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Errol Stewart’s chances of being understudy to Mark Boucher at next month’s World Cup are all but dead after he turned down an invitation to lead the South Africa A side on a three-match tour of Zimbabwe.”My conscience will not allow me to live in a luxury hotel in a country where people are dying of starvation,” Stewart told reporters. “As someone in the legal profession, I am very sensitive about the abuse of human rights and the fact that the Zimbabwean judiciary is put under so much duress.”I also don’t agree at all with the way land is taken away from farmers. Ordinary Zimbabweans are being persecuted and there is no equal distribution of food in that country. Mugabe pays no heed whatsoever to democracy. There is starvation and I would never be able to forgive myself if I support a tyrant like Mugabe by going there to play cricket and give credibility to what he is doing to his people.”I cannot think how any country could declare themselves willing to go and play there during the World Cup. They don’t even have food for their own people. How are they going to provide quality health care in the event of a player or a supporter getting injured?”Coming on the eve of the World Cup, where Zimbabwe will host matches, and with England a possible no-show for their match in Harare, Stewart’s comments will not only embarrass the Zimbabwe authorities but will also anger the South African board.It is understood Stewart told Omar Henry, the head of the selectors, and Pat Symcox, another selector, that he was not available.Asked if any other players were likely to follow his lead, Stewart said that he had not heard of any but that he believed others might. He added that doubted his stand would count against me in terms of his future selection for the South African team. “It would be petty if itdid,” he added.

Corey Richards, the New South Wales batsman, has announced his retirement from first-class cricket after the state didn’t offer him a new contract for the 2006-07 season. Richards, 31, made his debut in 1995-96 and played 55 first-class matches for the state, scoring 2,953 runs at 31.41.His finest performance came for an Australian XI – effectively Australia A – against England at Hobart during the 1998-99 Ashes tour. Michael Atherton had set a target of 376, which was knocked off in empthaic style as Richards and Greg Blewett added an unbeaten 345 for the second wicket. Richard’s contribution was an unbeaten 138.That season proved the pinnacle of his career and in 2001 he suffered a broken finger when representing the Scottish club Ayr. He then contracted a form of deep vein thrombosis as he embarked on an early journey home. In 2002-03, facing competition from the state’s young batsmen, he was released by New South Wales, although he did come back two years later without sealing a full-time spot.”I’ve enjoyed every minute of playing first-class cricket and have some fond memories, but it’s time to move on,” Richards said. “I’ve got a young family and there comes a time when you have to look for a career outside cricket, and it’s now time to retire.” Richards will continue to play for his Sydney grade club Bankstown.

Shane Warne hopes he will be able to make an early comeback from his thumb injury, in time for the two-Test series against New Zealand which starts at Brisbane on November 18.Warne, 35, missed the fourth Test against India at Mumbai after fracturing his right thumb in two places in a net session the afternoon before the match. But he is now confident of making an early return for the first Test at Brisbane.”I’d say I’m a 50-50 chance for the first Test,” Warne told reporters at Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport after flying home. “If it heals quickly over the next couple of weeks, it should be fine.”But Errol Alcott, the Australian team’s physio, was less optimistic about Warne’s chances of an early return. Alcott said the injury could take a month to heal, which would rule him out of both Tests.The selectors would then be faced with the choice of retaining the offspinner Nathan Hauritz, who deputised for Warne in the fourth Test and took three wickets in the first innings, or calling back Warne’s fellow legspinner Stuart MacGill. Cameron White, Warne’s understudy on the Indian tour, is viewed as a batsman who bowls, rather than a front-line spin option.

Rahul Dravid wants to have a tete-a-tete with Javed Miandad about batting preparation after the series is over. According to Mid Day, they had a short discussion before the fourth day’s play at Lahore. What was it about? “He wanted to know the drills because he watches us practising and was interested,” Miandad said. “He also wanted to know what preparations we made as batsmen before matches in our time.”However, Miandad assured, no trade secrets were revealed.What was revealed by Dilip Vengsarkar, in his column for the same paper, was that that Indian batsmen fell to innocuous deliveries – a criminal offence – considering their formidable reputation. He also commended Umar Gul’s matchwinning performance. “Fortunately for them [Pakistan], Gul was now inducted and he justified his inclusion with a matchwinning performance. Gul hits the seam and he could be dangerous on any wicket. He has to just bowl a proper line and length and will be difficult to handle.”While Vengsarkar wrote about sticking to the basics, Shahryar Khan, the PCB’s chairman, believed that new coaching methods had to be implemented, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. “He [Miandad] must have new ways to improve the performance of the team. We are still using old methods which are not really effective.” Miandad had been vocal in his dislike of technology, citing the example of Richard Pybus, who had earlier coached the Pakistani team without much success. But Shahryar was convinced that specialisation would improve the team’s performance. “Gone are the days when one person was managing everything in a team. In today’s world specialists are required to work in various fields. This is our objective to attach specialised professionals with the team and we will be taking some decisions soon.”What did this mean? Miandad read between the lines and said he “will see if I want to continue as coach or not after this series is over … I don’t like anyone doubting my commitment.”

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.

