Bennett King, the West Indies coach, believes the DLF Cup against India and Australia in Malaysia provides ideal preparation for his side as they aim to defend the ICC Champions Trophy crown they won in England in 2004.”This tri-series is a good lead in to the Champions Trophy preliminary round, the quality of opposition is the strongest in the world so it is a good test against the best,” King said shortly before departure from the Caribbean.King, coach since late 2004, is looking forward to the team building on the progress of their suprising, and exhilirating, 4-1 series victory over India in the Caribbean in May. “In the last few games the team played as a team and we need to build on that learning experience to move forward.”The tri-series also marks the beginning of a lengthy three-and-a-half month tour of South Asia and the subcontinent; after Malaysia, West Indies will travel to India for the Champions Trophy before hopping next door to Pakistan for a series of three Tests and five ODIs immediately after. And King is looking forward eagerly to the sojourn.”What this whole combined tour will do is give us extended access to work with the players. It will be a test of the players’ durability and their ability to maintain quality and high levels of performance for a long period of time.”The 14-man squad is scheduled to arrive in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on September 9th and take on Australia in their first game on September 12th.

Yorkshire supporters grew used to infighting through the 1970s and 80s, but after success on the pitch a few years ago, it now seems that there is again some serious unrest off it.A report in the Yorkshire Post claims that Anthony McGrath, one of the senior players, is about to walk away after asking to be released from his county contract. It says that he has grown disillusioned with the club’s managementMcGrath, 31, was unavailable for comment, while Stewart Regan, the county’s chief executive, told the paper: “I have nothing to say at the present time and I’m not going to comment on speculation.”The latest upheaval appears to have been caused by the decision to part company with Richard Blakey, the former player turned coach. There is a feeling that he has been made a scapegoat for the club’s poor performances.If McGrath does move on, then he might be followed by Michael Lumb, who is said to be attracting interest from Hampshire.The Yorkshire Post also noted that the county is likely to re-sign Jason Gillespie for another season despite some less-than-impressive returns for them. In 14 first-class matches he took 36 wickets at 33.61. he is likely to be joined by Younis Khan, although the county declined to confirm or deny whether he had been signed.

Stuart Clark, the Australian fast bowler, will not figure in Australia’s campaign for the Champions Trophy. Cricket Australia announced that Clark had sustained a thigh injury while playing club cricket at home.Clark suffered a tear in his left quadriceps and will take at least four to six weeks to recover, according to Alex Kountouris, the Australian team physio. “The decision was made for him to stay in Australia and undergo treatment to maximise his chances of a full recovery before the Ashes series,” said Kountouris. The selection panel is yet to decide on a replacement.Clark was obviously disappointed to miss out on a major one-day tournament involving all the Test-playing countries and said that all he could do was look forward to a full rehabilitation. “I am confident that I will be back playing as soon as is possible and will be doing everything in my power to ensure that I’m fully fit ahead of the Ashes series,” he said.Meanwhile Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, felt that the team had all the bases covered for the Champions Trophy. “We have been knocked out in the semi-final in the last two Champions Trophies, but we definitely have the squad and the players to challenge seriously this year,” Ponting told AFP. “We’ve played some good cricket in Indian conditions before so we can go there now with confidence.”Australia will have the services of young talent like Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson for the tournament. In the DLF Cup in Malaysia, Australia’s last one-day tournament, Watson opened the batting in two matches, scoring a 79-ball 74 against India in a match that eventually got washed out. Apart from that he bagged seven wickets from four games at an average of 16.42.Ponting said that the experimentation with the batting-order had been successful. “It’s been a really good exercise. Having had a look at a few extra players in different roles, we have lots of different bases covered.”We’ve got a pretty good structure in place and if each guy looks after themselves and keeps trying to make themselves better day in and day out, then we will go a long way in the Champions Trophy.”Glen McGrath, Australia’s key bowler for many years, coming back from a long lay-off to be with his recuperating wife, had a poor outing in Malaysia, getting one wicket from four games. Yet he felt that he was heading in the right direction. “India is probably the toughest conditions for a fast bowler,” he said. “The wickets are pretty flat over there and the conditions are reasonably pleasant to bowl in.”Australia play their first game of the Champions Trophy on October 18 in Mumbai against one of the two qualifiers from the preliminary round

Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble and Wasim Jaffer have been included in India’s one-day side for the tour of South Africa, the five-match series starting on November 19. As expected, the national selection committee did not plump for new blood but reposed faith in the tried and tested while picking the 16-man squad.The five-man committee, headed by Dilip Vengsarkar, the former Indian captain, chose seven specialist batsmen, five fast bowlers and two spinners. The injured duo, Yuvraj Singh and Ajit Agarkar, were also part of the squad but a couple of players were put on standby to take their place if necessary.Agarkar, who had injured his left thumb, is scheduled to undergo a fitness test on November 10 while the report regarding Yuvraj’s cruciate ligament will be out this evening. VRV Singh, the fast bowler from Punjab, and Dinesh Karthik, the Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper who’s played three ODIs, were the two stand-bys.Jaffer, who is yet to make his one-day debut, made the cut ahead of the likes of Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa but Vengsarkar suggested that the nature of the surfaces in South Africa prompted the move. “We’re expecting to get grassy, bouncy wickets there and Wasim has the technique to bat on those wickets. He’s a proven player and has had success in Tests. I think any good Test player can do well in one-dayers.”Suresh Raina retained his spot in the middle order, though it may be his fielding ability rather than his batting that edged him ahead. “VVS Laxman is a class player but he has a fitness problem,” said Vengsarkar when asked about his case, “and we thought his fitness wasn’t good enough for one-day cricket. Raina has the potential but he needs to perform now. I think we need to groom him.”

RP Singh and Ramesh Powar missed out to their more illustrious rivals. Zaheer Khan made a return after nearly eight months while Kumble, who last played one-dayers more than a year ago, also earned a recall. Kumble hasn’t been a force in one-dayers for a while – he’s been picked for just 23 matches since the 2003 World Cup – but his experience and quality, in a side where the bowlers need a senior guiding hand, was no doubt a factor that went in his favour.Zaheer was one of those who barged through the door on sheer performance. His 78 wickets in 16 games inspired Worcestershire to the first division and he too would be handy in lending his experience to the younger fast bowlers. “Zaheer has improved a lot,” asserted Vengsarkar, “and he’s hungry for success.”He added that India’s Champions Trophy performance, where they failed to make it to the semi-final, was a point of discussion between the selectors and team management. “Both the coach and captain are not happy with the performance,” he continued, “but I think the team is pretty balanced. The players haven’t been in good form and that’s been the main problem. Our top five batsmen failed to stay till the end while our bowlers couldn’t get us early breakthroughs. But we can’t make wholesale changes.”The most worrying aspect was Vengsarkar’s comment on the bench-strength, when he said there was “not much talent” around at the domestic level. “There are many who are good at the first-class level,” he said,” but I cannot say I have seen any exceptional talent.”One-day squad
Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid (capt), Wasim Jaffer, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Mongia, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Irfan Pathan, Yuvraj Singh (Dinesh Karthik on stand by), Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, S Sreesanth, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Ajit Agarkar (VRV Singh on stand by).

Twenty20 cricket continues in its groundbreaking way – and the latest development could be good news for the women’s game.In January, two of the Australian state sides will face each other, in both men’s and women’s matches. And the games will be held back-to-back, which will help in the promotion of the women’s game.It’s an idea that’s been in circulation in England for several years, but Australia are paving the way with the matches between South Australia and Queensland which will be played at the Adelaide Oval on January 10.Australia’s captain Karen Rolton hopes that if the experiment is successful it may be replicated on the women’s stage. Rolton, the ICC’s women’s player of the year, will play for South Australia and she says: “All the men’s Twenty20s are sell-outs at the moment and the crowds have to arrive early I think it’s a great way to promote women’s cricket.”

