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Australia will risk the fitness of Josh Hazlewood rather than recalling Peter Siddle in a calculated gamble to seal the Trans-Tasman series at the WACA Ground, before it reaches the experimental day/night match to follow in Adelaide.The captain Steven Smith conceded on match eve that Hazlewood’s bowling workload had been high enough for the selectors to consider withdrawing him from a Perth Test set to be played in typically scorching temperatures. That move would have reduced Hazlewood’s chances of injury and also allowed Siddle to bowl on a venue where he has enjoyed considerable success.However it has been decided instead to keep Hazlewood in the team following his useful contribution to the opening victory at the Gabba, a decision made in large part due to his strong record when playing ODIs for Australia at the ground. While yet to play a Test in Perth, Hazlewood’s record of 10 wickets at 11.9 in four limited-overs matches played a large part in swaying the selector on duty Rod Marsh and coach Darren Lehmann.”It was talked about,” Smith said. “Josh’s loads are quite high at the moment – he’s bowled quite a lot over the past month or two – so it was definitely spoken about. But we think he’s going to do a great job out here in Perth. He bowled really well last time he was here, against the South Africans in the one-dayers, so hopefully he can do a good job for us out here this Test match.”We’ll see how we’re going [after that]. There’s a reasonable gap between this Test and the next one. Obviously a six-Test summer as well so there’s a lot of cricket. We’ll wait and see how he pulls up after this Test match. [Siddle] was talked about. He’s bowling really well at the moment. But we won the last Test match with this line-up, and we’re going in with the same one.”Hazlewood’s height is expected to make him a major threat to New Zealand’s top order, who must adjust once more to a fast and bouncy pitch after Brisbane gave them some impression of what the WACA would be like. Smith agreed it was to Australia’s considerable advantage that no member of the New Zealand side has played a Test in Perth – the last meeting between these two countries in the West was as far back as 2001.”I guess that probably helps us a little bit, I think it’s a place that takes a little bit of getting used to,” Smith said. “I think as a batsman it takes a little bit longer to get in. I guess probably at a lot of grounds around the world it’s 20 or 30 balls to get in, I reckon here it’s probably more 40 or 50 to feel like you’re in. Once you get in it’s one of the best places in the world to bat. It’s nice to know that some of their players haven’t played here and we’ve got a lot of experience here.”While understandably happy with the way the Australian top order batting functioned at the Gabba, Smith has addressed his team on two areas that he felt were not up to standard last week. These were the home side’s catching, which gave up four chances across the two New Zealand innings, and also bowling that was lacking in consistency at times, particularly against the excellent Kane Williamson.”We set ourselves really high standards in the field and we let ourselves down a little bit in that department,” Smith said. “So that’s something we’re going to be working on. This is one of the best places in the world to field in the slips – you get a lot of time to see the ball because you’re generally quite deep, so hopefully we can hold our catches this match.”And with our bowling, I’ve sort of addressed that – our lengths were a little bit too short with the new ball in Brisbane. The guys found it quite hard from both ends because the wickets was a bit more raised than it normally is, so guys were finding it hard to find their rhythm. I don’t think they’ll have that problem out here so hopefully they can get their lengths right from ball one.”Australia have chosen to rest their players following this match rather than offering them additional practice against the pink ball to be used in Adelaide. By contrast, New Zealand’s squad will take part in a day/night warm-up fixture at the WACA against a WA Invitational XI to prepare them for the third Test. Smith and Australia are hoping it will not be billed as the series decider.

Reports of bad weather over the next fortnight or so have forced the Sri Lanka Interim Cricket Board to move the venue of the first unofficial cricket Test against Pakistan A from the NCC grounds to Dambulla Cricket Stadium.Cricket Board officials said the weather pattern was very bad and that they were forced to change the venue of the first match in the interest of cricket and to ensure there was maximum playing time. The four-day ‘Test’ will commence on June 13.The controversial Dambulla stadium is situated in the dry zone where it hardly rains.NCC will host the second ‘Test’ from June 19 and Galle, the third from June 25.Pakistan A’ will also play three unofficial One-Day Internationals on June 30 at De Soysa Stadium, July 2 at Sara Stadium and July 4 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.The 18-member side captained by Hasan Raza arrives in Sri Lanka on June 10.

