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Ricky Ponting has dismissed the fracas surrounding Shaun Tait’s action as “absolute rubbish” and called New Zealand’s insinuations “a bit disappointing”. But he admitted the situation motivated Australia to victory in the Chappell-Hadlee Series opener in Adelaide on Friday.”It seems to be their opinion,” Ponting said. “To air it publicly is a bit disappointing I suppose, but what can you do? It probably just makes us a bit hungrier to go out there and play some good cricket against them.”He said he can’t see anything wrong in Tait’s action, which hasn’t been questioned before, and wasn’t reported to the match referee after the Twenty20 match on Tuesday. “He’s got my full support, it all looks pretty good to me,” Ponting said. “I think everyone handled it well and Shaun especially. When things like that come up that are absolute rubbish you dismiss them.”Ponting himself contributed a chanceless century in the seven-wicket win on Friday, while Tait took three wickets, including a crucial double-strike which punctured New Zealand’s momentum and left them 30 runs short of a par score.Daniel Vettori clarified his position after saying on Thursday, “You ask Braces [coach John Bracewell]” that one”, when asked if he had an issue with Tait’s action. “I never meant to insinuate that he was a chucker,” Vettori said after the match. “There is a process in place if you feel a bowler has an illegal action and obviously we haven’t gone through that process.”Although New Zealand came up short on a flat track, Brendon McCullum’s 96 to push them past 250 gave them a psychological boost. “It certainly helps,” Vettori said. “We were obviously coming in off question marks about whether we could play pace or not. I’d like to think we answered that.”There are few question marks surrounding Australia’s continued dominance and they are now one step closer to regaining the trophy from New Zealand’s clutches. The visitors have to win on Sunday in Sydney to stay in the series.

Mohammad Yousuf’s lawyer, Tafuzzal Rizvi, has moved an application against the Indian Cricket League (ICL), saying his client had returned the money paid to him before backing out of a contract and signing with the officially-sanctioned Indian Premier League (IPL).In the application, Rizvi, who represented Yousuf at an arbitration hearing in Mumbai on January 24, insisted that there was “no contract” with the ICL as the money was “received back by the ICL without any objection”.Based on the application, the arbitrator has issued notices to the ICL, asking their legal team to appear before him on February 20 to provide their response.Meanwhile, a PCB media release, while elaborating on the details of this case, says Yousuf’s name will be included in the IPL bidding process on February 8, which is open to its eight city-based franchises.

Somerset’s first innings ended 25 minutes before lunch on the second day when they were bowled out for 488. Top scorer Keith Parsons remained undefeated on 193, an innings which contained 22 boundaries and one 6.Resuming from their overnight 390-6 Somerset’s not out batsmen Parsons and Jason Kerr looked to seize the initiative early and elevate their side to a potentially match-winning first innings total.During the West Indies last tour of the UK in 1995 Kerr scored 80 against them at taunton. Sadly his batting has stagnated somewhat and he yet to better that score. He began confidently on the second morning though, driving Nixon McLean straight for four and then slashing high over the slips for another boundary.Those two shots helped lift the county side beyond 400, the first side to do so this summer and the first time ever that Somerset have done it against the West Indies. With Reon King off the fielding – nursing a bruised instep – and Corey Collymore also mysteriously absent, Roger Harper, the West Indies’ coach, reminded us of a bygone era with some athletic stops and fine throwing from the deep.The tourists had perhaps expected to swiftly wrap up the Somerset innings on the second day but Parsons and Kerr had other ideas as they stretched their stand past 70.Nine years ago South African Jimmy Cook hit 162, the highest individual score by a Somerset batsmen against the West Indies, and he was expunged from the record books as Parsons went past him with a clip to midwicket.With the score on 422 Nixon McLean, in his 23rd over, at last picked up his first wicket. Kerr, having made an accomplished 32, steered a sharply-lifting delivery into the bucket-like hands of Lara at first slip.Adrian Pierson hung around for 20 balls (during which he only made a single) before he nicked one to ‘keeper Phillip, again off McLean. That brought 20 year old Joe Tucker in for his debut innings, which began with a McLean ‘throat ball’. A clumsily-conceded bye enabled him to escape to the relative sanctuary of Nagamootoo’s end, allowing Parsons to smash the quickie down the ground for 4.It was from the bowling of McLean that Tucker eventually got his first run, dabbing him on the on-side for a single. His next scoring shot almost brought his downfall – a dash for the line just beating Adrian Griffith’s direct hit from midwicket. Visibly growing in confidence he then pulled McLean square to bring up the 450.After bowling 12 consecutive from the River End Nixon McLean gave way to Wavell Hinds and the switch brought instant success as Tucker feathered hi first ball to Phillip for an encouraging 14.Last man Jamie Grove hung around to add 17 valuable runs but with Parsons in sight of a double-ton he lost his middle stump to Hinds, who finished with 3-32.

Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

MCC wrapped up a convincing 112-run win over an International XI, in the tsunami appeal match at Lord’s, as their spin bowlers collected nine wickets between them. Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Chris Gayle took three each after Brian Lara and Graeme Smith threatened to set up a thrilling finish.Brian Lara and Graeme Smith lit up Lord’s with some thrilling stroke play, adding 75 in just 8.1 overs as the asking rate was kept within reach, but once they both departed the rest of the International XI fell in something of a rush.Anil Kumble removed three key batsmen, including Lara as he got a leading edge that was comfortably taken at short third-man by Shoaib Akhtar (141 for 3). Lara faced 27 balls, hitting five fours and six – a stunning check-drive off Kumble – to all corners of Lord’s. He received a standing ovation as he returned to the pavilion, a rare sight for an innings of 42 – but it was special while it lasted.Smith was no slouch at the other end, but was left in the shade by Lara’s onslaught. He had an entertaining battle with Akhtar, who refused to give an inch and hit 95mph during his opening spell. But Smith, returning to the ground where he made 259 against England in 2003, punched and drove with confidence, reaching his half-century from 39 balls.Kumble struck back again for MCC when he drew Smith down the pitch and Kumar Sangakkara produced a swift bit of wicketkeeping (168 for 4). Kumble was using all his international experience and the contest between him and top quality batsmen gave the second half of this match an edge.Harbhajan Singh then got into the wicket taking act when he managed to squeeze a ball behind the legs of Shivnarine Chanderpaul (171 for 5). He then had Chris Cairns stumped, to remove the last realistic chance of the International XI reaching their target. There was a brief, mini, battle between Harbhajan and Shane Warne but Gayle wrapped up the tail, taking 3 for 28, with 15 overs to spare.But at least the crowd had been able to enjoy the stand between Lara and Smith, which enabled the International XI to recover from the early loss of Virendar Sehwag, trapped lbw by a ball that nipped backed from Shaun Pollock (10 for 1). Sanath Jayasuriya located the boundary with some powerful off-side shots, but found deep mid-wicket in Kumble’s first over (66 for 2), as the gamble of using a spinner within the first fifteen overs worked.Jacques Kallis received some tough treatment – three overs costing 33 – as Smith showed that familiarity can breed contempt. But Kallis had earlier starred with the bat as MCC piled up 327 for 7.

Kallis made 62, the equal top score as Lara, leading the International XI, gave ten of his team – including himself – a bowl as the charity element of this match extended to the field. MCC’s middle-order all contributed useful runs, with Andy Flower making 55 from 39 balls, as he and Kumar Sangakkara added 84 in 9.2 overs to lift the total past 300.Warne – like his Australian team mates last night – came in for some harsh treatment, conceding 64 runs from his eight overs as Flower showed his usual collections of sweeps, nurdles and the occasional bludgeon. VVS Laxman, who has tormented Warne in Test cricket, used his wrists to good effect as he moved along at a run-a-ball before edging an attempted glide (220 for 5).MCC were given a solid platform as Stephen Fleming, their captain for the day, stroked an attractive 59-ball 62. Chaminda Vaas trapped Chris Gayle lbw in the fifth over when he played around a ball that didn’t quite bounce as high as Gayle was expecting (14 for 1).But Fleming’s offside stroke play was in top working order as he took advantage of some juicy half-volleys from Sami. Sourav Ganguly also unfurled his trademark, thumping, cover-drive but fell to Vaas, when he tried to cut a ball that was too close to his body (52 for 2).Fleming reached his half-century from 46 balls, including a loft square cut which sailed over backward point for six. It was a similar shot that brought his dismissal when he uppercut Chris Cairns to third-man (114 for 3). A team mate against a team mate was one of the novel aspects of the day and everything was done with a smile of the player’s faces.But this game was not really about the cricket and it was certainly played in the right spirit and, following from the first tsunami relief match in Melbourne, showed how cricket can come together to play a small part helping out those who suffered in a huge tragedy.

