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Johan van der Wath, the Eagles allrounder, has been called up to South Africa’s VB Series squad, after Jacques Kallis was forced to return home for treatment on his elbow injury.Kallis missed South Africa’s match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday, having also withdrawn from the first Test against Australia, at Perth, in December.van der Wath, who bowls at a lively pace and hits the ball in the manner of Justin Kemp, has been performing consistently for the Eagles this season. In last week’s Standard Bank Cup Final he won the Man-of-the-Match award, after taking 3 for 25 and hitting a vital 20, in a low-scoring match.The selectors have been watching his performances and Haroon Lorgat, the convenor, believes he is ready for a chance at the next level. “With great interest we have been watching Johan’s performances and good form for South Africa A and for the Eagles in the domestic competitions. We believe that he has much to offer both now and in the future”.Lorgat added that the decision to send Kallis home was in order to ensure he is back to full fitness for the return series against Australia, which starts at the end of February. Kallis is the third South African to return home from the tour of Australia, following the withdrawal of Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel.

The first trial of a pink cricket ball took place at Lord’s today with MCC taking on Scotland in a 50-over friendly, as the lawmakers of the game investigate ways to find a more durable ball than the existing white one used in limited-overs cricket.Last year MCC, who have spent £10,000 on cricket balls for the 500 games they will play this year, approached Dr Anthony Bull, a bioengineer from Imperial College, to work with the ball manufacturers Kookaburra and produce a more durable alternative.The white ball has long caused contention with players and officials. Although much more visible than the traditional red-dyed ball against the backdrop of players’ coloured clothing, it is liable to discolour and deteriorate. Outfielders and batsmen are the obvious victims, but the other principle concern is with the delays involved in replacing the ball mid-game. No two balls are the same, either. The pink ball, as Bull explained, is a work in progress. Unlike traditional red balls, whose leather is dyed in a paraffin wax, other colours such as pink are painted on the surface which makes them liable to chip and fray. “For me, it’s about how the colour can stay in the leather, but clearly the technology is not there,” Bull said. “The manufacturers are just doing a paint job, a surface treatment.”Cricket is no stranger to pink in these metrosexually modern days. Matthew Hayden uses a bat with a pink grip to promote awareness of breast cancer, and last year Middlesex’s Twenty20 side strode out to Lord’s sporting salmon-pink kit. The colour of the new ball, however, is incidental. “It could be any colour, that’s the point,” Bull said. “If you can get something into the leather, it could be any colour.” Any colour but orange, it would seem, which was trialled without success in the early 1990s.The lush carpeted outfield and a spongy, green Lord’s wicket in April were not the most testing of conditions for the bright pink ball – abrasiveness is the white ball’s greatest enemy it seems – though it was impressively luminous on a very dull London day. Scotland didn’t appear to have much trouble picking it up, reaching 253 for 7 from their 50 overs, though MCC’s bowlers didn’t appear to gain the same prodigious swing which has characterised one-day cricket with a white ball.The experiments are being driven by MCC, but also by the manufacturers who, as Bull points out, are understandably keen to find a solution.”Manufacturers are very careful about their processes,” Bull said. “They’re putting all their technology into creating the pink ball, but they could apply all the same processes into producing another coloured ball. The red ball is dyed and it goes into the leather. For the pink ball, it is painted on in a very smart way, but therefore it’s very similar to the white ball in the way it is achieved.”Bull and his students have also begun exploratory investigation into the future of bats. The ICC banned Kookaburra’s graphite-reinforced bat on October 1 2006, but Bull is convinced that improvements can be made within the law. “The question for cricket is: do you want bats that allow a nick to go for six,” he says. “That’s the question. We’ve started looking at this very seriously. You could ‘hole out’ bats, or the surface covering of a bat could be of a certain stiffness to influence the characteristics of the bat. Does the sport want to allow that, though?”Most intriguingly of all, Bull believes it would be possible to enhance bats to make a ball travel “20% further” in the current definition of the law. The ramifications of this are obvious and undoubtedly exciting, but the question remains: does cricket want to allow batsmen yet another advantage, and whose responsibility is it to regulate such drastic technological advances in the sport?A pink ball, however, is rather less revolutionary and results from this first trial were encouraging. Bull’s dream goal – indeed, cricket’s too – is to exactly replicate the traditional red ball, which opens up the possibility of having one ball for all cricket.”We’re being led by the cricket world,” Bull said, “where the red ball is the optimum. The whole art or science of bowling, and swinging the ball, [happens with] the red ball, so what we need to do is simulate that with whatever colours we can get. The optimum would be to have one ball, of course, which behaved in the right way [for all cricket].”

