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Hyderabad 82 for 2 (Suman 40*, Pai 35*) trail Mumbai 602 for 6 dec (Jaffer 256, Rahane 137, Agarkar 77*, MP Arjun 4-99) by 520 runs
Scorecard

Hyderabad started on the wrong foot in reply to Mumbai’s massive total, losing two early wickets after the hosts declared at 602 for 6. Made to sweat on the first day by Wasim Jaffer and Ajinkya Rahane, Hyderabad finished the second day needing a further 371 runs to avoid the follow-on.Hyderabad picked up five wickets in the morning session. In the first over, Ashwin Yadav forced an edge from Rahane with an away-going delivery. Amol Muzumdar got off to a brisk start with a couple of fours but the switch to aggression over his usual defensive ways didn’t pay off. Muzumdar rushed into a pull shot off a short one from MP Arjun and was easily picked at square leg.After their poor display on the first day, Hyderabad’s fast bowlers exercised tighter control on Wednesday. Not wanting to throw away the overnight advantage, Jaffer and Rohit Sharma, Mumbai’s last recognised batting pair, remained patient before opening up. Once spin was introduced, immediately after the first hour, Rohit took advantage: he charged Lalith Mohan to hit him over mid-on for four. Next ball, he went for a repeat, and was beaten in the air, but made some swift adjustments to play a late cut for another four. Jaffer smartly rotated the strike to give his young partner the freedom to attack.Syed Quadri, the offspinner, was then lofted over long-on for the first six of the day. After a circumspect beginning, Rohit was fast closing in on his half-century, but his aggressive instincts led to his downfall. Trying to clear the in-field against a fuller one from Arjun, Rohit gave an easy catch to cover.Ramesh Powar was dismissed cheaply, and Hyderabad’s best moment arrived when Jaffer, who had cracked a double-century on day one, stepped out against Mohan, only to be beaten in the air. The faint edge was pouched easily behind the stumps. It was Mohan’s first wicket and he deserved it – he had frequently beaten the batsmen in the air and also off the pitch, but without reward.Hyderabad now had a chance to stop Mumbai from posting a huge total, but Ajit Agarkar spoiled those plans. Agarkar, who has two first-class hundreds, played a patient knock that featured five sixes – three over the bowler’s head. He was especially severe on Mohan and part-time bowler TS Suman, pulling and charging against them with ease. Though he missed out on getting his maiden Ranji hundred – Jaffer declared just before tea – he took Mumbai to a total out of Hyderabad’s reach.Things did not improve for Hyderabad on resumption as Dhawal Kulkarni stuck first-ball: Ravi Teja went for an unnecessary cut, straight into the safe hands of Rahane at gully. Rushi Raj, who replaced the injured VVS Laxman, did not last long as he feathered an edge to a delivery outside off stump.It was left for Suman to arrest the downfall. He showed enough character to remain unruffled despite the pressure Mumbai applied. Once the nerves settled, he hit two consecutive fours past midwicket off Usman Malvi. A couple of overs later, he stepped out to hit a straight six off a flighted one by Powar. When Malvi pitched on his legs, Suman clipped it over the square-leg for another six. It is still along way for Hyderbad, who need a long vigil from Suman and the rest to remain in the safe zone.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian captain, has said international players will be forced to opt out of matches in order to give themselves rest in a crammed calendar of cricket.Dhoni had skipped the three-Tests series in Sri Lanka earlier this year after an 18-month streak that included 14 Tests, 56 ODIs, eight Twenty20 internationals, and a high-voltage IPL. “I myself opted out of the Test series in Sri Lanka because I needed a break,” he said. “It’s important for a player to decide when he cannot take it any more. It’s getting increasingly tough, especially for the fast bowlers.”Players know their body best and in future more and more players would come out and say that they are going to skip events.”When asked whether players had fallen into the trap of excess cricket due to the riches on offer, Dhoni said: “It’s not only about money. In fact when you play 10-12 years for India, you earn ample money. You don’t need more unless you want to buy a chartered plane or have private airlines. Money will keep flowing as long as you play.”Dhoni also clarified he would prefer to play for the country over his obligations with his franchise, Chennai Super Kings. Dhoni will lead Chennai in the inaugural Champions League from December 3-10, but if his team makes it to the final, Dhoni may have to make a choice between leading his franchise or India in the Ahmedabad Test against England, which starts on December 11.”I have no information regarding this but for me, country always comes first,” Dhoni said. “I will go by whatever BCCI decides, but in case I have to make a choice, of course I would like to play the Test match.”