Little Flamingos came within an ace of landing a massive Southern Electric Contracting Cup quarter-final shock, losing by only two runs to Premier Division 1 side Andover at The Holt last night (Tuesday).Andover looked to have the tie in the bag after Sam Miller (61), Marc Kavanagh (42) and Neil Staddon (35) piled up an awesome 168-6 in 23.2 overs.But Flamingos hit back through Richie Manthorpe (49) and Shane Merkel (38), and at 158-5 – needing 11 runs off the last 14 balls of the match – were favourites.But Kevin Brewster (32) was run out off the penultimate ball, leaving Flamingos 166-9 at the close.Lymington scored 38 runs off the opening three overs at Southern Gardens and went on to pull off an unexpected 12-run win over BAT Sports.Brian Clemow (24) and Glyn Treagus led the initial assault and, after five overs, Lymington were 52-3.Daniel Peacock (42) guided Lymington to 142-9 in 23 overs.BAT lost three early wickets, fought back well through Richard Kenway (53) and Adam Hayes (29), only to lose their way after reaching 101-3 with six overs remaining.Treagus (3-26), Peacock (2-23) and, crucially, Wayne Smith (2-13) reduced BAT to 130-8 by stumps.Shawn Gillies (98) and Richard Hindley (56) swept cup favourites Havant to 191-4 and an eventual 46-run victory over Burridge.Dave Jackson (50) and Ian Williamson (40 not out) took the Burridge reply to 145-7 (Hindley 3-24).Chasing a Rowledge total of 135-8, Easton & Martyr Worthy faltered after reaching a challenging 71-2 in nine overs.They finished up five runs adrift at 130 all out, Chris Yates taking four wickets.

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was the man in the line of fire after his side’s 46-run defeat against South Africa in a crucial match of the Standard Bank tri-series at Buffalo Park on Friday.He was the Man of the Match for his 85 off 95 balls, with six fours and four sixes, yet he had to spend a better part of his time explaining his team’s inexplicable collapse rather than reaping the praise for his own brilliant run with the bat. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:Q: Time and again, India make a mess of a winning situation when they are chasing a target in a one-day international. Why do you think this happens?
A: Well, the team is short on allrounders and a wicketkeeper/batsman who is effective under pressure. When there is no pressure, anyone can score runs but it is when you do so under pressure that it really counts.Q: Could you please elaborate?
A: Well, if you look at the teams around the world, only those who are blessed in these two respects seem to do consistently well. Look at Australia, they have Adam Gilchrist and Ian Harvey. Or Pakistan who have Rashid Latif and three allrounders in Wasim Akram, Azhar Mahmood and Abdur Razzaq. South Africa too have Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Jacques Kallis supported by Mark Boucher. That’s why they are top sides.Q: What is the answer then?
A: We have to look at a wicketkeeper who is really good with the bat in a pressure situation. And also find an allrounder who can chip in at critical moments.Q: Youngsters like Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag do well in a match and then don’t seem to perform in the next 10 games. How do you drill the importance of consistency in them?
A: Well, you can talk and talk but what matters is how you perform in the middle.Q: But surely there must be a way of telling them that the team expects more from them?
A: Well, what alternatives have you got? (Hemang) Badani, for instance, is such a talented cricketer but he had a prolonged lean run.Q: The team is unable to bat the full 50 overs…
A: What can you say? If you do not do so regularly, you are in trouble. It is almost criminal.Q: Do such failures by the batsmen who follow upset you to a point where you also lose focus on your own batting?
A: There is no point in doing so. If your performance goes down, then the team tends to suffer more.Q: Sehwag has just one innings but a succession of failures in his one-day career. Isn’t it time he was told his career is on the line?
A: The problem with youngsters is they play one good innings and they are compared to Sachin Tendulkar. Class must be proved over a period of time.Q: Don’t you think Jacob Martin deserved a chance because he had batted well in the last game?
