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Vasbert Drakes is facing his second career decision within a week.After deciding to put his contract with South African province Border on hold and accepting selection to the West Indies team to the ICC Champions Trophy here as a replacement for the injured Cameron Cuffy, the 33-year-old all-rounder now has to resolve whether to wait for another call-up for the seven One-Day Internationals on the tour of India in November.Drakes, whose commitment to Border for the last five years made him ineligible for the West Indies, was picked after the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) changed its rule so that qualification was dependent only on availability for the preceding regional tournament.His performances in the Red Stripe Bowl gained him Cuffy’s position for the Champions’ Trophy but he was omitted from the 16 announced Monday for the three Tests in India that follow the Champions’ Trophy (October 9 to November 3).His experience and ability as fast bowler and capable lower-order batsman make him a near-certainty for the limited-overs team, especially for the World Cup in South Africa next February 9 to March 23.If chosen, his selection would further restrict his appearances for Border, who might be inclined to seek a replacement.Along with all the other players here, Drakes learned of the composition of the team for the India Tests from a phone call for home.Manager Ricky Skerritt said yesterday it was "an unsatisfactory way" of communicating."It is nothing new but, by now, we should have a procedure in place by which the players don’t have to find out where they stand from a call or an e-mail from friends or through the Press or the radio," he said."They should be told first by the board and, when on tour, through the manager," he added.It is a sentiment that has been repeatedly echoed over the years but still not heeded.

COLOMBO – Steve Waugh lashed out at Pakistan counterpart Waqar Younis’pitch-doctoring talk on the eve of the three Test series starting inColombo tomorrow.Pakistan brought its own staff to supervise preparation of the pitch forthe first Test, which is being played at a neutral venue after Australiadeclined to tour Pakistan for security fears.And Waqar’s comment suggested his team hoped to enjoy the advantage ofPakistan-style conditions at Colombo Oval, the oldest ground in SriLanka, in what’s officially a home series.”We’ve got our management here preparing the wicket so hopefully they’llprepare a wicket that suits us,” Waqar told a press conference.The remark stunned Australian captain Waugh who suggested some actionshould be taken against the Pakistan skipper.”I think it’s a little bit strange when the captain’s made thesecomments and nothing’s said about it,” Waugh said.”I know if I said that it would raise a few eyebrows and create a fewheadlines.”Home teams in cricket – like host nations in Davis Cup tennis -invariably get conditions to suit themselves but often that’s a productof the soil conditions and climate.For a side to go out of its way to prepare a surface which favoured itwas abhorrent to Waugh.”I don’t agree with it. I think you should play cricket on the bestpossible pitch.”I’ve never, ever asked for a pitch to suit us and I don’t know anyAustralian in my time who’s done that and I don’t see why it should bedone overseas.”Waugh rejected the notion of unspoken acceptance that the home side getswhat it wants.”If it is, it’s wrong because you’re supposed to play Test cricket onthe best pitch available.”If they’re going to make pitches to suit the home team then theopposition should have a choice of what to do at the toss.”Waqar’s comments implied Pakistan wanted a spin-friendly deck -especially after it saw Australia’s struggles against spin in India lastyear and again in the Champions Trophy semifinal against Sri Lanka here.Waugh said an ideal Test wicket would suit fast bowling early thenflatten out to a good batting strip before taking spin and creating lowbounce on the last day.”That way everyone gets an opportunity. Test cricket is about givingeveryone a chance to do well at that level rather than one certain typeof player.”Pakistan will likely play both off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and21-year-old legspinner Danish Kaneria, who has an impressive 38 wicketsin eight Tests at an average of 21.42.”Kaneria bowled very well against the West Indies in a practice game andSaqlain is back so we have our spinning force going good,” Waqar said.Waugh indicated Australia would stick to its proven arsenal of quickbowlers, with Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee expected tojoin Shane Warne in the attack.”I think we can do some damage with the quicks,” Waugh said.Australia’s batting is settled, with Darren Lehmann to be omitted.However, the South Australian will be waiting in the wings if eitherSteve or Mark Waugh have another bad series.The brothers, having been axed from the one-day side and failing toproduce big scores last summer, are under pressure to make runs orrelinquish their place in the side.”Nothing’s guaranteed, we realise that after last season,” Steve Waughsaid.”Things can be very final and can happen very quickly.”The brothers, who have played 105 Tests together and 273 between them,admitted they needed to score runs after historically going without acentury between them in last summer’s nine Tests.The likely teams for the match, which starts at 10.30am (2.30pm AEST)are:Australia: Steve Waugh (captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, RickyPonting, Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, BrettLee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.Pakistan: Waqar Younis (captain), Imran Nazir, Taufeeq Umar, FaisalIqbal, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdur Razzaq, Rashid Latif, SaqlainMushtaq, Danish Kaneria, Shoaib Akhtar.

