Division OneYorkshire: 166-6 Nottinghamshire: 167-9 Notts won by 1 wicketKent: 215-3 Surrey: 170 Kent won by 40 runsBerkshire: 63 Sussex: 69-4 Sussex win by 6 wickets

Sussex have won three matches from three, beating Berkshire convincingly by 6 wickets at Fitzwilliam College today. England and Sussex Captain, Clare Connor, took 3 wickets for just one run, including fellow England international, Claire Taylor for 3. Caroline Atkins, who has been put on stand-by for the forthcoming international matches, took 4-19 to blight the Berkshire middle order.Atkins finished not out on 12, with England U19 player Alexia Walker hitting a six for the winning runs, also unbeaten on 22.Berkshire, who came second in last year’s competition, are now involved in a relegation battle with Surrey, whom they face at C.U Press tomorrow, whilst Nottinghamshire face Sussex in a title decider at Pembroke College.In a thrilling match, Nottinghamshire beat Yorkshire by one run, from the last ball, to retain their unbeaten record. Yorkshire had recovered from 15-3 to finish on 166-8 against the title chasers at C U Press. Having lost their Captain, Melissa Reynard, for 9 and Kathryn Leng for 3, it took the experienced pair of Sue Metcalfe and England’s most capped player, Clare Taylor, to restore some backbone to the Yorkshire batting. Miserly bowling from Nicky Myers (Notts) restricted the current Frizzell County Champions, returning exceptional figures of 2-2 from eight overs and frustrating the Leng in particular.Metcalfe played a hard-hitting innings reaching 65 from 80 balls before being caught by Jenny Gunn from the bowling of young MCC player, Nicky Shaw.Taylor hit an impressive 30 from 38 balls to ensure Nottinghamshire did not have an easy chase.But, with the last ball of the match, Nottinghamshire did reach the target with Nicky Shaw finishing unbeaten on 46 despite Clare Taylor’s three wickets.Another positive for England was Jane Smit’s smart keeping for Nottinghamshire, having been recalled to the England squad after a year’s absence.The stylish batters of Kent and England, Charlotte Edwards and Lydia Greenway, put on 46 for the second wicket against Surrey. Edwards finished on 83, including nine fours and Greenway on 48*. The pair put Kent in a strong position, and whilst Australian Melanie Jones was at the crease for Surrey, there was always a chance until she was stumped on 60. Laura Joyce, the England U19 wicket-keeper made 30, but Surrey finished forty runs short.

Division TwoHertfordshire: 57 Somerset: 58-1 Somerset won by 9 wicketsHampshire: 155-9 Staffordshire: 156-1 Staffs won by 9 wicketsLancashire: 138-9 Middlesex: 123 Lancashire won by 15 runs

Lancashire sustained their promotion challenge, beating Middlesex today by 15 runs at Emmanuel. They are now the only unbeaten team in Division Two. Laura Newton top-scored with 44, assisted by Arran Thompson who made 23. Lancashire could not consolidate their good start, tumbling from 81-4 to 121 all out, but the chase was too big for Middlesex. Lancashire’s Captain, Arran Thompson took 3-18 and Susanne White 4-18 to ensure the victory.Somerset Captain and England player, Hannah Lloyd, had few problems chasing Hertfordshire’s score of just 57 at Queen’s College, reaching the target in the seventeenth over. Lloyd remained unbeaten on 37, and also took 2-5 in a three over bowling spell. For Somerset, Jackie Hawker took 3-7 and Kathryn Wilkins 3-10 to demolish Hertfordshire.Helen Pugh took a Championship best 4-21 for Staffordshire against Hampshire, restricting Hampshire to 135-9. Kirsty White provided some solidity to the Hampshire batting and remained unbeaten on 36, but wickets fell regularly as Pugh and fellow Cricket Development Officer, Kelly Evenson, took seven wickets.In reply, Tracy Crump scored 81, including fifteen fours, in a first wicket stand of 134 with Sue Redfearn (38*) to secure the comprehensive victory with fifteen overs to spare.