Matthew Maynard scored his first century of the season to put Glamorganinto a strong position on the first day of their CricInfo Championship clash with Lancashire at Colwyn Bay.The former county captain has struggled for form for most of the 2001season but produced a vintage knock in the sunshine of north Wales.His century – his first at Colwyn Bay – came off 136 balls with twosixes and 15 fours, but he had a let-off on 77 when Joe Scuderi bowledhim with a no-ball.Maynard eventually perished for 145, ending a three-and-a-half-hour stayand a 166 partnership with stand-in skipper Adrian Dale of 166 in 41overs.Much then depended on Dale, especially as he lost Keith Newell, MarkWallace and Darren Thomas in fairly quick succession after tea.By the close, Glamorgan had reached 386-7 off 105 overs with Dale unbeaten on 92.Earlier Jimmy Maher fell seven short of scoring 500 runs in five inningsbefore being stumped by Warren Hegg off Gary Keedy.The Welsh county got off to a flying start thanks to openers Maher andIan Thomas, who was deputising for injured skipper Steve James.But at 84-0 Thomas was caught at first slip by Ryan Driver off GlennChapple, who finally got his man after having him dropped on 19 and 31in the space of 11 balls.Maher carried on a purple patch of 433 runs in his previous four inningsby scoring his fifth consecutive half-century from 71 balls with eightfours.Just after lunch the out-of-form Mike Powell was caught at slip offAndrew Flintoff as Glamorgan slipped to 167-3.

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 detailsStephan Baard struck a 26-ball 39*•ICC/Sportsfile

Persistent rain forced the match between Namibia and Nepal to be abandoned after only 7.4 overs of play in Bready in the World T20 Qualifier. The start to the game was delayed to the weather and the match was first reduced to 17 overs a side. The weather relented for a brief period as Namibia, who were inserted in to bat before the interruption, kicked into gear immediately.Stephan Baard and Gerrie Synman hit five fours and two sixes together and added 36 runs in 29 balls before Synman was caught off the bowling of Paras Khadka. Baard and Raymond van Schoor took Namibia to 54 for 1 in seven overs as rain forced another break in play. They managed to get on for another four balls, but unrelenting rain finally forced the game to be called off.

The Vanuatu Cricket Association (VCA) has been given an excellent report card for its ICC East Asia Pacific Under-19 World Cup qualifying tournament preparations, following an inspection by the ICC. The tournament will be hosted in Port Vila from July 17 to 24.Competing countries include Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Japan and Vanuatu. The winner will earn direct entry to the 2008 U-19 World Cup which will be held in Malaysia.”Vanuatu Cricket Association’s logistical preparations are already well underway,” said Bron Madigan, the ICC EAP regional project officer. “I have inspected the grounds which will be used for the tournament and am very impressed with the quality of the facilities. Having staged the successful 2005 EAP Cricket Cup tournament, the VCA staff have used their experience to their advantage. They have also been working very hard at getting corporate sponsorship from the local Port Vila community.”The tournament has the backing of the Vanuatu government and local businesses have also been quick to get involved.

Division One

Day one
Sussex twice fought back from poor positions against title rivals Lancashire at Hove as the first day finished with both sides still neck and neck. Lancashire enjoyed the perfect start when Dominic Cork struck twice in his opening spell but was later forced to leave the field for stitches in a hand injury. Michael Yardy and Murray Goodwin began the rearguard with a stand of 99 but Sussex then stuttered again at 161 for 5. However, with Cork and with Simon Marshall struggling with cramp, Lancashire couldn’t ram home their advantage. Matt Prior produced a mature half-century – much more circumspect than some of his dashing displays – as he and Robin Martin-Jenkins put Sussex back on course for a decent total.Matt Walker and Tyron Henderson both made half-centuries to take Kent to 285 all out against Hampshire before bad light stopped play at Canterbury. Geraint Jones looked set for a fifty of his own, but couldn’t quite send a strong reply to the England selectors for dropping him; he made 39 before Shane Warne trapped him lbw, one of three wickets. Kent will be annoyed at wasting a number of promising starts but, Hampshire, trying to keep pace with Lancashire and Sussex at the top of the table will be aiming for a lead on the second day.Day two
There was no play at all on the second day between Durham and Nottinghamshire at Chester-le-Street, with rain washing out proceedings.

Division Two

Day one
Claude Henderson and Stuart Broad helped Leicestershire to work their way through Gloucestershire‘s line-up at Cheltenham. Alex Gidman and Stephen Adshead made fifties for the home side,while most of their batsmen made starts, but couldn’t capitalise. Henderson took 5 for 76, while Broad continued his dazzling streak, this time he took 4 for 47. Gloucestershire eventually made 282, but their bowlers struck early, removing Darren Robinson for 4.Half-centuries for Daryl Mitchell and Roger Sillence quietened Glamorgan as Worcestershire took charge at Colwyn Bay. Vikram Solanki just missed out on a century, he made 49 before he was run out. Still his knock, at least, will be a handy run-out in celebration of his recall to England’s one-day squad. Worcestershire’s batsmen played well in pairs and will be happy with making nearly 400 by stumps.Andrew Caddick took five wickets as Somerset ran the rule over Essex at Southend-on-Sea. However, another former England paceman hit back before the close as Darren Gough grabbed two wickets. Ronnie Irani played a captain’s innings to just about hold Essex together; he struck 80 to lift them from 126 for 6 to 252, sharing a seventh-wicket partnership of 102 with Tim Phillips. Phillips made 44. Grant Flower and Mark Pettini had got the home side off to a solid start, with a stand of 68, but Caddick did the damage, with 5 for 83 to leave Essex in trouble. Charl Willoughby was also in the wickets; he grabbed 3 for 46For a full report of Surrey‘s match against Northamptonshire click here.