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Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s captain, confident in the faith the selectors have shown in him by confirming his position for the the next three series, is upbeat about his young side’s chances on the forthcoming tour to Australia. Speaking to Wisden Cricinfo, Inzamam said, “These are Pakistan’s best players and I feel it is a balanced team. Conditions in Australia are difficult but the way they have performed in the last few months, I am confident that they can perform very well there. I am going there to win, there is no compromise on that.”The composition of the squad has been questioned in some quarters for containing only two specialist openers and the omission of Taufeeq Umar. But both Wasim Bari, the chief selector, and Inzamam defended the decision, arguing that Yasir Hameed, till now the future of Pakistan at one-down, is now to be considered an opener as well. Bari told us: “Hameed can go one-down and as an opener and we are considering him seriously as an opener – if Andrew Hall can work as an opener then why not Hameed? Yasir has opened in ODIs before and we are confident he can do it.”The selection of Kamran Akmal as the sole wicketkeeper, ahead of the discarded Moin Khan and Rashid Latif, may well signal the end of an era for Pakistan behind the stumps. “We want to give Akmal responsibility, we want him to develop now because potentially he is very good and if you give someone like him responsibility he will develop faster,” said Bari.Inzamam played down fears of not having any back-up: “I don’t want to put pressure on Akmal by taking an extra keeper, in case he fails. I want to give him a free hand for this tour.”The selectors, said Bari, were impressed in particular with the newcomers Mohammad Khalil and Mohammad Asif. “Khalil, in particular, is a very fit young man, and he impressed in the trials. He gives us variety as a left-armer, and with Asif, who is tall and gets good bounce, we have adequate back-up. But we will miss Shabbir Ahmed and Umar Gul.”The recall of the experienced Shahid Afridi for the Test squad, after a considerable period, also came under scrutiny, with some former cricketers questioning the need for a third allrounder, and one unproven at Test level. “He has developed well recently, especially his bowling,” asserted Bari. “I feel he can be called upon to do a job as a utility member for the Tests – he gives an extra option to the captain.”But, as selector and captain pointed out, it will be the younger players who will need to perform and establish themselves on this tour. “Australia are the strongest team in the world – it will be a tough series and they need to fight it out,” said Bari. “It’s time for players like Farhat and Hameed to step up to the next level.”

