The National Squad has already reduced its members to sixteen who are now contracted with BCB. This team will head for Multan on 24th July to take on Pakistan for their first match in Asian Test Championship.These sixteen boys are now carrying on their three-day weekly practice in BKSP, a sports training institute twenty miles away from the capital. Usually in BKSP, the practice session runs from Saturday to Monday. It begins from 6:30 in the morning. Trevor Chappell always gives importance on fitness; therefore, the morning begins with hard stretching.A long running session waits for those who are still struggling with their fitness. Mohammed Ashraful disclosed that they had to run continuously for almost an hour in this early hour session. Cricketers who are better fit start this running from 7:00 am.Then they are given a break. The second session keeps on from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, which includes net practice. The quick bowlers are seen firing on the cement track. Mohammed Sharif, who is now regarded as the fastest among Bangladeshi bowlers, has concentrated more on line and length. He looks more confident and matured as well. The two most recognized pace pair Hasibul and Manjurul are trying to put their recent overseas experience into operation.After these toil the players take a nap after lunch because the afternoon practice will soon begin from four o’clock. Under the guidance of Trevor the boys get on with fielding practice in this ending session in the BKSP Ground-1. Bangladesh floored a good number of catches in Zimbabwe. Keeping it in head Trevor put emphasis on this particular area.In June the players went through hard fitness training only, which was very monotonous and cumbersome. Some of the players even asked the coach to reduce the amount of labour. But Trevor explained, saying, " It is important to carry out fitness training in this way. You will see the outcome in future."As the Asian Test Championship is approaching; net practice is now becoming more vital. The players get a day off the field in Tuesday. They carry out weight training for the next two days in the BCB gymnasium at the early hours. In Wednesday and Thursday they select the BUET ground for additional net practice. On Friday the fatigue team members are given a complete rest.Khaled Masud, the vice-captain of the side is regaining his lost rhythm and fitness. He says he is almost fit to put on the keeping gloves again. He joined the side last week and kept on doing all those tough works with his mates. The doctor asked him to be off from taking any risky attempt still. A cordial Masud who received an ankle injury in Zimbabwe, said, " I think I am getting better these days. I don’t face any difficulty while doing running, stretching and all those. The doctor asked me to take the load gradually."So this veteran wicket keeper is optimistic to play in the Test Championship. Certainly it would be a great pleasure to see him back in the squad.The squad will undergo a fifteen-day training under Javed Miandad and Andy Roberts who are arriving soon. They are going to give expert instructions to the players over their related field. Trevor will warmheartedly welcome them, he says, " No doubt their specialized guidance would be beneficial. Both are great players and if we go along with their suggestions, we are looking forward to doing much better."

LONDON – Australian Darren Lehmann struck his fifth century of theseason on Thursday to keep Yorkshire firmly on course to win its firstEnglish county cricket championship title since 1968.Lehmann’s unbeaten 141 against Leicestershire powered division oneleaders Yorkshire to 3-267 in its second innings — an overall lead of376 at the close on the second day of the four-day match at Leicester.The South Australian emphatically pressed home the advantage whichYorkshire had gained earlier in the day by bundling out the home countyfor 121 to lead by 109 on first innings.Lehmann, who was averaging 87.28 in the Championship before the currentround of matches, batted for 248 minutes, faced 213 deliveries and hit20 fours.He put on 138 for the third wicket with England batsman Michael Vaughan(47) and 106 in an unbroken fourth wicket stand with captain David Byas(37 not out).Openers Jimmy Maher and Mike Hussey were two other Australians in form.Queenslander Maher hammered an unbeaten 102, containing 14 fours, togive Glamorgan a solid start of 2-188 in reply to Essex’s first inningsof 327 on the second day at Cardiff.Western Australian Hussey hit 93 to lead Northamptonshire to 3-281 afterLancashire declared its first innings at 6-600 on the second day at OldTrafford.Hussey faced 116 balls and hit 15 fours and one six.Earlier, Lancashire captain John Crawley extended his overnight 208 to280, one short of his highest score for the county, against Somerset in1994.Champions Surrey, struggling in sixth place in the nine-team table, wasindebted to paceman Martin Bicknell for its total of 258 against Kent onthe first day at Canterbury.Bicknell came in at 6-95 and led a recovery by hitting 78 off 157 balls,with nine fours.England discard Graeme Hick completed an innings of 201 forWorcestershire in its 524 all out on the second day against Warwickshireat Edgbaston.