Division ThreeCheshire: 180 Essex: 180 Match is a tieNorthamptonshire: 93 Derbyshire: 94-3 Derbys won by 7 wicketsDurham: 150-2 Warks: 148-5 Durham won by 8 wickets

Lynn Spooner took 3-14 as Derbyshire beat Northamptonshire by seven wickets at Churchill Ground. A fourth wicket unbeaten partnership between Sue Whittam (19*) and Nina Marshall (29*) secured the Derbyshire victory in the thirty-fourth over.Warwickshire scored 148-5 at St John’s with T Keir scoring 83, but Durham chased successfully finishing on 150-2 thanks to a first wicket stand of 112 between Hazell (43) and Anderson (54).Peformances of the day:

Caroline Atkins (Sussex) 4-19 Division OneClare Connor (Sussex) 3-1 Division OneHelen Pugh (Staffordshire) 4-21 Division TwoJackie Hawker (Somerset) 3-7 Division TwoLynn Spooner (Derbyshire) 3-14 Division ThreeCharlotte Edwards (Kent) 83 Division OneSue Metcalfe (Yorks) 65 Division OneTracy Crump (Staffs) 81 Division TwoT Keir (Warks) 83 Division Three

Teams compete in three divisions of six playing five 50 over matches between Saturday 26th and Wednesday 31st July, on a round robin basis.

Changes are expected for the third Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge next Thursday, as England’s selectors attempt to rediscover the winning formula that has been disastrously mislaid over the past two weeks. England were comprehensively outplayed in a rain-affected first Test at Edgbaston, before being routed by an innings and 92 runs at Lord’s on Sunday.Michael Vaughan, who was thrust into the spotlight by Nasser Hussain’s resignation last week, has been told he will be given a say in the selection process, even though he is not officially on the panel. “I think the selectors have a meeting on Thursday,” said Vaughan. “Between now and then we will try and come up with a plan of how to beat South Africa.”I’m keen on having a team that I feel can beat South Africa,” added Vaughan. “Whether we look to the future I don’t know. First and foremost we have to try and put in a better performance at Trent Bridge and try and put South Africa under some pressure.”David Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors, acknowledged that Vaughan had been underprepared for his role at Lord’s, and he now has ten days in which to settle into the job. “Michael now has the chance to settle back and get a better understanding of the job that was presented to him,” said Graveney. “I hope he has a couple of days now away from the spotlight to decide what he wants because what he wants is going to have a major bearing in our selection meeting.”Several of England’s old guard will be under considerable pressure in the next few days. Darren Gough, whose spirit is willing but whose knees are weak, struggled his way to a solitary wicket in two Tests and has already announced his retirement from Test cricket. Alec Stewart was uncharacteristically scratchy behind the stumps at Lord’s, and picked up a second-ball duck in his final innings at the ground, while Nasser Hussain’s post-captaincy blues will be a source of some concern to the selectors.The younger generation are hardly more secure. Anthony McGrath has looked palpably out of his depth, despite his success against Zimbabwe earlier in the season, while Steve Harmison’s place will probably remain secure for the time being, if only for a lack of options. Ashley Giles has also felt the pressure in recent weeks, although his ability to make consistent runs from No. 8 will surely work in his favour. That, and his close friendship with his new captain – Vaughan will need all the support going in the next few days.Inevitably though, with a shake-up in the offing, there is one big name rearing his head again. Graham Thorpe is fit, in form and has put his personal problems aside, and the temptation for his inclusion will be hard to resist. “If he’s right in his mind and personal life then I am sure the selectors will talk about him,” said Vaughan. “He’s a fantastic player.”

