England this morning released Gareth Batty ahead of tomorrow’s third npower Test against South Africa at Trent Bridge. Batty was one of four uncapped players announced in the squad last weekend as England looked to change things round after their innings defeat at Lord’s.After examining the Trent Bridge pitch this morning, the England management let Batty return to Worcestershire, leaving Ashley Giles as the sole spinner in the squad. Michael Vaughan said: “We will look at the conditions in the morning and decide which four seamers will be best to help us win the Test.” James Kirtley and Glen Chapple will contest the final bowling spot between them, with Kirtley expected to play after being named in all four Test squads this summer.

India A 276 for 8 (Gavaskar 79* Sriram 77, Balaji 5-50) beat India Seniors 249 for 8 (Badani 73, Bangar 66) by 27 runs
ScorecardThe Challenger Series for the 2003-04 season got off to an entertaining start when India A pulled off a 27-run upset victory over the Seniors at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Opting to bat first on a belter, India A shrugged off the loss of early wickets to score 276, and then restricted the Seniors to 249.If the idea of the tournament was to pit the probables for the Indian team together and judge their performances, then today’s match should have given the selectors plenty to ponder over. The most impressive displays were from those on the fringes of the national team, while the certainties put in tepid performances. The lack of match-play for many of the top players was evident too. In fact, of the five star-rated performances today, four came from players who had toured with the A team to England recently. For India A, Sridharan Sriram (77) and Rohan Gavaskar (79 not out) were the heroes, while Hemang Badani (73) and Sanjay Bangar (66) contributed most of the runs for India Seniors. L Balaji had reason to celebrate too, bowling with control and consistency to pick up a five-for.Both innings were dominated by fifth-wicket partnerships: Sriram and Gavaskar revived India A’s innings with a 126-run stand, while Badani and Bangar added 114 to put the India Seniors’ run-chase back on track after they had slumped to 86 for 4.On an excellent batting strip, a target of 277 wasn’t insurmountable, but India Seniors erred in sending Parthiv Patel to open, while Sourav Ganguly dropped down to No. 3. The move flopped, as Parthiv edged the fourth ball of the innings to Mohammad Kaif at gully. Rayudu was secure in defence, but got himself run out after a misunderstanding with Ganguly (7 for 2). Ganguly himself started nervously, then showed signs of getting back in form with a couple of rasping square-drives, before top-edging a pull off Pathan (39 for 3).When Tendulkar – in the middle of an inspired spell – trapped VVS Laxman (30) in front to end a promising 47-run stand with Badani, India A seemed to have wrapped up the match. However, Badani and Bangar then proceeded to pull the innings out of the rut. Badani used the sweep to good effect, and drove in the V to anything which was pitched up. Bangar, once again, impressed with his cricketing sense, chipping over the infield intelligently and running hard.Salvi ended the partnership when Badani – after having scored 13 from that over – attempted a pull and top-edged to Ajay Ratra (200 for 5). Bangar was stumped off Anil Kumble soon after, as India Seniors’ hopes faded away.Earlier, Balaji was the chief wrecker as India A stuttered at the start. Keeping an excellent control over his length and pitching it consistently in the corridor, Balaji struck three times in his first six overs, and almost got a fourth. Gautam Gambhir succumbed to an old weakness, driving on the up at a widish ball, straight to Ambati Rayudu at backward point (20 for 1). Balaji then bowled Tendulkar with a no-ball, but television replays suggested that the call was a harsh one.Wasim Jaffer’s played three gorgeous drives on either side of the wicket, and then fell attempting another one, nicking to VVS Laxman at slip (43 for 2), while Kaif gave more catching practice to Laxman (66 for 3). With Zaheer Khan showing signs of early season rustiness – he bowled four no-balls and as many wides in his first five overs, which went for 38 – Balaji’s incisiveness and control was vital in keeping the senior side in the match.On 7 when given the reprieve, Tendulkar struggled for fluency throughout, striking just four fours in his 66-ball effort. His subdued innings finally ended courtesy a clever piece of bowling by Harbhajan, who enticed Tendulkar down the pitch and then held on to a sharp return catch.Sriram and Gavaskar led the recovery with a carefully constructed partnership. Both batsmen were circumspect at the start, nurdling the ball in the gaps and sprinting hard, and then slowly upped the tempo. Sriram’s sweep stroke was especially effective, while Gavaskar played some spanking shots down the ground, especially memorable being a straight six off Harbhajan and a straight-drive off Zaheer. The stand finally ended when Sriram skied an attempted flick to Ganguly at mid-on (237 for 5), but Gavaskar kept the innings going. In the end, a total of 276 turned out to be more than enough.