New Zealand and Sri Lanka have each won a Test and Twenty20 match and the five-match one-day series beginning on December 28 at Napier will decide who takes the winner’s position.Nathan Astle has been cleared to play the first match after it was confirmed that he had only bruised his hand, and not broken it, during the second Twenty20 match on Boxing Day.Astle was relieved that the injury, which occurred when Marvan Atapattu tried to run him out, wasn’t serious. “It would have been a funny way to break a bone. I didn’t know he was going to throw it – I was two metres past the stumps,” he told AFP.Due to a rotational policy to keep the top players fit for the World Cup in March, Stephen Fleming will miss the first two games and Daniel Vettori, who was himself rested for the Twenty20 matches, has been appointed the stand-in captain. Shane Bond will also miss the first two games while Kyle Mills, Scott Styris and Jacob Oram are out of contention due to injuries.Back-up bowlers Michael Mason and Mark Gillespie are doubtful to play and though Vettori remains hopeful Iain O’Brien, a medium-pace bowler, has been recalled into the squad. “We’ll leave it as long as we can,” Vettori said adding that the two bowlers, along with James Franklin, had troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen with pace and bounce in the Twenty20 game at Auckland. “It’s always been a criticism of subcontinent batsmen when they come to this part of the world – if you get up to them it unsettles them,” he said.New Zealand hosted Sri Lanka for four ODIs last December-January and won the series 3-1. Vettori wants to better the result this time round in preparation for the World Cup. “We’ve talked about the fact that if we want to consider ourselves as one of the favourites for the World Cup, we’ve got to start winning consistently — and if we’re not winning in our own backyard we can’t be put up as favourites.” But Vettori has been criticised for picking an inexperienced side that includes Ross Taylor, who has played only two ODIs, and James Marshall, who has played five.Tom Moody, the Sri Lanka coach, also looked at the five matches as part of Sri Lanka’s build-up to the World Cup. “This is part of the process, another hurdle. We want to look at a couple of combinations,” he said. Having tied the Test series, the Sri Lankan team will be confident about their chances in the ODIs. Sri Lanka play four ODIs in India in February before heading to West Indies in March.New Zealand squad: Daniel Vettori (captain), Andre Adams, Nathan Astle, James Franklin, Peter Fulton, Mark Gillespie, Hamish Marshall, James Marshall, Michael Mason, Brendon McCullum, Iain O’Brien, Jeetan Patel, Ross Taylor.Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Marvan Atapattu, Malinga Bandara, Tillekaratne Dilshan, Dilhara Fernando, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ruchira Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga, Chaminda Vaas

Howzit Hersch,Trust you’re bearing up – this too shall pass, at least, that’s what they tell me. Anyway. It was wonderful to see you in decent batting nick at Centurion. Good grafting stuff, and bad luck about missing the century.As for the other issue, if the offending fans were white would you still have said what you said? That’s what the racism argument boils down to, you see.I’m asking this question because when the South African team suffered racist abuse from spectators – most of them white – in Australia last season, there was no shouting about or at the fans from the field. At least, none seems to have been recorded.I’m not calling you racist, I’m trying to explain why some people might do so.And what about the Pakistani batsmen who were out there on the field with you? Didn’t you think that what you said broke the admittedly unwritten rules of sledging? Also, how does it change anything if you were talking to your teammates? The comments you made are still out there, regardless.I have to tell you that when I heard for myself what you said, I was disgusted. It’s not the swearing. Bloody hell, I’m a reporter – we were born effing and blinding, and I’ll continue to do so until I b****r off this mortal coil at the age of 112. So swearing doesn’t scare me. Instead, it was your harsh tone that struck me most.There was something close to hate in your voice, Hersch, and that’s not a pretty sound. I have this mental pen pic of you as an easy-going bloke who enjoys his talent and realises how lucky he is to make his living in the sunshine. That wasn’t what I heard on that tape.I do not doubt that the Pakistan supporters were becoming increasingly unruly. They were loud and irritating from the distance of the press box, never mind from over your shoulder. In fact, the reporting of this story has been unfair to you because all we have to go on is what you said. This saga will remain unfairly skewed against you unless we are somehow able to reveal what the fans were saying. Let no one suggest that they are blameless in all this.Be that as it may, if the security staff did their jobs properly when they removed the supporters who swore at Paul Harris, why didn’t you call the big boys in when things went too far where you were fielding?I should tell you that I do have some idea of how you felt. Three hours after the close of play on Sunday, I was still working in the press box. The plan was to send the BBC a few clips of what Mickey Arthur had said at the press conference that evening. The plan was not working, because of a man and his leafblower.Now, a leafblower is an inspired choice for removing the debris left behind in the stands by the crowd after a day’s play, and this bloke had been doing his job infuriatingly well for two hours. Do you know what a leafblower sounds like, Hersch? It’s a bit like an elephant shoving its trunk into your ear and trumpeting for all its worth. Try editing audio clips with that racket going on.After two hours of this little lot, the end of my tether was at hand. The chairs in the Centurion press box are sturdy, and made of metal … Yup, I hurled a chair into the stand the man was cleaning. Not at him, of course – I was simply trying to attract his attention to ask him when a semblance of silence might return. But that doesn’t change anything. I should have contacted the stadium manager, I should have followed the procedures. I should have kept my cool. I didn’t.I enjoyed an instant of satisfaction as the chair clattered into the plastic stadium seating. Then I realised just what an unprofessional, reckless idiot I had been. I tried to find the man to apologise, but he was long gone.The next morning, I asked for a few moments of the stadium chief executive’s time. I explained myself, and I was relieved when she decided to let the matter rest there.I think I reacted as most people would have done. I realised I had done something that required an apology and that I might have my accreditation withdrawn as a consequence. That realisation doesn’t make me anything special, it was entirely normal.Which makes me wonder why, after admitting your guilt, you’re now pursuing an appeal. It looks like you think you needn’t have to face the consequences of your actions.I can’t tell you how disappointing that is. But, hey, I’ll get over it, and pretty soon you’ll be one of my favourite players again.I’ll stop bending your ear now. Before I do, I need to ask you to keep this between us. I know it’s going to be on the worldwide web, and that many millions of people will have access to it. But there’s stuff in here that I’d rather not have broadcast out there. So, off the record? Know what I mean?Cheers,Telford Vice