A: Shiv Sunder Das has been the first choice on this tour only because he has such a fantastic Test record. He is a quality player and deserved his place ahead of Martin.Q: And what about our bowling options? Are you happy with our bowling strength on this tour?
A: Look at it this way. In this game against South Africa, I needed to employ four spinners in the middle overs. You can make your own judgement from that.Q: What are your impressions about this South African side?
A: They are a very good one-day side. They have some quality fast bowlers. They really never let you take it easy. The pressure is always sustained.Q: You seemed to be at the receiving end of a verbal assault from Andre Nel…
A: If he said something, I didn’t listen. He is a young boy and at his age you do tend to get excited.

Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq warmed up for the second Test against theWest Indies next week with a six-wicket haul against the West Indies’A’ team yesterday.The hosts struggled to 160 all out, and Pakistan replied strongly toreach 154 for two off 40 overs in the final session.Saqlain, despite sending down ten no-balls, took six for 48 as hefamiliarised himself with Kensington Oval and probably removed anydoubt the selectors might have had regarding his place in the team forthe Test.There was little to suggest such lucrative returns for Saqlain whenDarren Ganga and Ramnaresh Sarwan took the ‘A’ team to lunch at 92 forone.Ganga completed his half-century just before the break and was on 52in partnership with Sarwan who was unbeaten on 27.The pair had come together just 22 minutes into the day’s play afterAzeemul Hanif had fallen victim to Waqar Younis with the score oneight.The first hour’s play produced just 35 runs but Sarwan and Gangastepped up the tempo towards the break, scoring 39 in 46 minutesleading up to lunch.The first 50 of the innings took 74 minutes, in contrast to the secondwhich came in only 43 minutes.This second landmark ushered in the start of the ‘A’ team’s dramaticslide after lunch.The second-wicket stand had put together 92 in 103 minutes when Sarwantouched a delivery from pacer Mohammed Akram to wicketkeeper MohammedWasim.Sarwan faced 68 deliveries and struck four fours in his 32.Just three runs later Ricardo Powell, who many believe was unfortunateto miss out on the tour of England, became Saqlain’s first victim whenhe was bowled for one at 103 for three.One run later Imran Nazir dived forward at forward short-leg to snapup Sylvester Joseph off Saqlain as the ‘A’ team lost three wickets forfour runs, but the trouble wasn’t over as yet.Ganga, who showed tremendous enterprise in reaching his 50 beforelunch with eight fours, including two in one over from Waqar, in 118minutes, laboured a further 40 minutes on resumption in adding two.Trying to free himself, he miscued a hook off Akram to provide astraightforward catch to Arshad Khan at square-leg which he almostmuffed.SlumpedCaptain Courtney Browne started positively, but he too was bowled bySaqlain as the score slumped to 118 for six an hour after lunch.Mahendra Nagamootoo joined Marlon Samuels, who had started to showsome defiance, and the two took the score to 130 before Nagamootoo wascaught and bowled by Waqar Younis.The bowler had earlier dropped an easy catch offered by Nagamootoo offSaqlain.Samuels excited the faithful spectators located mainly in theKensington Stand with a few handsome strokes in a fluent knock of 31off 43 balls in 87 minutes, but he too was snared by Saqlain, caughtat square-leg by Shahid Afridi.Mohammed Wasim and Wajahatullah Wasti gave the Pakistan innings anideal launch pad with a stand of 54.Wasti contributed 19 before edging left-arm pacer Pedro Collins towicketkeeper Browne.Yousuf Youhana, searching for form and runs, raced to 45 off 44 ballsas Pakistan’s 100 came in 108 minutes off 136 deliveries.Having provided himself with the type of start needed for a meaningfulinnings, he adopted a more watchful approach.He reached his 50 in 74 minutes off 65 deliveries with seven fours,and just when it appeared the partnership would reach three figures,Youhana was run out by the full length of the pitch as he foundhimself in the same crease as Wasim.Youhana’s 58 was made in 89 minutes off 73 balls and included sixfours.Wasim remained unbeaten on 74. His 50 came in 105 minutes off 65 ballswith six fours.He has so far batted 180 minutes facing 113 deliveries while countingseven fours.