Promote our visionNorthern Districts Cricket Association is one of the largest and the fastest growing Associations in New Zealand. Based in Hamilton and responsible for the management and promotion of Cricket in the northern half of the North Island. Our Vision is to provide leadership, innovation and excellence to ensure Cricket is the No. 1 Sport in the Region.Commercial Operations ManagerTo ensure we achieve our Vision, we are seeking a highly motivated senior person with Commercial/Marketing experience to drive our Association’s Commercial Operation.The position encompasses the management of Funding, Brands, Communication and Events and reports directly to the CEO.To be successful you will need drive and initiative to:· Develop and deliver the strategic vision· Proven ability to network at a high level· Develop new business initiatives· Demonstrate ability to think laterally· Achieve funding and sponsorship levels· Experience with outsourcing and managing contractorsFor a copy of the job description, contact Kate at ND Office.Ph: 07 839 3783Fax: 07 839 5542Email: [email protected]

Daryl Tuffey will enjoy better days than that he experienced at Ahmedabad today, in fact he has enjoyed them, most notably against India in New Zealand last year. But the fine line between success and missed chances was never more apparent than on the first day of the series in India.It was always going to be toughest for the fast-medium brigade. That’s the way it has always been in India. Not having the shock value of Shane Bond compounded the situation. But Tuffey made his point. A player who in the past has been labelled a slow starter and less than effective in overseas conditions, he showed that with maturity has come consistency. He did his bit, and bowled to his plan in the first half of the day. But if he creates the chances, all he can do is hope that they go to hand.They didn’t today. Virender Sehwag dropped on the third man boundary by Craig McMillan with the ball going for six, Akash Chopra dropped by Robbie Hart. Fortunately for the offenders, neither lasted long enough to create problems and there was a catch-up when Sehwag was given out leg before wicket. But the man the Indians were keen to show could only perform on New Zealand wicket types like those of last summer, won his own battle to show that he was deserving of greater respect.Jacob Oram, too showed commendable adherence to the plan. The unity of purpose in the side’s attack was obvious. Stephen Fleming, the captain directing operations on the field, and having a fair say off, has become identifiable as one of those leaders who likes to work on his opponents – assessing, probing and executing. It can mean some field placements that test the descriptions provided in the MCC Coaching Manual, but it was only by mere fractions that New Zealand weren’t better placed by the end of the day.The last session was memorable for India as the New Zealand competitiveness waned in the heat and the patient batsmen had their reward. As it is so often when New Zealand meet India nowadays, it was Rahul Dravid who bridged the gap between the breakthrough, when Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar were dismissed, and safety and security in an ongoing partnership of 115 runs with VVS Laxman. Dravid has scored 801 runs in eight Tests against New Zealand, with an average of 64.57 in New Zealand as opposed to 58.16 in India, although at the start of today’s Test his home average was 39.83. The same elegance that has been his trademark throughout his career was obvious again, never more than when he was caressing the ball through the off side en route to his fourth century against New Zealand.And while both were subjected to part of “the plan” and some concentrated shorter bowling, Laxman especially, they withstood it and turned the attack back on the bowlers in crisp and authoritative style. Laxman’s pull shots showed that he had emerged from the coaching lesson Craig McMillan appeared to be delivering during his ‘short’, if you’ll pardon the double entendre, spell all the better for the experience. Certainly he revealed no effects from the constant whiplash effect of jerking his head out of the way of the ball as it passed by.In recent times the grooming of the New Zealanders in Asian countries has taken a hammering, most notably the Number One hair cuts in Sri Lanka earlier in the year, but Craig McMillan this time has opted for more hair on his face with a handlebar moustache that left him looking like an atomised Merv Hughes, and a Mohawk haircut that could only be described as Beckhamesque in effect if not delivery.With Sourav Ganguly still to come and some capable lower-order batsmen, India have left New Zealand needing to take quick wickets on the second morning or be left facing a daunting batting target when they finally get their turn.The Wisden Bulletin
The Wisden Verdict: Planning’s not enough
Wisden Stats: How NZ missed a trick
Roving Reporter: Screaming for Sa-chin
Quotes

