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If the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) had returned tothe bargaining tables, a decision could have been reached tosatisfy all the players in the lottery game.Steve Stoute, president of the Barbados Olympic Association(BOA), was reacting to the announcement of the cricketassociation’s lottery.After the BCA made their final decision, there has been noofficial dialogue since then between us. Certainly, if theBCA had come back to the table from the BOA perspective wewould have been receptive, Stoute said.My response would be one of regret that the sporting bodiescouldn’t respond to the Prime Minister’s plea to formulate alottery to finance sport in Barbados.The BCA recently announced they would be going ahead to joinwith the Leeward Islands Lottery Holding Company (LILHC) tohave their own lottery, independent of the merger betweenthe BOA, the Barbados Turf Club and the National SportsCouncil.Stoute stands firmly behind the view that the market is toosmall for two lotteries.I don’t think the market can really sustain two lotteries.We have two lotteries going right now and the revenues havebeen reduced substantially not in profitability. They arestill profitable, but for the various sporting bodies to beaggressively fighting each other for market share, it is inmy opinion a sad commentary, he said.The long-serving administrator said the pie had to bedivided among those four players and Government also wanteda fund for culture and the arts, but the offer to the BCAwas fair and equitable.

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.

	Haroon Lorgat says it’s important Twenty20 is used to help cricket, but that Tests remain the major format © Getty Images

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.”

Sky Sports co-commentator Andy Hinchcliffe was full of praise for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice during the Hammers’ 2-1 victory against Everton on Sunday afternoon. 

The lowdown: Ever rising stock

The 23-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence over the last two seasons and has quickly become one of the first names on the team-sheet for both club and country.

Despite failing to make the headlines thanks to Aaron Cresswell’s stunning strike and the goalscoring return of Jarrod Bowen, the man recently heralded as a £150million player was at the heart of yet another workmanlike victory for David Moyes’ side.

As per Sofascore, the midfield enforcer enjoyed 95 touches, blocked two shots on goal and completed an outstanding 77/82 passes (94%%) in a 7.20/10-rated outing.

The latest: Praise from Hinchcliffe

Speaking during Sky Sports’ live coverage at the London Stadium, ex-Everton man Hinchcliffe was full of praise for Rice: “Such an important player. He provides that screen in front of the West Ham backline and gets back in time and time again. He reads the game so effectively.”

That reading of the game was evident in the performance against the Toffees as the 29-cap England ace completed three interceptions during 90 minutes (Sofascore) to help the hosts towards three points.

The verdict: Colossus

Even in light of the eye-watering valuations being branded about, Rice continues to justify the plaudits with each passing display.

Seemingly capable of taking each and every game in his giant stride, the £67.5million-valued star has blossomed as a player under the tutelage of Moyes in east London and so far this season has added eight direct goal contributions to an already well-rounded game (Transfermarkt).

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With the dominant Englishman in this kind of form, West Ham supporters may feel a tilt at the Premier League top four and possible Europa League glory is not beyond the realms of possibility.

In other news, West Ham suspends fresh contract talks with star player. Find out who it is here.

Central Zone’s Amay Khurasiya and Jai Prakash Yadav put a feeble East Zoneattack to the sword on the first day of their Duleep Trophy encounter atthe Green Park at Kanpur on Thursday. At stumps on the first day, Centralhad progressed swiftly to 231/3 off just 53 overs after the start had beendelayed to 13.20 hours due to heavy fog.After Central were put in to bat, they lost opener Amit Pagnis in theeighth over of the day to eighteen year old Bihar speedster Mihir Diwakar.Khurasiya and Yadav then proceeded to wade into an attack, depleted by theabsence of Debashis Mohanty, with gusto in a second wicket stand of 182 offjust 37.4 overs.Hell broke loose with the introduction of former Indian left arm spinnerUtpal Chatterjee in the 18th over of the innings which Khurasiya massacredfor 18 runs (4 . . 4 4 6). The hapless Chatterjee’s second over was evenmore expensive, going for 19 (6 1 6 6 . .), including one six by Khurasiyaand two by Yadav. The last of those sixes also brought up Yadav’s fifty(off 76 balls) and simultaneously the century of the innings.Chatterjee was immediately withdrawn from the firing line and replaced byhis fellow left arm spinner Sukhbinder Singh. At the other end, seamerJaved Zaman went off after a fairly longish spell of 11 overs for 37 andoff spinner Sanjay Raul made an appearance. Neither Sukhbinder nor Raulwere able to make any impression on the marauding duo and Khurasiya broughtup his individual fifty (off 46 balls) with a six in Sukhbinder’s secondover.Central went into the tea break at 168/1 off 32 overs. There was nostopping Khurasiya who reached his hundred off 96 balls, but with the scoreat 212, he was dismissed by the persevering Zaman for 110 (108 balls, 15fours, 4 sixes). Nine runs later, Zaman struck again, in his next over,rattling the stumps of Yadav for 95 (160 balls, 10 fours, 3 sixes. By thistime Chatterjee had been restored to the attack and the veteran made amendswith a niggardly spell to finish with figures of 10-2-51-0, his last eightovers having cost just 14. Mohd. Kaif (12) and Gagan Khoda (2) took Centralthrough to stumps without further hiccups.

Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, has said the ICC will move the Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in Pakistan next year, only as a last resort.”All ICC events have been allotted till 2015,” Speed said in Mumbai. “The Champions Trophy was allotted to Pakistan last year and it’s still almost a year away. The ICC will transfer a scheduled event only if it’s [venue] unsafe.”The ICC had cut short one of its scheduled preliminary visits to Pakistan in connection with the tournament following the imposition of a state emergency in the country. Then on November 6, the ICC announced that the women’s World Cup qualifiers, to be played in Pakistan this month, had been postponed.But Speed said the ICC was on course to stage the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September-October next year. “There has been some good cricket in Pakistan in the South African series. Australia and Zimbabwe are due to visit. I am very hopeful all issues will be resolved.”

Ravi Shah in action during Kenya’s remarkable run in the 2003 World Cup © Getty Images

Kenya’ preparation for the World Cup have been boosted by the return of 34-year-old Ravi Shah, considered by many to be, along with team-mate Steve Tikolo, among the best batsmen outside Test cricket.The last of Shah’s 44 ODIs was in the 2004 Champions Trophy, more than 28 months ago, since when he has been sidelined by a serious knee injury as well as his increasing business commitments.But he has been playing local cricket this season with reasonable success, and he has joined Kenya’s 30-man training squad ahead of the World Cricket League which starts in Nairobi at the end of January. His return will give much-needed robustness to Kenya’s top order, which has been a source of constant worry to the national selectors.

Sharad Pawar and his team will have a few big decisions to take © AFP

The much-awaited players’ contracts and the contentious television rights issue will top the agenda when the re-constituted marketing committee of the Indian board meets in Delhi on Thursday.The committee, headed by newly-elected president Sharad Pawar, is also expected to take a decision on team sponsorship. Sahara’s sponsorship contract expired on November 30, but was extended upto the Test series against Sri Lanka.The players’ contracts have been put on the backburner for long and Pawar had admitted his concern over the delay in its finalisation immediately after his election to the top post late last month.“We have to finalise the players’ contract with top most priority,” Pawar had said. “This cannot be delayed any more. We also understand the contract with Sahara has ended. They have extended the contract for Sri-Lanka series only. Hence the marketing committee will have to look for a suitable sponsor to replace them and this is second in our priority list.”Considering that the Pakistan tour is hardly a month away, the committee would have to show urgency in resolving the imbroglio over telecast rights as well as the new contracts for cricketers.

