The ECB have announced that the 50-over domestic competition, currently the C&G Trophy, will include a semi-final stage in 2007. There was been widespread criticism of the current format with just the top team for the North and South conference going into the final at Lord’sHugh Morris, the ECB’s deputy chief executive, said that the decisionhad been taken by the ECB board but it had been widely expected following calls from players and county officals to reduce the number of dead matches.”There were extremely strong cricketing reasons for reintroducing a semi final stage in next year’s competition,” said Morris. “The introduction of semi-finals will increase the intensity of the competition during the popular regional group stages. This move will benefit the players and the spectators alike.”This year’s C&G Final will take place at Lord’s on Saturday August 26 between Sussex and either Durham or Lancashire, with the final round of qualifying matches being played this Sunday.

Doug Walters, the former Test batsman, insists Australia need Michael Clarke in their side to win back the Ashes. Clarke was dropped last summer before forcing his way back for two games in Bangladesh, but he has said the selectors face some tough choices before the England series.However, Walters, who played 36 Ashes Tests and toured England four times, told the Clarke was ready to resume his match-winning ways. “He had a brilliant start to his career, but then had one or two hiccups,” Walters told the paper. “But he is going to be a good player for a long time. We have to stick with those sort of guys. Australia need to play him.”Walters said it was important for Clarke to have an opportunity at regaining the Ashes in the series beginning in Brisbane on November 23. “All of our batsmen would have learnt from last year,” he said of the 2-1 loss. “In another 12 months or 18 months, we will be looking for some younger guys. Hopefully they start that this year by playing [Clarke].”

Durham have signed the former New Zealand offspinner Paul Wiseman for the 2007 season.Wiseman’s last match for New Zealand was their steamrollering of Sri Lanka in April 2005, who they beat by an innings and 38 runs, but he was wicketless and faced the axe. Now 36, he has represented Durham A this summer and is keen to make the most of this new opportunity to pass on his experience to a younger generation.”Paul is a player who we believe can offer a great deal to our set up, giving us good performances on the field and offering support to our younger players during their development,” Martyn Moxon, Durham’s head coach said. “Our aim has always been to compete at the highest possible level and by bringing in the likes of Dale Benkenstein last year and Paul this year we continue to provide our young cricketers support within the team as well as the opportunity to benefit from the experience of these guys.”Wiseman commented that he was “excited to be joining a club that is going places” and added: “The Academy and development set up at Durham has a proven track record of producing quality players and I am delighted to have the chance to lend my experience to the next generation.”

Former Zimbabwe batsman Murray Goodwin is to play in South Africa for the Eastern Cape Warriors. He played 19 Tests between 1998 and 2000 and was one of the first in the country to turn his back on international cricket.”Murray is a great signing for the Warriors and it reinforces our strong desire and stated intent to put cricket in the area back on the map,” Dave Emslie, the franchise’s CEO, said. “Murray has extensive international experience and has identified very strongly with the role we have spelt out to him. His role will be first and foremost to score as many runs as possible and to be an example to our young players we are busy developing.”Goodwin has plied his trade across the world, with his most success coming at Sussex.

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.

Darren Lehmann will lead a strong South Australian side containing two veterans of the 2005 Ashes, Jason Gillespie and Shaun Tait, when they take on England in the final warm-up fixture before the first Test at Brisbane.For Gillespie in particular, the fixture will be a chance to atone for his disappointing performances in England last year, in which he picked up just three wickets in three Tests, at an average of exactly 100.But it is Tait who has the most to gain from the match, having starred in Friday’s 166-run rout of the tourists at Canberra. Another good showing and he will be in with a shout of a place in the Ashes starting line-up on November 23.In a surprise move, South Australia’s vice-captain, Graham Manou, has been omitted from the 12-man squad, with Shane Deitz taking over the gloves. “[Shane] is more than capable of taking the gloves and batting in the No. 7 position,” said Paul Nobes, the chairman of selectors. “He has earned this opportunity.””Graham continues to show he has talent with the gloves, but we need a stronger return from that position in the batting order. We need our keeper to not only keep well, but also to bat well.”Matthew Elliott will be vice captain in Graham’s absence. The tour match starts at 10.30am each day. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and pensioners and $17 for a family ticket.South Australia (from) Darren Lehmann (capt), Matthew Elliott, Cullen Bailey, Cameron Borgas, Mark Cosgrove, Daniel Cullen, Shane Deitz (wk), Callum Ferguson, Jason Gillespie, Daniel Harris, Paul Rofe, Shaun Tait.