Kerala beat Karnataka comfortably by ten wickets in their Ranji TrophySouth Zone clash at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi to complete only a secondvictory against their northern neighbours in 46 encounters in thecompetition. Set a princely target of five runs in the fourth innings,Kerala’s win came in slightly bizarre fashion. Vijay Bharadwaj bowled ano-ball, which went for four byes, to finish with the unusual figures of0.0-0-1-0.Earlier Karnataka, resuming at 31/4, folded up for 133. Overnight batsmen,Bharadwaj (32) and AR Mahesh (31) waged a grim battle in the first sessionbut both were out in successive overs at the stroke of lunch to leave thevisitors at 93/6. Little resistance was offered by the tail with theexception of Dodda Ganesh who hung around for an hour and a quarter toproduce 22. The curtain came down when skipper Venkatesh Prasad knocked offspinner Ramprakash into Tinu Yohannan at cover, Karnataka labouring for79.2 overs to make 133. Left arm spinner Sreekumar Nair and leg spinner MSuresh Kumar finished with three wickets apiece.Kerala’s only other victory over Karnataka – by six wickets – came at theGovernment Victoria College Ground, Palakkad on 28-31 December 1996.CricInfo’s zealous scorer, Sudhir Aly also informs us that umpire Sanjeeva Raoofficiated in both Kerala triumphs. The result queers the pitch in the zonalstandings, lifting Kerala to 18 points from four games, ahead ofKarnataka’s 16.

Haroon Lorgat, the incoming ICC chief executive, has said it is vital for Test cricket to remain the No. 1 format. The explosion of Twenty20, especially the advent of the IPL, has raised questions about the future of five-day cricket with the fear that some players may end their international careers early to take up lucrative deals such as those offered by the IPL.Lorgat believes the sudden surge of Twenty20 might need to plateau so that a balance is maintained between all the different formats, although he is still confident it can help boost the game overall. “I sat in on the ICC cricket committee meeting this month and they were very clear that Test cricket should remain the pinnacle of the game and I agree,” Lorgat told Reuters. “It’s a form of the game we can use as a wonderful opportunity to grow cricket globally, though we will have to manage the load that Twenty20 takes on against Test and 50-over cricket.”We are seeing a lot of Twenty20 now because the IPL is going on, but like most things that are new, you see an explosion of interest at first and then things settle down. We might be having too much of it at first but I hope going forward we can keep a sensible balance between Twenty20 and the other formats.”Lorgat will take up his position at the annual conference – which has been moved from London to Dubai – in July at a time when the ICC’s image is under fire because of events which cumulated in the early departure of Malcolm Speed last month.”I would always prefer to see the game itself receive the maximum exposure in the news rather than the off the field issues that we have read about,” Lorgat said. “They are not the kind of stories you want reported about the ICC.”But with me soon to start, and with David Morgan beginning his term as president at the same time, I hope we will be given the opportunity to project the game itself into the newspapers and improve the current image.”