Nathan Astle’s 103 off 207 balls enabled New Zealand to save some face on the third day of the first Test between India and New Zealand, even if it didn’t quite take New Zealand to safety. Here is what he had to say:On his innings
Well, I was going to play my game, right from themorning, and I think I did that pretty well. I got outto a reckless shot. I had wanted to be more assertive,and I just picked the wrong ball to do it. Everybodyin the New Zealand middle order plays shots, and Ithink we did that today. Craig McMillan took thepressure off me and played well, and we were able tokeep the runs ticking along.On the wicket
It is a good wicket, although the heat is getting tous a little bit. We have to keep up our water intake,and it has become a mental game more than anythingelse. The wicket is getting a little turn, and it willturn more as the game goes on. Zaheer Khan’sfootmarks are also creating a rough for the Indianspinners, so if we do have to follow on, that willhelp them quite a bit.On being the first New Zealander since 1976-77 toscore a Test century in India
Yes, actually I was aware of that. Before playstarted, we had a few facts put before us, and thiswas one of them. So it was actually good motivation.On the Ahmedabad ground
It’s always nice to come back to a ground with goodmemories. [Astle scored a World Cup century againstEngland here in 1996.] It becomes easier to go outthere and bat, your mind is at ease a lot more.On New Zealand’s strategy for the remainder of thegame
Well, we’re going to try to get to 300 first, and thenmaybe get a few more past it. If we do that, we’ll bea lot happier. We’ll have a shot at drawing this game,and can then go on to Mohali. If we are made to followon, however, it will be tough to last two days.

National League Division One
TableSurrey 198 for 9 beat Glamorgan 190 by eight runs at Cardiff
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They may have blown the Championship, but Surrey were today crowned the National League champions after beating last year’s winners Glamorgan by eight runs in a low-scoring match. It wasn’t a vintage performance, but it was another allround team display which won them this match, and the title. Mark Ramprakash (53) and Adam Hollioake (51) held Surrey’s innings together after they had stumbled to 61 to 4. Hollioake clubbed five fours and two sixes and gave Surrey some oomph, while Ramprakash dug in to help them up to a respectable 198 for 9. All the bowlers then chipped in with a wicket or two each, but it was Rikki Clarke, England’s newest allrounder, who was the pick of the bunch. Michael Powell top-scored with 40, and Robert Croft and Mike Kasprowicz, who both scored 20, threatened to spoil Surrey’s party, but Clarke kept his cool. He grabbed 2 for 19 and signalled the win when he clean bowled David Harrison to start the celebrations. After the game, a relieved Hollioake said: “We have played some good cricket in the Sunday League this year and we are very happy to come away with it. We are limping over the line as we are on our last legs and to get this side together today was hard work.” He added: “I would like to pay credit to what they have done here. They have stuck to it and got their rewards.” It followed their Twenty20 Cup win earlier this season, but the only strange sight was of Ian Ward, who this morning announced he is to leave Surrey at the end of the season, watching all the fun from the commentary box, well away from the celebrations. Kent 101 for 2 beat Leicestershire 98 by eight wickets at Leicester
