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Graeme Smith will be rested for the final one-day international against Zimbabwe, and Nicky Boje will be his replacement as captain. He was rested due to a persistent ankle problem. South Africa also announced a full-strength Test squad, including Jacques Kallis, who was rested from the one-day side after a busy – and prolific – season.Smith was replaced by AB de Villiers, whose 47 in four one-dayers stand in stark contrast to his burgeoning Test career, in which he has accumulated 362 runs in 10 innings. Andrew Hall was replaced by Monde Zondeki, and Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel were also left out to recuperate before the first Test, which begins on March 4. Ashwell Price was also brought into the side for the final one-dayer.Squad for third ODI Adam Bacher, AB de Villiers, Jacques Rudolph, Herschelle Gibbs, Ashwell Prince, Justin Kemp, Mark Boucher (wk), Nicky Boje (capt), Albie Morkel, Charl Langeveldt, Monde Zondeki.Squad for first Test Graeme Smith (capt) Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Rudolph, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher (wk), Shaun Pollock, Nicky Boje, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt.

Less than a week after a meeting of provincial chairman in Harare which discussed passing a motion of no confidence in the Zimbabwe Cricket board, three of the provinces have distanced themselves from proceedings. Manicaland, Midlands and Masvingo have since written to Peter Chingoka, the ZC chairman giving him their backing.A report in today’s Zimbabwe Independent newspaper said that Caesar Bond Nayoto, on behalf of Midlands clubs, had disowned Tim Savory, who attended the chairmen’s meeting as the provincial chairman, and were challenging his mandate as chairman.The Masvingo board, whose chairman Max Ebrahim was part of the provincial chairmen’s meeting last week, claimed it had “learnt with shock” about the meeting and insisted that Ebrahim had not consulted his board.Manicaland board member Phillip Matiza and representatives of three clubs in the province wrote a joint letter denouncing their board chairman Allan Walsh’s “unilateral decisions and actions”.A spokesman for the chairman said that a vote had not been taken but they were compiling a list of grievances which would be submitted to the board.An ICC spokesman said: “This is an internal matter for the stakeholders of Zimbabwe cricket. We do not seek to get involved in the domestic matters of our members.”

Waqar Younis’s spell as Pakistan’s bowling coach has ended before it even began.Yesterday, Waqar told reporters that he wanted the role for the long term. “If it is only for the India series,” he said, “it will be waste of time.”But that cut no ice with the Pakistan Cricket Board who rejected his suggestions, insisting the appointment was for the one series only.Waqare, who was believed to be asking for a two-year deal as well as compensation for the loss of income as a commentator, was not interested in the PCB’s terms. “It would have been a great honour, but I think they never wanted me, ” he told reporters. “There was no mention of the money when I talked to the PCB, but I wanted a long-term contract because you need time to work on bowlers.”

Martin Snedden, the chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, has insisted that the board will conduct a rational analysis of the team’s performance in England, rather than jump to hasty conclusions.According to a report in The Press, a New Zealand daily, Snedden said: “We must look at this rationally and methodically rather than reacting too quickly. The thoughts you get from the heat of the battle are often different to those you get a few weeks later with some time for things to sink in.”Because it is an England tour people seem more intensely interested in it than perhaps going to the subcontinent. I can understand people reacting emotionally to the losses and that’s good because they have a passion for the game.” New Zealand were thrashed three-nil in the recently concluded Test series, and have lost five of their last eight Tests.The media in New Zealand have been especially critical of the decision to send only a 14-man squad for the Test series. Two of the bowlers in that line-up, Shane Bond and Daryl Tuffey, weren’t completely fit when they left for England, prompting critics to suggest that back-ups for them should have been ready. However, Snedden dismissed that factor being one of the reasons for the defeat. “People have latched onto the squad number and the injury issue but no-one has been able to establish a plausible link between them costing the team those matches.”What also irked many experts was the decision to send six support staff with the line-up, but Snedden explained that he was satisfied by the explanation provided by John Bracewell, the coach, for the composition of the squad. “He [Bracewell] believed there was enough cover and depth in most areas except perhaps the spin bowling,” Snedden said. “But he reasoned that conditions early season in England do not favour spinners. While several players were over in England, like James Franklin and Mathew Sinclair, it was arguable whether Wiseman was required.”Even with the 14 players Kyle Mills had little match play because there was only three first-class games before the first Test, so what would the 15th have been doing?”The situation with Shane Bond was that we believed it would be better to have him on the tour than staying at home in winter. We hoped in a best-case scenario he might play the second and third Tests and were moving in that direction until he sustained the setback in the last county game before the first Test. Then we just ran out of time.”Bracewell subsequently blamed the pitches for the debacle, but Snedden had a more straightforward explanation. “As hard as it is for us to accept, sometimes our players don’t perform to their best and the opposition plays better.”