The inevitable was delayed but the writing was on the wall as Pakistan were certain to lose the third Test against Australia at the end of third day’s play here at Sharjah Cricket Stadium Monday despite Hasan Raza’s batting heroics.When bad light stopped play Pakistan were 176 for eight, still needing 47 more runs to make Australia bat for the second time after being forced to follow on. And for the second time in the match, it was youngster Hasan Raza who checked Australian march towards another crushing victory.Hasan, out of Test arena for nearly four years, was unbeaten on 56 – his second fifty of the match.Earlier in the first innings, the 20-year-old ran out of partners and remained unconquered on 54.Hasan’s belated exploits in both the innings were the only silver lining for Waqar Younis’ demoralized squad.Hasan reached a gutsy fifty in the second innings in spectacular style by blasting Andy Bichel for three fours. Although uneasy against short-pitched deliveries, Hasan looked by far the best batsman to cope with the wiles of Warne and so far his knock is unblemished having faced 205 deliveries and struck nine boundaries.Not for the first time in the series, it was another abject display by Pakistani batsmen, Hasan Raza being the only exception, as wickets tumbled around him like nine pins against Warne and the pace of Glenn McGrath, who joined the exclusive club of 400 Test wickets when he trapped Waqar Younis lbw in the first innings.The deadly duo snared nine victims in the first innings. Warne taking five for 74 and McGrath four for 41 as Pakistan despite a fighting 91-run seventh-wicket stand between Hasan Raza (54 not out) and Saqlain Mushtaq (44) were forced to bat again for being dismissed for 221, having started the day at 163 for six.Pakistan batsmen did not help their cause by using their pads rather than their bats as five of them were adjudged lbw in the first innings, just pushing forward tentatively or were rooted to their crease.One wonders what PCB coaches have been teaching the batsmen at the highest level and at the highly publicised and expensive academies. So far half of Warne’s 27 victims in the series have been lbw and the wily leg-spinner continues to tease and tantalize Pakistan batsmen with his repertoire of googlies, sliders and flippers.Things turned to worse in Pakistan’s second innings as once again McGrath started the rot and later Warne compounded the plight sending back three batsmen, all falling lbw.Of course there were couple of debatable decisions by the two elite panel umpires who seem to be getting worse by each match, which did not help Pakistan’s cause.A similar story, even worse than the first, unfolded when Pakistan batted the second time. In no time the three top order batsmen Taufiq Umar, Younis Khan and Faisal Iqbal were back in the dressing room for 18 runs.Taufiq, one must add here, was extremely unlucky to be given out caught behind by umpire Steve Bucknor. The delivery from McGrath never touched the outside edge of Taufiq’s bat.Younis looked all at sea and soon perished when he padded up to an incoming ball from McGrath. Faisal ran himself out when he went for a needless third run and failed by a couple of inches to make his ground when substitute Nathan Hauritz threw down the stumps at the bowler’s end with a spectacular direct hit from the deep.Hauritz was on the field for Justin Langer, who was taken to hospital during Pakistan’s first innings after being hit on the back of his neck by a fierce drive from Hasan Raza.Imran Farhat once again got out playing an irresponsible stroke while Misbah-ul-Haq, Rashid Latif and Saqlain fell cheaply, all trapped lbw by Warne.A useful stand of 55 at almost run-a-ball between Hasan and Waqar frustrated the Aussies until McGrath returned to have the latter dismissed for the second time courtesy a Mark Waugh trade-mark catch at second slip.Australia after the hiccup of the first Test have thoroughly outclassed Pakistan who are going through one of their worst patches and it will require a Herculean effort from the team management to restore the shattered confidence.