May 8 down the years 1970
One of the world’s best one-day batsman is born. Michael Bevan introduced the word “finisher” into the cricket dictionary with a series of performances as cool and calm as his nudging, scampering style is frenetic. A visitor from Mars might find it extraordinary that such a run-machine does not get near Australia’s Test team, but after a promising start (82, 70 and 91 on the anaesthetised Pakistani pitches in 1994-95) his weakness against the short ball was exposed by Darren Gough and Dean Headley in particular. In fact, in the longer game, Bevan’s trump card has often been his erratic, but potentially deadly, skiddy slow-left chinamen: he bowled West Indies to defeat with 10 wickets at Adelaide in 1996-97, and skittled South Africa with six more in Johannesburg two Tests later. It was destructive stuff: of those 16 wickets, nine were out for 2 or less.1938
If Pakistani batsmen are renowned for their swashbuckling flair then Javed Burki, who was born today, was the exception that proved the rule. Burki, the first cousin (and childhood hero) of Imran Khan, was stoic in defence, and his three Test centuries were fairly painstaking affairs. They all came against England in a five-Test, nine-month period in 1961-62. He captained Pakistan in England in 1962 when he was only 24, but they were hammered 4-0 and Burki lost his job. He later became an ICC match referee.1942
Birth of an Englishman who smashed a century off 45 balls against Australia. The genial Robin Hobbs was playing for Essex in a tour match when he pummelled Jim Higgs and Ashley Mallett all round Chelmsford. Hobbs’s day job was as a legspinner, the last such specialist to play for England for over 20 years before Ian Salisbury in 1992, although he struggled for penetration in his seven Test appearances.1908
No Northants player reached double figures as they were demolished for just 27 and 14 by Yorkshire in their County Championship match at Northampton. George Hirst, whose match figures were 12 for 19 off 20.1 overs, also managed more runs in one knock (44) than Northants mustered in both innings. Their aggregate of 42 was the lowest in first-class history at the time, and remains the second-lowest.1896
Another good day for Yorkshire, who made the highest total in County Championship history. From the relative depths of 448 for 7, they reached the lofty heights of 887 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, with four batsmen making centuries, then promptly reduced their hosts to 31 for 5. Not content with bashing 85 from No. 10, George Hirst then took 8 for 59. But though Warwickshire followed on 684 runs behind, Yorkshire, not entirely surprisingly, ran out of time.1873
Birth of Henry Leveson Gower (pronounced Loosen Gore), who only played three Tests, in South Africa in 1909-10, but who had a big role in the development of the game in England. He played for Surrey, and was later their president, as well as chairing the England selection committee for a time. He also ran the Scarborough Cricket Festival for nearly 50 years. Leveson Gower was knighted for his services to cricket in 1953, and died in Kensington a year later.1923
Nobody has scored more first-class centuries than Jack Hobbs’s 197, and on this day at Bath he made the 100th of those 197, for Surrey against Somerset. Hobbs had gone for 0 in the first innings, when Surrey were skittled for 91, but his 116 not out was enough for Surrey to win a thriller by ten runs.1985
A dramatic collapse in Jamaica put the seal on another comfortable West Indies series win. New Zealand had to win the match to square the series, an unlikely prospect as soon as they followed on 225 behind. But when they closed the third day on 211 for 1, anything was possible. Sadly for New Zealand, what happened was a Malcolm Marshall-induced slide from 223 for 1 to 283 all out, which left Gordon Greenidge and Des Haynes to knock off the 59 needed for a second consecutive ten-wicket victory.Other birthdays
1902 “Curly” Page (New Zealand)
1961 Riaz Poonawalla (UAE)

The possibility – albeit only a slight one – of a solution to the stand-off threatening to rip apart Zimbabwe cricket emerged with the news that the Zimbabwe Cricket Union has taken steps to try and find a compromise with the rebel players. A source close to the ZCU told the AFP news agency that a process had been put in place “which will hopefully help negotiations”.Vince Hogg, the marginalised chief executive of the ZCU, confirmed that there had been developments, but would add nothing else. “The players are looking at the document,” he said today. “It will be tomorrow at the earliest before we get their response.”Although no specifics were revealed, it is thought that the ZCU might have agreed to arbitration to try and find an end to the dispute . If the board softens its line then it would expect the players to make themselves available for future matches, as well as training sessions. But there was no mention of the board withdrawing the 21-day deadline imposed last week which stipulated that if the players did not fall into line by then, then they would be suspended or dismissed.The main sticking point could well be Heath Streak. Relations between Streak and the board are at an all-time low – the board announced that he had retired from all cricket – and in recent days the ZCU and the government-backed media have sought to identify him as a key instigator in what they paint as a racist plot to overthrow the board. Furthermore, Peter Chingoka, the ZCU chairman, has gone on record as insisting that Streak will not be reinstated and that the matter is closed. Without Streak, it is unlikely that the majority of the players would consider returning to play for a board which has thrown so much mud at them.The olive branch clearly comes as a result of pressure the International Cricket Council (Chingoka met with several of its representatives earlier this week), but it might be too little, too late.The other problem is that the board’s leeway is very limited. It is controlled by a government which rarely considers compromise, and rules by force. But that it has offered anything at all keeps alive a glimmer of hope.

