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The ECB has allowed a further reserve day for the Twenty20 Cup quarter-final between Lancashire and Somerset at Old Trafford, with no play in Manchester on Wednesday, to try and prevent the need for a bowl-out.The match is scheduled to start at 11am on Thursday, where normal Twenty20 rules will apply, but an extra hour will be available if necessary.The match was originally due to start on Tuesday, but bad weather in Manchester has caused plenty of problems and both teams feel so much is at stake it is worth the attempt to play a full game.However, a bowl-out will take place if the rain rules out any play, determining who goes through to play at finals day at Edgbaston.

Azharuddin initiates legal proceedings against life banAgence France Presse (AFP) reported on Monday that the former Indianskipper Mohd Azharuddin has initiated legal proceedings against thelife ban imposed on him by the Board of Control for Cricket in India(BCCI) after being accused of match fixing.Speaking to AFP in New Delhi, Azharuddin’s lawyer T Jagadeeshan said"We have taken the first steps towards fighting the injustice metedout to Azharuddin." He added "We will seek revocation of the ban asmy client is innocent and the BCCI has not followed proper legalprocedure in taking action against him."Jagdeeshan said that the right procedure should have been anindependent inquiry by a sitting judge, as was done in South Africawhere judge Edwin King probed the Hansie Cronje affair. He said"Neither Madhavan nor the CBI have a legal standing," He added "Wewill question the legal credentials of the people who haveinvestigated the case." Ajay Ratra to lead India Under-19 in one day series Ajay Ratra has been named skipper of the India Under-19 teamfor the forthcoming three match one-day series against thevisiting England Under-19 team.Meanwhile the three match series, which was originally scheduledto be played in Baroda, Ahmedabad and Rajkot, have been shifted inview of the earthquake in Gujarat. According to the revised schedule, twomatches are to be played at Hyderabad (February 2 and 6) and oneat Vijayawada (February 4).India Under-19s squad for ODIs: Ajay Ratra (captain), VinayakMane, Gautam Gambhir, S Vidyut, Mulewa Dharmichand, NitinAggarwal, Sidharth Trivedi, Alind Naidu, Amit Mishra, ArindamDas, Maninder Singh, Manvinder Bisla, Arjun Yadav and Amit Deshpande. Vinoo Mankad Trophy match postponed indefinitelyThe three day Vinoo Mankad Trophy match between the winners of the CKNayudu Trophy (Under-19) tournament and the Rest of India originallyscheduled to be held at Cuttack from February 4 to 6 has beenindefinitely postponed.Quoting Orissa Cricket Association sources, Press Trust of India(PTI) said that fresh dates for the match will be announced later bythe Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). PTI also said thatso far no reason has been given for the postponement.The inter zonal CK Nayudu Trophy final between Central Zone and SouthZone is presently on at the Barabati stadium in Cuttack.

Shane Bond has made himself available for New Zealand selection after cutting ties with the ICL. Bond has not played for his country in 18 months, since joining the unofficial Twenty20 tournament, but told local media that he was fully fit and raring to go.”I love Test cricket, it’s the pinnacle, and it would be nice to have another chance to play,” Bond told NZPA on Friday. “I’m available if they [NZC] want me.Earlier this month NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan told the he had received documentation from the legal representatives of Bond, Daryl Tuffey and Craig McMillan indicating they had cut ties with the ICL. New Zealand are due to tour Sri Lanka in August-September – the A team is expected to visit India around the same time – and Bond, 34, has expressed his keenness to tour.”I’ve spoken to [selection panel manager] Glenn Turner and said I’m available to be picked but I expect to be picked on merit, like everyone else,” said Bond. “I hoped that through my domestic cricket [for Canterbury last summer] it perhaps put me into consideration for an A tour. If it didn’t then I’d try and do my time in first-class cricket and get back that way. But I’ve got to get cricket behind me and prove I can still perform.””He’s obviously had a rethink, now we have to see if the body will stand up to it. Time will tell,” said Turner. “If he can produce the goods, that’s great.”Bond performed strongly in last season’s domestic tournaments, taking 19 wickets at 23.5 in the State Shield and 11 at 14.3 in the Twenty20. “I still felt I was the fastest bowler going around, but I wasn’t in the best condition and have made a real concerted effort to pick my fitness up,” he said. “I wanted to see if I still had it in me to do the training required, and was pleasantly surprised and feel rejuvenated.”I’ve done three months’ solid training and it feels really good. If I get picked for the A side that’s six weeks away, but whenever it may be I’m just excited about playing again.”In 17 Tests Bond has taken 79 wickets at 22.39 each, and in 67 ODIs he has 125 wickets at 19.32.