John Wright considers his words as carefully as he did his strokes in his playing days. “Personally,” he told us, sitting in the lobby of the Cricket Club of India, a few days before the Test series against New Zealand began, “I never take it more than three months at a time.” We were talking about India’s World Cup campaign, and while Wright was full of praise for the way India played, he was worried about the effect of all the hype on the Indian team. Good days shouldn’t make you forget the bad ones, he said. “When I hear people saying that the coach is doing a good job, I think about the days people found it hard to say one good thing about you.”We caught up with Wright once again, at Mohali, hours after the Test series ended. And as is his custom, he offered no excuses for India’s failure to win.How do you look back on the New Zealand series?
I think we played below ourselves. I don’t think we played well as a unit, though obviously there were some good individual performances. If you compare our energy levels, particularly in the field, with that of New Zealand, that gives off some signs. I think we need to up our energy.I’ve been worried about the comfort zone after the World Cup and I feel that this is a sharp reminder. If we are to go on and play competitively in Australia we’ve got to lift our performance several levels and as a unit. It’s no good having one or two good individual performances.You know the pitches have been slow, but we have to get that mentality of tosses and pitches completely out of our heads and accept the conditions we are given and get the job done.How are we to raise the intensity?
It’s not a game-time thing alone. Intensity is in everything you do. To me intensity is created by the way we practise, by the importance we attach to playing for our country, the importance we place on doing everything that needs to be done to get the best out of ourselves. Now we can’t just have that from five or six players. We’ve got to have that from everyone.Would it be fair to say they bowled better than us through the series?
I feel they were more consistent with their lines. It’s a little more difficult to talk about spinners here because in both Tests they have had no help, which is unusual for Indian conditions. But having said that, that may well be the case in Australia. They bowled to their fields better than we did. Our plan, in the last Test particularly, was to take away the leg-side option from them and we didn’t achieve that. I feel our discipline and line and length have to improve.Rahul Dravid said after the second Test that had India been in New Zealand’s position, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh would have probably forced a result. Do you agree?
I’m not into conjecture. The reality is that we have to bowl better – we have to not allow them to score 630 in any conditions. The reality is that we’re going to lose tosses, we’re going to find wickets that perhaps aren’t suitable, and we have to be able to adapt to the conditions, whatever they may be, so that we achieve the result or the type of performance that we want.But I agree with Rahul in that when it turns I would back our spinners to bowl any side out. There was more assistance on the last two days at Mohali than at Motera. So he has a point.What went wrong with someone like Zaheer Khan? He started the series so well and then went from bad to worse.
We need Zaheer to bowl well. I have seen what he is capable of when he is at the top of his game. You know, bowlers, like batters, can have an off game. He will be back and we will back him as he is important to the team. I thought Balaji, in terms of effort and attitude, made a promising start.Did Tendulkar’s form concern you?
Sachin will sort it out. I have every confidence in him. We’re talking about two games; and in one of those games he got a fifty. Sachin will work it out. There are no hassles. One of the things that champions have is that they can sort these things out. If he needs help, he’ll ask me, or he’ll go and sort it out. People were worried about his form before the World Cup. Australia will be a big stage; I’m sure he will play well.VVS Laxman must have pleased you.
He’s a gem, really. Outstanding, outstanding player. The thing I’m liking about Laxman is the consistency he has shown over the last two years. I have a lot of admiration for VVS Laxman. I’m sure he’s going to carry his good form to Australia.

