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N Srinivasan, the newly appointed secretary of the BCCI, has said the recent move to have a paid selection panel – the first time in the board’s history – will ensure complete accountability to the board. Srinivasan, formerly the board’s treasurer, was also appointed the convener of selectors and attended the meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday to pick the Indian squad for the first two Tests against Australia.”You now have a professional selection committee that is paid and therefore, completely accountable to the board,” Srinivasan told the . “There is a view that the BCCI will therefore, now have a greater hold over the selectors.”The idea behind this was that the selectors spend so much time for the board, that they should be reimbursed.”The members of the new panel, headed by the former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth, will be paid Rs 25 lakh (US$53,625) per year.Srinivasan also said the board will stress on improving cricket facilities across the country and that the state associations were being encouraged to spend more on improving infrastructure.”An opportunity, perhaps, is to make facilities more user-friendly,” he said. “We would like to improve facilities, increase the number of academies and take the game to the rural parts of the country in a more complete fashion. There are new stadia coming up in Hyderabad, Nagpur, Orissa. We will see the creation of more and more facilities for cricket.”When asked whether the BCCI would consider going public, he said: “This is not a corporate entity. We are an organisation for the development of the game. That’s the way we see ourselves.”

Anil Kumble has backed the Indian middle order to come good against the Australians in the upcoming Test series. He also said much of the criticism of the seniors was due to traditional mindsets surrounding age.”I think everyone needs to perform, as it is a team game. You can’t take your place for granted and I can assure you that is not the case with any of the players,” he told the Indian news channel . “People may call us seniors but the amount of work we put in is the same as anyone else.”Sourav Ganguly’s omission from the Rest of India squad that faced Delhi in the Irani Trophy recently had cast doubts over the future of the rest of the ‘Fab Four’ – Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. However, Kumble said the criticism was fuelled by conventional notions of age.”In India, it really doesn’t matter whether you are 31 or 32. As soon as you cross 30, I think people start talking. It is not fair to judge someone by just one performance or just one series, especially when someone has performed for 10 years.”I understand when he is a newcomer, though that is unfair as well. You cannot judge a player by just one series. But when you have played for 10-15 years and contributed to all the victories that India have had in the last 15 years, it is not fair to pass judgement.”He underlined the importance of getting runs in the series against Australia, which would help set the platform for the bowlers, especially the spinners. “I think the first Test match is going to be important. The batting will have to click and I am confident about that.”If we put runs on the board, we have got the bowling to pick up 20 wickets. The key will be to maintain our intensity throughout the Test. Australia will keep fighting and we will do the same. And if we fight till the last ball is bowled and not give up, I think we have a great chance.”Kumble, who will complete a year as Test captain in November, said the team could have done better during his reign in terms of results. “We could have at least had a series win in Sri Lanka, which would have been great. That would have been a really good year.”

The Bangladesh Cricket Board was boosted after receiving pledges of support from several cricketers linked with the rebel Indian Cricket League, but the six players who retired on Sunday failed to appear at its headquarters as requested to discuss the situation.The BCB had asked the six to meet with officials on Monday, but the Daily Star reported that none of them turned up. Former captain Habibul Bashar and wicketkeeper Dhiman Ghosh were believed to have left the country for India, while the exact whereabouts of the other four were not known.The board claimed to have tried to contact them, but it emerged that they had only sent them text messages. “SMS is not a proper way to communicate with somebody,” Shahriar Nafees, another of the six, told the newspaper. “Any board official is yet to give me a call and only a board employee rang me yesterday [Sunday]. I will only think about attending the meeting if the invitation comes in a proper way.”Inside sources suggested the board had privately conceded that the six could not be dissuaded from signing with the ICL and had decided to concentrate its efforts in preventing more joining them. To that end officials met with the remaining contracted players and made clear the consequences of joining the ICL, as well as highlighting the benefits of remaining in the fold.”I think it’s a personal choice,” Shakib Al Hasan said. “But I am very much clear in my position. I want to play for my country and I believe everything will come in my way if I keep my position on the national side.”For a time there were also rumours that the six – Bashar, Ghosh, Nafees, Aftab Ahmed, Farhad Reza and Mosharraf Hossain – could be joined by Tamim Iqbal after it emerged that he had not attended the meeting. However, BCB officials were quick to point out that he was on an agreed break. There were also suggestions that Nazimuddin was also about to sign for the ICL and these grew after board officials admitted that he was “a suspect”.It is believed the BCB has been in contact with the ICC to discuss the legal ramifications of the breakaway, although nothing can be done until the rumours turn out to be fact.