Shane Watson is unique for an Australian cricketer: he doesn’t drink or lift weights. Since injuring his hamstring for the umpteenth time during the World Twenty20 last year he has restructured his training and cut out alcohol in an effort to get the most out of his body.So far it is working and he has contributed with bat and ball in the opening two Tests, which took his career tally to five games. “I’m off drinking while I’m playing and training to give myself every chance I possibly can to be right throughout this big workload,” Watson said. “It’s important to look after the body.”Only at the end of the Indian Premier League, when his Rajasthan Royals team won the competition, did Watson break his ban and have a couple of glasses of champagne. “I’ve saved money and a few headaches as well,” he said, smiling. He still joins the celebrations but his new tipple is diet Pepsi or soda water.Until the change in regime he was hurt a couple of times a season, but with the new approach he was able to string enough state and one-day international games together to prove to Australia’s national selectors he was the man to replace Andrew Symonds. He picked up 3 for 45 and scored 41 in the first Test in Bangalore and added a fine 78 in the first innings in Mohali.”To me it’s not a sacrifice,” he said. “The things I’ve been able to achieve over the past six months are not things I thought I could do 13 months ago.”He has been working with Brisbane health expert Victor Popov and now does pilates, running, cycling and swimming instead of lifting weights. His old programme had him training like a rugby league player.”I haven’t touched a weight for 13 months,” he said. “The things I’ve been doing are pilates, hamstring strength, calf strength, which is just body weight stuff. I don’t know the inside of a gym. Bowling is the thing I need to do, running and bowling. I feel my body shape is changing, it’s a lot lighter, but I feel I haven’t lost strength.”The old aches don’t return so frequently, and if he notices any changes he can adjust quickly to limit the pain. “My inner core strength wasn’t great and my pelvis was moving around quite a bit,” he said. “When it’s out of line, my hamstring gets tighter and so do my glutes.”Also, because of the stress fractures early in my career, I’ve had nerve issues through my back into hamstrings and lower legs because of the healing I’ve had since I was a young kid. I have to make sure my nerves are not irritated, which is another piece of the puzzle.”Other things are maintenance every day, making sure I’m warm, and swimming. It’s quite a big puzzle to make sure everything is in alignment, but I love doing it. I’ve learned so much about my body. It’s also exciting to know where I’m at. If something is slightly out I understand how to get it fixed or under control.”

The players’ associations in Australia and New Zealand have given their support to the proposed southern hemisphere Twenty20 tournament that would feature franchise-owned teams in the two nations and South Africa. But Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, said it was imperative the new league did not compromise existing international cricket.”The greatest challenge for this event and the IPL is to put together a schedule that can fit them in but not have them compete with international cricket,” Marsh told AAP. “If we can create a window for the IPL and for this event and ensure the players still have the necessary time for leave and to spend time with their families …”The three national boards are hoping to launch the tournament by 2011 and it is most likely to be fitted into an October timeslot, while the existing domestic Twenty20 competitions in each country can remain. Marsh said Twenty20 clearly created positive opportunities for players and for the game itself but retaining a focus on Test and ODI cricket was vital.”With the IPL, the massive crowds and television audiences, there’s no doubt that Twenty20 is bringing new people to cricket,” he said. “But if we start putting players in a position where they have to choose between big-money Twenty20 events and international cricket, particularly with players from some of the lesser nations, then international cricket will be the loser without any question.”You have to understand that the IPL payments for six weeks of work, for some of these players it might be eight or nine times what they earn in a whole year for their country. That’s why cricket has to protect the game.”Heath Mills, the executive manager of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association, also offered his support for the new league. “Although the competition is still at a conceptual stage,” Mills said, “we are excited by its potential for cricket and our players.”

