of India.”We played really well and everybody contributed in the win. It was indeed a fine show by the players as it is not easy to beat Delhi on their home soil, ” Suresh said.”Balaji again proved that he is a class bowler. He has bowled beautifully throughout the season and no doubt his performance in the semi-final played a significant role in our victory,” he added, while thanking his main strike bowler for his match-winning display.