Do you think we are closer to finding a solution for the opening slot?
Opening in India has not been a problem. The problem is when we go overseas, because the adjustment is significant. However, you’d have to be very pleased with Akash [Chopra]. He looks like an opener, he thinks like an opener, and he’s made a good start. But it’s still an area that we have to nail down when we go overseas. If we can get it sorted, it’ll be a big, big help for us. The other issue that arose is the tail. We need contributions.We’ve got to have a damn good look at things and see what’s got to be fixed or changed because we’ve got to perform at a higher level than we have done in the last two Tests.Does it ever strike you as odd that while India have been producing some great middle-order batsmen down the years, there has not been a world-class opener since Sunil Gavaskar?
It’s a lot to do with the conditions. Opening here is like batting at No. 5 or 6 in other countries. That’s the bottomline. You can get away with being a front-footed player. Technically, you are much less tested. We need to decide who we are going to back, and stay with him for a little while. Also, we need to appreciate that it’s a specialised position. If someone can get the job done, which to me means taking the shine off the new ball, that will be a huge bonus.Is opening all about technique? Or is it a lot to do with the mind?
It is a unique challenge. The bowlers are fresh, the wicket is fresh, the ball is new and you have different problems to solve. I always liked opening because I hated hanging around. I would rather be out there than waiting to bat. If you don’t enjoy it then your chances of success are pretty low. You should want to out there first, when things are buzzing around. You ought to enjoy the thrill of facing the new ball.If you were to put the team in a room and tell them something, what would it be?
That we have a great opportunity ahead. Forget about the World Cup. It’s gone, it’s finished, and we didn’t win it. We need to look forward, get hungry and improve. Let’s work out how we can become better, not only in the one-day game but also in Test cricket, and let’s get our attitude and desire together and do everything with total commitment.Was the big break a factor? Were some players a little rusty?
Some people used the time wisely, some didn’t. The break was needed. There are boys who you know will have a break for six or seven weeks and then get back with their training and practice. But there are some who concern you. The season just doesn’t start when you turn up for the first fitness camp. International cricket is a year-round pursuit, whether you’re playing or not. Players need to be self-motivated to train and practise wherever they are.Are you happy with the work ethic of this team?
Overall, yes. We have some tremendous professionals in this side. The aspect I worry about is that when we play well, everybody gets very carried away. Then the commercial angle comes in and that’s a trap. Here, more than anywhere else, success, both individually and team-wise, creates challenges. If players are not careful they forget the reason they are getting those rewards in the first place. I am concerned about how some of them use their spare time, because they have many other responsibilities, commercial or whatever. Sometimes, unknowingly, they might start neglecting their game, all the hard work and all the training that got them there, and get into a comfort zone where their form suffers. That’s something that is very much part of the environment here, where cricketers are big stars and earn a lot of money. It can apply to individuals and it can apply to a team. You’ve got to stay up there all the time. And not only stay up there, but try to get yourself to a better level. When that does not happen it concerns you.But who are the guys whose work ethic really makes you happy? Who can you use as role models for the younger players?
There are a number of role models For instance, [Anil] Kumble. He never seems to get carried away with all the hype. He missed quite a few matches in the World Cup, which was very disappointing for him. He had a small break with his family. But when I was at the Academy (NCA), I’d see him every day, working out, trying to stay in shape. That’s the sort of commitment and attitude you want to see.In a way, those two World Cup matches showed how tough Australia are going to be.
Yes it did. But we should not be going to Australia thinking how tough they are. We are going to go there thinking how good we can be. Every team is beatable. We have beaten them before and I would like to believe we can do it again.You have been to Australia as a player yourself. Do you think there is something about their cricket that makes you feel under siege all the time?
Yes, you can develop a siege mentality. And they are very clever about it. But that’s part of the challenge. You have to go there and be mentally strong, it’s a great test. There is no reason why you have to look up to them and feel awe. You know it’s a game of cricket; you’ve got to back yourself.Would you say that the only way to beat Australia is to beat them at their own game? India certainly played aggressively in 2001.
You have to be aggressive against everyone. But you have to play to a plan. Sometimes the plan might be to actually slow down the game, not allow them to dictate terms. Your planning has to be aggressive, which doesn’t always mean that you try to hit every ball out of the park.Why is it that New Zealand always manage to do well against Australia?
That’s because they are not intimidated. And they know how to play for their team in each situation in the game. All right, they (the Australians) are great players. But so what? Who cares? They play their brand of cricket, we play ours, and let’s see where it goes. You ought be able to put pressure on them and pressure can do strange things to even the toughest of teams.India have won Tests abroad in the last couple of years, but we’ve gone into the last match of the last four away-series with the chance to seal it but failed every time.
We have got a lot of belief as a one-day team now. We back ourselves to win. Somehow, we’ve got to win one series abroad. And then things will change. We have come close. We missed an opportunity in Zimbabwe, and another in West Indies. We shouldn’t have lost that Test; we should have hung around a little longer. That was disappointing, and that’s something we’ve got to change. There was a wonderful opportunity in New Zealand. Those games could have been won as easily as they were lost.We know what we need to do. We need to be more incisive with the new ball and we have to be more solid at the top. Look at any top team in the world from any era, they all had very good top threes. And then we’ve got to keep on developing good seam bowlers, and create depth and competition in that. From what I have seen, things are coming along. I saw some good boys at the camp and there is some good work happening at the MRF academy too. The scene certainly looks more promising now than when I arrived here.There are a lot of bowlers in the 18- to 20-years range who have potential. We need to take care of them. Once we find them we have to make sure that we don’t pick them in every team, bowl them in every match so that some them end up as shattered 21-year-olds. I worry about the workload some of these young guys are bearing. There has to be an understanding in the selection process about the development of a player, particularly where it concerns fast bowlers.Team selection was one of your major concerns when we spoke last time. Has anything happened since then to make you feel better?
I haven’t changed my views. Team selection is one of most critical issues facing Indian cricket. There are still a lot of ad hoc processes there. It’s not just the national side but cricket right through the system. It’s an area where you have to be spot-on. But there is just too much of pressure on the selectors from their own zones; that’s the fault of the system. I mean, it’s wrong for zones to have expectations from their selectors. Selection is a tough enough job anyway. It’s not about zones, it’s about the country.Would you like to have a greater say in the selection process?
It is a difficult area. When players are not selected they can be hugely disappointed, and if they think the coach has had a hand in the decision, it can affect the relationship between the coach and the player. It happens. Different countries have different rules. In Australia they have taken the coach out of the equation now and there are countries where coaches are heavily involved.The frustrating thing is that you do have gut feelings about players. When you’re thinking about building a team, you look at players who can do a certain job, and above all have the right attitude; those are the ones you want to really back. It can be frustrating for the captain and coach when players are not picked with the broad picture in mind. In the end it’s your job to convince the selectors with your reasons. If you can’t do that then it’s as much your problem as theirs.Wisden Asia CricketWisden Asia Cricket..