Not even a sparkling 92 off 103 balls from Nicky Peng could stopGlamorgan stealing Durham’s place at the top of the Norwich Union League Division two at a sun-drenched Sophia Gardens.Set 251 to win Durham were going well while Peng, 19 next month, was in the middle.And even when Peng went eight short of a century skipper Jon Lewis andJames Daley still gave Durham half a chance of victory despite some accurate spin bowling from Robert Croft and Dean Cosker.But at 206 in the 40th over needing a further 45 for victory the Durham innings started to subside as they lost their last six wickets for just 20 to give Glamorgan their ninth victory of the summer.Glamorgan, who eventually won by 24 runs, were indebted to their former captain Matthew Maynard who produced a 60-ball half-century on the way to setting Durham a testing total.After winning the toss Glamorgan made a lightning start through KeithNewell and Ian Thomas, who helped their side to 73-0 after just nine overs.But Glamorgan found themselves reduced to 82-3 by the 13th over, with the loss of Newell, Thomas and Robert Croft, before Maynard and JimmyMaher batted sensibly putting on 71 in 13 overs, as some inconsistentDurham bowling failed to contain the second-placed side.Maher played on to Graeme Bridge and then Mike Powell holed out to long off but not before he had dispatched a free hit from a no ball by Paul Collingwood to the back of the stand at the River Taff end.Maynard’s innings ended when he was well caught by Andy Pratt standing up to Collingwood.But a 45-run partnership between skipper Adrian Dale and Darren Thomas ensured Durham would have to display their qualities as leaders to knock off the runs at 5.58 an over.

Coastal “B” and Inland “B” teams to play at Pietermaritzburg, Collegians Club, 12 to 14 October (3-day) and 15 October (1-day) starting at 09:30.

COASTAL “B” TEAMS(3-day Team) (1-day Team)1. Mark Sanders 1. Mark Sanders2. Rivash Gobind 2. Rivash Gobind3. Derrin Bassage (WKR) 3. Derrin Bassage (WKR)4. Hashim Amla (Capt) 4. Hashim Amla (Capt)5. Warren Hauptfleisch 5. Kyle Bender6. Victor Xulu 6. Victor Xulu7. Ross Veenstra 7. Desigan Reddy8. Desigan Reddy 8. Ross Veenstra9. Rob McQueen 9. Keith Ingram10. Keith Ingram 10. Logan Pillay11. Logan Pillay 11. Lucky Dladla12. Lucky Dladla (12th Man) 12. Yadeen Singh (12th Man)Coach: Yashin EbrahimManager: PHil RussellINLAND “B” TEAM1. James Buller2. Mehmood Badat (WKR)3. Murray Hampson (Capt)4. Tahir Essack5. Philip Landman6. John Anderson7. Lenny Adendorff8. Devlin Samanathan9. Sachin Durasamy10. Murray-Cole-Edwards11. Mondli Ndlovu12. Sifiso ZuluCoach: Bruce Roberts

Hamilton’s long-awaited lights at WestpacTrust Park are about to become a reality.The first of the new lights which will allow day/night international cricket to be played in Hamilton was expected to be in place late this afternoon.Town planning consent for the move finally allowed the installation of the lights at a cost in excess of $1 million.Four light standards 50m in height are being placed at the ground. Two of the lights will produce 68 lumieres while the other two will produce 79 and 81 respectively.The lights will be first used on November 8 when trans-Tasman touch rugby internationals will be played at the ground.Permission has been granted for the lights to be used on 29 days each year.Hamilton is to stage a day/night game between Northern Districts and England at the start of the England tour while one of its State Shield domestic one-day matches will also be under lights.Northern Districts chief executive John Turkington said today that WestpacTrust Park had recovered well from its use as Waikato’s main rugby venue this year while renovations were done to the traditional rugby ground in the city at Rugby Park.”The pitch has been renovated and we have levelled the outfield,” he said.He saw no problems for the ground being ready for New Zealand’s first home Test against Bangladesh in Hamilton, starting on December 18.