Sachin Tendulkar has been all but ruled out of the first Test between Indiaand Australia starting in Bangalore tomorrow. Tendulkar, recovering from apainful tennis elbow which has kept him out of cricket since August, arrivedin Bangalore on Wednesday morning, but Andrew Leipus, the Indian team’s physio, said that he was “very doubtful” for the Test.Tendulkar has been included in the Indian squad for the first two Testsdespite not having had a net session for six weeks. Leipus, who checked himyesterday, said there had been much improvement. Sourav Ganguly, the Indiancaptain, however, was hoping against hope. “You, me, all of us are hopeful,”he was quoted as saying in the Times of India, “that¹s what I can say.”Tendulkar¹s absence clears one issue for the Indian team, though. Barring drastic measures, it is now almost certain that Aakash Chopra, whose stolidresistance laid the foundation for many huge Indian totals in Australia,will open with Virender Sehwag, and Yuvraj Singh, who scored an electrifyingcentury against Pakistan at Lahore, will bat at No. 6. VVS Laxman, who the Australians fear even more than Tendulkar, is likely to take the No. 4 position.

Justin Langer issued the challenge.Steve Waugh – surprise, surprise – accepted.He hasn’t lost his sense of occasion.Langer, the Western Australia captain, made a freewheeling 163 not out against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground today, setting the Pura Cup match alight by chasing fast runs and making a bold declaration that triggered a thrilling limited overs-style run chase on the final afternoon.The Blues were set 303 from 52 overs for outright victory.Waugh clobbered 117 not out from 141 balls and the seriously in-form Simon Katich purred to an unbeaten 71 in 45 balls to get the defending Pura Cup champions over the line with 4.4 overs and five wickets to spare.”It was a pretty incredible day,” said the NSW and Australian skipper after the Blues finished on 5-303.”I played well, paced myself well and Simon helped me out at the end.”Full credit to both sides – for them setting a target and us going for it. A lot of sides wouldn’t have gone for it. It was a generous declaration and we probably didn’t deserve it but in the end it was a great game.”The revered Test skipper hustled to the crease at 3-70 in the 11th over after Michael Slater (17 off 21 balls) and pinch hitters Nathan Pilon (19 off 16) and Don Nash (13 off eight) had given the Blues a flying start.Waugh immediately found the boundary through cover in an ominous sign. Driving on the rise, hitting powerfully, clearly enjoying the thrill of the chase, he raced to a half century from 46 balls, almost decapitating a few fieldsmen along the way.And then a rarity – Waugh played a hook shot, believed to be his first since 1998.The departure of Phil Jaques for a 35-ball cameo of 43 brought Mark Waugh to the crease. After a typically brief discussion, the twins set about making the 134 runs still required from 25 overs. Langer was eyeing off six more wickets, not the least because Katich supposedly had a thumb injury.X-rays cleared Katich of any serious problem and he replaced Mark Waugh, who was bowled by Beau Casson for 13 not long after hitting an enormous six. Eighty-eight runs were needed from 16 overs and the mood was tense.Coming off his imperious 182 not out in the first innings, Katich batted out of this world. Waugh was 100 when they joined forces and added only 17 runs of an 88-run stand in 77 balls with the classy left-hander.”He couldn’t move his thumb,” said Waugh of Katich.”I said take a couple of Panadol Fortes and get out there … it was an amazing innings of his.”Langer deserved enormous credit for the aggressive team tactics and declaration which saved the game from fizzling into a tame draw.Asked about Waugh, he shook his head and rolled his eyes.”It ended up a great game,” he said.”We set them 300-odd in 52 overs – it was probably a pretty fair declaration.”Langer’s boundary-riddled ton, a record-breaking 22nd for WA, came from just 236 balls and included 18 fours and two sixes. With Ryan Campbell, he racked up a quick 92-run stand in 66 minutes before gambling on a second innings declaration at 8-362, setting the Blues’ their tempting target.Waugh – and Katich – were unable to resist.Five-hundred-and-eleven runs were scored on the day, about double the number of people lucky enough to be watching.

