South Africa face a hectic international season ahead of next year’s World Cup in West Indies, with the announcement of the 2006-07 international fixtures programme by Cricket South Africa. The team will play a maximum of eight Tests and 20 ODIs, starting with the tour of Sri Lanka in July.The Sri Lanka tour includes two Tests and a tri-series also involving India, with each team playing each other twice before the finals. South Africa then head to India for the ICC Champions Trophy where they will play a maximum of five matches, should they make the finals.Their home season kicks off with a five-match ODI series against India during the first half of the summer. The focus then shifts to the Tests, with six back-to-back matches, three each against India and Pakistan. Pakistan will play their Tests at Centurion, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, followed by five ODIs, with the last ending on February 14. Almost immediately after, South Africa head to West Indies for the World Cup, and will be based in St Kitts for the group stages.Gerald Majola, CEO of Cricket South Africa, said that the schedule was aimed at improving the team’s international ranking and bench strength. South Africa are well placed in the ODI team rankings, second only to Australia. However, they will want to improve on a Test ranking which places them behind Pakistan.”We have put a high performance programme supported by Standard Bank in place to fine tune the Proteas [South Africa] as well as to ensure that our widening pool of emerging players are ready to meet the challenges of international cricket,” Majola said in a media release. “The Proteas will be looking to consolidate their ODI position in the top 2 with Australia, and to climb further up the Test ladder.”All eyes are on the World Cup in March, and as world record holders the Proteas will be going into the tournament with much confidence. We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the Proteas get the best preparation possible.”Pakistan in South Africa Jan 6-8 Tour Match – Kimberley
Jan 11-15 1st Test – Centurion
Jan 19 -23 2nd Test – Port Elizabeth
Jan 26 -303rd Test – Cape Town
Feb 2 1st ODI – Johannesburg (d/n)
Feb 4 2nd ODI – Centurion
Feb 9 3rd ODI – Port Elizabeth (d/n)
Feb 11 4th ODI – Cape Town
Feb 14 5th ODI – Durban (d/n)

Allrounder Alex Blackwell has been ruled out of Australia women’s forthcoming home series against New Zealand in October due to a knee injury.Blackwell ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during a training session with New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground on July 15. She will undergo surgery next week, and will miss the entire tour, comprising a Twenty20 fixture at Brisbane on October 18, followed by a five-match one-day series.Speaking to reporters, Blackwell admitted that the injury was a huge setback, but added that it would only encourage her to try harder to make a strong comeback.”It’s very disappointing to be injured and know I’m going to be watching from the sidelines as I’ve been training hard over the past three months in readiness for the season,” she said. “My priority now is to go through the rehabilitation process, stay positive and make sure I come out the other side fitter and stronger and ready to play cricket as soon as I can.”Blackwell, a medical student, was recently named the 2005 Australian University Sport Outstanding Athlete of the Year.

Division One

Will Smith and David Hussey both struck commanding half-centuries to help Nottinghamshire set an unassailable 252 against Essex at Colchester. Andy Bichel grabbed 5 for 44 but still ended on the losing side as Essex only managed 235 for 9 in reply to lose by 17 runs. Andy Flower was the home side’s topscorer with 57.Matt Prior pummelled 141 off just 86 balls to take Sussex to the most emphatic of victories against Glamorgan at Hove. Sussex made an impressive 193 from 33 overs after rain reduced the match, but that effort was put into the shadows by Sussex who killed off the game within 25 overs. Prior’s glorious knock included 20 fours and six sixes and he was joined in his efforts by Richard Montgomerie who struck a comparatively pedestrian 51 not out from 63 balls to help them win by nine wickets.

Division Two

Worcestershire held on for five-run win despite Kent working themselves into a fine position in their chase at New Road. Darren Stevens and Martin van Jaarsveld added 97 for the second wicket but Kent slumped from 184 for 2 when Robert Key fell. Zaheer Khan was the bowling star with 4 for 29 and was outstanding at the death. Worcestershire’s fielding was also vital with two run outs. Khan had earlier boosted the home side’s total with 42 off 38 balls after Lou Vincent hit 61.

