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Less than 24 hours after wrapping up their historic series victory in the Caribbean, four of England’s key players have been awarded six-month summer contracts by the England & Wales Cricket Board.The new contracts, which take immediate effect, have been awarded to England’s pacemen Steve Harmison, Simon Jones and Matthew Hoggard – who shared 47 wickets between them – as well as the veteran batsman, Graham Thorpe, who scored 274 runs in the series, including a matchwinning century in Barbados.”Each of these players has made an outstanding contribution to England’s successful tour of the Caribbean,” said David Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors, “and the award of contracts is richly deserved. The team now faces a busy period of international cricket this summer and all four players will have an important part to play in our plans.”The contracts system, which was introduced at the beginning of the decade, has been a vital component in England’s steady improvement over the past four years. “The lads face a really heavy schedule,” Graveney told BBC Radio. “We won in the West Indies as we kept our bowlers fit and we need to keep doing that.”The game isn’t flushed with money but it’s a balancing act between cricketing needs and finances,” added Graveney. “Harmison and James Anderson were on summer contracts last season. These give control to look after bowlers and counties get compensated for services lost by these lads.”Harmison’s county, Durham, was delighted by the news. “Stephen is proving what a great bowler he is,” said Martyn Moxon, the head coach. “The contract is justification for all the effort he has been putting in. The downside, for Durham, is that we are unlikely to see much of him this year.””We are delighted that Stephen’s continued excellent form has led to him being granted a central contract,” added David Harker, Durham’s chief executive. “The contract is the result of months of hard work following his back injury in Bangladesh and no one deserves it more than Stephen.”The four join eight other players who were awarded 12-month contracts by the ECB last September: James Anderson, Mark Butcher, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Nasser Hussain, Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick.

The Cobras registered an amazing come-from-behind victory over the Lions as the Potchefstroom pitch made a remarkable recovery from its ill-form on the first two days. JP Duminy, the left-hander who is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s brightest batting talents, converted his immense promise into tangible destruction as his century saw the Cobras chase down 355 to beat the Lions by five wickets.The Cobras’ second innings of 358 for 5, built on Duminy’s elegant 115 and 96 from Henry Davids (the competition’s leading run-scorer), was all the more impressive after were skittled for just 80 in their first innings.The Cobras won the toss and sent the Lions in to bat first on a saucy pitch, thanks to a cold front that had swathed neighbouring Gauteng in rain for three days. After an opening stand of fifty between Blake Snijman and Alviro Petersen, Monde Zondeki made excellent use of the conditions, swinging the ball wildly to take 5 for 55 – his fifth five-for of the tournament – and the Lions were bowled out for 181.The Cobras’ reply lasted a mere 22.5 overs though, with Friedel de Wet (3 for 23), Garnett Kruger (4 for 27) and Heinrich le Roux (3 for 7) sharing the wickets in a fine bowling display. Vernon Philander top-scored for the Cobras with 23 not out, but he was to play an even bigger role when he took the new ball for the Lions’ second innings. Swinging the ball beautifully, Philander took 7 for 64 as the Lions were bowled out for 253, setting the stage for Duminy’s majestic, match-winning century.Although the Cobras were celebrating their second successive win, the Eagles are still the undisputed kings of the competition, enjoying a 20-point lead over second-placed Dolphins. The Eagles had the better of their match against the Warriors in Port Elizabeth, which was ruined by the arrival of rain on the final day. The Warriors batted first and posted a fairly adequate 279, thanks to Zander de Bruyn’s 111 and Davey Jacobs’ 61. A hesitant batting display by the Eagles saw them slip to 245 all out, with Dean Elgar scoring 63 and Boeta Dippenaar and Ryan Bailey falling just short of half-centuries. Juan Theron, the fast bowler, was the most took 3 for 41.The Eagles then took control, however, when the Warriors slumped to 195 all out in their second innings. Johan Botha was the only top-order batsman to shine, scoring 51, a score which Mario Olivier matched in the tail. Olivier, of course, is the bowler who came to prominence by taking all 10 wickets in an innings against the Eagles in Bloemfontein at the start of last month. It left the Eagles with a target of 230 to win and a full day in which to get it, but they could only reach 42 without loss before rain washed out play.The Titans and the Dolphins were also forced into a draw as rain washed out the first two days of their match in Benoni and only 190.4 overs were possible overall.The Dolphins, sent in to bat, crashed to 45 for 6 but Daryn Smit, the wicketkeeper, and 17-year-old Khayelihle Zondo were not numbed by the crisis and added 64 as the Dolphins eventually reached 190.Smit tore into the Titans bowlers in his unbeaten 89, while Zondo’s debut was a big plus as he scored a gutsy 25 against the defending champions in two-and-a-half hours at the crease.The Titans enjoyed batting practice in their innings, but Farhaan Behardien and Albie Morkel answered the match’s dying request with some excitement, scoring fluent unbeaten half-centuries as they added 117 runs in 31 overs to take them to 299 for 6 at the close.The most important thing to come out of the match was that Morne Morkel, eyeing a return to international action after a stress fracture of the foot, was able to get through 16 overs, taking 2 for 48.Player of the week
JP Duminy has enjoyed the occasional insert into international action this summer, appearing in five one-day internationals, without doing anything wrong. But the 23-year-old has yet to have any chance in Tests as other batsmen like Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla and Neil McKenzie have been ahead of him in the queue.But he ensured his name will still be on the national selectors’ lips with a match-winning century over the weekend for the Cobras. The selectors will be especially impressed because his 115 not out, a 265-minute innings of immense willpower and class, took the Cobras to a daunting victory target of 355 after they had been dismissed for just 80 in their first innings.The run-chase will be remembered for a long time by local supporters, but pundits have predicted that Duminy will enjoy a long and successful career in the international limelight. The left-hander has a classic technique with the touch of a surgeon. The cover drive is the stroke he plays most elegantly, but the short ball holds few terrors for him either.