Ragheb Aga and Will Beer have agreed new two-year contracts with Sussex.Former Kenya captain Aga, 24, played five first-class matches and two one-dayers for the county this summer. Beer, 20, also had a successful first season and impressed with his controlled legspin. He also represented England Under-19s when New Zealand toured in July and August and was the leading wicket taker in the Test series, taking 10 wickets at 17.60.”Ragheb, as a bowling allrounder, and Will, as a legspinner, are two exciting commodities to have at the club,” Mark Robinson, Sussex’s professional cricket manager, said. “If they both continue to progress as they have this season, they should have big futures within the team.”

Utpal Chatterjee, the former India left-arm spinner, has been appointed as Bengal’s coach for the upcoming season. Chatterjee will take charge from Friday, succeeding Bharat Arun, who was Bengal coach for the 2007-08 season.Chatterjee faces a tough task, with Bengal having been relegated to the Ranji Trophy Plate League last season. “It’s a new challenge. It’s a big challenge,” Chatterjee told after his appointment. “We have to plan out things well.”One of Bengal’s most successful bowlers, Chatterjee took 504 first-class wickets, and had represented India in three one-dayers in 1995. He touched peak form in the 1999-2000 season when he took 52 wickets in the Ranji Trophy, setting a new Bengal record.Chatterjee will be part of the drive to get Bengal back to the Ranji Trophy Super League. The new Cricket Association of Bengal regime, with Jagmohan Dalmiya, the former BCCI and ICC chief, at the helm, had earlier appointed Mohinder Amarnath, the former Indian allrounder, as a consultant.

Rikki Clarke has stepped down as Derbyshire captain less than a season into the role after his move from Surrey. He has struggled for form this season, dropping himself at one point, and the club feels it’s the best way for him to move forward.Clarke has averaged 21 with the bat in the Championship and 38 with the ball from eight matches with just a single half-century. When he arrived over the winter, in a high-profile move with the promise of the captaincy, he spoke of being excited by the challenge of building a young group of players and even pushing for an England recall.”The decision has been made after several discussions between Rikki and myself,” said John Morris, the head of cricket. “He felt as though the role was impacting on his own personal performance and that was affecting the team.”It is a brave decision by Rikki and he deserves respect for putting the team and the club ahead of his own personal ambitions as a captain. He hasn’t played as well as he would have liked since joining us, he moved from the county he has spent his whole career during the winter and he and his partner Harriet have had their first child this summer.”That is an awful lot to be going on for any player and Rikki felt it was best for everyone concerned if he gave up the captaincy.”Chris Rogers will take over the captaincy until the end of the season.

