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ScorecardThe bad weather continued to blight New Zealand’s preparations for the first Test at Worcestershire today, where only 27 overs were possible due to rain.In that time, however, New Zealand were also frustrated by Worcestershire’s No. 10, Nadeem Malik, who belted 39 not out off only 36 balls for the best first-class score of his career as his side declared on 270 for 9.Malik, 21, gave his side a valuable contribution, as his cameo innings followed a collapse, with Worcestershire tumbling from their overnight score of 163 for 3 to 226 for 9.Shane Bond and Daryl Tuffey were in the wickets for New Zealand, with Tuffey taking the big scalp of Ben Smith, caught by Stephen Fleming for 92. Bond removed Kadeer Ali and Andrew Hall in quick succession before Tuffey took centre stage. After he got rid of Smith, he removed David Pipe for a duck.Steve Rhodes was dismissed by Chris Martin, and Matt Mason was trapped lbw to Vettori. But Malik added 44 with Mark Harrity for the last wicket.

Tea
ScorecardShane Deitz and Greg Blewett eased South Australia towards Tasmania’s first innings total with a 98-run partnership in the battle for the wooden spoon at Adelaide. Playing his second game of the summer, Deitz collected his second half-century while Blewett was 48 as they moved to 1 for 111 at tea. The Redbacks quickly lost Daniel Harris to Adam Griffith but it was one of few low spots during the first two sessions.Dan Cullen, the offspinner, ended Tasmania’s first innings for 319 with four wickets as South Australia took 6 for 71 in the opening session. Cullen, 20, returned 4 for 24 today to clean up the Tigers, who resumed on 4 for 248, and increase his season tally to 39. Damien Wright (25) was the only batsman to delay the collapse before falling to Cullen Bailey, the debutant legspinner who collected 2 for 82.

While Muttiah Muralitharan’s record-breaking achievement in the first Test overshadowed the enormity of Zimbabwe’s defeat, there will no hiding place for them this time in what promises to be another one-sided whopping, starting at Bulawayo tomorrow.If the sacking of the rebel players, coupled with the innings-and-240-run defeat at Harare weren’t bad enough, Zimbabwe will be without Blessing Mahwire, one of their more experienced bowlers with all of six Tests, for the second match. He was reported to the ICC for having a suspect bowling action during the first Test and has been dropped.Mahwire is now in Stage One of the ICC’s process for dealing with bowlers with suspect actions. This allows him to continue playing international cricket while working with specialist advisors, but the selectors have decided to scrap him. His place has been taken by Mark Vermeulen, who has recovered from a head injury sustained against Australia early on this year. Meanwhile, Prosper Utseya has failed to recover from a shoulder injury, and will be replaced by Tawanda Mupariwa, who is set to make his Test debut.Sri Lanka are expected to name an unchanged side, with the likes of Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya expected to rack up their run-tally, and Murali sure to stretch the gap at the top of the Test wickets list. However, he won’t be bowling his controversial doosra after it was outlawed by the ICC. “I have done all the tests that are required and the reports have gone to the ICC,” Murali said. “At the end of the day, what matters is what the report, the expert, my cricket board and the ICC say.”Geoff Marsh, Zimbabwe’s coach, admitted that it was going to be another tough battle for his side. “The guys are in good spirits even though we got beaten pretty well, and they’re looking to this Test match to improve,” he said. “We’re up against a very good side and we didn’t play well enough in any areas.”One stat to give Zimbabwe an ounce of encouragement, however, is that Sri Lanka have failed to win at Bulawayo in two attempts, but then again, Zimbabwe have yet to record a victory against Sri Lanka anywhere. And that is unlikely to change in the next few days.Zimbabwe 1 Tatenda Taibu (capt, wk), 2 Dion Ebrahim, 3 Mark Vermeulen, 4 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 5 Brendan Taylor 6 Alester Maregwede, 7 Tawanda Mupariwa, 8 Mluleki Nkala, 9 Douglas Hondo, 10 Tinashe Panyangara, 11 Elton Chigumbura.Sri Lanka (probable) 1 Marvan Atapattu (capt), 2 Sanath Jayasuriya, 3 Kumar Sangakkara, 4 Mahela Jayawardene, 5 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 6 Thilan Samaraweera (wk), 7 Prasanna Jayawardene, 8 Chaminda Vaas, 9 Farveez Maharoof, 10 Nuwan Zoysa, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.