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Leicestershire slipped down another slot in the table after they were skittled for only 98 and duly hammered by Kent. Amjad Khan took the first four wickets in quick succession to leave Leicestershire in trouble at 37 for 4 and Kent didn’t look back. Mark Ealham then matched Khan with four wickets as only Paul Nixon put up a fight. Nixon was last man out for a dogged 32, but the fact that he was only one of three to make it to double figures tells its own story. With only 99 to get, Kent made light work of their easy challenge as Rob Key (44*) and Andrew Symonds (45*) got them home in just over 19 overs.National League Division Two
Table Sussex 128 for 1 beat Lancashire 125 by nine wickets at Old Trafford
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Just as Lancashire spoiled Sussex’s Championship celebrations earlier this week, Sussex got their revenge in the National League with a thumping nine-wicket win. A win for Lancashire would have ensured their position as division winners, but Billy Taylor and Mark Davis made sure they will have to wait a little longer. Taylor took the early wickets of Mal Loye and Stuart Law as Lancashire slipped to 39 for 3. Mark Chilton (43) and Chris Schofield (32) then started the rescue act, but after adding 61 to push the score to 101-4, the last six wickets fell for only 24 runs. Most of that was down to Davis, who took 4-14 in a nine-over spell. Chasing 126, Richard Montgomerie (66*) and Murray Goodwin (59) didn’t hang around as Sussex romped to a comfortable win, and only their sixth of the season. Middlesex 278 for 4 beat Hampshire 277 for 7 by six wickets at Lord’s
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Paul Weekes starred for Middlesex with bat and ball as they squeezed past Hampshire with only one delivery left. After being asked to bat, Hampshire rattled up 277 with Nic Pothas and Simon Katich blasting an opening stand of 144. Pothas scored 78 from 77 balls, while Katich creamed 106, including 13 fours. Katich was eventually bowled by Weekes, who went on to take 4 for 45, and then provide the platform for Middlesex’s superb victory. He scored 104, and shared crucial partnerships with Andy Strauss, Chad Keegan and Owais Shah to keep them flowing with the tide. Needing nine runs to win off the final over, Shah hit a six, but was out the next ball. However, Ed Joyce and Jamie Dalrymple kept their nerve to steer Middlesex home.Nottinghamshire 185 for 3 beat Scotland 183 by seven wickets at Trent Bridge
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After such an unexpectedly bright start to their first season in the National League, Scotland’s rapid demise was capped off with another defeat in the final match of their campaign. Nottinghamshire haven’t had a great summer either, but at least Chris Cairns took out some of their frustration with a booming 76, featuring three sixes, in their comfortable win. Cairns earlier grabbed two wickets, and Stuart MacGill three, as Scotland were bowled out for 183, James Brinkley top-scoring with 67. Kevin Pietersen, who could well be leaving at the end of the season, hit a quick 20 before Jason Gallian (43*) and Cairns clubbed together 111 in Notts’ seven-wicket win. Derbyshire 249 for 8 beat Somerset 243 for 9 by two wickets at Taunton
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Derbyshire, led by Michael Di Venuto, hung on to pull off an impressive run-chase against Somerset, sneaking home by two wickets and with one ball to spare. After Ian Blackwell (60 from 47) and Matthew Wood (58) helped Somerset to 243 for 9, Di Venuto played a well-paced knock of 113 to keep Derbyshire in touch. He received support from Andrew Gait, Steve Stubbings and Dominic Hewson, all of whom scored in the 20s, but after Di Venuto was caught off Nixon McLean, Derbyshire still needed 20 to win. Up stepped Nathan Dumelow (28*) to take the responsibility and he made sure of the victory by smashing Simon Francis for six to win the game in style.

