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Gordon Greenidge, the West Indies convenor of selectors, has told his team to be more forceful and consistent during the series against Australia, which starts at Sabina Park on Thursday. The hosts face a serious threat against the world champions, especially without their injured captain Chris Gayle, but Greenidge has outlined a game plan he hopes will be successful.”We have to decide to be more forceful, more positive and spend time at the crease,” he told AFP. “What we want is consistency. This is something we have been fighting for over the years. This series presents an opportunity for players to be counted – new players and established players.”Ramnaresh Sarwan will lead the team, which also welcomes back Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dwayne Bravo from the Indian Premier League, after Gayle was unavailable due to a groin injury. In a good sign for the side Gayle was able to join the squad for a light session in Jamaica and batted on the outfield.Greenidge has demanded a positive approach for the series. “In this case it does not mean going overboard and trying to hit every ball to the boundary,” he said. “Common sense has to prevail. You have to first see what is happening and then be positive in your approach.”

Barbadian Qyeen’s counsel Elliott Mottley has submitted his report to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) surrounding the matter into whether star batsman Brian Lara took bribes.Mottley conducted the investigation for the WICB after an Indian bookmaker accused Lara of taking$40 000 for playing badly. Lara denies the allegations, which came in a separate report into corruption by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation, published in November 2000.President of the WICB, Wes Hall, has reportedly received the report and is said to be studying it and will reveal his findings in the future."I’m currently reading the report, which is quite extensive, and then I shall be making a statement," Hall said. "Before then, I don’t wish to comment on thefindings."Other cricket boards had also commissioned similar investigations after bookmaker Mukesh Gupta made his allegations.

Incumbent captain Waqar Younis will lead Pakistan at least until the end of the 2003 World Cup, according to new team manager KhawajaNasir.Nasir, a retired brigadier, who has been freshly appointed following thedismissal of Yawar Saeed during the ICC Champions Trophy, looked to squashrumours that Waqar was under pressure for his position after a recentdownturn in the team’s performance.Speaking at the official launch of the Australia-Pakistan Test series atColombo, Nasir said: “He (Waqar) has been categorically told by the chairmanof the Pakistan Cricket Board, General Zia, who is here in Sri Lanka, that he will captain theteam in the 2003 World Cup.”Waqar claimed to be unconcerned by speculation that he faced the axe unlessthere was a quick revival to the team’s fortunes during forthcoming seriesagainst Australia and Zimbabwe.”I have never been worried about whether I am captain or not,” he said. “Ihave that job at the moment and I will concentrate on doing my best so thatPakistan win.”Pakistan will play three Test matches against Australia starting Thursdaywithout the services of key players, including leading batsmenInzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana, who are both injured, veteran fastbowler Wasim Akram and opener Saeed Anwar, who have decided to take a break.

Loughborough UCCE has won the University Centre of Cricketing Excellence(UCCE) Championship for the second year running by three points from OxfordUCCE. It therefore remains the only side to win the two-year oldchampionship.Despite finishing on equal points with Cardiff / Glamorgan UCCE, Oxford tooksecond place by means of scoring the most points in their match together.This means that Loughborough UCCE will play Oxford UCCE in the UCCE One-DayChallenge Final at Lord’s on Tuesday 2 July.The six UCCE teams played one two-day, two-innings match against each other,with points awarded for an outright win, a win on first innings as well asbatting and bowling bonus points.Final UCCE Championship table

1. LOUGHBOROUGH UCCE (Played 5) – Total 54 Points2. OXFORD UCCE (Played 5) – Total 51 Points3. CARDIFF/GLAMORGAN UCCE (Played 5) – Total 51 Points4. DURHAM UCCE (Played 5) – Total 48 Points5. BRADFORD/LEEDS UCCE (Played 5) – Total 30 Points6. CAMBRIDGE UCCE (Played 5) – Total 29 Points