Jonty Rhodes has stepped down as president of the South African Cricketes’ Association. The announcement follows his retirement from playing earlier in the year.”I am leaving an association which has the backing of virtually every professional cricketer in the country,” said Rhodes. “I am proud to have been part of SACA’s formation. It is an extremely important part of the future of professional cricket in South Africa.”He will be replaced by Mark Boucher, the current South African vice-captain. “I am happy and honoured to be elected by the players as president of our own Association,” said Boucher. “I believe that we have chosen an exco [executive committee] that is experienced, determined and respected by players. These are very important times for all of us and we intend to ensure that all players are treated fairly.”We are committed, and look forward, to our involvement in constructive work with the board and the provinces in dealing as thoroughly as possible with all aspects of the new structure relating to players and making the professional game as strong as it can be.”

Hampshire have signed Michael Clarke, the up-and-coming Australian batsman, as one of their overseas players for 2004. Clarke will be joining up with his fellow Australian Shane Warne, who is Hampshire’s captain next year.Clarke, a former captain of the Australian Under-19 side, has played 10 one-day internationals for Australia, and already averages 65.40. He toured West Indies earlier this year, and also made a mark in the recent three-way one-day series in India. At home he plays for New South Wales, and has already hit seven centuries in 33 first-class matches to date.Hampshire’s chairman Rod Bransgrove said: “We are naturally delighted that Michael has agreed to be our overseas player next season. He is undoubtedly one of the brightest new stars of international cricket, and we are certain that his considerable playing style will prove highly popular at the Rose Bowl.”And Paul Terry, Hampshire’s manager, added: “Michael Clarke is a great signing for Hampshire cricket. He is an exiting strokeplayer, excellent fielder and also bowls left-arm spin. Michael has begun to make a significant mark already at the top level with Australia, and I’m sure the Hampshire supporters will warm to the brilliance of his play.”