Ricky Ponting says Phil Jaques will not be under significant pressure in the first Test against Sri Lanka as he is the only one of Australia’s potential new openers in form. Jaques will play his third Test when the series starts at the Gabba on Thursday and Ponting advised the newest member of his top order to “relax”.”[Chris] Rogers, [Brad] Hodge, [Shane] Watson and himself were the four mentioned, and he is the only one that has done anything at the start of this season, so he thoroughly deserves his opportunity,” Ponting told the . “If you look at things at the moment he’s the only one who has grabbed that opportunity.”Rogers might have had the edge over Jaques at the end of last summer having topped the Pura Cup run tally with 1202 at 70.70. However, he made 9 and 17 in Western Australia’s opening game this season and was then struck down with appendicitis.Another hamstring injury ruled Watson out of the race, while Hodge was in poor form in the ODI series in India. Hodge tried opening in Victoria’s Pura Cup match last week – he made 2 and 0 – and although he managed 162 on Saturday for his Melbourne club side Jaques already had the Test position sewn up.After a strong Australia A tour of Pakistan, Jaques opened his Pura Cup season with 167 for New South Wales in the same match in which Rogers failed. “I don’t think there is any pressure on him now,” Ponting said.”The pressure was on him in the first couple of games of the season, and now that he has been picked he can relax into things and hopefully get some runs in the first couple of Tests. He deserves his chance and he’s a guy that loves batting and usually when he gets in he makes big scores, so hopefully he can do that for Australia.”

Jon Lewis will have an operation on his left ankle to remove some troublesome bits of bone. Lewis, the England seamer and Gloucestershire captain, will undergo the surgery next Thursday.Gloucestershire expect him to be out of the game for two to three months. It’s obviously not great timing for the county season, but the club’s physiotherapist, Steve Griffin, explained that this is the best course of action for the long-term.”Hopefully it will resolve the issues that have been causing him problems over the winter months. The rehabilitation process following the surgery is very important and we will not be rushing Jon back until he is completely ready. “

Bedfordshire’s Alex Wakely starred with bat and ball as England U19s overwhelmed their hosts, Malaysia, by nine wickets at Kuala Lumpur. On a rain-interrupted day, England won the toss and bowled first but were forced to withdraw their seamers early because of heavy cloud cover and bad light.And so it was over to the spinners, who took seven of the ten wickets to fall, with Wakely taking 3 for 20 in nine probing overs. Malaysia were bowled out for 104 with more than eight overs to spare, with Liam Dawson also starring with 2 for 21.Heavy rain in the interval meant that England’s target was adjusted to 100 in 43 overs, but opening the batting with Billy Godleman, Wakely made short work of the requirement, rattling along to 54 from 47 balls with eight fours and a six.Wakely would have been on hand to see his side to the finish but for a controversial run-out. With just 12 runs required, Malaysia’s wicketkeeper broke the stumps without the ball in his hands, but the umpire mistakenly upheld the appeal. It mattered not, however, as Godleman finished unbeaten on 32 as England eased home in just 18.1 overs.England’s next match is against India on Wednesday, a dress rehearsal for the Tri-series final on Friday.