13 – The number of times Sachin Tendulkar has fallen to Glenn McGrath in international cricket (seven times in ODIs and six times in Tests)67 – The number of runs India scored in their last ten overs108 – The number of runs Australia had piled up after 15 overs. India, at a similar stage in their innings, had made 57400 – Number of dismissals for Adam Gilchrist in ODIs (355 catches and 55 stumpings). Mark Boucher, in second place, only has 33166 – Sachin Tendulkar’s aggregate in his last six ODI innings against Australia, including this match150 – Number of ODIs Steve Bucknor has umpired in. Only David Shepherd (172) and Rudi Koertzen (156) have stood in more matches1975 – The last time no team from the subcontinent made it to the semi-finals of a major one-day competition1015 – The number of days since India last beat Australia in a one-day international

According to Wisden Cricinfo sources, two USA-based candidates have applied for the post of chief executive officer of the USA Cricket Association.The two are named as S.M.X. (Bobby) Refaie, current Secretary of the USA Cricket Association, and Hassan Jalil, a cricket developer with extensive experience in South Asia and the USA. However, this could not be officially confirmed. Mark Waugh, former Australian Test cricketer, has been mentioned as a possible candidate, but this has also not been confirmed.US Cricketers are waiting with bated breath for the announcement from the ICC. The appointment of this CEO is expected to set the future direction of US cricket, and a lot is riding on the final outcome.

The heavy rain which left the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo awash on Thursday continued throughout this morning and put pay to the second ODI between Sri Lanka and England, which was called off at 6.05pm local time without a ball being bowled.The umpires made three inspections throughout the day, but play never looked likely due to the sodden outfield and boggy wicket. Even though the rain stayed away in the afternoon, Daryl Hair described the pitch as “not up to scratch” and after consulting both captains, called the game off.Marvan Atapattu was the happier of the two captains, as it now means Sri Lanka can’t lose the three-match series. Michael Vaughan, on the other hand, expressed his frustration, but insisted England would be well prepared for the final match on Sunday – assuming it’s not washed out.”It would have been wrong to have played in these conditions, and they weren’t going to improve,” Vaughan said. “It’s like a bog out there, the covering obviously hasn’t worked, but I just hope the rain stays off and we can get a game on Sunday.”It’s very frustrating, but you can only control what’s put in front of you. We’ll practise tomorrow and make sure we’re fully prepared for the last game.” However, those who have experienced the late monsoon before warn that Sunday’s game is also under threat.

The Indian selectors sprung a surprise, naming only a 20-man probables list for the four-match Test series in Australia. Announcing the line-up, SK Nair, secretary of the Indian board, said that the final squad of 16 would be named after India’s TVS Cup match against New Zealand at Hyderabad on Saturday.The list of probables includes Sadagoppan Ramesh as the third opener, while Deep Dasgupta has been named as the second wicketkeeper. There is no place in the squad for Sanjay Bangar, though. Among the other fringe players who made the list were Murali Kartik, Irfan Pathan, Aavishkar Salvi and L Balaji.The selectors also announced that Salvi would replace Ashish Nehra in the ODI squad for the Hyderabad match, and for the final, if India qualify. Nehra has been asked to play in Delhi’s Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai, which starts on November 15.The probables
Sourav Ganguly (capt), Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sadagoppan Ramesh, Hemang Badani, Yuvraj Singh, Deep Dasgupta (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Murali Kartik, Aavishkar Salvi, Irfan Pathan, L Balaji.ODI squad for rest of the TVS Cup
Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid (wk), Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Ajit Agarkar, Parthiv Patel (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Aavishkar Salvi, Murali Kartik.

Frizzell County Championship Division One
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Lancashire 225 for 2 v Sussex at Old Trafford
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Match Reports: Day 1 – Daily Telegraph | Day 2 – Daily Telegraph |Leicestershire 151 for 6 v Kent at Leicester
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Match Reports: Day 1 – Daily Telegraph | Day 2 – Daily Telegraph |Nottinghamshire 316 for 5 v Middlesex at Lord’s
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Match Reports: Day 1 – Daily Telegraph | Day 2 – Daily Telegraph |Frizzell County Championship Division Two
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Somerset 409 v Derbyshire 32 for 0 at Taunton
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Match Reports: Day 1 – Daily Telegraph | Day 2 – Daily Telegraph |Northants 319 v Glamorgan 20 for 0 at Cardiff
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Match Reports: Day 1 – Daily Telegraph | Day 2 – Daily Telegraph |Gloucestershire 374 v Durham 2 for 0 at Bristol
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Match Reports: Day 1 – Daily Telegraph | Day 2 – Daily Telegraph |

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has suggested the inclusion of cricket in the South Asian Federation (SAF) Games as part of a move to end the cricketing deadlock between India and Pakistan. “ACC will officially request the South Asian Sports Federation (SASF) to include cricket in the SAF Games, which we think can be stepping stone for the revival of cricket between India and Pakistan,” ACC development manager Zakir Hussain Syed told AFP.India snapped bilateral cricket links with arch rivals Pakistan over political tension in 2000, but recent efforts to normalise relations between the two nations have raised hopes of ties being revived soon. “We are sure that cricket can increase the appeal of the games to a great extent, and besides Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh – the four Test playing nations – Nepal can also chip in,” said Syed.Pakistan announced last week that it would stage the biennial SAF Games in January 2004. The games, scheduled to be held in Islamabad in September 2001, were first cancelled following security fears in the wake of the 9/11 terrorists attacks on the United States and the ensuing war in neighbouring Afghanistan. Later, Pakistan was twice forced to cancel the Games, first in March 2002 and then in March this year, after India refused to participate.The SAF Games events include athletics, badminton, boxing, football, volleyball, weightlifting, taekwondo, karate, table tennis, wrestling, shooting and swimming. Hockey was included on expiremental basis in the Games held in India in 1995.”Cricket can have more representation in the Games and even a fledgling nation like Afghanistan can participate in it,” said Syed. The Games were initiated in 1984 under the auspices of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), and are contested by India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Nepal. Afghanistan was also included in the SAF Games fold last year. The last edition of the Games were held in Nepal in 1999.