Anil Kumble: India’s most successful Test bowler© AFP

For a long time, it looked as though Anil Kumble would have to wait another day for Test wicket No. 435. Then, in the fading light, with the fourth ball of his 12th over, he trapped Mohammad Rafique in front of the stumps. “It’s definitely a kind of a relief to get there,” said Kumble. “I was really happy that I could get to 434 at Eden Gardens [against South Africa]. It was a really special moment – my family was there, my wife was there. She couldn’t travel here, but it’s a nice feeling to get to 435.”The crowd was slow-handclapping as he came in to deliver – not because they were egging him on to reach the landmark that would put him on top of the pile of Indian Test wicket-takers, but because Rafique was on 47, and within one cavalier stroke of his half-century. When the wicket fell, courtesy of a rare lbw decision from Aleem Dar, an umpire fast gaining a reputation as a not-outer, Kumble was engulfed by his team-mates.A moment later he held his hand up to the balcony where John Wright and the rest of the squad applauded. It was a rare Kumble moment, one when he grinned like a child, his dazzling smile taking the sheen off the floodlights at the Bangabandhu Stadium. It was one of those rare moments when Kumble actually showed some emotion on the field. “I’m not a man of emotions,” he conceded. “I don’t show too many emotions on the field. But I’m really happy with the way things have gone. When I first started I never thought that I would get to this level. I’ve played with Kapil . My first three or four years were with him, so it’s really nice to go past somebody you have looked up to from a young age. To be alongside him and then cross him, after having watched him on TV at one stage, is really good.”However, surpassing Kapil is certainly not going to stop the expectant fans from demanding more. “I’m relieved [to get past the mark] but again people are saying ‘Get to 500’, so I’ll have to put up with it. I just have to go out there and keep getting wickets,” said Kumble. And, given the rate at which he is going – 67 wickets in this calendar year already – 500 can’t be far away.When he reached 434, Kumble finally began to receive what he has been denied all his career – recognition as one of India’s greatest-ever bowlers. Whenever there was talk of great Indian spin bowlers, his name was conspicuous by its absence, simply because he was not a classical legspinner. But that doesn’t bother him one bit. “As long as I am defined as a bowler I am happy,” he said. “At the end of the day a bowler is there to get wickets and a batsman is there to get runs. How he does that is immaterial. I am somebody who is different from an orthodox legspinner. There is a feeling that you will be successful only if you do things a certain way, but I don’t agree with that. I’m happy that even with my style I’ve been able to get the results. At the end of the day it doesn’t really matter what style you bowl.”But Kumble is too hardened a campaigner to believe that the critics will shut up and go home, just because he has become India’s leading Test wicket-taker. When asked if he thought he had silenced his critics once and for all, he said, “I don’t think so. Critics are always there to say things when somewhere along the line you haven’t been doing well. I think that’s something which I don’t really worry about. If I thought too much of whatever people said then I wouldn’t be here. My job is to go out there, play, give 100%. The rest will take care of itself. I’m not there to prove anything to anybody. At this point of time I think I have proved enough, and ultimately I need to go out there and prove to myself that I am still achieving the results that I am capable of.”While no-one can doubt Kumble’s achievment, there have been some who believed, not so long ago, that he was past his best, and that he recently rediscovered the magic after coming back from a career-threatening shoulder injury. “I don’t think I rediscovered anything. Most of it was always there. It’s just that people started to recognise this when I began to do well once more. Right from day one you only try to improve. Every game you play you try to learn something. Over the years my experience has definitely helped in getting the results in Australia and after.”Coming back from injury was hard on the body, but fortunately Kumble is a man of strong will. This, and a burning desire to succeed, ensured that he had his chin up all the while. “Cricket at the international level has more to do with what’s between the ears than ability. At this level everybody is talented. You have to be mentally strong and that has definitely helped me.”But that’s not all that has helped Kumble. In his moment of glory, he remained true to character, and remembered to thank those that helped him along. It has become fashionable in recent times to dedicate every five-for and century to someone, usually prompted by a question in a press conference. But when the “do-you want-to-dedicate-this-to-anyone” question was popped to him, Kumble responded with one of his classic shrugs, smiled, and said, “No, I don’t think so. All my team-mates have been a part of it. I would like to thank them. Without their help I wouldn’t have got this far.”You can be sure that the team will have a quiet celebration to mark Anil Kumble’s achievement, and they certainly have plenty to thank him for.

Warwickshire are concerned that Makhaya Ntini will not be allowed to play for them next season. Ntini, who took 23 wickets during South Africa’s tour of England, held talks with the club earlier this week before flying home.But to be able to play he needs to get permission from the South African board, as do all their contracted players. A Warwickshire spokesman said: “We’d like to see him here, he would like to be here, but the stumbling block could be the UCB. It is becoming more difficult with overseas players, particularly bowlers, because they do have a heavy workload.”Ntini has taken 123 wickets in 36 Tests at an average of 29.69, and won the joint Man of the Match award at the second Test this summer after becoming the first South African to take ten wickets at Lord’s.The concerns about his move to Warwickshire follow more problems they have had this season with their overseas players. Corey Collymore was the latest player to join Waqar Younis after Shane Bond, Michael Clark and Collins Obuya were forced to withdraw.Meanwhile, Neil Smith, a former captain, and Melvyn Betts and Mo Sheikh are to be released at the end of the season, while Trevor Penney has been awarded an extension to his one-day contract.