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Lancashire have escaped punishment over the state of the pitch at Blackpool for their Championship Division One match against Durham.The game was over inside two days, and ECB pitch inspectors were summoned on day one when 18 wickets fell. The panel – Tony Pigott, Philip Sharp and Chris Wood – ruled that it was satisfactory.Peter Marron, Lancashire’s groundman, told the Press Association, that he had no worries about the pitch. “It looks as good a wicket as we have ever had here. It’s rock hard, it has a good grass covering on it and it’s probably the cracks at the [South End] getting a little bit bigger than in previous years that is causing bother.”The pitch was relayed after everybody fell asleep during the Kent game [in 2003] and we have had two games against Worcestershire and Warwickshire on it since with no problems. The groundsmen here have done a fine job and we couldn’t have asked for more from them.”a

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.

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.

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.

Whilst senior international cricketers like Nasser Hussain, Alan Donald, Andy Flower and others decided to quit with honour, Pakistani seniors have opted to linger on, hoping to repair their tarnished reputations.Unfortunately, this shows up the sorry state of affairs with the older generation persisting with hopes of remaining in the side, rather than giving way to the young brigade. It is obvious Inzamam, Waqar, Akram, Anwar and Latif cannot possibly carry on to the next World Cup (in West Indies), yet they have chosen to stay on, hoping to figure in the line-up for upcoming tournaments. This has made the job of the selectors a tough one, as they would prefer to re-build the team around new faces, but fear a backlash from the public in case the youngsters fail.Pakistan cricket seems to be on a merry-go-round; very obvious from the fact that players often excluded from the squad for one tournament, return as captain later on, only to be unceremoniously dumped once again after a string of poor performances. The amount of come-backs made by Pakistani cricketers is probably a world record in itself. The likes of Rameez Raja, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Rashid Latif and Moin Khan have all been left out on more than one occasion, only to be brought back as the captain.These decisions have been mind-boggling, as many Pakistani captains fail to justify their place in the playing eleven, but yet must be included solely on the grounds of being captain. An example of a player is Ijaz Ahmed, who has made a number of returns to the game, after failing, with the claim that he was included to `beef up the batting order.How long will we keep falling back on individuals who are no longer the force they were, hoping they can produce something magical now?The same theory seems to apply to coaches, where the PCB opts to re-appoint coaches who have already been tried, tested and failed in their previous tenures. Richard Pybus had three tenures with the Pakistan side, and it would not be surprising if he is re-called in a year or two after the dust settles.I completely agree with Imran Khan who has said, the role coaches play in improving a player is only an incremental one, and its really domestic cricket or a chance to play in the counties in England that really polishes raw talent. To spend exorbitant amounts of money on a Pybus or Boycott, is nothing but a waste of money.Pakistan has been trying to emulate the success of rivals India and their coach John Wright, but they fail to understand Indian players have a totally different mental approach. Their desire to learn, improve and accept authority being the major difference. If we do want to learn from their success, we must observe how they have built their side around youngsters, whose exuberance and commitment is guiding them towards success.At the moment, either Javed Miandad or Zaheer Abbas seem the most likely candidates for the next coach of Pakistan. In my opinion this is the right way to go and I hope this happens and the lobby for foreign coaches is finally brought to an end.The other question is why was Miandad pressured to resign his last tenure, when it was obvious he had a brilliant impact on our side? The answer is player power, exercised by the seniors! Pakistan’s senior members have always shown a reluctance to accept authority and they could not get along with Javed Miandad or Mudassar Nazar in the past, purely for that reason.I believe this is precisely why we need to remove those `seniors’, who take their place in the side for granted, wield `player power’ in the face of authority and then show low levels of commitment. Younger players are more likely to accept authority and not suffer prejudice or bear grudges against an ex-colleague who is now their coach. They would want to cement a place in the side and put in their maximum effort, which is more than you can say for the older warriors.It seems that Wasim Akram, Rashid Latif or maybe even Moin Khan might get the captaincy of the Pakistan team, and that would further prove how we cling to the past for elements of success, rather than invest in the future. A decision now, to appoint a young captain is needed and the side of the future must be built up under him.There is talk of stop-gap solutions by retaining Rashid Latif for a while or picking Moin Khan but this will deprive Kamran Akmal, a highly talented youngster, of a place in the side once again. His talent will go to waste and after a couple of years the management will again desperately hunt around after these two retire.So what can we expect in the future? Pakistan rising in international cricket to its position of former glory, or a further decline, even when it seems that Pakistan cricket can sink no further. One can only hope the cricket authorities get up the courage to bid the `seniors’ farewell and make the brave decisions required for the future of Pakistan cricket.Ed: If readers wish to correspond with the author, please email Taha Noor

Owais Shah, the Middlesex batsmen is among seven players nominated for the prestigious Cricket Writers’ Club Young player of the year award, which will be presented at the annual dinner in London on August 31st.Shah is favourite to win the award after making five appearances for England against Pakistan and Australia in the one-day triangular tournament earlier this summer.Other contenders include Yorkshire off-spinner Richard Dawson as well as the promising Durham batsman Nicky Peng and Essex wicketkeeper Jamie Foster.The final nominations include batsmen Ian Bell and Robert Key of Warwickshire and Kent respectively and all-rounder Ian Blackwell of Somerset. To be able to win the award players need to be under 23 on May 1st and have to be eligible for England.

Simon Taufel has decided to resign as the ICC umpires performance and training manager. Confirming October 31 would be Taufel’s last date in the job the ICC said it was trying to retain the Australian in an “alternate” role.”The ICC can confirm that Simon Taufel has resigned from his position as ICC Umpire Performance & Training Manager. However, the ICC is in negotiation with Mr Taufel with regards to a possible alternate role in the organisation and an announcement will be made in due course,” an ICC spokesperson said.Incidentally, Taufel would be officiating as an umpire in the three-game T20 exhibition tour in the USA in November, which is being promoted by Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne. Taufel, along with his former Australian umpiring colleague Steve Davis, and South African Marais Erasmus have been appointed umpires for the three matches to be played in New York (November 7), Houston (November 11) and Los Angeles (November 14).A role model for up-and-coming umpires, Taufel was adjudged umpire of the year for five years in a row from 2004 to 2008. Taufel stepped down from the Elite Panel after the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in 2012. Since then, he has been mainly focussing on training umpires around the world, and has played a prominent role in the development of Indian umpires in his role as consultant with the BCCI’s Umpires Academy in Nagpur.

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.