A team representing Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy will tour Zimbabwe and Kenya in August and September this year.The PCB, in a release, said it has always supported Zimbabwe Cricket, and hoped the NCA team’s visit will help Zimbabwe to strengthen their chances of returning to the international fold. Zimbabwe haven’t hosted an international match since December last year, when West Indies visited for a five-match ODI series, right after South Africa played three ODIs. Zimbabwe had toured Pakistan earlier this year, losing 5-0 in an ODI series.They have not played a Test since September 2005, and the heightened violence ahead of the run-off to the presidential elections this year prompted England and South African boards to cut off cricketing ties. A Zimbabwe delegation also agreed to pull out of the ICC World Twenty20 in England in 2009, as a Zimbabwe team would in all likelihood have not been allowed to enter the country, putting the ECB in an embarrassing situation.However, there are chances of a improvement in the situation in Zimbabwe, with president Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai signing “a deal setting a framework for talks on the country’s political crisis”, the BBC reported.The NCA team will play two four-day games and three one-dayers in both countries. Their tour begins with the Zimbabwe leg. They arrive in Harare on August 20, and will play two four-day games and three one-dayers in Harare and Bulawayo. The Harare Sports Club and the Queens Sports Club will host the matches. The team will touch down in Nairobi on September 10, where they play all two four-day games and two one-dayers, with one game scheduled in Mombasa.

The second ICC World Twenty20 will begin on June 5 next year at Lord’s when England take on one of the Associate qualifiers. The ICC and ECB have taken a lead from South Africa, who hosted the inaugural event last year, and tried to make the event as accessible as possible with attractive ticket prices.The tournament will be staged at Lord’s, The Oval and Trent Bridge while the first women’s World Twenty20 will run alongside the men’s event at Taunton. There will be 14 double-headers with two matches in a day, where tickets will be valid for both games and they will go on sale from June 30 with the following pricing structure.

• Adult tickets for the final start at £50 and group matches can be watched from £30 in London and £20 at Trent Bridge
• Under-16 ticket prices in the family stands at Lord’s and The Oval, including all group, Super Eight and semi-final and final match days will be £10
• An under-16 ticket in the family stand at Trent Bridge for all group, Super Eight and semi-final stage match days will cost £8
• Group matches for the women’s event at Taunton will be £6 for adults, £1 for under-16s and free entry for Somerset members and school and youth groups

Both semi-finals – at Trent Bridge on June 18 and The Oval on June 19 – and the final, at Lord’s on June 21, will feature double-headers with women’s and men’s matches.”We believe these ticket prices represent great value for money – especially with the double header format,” said ICC president David Morgan. “They give people the chance to watch a top-class men’s and women’s international event and most importantly of all the prices for under-16s have been set as low as possible.”It is all part of our desire to ensure this event truly is the people’s game. We want it to be fan-focused, accessible to as many people as possible and to excite the next generation of players and supporters in the host country by giving them a chance to get close to their heroes.”There will be huge amounts of excitement and enjoyment in fan and family-friendly environments – this is in keeping with the last event in South Africa in 2007 and we want a repeat of that success here in the UK.”India are the defending champions following their five-run victory in Johannesburg last September.

Maturity has been one of the reasons behind Michael Clarke’s elevation to Australia’s vice-captaincy and he showed it throughout the second day in Antigua, where he made what he described as his most special Test hundred. Clarke’s on-field promotion to Ricky Ponting’s deputy was delayed by the death of his fiancee’s father, Graham Bingle, and he stayed in Sydney while his team-mates prepared for the first Test.He has quickly made up for the lost time. Australia were looking to push towards a large total when Clarke resumed in the morning on 38 and he ensured the side was in excellent health by stumps, having scored his seventh Test century and chipped in with two late wickets.Clarke knew his duties would increase with the new role, but nobody expected such an immediate impact. When he reached his hundred he dripped tears and leaned back to look at the sky. “There were a couple,” Clarke said after play, “it was obviously very emotional.”However, he said it was an easy decision to return to the team and he had the blessing of those close to him. “I’ve been so keen to get over here and be part of the West Indies tour,” he said. “This is the first Test match I’ve played here. It was hard to leave the family back at home, but I had their support. I know they all wanted me to come over here and do my best.”Clarke said that was also the wish of Graham Bingle. “He told me [before he died] to come over here and play,” Clarke told . “He didn’t want me to stay at home, so it was special to make this hundred for him. No doubt I wanted to make a hundred for him, no doubt because I knew he wanted me to be over here playing cricket, he didn’t want me back at home.”For a player who hasn’t appeared in a game since March, his sensible 110 was an outstanding effort. There were 12 fours, including the on-drive to bring up his hundred, before the innings ended on the 187th ball when he top edged a pull to Xavier Marshall at midwicket. Clarke wasn’t finished.His magic touch transferred to his bowling when he picked up two vital wickets before stumps, including the set Marshall. In his third over Clarke trapped Marshall lbw when he padded up on 53, and followed it up five balls later when Runako Morton’s miscued slog went to Simon Katich at short midwicket.”I’ve snuck in a couple of wickets, it was nice,” Clarke said. “I asked Ricky for a bit of a bowl a few times and I think he got sick of me asking, so he had to give me a go.”West Indies finished at 125 for 3 and Australia hold a lead of 324. “We played really well, 479 is a really good score on that wicket,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough day tomorrow, so fingers crossed we can get out there and have another bat.”