Group A

Sohail Khan, the tournament’s highest wicket-taker so far, threatened to run through the Habib Bank Limited (HBL) batting line-up for Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), but Hasan Raza came to his team’s rescue with an unbeaten 158 as HBL totalled 334 for 8 at close at the United Bank Limited (UBL) Sports Complex. Put into bat, HBL lost opener Rafatullah Mohmand for a duck to Sohail, and the bowler grabbed two more wickets to have HBL reeling at 23 for 3. Raza, joined by Shahid Afridi, who took over the captaincy in his first domestic match of the season, put on 64 runs for the fourth wicket, with Afridi’s 33 coming off 27 balls. Hasan, during the course of his 32nd first-class century, faced 212 balls and hit 13 fours and a six. His unbeaten 158 helped the lower order batsmen take Habib Bank to a respectable position by the day’s end. Sohail finished the day with four wickets for 80 runs to take his tally for the season to 47 wickets in only eight matches.Opting to bat first, Karachi Whites did well to reach 279 for 7 against Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) at the National Stadium after losing the first six wickets for only 177 runs. Wajihuddin (73) shared a 51-run second-wicket partnership with opener Asad Shafiq (22), and a 55-run stand with Asim Kamal whose poor form with the bat continued as he was dismissed for 22. However, Afsar Nawaz continued his good run with an unbeaten 85 and shared an 87-run seventh-wicket partnership with Tanvir Ahmed (38) to take Karachi past the 200-mark.Fawad Alam returned to his century-making ways as he hit an unbeaten 104 and helped National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) compile 328 for 5 against Hyderabad at Niaz Stadium. In a state of bother at 66 for 3, NBP were rescued by Alam who joined the tournament’s top-scorer Naumanullah – who had 772 runs prior to this match – and posted 100 runs for the fourth wicket before Naumanullah was dismissed for 89. Alam then joined hands with Qaiser Abbas, who contributed 70 in a fifth-wicket partnership of 126 runs as NBP look for another huge first-innings total.At the Gaddafi Stadium, centuries by Ali Haider and Ashraf Ali enabled Lahore Ravi to score 295 for 4 against Multan. Lahore collapsed to 60 for 4, before Haider rescued them with his maiden first-class hundred. He faced 196 balls for his unbeaten 121 while Ashraf’s unbeaten 111 took 195 balls. The unbeaten 235-run partnership allowed Lahore to look for a big total on a batsmen-friendly pitch.Faisalabad were bowled out for a modest 193 by Sialkot after being put in to bat at the Sheikhupura Stadium. In reply, Sialkot lost three wickets before reaching 63. Faisalabad were undone by the pace of Mohammad Imran, who took 6 for 42 runs in under 15 overs. From 91 for 6 at one stage, Faisalabad managed to reach 193 thanks to a 99-run seventh-wicket partnership between Mohammad Salman (63) and Ahmed Hayat (38) before losing the last four wickets for only three runs. Asad Zarar picked up all three wickets in Sialkot’s innings but Faisalabad will have to bowl exceptionally well to avoid a first-innings deficit.