Scorecard

There won’t be a Lord’s final send-off for Darren Gough. His former club Essex dumped Yorkshire out of the Friends Provident Trophy with an 87-run victory in the second semi-final at Chelmsford. The match was heading for a tight conclusion while Andrew Gale and Anthony McGrath were adding 94, but once Essex broke through the end was swift. The final nine wickets fell in a clatter for 49 and Gough was the last-man out, left to ponder what might have been.The key was superb bowling from Danish Kaneria and Ryan ten Doeschate, who took three wickets apiece, with the latter having an innings to remember as he demolished the middle order. Essex like to defend totals on their home ground – they did so successfully four times during the Twenty20 qualifiers – backing their lively fielding and the wiles of Kaneria to make up for a lack of quick bowlers. It was a game plan that worked to perfection once Graham Napier lived up to his Twenty20 heroics with a 34-ball 61 and lifted them to 285 for 8.The pressure Essex were able to apply in the field was due to the extra runs Napier’s late assault provided. At one stage some sharp Yorkshire fielding, with two direct hits from Tim Bresnan, and wily bowling from Rana Naved left the home struggling to reach 250 despite Alastair Cook’s controlled 95. But Napier is the talk of Chelmsford these days.A couple of weeks ago he re-wrote the record books with 152 off 58 balls in the Twenty20 against Sussex and here was equally belligerent. The boundary ropes were in – especially on the pavilion side – but most of Napier’s six sixes sailed comfortably into the stands. He fell in the final over, picking out deep midwicket trying for another maximum, but he’d done his job and 101 runs came off the final 10 overs. The momentum was back with Essex.Yorkshire were out of the blocks at a nippy rate as Gale and Adam Lyth added 56. David Masters broke through when Lyth missed an ugly heave across the line, although umpire Peter Hartley erred as the ball had pitched outside leg. McGrath survived a huge shout for caught behind before he scored, but soon settled into a productive stand with Gale.Against the first four Essex bowlers run came comfortably and James Middlebrook, the first spin introduced straight after the Powerplays, was deposited into the stands. Gale’s half-century came off 54 balls, then Essex began to strangle the life out of the innings. Boundaries dried up against Kaneria’s biting legspin, while ten Doeschate was equally hard to get away as he maintained a wicket-to-wicket attack.Still, though, moments before the 30-over mark Yorkshire were 140 for 1 and the common equation is to double the score from that point. The visitors still had hope, but it changed in a flash. Gale suffered a moment of madness when he defended into the leg side and tried to take a single to the bowler. It wasn’t a contest, but ten Doeschate still showed calmness to maintain the presence of mind to run at the stumps, rather than hurl the ball.Yorkshire had taken a gamble in their approach, because Gale and McGrath never got ahead of the run rate which meant a tough job if wickets began to fall. It was a telling factor. McGrath carved high to extra cover, where ten Doeschate needed four attempts before holding the catch to the relief of the vocal home support.It was ten Doeschate with ball in hand who claimed the next three; Gerard Brophy lbw pressing forward, Adil Rashid somehow edging a low full toss (a fine catch by James Foster) and Jacques Rudolph missing a swing across the line. It was the last of that trio that showed how Yorkshire knew the game was getting away from them. The remaining wickets fell to similarly hopeless swipes.Cook’s innings was the most prosaic of the day, but then not many of his efforts linger too long in the memory. He ticked along at his natural rate, picking off loose balls when they came along, particularly from Rashid. His fifty took 85 deliveries and he appeared set for just his second one-day century for Essex (his other was for England), but fell to Bresnan’s second direct hit of the innings. Richard Pyrah had parried a fierce cut down to third man and Cook was coming back for a second when he was caught well short by a bullet throw.When one set batsman departs it’s important for the other to take over, but Ravi Bopara, who never found his timing, was given out caught behind in the next over. Essex were in danger of squandering the advantage, but in hindsight it was perfect timing as it allowed Napier a chance to stretch his arms. The Essex supporters gave him a standing ovation and they’ll all be hoping he has a repeat performance in store at Lord’s next month.

Marlon Samuels’ two-year ban for providing information to a bookmaker has been upheld after an ICC committee determined the West Indies Cricket Board had handled the case appropriately.In May, Samuels was suspended for two years by the WICB’s disciplinary committee for breaching the ICC’s Code of Conduct for “receiving money, or benefit or other reward that could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute”.Samuels was allegedly caught on tape in February 2007 passing on match-related information to an Indian bookmaker during West Indies’ ODI series in India.An ICC committee headed by Michael Beloff QC reviewed the WICB’s finding to ascertain whether the process and punishment were in keeping with the ICC regulations. The enquiry found the punishment and the process to be appropriate and the findings were accepted by the ICC board.