The Australians’ low-key arrival into Birmingham on Thursday belied the enormity of the summer that lies in wait. It also contrasted sharply with the team’s entry four years ago, when an expectant England and a ravenous media created an intimidatory atmosphere that started the moment the players cleared customs and lasted until they boarded their return flight – urn-less – several months later.A turgid series against West Indies and a spate of dispiriting controversies involving the national team has spoiled England’s cricketing appetite of late, although the intensity of the nation will inevitably lift when the World Twenty20 and, more notably, the Ashes approach. But for the veterans of Australia’s last Ashes campaign in England, the subdued nature of Thursday’s team arrival was both surprising and bemusing. And for Justin Langer, currently based in Taunton with Somerset, the lack of fanfare that accompanied Ricky Ponting’s men this time around was particularly jarring.”I suppose my recollection of last time is especially vivid, because I arrived on the day of the London bombings,” Langer told Cricinfo. “I got into Heathrow at 7am, and within a few hours the bombs had gone off. It was an eerie feeling. The entire city felt like a ghost town. But well before that, the guys who arrived for the one-dayers (which preceded the Tests), said it was fever pitch from the moment they stepped off the plane. I’m not quite sure what the reasons are, but this time it seems much more low-key.”Australia’s few survivors from the 2005 Ashes series might have expected hordes of baying England supporters on Thursday, but were instead greeted at Birmingham airport by a modest gathering of journalists and well-wishers. With Manchester United’s Champions League final defeat still commanding blanket coverage in these parts, a Twenty20 squad arrival – even that of Australia – was unlikely to bounce Ronaldo off Fleet Street’s back pages.Still, before decamping to their team hotel, Michael Hussey spoke on behalf of the tourists and provided an intriguing insight into a new-look and evolving side; one that appears to possess little of the hubris and headline-grabbing aggression that defined the Shane Warne-inspired team of four years ago. Shots across bows were replaced by gracious compliments of England’s recent rebuilding efforts under the stewardship of the Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss. Hardly the phony wars of yore.”England have added a lot of depth to their squad over the last couple of years and have got guys playing confident cricket,” Hussey told reporters. “I think it will be a very close series and very challenging for both teams.”There have been a lot of new players coming into the England set-up who have been doing quite well and showing they are good enough to play at international level. That bodes well for England. We have been very impressed. We know they have got a good team, particularly in English conditions. A lot of their guys have improved so I think we are in for a huge challenge this summer.”Hussey looms as a pivotal figure in the forthcoming Ashes series. A veteran of the county circuit, Hussey’s experience in English conditions is immense, and though he is yet to play an Ashes Test away from home, he will be relied upon heavily to play the middle-order anchor role for which he has long been groomed. Potentially compromising those plans, however, has been Hussey’s extended form trough; one selectors have attributed partly to burn-out and sought to remedy by resting him from the recent one-day series against Pakistan in the UAE.Hussey was hopeful the break, plus Australia’s recent infusion of youth, would serve them well over the coming months. “(Australia has) a lot of confidence out of winning the Test series in South Africa,” he said. “We have a mixture of young fresh faces like Phil Hughes, who is so exciting, with a lot of talent, and has done well in his initial time as this level.”We have some good experienced players as well. Hopefully that blend will help us but I think what really matters isn’t whether you are young or old but doing the business out in the middle. That’s all that counts.”