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to organize a three-day tour to Bhurban for the camp probables arguing that it would benefit the players and dismissing claims that it would bring smiles back on the aggrieved faces.The 12 remaining probables from the originally announced 19, would proceed to the hill station Monday where they will train under the supervizion of newly-hired Australian physiotherapist Dennis Waight.During the visit, human resources chief, Aamir Siddique, who has suddenly become an indispensable force, would also deliver lectures for mental toughness.Pakistan manager Yawar Saeed dismissed impressions that the tour was being organized to appease and shoot-down players resentment that has surfaced recently.”It is not a recreational tour but a tough one. And it has not been organized to make the players happy. As far as I see things, the players are happy and there is no ill-feeling amongst them,” Yawar pleaded.Of the 19 probables for next month’s tournament in Tangiers, Saqlain Mushtaq and Abdul Razzaq were allowed to continue playing in the English County Championships, Shoaib Akhtar skipped the camp amidst contrasting claims while four players Wasim Akram, Shahid Afridi, Yousuf Youhana and Saeed Anwar were given the go-ahead to proceed to Houston to play in the double wicket tournament.Back home, the remaining boys have expressed displeasure over the scenario and have questioned the wisdom of organizing the camp when most of the frontline players have been exempted. They have also asked if they would have been granted permission to earn some money during the same period had they been offered a contract either in England or Houston.”There is no resentment amongst the players. They are colleague and friends and understand what is happening around. This time it was the turn of these seven players to earn money. Maybe next time, some other players will get the same benefit,” Yawar explained.Asked if Lahore had become smaller place for such a venture, he said: “There are two advantages of taking the camp probables to Bhurban. Firstly, Waight will begin his work by taking down relevant notes on players’ history, previous injuries, weight, strength of muscles etc which will help him understand the physical toughness of every individual.”And secondly, Bhurban is a hill station and on a relevantly good height. It would help the players to train in different and difficult conditions as Morocco and South Africa are also on a high altitude which requires extra strength, stamina and physical toughness to excel. And lastly, it is very hot in here so there will be a change for the boys.”The event in Tangier begins Aug 12 while Pakistan embark on the African safari on Dec 1 where it would play four Tests and 10 one-day internationals in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The World Cup begins Feb 8.Yawar said there would be tough work for the boys in Bhurban “as the boys would spent time in football ground, gymnasium and training centre.”Yawar said irrespective of the current situation, he remains a big advocator of central contracts “that keeps the players tied up and allows the management to decide which players to play and whom to rest.”Yawar said most of the teams had players on its contracts and it was time Pakistan also followed in the footsteps of those countries.”These are streamlining procedures and should be introduced. I made the recommendations 12 months ago and will again plead a case with the new director once he settles down. But the decision, of course, will be taken by the top hierarchy.”