Bangladesh are facing fitness concerns over two of their leading fast bowlers before the start of next month’s Champions Trophy in India. Both Mashrafe Mortaza and Syed Rasel have suffered freak injuries.Mashrafe sprained his ankle recently after slipping down the stairs at home but according to Faruque Ahmed, the chief selector, he is likely to recover in time. “We are monitoring his condition closely. At this moment it looks like he will be okay within the time, but to be sure we have to wait a few more days,” Ahmed told Reuters.Bangladesh will be banking desperately on Ahmed’s optimism for Mashrafe has been in good form lately and will be key to their chances of qualifying for the main rounds. He took 12 wickets in three games in Kenya last month, including a Bangladesh record six for 26. He will miss training for up to ten days.But Faruque showed greater concern about the condition of Mashrafe’s bowling partner Rasel, who damaged his foot in a motorbike accident last week. “Rasel did not improve on the scale we expected of him,” Faruque said. It means that Shahadat Hossain is now the only fit pace bowler in Bangladesh’s 14-man Champions Trophy squad.Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s opening pair is also posing considerably problems before the tournament gets underway. Uncapped Mehrab Hossain junior is expected to open the innings with Shahriar Nafees. If so it will be the 23rd opening pair to be tried since Dav Whatmore took over as coach in June 2003, according to the Dhaka-based daily .In 62 ODIs since then, Habibul Bashar, Khaled Mashud, Alok Kapali, Aftab Ahmed, Manjarul Islam Rana and Moniruzzman have all been tried. Javed Omar and Nafees have had the longest run, opening together in 15 matches followed by Nafees and Rajin Saleh. In this time, there has been only one partnership of over hundred and four over 50.

But Whatmore told the paper, the statistics were misleading. “That means one (opening pair) every three games. I didn’t realise that many. You know sometimes we got one or two boys opening just for the sake of the game or prefer for one or two matches.”I don’t think you can honestly say that we tried twenty two opening pairs in sixty matches but there might be the odd game or two where we put somebody in there to open the batting for a specific reason but not for long-term. So I am not sure whether the twenty-two is an accurate figure in that sense.”Whatmore added that the batting line-up as a whole was a concern. “If you look through the whole batting line-up we need to be strong in all departments, not just in the opening position. Yes, the opening is very important as much as number three and number four, five. They are all important.”But I have to say that we have won games without the openers doing well. It would be nice to see them do well. I am not sure you can just pick out one area and say you have done well in a certain area. We have done well in other areas. We have to improve more and opening is one of them. The situation is that we are not still able to have a regular opening partnership but we have to do the best we can.”Faruque admitted though that the number of pairs tried was too high. “Definitely the figure is abnormal. I am ready to accept that we were also inconsistent about the opening pair. Yes, we tried too many opening partnerships but what I want to say is that we were also helpless in one sense.”We even tried Ashraful in this position but I must say we didn’t give him enough time. Actually we are still confused whether it would be fruitful to use him as an opener because we have to think about the middle order too.”Bangladesh will play in the qualifying phase against Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe from October 7-14. The main tournament starts on October 15.