Rahul Dravid, the Indian captain for the tri-series in Sri Lanka, has said that captaincy would not be an additional burden and that he would continue to bat the way he always did.”I am really excited; it’s an honour to lead the side. There is certain amount of pressure every time when one plays for India,” Dravid was quoted as saying by . He said that he would not feel the additional pressure of captaincy. “I think it [captaincy] is going to be a huge challenge. I don’t see it as an additional burden. I have to obviously give time for my captaincy,” said Dravid. “There will be a time when I will have to concentrate on batting and forget captaincy. I have done it before, so I am looking forward to it.” When asked whether he was looking forward to a long stint as captain, he said that he had been named captain for just the Sri Lanka series and that he was looking at his captaincy with the same perspective as batting – one game at a time.Dravid said that he was hoping for an improved performance when the tri-series gets underway in Sri Lanka on July 30 with the West Indies as the third side. “It’s going to be a huge challenge. We have not particularly done well [against Sri Lanka] in one-day cricket. But we have a good chance to correct that,” said Dravid “All the guys are very keen. With the new coach we are looking to put some new things in place and hope to start the new season on a positive note.”He said that the new faces in the squad had a good opportunity to showcase their talent in the absence of Sourav Ganguly, who is facing a six-match ICC ban, and Sachin Tendulkar, who is recovering from surgery for a tennis elbow. “Definitely, it’s a good opportunity for youngsters to set a mark and show that they can do it at this level.” Dravid added that if the ICC ban was lifted and Ganguly were to play it would be very good for the team. “Sourav has tons of experience,” said Dravid. “He is a very experienced player; a very successful one-day player. It’s fantastic to have him back in the side when he does come back.”Greg Chappell, the Indian coach, said India was geared up to play in Sri Lanka. He also said that the selectors had done a good job and he was happy with the squad for the tri-series in Sri Lanka. “The selectors have done a very good job,” said Chappell. “We have got a squad which is fully fit; that’s always a good thing. We are ready to go and play some cricket now.”

In what has been a resoundingly bad week for Pakistan, the merest sliver of hope has emerged with the news that Mohammad Asif has started bowling again.Asif returned to Pakistan from England before the start of the first Test at Lord’s with an elbow injury and had his first session of bowling yesterday, emerging from it with no ill-effects. However, whether or not he makes it back in time for the fourth and final Test at The Oval beginning on August 17 is still uncertain.”I had a little spell of bowling yesterday and it went well,” Asif told Cricinfo. “There was no pain in the elbow.” He will now have another session today and tomorrow before taking part in a practice match at the National Academy in Lahore on Thursday. Only after that will there be a final fitness test to decide on whether he can take any part at all in the final Test.”I am desperate to start playing for Pakistan again and if I had my way I would start immediately. But it depends on what the doctors advise me to do and the third Test is obviously out of the question. I want to be fit for the final Test though,” he added.In Asif’s absence – and that of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib Akhtar – Pakistan’s bowling attack has struggled in England. In three innings, they have failed to bowl England out, coming closest at Old Trafford where England declared with nine wickets down.Expectations from Asif in particular before the series began were high; not only had he been Pakistan’s most successful bowler over the last three Tests (24 wickets in three Tests, including a match-winning 11-wicket haul in Kandy), but his bounce, accuracy and ability to extract seam movement seemingly at will was expected to play a crucial role on English wickets. Over the last year, he has been, according to Bob Woolmer, the most improved bowler in Pakistan. That assessment has been borne out by results from his last three Tests, a far cry from the muted and unremarkable Test debut he made against Australia in January 2005.Though Mohammad Sami and Umar Gul have bowled well in patches, the attack has visibly lacked the cut and thrust that has served them so well over the last six months. This has exacerbated the pressure on Asif to return, a development he seems acutely aware of.”Already there is a lot of pressure on me to return and I am very aware of it,” he mused. “I am really keen to come back for the fourth Test but that depends on how the next few days go. It has been really frustrating to sit here and watch the series and not be able to do anything about it.”While Naved-ul-Hasan has been ruled out of the entire Test series, Pakistan retain hope that the final Test will see the return of both Asif and Shoaib. The latter has also resumed bowling and is currently in England with the team continuing his rehabilitation. With the Headingley Test beginning from Friday, and Pakistan still struggling with batting and bowling openers, whether or not Pakistan’s unbeaten record in England (they haven’t lost a series there since 1982) remains intact by the time both return for the final Test is another question altogether.