In the wake of the most serious drugs scandal to hit cricket, Shoaib Akhtar, the man at the centre of it, has called for greater awareness to be created among cricketers, especially in Pakistan, about doping issues. Shoaib, along with fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif, was handed a ban by a drugs tribunal after tests conducted by the PCB found traces of the banned anabolic steroid Nandrolone in his body. The bans were subsequently overturned by an appeals committee, clearing the way for both bowlers to return to cricket.Speaking to a few reporters at the National Bank of Pakistan ground in Karachi, where he was playing his first competitive game since the ban for his club side KRL, Shoaib said, “Many players are poorly educated about supplements, medication and doping issues. I’ve requested the chairman (PCB) to educate youngsters. Teach them now about these things. In 2002, the team attended a lecture where we were told only how to give urine samples.”Lectures are fine but there is no education. We weren’t told that you can and can’t take this. There are so many vitamins, so many different remedies, syrups that can carry steroids but we don’t know about them, we never learnt about them. I’ve had so many injuries in my career and taken so many medicines for them. But players are not doctors so they don’t always know.”Shoaib and Asif’s plea through the two hearings they underwent was that neither of them had taken steroids deliberately and that they weren’t properly informed or educated by the board. One possibility their lawyers had raised was that legal supplements, allowed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have been found in the past to be contaminated steroids. “Supplements are often contaminated and these are legal supplements,” argued Shoaib.”So WADA should be looking at the problem of contamination as well and maybe banning some of those. We haven’t had a team doctor for the last four years and no nutritionist. Thankfully, the chairman is thinking of bringing in doctors and nutritionists now so youngsters will definitely benefit. I never took any such substances knowingly.”In light of WADA’s recent statement, that they were considering challenging the decision to overturn the ban at the International Court of Arbitration, it is unlikely that this is the last we have heard on this issue. But Shoaib, understandably, was eager to look to the future. “I want to thank my family and the nation for supporting me. It’s been a tough time for me obviously but it’s over now. A lot has been said about it but it is behind me now. I want to concentrate on cricket now only and not look at the past.”

As it happens, there is a fair amount to look forward to, beginning with the tour to South Africa in January. Though he was suffering from a slight fever, he managed to ping down 12 overs in the first innings against WAPDA in the ongoing Patron’s Trophy match. Despite a duck in the second innings – he was greeted by a bouncer first ball – he came out to bowl a swift opening over in WAPDA’s second innings. “I’m fully fit. There was a little bit of stiffness obviously but the last spell I bowled was a quick one, even though the wicket is a little flat. But it’s good practice for me.”None of this is particularly good news for South Africa. After crashing to 84 all out on a pacy, bouncy track designed with their opponent’s frailties in mind, rather than their own, they are unlikely to do so against a Pakistan side with arguably as strong a pace attack as their own. “I’m not sure the wickets will be so fast there,” Shoaib said. “But they’re always sporting tracks, especially at Cape Town. Lets see what type of pitches they make especially if we have a full attack and they do as well.”We have excellent fast bowling resources. Umar Gul has bowled really well, Rana is back in form. And Sami is still an asset. I am hoping to get some more practice. But ultimately, it isn’t about me or any other one bowler, it is about the whole side performing. That is vital.”Beyond the tour awaits the World Cup in the Caribbean and Pakistan, says Shoaib, have as good a shot at glory as any. “We have the most balanced team in the world after Australia. The wickets there will be slow but the conditions are good for reverse swing and that should be an advantage for our bowlers. I am very keen to play but it won’t be about individuals. This is about the whole team doing well.”

VVS Laxman, the Indian middle-order batsman, has responded to his recall to the ODI side by citing his experience of playing on juicy South African pitches. Laxman, who was recalled after Rahul Dravid fractured his finger, remained diplomatic over whether he would be on trial during the remaining two matches of the best-of-five series.”It is a great feeling to be included in the one-day series and I would try to give my best,” he told reporters in Hyderabad. “It is sad that Rahul should be injured so badly in the series and miss out the rest of the one-day matches.”I would only work on the opportunities that come my way. I do not want to think of things that are beyond my control,” he added. “I do not think too much about the future and use each opportunity to give my best and play to my potential. I have played Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy matches and I am fully fit to take up the assignment.”Laxman, scheduled to represent Hyderabad in a Ranji Trophy match in Jaipur later this week, said he was willing to bat anywhere in the line-up, but preferred the middle order.India, down 2-0 with two to play, take on South Africa in Port Elizabeth tomorrow, but as Laxman put it, “My travel plans are not yet confirmed, the Board will inform whenever things fall in place”.

Simon Jones will undergo an MRI scan on his injured left knee, and is also set to meet with a specialist, after limping off the field during Glamorgan’s C&G Trophy match against Ireland on Monday.Jones had bowled an impressive first spell, claiming two wickets, but felt a twinge in his knee when he return for a second stint and left the field after one more delivery. The seriousness of the setback is not yet known, but the ECB chief medical officer, Dr Peter Gregory, did not envisage him being fit in time for Lord’s.”Simon is currently rated very doubtful for next week’s first Test match,” said Gregory, after liaising with the Glamorgan physiotherapist, Chris Towers. “We will need to re-assess his injury after consultations with the specialist on Thursday.”Jones has made a careful return to action after leaving England’s tour of India after twisting his knee in the nets before the first Test. He bowled 28 overs during Glamorgan’s Championship match against Essex and, despite reporting some slight stiffness, came through unscathed.England name their Test squad next Sunday with Ashley Giles and Michael Vaughan already ruled out and Steve Harmison unlikely to make it.