Graham Manou, South Australia’s wicketkeeper and vice-captain, has been ruled out of their Pura Cup season opener against New South Wales as he attempts to make a full recovery from a stress fracture in his right foot. However, Manou will test the injury during the Ford Ranger Cup one-day match against New South Wales at North Sydney Oval on Sunday, which is before the four-day fixture starting at the SCG on October 17.South Australia’s medical and coaching staff were confident Manou would not be a risk for a 50-over match, but they were not convinced he could get through the first-class game and adopted a more patient approach. Shane Deitz will keep wicket in place of Manou while Matthew Elliott will take up the Pura Cup vice-captaincy. Elliott is making his return for South Australia after a knee injury forced him to miss the closing stages of last season.New South Wales have named a fresh side for the Pura Cup game with Scott Coyte and Moises Henriques in line to make their first-class debuts. Coyte, a 21-year-old fast bowler who picked up 59 grade wickets at 15.46 last season, and Henriques, an allrounder, will be joined by the recalled Ed Cowan and the import Beau Casson.Casson, the left-arm wrist spinner who moved from Western Australia during the winter, will partner Stuart MacGill, but he has missed a spot in the one-day outfit. Daniel Christian, a right-hand batsman, was picked for his first senior side after posting two centuries in the State League Cup playing for Sydney South-East.NSW FR Cup squad Brad Haddin (capt, wk), Doug Bollinger, Scott Coyte, Daniel Christian, Ed Cowan, Moises Henriques, Phil Jaques, Stuart MacGill, Matthew Nicholson, Aaron O’Brien, Craig Simmons, Dominic Thornely.South Australia FR Cup squad Darren Lehmann (capt), Mark Cosgrove, Matthew Elliott, Graham Manou (vice-capt), Greg Blewett, Cullen Bailey, Cameron Borgas, Mark Cleary, Callum Ferguson, Jason Gillespie, Gary Putland, Shaun Tait.NSW Pura Cup squad Brad Haddin (capt, wk), Doug Bollinger, Beau Casson, Scott Coyte, Ed Cowan, Moises Henriques, Phil Jaques, Greg Mail, Stuart MacGill, Matthew Nicholson, Aaron O’Brien, Dominic Thornely.South Australia Pura Cup squad Darren Lehmann (capt), Mark Cosgrove, Matthew Elliott, Shane Deitz, Daniel Harris, Cullen Bailey, Cameron Borgas, Paul Rofe, Callum Ferguson, Jason Gillespie, Gary Putland, Shaun Tait.

Nasim Ashraf, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, has sparked confusion over the choice of venue for the final of the 2011 World Cup to be jointly held in the four subcontinent cricketing countries.Addressing a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Ashraf told reporters, “I don’t think the allotment of matches or the venue for the final is done as yet. We are holding a joint meeting in India on December 11 to discuss these issues.”The remarks appear to contradict an agreement reached between the co-hosts in July which allocated 22 matches to India, 16 to Pakistan, nine to Sri Lanka and six to Bangladesh. It was decided then that one semi-final was to be held in Sri Lanka, one in Pakistan and the final in India. At the time of the agreement, Shaharyar Khan was chairman of the Pakistan board, though it doesn’t appear that any agreement has been put down in writing.In response, a senior Indian board official only said, “Since India have not been allotted either of the semi-finals it should naturally follow that the final comes to India, especially considering our successful staging of the Champions Trophy.” However, the same official would not say that the matter was cast in stone. He said, “It’s still five years away, and a lot could happen between now and then.”All four boards are scheduled to attend the meeting in New Delhi on December 11 to discuss issues relating to the 2011 World Cup and it is believed that Pakistan, under the new chairman, may well ask for the scheduling to be looked at again. In particular, a source close to the board told Cricinfo, Pakistan feels it should be allocated more matches than the current 16 it has.”Pakistan had 16 matches during the 1996 World Cup but the tournament is bigger now than it was then,” the source said. “There are more matches now, so the quota of games Pakistan should be higher. But we are working for an amicable solution to the situation.”Also expected to be on the agenda during the meeting will be the formation of the Central Organising Committee (COC), a joint body that will coordinate organisational matters between the hosts. Of relevance will be where the headquarters of the COC will be based and the make-up of the body in terms of members from each board.

