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The ICC has welcomed the decisions of the interim committee in charge of Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) to withdraw from its Test commitments until 2007, and to commission an independent investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement.The ICC President, Ehsan Mani, said that ZC had made the right decision in withdrawing from Tests in 2006. “Zimbabwe Cricket has taken a sensible step in withdrawing from its Test cricket commitments for the coming year.”The Zimbabwe team has demonstrated in recent series that it is not in a position to be competitive in Test cricket and its decision to withdraw from its commitments over the next 12 months helps protect the integrity of the international game.”During this period we will support Zimbabwe Cricket by encouraging other members to host and undertake tours that expose Zimbabwe’s elite cricketers to the longer form of the game.”We will closely monitor the performance and progress of the team and towards the end of the year we will work with Zimbabwe Cricket to determine the most appropriate course of action.”Mani also supported the interim committee’s decisions to investigate allegations of financial mismanagement and involve a players’ representative in its technical and player welfare committee.”We welcome the interim committee’s decision to commission an independent investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement,” Mani added. “The inclusion of a representative nominated by the Zimbabwe Professional Cricketers’ Association in the decision-making processes of the board is also a positive step towards ensuring that the views of the players are taken into account.”The decisions taken in Harare, on Wednesday, follows a meeting between the ICC and the chairman of the interim committee, Peter Chingoka, in Karachi last week. During this meeting a range of concerns were raised by Mani and the ICC chief executive, Malcolm Speed.Mani emphasised that there was still a lot of additional work to be done by the interim committee. “These developments address many of the concerns raised by the ICC in its meeting with Peter Chingoka, and in a subsequent letter to the interim committee, but there remain other issues that must be addressed and we will continue to monitor the progress of the interim board on a wide range of topics.”Zimbabwe’s next Test commitment was to have been a tour of West Indies that was due to commence in April. Related scheduling discussions between Zimbabwe, West Indies, the ICC and other members are already underway.

Alex Hales failed for the second time in consecutive innings on the second day of England’s three-day warm-up match at Potchefstroom, leading his conqueror, the Zambia-born seamer Junior Dala, to claim he was “under pressure” going into his anticipated Test debut against South Africa at Durban in ten days’ time.Hales, who has been earmarked to open the batting alongside Alastair Cook in the Boxing Day Test, was bowled for 8 after a painstaking 42-ball stay, the same score he had made from just ten balls in the first innings.Dala was the successful bowler on both occasions, this time inducing an inside-edge on to the stumps after extracting a touch of extra bounce from back of a length, having bowled Hales while offering no stroke first time around.A supposedly stiffer challenge awaits later in the week, when the second warm-up against South Africa A gets underway in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, but Dala’s assessment hardly augurs well given that Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and South Africa’s newest fast-bowling talent Kagiso Radaba lie in wait for the first Test.”I knew he hasn’t played Test cricket yet so I knew he was under pressure,” Dala told the Press Association. “I just came in and went hard at him, trying to expose the fact he is keen to score runs.Alex Hales made 8 in both innings at Potchefstroom•Getty Images

Dala’s technical analysis was particular damning, and chimed with a similar assessment made by the former England coach Peter Moores, who claimed that Hales had been “found out” by the ball shaping back into him after he made an underwhelming ODI debut last year.”It looks like he is trying to open up the off side every time he faces the ball. I just tried to keep it simple and tuck him up because he struggles on the leg side.”In the first innings I was hoping I would bring one back, but I wasn’t expecting him to leave it. Second innings was a bit back of a length, but the same plan, just tuck him up and he chopped it on.”It’s nice when a game plan comes together.”Dala added that he hopes his efforts will help the Test team to make their own plans for Hales later this month. “With the video analysis we do in cricket we felt we could expose a few of the English top order and maybe that could be good for the Proteas in the Test series.”However Chris Woakes, who returned figures of 1 for 35 in ten overs as the South Africa Invitational XI were bowled out for 188, played down concerns about Hales’ aptitude for the challenge ahead.”He probably hasn’t had the time in the middle he’d like, but we’re only two days into the tour and there’s plenty of time to get into nick,” he said. “He’s a great player and he deserves his opportunity.”Fingers crossed in the next week or two before the first Test he can get some more time out there and show what he can do.”