Nathan Hauritz has won a national contract for the first time in six years, but now he is viewed as Australia’s main man instead of back-up for Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill. Hauritz was the only specialist spinner picked in the 25-man group on Thursday and his unexpected re-emergence highlights the falling away of the country’s slow-bowling stocks while providing an opening for a long-term adventure.A week before his Test return in November Hauritz was omitted from the New South Wales side, but an ankle injury to the national incumbent Jason Krejza, who until then had experienced similar good fortune, allowed some international space for Hauritz. He has done enough to stay with the side and convince the selectors he is the man for the future, but has been criticised, most recently by Ian Chappell, for his defensive method.”I try to stay away from it as much as I can,” Hauritz said of the public analysis. “It’s not my job to report on what we do. The most important thing I can do is bowl well. As long as I’m prepared, that’s all I can do. I know that at the moment it’s a good talking topic. It’s always going to be.”Hauritz last held a full national contract in 2003-04, the season before his Test debut, but he faded as quickly as some of the contenders since MacGill’s retirement last year. Krejza, Beau Casson and Cameron White were quickly crossed off as bowling options – in decisions ranging from sensible to strange – and Bryce McGain appears to be headed the same way after he missed a contract following a punishing welcome in March.That leaves Hauritz to control the major spin duties along with the part-timers of Marcus North and Michael Clarke. He did not play a Test in South Africa but has appeared in every one-day match since the end of the home season, topping the wicket list with eight victims in the five Pakistan encounters.Despite the confusing nature of the spin hierarchy, Hauritz is comfortable as the man with the best grip on the roundabout. “I haven’t minded it,” he said. “The one thing is it has made more competition for spots, and you just enjoy your time there all the time.”There’s such a good breed of fast bowlers coming through who are the same age, and when those fast bowlers are picked the side wins. The focus is a little bit off the spin bowling, but there’s always a spot for a spin bowler in a Test. We’re just part of the unlucky situation coming after Warne and MacGill.”Further confirmation of Hauritz’s anointment should come on Wednesday with the naming of the Ashes squad. “I’m trying not to focus on it,” he said. “I didn’t play any cricket in South Africa to put my name up for the Test squad, so it’s really up to the selectors, what way they want to go, whether it’s Bryce or myself. There’s not a great deal I can do. Fingers crossed that I get picked, if I don’t then that’s part of life.”Hauritz understands how it works in the national set-up works and that a player in his situation is never safe. “You still wait to know, you’re still trying to work things out and I guess you never really do feel secure,” he said. “It can all be gone away so quickly.” Spinners all over the country know that feeling.

ScorecardA team of baggage handlers and bursars overwhelmed the romantics’ choice Afghanistan, beating them by five wickets thanks to a composed 81 from Nithin Gopal and an impressive all-round performance from their bowlers. Chasing 252, UAE lost a couple of quick wickets with 20 overs to spare, but were guided home safely by Saqib Ali’s 69. It was quite a comeback for a side that was rolled for just 79 last week. The defeat, however, does not eliminate Afghanistan from the Super Eights, though the World Cup dream is now more unlikely than ever.During Afghanistan’s staccato-like innings, Colin Wells, the former Sussex and England allrounder now coaching UAE, confidently told Cricinfo that his side would chase 250 or more without so much as breaking sweat. Given their performance against Denmark, against whom they smashed 379 for 6, this claim was far from outlandish. UAE again showed great confidence at the crease, and were particularly effective against the spinners. Wells’ preparations for this tournament amounted to just three weeks of honing his side of amateurs but, as they showed in the ICC Intercontinental Cup, his is a side brimming with raw talent.Their chase began horribly, however, when Amjad Javed – who carved 164 a few days ago – was bowled first ball by Shapoor Zadran, a towering left-armer who would be a handful in juicier conditions. Afghanistan’s confidence was short-lived, however, as Arshad Ali and Gopal combined in a match-seizing second-wicket stand of 117. Gopal impressed through the off-side, though both he and Ashad were gifted too many full-tosses which were confidently flicked through midwicket. On several occasions, deft nudges beat fine-leg who was too fine, too short, or too asleep.Afghanistan’s fielding was a disappointment, having excelled against Bermuda earlier in the competition, though Shafiqullah did pull off a slick pick-up-and-throw from mid-off to dismiss Ali. Gopal, too, fell when a hundred was there for the taking when Hamid Hassan – who Bermuda’s captain, Irvine Romaine, last week claimed was the quickest bowler in the tournament – had him caught behind. And there was further joy for Afghanistan when Khurram Khan chipped one back to Mohammad Nabi, leaving UAE needing 92 from 17 overs. Saqib was merciless on anything short, however, and hammered seven fours in his bristling knock, while Naeemuddin Aslam leant back and hammered a six to seal the win.In contrast Afghanistan’s batting lacked substance; Asghar Stanikzai’s patient 69 from 107 balls helped them survive two early blows, but only Nowroz Mangal’s 46 gave him meaningful support. UAE’s fielding was slick and alert, despite Wells’ irritation from the boundary edge, and Zahid Shah’s medium pacers earned him 4 for 59 from 10 overs in what was a tidy display by their attack.However, Afghanistan’s coach Kabir Khan was pleased with his side making the Super Eight stage. “This is a great achievement for us,” Kabir said. “We came from Division 5 and now we have left behind us one team that played in the last World Cup [Bermuda] and two sides that were in Division 2 [Denmark and Oman] as well as Uganda which qualified with us from Division 3 so we are delighted with the progress we are making. It’s a great moment.”Our first target was to get in the top eight. Now we have set our sights on the top six because that will bring ODI status for four years. Qualifying for the World Cup will be very difficult as we will have to win all four games probably but that dream is deep inside me. Anything can happen and we have not given up hope. We don’t know how to give up hope.”