Even if Ken Gordon and the fresh dispensation at the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Dinanath Ramnarine and whoever else represents the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) agree tomorrow to end the insipid squabbling that has dragged West Indies cricket to the depth of despair, it will not be the end of the matter.Perceptive man that he is, the new WICB president no doubt recognises the potential perils of the fallout from a dispute that gradually degenerated into the language of the rum shop, tore players apart to such an extent that two West Indies touring teams had to be separated into different hotels in Colombo and even set off a furious, widely publicised argument between two prime ministers at a Caricom summit.He has declared settlement of the dispute with the WIPA to be one of his immediate priorities. As president of the organisation charged with ensuring the overall well-being of West Indies cricket, he obviously shares the hope of every West Indian to have all the players available for selection. He would not be president if he didn’t.It is what happens when that is achieved that must concern him and his colleagues, as much as it does Ramnarine and his.How will players at such odds with each other suddenly bond together in a unified West Indies team-or, for that matter, any territorial team?How will selectors properly assess the progress indisputably made by several of those who chose to go to Sri Lanka and the form and fitness of those who chose not to, given that there is no first-class cricket before the tour of Australia for three Tests in November?How will coach Bennett King manage to engender the same spirit that earned the team of ridiculed reserves in Sri Lanka such respect that Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu said he would rather tackle India in the one-day final?If I may be so bold, let me put forward a suggestion to the new president and his board that, I believe, would kill with one stone the encircling corbeaux ready to continue feeding on the carcass of West Indies cricket.It is for the staging of two four-day competitive trial matches next month in Guyana, the only territory virtually guaranteed dry weather at that time.September 16 to 19 and 22 to 25 are the dates I’ve jotted down.The squads, each of 13, would comprise all the players originally chosen for the Sri Lanka tour, those who appeared in the Tests in Sri Lanka and any others the selectors deem deserving from the “A” team on its simultaneous tour of Sri Lanka.They would be integrated equally, meaning that those who went and those who didn’t would play alongside each other in the same team under a designated captain.Bennett King would be coach of one squad, his assistant David Moore of the other. Bryce Cavanagh would be there as trainer to maintain the fitness of those players who have kept up with their training programmes and spruce up those who haven’t.Each outfit would ideally have a former West Indies player as technical consultant, or whatever title the board can come up with, not only to assist on cricketing matters but to help develop reconciliation between the players.The purpose of the exercise would be three-fold.It would, above everything else, bring all the players together and impress on them that there is no “Real West Indies” and no “Bogus West Indies”, but simply One West Indies that desperately needs to break the culture of defeatism that has enveloped it for a decade and more, no matter who represents it on the field.If there are those who have a problem playing with their fellow West Indians and fellow cricketers, president Gordon, coach King, the selectors and every one else must advise them that there is no place for them in any West Indies team.Secondly, the occasion would provide proper preparation for what, at present, is the toughest assignment of all, a Test series in Australia in November.Without such groundwork, whatever West Indies team takes it on will go short of match practice, more especially those who have had no meaningful cricket since the end of the international home series in early June.In this regard, it is mind-boggling, but significant, that so few are playing club cricket where it is available in their home territory.The matches would also create competition for places, a missing element that has tended to promote complacency in West Indies teams for some time. It doesn’t mean that Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan or Chris Gayle would have to score hundreds to guarantee their places.Selectors are always persuaded more by experience and proven records than temporary form but there are only a few in the West Indies at present who qualify on the former basis.The organisation of such an event at short notice is clearly more difficult than it sounds. The WICB’s record on this account is not encouraging and it already has the regional One-day tournament penned in for sometime in October, prior to the team’s departure for Australia on October 22.In the present circumstances or, come to think of it, any circumstances a One-day tournament is utterly irrelevant as preparation for a team heading off to the other side of the world to contest three Tests against the game’s most powerful opponents.Even if things between the WICB and the WIPA were all sweetness and light, a couple of competitive, four-day matches would still be far more beneficial.There are bound to be some complications that haven’t occurred to me but no doubt will to the WICB and the WIPA.In the meantime, I put forward the following possible squads from which the two elevens would be chosen:Squad one Devon Smith, Xavier Marshall, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Daren Ganga, Brian Lara, Wavell Hinds (captain), Narsingh Deonarine, Omari Banks, Dwayne Smith, Denesh Ramdin, Tino Best, Corey Collymore, Pedro Collins. Coach: Bennett King.Squad two Chris Gayle, Ryan Ramdass, Runako Morton, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain), Sylvester Joseph, Dwayne Bravo, Carlton Baugh, Ian Bradshaw, Dave Mohamed, Daren Powell, Fidel Edwards, Deighton Butler, Dwight Washington.The assumption is that Jermaine Lawson would still be subject of the ICC’s bowling review committee and ineligible on that score for Australia and that Marlon Samuels and Ryan Hinds remain out of favour, reportedly for failing to keep up with their assigned fitness regimes.

Muttiah Muralitharan has signed up as Lanka IOC’s brand manager in a lucrative sponsorship deal. The company had showed interest in Muralitharan after the Lanka IOC Asia Cup held earlier this year.M Nageswaran, the managing director of the company, said, “This tie-up between Lanka IOC and Muralitharan effectively brings together two major players in their respective fields, with the hope of working together as a team to further promote and develop not only the petroleum industry in the country, but also Sri Lanka as a whole.” Nageswaran also spoke about how the company and Muralitharan were part of the `500-club’: one had over 500 Test wickets, the other was a Fortune-500 company, and both were on everybody’s lips.”Not only is Muralitharan loved and admired in his country of origin, but he is also a much-respected figure the world over. Having faced and successfully overcome many obstacles in his rise to the top position in the cricketing world, Muralitharan is an example of how strength and determination can conquer any obstacles placed in its way. Similarly, ensuring international standards of service and meeting stringent quality and eco-friendly standards, Lanka IOC’s operations in Sri Lanka will also uphold those virtues of strength and determination.”

Chandu Sarwate, a former Indian Test player and national selector, has died in Indore following a protracted illness. Sarwate, 83, represented India in nine Tests, scoring 208 runs and taking three wickets.His international record was modest, but Sarwate’s first-class record was superb: over a career spanning 32 years and 171 matches – most of them for Holkar – he took 494 wickets with his mix of offspin and legspin bowling at an average of 23, while scoring 7430 runs at a shade under 33.Sarwate’s best moments came when the Indians toured England in 1946. Playing a match against Surrey at The Oval, Sarwate, who normally batted in the middle order, came in at No. 10 and added 249 for the last wicket with Shute Banerjee, the No. 11. Both batsmen hit centuries – the only instance in first-class cricket when the No. 10 and No. 11 scored hundreds – as India recovered from 205 for 9 to 454. Not satisfied with that effort, Sarwate went on to take 5 for 54 in Surrey’s second innings as the Indians wrapped up a nine-wicket win.A fingerprint expert by profession, Sarwate was also a national selector for three seasons, from 1980-81 to 1982-83.