Ian Bradshaw yesterday admitted that Barbados’ attack lacked the necessary firing power after Guyana performed the rare feat in attaining a first innings target in excess of 400. “We weren’t penetrative enough in our bowling. The pitch was a good one. It was a little bit slow, but I thought we could have been a little bit more penetrative,” the new Barbados captain said after the drawn opening Busta match at Kesington Oval.In the twinkling of an eye, Barbados swiftly lost their seemingly firm advantage after lunch.Corey Collymore’s splendid spell of fast bowling in the morning session in which he uprooted Carl Hooper’s off stump with arguably the best ball of the match, appeared to have been the decisive strike in defence of their big target of 422.Hooper, resuming on 117, was out for his best regional first-class score of 159 and it was Collymore’s sixth wicket which reduced Guyana to 391 for eight a few minutes before lunch.On resumption after the break, there was immediate success with the dismissal of Eion Katchay which left Guyana 23 short of overhauling Barbados.The hosts needed only to dislodge first-timer Ron Matthews or last man Kevin Darlington, but the Guyanese tail-enders quickly proceeded to wipe off the target in a stand of 37 which was only broken when leg-spinner Dave Marshall came on for his first bowl of the day.It was difficult to explain what went wrong for Barbados, but the skipper and new coach Hendy Springer also gave Guyana their due recognition for reaching their total of 436.”When you put tactics together, you don’t cater for hard luck or good luck or things like that,” Springer said. “The luck went Guyana’s way at times and they did well enough to get into that position and deserved to pull through with first innings lead.”Springer described Barbados’ overall performance as interesting.”The bowlers have been suffering from a lack of match practice, but I thought they did exceptionally well,” he said.”What we’ll probably have to do is to work on some sharpness in the field to save some of those runs that we gave away and a couple of sharp, missed chances, but I think we are waking up to the fact that we are into a first-class season.”For most of the last two days, there were some who argued that Barbados should have gone into the match with five specialist bowlers, but both Bradshaw and Springer defended the final choice.In the case of Springer, he felt there was a need to get away from the club mentality.”In first-class cricket, you have got to be a bit more patient. As far as the responsibility of the bowlers is concerned and the amount of work they had to do, every bowler went out there with a responsibility and knew they would have had to do a lot of work taking into consideration the nature of the pitch,” he said.”I think everybody tried really, really hard, For a lot of them, things did not work out wicket wise, but I think they made their contribution and they know what they are supposed to be doing.”Bradshaw, who went wicketless in 30 overs, made reference to the fact that two of the team’s bowlers – Hendy Bryan and Dave Marshall – who were among the leading wicket-takers last season, were not successful in this game.”When we sat down to pick the team, we obviously felt that we had a team that was good enough to beat Guyana,” the captain added.Bradshaw also responded to queries about why he chose to delay the taking of the new ball until early yesterday morning after 131.1 overs had gone by.”Late in the afternoon (Sunday), it was an option, but Corey had a little cramp and at that stage he was our most penetrative bowler. With him not being 100 per cent, we waited until the morning to take it,” he said.