Group B

The Asghar Ali Shah Stadium witnessed a run-glut as Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) hammered 427 for 2 against Karachi Blues. Umar Akmal, younger brother of Pakistan wicket keeper Kamran Akmal, scored an unbeaten 215 off only 187 deliveries and shared a 311-run second-wicket partnership with Mohammad Hafeez (145) after SNGPL won he toss and decided to bat.Azhar Ali scored his fourth century of the season and Saeed Anwar his third as Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) put on 345 for 3 against Islamabad at the Diamond Cricket Club Ground. Azhar and Anwar put on 259 runs for the second wicket before Anwar was dismissed for 144, his 12th century, that came off 173 deliveries with 15 fours and two sixes. Azhar remained unbeaten on 123 as KRL recovered well after losing their captain Mohammad Wasim for only 17.Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) were given an opening stand of 109 against Abbottabad at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium through Agha Sabir (89) and captain Khurram Manzoor (52). Kamran Sajid contributed exactly 50 later to enable PIA to reach a healthy 223 for 4 at close on the opening day.Bottom-placed Quetta were bowled out for a poor 173 against Rawalpindi at the KRL Stadium. With half the side back in the pavillion for 55, it was left to a 57-run partnership between Shoaib Khan (60) and Jalat Khan (59*) to take Quetta past 100. Jalat then put on 61 with the last four batsmen to take his side to a respectable total. Rawalpindi’s openers knocked off 41 runs without being separated by close of play.Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) lost only two wickets in the 59.4 overs possible at Arbab Niaz Stadium against Peshawar, scoring 205 for 2. Inam-ul-Haq scored an unbeaten 87 while Adnan Raza retired hurt just before close for 51.

Scorecard
Gujarat, overnight on 140 for 2, doubled that total on the third day to take a first-innings lead of 20 against Railways in final of the Ranji Plate League at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. In reply, Railways were at 14 for 1, still trailing by six runs.Gujarat’s lead was due in large part to Nilesh Modi, who added 41 to his overnight 66. However, they were unable to build on that as their middle order – barring Hem Joshipura, who made 36 – failed to chip in with substantial scores.Niraj Patel and Modi added 45 for the fourth wicket after Mohnish Parmar fell early in the day. After Niraj fell, Modi went on score his seventh first-class hundred before he was snared by Harvinder Singh, the former India fast bowler. Modi’s 107 came off 317 deliveries, with 18 fours.Joshipura and Timil Patel combined to help Gujarat take the lead but Joshipura’s wicket, with the score on 255, triggered a collapse; Gujarat lost the last four wickets for 25 runs. Runs came at a trickle, with Gujarat’s run-rate 1.92 runs per over. Sanjay Bangar was the most impressive bowler, with 5 for 54 from his 42 overs in Gujarat’s innings, including 19 maidens.Railways then played out eight overs before close, losing Siddharth Joshi early to Ashraf Makda. Nightwatchman Murali Kartik and Bangar negotiated the remaining overs without further damage. Railways would be pleased with conceding a lead of 20, and a good batting display by them in the second innings could put pressure on Gujarat’s batsmen on the final day.