ScorecardAndrew Gale has kept Yorkshire businesslike after the Championship has been won•Getty Images

For much of this game Sussex’s cricketers may have thought that Hampshire rather resembled Charles II in that they were taking an unconscionable time a-dying. Their insurance as they fought for parity against a powerful Yorkshire team at Headingley was that their rivals seemed to be finding it even more difficult to overcome Nottinghamshire. And they may have kept in the forefront of their minds the simple truth that if Hampshire did not win that match at Trent Bridge, they were relegated.Then, at just after three o’clock on the penultimate day of the season, those delicate equations began to change. As Nottinghamshire’s second-innings wickets fell to the pace of Fidel Edwards at Trent Bridge, Sussex surely realised that they may have a great deal of serious batting to do on the final day, albeit that they need only a draw to avoid relegation.On a day when 19 overs were lost to prolonged midday showers, Yorkshire extended their overnight 58-run lead beyond 300 and Andrew Gale could contemplate the possibility of his side achieving an eleventh County Championship victory. This would establish a new record for the 16-match format and it would make a fitting end to a season when honours and compliments have been lavished on Gale’s fine team like Christmas presents on a spoilt child.Nottinghamshire had runners-up prize money to play for but the attraction of mere lucre did not appear sufficient incentive for Chris Read’s players as they left Hampshire needing 200 to win and seemed to accommodate their opponents’ rapid progress towards that goal.None of this can have soothed Sussex’s players but they still battled manfully both to contain and to dismiss Yorkshire and by close of play they had succeeded to the extent that the home side were 298 for 9, a lead of 301 with a little power to add on the final morning of the season.Ed Joyce’s bowlers offered few free gifts on the third day of this game but the pitch had eased rather. They were also met with stern resistance from most of Yorkshire’s batsmen, but particularly from Gale, whose innings of 67 off 131 balls took him past a thousand County Championship runs for the season.Gale is a skilled mechanic of a batsman: he knows the tucks and drives that work for him and he does not worry about the shots he cannot play, the acceleration he does not possess. His innings currently suggests a measure of permanence, so it was almost a surprise when he fell into the trap set by Joyce and clipped Chris Liddle to Chris Jordan at leg gully just after tea.Sussex’s piece of rather smart cricket ended a 168-minute innings which had begun 15 minutes into the morning session after Gary Ballance had bottom-edged a ball from Steve Magoffin on to his stumps when playing a cramped and rather ugly cut. Eleven overs later Adam Lyth was dismissed in similar fashion for 39 by Lewis Hatchett and Jonny Bairstow strode out to join his skipper with the score on 123 for 3.The pair added 67 either side of the rain break and their 79-minute stand afforded one the opportunity to compare the styles of the two batsmen who have scored over a thousand Division One runs for Yorkshire in 2015.Gale, as has been suggested, is a trifle functional but mightily effective. Bairstow has developed into a batsman of glittering quality this season and one does not need to support England to hope that he will soon make a Test hundred. At Headingley, Chester-le-Street, Edgbaston and Scarborough, runs have flamed from his bat, their rapid acquisition helped by a more refined defence.Bairstow is now rarely bowled but he frequently demoralises bowlers. He has had a quiet match against Sussex – he was leg before to Jordan for a mere 36 on Thursday afternoon – but he still ends 2015 with a total of 1108 Championship runs in 12 completed innings at an average of 92.33. For many spectators, his batting has made the summer special, a coat-hook of memory by which it can be recalled.Bairstow was out just as wickets were falling in Nottingham and his departure was soon followed by those of both Leaning, a fine player who has had an indifferent couple of months, and Gale. The tension increased as the consequences of failure for Sussex became even more apparent. Had Hampshire lost, it did not matter how Sussex performed. Now it seemed certain that it was going to matter a very great deal.Gradually Adil Rashid, who made 21, and Tim Bresnan, who was unbeaten on 50 at the close, increased Yorkshire’s lead.The contest will be rejoined on the final morning of the season. The weather forecast is good and Sussex’s batsman will have to defy the best attack in the land. The prize on offer will not be a golden goblet but the quite invisible reward of mere survival. But should Ed Joyce’s players succeed in their goal, they may celebrate as if the pennant itself had returned to Hove and its sea-scented air.