Match scorecardDay 1
Bulletin Taibu and Matsikenyeri turn the tide Zimbabwe’s wayDay 2
Bulletin Streak’s maiden century lifts Zimbabwe past 500Day 3
Bulletin Price makes life uneasy for West Indies
News Freak accident delays the start of playDay 4
Bulletin Rain on Zimbabwe’s paradeDay 5
Bulletin Jacobs denies brave Zimbabwe

Tamil Nadu 110 for 2 and 188 (Paul 7-44) trail Bengal 400 (Haldipur 100, Sanyal 89) by 102 runs
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Shib Sankar Paul, the Bengal medium pacer, forced Tamil Nadu to follow-on on the third day of the Elite B match at Tirunelveli. Paul, who has been Bengal’s bowling hero this season, took seven wickets as Tamil Nadu caved in for a mere 188. Without three of their main batsmen, Tamil Nadu struggled, with only S Badrinath (86) averting a complete disaster. However, they put up a better show while following on by losing only two wickets for 110, with Badrinath still unbeaten at stumps.Rajasthan 53 for 4 and 168 trail Karnataka 350 (Rowland 81, Arunkumar 58, Bharadwaj 50) and 145 by 275 runs
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Karnataka wrested the initiative with a good batting display on the third day of the match against Rajasthan. Barrington Rowland and Vijay Bharadwaj hit fine half-centuries as Karnataka set a victory target of 328. Rowland, carrying on his rich vein of form, hit seven boundaries in his 81. Rajasthan had their backs to the wall at the end of the day when Dodda Ganesh and Venkatesh Prasad reduced them to 53 for 4 and set Karnataka up for their first victory of the season.Uttar Pradesh 22 for 1 and 205 trail Mumbai 332 (Morris 93*, Thakkar 71) by 105 runs
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At one point Mumbai were 258 for 8 and UP had done a good job in restricting their lead. But Robin Morris hit a breezy 93, and ensured that Mumbai finished with lead of 127 runs. Morris’s 120-ball innings included five sixes and six fours, and he put on 74 runs for the last two wickets. Earlier, Bhavin Thakkar also chipped in with 71 to prop up the total. Praveen Gupta, the left-arm spinner, was the most successful bowler for UP with 4 for 79. In their second innings, UP lost the wicket of S Shukla early and will have to battle all day tomorrow if they are to deny Mumbai an outright victory.Delhi 198 for 6 (Dahiya 61) and 195 lead Railways 234 by 159 runs
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In a low scoring game, Railways gained a small lead, but Vijay Dahiya and Pradeep Chawla played valuable innings for Delhi and set up a fascinating final day at the Karnail Singh Stadium. Dahiya struck 61 and Chawla remained unbeaten on 48 as Delhi went ahead by 159 runs for the loss of six wickets. Harvinder Singh picked up three wickets and finished as the most successful bowler for Railways.Hyderabad 199 for 4 (Anirudh 68, Vinay 53) trail Assam 537 (Sathish 133*, Sukhvinder 112) by 338 runs
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After being battered on the first two days by the Assam batsmen, Hyderabad made a sedate start to their innings, compiling 199 runs on the third day. Anirudh Singh and Vinay Kumar hit fifties, but Hyderabad lost four wickets and were still 338 runs adrift at stumps. Assam may have batted for too long to force an outright win, but first-innings points are almost assured.Punjab 323 for 8 (Dharmani 98, Sodhi 66, Mongia 60) trail Baroda 369 (Martin 149, R Parab 54) by 46 runs
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Both teams jostled for the first-innings lead as Punjab finished the third day still 46 runs behind with only two wickets standing. Pankaj Dharmani marginally missed out on a hundred and Reetinder Singh Sodhi hit 66 as Punjab inched towards the Baroda total. Earlier Dinesh Mongia had also hit a fine 60. Rakesh Patel picked up four wickets and Baroda will look to polish off the tail and pick up first-innings honours.Plate Championship First Round
Vidarbha 52 for 2 and 287 (Gawande 60) lead Tripura 337 (Sachdev 110, Jaiswal 76, Acharya 6-65) by 2 runs
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198 runs were scored on the third day as both teams lost wickets at regular intervals. Tripura gained a vital 49 runs first-innings lead, with Chetan Sachdev scoring a stroke-filled 110. But by the end of the day, Vidarbha erased the deficit, losing two top-order batsmen in the process. Madhusudan Acharya, the offspinner, enhanced his burgeoning reputation by adding three wickets, including Sachdev, to end with career-best figures of 6 for 65. Tripura gained the first-innings bonus points and will look to their spinners to get them an outright win tomorrow.Goa 41 for 1 and 235 (Swapnil 126, Mohanty 5-44) trail Orissa 466 (Mullick 134, Mohapatra 83, Behara 87, Jakati 5-99) by 190 runs