Mental strength is such an important characteristic, but a calf injury will get a player more sympathy than a sick mind. Steve Waugh’s most enviable trait was not run-scoring or baggy-green pride, it was the grey matter his cap protected. Unforgiving, unflinching, almost all-conquering, Waugh’s brain was the model for long-term success.Waugh grew to understand the power of the mind and set about dismantling those of the opposition with his mental disintegration. Michael Slater was a successful and senior member during the early years of Waugh’s captaincy, but while his team-mates were looking for flaws in their rivals, Slater was experiencing problems with a pattern that was last year diagnosed as bipolar disorder. His behaviour started taking noticeable turns in 2000 and over the next year his actions created much publicity but received little help. Team-mates turned from him, and professional assistance was too far away.Slater this week revealed he suffered from the manic depressive disease, which causes large mood swings, and was worried about how his announcement would be received. The threat of admitting weakness has lasted much longer than his playing days. Society says injury-induced retirees are glorified; those with sick minds are signed off as nutcases.”Are people going to think I’m a fruit loop,” he asked Enough Rope’s Andrew Denton as he shared his secret. Twenty percent of Australians experience some sort of mental illness, yet an opening batsman who thrilled and spilled in a Test career of 71 Tests, scoring 5312 runs at 42.83, was more cautious – scared even – than facing Ambrose and Walsh at their fastest.The sad case of Slater, who believes the disorder was a by-product of the spinal disease Ankylosing Spondylitis afflicting him since he was at the Cricket Academy, highlights a disturbing cricketing anomaly. The mind is a player’s greatest weapon but maintenance and repairs are generally left to the individual.Why don’t teams tour with psychologists? A usual support-staff contingent includes a coach, manager, physiotherapist, masseuse and sometimes an assistant coach, bio-mechanist, yoga instructor and chef. Bodies are temples, but minds are like mini-bar bills and are the user’s responsibility. For help it’s usually necessary to make an international phone call or have a chat with a senior figure behind the nets.The problem with the in-dressing-room solution, compared to the confidentiality of a professional, is the trusted player or coach has a team duty to pass on information about the sufferer’s mindset. Forget the personal damage, what could it do to the side? Waugh, who praised his former team-mate for talking publicly about the illness, made the selectors and Malcolm Speed, the then Cricket Australia chief executive, aware of Slater’s slide in 2001 and he was dumped, never to return, for the final Test of the Ashes tour.While losing the one-day series 5-0 to Australia, John Bracewell said his batsmen were offered the use of Gilbert Enoka, the team’s psychologist, and the reaction was the stereotypical “send them to couch” humour. At his next public outing Bracewell effectively told the doubters to grow up. Psychologists were part of professional sport.Slater will forever wonder whether things could have been different. It now seems absurd that Waugh’s golden calf injury sustained at Trent Bridge in 2001 was a national concern and the state of Slater’s seriously worsening state of mind was mockingly dismissed. Waugh recovered to play at The Oval and scored a gutsy 157 not out; Slater’s combined problems – panic attacks that rushed him to hospital, reactive arthritis that folded him into a wheelchair – forced him to retire at 34. Leaping, helmet-kissing celebrations like his Lord’s 152 were old, fanciful dreams.The first signs of Slater’s bipolar disorder came in 2000 with his television commentary debut in England, and grew to become as common as a couple a day. Panic attacks are worse than any hamstring strain or bone-spur operation. The health problems were compounded and contributed to by the separation from his wife Stephanie, the accusation that he was addicted to cocaine and the awful, false rumour that he was the father of Adam Gilchrist’s child.

During this time Slater gave regular signs of his trouble. Glass of wine in-hand, he jumped on stage to sing with Jimmy Barnes at the 2001 Allan Border Medal, then there was the Rahul Dravid outburst, the buying of his long-saved-for Ferrari and four tattoos when one would have done. “This might clear up for a few people why my behaviour appeared erratic,” he explained of his decision to go public.Why it wasn’t dealt with, and why he wasn’t properly helped as it was happening remains a mystery. The talk on that Ashes tour was Slater was running quickly off the rails, but he was left on his own. Slater said he felt isolated as his friends turned their backs.Now a commentator who talks like he batted – fresh, mostly relaxed and highly entertaining – Slater’s eye-sparkle remains but his body looks worn out for a 35-year-old. He hopes for a long career but worries the “fruit loop” reaction could hinder his prospects. If his bipolar revelation has that effect it would be a greater injustice than the lack of support he received as he careered out of international cricket.”I wish I’d been stronger,” Slater said. “I was too sensitive and wore my heart on my sleeve.” Perhaps he was just right: there were far more highs than lows. Perhaps the people around him should have worried more about their caring than the cracking up. Mental injuries must be treated more seriously than any grade-one muscle tear.