Shane Watson should consider giving up bowling in a bid to resume his stalled Test career, according to his former coach John Buchanan. Watson missed Australia’s opening matches at the ICC World Twenty20 with a hamstring problem and again broke down with hamstring trouble in his first game.Sitting on the sidelines is not new to Watson. He missed the entire Ashes series with hamstring injuries, the start of the Word Cup with a calf strain and has also dealt with back and shoulder problems during his international career. Buchanan said he hoped Watson did not have to become a specialist batsman but it might be the only way to keep him on the field.”It’s an avenue he’s going to have to explore,” Buchanan told the . “You would hope it doesn’t come to that for him. Everyone is feeling for him. He’s a hard worker and does everything he can to get his body right. He’s an intense character and he’s only 26, so there are ten good years of cricket ahead of him.”Buchanan said Australia should consider using Watson as an opening batsman at Test level. Watson has expressed a strong interest in partnering Matthew Hayden at the top of the order but Phil Jaques and Chris Rogers are almost certainly ahead of him in the queue.”There’s no doubt he has the technical proficiency to open the batting at Test level,” Buchanan said. “He’s proved it in domestic cricket which, given the standard of our domestic competition, is a good barometer for Test cricket.”Opening the batting would necessarily reduce the amount of bowling, if any, he’d have to do in the Test side. From that point of view, it would be a plus and ease his workload. You couldn’t expect him to open the batting then bowl 20 overs in a day. But Shane is a talented bowler and I hope it’s a path he doesn’t have to take.”Buchanan said the regularity with which Watson would return from an injury only to break down again must erode his confidence. “He probably goes on the field hoping he’s going to get through it okay,” Buchanan said.”You don’t want to have those sort of thoughts at this level of sport. You have to have complete confidence in your fitness and your body. A big factor for him now will be how he deals with it all mentally.”

Europe will come to Lord’s on 7 June, when MCC will entertain a European XI for the first time. Trent Johnston, Ireland’s captain, will lead Europe, taking over from Scotland’s Ryan Watson – and he will link up again with the former Ireland coach Adrien Birrell who stepped down after the World Cup.The match will be a return fixture after last year’s successful experiment in Rotterdam, a five-wicket win for MCC. Admission is free.Although most county-contracted players will again be unavailable, Europe’s side includes four of Ireland’s World Cup players. There are five Scotland players in the team, and one each from Denmark and The Netherlands.The batting again looks strong, with openers Jeremy Bray (Ireland), Bas Zuiderent (Netherlands) and Freddie Klokker (Denmark) backed up by Watson and Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien. Bray’s century against Zimbabwe in Ireland’s opening World Cup game got their tournament off to a great start, and he was again in fine form against Canada, with 146 from just 152 balls.With Wright, Colin Smith and Johnston in the middle order the side bats in depth. Johnston has a choice of keepers, too, in Smith and Klokker.Johnston himself will take the new ball, with John Blain, whose 3 for 24 was key in Scotland’s Friends Provident Trophy win against Lancashire last week. Seamers Wright and O’Brien provide support, with spin from Ireland’s off-spinner Kyle McCallan and Scotland’s slow left-armer Glenn Rogers.Twelfth man will be Guernsey’s Kris Moherndl, who has been given the opportunity as part of a new initiative this year to offer the experience to one of Europe’s rising talents that impressed the selectors during the recent ICC European Cricket Academy in La Manga, Spain.Squad Trent Johnston (Ireland, captain), John Blain (Scotland), Jeremy Bray (Ireland), Freddie Klokker (Denmark), Kyle McCallan, Kevin O’Brien (both Ireland), Glenn Rogers, Colin Smith, Ryan Watson, Craig Wright (all Scotland), Bas Zuiderent (Netherlands).
12th man – Kris Moherndl (Guernsey).

India and England head into the third Test at The Oval with plenty at stake: India are a draw away from winning their first series here since 1986, while England face the prospect of their first series loss at home since the Ashes drubbing in 2001. If India avoid a defeat, they will also reverse their trend of squandering away the advantage in a series, as they did in Zimbabwe in 2001, in the West Indies in 2002, in Australia in 2003, in Pakistan in 2004, and in South Africa in 2006.The series has so far has witnessed an even contest between bat and ball, with the bowlers from both teams having plenty of success. The average runs per wickets for this series is 30.13, far lower than the 36.69 in Tests in England since 2002. At The Oval, though, the bowlers could have a tougher time: in Tests since 2000, the runs per wicket here is a healthy 38.86.