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Pravanjan Mullick blasted 134 off just 163 balls and Orissa stamped their authority over Goa on the third day. Biswa Mohapatra and S Behera, the openers, hit eighties and Orissa finished their first innings at 466. Shadab Jakati was the most successful bowler ending with a five-wicket haul. Goa suffered a setback in their second innings as AA Swapnil, the first-innings centurion, was forced to retire hurt – something that may prove vital in the ultimate outcome.Jammu and Kashmir 226 for 5 and 96 (Vashisht 6-32) trail Haryana 304 (Shafiq 71, Snny 66, Ganda 57) by 21 runs
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Jammu and Kashmir 229 for 5 and 96 (Vashisht 6-32) lead Haryana 304 by 21 runs.After dominating Jammu & Kashmir for the better part of three days, Haryana would have expected a quick finish today. But J&K improved on their first-innings total of 96 to reach 229 for 5. J&K were tottering at 159 for 5, but Dhruv Mahajan, the captain, and Manzoor Dar steadied the innings with an unbeaten 70-run partnership and were on 42 and 30 respectively at stumps. Services 79 for 2 and 233 lead Himachal Pradesh 291 (Virender Sharma 134, Fazil 5-73) by 22 runs
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Virender Sharma led the way on the third day, as Himachal Pradesh gained a first-innings lead of 58 over Services. It took a run-out to end Sharma’s impressive 134, and with it, the Himachal innings for 291. Fazil Mohammed and Arun Sharma claimed the bowling honours to finish with 5 for 73 and 4 for 90 respectively. Services began their second innings cautiously, reaching 79 for 2 at close, with an overall lead of 22.

Close
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Moin Khan produced a Test-best 137 at a time when Pakistan needed it, and took his team out of the woods in the first Test against New Zealand. After Moin led his team to 463, New Zealand faced two overs and were 4 for 0 at stumps on the fourth day. Play will start half an hour early, at 10.30am, on the final day, to make up for time lost because of rain.Moin came to the wicket when Inzamam-ul-Haq fell to the new ball. And despite losing Abdul Razzaq soon after, Moin found a staunch, if unlikely, ally in Mohammad Sami to see Pakistan past the follow-on mark of 364.The day had been cut short because of overnight rain and only half an hour’s play was possible before lunch. Fourteen tentative runs were added in that time, after Inzamam survived a first-ball chance when Lou Vincent dropped a catch in the gully region off Chris Cairns’s bowling.Inzamam scored his 34th half-century but then fell to Daryl Tuffey, clearlyNew Zealand’s best bowler. Tuffey, operating with the new ball, beat Inzamamwith successive balls that slipped past the bat, and then got one inside itthat trapped him leg-before. Razzaq had demonstrated some of the touches that made him such a fearless hitter at the death in the recent one-day series against New Zealand, and was on 48 when he nicked a rare leg-side ball from Tuffey and Robbie Hart took the chance low down.Pakistan still required 79 runs to avoid the follow-on, and Moin and Sami had to contend with an improved New Zealand bowling approach. Chris Cairns and IanButler found better rhythm. Butler was especially unlucky in having goodyorker balls take the inside edge, miss the stumps and go for boundaries onseveral occasions. He hit Moin once when he ducked into a shorterone, but in a show of the type of mood he was in, Moin clouted the nextball back down the pitch for four.Moin survived a close call for a run-out when taking on Cairns’s arm fromthe outfield. It took a long look at video evidence before Tony Hill, the third umpire, was able to rule that he had just made his ground.Moin brought up his 50 off 75 balls, and then freed up once the follow-onmark had been passed, using some more innovative shots. He brought up hisfourth Test century by hitting a boundary, a six and another boundary offsuccessive balls from Daniel Vettori. He and Sami shared the only centurypartnership of Pakistan’s innings, adding 152 before Vettori finallyhad Sami caught at the wicket 25 (437 for 7). Soon after Jacob Oram trapped Moinleg-before for 137 and Pakistan were 453 for 8.

