Mohammad Kaif has retained his place in the Indian one-day squad for the tour of the West Indies, starting in the second week of May. The selectors announced an unchanged squad for the Caribbean tour, where India are scheduled to play five ODIs.Kaif, plagued by a prolonged form slump, found a berth in the 15-member line-up as the selectors felt that it was not necessary to change the winning combination. Virender Sehwag, another player whose form has been questionable, has been retained after his breezy knock of 73 in the second one-dayer against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi.”We all decided that we should back Kaif,” Kiran More, the chairman of selectors, said. “His past record is good and he’s an outstanding fielder too. Yes, his form is worrying. Even Virender Sehwag had a form slump but played a brilliant innings of 73 yesterday [against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi].”Robin Uthappa, the young opener, and Ramesh Powar, the offspinner, clinched their berths owing to performances against England and Pakistan. Sachin Tendulkar, currently undergoing a rehabilitation programme following a shoulder surgery last month, had opted out of the limited-overs segment of the tour. His availability for the four Tests that follow the one-dayers will be known on May 10 when he undergoes a fitness test.The team for the Tests will be announced after the third one-dayer at St. Kitt’s on May 23. The decision to retain the same squad means that Anil Kumble and VVS Laxman continue to remain out of India’s one-day scheme while Sourav Ganguly, the former captain, was ignored again.Indian squad
Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Rahul Dravid (capt), Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Suresh Raina, Venugopal Rao, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Munaf Patel.

Darren Gough has hit out at England’s selectors by claiming that “everyone” knows he should be in his country’s one-day side for the series against Sri Lanka. Overlooked for the five-match contest beginning on June 17 at Lord’s, Gough insisted that he was in contention for a World Cup spot and that he could still be playing Test cricket.”Everyone’s been saying to me they can’t believe I’ve not been around in the England squad,” Gough, 35, told . “Everybody I’m playing against. You need experience to win competitions, as teams have proved in the past, and I know I can still do a job in international cricket. Other players who tried to fill my boots didn’t do any better than Darren Gough, and they went for a lot more runs than I would go for.”Gough said that Englang needed his expertise as both opening and ‘death’ bowler in the one-day version. “I’ve been missed when I’ve not played,” he said. “The problem is, at my age and with my experience, when I do play I have to do the hard work. I bowl at the start of the innings, when the ball’s getting slapped all round the park, and I bowl at the end ‘cos I’m the expert player; I have to take the brunt of the work at that point. And I can take that because my team-mates know I’m doing that job. But the media, at the end of the day, just look at my figures and how many runs I’ve gone for.”Gough also admitted that his decision to retire from Test cricket in 2003 was wrong. Concerns over a dodgy knee being able to cope with the demands of five-day cricket had forced that move, but Gough revealed it was a premature move. “I did it because my knee was in such a state that I didn’t think I could get through two days, never mind five. But with going to Germany and my fitness improving I’ve gradually got better and better. If I’d waited and not rushed back to play for England I could probably still have been playing for England now, even though I’m 35, ‘cos I am good enough.”

Fast bowler Christopher Mpofu has been given a chance to redeem himself after being called up to the Zimbabwe A side for the series against Bangladesh A that gets underway at Mutare on Saturday.Mpofu, who has fallen out of favour with the national selectors and has not played for Zimbabwe since the second Test against New Zealand at Queens Sports Club in August 2005, was given a late call- up to the second-string side. He was not in the original 15-man squad announced at the beginning of this month and was in Harare training when he was told to make the trip to Mutare.Should Mpofu impress against Bangladesh A, he would almost guarantee himself a place in the senior squad to play against Bangladesh next month.A number of players who were originally in the A-team squad are said to have been dropped, and these include Kwawulani Ntuli, Bradley Staddon and Bothwell Chapungu. The trio has no first-class experience, although Ntuli and Chapungu impressed during the hastily-organised National League. Staddon, son of ZC interim executive committee member Stanley, was a surprise inclusion as he has been studying in South Africa for the past two years and has not played any competitive cricket in that time.Zimbabwe A take on Bangladesh A in the first four-day match at Mutare Sports Club on Saturday with the second match set for the same venue. The two teams move to Bulawayo for the third and final four-dayer at Queens Sports Club before they meet in three limited-overs games at the same venue. The last three limited-overs matches take place at Kwekwe Sports Club.