England have not lost a match at The Oval since 2002, having won three and drawn two, including the 2002 Test against India. India only need a draw to clinch the series, and if the past record between the two teams is anything to go by, that’s the most likely result this time – the last four Tests between the two teams here have all ended in stalemates.

The last time a Test at this venue between these two sides ended decisively was way back in 1971, when India – propelled by Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s 6 for 38 – not only earned their first Test win on English soil but also their first series triumph in England.Among the England batsmen playing in this series, Michael Vaughan is the highest run-getter at The Oval. Vaughan has been enjoying a purple patch this season, having averaged more than 60 in the current series and the previous one against West Indies. This is Vaughan’s best run since the 2002-03 Ashes (Click here for Vaughan’s series-by-series record). Add his record at this venue, and against India – he tops the averages in England-India Tests for batsmen who have played at least ten innings – and it’ll be a huge surprise if he isn’t among the runs over the next five days. Kevin Pietersen has been prolific in this series, and he has enjoyed The Oval pitch too, scoring a century and a 96 in four innings.England’s problem, though, has been the form of some of the other batsmen. Andrew Strauss has only managed four fifties in 21 innings since the 2006 Ashes series began, while Ian Bell hasn’t done much better, averaging less than 33 in his last 11 Tests. Bell won’t have pleasant memories of The Oval either – in three Tests he has only scored 88 runs, and bagged a pair in the Ashes Test in 2005.

Although Rahul Dravid will be pleased with the victory at Trent Bridge, he’ll be concerned about his own batting form. His average in the ongoing series is 19.66, his worst since the Border-Gavaskar series in 1999-2000 (excluding one-off Tests). Dravid was among the runs during the practice game against Sri Lanka A, but more significantly, he scored 217 in his only innings at The Oval in 2002.The toss hasn’t played a significant role at The Oval, with the team winning it going on to win 30 Tests and lose 24. The side batting first is marginally better off, having won 31 times, which partially explains the fact that the captain winning the toss has chosen to bat 78 times in 89 games. Since 2000, the team batting first has only lost once in seven matches.The fast bowlers have fared better than spinners of late at The Oval, but that’s only a relative statement. In truth the batsmen have dominated most of the time, irrespective of the kind of attack they’ve been up against. The best match figures at the ground belong to Muttiah Muralitharan; his 16 for 221 came in Sri Lanka’s one-off Test against England in 1998. Also, the most successful opposition bowler is Shane Warne, who picked up 32 wickets in four Tests at The Oval, with 23 of those coming in the two matches held after 2000.

England’s best bowler at The Oval in recent years has been Steve Harmison, whose 18 wickets in four Tests have come at 24.38 runs apiece. The extra bounce on offer here has been ideal for Harmison; if Chris Tremlett, a bowler who Harmison says can exploit the conditions like he used to – or any of the other England bowlers – turns in a match-winning performance, this will be the third successive England-India series to end on a 1-1 scoreline.