Graeme Smith, the Rajasthan Royals opener, has been ruled out of the final of the Indian Premier League because of a hamstring injury he sustained during the semi-final against Delhi Daredevils on Friday.Smith was rested for Rajasthan’s last two league games because he injured his hamstring against Chennai but returned to open the innings in the semi-final. However, he pulled up while running a single in the second over and continued batting with a runner, Mohammad Kaif. He was eventually dismissed for 25 off 21 balls as Rajasthan crushed Delhi by 105 runs.”Smith has played a huge part in the team’s success and we had gave him a couple of games off to recover from his hamstring injury [against Chennai],” Shane Warne, the Rajasthan captain, said. “Yesterday he was running around like an 18-year-old and said he had no problem at all. However, during the game [against Delhi] he tore his hamstring in different spot.”Unfortunately, he [Smith] is out for tomorrow’s game [final]. We have to make the big decision on who will open the innings with Swapnil [Asnodkar]. Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal come to my mind as being likely to open in the final.”Smith’s injury is a blow to Rajasthan for he is their second-highest run-scorer with 441 at an average of 49. He also forged an attacking opening partnership with Swapnil Asnodkar – the pair average 59.71 at 8.96 per over, with two century stands.Rajasthan are likely to pick Akmal, who has scored 122 runs in five innings at a strike-rate of 171.83, over Younis who has played just one game in the IPL so far. If Akmal does get the nod, he is likely to keep wicket instead of Mahesh Rawat, which could also open the door for Niraj Patel’s return.Rajasthan will take on the winner of the second semi-final between Chennai and Kings XI Punjab, which will take place on Saturday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The final will be held on Sunday at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Anthony Ireland, the former Zimbabwe quick bowler who is now at Gloucestershire, has been handed three penalty points under the ECB’s discipline code.He was removed from the attack for sending down an accidental high fill toss against Somerset in the Friends Provident Trophy on May 11. The incident happened at the start of Ireland’s seventh over, which was then completed by Thomas Stayt.Ireland was reported by umpires Nigel Llong and Barrie Leadbeater for a level two breach and the penalty points will remain on his record for two years.