Prasun Mukherjee, the Kolkata Police Commissioner, has been elected President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Mukherjee was elected unopposed and was the only contender with a valid nomination. He succeeds Jagmohan Dalmiya, who held the post till his resignation last December.There was no other nominee, following the decision of Subhas Chakraborty, the sports minister, not to be a contender at the direction of his party, the CPI-M. Saradindu Pal, the CAB secretary, said that a formal announcement of Mukherjee’s election would be made at the CAB’s Special General Meeting (SGM) on February 1.”My first priority will be to improve relations with the BCCI as also the infrastructure of the CAB,” Mukherjee told a press conference. He added that he would seek suggestions from all affiliated clubs of the CAB and prioritise his task.Mukherjee, the first bureaucrat to be elected to the post, said that Chakraborty’s decision not to contest against him was a ‘good and nice gesture’ and that it had put an end to the unhealthy atmosphere that prevailed over the last few days.Asked whether he would seek advice from his predecessor Dalmiya, he quipped, “Why not? “Dalmiya has vast experience in cricket administration. I will even seek advice from Biswanath Dutta, another former CAB chief. They are all very experienced people.”Since there was no contest, he added, “Credit goes to all. We are all united and our task is to improve the condition of cricket.”

Anthony McGrath’s county future still appears to be away from Headingley after his solicitors insisted his contract with Yorkshire is over. The club have said they are still holding out hope of resolving the problems with McGrath, but his agents says this is far from the case.They claim McGrath is free to speak to other counties – with rumours suggesting Lancashire are the favourites for his signature – although Yorkshire believe he has broken ECB rules if he talks to other potential employers.The statement from McGrath’s lawyers said: “It was reported last Friday that Yorkshire CCC is still hopeful that Anthony McGrath will play for the club during the 2007 season.”McGrath will not be playing for Yorkshire CCC during the 2007 season. His contract with Yorkshire has come to an end. This has been communicated unequivocally to the club in no uncertain terms by McGrath’s solicitors.”Press reports on Friday said that Stewart Regan, Yorkshire’s chief executive, had written to other counties warning them not to talk to McGrath. The letter reportedly says: “It is possible you may be approached by Mr McGrath’s agent, regarding the possibility of him playing for your club.”I am, however, putting you on notice that as matters currently stand, Yorkshire would regard any such approaches as constituting a breach of [ECB] regulation seven.”However, the lawyers’ statement continues: “The ECB has confirmed in writing to McGrath that in the event his contract with the club has come to an end and the club have been given the relevant notice that he may hold discussions with other counties.”McGrath has previously said his reasons for wanting to leave Yorkshire are a breakdown in his relationship with the club and a wish to reignite his England career. His solicitor Mike Townley said: “It has been made 100% clear to Yorkshire through their solicitors that McGrath’s employment contract has been brought to an end and therefore that he will not be playing for them in the future.”I therefore couldn’t understand why the club said that they are still hopeful that he will be playing for Yorkshire next season. In addition McGrath is now entitled to speak to other counties regarding new employment for next season – and this is what he intends to do.”