SYDNEY, Nov 5 AAP – New South Wales has turned to its contingent of Clark(e)s to fill the gaps for the Pura Cup cricket match against Victoria starting in Melbourne on Thursday.With Test trio Mark Waugh, Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee unavailable and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin back from a thumb injury, the selectors made four changes to the team which beat South Australia in three days at the SCG last week.Recalled alongside Haddin, who replaces Nathan Pilon, were paceman Don Nash, batsman Michael Clarke and off-spinner Anthony Clark.To make the scorers’ job even more difficult, fast bowler Stuart Clark will almost certainly be promoted to the starting XI after being 12th man against South Australia.The Clark(e) contingent have played together on only one previous occasion, in a drawn Pura Cup match against Victoria at the SCG last summer.Anthony Clark, who took six wickets at 47.66 in his opening season of first class cricket last summer, has already bagged a couple of five-wicket hauls in club cricket during the current campaign.His return of 5-109 for Fairfield against Bankstown last Saturday included the prized wicket of Australian captain Steve Waugh, who he bowled for 84.”I’ve worked pretty hard on my fitness and just hope to work on what I’ve started on last year and get a few more games this year,” Anthony Clark said.One of the vacant bowling spots seems certain to go to Stuart Clark, who took 5-64 against Tasmania but was relegated to drinks waiter against South Australia to accommodate Lee and Nathan Bracken.Depending on the Punt Rd wicket, the 12th man position would appear to rest between Anthony Clark and his Fairfield clubmate Nash, who was dropped for the last Pura Cup match.Victoria called up rising leg-spinner Cameron White to replace Shane Warne, who’s absent on Test duty.White, 18, made an impressive first-class debut against the Blues last season including a haul of 4-65.”I think that last year’s experience was very important for me, particularly the game at the SCG and I’m looking to build on those performances,” he said.White, who has just returned from a tour of New Zealand with the Commonwealth Bank Academy team, also said the recent chance to train with Warne had been a great learning experience.The Victorian selectors could not consider skipper Paul Reiffel, who had yet to recover from a back injury.Victoria has made a wretched start to the domestic season.It props up the Pura Cup table after two rounds and has also lost all four of its ING Cup matches.NSW is in second place on the Pura Cup table behind Queensland.Teams:Victoria: Matthew Elliott (capt), Jason Arnberger, Brad Hodge, Matthew Mott, Michael Klinger, Ian Harvey, Darren Berry, Colin Miller, Damien Fleming, Mathew Inness, Michael Lewis, Cameron White (12th man to be named).NSW: Shane Lee (capt), Michael Slater, Greg Mail, Michael Bevan, Mark Higgs, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Anthony Clark, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill, Stuart Clark, Don Nash (12th man to be named).

Funny about that.Trevor Chappell came to New Zealand yesterday. No devilish horns protruding from his close-cropped grey hair. No horned tail curled up inside his smart slacks. Not a sign of a cloven hoof.Here was the man whom New Zealanders vested with yellow-shirted infamy on February 1, 1981 after he finished a one-day win for Australia over New Zealand by six runs at the MCG by bowling the last ball underarm.Now Chappell, every bit the journeyman cricketer, has returned for a longish stay in New Zealand as coach of the Bangladesh side which will play first-class matches at Wanganui and Auckland and Tests at Hamilton and Wellington.No place for him to hide, to live down the endless procession of shock-horror dissertations by every Australian cricket after-dinner speaker who has visited New Zealand in the last 20 years.Chappell, who has played cricket for South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, and coached in Sri Lanka and now in Bangladesh, has been in New Zealand since 1981, to play in benefit matches for Bruce Edgar (102 not out on THAT day) and Gavin Larsen.He promises not to talk about the under-arm incident while here, and would probably prefer that everyone else dropped the cone of silence on that boring-boring piece of cricketing history.