1. Saqlain Mushtaq – hit to midwicket, Test No. 2 v Pak, Hobart, 1999
2. Paul Wiseman – extra cover, Test No. 7 v NZ, Auckland, 2000
3. Mahendra Nagamootoo – straight drive, Test No. 14 v WI, Sydney, 2001
4. Harbhajan Singh – mid-on, Test No. 15 v Ind, Mumbai, 2001
5. Harbhajan Singh – long-on, Test No. 15 v Ind, Mumbai, 2001
6. Rahul Sanghvi – midwicket, Test No. 15 v Ind, Mumbai, 2001
7. Rahul Sanghvi – long-on, Test No. 15 v Ind, Mumbai, 2001
8. Ashley Giles – mid-on, Test No. 18 v Eng, Edgbaston, 2001
9. Mark Butcher – midwicket, Test No. 18 v Eng, Edgbaston, 2001
10. Mark Butcher – long-on, Test No. 18 v Eng, Edgbaston, 2001
11. Mark Butcher – square leg, Test No. 18 v Eng, Edgbaston, 2001
12. Craig White – long-on, Test No. 18 v Eng, Edgbaston, 2001
13. Phil Tufnell – midwicket, Test No. 22 v Eng, The Oval, 2001
14. Nathan Astle – long-on, Test No. 23 v NZ, Brisbane, 2001
15. Daniel Vettori – long-on, Test No. 24 v NZ, Hobart, 2001
16. Daniel Vettori – long-off, Test No. 25 v NZ, Perth, 2001
17. Chris Cairns – straight drive, Test No. 25 v NZ, Perth, 2001
18. Andre Nel – square leg, Test No. 29 v SA, Johannesburg, 2002
19. Nicky Boje – midwicket, Test No. 29 v SA, Johannesburg, 2002
20. Nicky Boje – extra cover Test No. 29 v SA, Johannesburg, 2002
21. Neil McKenzie – square leg, Test No. 29 v SA, Johannesburg, 2002
22. Andre Nel – midwicket, Test No. 29 v SA, Johannesburg, 2002
23. Neil McKenzie – square leg, Test No. 29 v SA, Johannesburg, 2002
24. Nicky Boje – midwicket, Test No. 29 v SA, Johannesburg, 2002
25. Nicky Boje – square leg, Test No. 29 v SA, Johannesburg, 2002
26. Paul Adams – straight drive, Test No. 30 v SA, Cape Town, 2002
27. Paul Adams – midwicket, Test No. 30 v SA, Cape Town, 2002
28. Danish Kaneria – midwicket, Test No. 33 v Pak, Sharjah, 2002
29. Ashley Giles – straight drive, Test No. 35 v Eng, Brisbane, 2002
30. Ashley Giles – straight drive, Test No. 35 v Eng, Brisbane, 2002

31. Richard Dawson – midwicket, Test No. 36 v Eng, Adelaide, 2002
32. Richard Dawson – mid-off, Test No. 36 v Eng, Adelaide, 2002
33. Mark Butcher – long-off, Test No. 37 v Eng, Perth 2002
34. Pedro Collins – midwicket, Test No. 40 v WI, Georgetown, 2003
35. Vasbert Drakes – long-on, Test No. 40 v WI, Georgetown, 2003
36. Marlon Samuels – midwicket, Test No. 41 v WI, Port of Spain, 2003
37. Mervyn Dillon – midwicket, Test No. 41 v WI, Port of Spain, 2003
38. Tino Best – midwicket, Test No. 42 v WI, Bridgetown, 2003
39. Tino Best – midwicket, Test No. 42 v WI, Bridgetown, 2003
40. Omari Banks – long-off, Test No. 42 v WI, Bridgetown, 2003
41. Andy Blignaut – square leg, Test No. 46 v Zim, Perth, 2003
42. Ray Price – mid-on, Test No. 46 v Zim, Perth, 2003
43. Ray Price – mid-on, Test No. 46 v Zim, Perth, 2003
44. Trevor Gripper – long-on, Test No. 46 v Zim, Perth, 2003
45. Ray Price – midwicket, Test No. 46 v Zim, Perth, 2003
46. Anil Kumble – long-on, Test No. 49 v Ind, Adelaide, 2003
47. Sachin Tendulkar – midwicket, Test No. 49 v Ind, Adelaide, 2003
48. Kaushal Lokuarachchi – long-on, Test No. 53 v SL, Kandy, 2004
49. Sanath Jayasuriya – mid-on, Test No. 53 v SL, Kandy, 2004
50. Muttiah Muralitharan – long-on, Test No. 53 v SL, Kandy, 2004
51. Rangana Herath – midwicket, Test No. 54 v SL, Colombo, 2004
52. Rangana Herath – midwicket, Test No. 54 v SL, Colombo, 2004
53. Lasith Malinga – midwicket, Test No. 56 v SL, Cairns, 2004
54. Upul Chandana – long-off, Test No. 56 v SL, Cairns, 2004
55. Anil Kumble – long-on, Test No. 57 v Ind, Bangalore, 2004
56. Anil Kumble – long-off, Test No. 57 v Ind, Bangalore, 2004
57. Harbhajan Singh – long-on, Test No. 57 v Ind, Bangalore, 2004
58. Anil Kumble – midwicket, Test No. 59 v Ind, Mumbai, 2004
59. Daniel Vettori – midwicket, Test No. 61 v NZ, Brisbane, 2004
60. Daniel Vettori – midwicket, Test No. 61 v NZ, Brisbane, 2004