Stuart MacGill has announced his retirement from international cricket and the current Test against West Indies in Antigua will be his last. MacGill, 37, has struggled to have an impact in the Caribbean, where he is playing his first Tests since having surgery on his right wrist in December to deal with carpal-tunnel syndrome. At the time of making his decision, he had 207 wickets at 28.43 in 44 Tests.MacGill was the man Australia turned to after Shane Warne’s retirement and although he celebrated his comeback to the international set-up with his 200th Test wicket, achieved against Sri Lanka in November, he battled with hand and knee problems during that series and was forced to re-evaluate his future. Despite a reasonably successful Pura Cup return in early 2008, he was unable to translate that to Tests and is yet to decide whether to continue playing for New South Wales.”Over the past six months I have experienced enough highs and lows to fill a lifetime,” MacGill said. “My 200th Test wicket couldn’t have been scripted any better. I will never forget the happiness I felt when my family welcomed me at the hotel that night, yet the very next week I was filled with the pain and disappointment of injury.”Although I considered retirement at the time, I decided to prove to myself that I could rise again and trained privately harder than I have done in years. When I bowled Brad Hodge in the Pura Cup final I knew that despite the often suffocating public scrutiny, I loved my job. I also knew that I was ready to play Test cricket again.”Unfortunately now my time is up. One of the treats for a bowler playing Test cricket is that you have a champion bowling up the other end. Bowling with some of cricket’s all-time greats such as Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee has made my job a lot easier. I want to be sure that exciting young bowlers like Mitchell Johnson enjoy the same privilege.”As I said many times last summer, there is no way I will ever walk on to a cricket field unless I can guarantee that I can dismiss top-order batsmen consistently. The prospect of letting myself and the team down is simply not an option. I have worked way too hard for too long to sabotage my achievements by playing Test cricket for the wrong reasons.”His return to the Test scene in Kingston was marred by long hops and full tosses, and he struggled to threaten a West Indies line-up that had been rattled by Lee and Stuart Clark. Australia will not send a replacement player to the Caribbean for the third Test, as they already have a back-up slow bowler, Beau Casson, in the squad. MacGill’s unexpected departure may provide Casson with a Test debut in Barbados.”Some people may worry about the future of spin bowling in this country, but I am not one of them,” MacGill said. “My game improved exponentially with each step up I made, and I am sure that any of the young spinners playing state cricket will thrive given the same opportunities. I am very excited for Beau, another Western Australian boy who made a very good move east.”While Casson is in the box seat for an immediate call-up, Australia’s selectors will be forced to make some tough decisions on the future of their spin stocks before the Test tour of India later this year. They had hoped MacGill could remain the No. 1 slow bowler for at least a couple of years while the younger men developed, but the likes of Casson, Dan Cullen and Victoria’s 36-year-old legspinner Bryce McGain will suddenly be vying for an important role.MacGill, one of Australia’s most successful slow bowlers of the modern era, suffered from being a legspinner at a time when Warne was mesmerising the world. His appearances were usually limited to when Warne was unavailable, although the pair did bowl together on occasions with some success. His Test debut came in early 1998 in Adelaide, when he outperformed Warne against South Africa.An old-fashioned one-dimensional cricketer – he was one of the few men who sometimes batted below McGrath and was less than athletic in the field – MacGill’s huge legbreak and excellent wrong’un made him a handful for batsmen the world over. His best efforts included a 12-wicket Test against England in Sydney in 1999, and he had an outstanding 2003-04, when Warne was out with a drugs ban.MacGill reached 200 Test wickets in his 41st Test – only Clarrie Grimmett, Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis took fewer games to get there. While the end was not as he had hoped, MacGill will be remembered as an example of Australia’s incredible depth during the Waugh and Ponting eras, and as one the best contemporary spinners.