Alexei Kervezee, the 17-year-old Netherlands batsman, has signed a two-year contract with Worcestershire. Highly regarded in Dutch cricket, he made his one-day debut as a 16-year-old in July this year against Sri Lanka in which he made a cultured 47.”Alexei came to our attention earlier this year and is a very accomplished and exciting young talent,” Mark Newton, Worcestershire’s chief executive said. “He came over to trial with the club and I went to Amsterdam recently to meet with him and his family. We have agreed that he will spend the next two seasons with us where he will benefit from being part of a professional squad.”Holland’s bowling coach Ian Pont told Cricinfo: “This guy is a serious player with shades of Graeme Hick. It’s a massive story for Holland.””I’m very happy and excited about signing with the club,” Kervezee said, “and am looking forward to learning from such great players and coaches. I have already received such warm and encouraging impressions from everyone – the players, the coaches and the management at Worcestershire.”Kervezee was also named in the Netherlands World Cup squad for the 2007 tournament in the Caribbean.

Retravision Warrior Murray Goodwin says he wants to focus on playing quality cricket for Western Australia in the wake of his reprimand from Cricket Australia.Cricket Australia Code of Behaviour Commissioner Mr Alan Sullivan QC yesterday reprimanded Goodwin for breaching Cricket Australia’s Code of Behaviour.Goodwin was charged by the Western Australian Cricket Association under Rule 9 of Section 1 of the Code for making detrimental public comment regarding the selection of the Zimbabwe Test team."The breach was not intended," Goodwin said."I value my working relationship with the WACA and the privilege of playing for WA. I would not wish to do anything that would damage that relationship."I’m now glad to put this matter behind me and concentrate on playing cricket."The case against Goodwin, due to be held before a full hearing in Sydney today but was brought forward after Goodwin advised of his intention to plead guilty.Mr Sullivan was asked to determine the question of penalty, if regarded as appropriate.Mr Sullivan found Goodwin’s comments were inappropriately timed and were potentially harmful to the interests of cricket. He took into account Goodwin’s genuine regret in making the comments and his prior record in handing down the verdict.He considered that Goodwin intended no malice in the comments he made.

Two stalwarts of South African and Natal cricket have died with 24hours of each other. Dereck Dowling and Walter “Billy” Wade, both 89,Passed away in Durban at the end of last week, Dowling on May 30 and Wade on May 31.Wade was unable to tour, but played in 11 Tests for South Africa,against England in 1938-39 and 1948-49 and then against Australia in 1949-50. An unorthodox striker, he played for South Africaas a wicketkeeper/batsman although, as John Arlott observed, he had little liking for wicketkeeping and often played for Natal as a batsman.The rrother of the former South African captain Herby Wade, he diedin the same house he had lived in all his life.Dowling, an allrounder who bowled legspin, played for Natal andBorder either side of the war but came into his own as an administrator, and was a former president of Natal.

Robin Smith held centre stage in his Testimonial match at Eversley on Friday as he hit a vintage half century to entertain the large crowd.The former England Test batsman arrived at the wicket with his side in trouble at 38 for 3, and when Eversley’s South African pace man Louis Piso struck again to dismiss Shaun Udal for a duck, Hampshire were on the back foot at 51 for 4. Piso had already taken the wickets of Dimitri Mascarenhas and Alan Mullally, giving him three victims in the space of 14 balls.Smith found an ally in Will Kendall as the pair staged a rally with 135 for the fifth wicket in 58 minutes. Smith hammered ten fours and a six off 64 balls before holing out for 66, while Kendall stroked 12 fours and three sixes as he top-scored with 78 from 51 balls.Paul Terry made a cameo and 27 before falling to a one-handed diving slip catch by Jez Ackroyd, one of several brilliant examples of Eversley’s fielding which was a feature of the afternoon. It helped to dismiss Hampshire inside their allotted 40 overs for 253.Eversley made a sound start to their innings as Martin David (59) and Andy South (29) put on 71 for the first wicket, and then skipper Andrew O’Kelly (44) shared a partnership of 73 with David for the second wicket.Eversley were well placed at 144 for 2, but the middle order batsmen failed to capitalize, especially against the slow bowling of former Saints footballer Mark Dennis, who took 2 for 29 off six overs.Eversley finally needed a formidable 27 off the final over, bowled by Robin Smith. Although he was hit for a six, he retaliated with two wickets to seal his place as the star of the game.Robin was presented with a cheque for £3,500 by Eversley chairman John Hartle, who said that with proceeds from an auction, a raffle and a collection on the ground that raised more than £600 from the appreciative crowd, his total haul on the day topped £10,000.Andrew Renshaw, chairman of the match organizers, said: “The brilliant weather and top-class cricket from both sides in front of the largest crowd at Eversley for years, all combined to make it a memorable day, and we were delighted with the result for Robin.”