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”.

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.”

50 overs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out

James Franklin’s calmness under pressure and Michael Mason’s last-ball four clinched a nail-biting one-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the second ODI at Queenstown. Set a modest 225-run target after a superb 89 from Kumar Sangakkara, New Zealand threatened to collapse as Muttiah Muralitharan led a mid-innings fightback. But Franklin rallied with an unbeaten 45 and Mason hit the last ball of the game for four to end 2006 in style.Needing one run to win off the last over with one wicket in hand, Sanath Jayasuriya summoned all his ODI experience and bowled five excruciating dot balls at Mason while Franklin watched helpless from the non-striker’s end. However, Mason kept his nerve and lofted the last ball back over Jayasuriya’s head for four to level the series at 1-1.When New Zealand began their innings, such a close finish seemed impossible. They were off to a flier with Brendon McCullum, revelling in his new role as an aggressive opener, and James Marshall taking the attack to the new-ball bowlers. McCullum kick-started the innings with a brace of boundaries and one imperious six over square leg forcing Mahela Jayawardene into making an early change after Lasith Malinga’s first four overs leaked 29 runs.It proved to be an inspired change too. Farveez Maharoof struck with his first legitimate delivery, winning a dubious lbw decision from Gary Baxter, the local umpire, against McCullum who was hit outside the line. The fortuitous breakthrough ended a 57-run partnership in 9.1 overs and allowed Sri Lanka to claw their way slowly but surely back into the contest.Some poor running between the wickets led to Ross Taylor being run out by a pinpoint throw from Chamara Silva at cover and when Peter Fulton became Muralitharan’s first victim of the day, trapped lbw by an off-break, New Zealand were wobbling on 91 for 3. But they cobbled together a useful partnership with Daniel Vettori and James Marshall adding 30 runs to swing the pressure back onto Jayawardene.However, James Marshall’s frenetic running between the wickets opened another window for Sri Lanka. He called for a suicidal single and Malinga pounced at mid-on, swooping athletically and throwing down the stumps off-balance. Next over, Craig McMillan, on his comeback to international cricket after one year on the sidelines, edged Muralitharan’s doosra to slip.The initiative was now swinging strongly to Sri Lanka and Jayawardene took the opportunity to play his wildcard: Malinga. Once again, the bowling change worked with Malinga conjuring a perfect yorker that sent Vettori’s off stump cart-wheeling and New Zealand were reeling at 141 for 6.

The stage was perfectly set for Hamish Marshall to reward the faith placed in him by the patient New Zealand selectors, but just when he appeared to be steering his team home, having added 34 with Franklin, he clipped back a return catch to Tillakaratne Dilshan. Jayawardene quickly recalled Muralitharan for his final over and he duly delivered, pinning Andrew Adams lbw.Sri Lanka were on the brink of a 2-0 victory with New Zealand on 194 for 8. But Franklin took over responsibility and found a determined partner in Mark Gillespie. While Franklin picked up runs in orthodox fashion, trusting his partner with the strike, Gillespie choose more novel means to keep out Malinga’s toecrushers. Somehow, moving to leg and then jabbing downwards, he survived.A total of 15 runs were needed from the final three overs and Malinga then conceded eight runs. Vaas conceded five from his next three deliveries and the match looked over. However, there was time for another twist as Gillespie, smote a low full toss straight to Maharoof at mid off. Crucially, Franklin had crossed before the catch was taken and was on strike. With two runs to defend, Vaas bowled a critical wide that ensured New Zealand could not lose. Franklin could not win it off the last ball of the penultimate over and watched as Mason patted back five dot balls before securing victory.Earlier, New Zealand capitalised on winning the toss by early wickets and producing a far more disciplined display than in the first match at Naiper. Jayasuriya and Jayawardene both fell early, leaving Sri Lanka at 14 for 2. A mini-recovery followed with Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga adding 36 before Tharanga edged to Ross Taylor at first slip after a leaden-footed flash outside off-stump.Sangakkara was in good form, picking up boundaries whenever the bowlers did err in their length, but run-scoring became increasingly difficult during the middle overs while Vettori bowled straight through his allotment of overs. Between the 25th and 36th over Sri Lanka were unable to score a boundary. But Sangakkara continued to hold the innings together during a workmanlike 74-run stand with Silva.A cruel piece of luck denied Sangakkara a century and checked the momentum once again as Andre Adams deflected a firm straight drive from Silva onto the stumps. Minutes later, Silva lost control of a cover drive and skewed a catch to backward point. With two new batsmen, Dilshan and Maharoof, at the crease the run-rate dropped and this was proved decisive in the end.