In the first of two back to back one day interstate Women’s National Cricket League matches, the Victorian Spirit triumphed over the Western Fury by 94 runs at Abbett Park in Perth today.This was a match of contrasts. The Fury in the field were sharp and accurate. A feather in the cap of coach Murray Robbins. By comparison, the Spirit could not emulate their hosts high standard but had the better share of the luck. The run out of the Fury captain Zoe Goss is the only high point of their fielding.On the other hand, the Spirit ran well between the wickets, they took few risks in doing so and really set the standard for that aspect of the game. Whereas the Fury could well have run an extra 30 runs in running halfway down the track before agreeing not to run and heading back to safety. When they did pierce the field they often only ran two where a three was certainly possible.Player of the match for this game was Melanie Jones who, as you will see, well deserved the accolade with a score of 95 runs and a display of exceptional fielding from the deep which removed the Fury captain.Victoria won the toss and elected to bat on a humid, partly overcast morning.Openers Belinda Clark and Louise Broadfoot took the score to 35 beforeBroadfoot 13 (from 23 balls), with the last ball of the ninth over playedaround a delivery from Fury captain Zoe Goss and was bowled. The ball shaved the pad on the way through and the bowler looked to have half turned in appeal before the death rattle of scattered stumps alerted her to her triumph.The second wicket was worth one hundred runs when Spirit Belinda Clark swept at a leg side ball from Avril Fahey and played the ball into the stumps behind her after scoring 58 (92 balls). Victoria Spirit 135 at the fall of the second wicket at the end of the 32nd over.Right hander Kelly Applebee fell to English import Dawn Holden in the following over. Without a score, she spooned a soft catch to Angelle Gray at gully.Within sight of a century, big hitting Melanie Jones 95 (102) lofted KellyTyrrell to Dawn Holden in the deep at long off and was caught. She played avariety of orthodox strokes either side of the wicket including twelve boundaries and became top scorer and the fourth wicket to fall with the score now at 216.Brooke McFarlane 36 (55) was unfortunately run out when her partner CathrynFitzpatrick pushed a ball from Tyrrell at the covers which was leapt upon by Gray whose quick thinking and sharp throw to the bowler at the non strikers end found McFarlane short of her ground. Spirit now 227 with the loss of the fifth wicket.Fitzpatrick 16 (12) and Jane Franklin 3 (2) were not out after fifty overs had been bowled when the Victorian Spirit had accrued 241 runs for the loss of only five wickets.There were no multiple wicket takers amongst seven Western Fury bowlers. Sarah Collyer went wicket less from her ten overs but was the most economical of the bowlers conceding 26 runs. The wicket takers were Goss (1-22) who took her wicket in her first over, Holden (1-45), Tyrrell (1-49) and Fahey (1-59).The Western Fury were needing to score at 4.84 runs per over to surpass theSpirit score.Elwyn Campbell was out for a second ball duck when Spirit fire brand CathrynFitzpatrick sped through the defense and knocked down the stumps. Already one wicket down without a score on the board and a stiff sea breeze assisting the bowler from the southern end.In the initial stages of the Fury reply, the frequency of runs from sundries were neck and neck and at times ahead of runs scored from the bat.Zoe Goss 5 (26) was run out looking for a third run when batting partnerHeather Taylor lofted the ball into the deep extra covers and Melanie Jones made a direct hit from the boundary line at the non strikers end – to whichGoss was returning. Western Fury now with 19 runs on the board and two wickets gone in the ninth over.Another run out at the non strikers end occurred when Taylor drove straight back at bowler Shannon Young who tipped the ball into the stumps effecting the run out of Angelle Gray 8 (17) who was backing up two meters out of her ground. Three wickets for 55.Pulling at a leg side ball from Shannon Young, Heather Taylor 19 (60) top edged into the mid wicket and was caught there by Belinda Clark. The fourth wicket had fallen with 55 still the score.Attempting to glance a leg side ball from Young, Sarah Collyer 13 (42) popped the ball up off the shoulder of the bat into the backward square leg where it was taken on the circle by Clea Smith. Western Fury five wickets for 88 in the 29th over.Avril Fahey 12 (26) lofted a straight drive off the bowling of Louise Broadfootdown the throat of Jane Franklin who was at mid off. The wicket of Fahey wasthe sixth to fall with 106 the score at that stage.Making her debut for WA at number eight, Lauren Stammers 8 (15) issued up a soft catch to a short leg fielder Jodi Dean off the bowling of Clea Smith. The seventh wicket fell at 137.Dawn Holden lofted a drive off Cathryn Fitzpatrick into the covers and was caught brilliantly by Shannon Young. The fielder had to reach high above her head to pull down the catch. A good catch to remove a quality player who had posted 43 (68) before the eighth wicket fell with the Fury score on 139.The ninth wicket fell on 145 when Kelly Tyrrell 5 (4) was bowled by Fitzpatrick. When Rennee Chappell 3 (16) was bowled by Jane Franklin, theWestern Fury were all out 147 in the 48th over.The Spirit’s best bowling was from the pace bowling from Cathryn Fitzpatrick which brought the reward of three wickets for thirty two runs from her nine overs. With two wickets for 25 runs from ten overs, Shannon Young was economical. One wicket each to Smith, Franklin and Broadfoot round out the wicket takers.The Abbett park track is the same one which the host club Scarborough scored 300 runs in one day a week earlier in the mens grade competition. Conditions which suit the pace of Fitzpatrick and the Spirit.

An unbeaten century from Chris Gayle ensured an excellent start for the West Indies in their tour match against Railways in Pune.Gayle reached his century (204 balls, one six, 14 fours) on the stroke of tea, with the tourists well placed on 219 for one.The wicket of Wavell Hinds was the Railways’ one success in the first two sessions. He had contributed a rapid 50 (59 balls, 11 fours) to an opening partnership of 71 when he was caught by Jacob Martin off the off-spinner Kulamani Parida.Daren Ganga completed a rather more sedate half century in an unbeaten partnership of 148 for the second wicket with Gayle.