Eversley CC v Robin Smith’s Hampshire XIResult: Hampshire won by 16 runsHampshireJames Hamblin         c Ackroyd      b Parkin      17Dimitri Mascarenhas   c Carey        b Piso         6Alan Mullally                        b Piso         0Shaun Udal                           b Piso         0Robin Smith           c Niemandt     b Ackroyd     66Will Kendall          c Parkin       b Ackroyd     78Mark Dennis           c Burgess      b Kaminski     1Paul Terry            c Ackroyd      b O’Kelly     27Patrick Farhart       c Carey        b Ackroyd     12Nic Pothas            c Burgess      b O’Kelly      3Simon Katich          not out                      14Extras                                             19Total                (all out, 37.1 overs)        253Eversley bowling: Piso 3-36, Ackroyd 3-30, O’Kelly 2-23EversleyMartin David          c Hamblin      b Kendall     59Andy South                           b Mullally    29Andrew O’Kelly        lbw            b Kendall     44David Newth           lbw            b Pothas       7Romek Kaminski        c Terry        b Dennis       5Jeremy Ackroyd        c Pothas       b Smith       29Simon Carey           c Mascarenhas  b Dennis      11Louis Piso                           b Smith       25W Niemandt            not out                       0Patrick Parkin        not out                       1Extras                                             26Total                (for 8 wkts, 40 overs)       237Hampshire bowling: Kendall 2-10, Dennis 2-29, Smith 2-7

Two days before the start of the first Test between India and New Zealand at Ahmedabad, John Wright looks ahead to the challenges confronting the team. Despite the heat, Wright is pleased with preparations, conditions and just about everything else. He described the scorching heat as "very pleasant" and addressed a press conference.On the Ahmedabad Test
A lot of teams have come to India expecting to beat us. England came here after winning series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. All I can say is that we are looking forward to the match here, to the entire series.On India’s preparation for the New Zealand series
We have also been preparing plans for the opposition. Every team has plans for each other. That actually hasn’t changed too much over the years. I suppose the equipment these days allows you to do it in quicker time, but planning for different teams and players has been going on for years and will continue to happen. We have our plans. The trick is to execute them. It’s all very well having plans, but it’s the execution that’s the key. We have done our home work and the thing about us is we want to play good cricket. We try and concentrate on our preparation and what we want to do. That’s always been my belief. You only achieve good results if you play good cricket and play well yourself. We tend to look inwards as much as we can, bearing in mind that we need to do our home work on the opposition as well.On the selection of Akash Chopra, L Balaji and Aavishkar Salvi
Particularly in Akash’s case, he is in good form and he has earned that opportunity with two good scores against the tourists. Balaji had a very good Irani Cup match. Salvi has been taking wickets in Sri Lanka. When young players come in, it is tough on the ones that have to go out, but in those particular cases, the players have earned their selections.On playing home Tests with only four specialist bowlers
It’s a formula that’s worked for us in India, and particularly in my tenure. I feel we have a tremendous opportunity to use people like Sourav, Sehwag and Sachin, perhaps bring them more into the game. I encourage them to bowl in the nets as much as possible. I think Tendulkar can be a match-winner with the ball. I have seen him play a big part in winning one of the Test matches against Australia in Kolkata. Sehwag is easily capable of bowling 12-15 overs in a Test match, he has got a lot of ability. And the captain is fitter and faster.On the Indian team’s fitness levels
Physically, we are fit. We are coming off a break, we were just used to playing cricket for long periods of time. It’s a little different in that regard, but certainly the boys are fresh, fit, keen and eager. I think they can play a bit! We are looking forward to playing attractive, entertaining cricket.

Sanath Jayasuriya, fuming after his side’s shock defeat against Kenya,claimed his side had performed like “amateurs”.Sri Lanka’s 53 run defeat means that they now face a tough fight to qualifyfor the Super Sixes with difficult games looming against South Africa andWest Indies.”I think it’s one of the worst matches I’ve ever played,” claimed Jaysuriyaafterwards. “211 was an attainable total but that was disappointing.”We did not play like professionals today, we played like amateurs.”We batted badly and our middle order didn’t click. This is my and theteam’s worst day in cricket.”Sri Lanka must win at least one of their remaining games against the WestIndies or the South Africa to have any chance of making the next round ofthe tournament.”I’m worried about the middle-order batting,” admitted Jayasuriya”This was the best opportunity they got before the big matches come and theydidn’t prove themselves.”We didn’t play well, and this puts us under pressure to beat the WestIndies in Cape Town. That match, and the one against South Africa, will be abig test of our character.”An elated Kenya captain, Steve Tikolo, praised his bowlers and fielders.”I was always confident of doing well in spite of the fact that I thought wewere about 40 runs short,” he said.