Division One

David Hussey continued his fine form this season with a superb 150, his second successive hundred in Championship matches, as Nottinghamshire amassed 397 in just 98 overs on the first day against Lancashire at Nottingham. The visitors had Notts in all sorts of trouble at 107 for 5 with Dominic Cork and Tom Smith cutting through the top order. Hussey refused to be dictated to and smashed 150 in 177 balls with 22 fours and a six. He was indebted to Mark Ealham (83) who stuck with him for three hours, and together the pair put on 226 for the sixth wicket to hand the momentum back to Nottinghamshire.A superb spell of 6 for 65 from Dimitri Mascarenhas blew away Yorkshire for 195 on the first day against Hampshire at Southampton. Craig White, the Yorkshire captain, was the first to go when Chris Tremlett snuck one through his defence; thereafter it was the Mascarenhas massacre. From 105 for 3 Yorkshire fell to 138 for 7, all wickets falling to Mascarenhas. And though Jason Gillespie played a cheeky cameo, Tremlett mopped up the tail. Gillespie removed James Adams for 29 in Hampshire’s reply, but Michael Carberry (81 not out) led a confident response by the home side, who now trail by just 64 runs.Middlesex were put to the sword by Dale Benkenstein and Gareth Breese, both of whom struck solid hundreds for Durham, on the first day at Lord’s. Jimmy Maher (46) and Gordon Muchall, who spanked a quick-fire 68, put on 104 for the second wicket but Middlesex fought back, leaving Durham wobbling on 131 for 4. Benkenstein and Breese then took over with great authority, putting on 222 for the fifth wicket. Despite Benkenstein (125) falling with Durham on double Nelson, the visitors took the first day’s honours, going to stumps on 379 for 6.

Division Two

On a brisk-scoring opening day at the picturesque ground of Queen’s Park, Derbyshire romped to 351 all out against Worcestershire. After losing two early wickets, Chris Taylor fought back with a quick 40 but it was left to Ant Botha at No.6 to really stabilise Derbyshire’s innings with a fine 87. But after demolishing Gloucestershire last week, Matt Mason was again in fine form for Worcestershire, never letting Derbyshire get away. He ended with the superb figures of 5 for 49.Two magnificent hundreds from Michael Powell and David Hemp put Glamorgan well on top against Gloucestershire on the first day at Cheltenham. Brendon McCullum, playing his last game for Gloucestershire, retired after seven balls when he was hit on the hand by Steve Kirby, which effectively left Glamorgan 27 for 2. But with an attack missing their captain and most accurate bowler, Jon Lewis, Gloucestershire struggled all day as Mike Powell (176 not out) belted the bowling to all parts. It was his third hundred in ten days, and he also passed the milestone of 1000 runs in the season. Hemp fell in the second over after tea, but Glamorgan were handily placed at 346 for 2 going into the second day.Northamptonshire raced to 406 for 4 on a sublime batting track against Essex on the first day at Northampton, thanks to contrasting hundreds from Stephen Peters (178) and David Sales (129 not out). Peters played magnificently, guiding 27 fours in a 277-ball innings lasting just short of six hours. He was joined by his captain, Sales, at the fall of Sourav Ganguly’s wicket, who made just 9, and immediately took charge. While Peters was happy to play the anchor role, Sales was characteristically aggressive, launching three big sixes. Together the pair put on 212 before Peters was fourth man out for 178.

The county game continues to be tinkered with as the ECB have agreed to reduce the number of overseas players back to one per county from 2008.During a consultation process led by the ECB deputy chief executive, Hugh Morris, it became clear that an overwhelming number of counties supported the reduction from two to one overseas player.Counties reported that it has become increasingly difficult to attract a second overseas player for a full season, overseas boards were recalling players at more frequent intervals and that counties wished to provide more opportunities for talented players qualified for England.The view of the chairmen along with the opinions from the chief executives, cricket directors and the PCA was discussed by the ECB board at their meeting at Lord’s on Tuesday and the proposal for a reduction was passed unanimously.However, although from 2008 counties will be able to register just one overseas player, they will be able to replace that player should he be injured, called up for an overseas tour at short notice or be required to return home by his board.A maximum number of four overseas players could be registered in one season under the new proposals with a minimum three week registration period for each player.