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Steve Harmison? England appeared lost for answers on the second day at the Gabba, after their misfiring spearhead had been treated to a second consecutive day of public chastisement. After 12 insipid overs on the opening day of the series, Harmison sent down 18 more today, finishing with the demoralising figures of 1 for 123 as Australia rattled along to a vast 9 for 602.”It’s fair to say Steve’s not been at his best,” said Andrew Flintoff afterwards. “He’d be the first to admit that, but it’s not from a lack of trying. He’s giving it everything he’s got but he’s struggling for his rhythm in this game. But there was an upturn to it. He bowled 30 overs and in patches he did get better.”Those patches were sadly few and far between. As on the first day, he opened with a wide – though not quite as grotesque a delivery as the one that had sailed clean into Flintoff’s hands at second slip (“I’d rather it had come off the edge,” Freddie later deadpanned) – and though by the end of his spell he was loping in to the crease with a renewed predatory streak, with the score already sailing into the stratosphere it was all a little too late for this Test.”I thought he was working hard to get his bowling right,” added Flintoff. “We’ve got people around who can work with him but Steve probably knows when he’s bowling well himself. He got better through the innings, but when it’s not going right it affects your confidence a little bit. Harmy is just striving to get back to his best.”One man on the park at the Gabba today claimed he knew what to do with Harmison, but unfortunately for England, it wasn’t one of his team-mates. Instead, Glenn McGrath, Australia’s No. 11 and uber-bunny, was on hand to dish out the advice after chipping in with a composed and unbeaten 8.”I was trying not to premeditate but that’s exactly what I was doing,” said McGrath as he doled out his batting tips to an amused audience. “I felt Harmy was only going to bowl short at me or at the stumps, so I thought if it was short I could get inside, or if it was full on the stumps I could play down the wicket. But I didn’t get out.”I feel for Harmy because the radar wasn’t quite switched on,” McGrath added. “But he’s got a pretty big fight to get back on track there. His confidence is definitely down, there’s no doubt about that.”Flintoff, meanwhile, was desperately trying to put a brave face on another tough day in the field. “Australia do come hard at you, it’s something we expect and it’s something they’ve done,” he shrugged. “It’s been two hard days. Australia played well, and in patches we did alright. Matthew Hoggard came back and bowled well. Ashley Giles in his first Test match for a year, I thought he bowled lovely. There are encouraging signs. But it’s fair to say tomorrow we are going to have to bat well.”

For Shahikala Siriwardene, Sri Lanka’s captain, the agony of seeing her Indian counterpart Mithali Raj dropped twice in the Asia Cup final in January is still fresh in her mind. “If not for those mistakes we could have won that final,” says Siriwardene.Raj was dropped twice in the twenties; she went onto make a hundred. Sri Lanka ended up losing by 97 runs. “We’ll make sure we won’t make the same mistakes again this time. We are confident of putting up a better performance,” she says, confidently, as she prepares to lead Sri Lanka a second time in the Asia Cup in Jaipur which starts on December 13.Siriwardene, the 22-year-old allrounder, has represented her country since 2003 and was promoted to the captaincy in December last year when she led her country at the last Asia Cup held in Pakistan. And although there are three new faces in the side, Siriwardene believes this will help, rather than hinder, them.”We have only two or three senior players in the side but despite that I am confident with the newcomers. Even though they are new, they are very competitive and have a winning attitude. That sort of approach gives me a lot of strength as captain. I have a lot of confidence in them and I am sure with their support we can put up a better performance.”The three uncapped players are wicket-keeper Dilani Manodara, and the allrounders Sanduni Abeywickrema from Slimline SC and Nirosha Kumari from Kandy CC.The team have also been concentrating on their batting, their weakest suit, since the last Asia Cup. The women’s team also draws strength by watching the performances of their male counterparts in the Sri Lanka team.”We watch the men’s matches and study their tactics and methods of play. We look at the statistics of their performances. Before we go on a tour at least three or four national cricketers come and speak to us on the conditions we will face in the country that we are about to tour and about the pitches and things like that. On this occasion we could not get anyone because they are away.”However Sri Lanka Cricket has supported us by providing us with their fielding, batting and bowling coaches. It will be ideal for us if we can have the national men’s cricketers come to us often and talk about the game. After the Asia Cup I hope to put forward a proposal to SLC to have national cricketers attend our training and help us out.”With women’s cricket now coming under the umbrella of SLC, Siriwardene’s proposal could become a reality in the near future.A past student of President’s College, Rajagiriya, Siriwardene is one of the few cricketers fortunate to have learnt the game at the age of 13. But it was not at school but by joining a club. As for the rest of her team mates they were taught the game only from club level at the ages of 19 and 20 because the majority of girls schools don’t play cricket.”We have reached the stage in world cricket playing in this manner for the past ten years. SLC has plans to introduce cricket to schools. I am confident if that happens there is a bright future for women’s cricket in this country.”Squad Shahikala Siriwardene (capt), Sandamali Dolawatte, Dedunu de Silva, Chamari Polgampala, Inoka Galagedera, Hiroshi Abeysinghe, Swini de Alwis, Dilani Manodara (wk), Eshani Kaushalya, Nirosha Kumari, Randika Galhenage, Sanduni Abeywickrama, Sumudu Fernando, Sripali Weerakkodi.