61. Daniel Vettori – long-on, Test No. 61 v NZ, Brisbane, 2004
62. Craig McMillan – square leg, Test No. 61 v NZ, Brisbane, 2004
63. Danish Kaneria – long-on, Test No. 64 v Pak, Melbourne, 2004
64. Danish Kaneria – long-on, Test No. 65 v Pak, Sydney, 2005
65. Mohammad Asif – square leg, Test No. 65 v Pak, Sydney, 2005
66. Mohammad Asif – straight drive, Test No. 65 v Pak, Sydney, 2005
67. Shahid Afridi – straight drive, Test No. 65 v Pak, Sydney, 2005
68. Shahid Afridi – long-on, Test No. 65 v Pak, Sydney, 2005
69. Daniel Vettori – long-on, Test No. 66 v NZ, Christchurch, 2005
70. Daniel Vettori – midwicket, Test No. 66 v NZ, Christchurch, 2005
71. Daniel Vettori – midwicket, Test No. 66 v NZ, Christchurch, 2005
72. Daniel Vettori – midwicket, Test No. 66 v NZ, Christchurch, 2005
73. Daniel Vettori – extra cover Test No. 66 v NZ, Christchurch, 2005
74. Nathan Astle – midwicket, Test No. 66 v NZ, Christchurch, 2005
75. Chris Martin – mid-on, Test No. 67 v NZ, Wellington, 2005
76. Chris Martin – long-on, Test No. 67 v NZ, Wellington, 2005
77. Daniel Vettori – long-off, Test No. 67 v NZ, Wellington, 2005
78. Daniel Vettori – midwicket, Test No. 67 v NZ, Wellington, 2005
79. Daniel Vettori – midwicket, Test No. 67 v NZ, Wellington, 2005
80. Paul Wiseman – long-on, Test No. 68 v NZ, Auckland, 2005
81. Matthew Hoggard – straight drive, Test No. 72 v Eng, Nottingham, 2005
82. Daniel Vettori – long-on, Test No. 74 v ICC, Sydney, 2005
83. Daniel Vettori – midwicket, Test No. 74 v ICC, Sydney, 2005
84. Daniel Vettori – midwicket, Test No. 74 v ICC, Sydney, 2005
85. Daniel Vettori – midwicket, Test No. 74 v ICC, Sydney, 2005
86. Shaun Pollock- extra cover, Test No. 80 v SA, Sydney, 2006
87. Shaun Pollock – midwicket, Test No. 80 v SA, Sydney, 2006
88. Mohammad Rafique – long-on, Test No. 84 v Bang, Fatullah, 2006
89. Enamul Haque – midwicket, Test No. 84 v Bang, Fatullah, 2006
90. Enamul Haque – long-off, Test No. 84 v Bang, Fatullah, 2006
91. Enamul Haque – long-off, Test No. 84 v Bang, Fatullah, 2006
92. Enamul Haque – midwicket, Test No. 84 v Bang, Fatullah, 2006
93. Enamul Haque – midwicket, Test No. 84 v Bang, Fatullah, 2006
94. Monty Panesar – long-on, Test No. 88 v Eng, Perth, 2006
95. Monty Panesar – long-on, Test No. 88 v Eng, Perth, 2006
96. Monty Panesar – long-on, Test No. 88 v Eng, Perth, 2006
97. Matthew Hoggard – long-on, Test No. 88 v Eng, Perth, 2006
98. Lasith Malinga – midwicket, Test No. 92 v SL, Hobart, 2007
99. Muttiah Muralitharan – midwicket, Test No. 92 v SL, Hobart, 2007
100. Muttiah Muralitharan – midwicket, Test No. 92 v SL, Hobart, 2007