On the first match-free day of the World Cup, South Africans were yesterday left to contemplate the unthinkable – their team being on the verge of first-round elimination.Ironically, their chances of survival now depend on West Indies, whose victory over them in the tournament opener triggered the problem that was compounded by their loss to New Zealand on Sunday.Providing neither are upset in their remaining matches against lesser teams in the group, South Africa’s slim chance hinges on West Indies beating group leaders Sri Lanka at Newlands in Cape Town on February 28.Even then, they would have to follow up by beating the Sri Lankans in their final match in Durban three days later.It is a combination that prompted yesterday’s Cape Argus newspaper to suggest the South African crowd would be even more firmly behind West Indies than usual in the Sri Lankan match."Newlands fans backing West Indies is an unlikely scenario but desperate times require unusual methods," he wrote. "It would not be strange, then, to see the usually green-clad Newlands fans decked out in maroon."The South African Press yesterday highlighed the depression hanging over their team’s prospects, most using as a metaphor the weather that meant Sunday’s match against New Zealand had to be decided by the Duckworth/Lewis method.Gloomy Forecast ran the front page banner headline in the Joahnnesburg Star, superimposed on a picture of the rain clouds banking over the floodlit Wanderers ground."South Africa’s dream of winning the World Cup is being held together by sticky tape and prayers," wrote Kevin McCallum in The Star.Quoting South African captain Shaun Pollock’s comment: "We’ve got to hope, we need a lifeline", McCallum added: "There will be 40 million South Africans clinging on to that same hope and looking for that lifeline over the next couple of weeks."Writing in the Cape Times, Michael Owen-Smith offered some cheer. He noted that, at present, South Africa’s net run rate was superior to the rest and that "teams that have barely scraped through the first round have tended to go on to win the tournament".He cited 1992 when Pakistan made it into the second round only because rain gained them a share of the points against England and yet went on to win the Cup and 1999 when Australia lost two of their first-round matches before taking the championship.The form of Alan Donald, their greatest, but aging, fast bowler, and the overall quality of bowling that has conceded totals of 278 for five off 50 overs against West Indies and 229 for one off 36.5 overs against New Zealand are also under the microscope.

LAHORE, Jan 6: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to decide former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram’s appeal against the penalty recommended by Justice Malik Qayyum (retired) of the LHC.In his one-man inquiry commission report on match-fixing allegations (whose excerpts were released by the PCB in May 2000), Justice Qayyum had recommended that Wasim be fined Rs300,000 by the PCB and should not be appointed as captain of the Pakistan team in future.Justice M. Javed Buttar disposed of the appeal with the orders that the PCB should give an opportunity to Wasim by conducting a formal hearing of his appeal and decide the matter within one month.Najamul Hassan Kazmi, the counsel for the petitioner, argued before the court that Wasim’s appeal against the findings of the inquiry commission had been filed before the PCB some 18 months ago and had not been decided as yet for some unknown reasons.As argued by the petitioner, the PCB had no moral and legal grounds for delaying the hearing of the appeal since this delay could cost him his international fame and he wanted to get himself exonerated of match-fixing allegations at the earliest.It was submitted that the penalty pronounced by the inquiry commission was recommendatory in nature and was not binding on the PCB since that the commission did not enjoy the status of a court of law.The petitioner alleged through his counsel that this penalty had been recommended without giving him an ample opportunity to defend himself and subsequently, the PCB had further employed delaying tactics to hear his version in this regard.The court was requested to issue directions to the PCB for deciding Wasim’s appeal at the earliest. The petitioner submitted that in case the court did not deem it proper to issue directions to the PCB, it should conduct the hearing of his appeal itself.The court, however, observed that the PCB was the proper platform for hearing the appeal since it had already been moved by the petitioner and it should decide the matter accordingly.Meanwhile PCB has refusedto comment on the decision of the Lahore High Court, directing it to decide former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram’s appeal againstthe penalty recommended by former Justice Malik Qayyum.When contacted, a PCB spokesman said that the board did not receive the decision officially and any comment could be offered after getting it.

South Africa 251 for 3 (Smith 72) beat City Nazim XI 250 for 4 (Farhat 64) by eight wickets (12 men per team)
Scorecard
South Africa dusted off the cobwebs and applied themselves to some much-needed batting practice under the lights at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore. After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, South Africa saw off a strong City Nazim XI by eight wickets, in a match that was arranged as a 12-a-side affair to ensure maximum time in the middle ahead of Friday’s first ODI.Graeme Smith continued his happy habit of leading from the front. His 72 underpinned South Africa’s pursuit of a handy total of 250 for 4, and he was ably supported by all his batsmen. Jacques Kallis was the second-highest scorer with 55, while Herschelle Gibbs, Neil McKenzie and Mark Boucher each chipped in with timely 30s.The basis of City Nazim’s total came from an eyecatching innings by Imran Farhat, whose impressive 64 contained seven fours and three sixes, and only came to an end when he skied Andrew Hall to Herschelle Gibbs at point. Gibbs also accounted for the captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who was turned down for a quick single and run out by a smart pick-up-and-throw to Mark Boucher behind the stumps.About 2,000 police, outnumbering a handful of spectators, were deployed in and outside the ground as part of tough security measures in place for the South Africans.