A week after being re-elected as chairman of the new board of Zimbabwe Cricket, Peter Chingoka gave an exclusive interview with Lawrence Moyo in the Herald newspaper.Although there were some direct questions put to Chingoka, seeking answers to many of the criticisms and accusations levelled at him, he offered up little in the way of explanation or defence, often answering in very general or non committal terms.He was most open about the advantages of the newly-elected board, referring to the “continuity and stable financial control” the four-year term will give. “With the issue of governance sorted out, focus will now be on the field of play where, in fact, it should always be because the playing of the game is the core business of Zimbabwe Cricket.”But critics of Chingoka, and there are many within Zimbabwe even if not inside ZC any longer, would be depressed by his response to the question whether this would be his last term in office: “My tenure is at the behest of the ZC electorate so it is that electorate which can best answer your question. My being at the helm has not been an issue of longevity but service to the game.” Asked why he remained when he had said he wanted to leave in 2005, he replied: “Since then calls have been made on me to avail myself to the game.”Perhaps his most remarkable answer came when Moyo asked about disgruntled stakeholders who opposed him and who had been removed from positions of authority. “Stakeholders cannot be kept away from the game because the stakeholders, as the name says, are those people with a stake in the game,” he claimed. “If they are away from it, then they cannot be stakeholders.Moyo also asked about accusations levelled against him. “Investigations are carried out by professionals who are not affected by my presence or absence from office,” he replied, neatly sidestepping the fact that nobody has any idea when or if those reports will ever materialise.Chingoka repeatedly referred to the “electorate” and “democracy”, even though his critics maintain he has run roughshod over both during his purge of all opposition. Asked whether the gang of three – himself, Tavengwa Mukuhlani and Cyprian Mandenge – would effectively run the game, he insisted that was not the case. “It is unfair to the other 10 members of the board to infer that they will sit and clap while the three of us run the show. Running cricket involves much more than just what happens in the rope. Let it be noted that, among the 13 of us, none has less passion for the game of cricket than the others, and so we are all, to the number, cricket people.”He also dismissed suggestions the board was in financial trouble. “Like all otherTest-playing nations, we work on a four-year cycle based on income from the ICC World Cup which is our main source of revenue.”And what about reports that cheques had bounced? “The ZC board was disappointed to hear of the bouncing cheques as it does not condone such practice. Management has been reprimanded and remedial work is underway to tighten the financial controls.Moyo also asked whether, given recent poor results, the side would be ready to resume Test cricket in November, as is the intention. “Yes, the results after that have not been good but there is no argument that the talent abounds and thatwhat is needed now is continued exposure.”We are determined to turn around the fortunes of the team. We intend, in the short term, to regain ninth position in the ODI rankings and, medium-long term, to move up the ladder. In preparation for the resumption of Testparticipation, we have a programme that will see us play about 12 longer-version games against the A sides of Test-playing nations. That programme started with us playing a three-day match followed by a four-dayer against Bangladesh A last month. One could see signs of improvement in the second match, resulting in the game ending as a draw.”