Mohammad Asif, whose seven wickets yesterday ensured that England’s batsmen would continue to struggle at the start of their Pakistan tour, has expressed surprise at not being called into Pakistan’s squad to take on the visitors in the first Test at Multan.After the day’s play, Asif was quoted in local papers saying, “Given my performances for the Pakistan A team and in the practice matches plus domestic cricket I was confident the selectors would consider me for a recall. But when my name was not included, I was surprised, not disheartened.”The selectors have their tactics and requirements when they pick the Pakistan squad so I don’t blame them but I just hope now I will get a chance to play again for the senior team.”Asif played one Test for Pakistan against Australia last year in Sydney and although he didn’t pick up a wicket, he reportedly impressed the management with his attitude and his doughty, committed batting in both innings. He has been kept in mind by the selectors, however, and Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, has said that Asif is among the most improved players he has worked with in Pakistan.Hasan Raza has at least been picked in the 16-man squad and is now pushing for a place in the starting XI. It is widely acknowledged that Raza, captain of Pakistan A in this match, is on the verge of a Test spot and after his resilient innings of 34 yesterday, coupled with Asim Kamal’s appalling run of form, he will have done his chances no harm.He told reporters that he was disappointed with the lack of application of his batsmen yesterday. “The pitch eased out a bit but the ball was seaming around but still, we should have applied ourselves and got more runs. After bowling them out for 126 it was a golden chance to win the match but now the game is wide open and we will have to bowl very well again in the second innings. I was disappointed not to get my half-century but I tried my best and they bowled well.”Raza last played for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in November 2002 and since his debut in 1996-97 – reportedly as a 14-year-old – he has played only five Tests. In his third Test, against Australia in the disastrous 2002-03 series played in Colombo and Sharjah, Raza scored two half-centuries as Pakistan’s inexperienced batting repeatedly collapsed.That performance won him praise from Steve Waugh, the former Australian captain, who was apparently surprised that Raza was not in the Pakistan squad that toured Down Under in December last year.Murmurings over an attitude problem and a weakness against short-pitched bowling have given his career a stop-start feel but with the management now impressed by his maturity, as a person and as a batsman, the chances of a recall are brighter than ever before.