The South Australian Cricket Association has named Darren Lehmann ascaptain to lead the twelve-man squad for the Pura Cup game against NSWstarting this Thursday at the SCG.The game was brought forward one day to enable the Australian Testplayers to be available for State selection.Lehmann returns from Australian Test duties to replace Greg Blewett ascaptain, who will join the Australia A team as vice captain for theirgame against England, starting this Friday in Hobart.Lehmann’s Australian team-mate Jason Gillespie will be rested followingthe first Test in Brisbane.Completing the State squad are Chris Davies, John Davison, Shane Deitz,David Fitzgerald, Damien Fleming, Ryan Harris, Ben Higgins, Mark Higgs,Ben Johnson, Michael Miller and Paul Rofe.Twelfth man will be named on the first day of the game.

ScorecardAn outstanding partnership of 137 between Michael Brown and Dimitri Mascarenhas carried Hampshire to a vital four-wicket victory against Worcestershire to keep their hopes of a quarter-final place alive.Hampshire were in tatters at 65 for 6 after Simon Jones struck twice in two balls, having Jimmy Adams caught at second slip and beating Greg Lamb for pace, in a superb opening spell where he topped 90mph. However, Mascarenhas – who is yet to confirm whether he will return to the IPL now that the Rajasthan Royals have made the semi-finals – showed his value to his county with a fine captain’s innings to follow three wickets.The revelation, though, was Brown who is known more for his Championship batting. He kept his composure after Jones and Steve Magoffin created major problems and paced the chase superbly to complete a career-best. In the end, victory was achieved with 13 balls to spare and towards the finish Brown and Mascarenhas were doing it comfortably.Both innings followed remarkably similar patterns as Mascarenhas reduced Worcestershire to 66 for 6. There was also a maiden one-day wicket for Hamza Riazuddin, the 18-year-old seamer, who earlier in the day sat a school exam. The fightback was staged by Gareth Batty alongside useful efforts from Kabir Ali and Gareth Andrew. It was enough to give Worcestershire what appeared like a winning total, but Hampshire had other ideas.

Neil McKenzie, Robin Peterson and Albie Morkel have been upgraded to national contracts in a bid to plug some gaps identified by Cricket South Africa (CSA). Gerald Majola, CSA’s chief executive, confirmed the deals on Wednesday – a month after the initial contract list was announced – as he called for South Africa to push on further.”Although the Proteas have recently completed their most successful season, there is still room for improvement,” said Majola. “After close examination of the talent available, it was felt that Neil, Albie and Robin would fill the identified gaps and should be drawn in as contracted players.”Mickey Arthur, South Africa’s coach, and Joubert Strydom, the head of selectors, were consulted about the additions which brings the number of contracted players to 18. The trio’s deals take effect on June 1 and run through to April 30 next year.Majola added: “It was also established that their inclusion as national contracted players would not infringe on the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) with SACA, nor would it impact negatively on the revenue sharing process or on CSA finances.”A CSA spokesperson told Cricinfo: “The MOU between Cricket SA and the SA cricketers’ association only allows for 15 contracted players. To increase the number a recommendation had to be made by the CEO after consultation with the head coach and convener of selectors. It then had to be approved by the general council of CSA and the board of directors of Cricket SA pty ltd – the professional wing. That is why there was a slight delay in announcing the other three contractees.”McKenzie topped the Test batting averages (621 runs at 77.62) after coming in halfway through a season which included Tests against the West Indies, Bangladesh and India. His innings included two centuries and a world-record opening stand of 415 with Graeme Smith.Peterson played in the Test series against Bangladesh and took his first five-wicket haul at this level. Morkel established himself as first choice in both ODIs and Twenty20s. His one-day batting average from the last season was 25.16, while his 19 wickets cost 30.73 apiece.