The recent India-England series outlined the differences in the thinking process between Sourav Ganguly and Nasser Hussain. The hosts were not unduly worried about the visiting team, since they were without their best players. Some of the leading English stars had pulled out of this tour due to personal reasons, and with Graham Thorpe returning to England after the first Test, Hussain’s team was further depleted. Mind you, their performance at Mohali was not encouraging, to say the least, but this is where Hussain, as a visiting captain, showed great enterprise in keeping his inexperienced side on track.

Hussain was completely aware of his team’s strengths and weaknesses, and it would be fair to say that the weaknesses outweighed the strengths. Yet he was faced with the task of reviving morale and inspiring his team to do better than its best. The bowling looked thin without the likes of Darren Gough and Andrew Caddick, and the spinners – Ashley Giles and Richard Dawson – hardly lookied capable of running through a side. The top-order England batsmen too looked lost against spinners, especially on the dusty tracks in India. Apart from all these concerns, Hussain also had to formulate a game plan to put it across the hosts.The uncompromising toughness and individuality of Hussain landed him in trouble with the Essex management some years ago, but ironically those very attributes won him accolades on this tour. He always was in charge of proceedings and never allowed the game to drift. His bowlers were told to stick to his plans, and they were utilised in the best manner possible. Andrew Flintoff has come a long way as a bowler on this tour, and Matthew Hoggard looks a very good prospect for the future. Furthermore, Hussain simply did not bother to think about the prospect of being criticised for his tactics. The visiting captain may not have scored big runs, but this did not deter him from leading the team with an iron hand. It is at times when things are not going well that the character of a cricketer is severely tested and, based on what Hussain has done, he has passed with flying colours.

On the other hand, Sourav Ganguly was definitely not in the best of form with the bat, and this resulted in him being slightly hesitant throughout the series. A captain has to keep track of a lot of issues, and when personal form is poor, there is every chance of haziness creeping into the mind. The spinners were expected to bowl the visitors out without too much fuss; they did that well enough, but the batsmen were the ones to be blamed. In a way, Ganguly’s gang was puzzled by Hussain’s tactics. Ganguly may not come out openly and say so, but one got the impression that he did not get his choice of medium pacers. Even so, it was a shame that the visitors were allowed to call the shots in the second and third Tests.The lesson to be learnt from this series is that Ganguly should try to utilise the resources on hand rather than brood over the absence of his choices. This is where Hussain showed that inexperienced bowlers can do the job as long as they enjoy the skipper’s confidence. This has not been Ganguly’s problem alone; the same mindset prevailed in the case of his predecessors as well. To add to his woes, the visiting team’s medium pacers zeroed in on Ganguly, and it was clear that he succumbed to pressures that were mounted on him from all directions. It just goes to show that, regardless of experience, pressure has a sinister knack of having the final say.