Twelve months ago Ryan Sidebottom was a one-cap wonder putting in the hard yards for Nottinghamshire on the county circuit. On Monday night at Lord’s he was named England’s Player of the Year and will start the first Test against New Zealand as the team’s premier strike bowler.Since his surprise recall against West Indies, at Headingley, he has taken 53 wickets in 12 Tests, including 24 against New Zealand in March. He claimed a 10-wicket haul and a hat-trick in Hamilton and his 7 for 47 in Napier, the best figures by an England bowler for four years, helped to set-up their come-from-behind series win. He had already been named one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year.His chance came due to an injury to Matthew Hoggard, who is now, partly because of Sidebottom’s excellence, battling to get is own place back in the team. Hoggard used to be the first bowler on the team-sheet, but that honour now goes to Sidebottom and he has confounded predictions by developing into an all-round wicket-taker regardless of conditions.”This time last year I was training with Nottinghamshire and just playing regular county cricket so it’s been a massive turnaround,” he said. “But I don’t want to get carried away with it and I’m relishing the chance to play at Lord’s again. The other 10 guys in the team have made me feel very welcome, which has allowed me to get on with my job. I suppose it goes out to all the players because one player doesn’t make a team.”Maybe one player doesn’t make a team, but much of the limited success England have had over the past year wouldn’t have happened without Sidebottom. New Zealand would have ended in defeat and even toppling West Indies last summer would have proved a harder task. Then there is his role in the one-day side, 20 wickets from 12 matches, including a Man-of-the-Series performance in Sri Lanka.Sidebottom is a laidback character off the field (bowling is different matter, just ask anyone who drops a catch) and insists the last year hasn’t changed him. After waiting so long for a second chance he isn’t taking anything for granted. “I don’t want to get too carried away because things can change quickly. It’s just a case of keeping doing the basics,” he said.”All the talk [when called up against West Indies] was that it would be one game, the horses for courses thing, but I sat down with my dad [Arnie, who also won one cap for England] and he said just go out and do your best, don’t look too far ahead. At Headingley I played as though it would be my last game and I’m not going to change. Each game I’ll enjoy it and give it my best.”Sidebottom has broken into the top 10 of the bowling rankings and received praise from Richard Hadlee, who said he was the main threat in the series ahead. “It’s a massive compliment coming from a great bowler,” said Sidebottom. “On the other hand I’m not taking much notice because they are a difficult team to beat.”We aren’t taking it lightly, especially myself because I’ve only played a few games. Of course I would like to carry on in the same form but it’s not going to be easy. As long as I’m consistent and getting wickets for my team-mates then that’s great.”The other major award handed out at Lord’s on Monday evening was the Women’s Player of the Year which went to Claire Taylor, while Outstanding Achievement awards were given to the men who scored a 100, claimed a five-wicket haul or held five catches in an innings.Two one-off presentations were also given to Ashley Giles and Marcus Trescothick in recognition of their England success over the years. Trescothick announced his retirement from international cricket in March and Giles is now on the England selection panel as well as Warwickshire’s coach.

Scorecard

The sight of James Anderson bowling was overshadowed on the second day at The Rose Bowl by Dominic Cork’s four wickets and events at Trent Bridge. For all Lancashire’s incision with the ball and control of this match, their title hopes are fast slipping away with Sussex on the verge of a comprehensive win, which would crown them champions.All Lancashire could do, though, was collect all available points from this match and on that front the day was a complete success. Their first ambition was to notch as many batting points as they could muster and they fought hard to in reach 400.Tom Smith was particularly impressive at No. 9 and, together with Luke Sutton, put on 88 for the ninth wicket to keep Lancashire’s hopes alive. Their bowlers then took over during the afternoon, removing both openers cheaply; only John Crawley – a cut above his team-mates in this game, and playing against his former team – stood in their way with a fighting fifty at the end of a prolific season.The performance of Anderson was pleasing. Tall at the crease and straight in his delivery stride, and playing his first Championship match since the debilitating stress fracture of his back, he was limited to short three and four-over spells at the bequest of the ECB (a maximum of 12 were permitted).However, it was the evergreen Cork who proved more incisive, cutting through Hampshire’s brittle line-up before Smith finished things off with three quick wickets. Last week it was Cork with the bat who kept Lancashire in with a shout of the title through his 154 against Durham; now it was the ball that did the work.He produced a hostile spell after tea, having Sean Ervine caught at point and quickly bouncing out Nic Pothas. Greg Lamb was trapped in front but Cork had Nathan Astle’s reflexes at first slip to thank for Crawley’s wicket. The batsman tried to guide the ball over the slips, but Astle stuck up his right hand and plucked the ball out of the air. Inevitably Warne bullied his way to a rapid 30 but he was soon back out on the field when Chilton decided against the follow-on.His decision not to ask Hampshire to bat again may appear perplexing with Lancashire having to win, but with the prospect of batting last against Warne he opted to build a commanding lead. Chilton won’t be part of that plan after falling late in the day and, even though his team are well placed, events at Trent Bridge are set to make the result here incidental.