For the West Indies, the first one-day international at Chittagong was a curious dichotomy of both shabby and scintillating cricket, the division occurring not so much because of the failures of a few as because two players staggeringly outperformed the rest.That certainly wasn’t expected when the tourists were put in to bat; with the top order in a fine vein of form, it looked like a bad decision from Khaled Mashud, even if he did look to the hard pitch and the gloomy conditions as defence. When Wavell Hinds began systematically taking the attack apart four overs into the innings, old-timers may have recalled WG Grace’s remark about batting first: “If you win the toss, choose to bat. If you’re doubtful, think about putting the other side in and then choose to bat.”But Mashud’s gamble paid off – at least initially. Hinds was caught at long-off trying to smash a Manjural Islam slower ball over the border into India. Twenty-six runs later, a frustrated Marlon Samuels lashed out at a flighted Mohammad Rafique delivery only to find sweeper cover. By now, spin was operating at both ends, and the West Indians started to struggle.Ramnaresh Sarwan and Chris Gayle, both immensely successful in India, sweated to work the leg-spin of Mohammad Ashraful, the left-arm spin of Rafique and the off-spin of Naimur Rahman off the square. The singles dried up, the pressure built palpably, and when Gayle (38, 70b, 5×4) was finally run-out looking for a non-existent single, it was hardly a surprise.Flown in as a replacement for the injured Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Daren Ganga was, unlike his teammates, clearly new to the subcontinental conditions. Stroke after stroke found only the fielders, and considering that he found Ashraful in particular difficult to pick, it was perhaps an aberration that Sarwan (39, 66b, 1×4) fell to the leggie instead, uppishly driving to extra cover.The arrival of Ricardo Powell to the crease signalled the turn. Rotating the strike with deceptive ease, Powell upped the run-rate almost immediately, even inspiring enough confidence in Ganga to smite two big sixes. An intended third found long-on, but Ganga (44, 56b, 2×6) had done his share of reconstruction.Powell then came alive. Boundaries flowed regularly as the big-hitting batsman muscled the ball as many as six times over the ropes, and seven more times just short of it. Two sixes came off one Rafique over, and when he fell off the penultimate ball of the innings – trying, perhaps, to do a Youhana and get to three figures off the last ball – he had powered his way to 88 off just 50 balls. More importantly, he saw the West Indies to a total that – at 145 off 37 overs – looked near-impossible.The deep quality chasm continued into the West Indian bowling. At one end, Vasbert Drakes did everything but make the ball talk, using the pitch and the new ball to get bounce and sharp movement either way. At the other end, however, short balls, over-pitched deliveries and other run-scoring opportunities were generously sent down by Jermaine Lawson and Corey Collymore.Of the openers, Hannan Sarkar was the first to fall, caught behind as the extra bounce took the edge. Al Sahariar followed 19 runs later, a peach of a delivery nipping off the pitch between bat and pad to clip middle stump.Meanwhile, Mohammad Ashraful, Test cricket’s youngest centurion, was occupying himself at the other end by throwing the bat at virtually everything. Starting with a mighty pull to midwicket off his very first ball, he added a top-edged six to fine leg and three more pulled fours later on.He lost Habibul Bashar in the ninth over – when the batsman tried to cut too hard and presented Jacobs his second catch of the innings – but was was soon back in the pavilion himself. Drakes pitched the ball just outside off and moved it away a shade, drawing the batsman forward. The ball took the shoulder of the bat and flew rapidly to the right of Gayle at slip, who took a fine, gangly-looking, diving catch. That gave Drakes all four of the Bangladeshi wickets to fall.As Drakes was taken off – and bowlers such as Mahendra Nagamootoo and Gayle started to operate – the innings steadied. Sanwar Hossain and Alok Kapali made identical scores of 18 off 21 balls and added 38 runs for the fifth wicket when rain interrupted proceedings with Bangladesh on 90 for four. It never let up, and after the umpires waited in vain for it to clear up, they were forced to abandon the game, leaving it to the remaining two day-nighters in Dhaka to decide the series.

Peter Robinson who has been part of the Somerset cricket scene since he joined the Cidermen from Worcestershire back in the mid 1960’s has just taken on the role of coach to the Somerset County Ladies team.The appointment was announced at the A.C.Mole Somerset Ladies League Presentation Night that was held recently at the County Ground in Taunton.The ECB South West Women’s Club Development Officer Jackie Summers presented the league batting trophy to Lisa Quick and the bowling trophy to Sam Evans who both play for Weston super Mare. The Indoor Six a-side trophy was presented to Roadwater CC.Shortly after his appointment, Peter Robinson who played in 180 championship games and was first team coach during the `Glory Years’ at the club told me: "I am happy to be involved with coaching cricket at any level, and delighted to accept the post. I hope that I will be able to help the team to be successful."Somerset are holding trials for Under 15 and Under 17 Girls on November 23rd and December 14th between 2 and 5pm at the Centre of Excellence at Taunton and it is hoped that in 2003 there will be more teams taking part in the women’s cricket competitions.Somerset Cricket Development Officer Andrew Moulding told me: "Any girl who is interested in playing cricket is invited to go along free of charge. All comers are welcome."