Worcestershire have given the go-ahead for New Road to host their next Championship game, against Lancashire starting on Friday, in spite of the recent flooding that caused the complete abandonment of their last home fixture against Kent.Following a meeting at New Road involving representatives from both Worcestershire and Lancashire, as well as the ECB’s Alan Fordham and Chris Wood, it was decided that the ground would be fit for an 11am start on Friday morning.The decision is something of a surprise given the controversy that was caused by last week’s washout against Kent. Although the ECB acted with leniency in what they described as “exceptional circumstances”, the decision to allow Worcestershire to replay the abandoned fixture was vehemently opposed by Yorkshire, who feared that a dangerous precedent had been set.Lancashire and Hampshire also backed Yorkshire’s stance on the decision. “It was a flawed decision and creates a precedent,” said a Lancashire statement, “opening the floodgates for future situations deemed ‘extreme circumstances’. We therefore urge the ECB to reconsider this decision.”However, Lancashire’s chief executive, Jim Cumbes, was more conciliatory after Monday’s inspection. “On arriving at New Road this morning I was surprised at how well everything looked,” he said. “It’s obvious that the staff at Worcestershire County Cricket Club have worked very hard over the last few days to get this ground and its facilities up to the standard they are.”There were one or two minor issues I had with the outfield,” added Cumbes, “but nothing a couple of days of drying weather won’t fix.”Worcestershire did have alternative venues on standby – at Kidderminster, Himley and Worcester Royal Grammar School, where a game against Sri Lanka A was played on Saturday. The forecast for Friday is more heavy rain.

Six teams have already made it to the main stage of the Champions Trophy,and over the next one week, six qualifying matches will decidewhich two teams out of Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwewill join those six in the quarter-final stage.Sri Lanka and Bangladeshface off at Mohali today to set the tournament rolling, and while SriLanka will start as overwhelming favourites – not only to win this match,but also to qualify and cause some further damage in the main tournament -Habibul Bashar and his troops will believe they have a chance of pullingoff an upset and getting this tournament off to a sensational start.Bangladesh have only wonone out of 17 ODIs against Sri Lanka, but that win came veryrecently – in February this year atBogra – and having tasted success once, they will want to provethat wasn’t a flash in the pan. The first match is also perhaps the besttime for the underdog to catch the favourites by surprise.Going by Mahela Jayawardene’s and Tom Moody’s comments, though, it’sunlikely that the Sri Lankans will take Bangladesh lightly. That Bogradefeat will still be fresh – they’ve only played Bangladesh once since -but more importantly, they’ll have the services of three champion playerswho weren’t around for that game: Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan andMarvan Atapattu are all back in the line-up. Atapattu hasn’t played an ODIsince March 2006, and his return will be huge boost to the top order. SriLanka have also been in excellent form in ODIs of late, winning nine oftheir last 15 ODIs, including a clean sweep against England, and they’llbe keen to wipe out unpleasant memories of the 6-1 drubbing at the handsof India last year.Teams usually prefer to bat first after winning the toss in day-nightgames, but the dew factor at Mohali might make it difficult for thebowlers later in the evening. Daljit Singh, the curator, has promised apitch with pace and carry: “There is a lot of grass on the pitch thoughdry and not green,” he was quoted as telling .”The ball will carry through to the batsmen and seamer will be able toextract height, though it might be tough for the spinners as the ball mayskid.”Bangladesh
Aftab Ahmed, Rajin Saleh, Shahriar Nafees,Habibul Bashar (capt), Mohammad Ashraful, Abdur Razzak, Farhad Reza,Khaled Mashud (wk), Mashrafe Mortaza, Mehrab Hossain jnr, MohammadRafique, Saqibul Hasan Shahadat Hossain, Syed Rasel.Sri Lanka
Marvan Atapattu, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Tillakaratne Dilshan,Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Malinga Bandara,Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ruchira Perera.