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni doesn’t usually complain at press conferences so his statements on Saturday night, after a match where India were visibly tired against a spirited Bangladesh, should make the game’s administrators sit up and take notice. “We were a bit disappointing, but one of the reasons for it is that we have played cricket for 36 of the last 84 hours,” Dhoni said. He didn’t mention the travel, the training sessions, the warm-ups, the cool-downs, the post-match presentations and the press conferences.”Back-to-back games make it really tough for the players. I am not really happy with the schedule: two teams are playing back-to-back games, and two teams are not. Under these conditions it is really tough, you are playing cricket throughout the year, and then you play back-to-back matches. You could make out from the start the intensity was not there.”India’s display in the field was characterised by Gautam Gambhir’s dropping of Tamim Iqbal early in the innings, and India’s pace bowlers, who have been their strength recently, performing below par. In the last 10 overs fielders and bowlers combined to allow Bangladesh to score 97 runs.It couldn’t have been India underestimating Bangladesh – at his pre-tournament press conference, when asked about the weak teams in the fray, Dhoni had specifically said Bangladesh shouldn’t be taken lightly.Dhoni’s statements beg the question of why a team must play on consecutive days – especially in the heat of June, the least natural time to play cricket on the subcontinent, when people won’t bother to come to the stadiums to watch anything less grand than India v Pakistan.Luckily for India, their chase of 283 saw two batsmen in superb form come together and Bangladesh, too, after an energetic fielding display for a few overs, showed they were just as tired by dropping two crucial catches. Suresh Raina and Gautam Gambhir matched each other shot for shot, including the chances they gave to the fielders.Gambhir, it seemed, had been waiting impatiently for his Bangladeshi friends. His last three innings against them now read 101, 107 not out, and 90. The first of these was only his second ODI century and came to be a turning point in a four-year career that hadn’t taken off till then. He latched on to them right from the start today and must have been disappointed not to get a third hundred against Bangladesh.Meanwhile it is getting increasingly difficult to get Raina off the National Stadium pitch, where he aggregates 301 from three innings. However it was not always like that; Raina has just made a comeback to the side after a not-so-impressive first stint.”Previously he was batting at No. 6 and No. 7,” Dhoni said of Raina. “You hardly get any chance there – especially in the subcontinent. If you are making your debut and batting at Nos. 6 and 7, on a good day you score 30 not out and on a bad day you get out for 10. Your average hardly ever crosses 25 then. And when you suddenly get to bat at the top and you fail once or twice, people say you have been around for a long time and give you some time at the domestic level. But what’s good is that he has come back very confident, he is playing in the “v”. And with the form and confidence he is in, he should continue with it.”Continuity is one thing India will be yearning for after the misadventure in the final of the Kitply Cup. And who knows it better than Dhoni, who has been playing almost non-stop for several years now. If he were to get injured, India don’t have any other back-up, except for Robin Uthappa who is hardly a regular. “I was tired on the field,” Dhoni said. “Not only me, every individual was tired.” But who’s listening?

Three weeks of meetings between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and principal sponsors Digicel have failed to produce a resolution to the sponsorship dispute over the Stanford 20/20 for 20 All Star Game on November 1. The WICB has argued that the match involves a Stanford team and not a West Indies team, implying that Digicel doesn’t come under the picture.Last week, Digicel issued a media release declaring that they would be pursuing a “formal dispute resolution process as provided for in the sponsorship agreement with the WICB”. This was because they argued, with reference to Allen Stanford’s proposed US$20 million winner-take-all match against an England team in Antigua, that the board had entered an agreement which “wholly compromises the exclusive rights granted to Digicel as principal sponsors of West Indies cricket”.On Tuesday, the two parties met for what was scheduled to be the final attempt to settle the matter, but again, there was no agreement.”We essentially agreed to continue to find a solution,” Dr Donald Peters, the WICB chief executive, told the . “But at this point, we’re still continuing to talk.”However, Peters disagreed with Digicel’s interpretation of the Stanford arrangement.”We are on different wavelengths,” he said, shortly before the latest discussions began. “Digicel says the Stanford 20/20 match (involves) a West Indies team and a West Indies match and we argue that it’s not. Everybody knows it’s Stanford’s team.”In the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), if it was a West Indies team, Digicel would have some obligations.”Peters explained that in such a situation, part of the contract would require that the sponsors’ commitment, including advertising rights, be met. After yesterday’s stalemate, additional meetings between the two parties are being planned in a last-ditch attempt to stay out of court.