Tuffey was outstanding. He secured his sixth five-wicket bag in Tests andwas consistent in his line on or about off stump. He was tireless and hiswork was rewarded. Ian Butler polished off the last two wickets and Pakistanwere all out for 463.There was still some excitement left in the day when New Zealand batted out a small passsage of play. Mark Richardson hit a four off the first ball of the second innings, and then at the end of the over appeared to have a disagreement with Mohammad Sami, who had bowled his most fiery over of the match.

Bob Simpson, the former captain and coach of Australia, has slammed the International Cricket Council for its lax attitude towards bowlers with suspect actions.”While bowlers with illegal actions have been with us since bowling actions went upright, I have never seen so many bowlers infringe as they do today,” Simpson wrote in his column in India’s Sportstar magazine. “Why should bowlers who don’t conform to the laws be handled with kid gloves while fair bowlers and batsmen have to abide by the laws of cricket?”Simpson’s comments have more clout as he was a member of the ICC committee charged with assessing bowlers’ actions. And coming on the eve of the series between Sri Lanka and Australia, with all the history that involves, his remarks are sure to stir up anger in certain quarters.Simpson was especially critical of the ICC’s method of dealing with bowlers whose actions are reported which he described as “hopelessly flawed”. He also accused match referees and umpires of being willing to report lesser-known players but of bottling it when big names are involved.”Unfortunately some of our most high-profile and successful bowlers have actions which, to say the least, are less than doubtful,” he continued. “Little wonder we have so many bowlers around the world with actions which do not conform to the laws of the game.”This is hardly surprising as players have always copied their heroes. Unfortunately cricket’s governing bodies are doing very little to help the situation. I still visit quite a few countries and do a lot of coaching around the world and doubtful actions are reaching almost epidemic proportions.”

The Tasmanian Selectors have today announced that Adam Griffith has been omitted from the Cascade Tasmanian Tigers squad of thirteen announced on January 29th to play the Western Warriors in the ING Cup Twighlight match at the NTCA Ground in Launceston on Sunday, 1st February 2004.Despite rain ground staff have been working constantly on the NTCA Ground in Launceston and the match will go ahead as scheduled with play commencing at 12 noon with gates open at 10.30am.

Match abandoned due to rain
ScorecardRain stopped barking and finally took a bite out of the series, with the fourth one-dayer in Dunedin being called off, and a replay scheduled for the next day. The replayed game will be a day game that begins at 12pm local time (11pm GMT).Play looked likely for a while when Graeme Smith won the toss yet again and put New Zealand in to bat. But rain washed the ground minutes before play was to begin. South Africa had their fourth success with the coin, but the rain ensured that there would be another toss tomorrow.South Africa’s inability to use the conditions – and the form of a rejuvenated New Zealand side – has resulted in two losses on the go. New Zealand’s victory in the third ODI came after the bowlers pegged back South Africa during the middle overs, and even inspired batting by Shaun Pollock could only take his team to the precipice of victory. An injury sustained during the game kept him out of today’s team, and Lance Klusener was his replacement.For New Zealand, the third match was an eye-opener. Michael Papps showed everyone what the fuss was about when he scored his first fifty and played a vital role in giving his team its first significant start of the series. And then their bowlers caged the batsmen. South Africa’s bowlers, barring Pollock, were made ineffectual and they failed to live up to the reputation that preceded them to New Zealand. It was a U-turn from previous expectations.