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

Three fluent half-centuries set up Sri Lanka’s dominance before a scorching spell from Lasith Malinga made a mess of Bermuda’s maiden World Cup appearance at Port-of-Spain. The 243-run walloping was the third-heaviest in one-dayers and it was only thanks to some lower-order resistance that it avoided being an even more gory bloodbath.Choosing to bat on a flat deck, Sri Lanka’s power-packed line-up didn’t need to do anything out of the ordinary – Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara combined for a solid 150-run stand before Chamara Silva erected an imposing skyscraper. Bermuda’s unheralded batsmen were never going to threaten such a mammoth total, not with Malinga, exotic hairstyle and all, swinging out three wickets in as many overs.Just like Australia dispatched off the Scots yesterday, Sri Lanka were ruthless in their annihilation. Chaminda Vaas removed Clay Smith in the first over, curving one in and trapping him plumb, before Malinga took over with a devastating touch. Saleem Mukuddem limply hung his bat out to a slightly short delivery, David Hemp committed a similar error, just that the edge was thicker, and Irvine Romaine had no answer to a full-length ball that detonated his pads. Farveez Maharoof and Muttiah Muralitharan mopped up the lower order but Bermuda were deep into the triangle by then. Lionel Cann’s 28, including three fours and a six, avoided a slew of infamous records but it did nothing but delay the inevitable.Sri Lanka’s batsmen didn’t need to produce any sensational fireworks with the bat but just capitalise on the spate of loose deliveries on offer. None went on to a big score but all combined in an efficient operation built around the Jayawardene-Sangakkara union. The long-hops and wide deliveries were dispatched in style and there was little need for any risk in between. Singles and twos were plenty on offer, especially with the batsman manoeuvring the ball in the gaps, and the rate was always on the up.Jayawardene crossed fifty for the first time since June 2006 and also brought up his highest score in World Cup matches. Sangakkara achieved a similar feat and thrilled with his punchy drives down the ground. Their dismissals brought some cheer in the Bermuda camp but Silva ensured that the celebrations were short lived. Coming off a brilliant century against India at Vishakapatnam (Sri Lanka’s last ODI before the World Cup), he flayed the bowling to all parts. He was especially severe on the spinners, dancing down the track and slashing wide of the cover fielders. He also hustled between the wickets and brought up a half-century in his first World Cup match.

Bermuda seemed to suffer from stage fright on their World Cup debut, turning in as lukewarm a bowling performance as the crowd response at Trinidad. Kevin Hurdle’s 14-ball third over was a sign of things to come and all their bowlers, barring medium-pacer Mukuddem, veered towards the erratic. There was sloppiness on the field as well, largely from the portly Dwayne Leverock, who let off Jayawardene on 0 and 51 and was made to pay. Two tremendous dives at the end of the innings was merely a consolation for a forgettable day.Hurdle promised much in the opening over of the day. Standing almost six-and-a-half feet tall and running in with an easy action, he extracted steepling bounce and jammed Sanath Jayasuriya’s left index finger. But he lost his run-up and direction soon after and conceded as many as 15 extras in his nine-over spell. His opening partner, Mukuddem, was far more impressive. Not as quick but far more accurate, he made the batsman play regularly and induced a few tentative prods.He removed the dangerous Jayasuriya – though that was thanks to the batsman’s indiscretion, cutting uppishly to point – and should have had Jayawardene for a first-ball duck, when the portly Dwayne Leverock grassed a regulation chance off an airy flash. Mukuddem was also unlucky not to have had Upul Tharanga’s wicket when he was on 28 after Ian Howell turned down a confident shout for lbw. His spell was probably one of the few silver linings in Bermuda’s disastrous opening.