Steve Rixon, the former Australian wicketkeeper and now an Indian Cricket League (ICL) coach, will coordinate a pre-season camp for ICL players in Bangalore starting today. While Rixon will focus on developing young domestic players, Jock Campbell, ICL’s high performance director, will supervise the overall proceedings.The two-week camp will include specialised training in throwing and sprinting for which the ICL hired international expeerts Zane Allan Campbell and Matthew James Buckley. Kiran More said the objective of the camp was to cover fitness and cricket skills.”The camp will operate under the astute leadership of Jock Campbell & Steve Rixon, who in addition to conditioning the boys to the nuances of the game; will also acquaint them with the anti-doping guidelines,” More said. “I assure the cricketing fraternity & fans of the game that the forthcoming ICL season will set new benchmarks for domestic Indian cricket.”Jock Campbell, Australia’s former strength and conditioning coach, said players will be educated on the international doping policy and drug tests will be carried on players across the eight ICL teams.

Doug Walters says Andrew Symonds has become a “bit of a liability” but Dean Jones, another former Australia Test batsman, believes the treatment of the allrounder has been “disgraceful”. Symonds was sent home from Darwin for going fishing instead of attending a team meeting and is unlikely to be part of next month’s Test tour to India.While Symonds decides on his future, he has been given more to think about following the responses from former players and coaches. Walters, who is famously laidback and the subject of numerous off-field adventures, has told Symonds to “pull his head in”.”I certainly think he must start toeing the line more than he is doing at the moment,” Walters said in the Courier-Mail. “Whether he likes it or lumps it, he is a public figure and he should start acting like one. I certainly hope he does start toeing the line because we need a player like Andrew Symonds in the side.”Jones, speaking on Radio 2GB, wanted to know what the big deal was about Symonds’ behaviour. “Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee did some awful things in their time,” Jones said. “And it’s not as if he’s hit anyone or racially abused anyone.”All he has done is miss a team meeting. For God’s sake. We send him home and then throw him to the dogs. I think it’s disgraceful.”Greg Chappell, the former Australia captain and now Centre of Excellence coach, said Symonds needed a break from the game to work out what was important. “There are a lot of stresses away from the field,” Chappell told AAP. “The constant focus of attention on everything that you do, anything that goes wrong will be highlighted.”Learning to deal with all of that and understanding how it fits into a successful career and a successful team is a very important part of the mentoring role. Hopefully he decides playing for Australia is very important because he is a terrific cricketer and we all want to see him playing for Australia as long as possible.”Symonds will be given all the time he needs by Cricket Australia to make a decision on his future. “He has our absolute support and we’ve already gone to great lengths to ensure appropriate processes are in place for him,” James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said. “The feedback I have got from inside the team is that they have dealt with it as a welfare issue. There’s some discipline issues related to it, but ultimately it’s a welfare issue. We all want Andrew Symonds up and going, playing cricket for Australia.”Currently the only person who does not mind if Symonds returns is Harbhajan Singh. Symonds and Harbhajan were at the centre of the SCG row in January, but a repeat of the match-up is unlikely. “It doesn’t bother me whether he is coming or not,” Harbhajan said in the Courier-Mail. “We are playing against a team. If he features in it, fine, if he doesn’t, things don’t change much for me. We may have had our squabbles, but that’s all part of the game.”