David Smith, the Gloucestershire seam bowler who won five England caps, died in Bristol on December 17, 2003. He was 69.Smith made 357 first-class appearances for Gloucestershire between 1956 and 1970, taking 100 wickets in a season five times, including 143 in 1960. He contributed many marathon bowling spells for Gloucestershire, and slogged a few handy runs down the order. In all first-class cricket he took 1250 wickets, at the excellent average of 23.72. His best return was 7 for 20, against Sussex at Stroud in 1962. He hit 4970 runs (12.30), with a highest of 74 against MCC at Lord’s in 1961.There were also 292 catches, many of them at slip.His Tests all came under Ted Dexter in India in 1961-62. Smith didn’t find the unforgiving pitches there to his liking, and ended up with only six wickets at 59.83 although, in the absence of senior fast bowlers like Fred Trueman and Brian Statham, he toiled through a lot of overs – 162 in eight innings.A team-mate on that tour was David Allen, the Gloucestershire offspinner who had been a friend from an early age. Said Allen: “We both came through Stapleton CC together, and I had a great regard for him. As a bowler he was always quicker than you thought, and bounced the ball on the seam. David was one of the best of his kind in county cricket.”Smith was also a handy footballer, patrolling the wing for Bristol City and Millwall. After retiring from cricket, he helped his wife Peggy run their fancy-goods shop in Fishponds, not far from where he was born. According to the Bristol Evening Post, on Saturdays he tended to remain in the shop, saying “Never was much good at sitting and watching.”

Until the end of the Indian tour of Pakistan, we will be running a daily Paper Round of what newspapers in India and Pakistan, and from around the world, are saying about this series. This is what the media had to say today:

Imran Khan believes that this tour will help heal the long and bitter divide between the two countries. The Nation reported: “When the two countries are trying to become friendly, trying to ease tensions, then cricket plays a healing role, cricket becomes a cement in bonding the countries together. It transcends sport, it is much more than cricket, it is passion.”Imran added that the series assumed greater significance because it came against a backdrop of decades of mutual hostility which nearly boiled over into a nuclear war two years ago. “Therefore people are really skeptical, is it really heading towards peace? I feel that the two governments have realised that war is not an option. This is a realisation which came after their forces were eyeball to eyeball for so many months in 2002.”Imran, while assuring a friendly atmosphere throughout the tour, said, “There will be a lot of rivalry and competitiveness on the cricket field but there will be intermingling of civil society. Lots of Indians are coming here to watch cricket. This will help ease the tensions. Even an incident does occur, then the two governments will quickly smother over it.”* * *There has been frenetic activity among the punting community as they prepare to leave Mumbai towards the outskirts. The Mumbai Age quotes a leading bookie from the city as he said, “Though we take in bets for all the matches played around the world throughout the year, this is a money-making tour for us and we don’t want to take any chance that could spoil our party. The police will not spare any effort to track us down, so we have decided to stay away from the city and operate in peace.”Apart from betting on which team wins the game, the bookie spoke about `session betting’ being more popular. “In session betting, there will be bets taken on how many runs will a side score in 15 overs, 30 overs and then in the last 20 overs.” Most of their operations will be from Gujarat and the reason offered is fascinating. “Gujju’s have a lot of money, they are very calculative and are inclined towards such things. Even if there is a 10 paise profit, they will latch on to it, as they have plenty of black money to pump in. So the entire Gujarat belt is going to be our prime location for business.”* * *Javed Miandad, the Pakistan coach, has urged the citizens of Karachi to show exemplary behaviour during the opening match of the one-day series at the National Stadium on Saturday. Dawn reported him making a passionate appeal to the people of Karachi to show that they are truly hospitable and good hosts. “This series is being played at a time when both governments are trying to bring about peace in the region. We should set examples by playing excellent hosts to the Indian cricketers, their people and the media. Since Karachi is hosting only one match, the onus is on people to make it an unforgettable and memorable occasion.”Miandad felt that there will a huge amount of emotional tensions that the players will be subjected to. “We must be ready to play under pressure. The political pressure, the pressure of the matches itself and above all, the pressure of the public in both countries. But we must not let our emotion get the better of us.”* * *Balwinder Singh Sandhu, the former Indian swing bowler, has some sound advice for the Indian team. Rediff.com reports him urging the players to completely neglect whatever Miandad had to say, especially once they got on top of Pakistan. “If they [Pakistan] lose, he will get very tough on the team. He is a bad loser and will start mouthing a lot of stuff. Ignore him. The madder he gets, the better for us.”He also provided Sourav and his team with some shrewd tactical advice. “The Indian team should go and wish the man sitting next to Miandad, but not wish him. He was a great cricketer, but if we wish to win we must ignore him on and off the field.”Bishan Singh Bedi had a word of caution about the crowds as well. The Asian Age quotes him as saying, “What they’ve got to be careful about is the crowd. Let us not forget that the crowd cheering would be for the home team. So stuff cotton in your ears and play the game, that is it.”* * *Shahbaz Ahmed, one of the legends in Pakistan hockey, says he cannot wait for the tour to kick off. AFP quoted him as saying, “I am as excited as anyone else. India have not played a Test in Pakistan in 15 years so this is obviously a very special moment for our two countries.”He predicted the intensity in these encounters to be of a high voltage and said, “Look, India and Pakistan just don’t want to lose to each other, be it cricket or hockey or any other sport. Our mindsets are like that. The public reacts horribly when we lose so the players are always on their toes. It becomes more than just sport. It should not, but it does. I don’t believe a word when people say an India-Pakistan match is just another game.”Interestingly he didn’t think the series was going to be closely contested and predicted one of the teams to win comprehensively. “But my gut feeling is that it will not be a close contest as everyone predicts. My experience of playing hockey against India shows that once a team starts to win, it is very difficult for the other to catch up. The initial edge lasts for the entire tour. I can’t tell you why it happens, maybe it is psychological, but it happens.”