Glenn McGrath believes the farewell party is on track after two days of the SCG lap of honour. McGrath departs the Test scene with Shane Warne and Justin Langer on Saturday and with Australia at 4 for 188, 103 runs behind England’s first innings, the game is evenly poised.However, McGrath, who bowled well to pick up 3 for 67, said Australia were well positioned in the chase for a win that would give them a 5-0 victory. “We’re pretty much on track if we put on a good partnership tomorrow,” McGrath said. “It would be nice to get a sizeable first-innings lead.”England lost 6 for 57 in the opening session today as McGrath, Stuart Clark and Brett Lee used the second new ball cleverly. On the first day McGrath was frustrated by the number of plays-and-misses he created, but today the bowlers were able to find the edges and Adam Gilchrist finished with five catches. “We thought if we took a couple or at least one wicket this morning we would do some real damage, and with 6 for 50-odd you can’t really complain.”McGrath said he was coping with the extra attention caused by the trio’s departures and it helped that he was going on to the World Cup. “It’s felt a little bit strange because I’ve still got the one-dayers,” he said. “Myself and Shane have kept their emotions in check, whereas Justin’s quite an emotional person. He’s found it tougher than we have.”

January 1995 – At 23, makes his one-day international debut against West Indies at Auckland. Scores 25 and takes 0 for 27.November 1995 – Having established his place as an opener, scores his first ODI century. His 114 from 128 balls against India at Nagpur drives New Zealand to a 99-run win.January 1996 – After a year in the one-day team, makes his Test debut against Zimbabwe at Hamilton. Scores 18 and 32 in a drawn game.February 1996 – In his first World Cup game, his 101 sets up an 11-run win against England at Ahmedabad.April 1996 – Makes back-to-back Test centuries on a tour of West Indies. His 125 at Bridgetown against an attack boasting Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and Ian Bishop is his maiden Test hundred. He follows it up at St John’s with 103 but New Zealand go down in both matches.January 1997 – Scores his first Test hundred on home soil with an unbeaten 102 against England at Auckland.May 1997 – Records his best ODI bowling figures with a vital spell of 4 for 43 as New Zealand beat Pakistan at Chandigarh.June 1999 – Struggles through his second World Cup in poor form. Averages only 8.77 from his nine innings as New Zealand are eliminated at the semi-final stage.December 2001 – Top scores with 156 not out in the third Test against Australia at Perth as New Zealand draw the series 0-0.March 2002 – Smashes the fastest Test double-century, reaching the milestone in 153 balls against England at Christchurch. Finishes with 222, his highest Test score.March 2003 – Has a more successful World Cup in South Africa, making 102 not out against Zimbabwe and averaging 42.60 for the tournament.September 2004 – Takes the opportunity against the United States at The Oval to raise his highest ODI score, 145 from 151 deliveries.January 2006 – Is briefly dropped from the ODI squad to take on Sri Lanka at home but returns to the side with a string of high scores, including an unbeaten 118 against West Indies at Christchurch.January 26, 2007 – After a poor start to the CB Series in Australia, announces his retirement from international cricket, citing a lack of motivation.