Graeme Smith, the South African captain, has slammed Kevin Pietersen for criticising South Africa’s selection policies and blaming them for his move to England.”I’m patriotic about my country, and that’s why I don’t like Kevin Pietersen,” Smith told Super Cricket. “The only reason that Kevin and I have never had a relationship is because he slated South Africa. It was his decision to leave and that’s fine, but why does he spend so much time slating our country?”In an exclusive extract from his new book , being serialised in the , Pietersen said that he was left out of the Natal side in 2000 because of the prevalent quota policy. “The system is bullshit,” Pietersen wrote. “It created an artificial team and that will never do anything to encourage the racial integration of cricket in South Africa.” He said that he and his father tried to reason with Phil Russell, Natal’s coach, but got nowhere.Pietersen called Smith, who had made “snide comments” during England’s tour of South Africa in 2004-05, an “absolute muppet”. He added that the angry reception he got had upset his parents. “They knew I would get some stick, but didn’t expect it to be that bad. Neither did I.”However, Smith said that it was Pietersen’s own fault. “If he had kept his mouth shut he would have had far fewer people angry at him and he would have taken far less flak from the crowds. Wait until he gets to Australia, the abuse will be far worse there.”

Inzamam-ul-Haq cannot take any part in the Champions Trophy even if Pakistan reached the final. Although he would have served outthe four-match ban that he was handed in late September, the ParticipatingNations Agreement (PNA) clearly states that a player who is replaced in a squadcannot be reinstated.Every team that takes part in the Champions Trophy has signed the PNA, andit comes as a bit of a surprise that Younis Khan, now leading Pakistan wasnot aware of this clause, when he said, at a pre-tournament media session,on arriving in India, “It will be really good if we win our first fourgames in the Champions Trophy and then Inzy [Inzamam] comes back and I will be ready to stand down as captain. I will be really happy to see him lift thetrophy while I am standing behind him. He has been one of my heroes rightfrom the 1992 World Cup.”Clause 6.9 of the PNA deals with the issue of replacements, and it says quiteunequivocally that once a player is replaced he cannot be reinstatedlater in the tournament. Inzamam was replaced by Faisal Iqbal after beinghanded the ban by Ranjan Madugalle at a hearing in London in lateSeptember. Inzamam was found guilty of bringing the game into disreputeafter his team forfeited the Oval Test against England. The forfeiturecame after Darrell Hair docked the Pakistan team five runs for ball-tampering and changed the ball that was being used at the time. Pakistanstayed off the field in protest after a break, and the match wasforfeited, despite attempts to get it going. Inzamam was subsequentlycleared of the charge of ball tampering.Younis Khan was then appointed captain in place of Inzamam, refusing to take the job, saying he did not want to be “a dummycaptain”. Mohammad Yousuf was given the job of leading the side, while Younis would continue as an ordinary member of the team. However, after Shaharyar Khan resigned as the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, and Mushtaq Ahmed sacked as assistant coach, Younis was persuaded to take the job back, and he agreed. Perhaps, in all this confusion, he was neverhanded a copy of the PNA to read.