When Yousuf Youhana filled in for Inzamam-ul-Haq in the pre-match press conference at Peshawar, he brought fresh thoughts and words with him. And, since he does not bear the burden of captaincy, he had the luxury of being more fulsome in his praise of the Indian batting line-up than Inzamam.

On the relative strengths of the two teams
“Given the quality of India’s batting, there obviously will be some pressure on our batsmen. The Indians possess the best batting line-up in the world, but at the same time, we are also batting well. The fact that we scored 344 chasing 350 for victory in the first match and made 329 in the second game is evidence enough that we are performing with the bat as well. Both matches so far have been pretty close, and I think the teams are quite evenly matched. If their batting is very good, then so is our bowling.”On how India have posted 349 and 317 despite the strong Pakistan bowling attack
“In the first match, we conceded quite a few extra runs and deliveries, and they made the difference in the end. But otherwise, I thought our bowlers did pretty well in the first match. At one stage, India looked like making between 375 and 400, so to keep them down to 349 was a pretty good effort on an excellent batting track, a flat track full of runs.”On the fast pace of cricket today
“Cricket has become very fast-paced and entertaining these days. All around the world, the trend is to make flat wickets, and it is the batsmen who are calling the shots – even in Australia, where teams are regularly making and chasing 300. It’s difficult for me to say exactly what is now a secure score in one-day cricket. After all, if you get off to a good start in the first 15 overs, then if you bat normally and without taking any risks for the rest of the innings, you can easily post 300-plus.”On the game being loaded in favour of batsmen
“There’s not much of a challenge for the batsmen on such surfaces, to be honest. It’s fairly easy to make runs, but there is also a little bit of pressure in the sense that you know that if you make less than 300, you are definitely not safe. As for the bowlers, I can’t talk much about the field restrictions and such because those are not my decisions, they are the ICC’s decisions. But I suppose if a fast bowler were to be allowed to bowl say two bouncers in an over, it could make for a more even contest.”Haroon Rashid, Pakistan manager
On Pakistan’s slow over rate
“The problem seems to have got a little worse in the recent past. We are trying our best to curb extra deliveries, and I can assure you that you will see a lot of improvement in the next few matches. That we have three or four fast bowlers with longish run-ups is no excuse at all. We have noticed that our bowlers have extended followthroughs, they walk very slowly back to their bowling marks, and the fielders aren’t quick to move between overs. Also, when a team makes 350, obviously the ball is disappearing to the ropes so often and has to be retrieved! It’s just a matter of saving a few seconds here and there, and I am confident we will be back on track for the rest of the series.”