Scorecard
Lance Shaw picked up his second five-for in 23 first-class matches•Getty Images

A five-wicket haul from Lance Shaw ensured Auckland took opening-day honours against Central Districts in the final of the State Championship at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval. It was his second five-wicket haul in 23 first-class appearances, and led the Auckland bowling effort. Central Districts were left struggling at 169 for 8 when bad light brought an early end with 46 of the scheduled 100 overs bowled.Put in by Auckland, Central Districts openers Peter Ingram and Jamie How batted in contrasting fashion during their 57-run stand in 15 overs. Ingram was aggressive, hitting eight boundaries in his 46 before Shaw picked up the first of his five scalps by getting him to edge to wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins.He then removed George Worker for a second-ball duck while Colin de Grandhomme caught and bowled How for a 47-ball 9. Central Districts had lost three quick wickets in the space of eight balls and Auckland never let their grip slip.Mathew Sinclair, the captain, and Brad Patton launched a rescue mission, adding 52 for the fourth wicket before de Grandhomme had Patton caught by Tarun Nethula for 18. Sinclair departed seven runs later, for 34, when Shaw sneaked one through his defences. The bowler went on to get Bevan Griggs caught behind for 8 and then trapped Ewen Thompson leg before for the second duck of the innings.Brendon Diamanti did not last too long either, dismissed by Michael Bates for 10 before Jacob Oram (35) and Michael Mason (1) guided Central Districts to stumps.

The West Indies’ player union president, Dinanath Ramnarine, has tendered his resignation as a director of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) after yet another dispute over contracts between the players and the board.An outspoken critic of the WICB and its previous leaders, Ramnarine has long fought for players’ rights and been the middle-man between the board and the players during frequent disputes over pay, sponsorship and other destabilising factors. Ramnarine, who was elected president of the West Indies Players’ Association in 2002 and who was re-elected late last year, was brought onto the West Indies board in 2007 under the new leadership of Julian Hunte.Ramnarine’s resignation follows reports that the West Indies team failed to turn up to a cocktail reception on Wednesday night, ahead of tomorrow’s first ODI against England on Friday. But yet again, it appears that payment and contracts are at the heart of Ramnarine’s decision to end his now “untenable” position.”One of the first things that we agreed was that we would no longer conduct our affairs in public,” Ramnarine said in a statement on Thursday. “We, at the West Indies Players Association, have kept our side of the bargain and until recently, both sides for the most part displayed mutual respect for each other’s positions. Unfortunately, while a number of issues were discussed and agreed in most cases, no implementation whatsoever has taken place. While my organisation was prepared to give some time for action to be taken, that time has expired.”One of the key reasons for Ramnarine’s resignation is the retainer contracts which the players are shortly due to sign. “WIPA understands that contrary to what was agreed between the board and our association, contracts have been sent directly to players without the concurrence of WIPA and the players’ rights holders, the West Indies Players’ Management Company Limited. In other words, we have taken two steps backward.”It is also important to note that players who received injuries while representing the West Indies have not been paid contrary to the terms and conditions of the very retainer contracts. Despite this non-payment, the board is expecting players to sign new retainer contracts.”He went on to reveal that the players who toured New Zealand late last year “will only receive a small portion of the figures contained in the agreement,” contrary to what WIPA believe had been agreed upon.”In the circumstances,” Ramnarine wrote in a letter to Hunte, “I believe that my position at the board has become untenable, given the direction in which the board seems to be heading. Despite my decision to resign, I firmly believe that a representative of WIPA should always be a member of the board of directors. However, that representative would only be able to be effective if and when the structure of the board is changed to facilitate the best interests of all stakeholders of West Indies cricket.”