After weeks of anxious waiting, Zimbabwe’s forthcoming tour of England was finally given the go-ahead today, as a 20-man squad was announced by the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. The party will be captained by Heath Streak, and leaves Harare for London on April 29, after permission was granted by the Zimbabwean government’s Sports and Recreation Commission. The tour has been in the balance ever since England’s boycott of their World Cup fixture in Harare, and there had been widespread speculation that Robert Mugabe’s regime might have decided on a tit-for-tat retaliation.Peter Chingoka, the chairman of the ZCU, finally received a telephone call on Friday approving the tour from Anthony Mandiwanza, the commission’s chairman, and Tim Lamb, the chief executive of the ECB, was officially informed of the decision today. “I am delighted we have been given the definitive green light,” said Lamb, “This guarantees a full international programme for the summer, including the first-ever Test match to be held at Durham’s Riverside Ground. With Zimbabwe, South Africa and Pakistan touring, I look forward to another great summer of international cricket.”Quite what sort of a challenge Zimbabwe will be able to mount, however, is anyone’s guess. Their squad has been weakened by the loss of four key players, including the irreplaceable figure of Andy Flower, who was obliged to retire following his black-armband protest during Zimbabwe’s opening match of the World Cup.The extrovert fast bowler, Henry Olonga, who joined Flower in mourning the “death of democracy” in Zimbabwe, has also been driven out of the national side, and the former captains Alistair Campbell and Guy Whittall have also played their final matches. Although the selectors have picked just the one debutant, Vusimuzi Sibanda, a fast bowler, the inexperience of the side is summed up by the promotion of Tatenda Taibu, the 19-year-old wicketkeeper, to the vice-captaincy.Fifteen players have been selected for the two-Test series, which starts at Lord’s on May 22, with a further five earmarked for the triangular NatWest Series, which also includes South Africa.Zimbabwe squad Heath Streak (capt), Tatenda Taibu (vice-capt), Grant Flower, Dion Ebrahim, Mark Vermeulen, Barney Rogers, Sean Ervine, Andy Blignaut, Mluleki Nkala, Stuart Carlisle, Ray Price, Travis Friend, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Douglas Hondo, Douglas Marillier.Additional players for the one-day matches Gary Brent, Waddington Mwayenga, Stuart Matsikenyere, Charles Coventry, Richard Sims.

West Indies and Pakistan will discuss compensation with the ICC following Zimbabwe’s withdrawal from Test cricket, which leaves both countries short of two-Test series they expected to hold this year.The chief executive of the West Indies cricket board, Roger Braithwaite, told Cricinfo that they are currently weighing up the effect of no longer holding their two-Test series in April, which will impact on the income from television and sponsor rights. “Once all the implications have been assessed we will be speaking to the ICC,” he explained. “We are currently undertaking an internal review into the situation first.”Pakistan are also set to discuss the issue this weekend, as Zimbabwe’s decision means they are missing out on two Tests that had been scheduled for September. “I will be talking to ICC officials in Dubai on Saturday about this latest development which affects us directly,” the Pakistan cricket board director, Saleem Altaf, told Reuters. “We have certain contractual obligations with our television broadcasters and…[they] have sold bundled sponsorship rights for a four-year period. We want to know from the ICC if there are financial liabilities on us, who will fulfill them.”Meanwhile, Braithwaite said that they have already been in discussion with Zimbabwe Cricket regarding the remaining one-day internationals, but could not comment on how the altered schedule would work. However, he added that he was not overly surprised by Zimbabwe’s move to pull out of Test cricket: “It is obviously disappointing, but not a complete shock given the current situation.”India are the main visitors to West Indies during their home season, for four Tests and five ODIs. The tour is not scheduled to finish until early July, well into the rainy season for the Caribbean. But Braithwaite said there is no opportunity to bring the tour forward, even though it would be a bigger money-spinner than five ODIs against Zimbabwe. “There is very little flexibility regarding the India series as they have commitments against England”Braithwaite also confirmed West Indies’ commitment to the Future Tours Programme, but said that they were heavily involved with the discussions over a restructuring of the current five-year cycle. “As with all member counties we are committed to the FTP and are part of the discussions with the ICC about expanding to a 12-year programme – two cycles of six years – rather than the current two cycles of five years.”