He might have been criticised for being over the hill at the start of the tournament but Glenn McGrath’s performances over the last two matches have shown what a well-oiled machine he is. Having turned in animmaculate ten-over spell that wrecked New Zealand’s top order, McGrathadmitted that he was well on his way towards reaching peak form.”The criticism didn’t affect me at all,” he revealed matter-of-factly atthe end of a thoroughly satisfying day. “To me it is all about how I feelI’m going. If I feel I’m progressing then that is all that matters. I cameover here and also in Kuala Lumpur to improve each game I played. I havedone that and I will keep doing that. By playing in this series and atKuala Lumpur, I have put a piece of the puzzle together.”It’s feeling pretty good at this moment. I could improve still, but I was happy today. We have a few more games before the Ashes. We will hopefully have a good game on Sunday and when we then go to Australia, I shouldn’t be too far away from being 100%.”Both captains had no doubt that McGrath’s spell, one where he wentstraight through with 3 for 22 in 10 overs, made the difference. Headded that giving McGrath the new ball in the last two games haddefinitely brought a spring in his stride. “I think every one of the guyswill like to bowl with the new ball,” Ricky Ponting admitted. “If I was a bowler, Iwould also like to be bowling with the new ball. We experimented a bit andin the conditions we played the other couple of games we thought the ballmight swing more than do anything off the seam. He’s not one of thebiggest swingers of the ball but one of the best seamers around. Thosewere ideal conditions for him here. We have seen the form he is in at themoment. It’s probably going to be hard to get the new ball out ofhis hand.”Despite starting the tournament on a sluggish note, both McGrath andPonting had come good in the previous two knockout games. Ponting admittedthat having men with experience had been the clinching factor. “Thesenior players in big tournament are crucial. You don’t want to go into these sort of events with anyone in the team who hasn’t played a few games. Big games are generally won by people who have been there and done it all before. If you look back to our last couple of World Cup campaigns, we had a really good mix of experience and youth around the squad. That is crucial as you saw tonight; the oldest player on the park comes out and wins theMan-of-the-Match award. He knew exactly what he had to do. He has done itall before and that is crucial to the team.”Ponting also didn’t discount the efforts of Australia’s other herotonight, Andrew Symonds. He chipped in with a handy 58, just when NewZealand had fought back well into the game, and played a role with theball as well. “He will be in my world XI every time,” Ponting asserted.”He is a terrific one-day player and to walk out the way he did today andmake the fifty was outstanding. It was exactly what we needed at thatstage. He is the best fieldsman in the world as well.”Daniel Vettori’s fighting fifty helped New Zealand stage some sort ofrevival but Ponting revealed that he wasn’t overly worried at any stage.”I always felt comfortable we were going to win because the run-rate wascreeping up all the time. Those guys had to take some risks but fullcredit to New Zealand for fighting all the way through. I told my boysthis morning that to beat this side you have to knock them over becausethey bat down the order. Dan and Jacob [Oram] played beautifully and itgot them somewhere back into the contest again but it was always going tobe a miracle if they won. That is what you expect of New Zealand.”

Dwayne Bravo, the West Indies allrounder, has returned home to the Caribbean and will miss the entire five-match one-day series in Pakistan.A brief statement from the management said that Bravo had “sought and received the permission of the selectors to return home to be with persons close to him who are unwell” and flew back home on Friday night.Bravo has been replaced by Corey Collymore for the series. Collymore, 28, was part of the Test squad but was not originally included in the ODI squad. He travelled with the side from Karachi to Islamabad.Bravo’s departure follows that of Ramnaresh Sarwan, the vice-captain, who was forced out of the tour after sustaining a hairline fracture in his right foot while batting on the last day of the final Test at Karachi.Ian Bradshaw, Marlon Samuels and Dwayne Smith have also joined the squad for the ODI series which begins on Tuesday at Rawalpindi.

ScorecardAshley Noffke produced a four-wicket haul as Queensland extended their lead at the top of the Ford Ranger Cup table with a comprehensive 32-run against Victoria at the Gabba. The platform was laid by a century opening stand between Jimmy Maher and Matthew Hayden before the Bulls’ attack, led by Noffke, restricted the Bushrangers despite Cameron White’s 77.At 2 for 108, Victoria were on track to make a decent fist of their chase. However, Noffke had Aiden Blizzard caught by Chris Simpson to end a third-wicket stand of 56 with White. When David Hussey was run out three overs later the momentum had swung in Queenland’s direction.The experience of Andy Bichel and Andy Symonds, who celebrated his Test recall with three wickets and a sharp catch, proved too much for the Bulls’ middle order. The result was sealed when Noffke claimed Adam Crosthwaite and White in the space of three balls in the 45th over.After a lean run in the opening two Ashes Tests, Hayden spent valuable time in the middle as he compiled a studious 84 off 110 balls alongside Maher’s 53. It was not just the Victoria bowlers that suffered from Hayden’s power. The square leg umpire Norm McNamara left the field with a broken hand after a Hayden pull shot cannoned into him in the 39th over, and was replaced by the third umpire Andrew Curran.The quick loss of James Hopes and Symonds to Shane Harwood stalled Queensland’s progress but Michael Buchanan and Chris Hartley added 48 off 38 balls for the seventh wicket, a stand that proved decisive.