Steve Bucknor has announced that he will retire from umpiring at international level in March and the ICC has confirmed his decision.The third Test between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town from March 19 to 23 will be his last Test while the two upcoming ODIs between West Indies and England in Barbados on March 27 and 29 will be his last one-day international assignments.”I have notified the ICC that the South Africa versus Australia series will be my last Test series,” Bucknor, 62, told the on Sunday. “The body is feeling quite good and I know I could go on for another two or three years. However, something inside me is telling me that it is time to go.”Bucknor was looking forward to help improve the standard of umpiring in the Caribbean after his retirement. “I hope I will be accorded the opportunity by the West Indies board to work with young umpires in the region because I still would like to continue making a contribution,” he said.The ICC has announced it will pay a special tribute to Bucknor after his final match.”Steve’s contribution to our great sport over two decades at the top level of umpiring has been immense,” Haroon Lorgat, the chief executive, said. “To have remained as one of the game’s top officials for that length of time has required Steve to be self-motivated, confident and well respected, and he has all those qualities in abundance, while at the same time remaining a very humble man.”In the meantime I know that Steve, being the understated man that he is, will want to focus on the job at hand, that of getting things right on the field, something he has done as well as any other umpire in the history of the game.”Bucknor, who began his international umpiring career in 1989, has officiated in a record 126 Tests. He has also stood in 179 ODIs, including five consecutive World Cup finals since 1992 – the most by any umpire. Bucknor has been on the ICC’s elite panel since 2002.

Daniel Vettori has confirmed his text message to Brad Haddin did not contain an apology for his comments on Haddin’s involvement in the dismissal of Neil Broom on Sunday. Broom was given out bowled but replays suggested Haddin’s gloves had broken the stumps and a war of words over Haddin’s integrity erupted after the match.In the lead-up to Friday’s second ODI in Melbourne, Vettori said his message to Haddin was simply a statement of how his comments were intended, rather than an apology for how they were interpreted. However, he said the New Zealanders wanted to put the matter behind them and move on as they aim to build on their 1-0 series lead.”I sent a text to Brad saying whilst we agree to disagree on the situation, there was no inference of anything malicious on my part,” Vettori said. “I said there was no inference of that [cheating] from the team or myself.”Both teams will disagree on the situation and move on. You can’t always be expected to be on the right page with things. Everyone has their own opinion, whatever your opinion is, doesn’t mean it’s right or doesn’t mean it’s wrong.”Australia’s stand-in captain Michael Clarke, who did see the text message sent to Haddin, backed Vettori’s explanation. He said all the Australian players got on well with Vettori and the confusion over the incident would not change that.”I don’t know if it said ‘sorry’, put it that way,” Clarke said of the message. “‘I don’t think you’re a cheat’ – I do remember reading that – ‘and mate, let’s get on with it’.” Despite all the attention on Haddin over the past week and questions over whether he knew he had broken the stumps, Clarke said Haddin had retained his focus impressively.”He’s fine,” Clarke said. “Little things like that don’t bother him too much. I think the main thing was to make sure Brad and Dan were fine, which they’ve done, and he’s looking forward to playing a big role in the next few one-dayers for us.”