Scorecard

Baroda’s Satyajit Parab stroked a back-to-the wall century as West Zone cruised to a comfortable nine-wicket win against South at Hyderabad and stayed in contention for a spot in the Duleep Trophy final. The first two days were a riveting contest with the balance of power constantly shifting but Parab’s composed 103, while chasing 222, enabled West to take the game by the scruff of the neck.Resuming at 141 for 5 this morning, with a lead of 121, South were pegged further back by Ajit Agarkar’s double strike. Venugopal Rao battled on despite a loss of partners and he strung together a stand of 34 with Lakshmipathy Balaji. Rao was the last to fall, after making a gritty 79, and West were set a tricky target of 222 in their final innings.However, Parab and Wasim Jaffer, the openers, soon made the target look inadequate as they raced along at a rapid rate. Jaffer fell to Anil Kumble for 28 and, in a surprise move – which proved a masterstroke – Irfan Pathan was promoted to No.3. Pathan carted seven fours and a six on his way to 61 and, along with Parab, who caned 18 fours himself, pushed West Zone towards the target.Pathan capitalised on VVS Laxman’s largesse – he dropped him twice in the same over off Rajamani Jesuraj – and remained unbeaten when the winning runs were scored. Parab, 30, has been one of the pillars of the Baroda line-up in recent years and completed his 13th first-class hundred just before the celebrations began.

Andrew Flintoff, the England captain, said his team didn’t panic following the late assault launched by India. “It [India’s charge] was explosive. But we knew it would have required some effort from them to chase the total that we had set,” Flintoff told reporters.Facing a daunting target of 368 in three sessions, India produced a late flurry after tea with Irfan Pathan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni leading the charge before the two teams agreed to a draw with 108 runs required for a home win from over 11 overs. “The team showed lot of character. We are proud of the way we performed. With three debutants in the team, we competed with one of the best teams for five days,” Flintoff said.”I enjoyed the captaincy, concentrated on doing simple things correctly. I am grateful for the help by the teammates, particularly Paul Collingwood, Andrew Strauss and Steve Harmison.” Flintoff said it was Matthew Hoggard with 6 for 57 in the first innings who put England in control.”Hoggy bowled us into the match. He showed control and discipline on a wicket that was not conducive for pace bowling.” Among the debutants, Alastair Cook, the 21-year-old opener, and Monty Panesar, the left arm spinner, also the first Sikh to play for England, received special mention from Flintoff.”To get 60 and 100 [in two innings] against the two best spinners in the world says a lot about Cook. Panesar bowled well. He was excited by the way the crowd egged him on whenever he came on to bowl.”Ian Botham, the former England captain and commentator, looking ahead to Thursday’s second Test in Mohali, wondered if England might consider recalling Liam Plunkett if the Durham seamer proves his fitness. “The word is that the wicket in Mohali has a bit more pace and carry than the others so they could revert to one spinner and bring in another seamer,” he said.Botham too had some good words about both Cook and Panesar. “The guys on debut have done magnificently”, and added that a draw was a good result given the problems England had going into the opening Test. “Overall I think England will be very pleased.”