Close West Indies 232 for 8 (Drakes 40*, Sanford 13*) v South Africa
Scoreboard

Brian Lara produced a vital half-century to mark his 100th Test appearance, and Ridley Jacobs and Vasbert Drakes chipped in with invaluable contributions of their own, as West Indies recovered from a dreadful start to reach the close of the first day’s play at Durban on 232 for 8.It wasn’t a great score, but after slumping to 50 for 5 inside the first 20 overs of the match, it was riches indeed. Lara’s contribution was an easy-paced 72, as he and Jacobs added 98 for the sixth wicket to ease the momentum of the match away from the South Africans.Lara came to the crease in the type of situation that he has known only too well in recent years – a crisis. After Graeme Smith had won a useful toss and opted to bowl first, West Indies lost two wickets to Shaun Pollock in the first three overs of the innings, and were in disarray when Jacobs emerged from the pavilion to help piece together the innings.The rot began with the sixth ball of the match. Pollock, on his home turf, had Wavell Hinds caught behind for a duck, before Ramnaresh Sarwan became Pollock’s second wicket, as Jacques Kallis pouched a fine offcutter at second slip. When Ntini whistled in with the scalps of Daren Ganga and Shivnarine Chanderpaul in consecutive overs, West Indies were 17 for 4 and in desperate trouble.Carlton Baugh, the reserve wicketkeeper, had been selected to play as a specialist batsman after hamstring injuries had ruled out Chris Gayle and Corey Collymore, and he provided some temporary relief with a belligerent 21. But Andre Nel struck in the penultimate over before lunch, and South Africa were one wicket away from exposing a lengthy tail.After lunch, however, Lara and Jacobs came into their own. They needed some luck, and Jacobs in particular rode his, as a sharp chance off Ntini flew past the outstretched hand of second slip, before Boucher dropped him in front of first. But he was unashamedly attacking, and cracked Kallis for three fours in succession, including a pair of hooked bouncers.But Jacobs’s luck could not hold, and Nel eventually nailed him lbw for 58 (148 for 6). Although Lara looked set to carry on the good fight, even he couldn’t defy South Africa’s momentum forever, and on 72, Ntini suckered him with a fast bouncer that flew comfortably to Pollock in the slips (172 for 7). Ntini then followed up by spreadeagling Merv Dillon’s stumps with a fast yorker (191 for 8).But Adam Sanford thumped Pollock on the up through the covers as West Indies hauled their total past 200, and by the close he and Drakes were still undefeated, having added 41 for the ninth wicket. If they can eke the total towards the 250 mark tomorrow, their fast bowlers will fancy their chances on a seamer-friendly wicket.South Africa 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Herschelle Gibbs, 3 Jacques Rudolph, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 Gary Kirsten, 6 Neil McKenzie, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Andrew Hall, 9 Shaun Pollock, 10 Andre Nel, 11 Paul Adams.West Indies 1 Wavell Hinds, 2 Daren Ganga, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Brian Lara, 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Carlton Baugh, 7 Ridley Jacobs (wk), 8 Vasbert Drakes, 9 Merv Dillon, 10 Adam Sanford, 11 Fidel Edwards.

New Zealand Cricket want to host one-day and Twenty20 domestic competitions with Cricket Australia to help improve the quality of their game. Martin Snedden, the NZC chief executive, said he had met with his CA counterpart James Sutherland to discuss the events earlier in the year.”We first started talks six or seven months ago and we’ll have quite a bit of contact over the next few months with the reciprocal tours,” Snedden told the Sydney Morning Herald. “We’ve not discussed it further, but it’s still out there and it’s a live issue.An initial proposal suggests a week of Twenty20 matches between the state and provincial teams and a game between the winners of each country’s one-day competition. “My view is that the more playing time and exposure our cricketers have to different players and conditions, the better it is for us,” Snedden said. “But it’s also a question of whether Australia would be willing to go ahead with some of these things.”Stephen Fleming has already suggested that North and South Island sides compete in the Pura and ING cups. New Zealand played in knockout one-day touraments in Australia for three years until 1974-75.