A major sponsor is about to be announced for the recently launched Hampshire Youth Development indoor cricket competition being staged at the Rose Bowl.League officials are on the verge of tieing up a lucrative deal with a national concern, details of which are expected to be announced before next Sunday’s third round of matches.Fair Oak’s youngsters emulated the opening week feat of BAT Sports by winning their first two matches.They edged home by two runs against Mudeford and then outscored Locks Heath to win by 37 runs.Paul Malone (27), James Scutt (25) and Tom Luff (19) did the spadework as Fair Oak (120-3) narrowly bettered Mudeford’s 118-3. Tom Gadd (29) and Lewis Baker (27) top scored for Mudeford, while Ed White bowled a tidy three-over spell for Fair Oak.Luff (27), Scutt (22) and Malone (16) were again to the fore as Fair Oak rattled up 141-3 against Locks Heath, who had the consolation of beating Mudeford in their final match.Nick Bampton (23), Daniel Copeman (21) and James King (21) ensured the young Heathens collected a batting bonus point at 104 all out.Hampshire Under-14 all-rounder Gareth Ransley starred in Locks Heath’s 15-run win over Mudeford, scoring an unbeaten 39 and then returning a useful spell of 1-15.With Ben Lewis (22) and King (14) offering support, Locks Heath reached 96-5 and then restricted the Christchurch club to 79-5 (Baker 20). Mudeford’s Nick Shaw (3-23) produced the best individual bowling performance so far, but finished a loser.Results –
Fair Oak (11) 120-3 (Malone 27, Scutt 27, Baker 2-12)
Mudeford (1) 118-3 (Gadd 29, Baker 27)
Fair Oak won by two runsFair Oak (12) 141-3 (Luff 27, Scutt 22)
Locks Heath (1) 104 (Bampton 23, King 21, Copeman 21, Rose 2-20)
Fair Oak won by 37 runsLocks Heath (10) 98-5 (Ransley 39, Lewis 22, Shaw 3-23)
Mudeford (0) 79-5 (Baker 20)
Locks Heath won by 17 runsSunday’s fixtures at the Rose Bowl:
6pm Havant v South Wilts, 7pm St Cross Symondians v Havant, 8pm South Wilts v St Cross Symondians

A study of New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming in the nets these days reveals a skipper working hard at adapting to new elements in the one-day game, new elements that may have a big say in just who will be holding the World Cup aloft in South Africa next year.Fleming would no doubt like to be that man.He’s getting used to holding trophies aloft. The trophy for the New Zealand-England Test series in 1999 and the ICC KnockOut in Kenya in 2000 are the two occasions he has savoured.He led the side into a position of advantage that could have seen New Zealand steal the Trans-Tasman Trophy – wouldn’t the Hadlee-Border Trophy be a better name for that prize – from Australian noses after that fine Test match in Perth, and he could have been excused for thinking the VB Series trophy might have had New Zealand’s name on it at the halfway stage of the event.That was before the side moved onto Suicide Alley when facing four games in seven days in the last stages of the competition – two in Adelaide, one in Melbourne and the last in Perth.However, the arrival of the sanctioned one bouncer an over has changed the shape of one-day cricket. While good scores can still be achieved in the first 15 overs of games, the bowlers have an extra weapon, and that is what Fleming is attempting to counter with his own batting.He held New Zealand’s innings together in the third ODI against England in Napier and finished on 76 not out, possibly a vital innings in terms of his summer.For the two days before, Fleming had looked out of sorts in the nets, several times being cleaned out by the bowlers and was nowhere as much in control as he likes.That’s what made his innings all the more impressive in the match. He didn’t bat as fluently, or as quickly, as he would have liked but neither was he out.However, there were signs in those moments when the big Fleming shots – the straight drives, in the air and along the ground, the powerful pull to mid-wicket and the occasional cover drive – were unleashed that the fluidity was not too far away.He has not been helped by different pitches on the various New Zealand grounds. The miserableness of the summer this year has been reflected in slower decks than usual, and it may well be Dunedin before the work he has put in sees the timing return to his strokeplay.”I’m not hitting the ball as crisply as I have in the past,” he said.Fleming is trying to adapt his play to the unpredictability of the bowling resulting from the bouncer rule.That involves trying to playing more shots off the back foot, scoring faster yet at the same time wanting to spend more time at the crease to bat through the innings more.Fleming has had a good success rate in working out his problem areas in the past. Chances are that the formula is not too far away from bearing fruit.”I’m having to grind more than anything. That frustrates me a little bit at times. When you are losing wickets, there is a certain amount of responsibility to keep going.”The nature of bowling these days is not as predictable. We need to get a platform at the top of the order so these guys [New Zealand’s strokeplayers] can come in and play more freely,” he said.Fleming has absorbed the demands of the captaincy in impressive style after some unfortunate criticism of his taking command.Chances are that similar results could be seen from his one-day batting as New Zealand builds toward the World Cup.Now that would be a very significant extra string to the side’s batting bow should it happen.