The Jamaican leg of India’s tour to the West Indies later this year might be scrapped or switched to another venue after fears that the ground at Sabina Park, Kingston, currently being spruced up for the 2007 World Cup, might not be ready to host the matches.India are scheduled to play two one-day internationals there on May 18 and 20, and the fourth Test from June 30 to July 4. However, cement shortage in Jamaica has meant that the US$29 million renovation project at the venue is behind schedule by at least two weeks, according to a report in . Robert Bryan, the chief executive officer of Jamaica Cricket 2007, indicated that a final decision on the matches will be taken soon. “We are at an advanced stage of evaluating and as soon as a decision is taken, an announcement will be made in short order,” Bryan was quoted as saying by the daily.Paul Campbell, the vice-president of the Jamaica Cricket Association, also indicated that getting the venue ready for the Indians will be tough. “As we speak there is no final decision, [but] it was brought to our attention last week [by the Sabina venue development team] that under the current circumstances meeting the deadlines will be really, really tight.”The focus is World Cup 2007. That’s the big picture,” said Campbell. “What is being assessed is whether hosting international games in the short term will impact negatively on our hosting the World Cup next year. How will it affect our delivery of the venue on time? That’s the question.” A decision on the matter could be taken as early as Tuesday (April 11).Sabina Park will host seven World Cup matches, including the first game and a semi-final, but work on the ground has been hit first by labour problems, and then by the cement crisis. The problem was further exacerbated when batches of cement were recalled as they were of substandard quality.

Anil Kumble, India’s veteran legspinner, has said that the World Cup would probably be his last one-day tournament, a fact that would be an added incentive for him to do well at the event, starting in the Caribbean from March 13.”It will probably be the last one day series for me and it will be challenging. I hope I will be able to play a much bigger role this time,” Kumble said in a television interview to CNN-IBN. “The World Cup is a tournament everyone looks up to. The last World Cup was good for India, we played really well as a team. We have a very good chance of winning the World Cup.”Kumble, 36, has played in 17 World Cup matches, snaring 28 wickets. Though he was picked only for three games of the 2003 edition, Kumble would have fond memories of the World Cup, having ended as the highest wicket-taker in the 1996 tournament in the sub-continent. He is also India’s leading wicket-taker in both forms of the game – with 334 scalps in ODIS and 547 in Tests – and is expected to play a key role on the sluggish pitches in the West Indies.Kumble defended his current form, despite managing only five wickets in the six games after his return to the one-day side. “It is unfair to judge performance spread over three series on good batting surfaces. You cannot always get 3-4 wickets per match. The main purpose is to restrict runs. I have the experience and hence am not worried.”India’s squad for the World Cup has been termed ‘Dad’s army’ and Greg Chappell, the coach, recently admitted that fielding was the biggest concern ahead of the tournament. Yet, Kumble had a counter: “You can only do what you can as a fielder. We are all safe on the field. I’m not the most athletic. I have been like that ever since I started. I can’t change suddenly and become a Jonty Rhodes. I always put in a 100%. As a unit we have worked hard and we have fielded well.”

The Dolphins made the most of winning the toss and a good pitch to reach 308 for 3 by the close on the first day of their match against Cape Cobras at Paarl. Hashim Amla (118*) and Ahmed Amla led the way with a third-wicket stand of 205, ended shortly before the close when Ahmed Amla fell to Paul Adams, missing out on his fourth first-class hundred by two runs.The Eagles found the going tough after batting first against the Lions at Potchefstroom, Andrew Hall’s 5 for 39 doing much of the damage as they were bowled out for 181. The Lions made a solid reply, but two late wickets by Thandi Tshabalala gave the Eagles renewed hope as the Lions closed on 124 for 4.The Warriors closed on 277 for 5 against the Titans at East London, with half centuries from Mark Bruyns and Carl Bradfield underpinning their innings. Albie Morkel and Dale Steyn kept the Warriors in check with two wickets apiece.