Auckland proved deserving winners of the first State Championship and were clearly the most consistent side of the summer.Any season in which the members of the national side are taken out of the home first-class programme is going to be hard to match in terms of individual and team performances.But, despite the lack of CLEAR Black Caps on the scene, there had to be cause from satisfaction from the results achieved.To have four teams still in contention with two rounds left was a fine effort and while it was going to take a mathematical miracle, or should that be improbability, for Wellington to get up and beat Auckland in the last round, the interest was there until the end.The first year of the State Championship started out as if it was going to be dogged by the most frustrating summer weather in recent memory. While it didn’t always affect specific matches, it did hinder the preparation of players for first-class play on their respective club scenes and it has to be said that the standards of play before Christmas reflected this.Compounding this situation was the poorer quality of pitches at most venues. The continual moisture and lack of drying winds and sun meant that it was well into the New Year before conditions were anything like those which could normally be expected.While no-one leapt out of the competition and said their performances demanded they be given a place in the national side, there was evidence that the return to two full rounds of play was bearing fruit in terms of application by batsmen over longer periods of time.And while bowlers were given the best of starts to the summer and dominated through the earlier stages even more than might normally have been the case, there were encouraging developments in this area.Overall, it must be wondered how much longer the national selectors can continue to downplay the efforts of the Central Districts pace attack of Michael Mason, Andrew Schwass, Lance Hamilton and Brent Hefford. Should there be another invitation for the New Zealand A team to travel to India later in the year some of these players must be considered.Sadly, no dominant performances were seen to suggest any alleviation of the opening batting situation, although the late form of Northern Districts’ James Marshall suggests an improvement on that effort next summer could yet be his ticket to international honours and giving New Zealand the first twins in Test cricket since Steve and Mark Waugh completed the feat.Equally, no spinner emerged during the summer to suggest there is any significant advance in the spinning quality available. Spin bowling should be the one area that is truly advancing with the greater opportunities for players but any trend will have to wait until next season.A team by team review follows:Auckland:It’s not generally the case that a side which has a significant turnover of players carries on to win a championship, but that was the case for Auckland this year. And in the process of ushering in new talent, and providing more chances for younger players tried in earlier years, Auckland is in the process of developing a considerable power base.Tim McIntosh (524 runs at an average of 32.75) and Rob Nicol (489 at 44.45) were the most obvious examples of this while Nick Horsley produced a late run with a maiden century to end the year on 315 runs at 28.63.Ten centuries were scored and with international players Mark Richardson and Matt Horne scoring two each, the example was set for the younger players and by the end of the summer it had to be said something had rubbed off.Winning championships is about scoring runs, and Auckland certainly did that. It would be fair to say that there was some inconsistency still in performances but if Auckland tighten up next summer they will be an even more formidable proposition.Auckland didn’t have individual players who took the competition by storm, but they had a core of players capable of producing performances as they were required. Andre Adams was the most successful with 31 wickets at 19.45 while Chris Drum (28 at 10.71!) and Brooke Walker (28 at 24.75) were next in line. Backing them up were Tama Canning with 24 and Gareth Shaw, who played only five games, taking 21.This support gave Walker good options to choose from in games and it had to be said he used it well.Summary: This should only be the start for Auckland. Their side has a formidable look to it and the potential is there for it to become a dominant force in future seasons – and that has to be good for New Zealand cricket overall.Wellington:Wellington’s failure to hold its title from last summer came down to one fact – batting. The rich run harvest of last summer deserted them and only five centuries were scored. Matthew Bell scored more than that on his own last year.It was always going to be tough to follow such an outstanding summer of run scoring, and it has to be wondered how much the lack of runs is attributable to the decline of the Basin Reserve. It is not only the quality of the pitch that is responsible, but also the outfield. It seems the ground is permanently damp and while that may be aesthetically pleasing, it shears value off shots and that has to be a concern.All that aside it is significant that the best performer for the side, although he played only two games was New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming. He averaged 115 while the next highest was 38.75 to Matthew Bell who scored 465 runs.Richard Jones scored most with 576, but he too was down on his performances of the previous summer with his average being 36. Grant Donaldson and James Franklin had cause for moderate satisfaction with their 384 (25.60) and 331 (27.58) respectively. Franklin, laid the groundwork for future consideration as a Test all-rounder with his batting and it will be interesting to see how he shapes next summer.Wellington also lacked the incisive qualities from its attack. Andrew Penn was easily the pick of the bowlers with 40 wickets at 18.05 while Franklin took 27 at 29.70. However, the side’s spinning stocks were not high. Jeetan Patel looked to suffer from the blues as he took only 12 but at a high average of 40.16. The side also missed Iain O’Brien as he showed when coming back at the end of the season at picking up nine wickets at 19.55.Mark Jefferson is still searching for the quality that marked his play when he first arrived on the scene and while he played only three matches for his five wickets, there has to be concern at the way his bowling has declined. Newcomer Luke Woodcock at least offered some hope for Wellington and it will be interesting to see how his play develops.Summary: Wellington face some selection issues now as they ponder their strategy over the next few years and whether investing in younger players is the way ahead. Possibly another season for most but more consistent batting and more incisive bowling is the key.Central Districts:After the winning of the domestic one-day competition the previous year, CD focused, by design or otherwise, on a better effort in the four-day programme and it has to be said there was an advance. The side finished third, and while beaten by Otago in the last round, it has to be said the side made an impact and provided a launching pad for next summer in the Championship.Still, the lack of consistent batting was a flaw. Ben Smith did not enjoy as fruitful a season as he had in last summer. Mathew Sinclair was clearly the class batting act in the side, once returning from Australia. He scored most runs (547) and the best average (53.57).There were only four centuries scored by the side and 11 half centuries, which in terms of the whole competition for the side were not enough.One of the side’s potentially better batsmen David Kelly had a poor summer and scored only 271 runs and was dropped before the end.The bowlers again did best for the side, bowling CD into contention in many matches. When they have more runs to play with they will be even more effective.CD had two of the best performed bowlers in the series in Schwass with 45 at 14.73 and Hamilton 42 at 18.33. Mason came back well from last summer’s horrific broken leg and took 32 wickets at 25.18.Summary: A better summer, but another improvement required, especially in run scoring and spin bowling before Championship hopes can be entertained. But they are distinctly possible.Canterbury:Started the season with much promise, but once into the hurly-burly were just a notch below the top-tier of sides. Canterbury scored enough runs to figure higher in considerations but suffered for a want of bowling options.The emergence of Michael Papps was one of the highlights of the summer overall. His 756 runs at 54 has the hallmark of Canterbury batting down the years written all over it.Chris Harris too, enjoyed another good year with 574 runs at 95.66, no surprises there. But there were only six centuries scored, two each to Harris and Papps and one each to Robbie Frew, another useful performer overall, and Aaron Redmond.Shanan Stewart (396 at 26.40), Peter Fulton (280 at 40) and Gareth Hopkins (413 at 27.53) also offered hope for the future with their batting.But it is bowling issues that Canterbury must address. Wade Cornelius was a genuine contributor fresh from the New Zealand Academy. His 33 wickets at 17.09 were a fine performance, but by the end of it he had succumbed to the stress fracture syndrome plaguing the New Zealand game. Hopefully, he will come back stronger next summer and realise his potential.Paul Wiseman was next highest wicket-taker with 26 but at an average of 32.69 which by his hopes was probably not the sort of return he was seeking. He should be the No 2 spinner in the country but cannot claim that mantle yet. More could probably have been expected of Redmond as well.For all the potential of its fast-medium attack, Canterbury could not claim to have had a satisfying return. Ryan Burson (21), Warren Wisneski (19), Stephen Cunis (10) and Chris Martin (seven) was not the result many would have expected.Summary: More attention to bowling requirements would seem to be top priority for Canterbury. Young players are starting to pay off in the batting area and now the demand must be for incisive bowlers.Northern Districts:Again a side which was capable of better, especially given the runs its best batsmen scored, although it must be said Marshall’s final quota of 706 runs at 39.22 was bolstered by his fine last round double century.To have the ND record of highest innings broken twice within a matter of a week is an indication of the abilities of its players, it is just the consistency that is the problem. Scott Styris hit 662 at 44.13 but after that the next highest scorer was Hamish Marshall, still looking for that maiden first-class century with 443 runs at 27.68.ND probably lacked another two key contributors in the top order in the final outcome. Michael Parlane played six games and scored 373, and over a full season may have made more of a difference while Robbie Hart his 370 at 30.83. But they needed more support and, generally, it wasn’t forthcoming.Among the bowlers, Joseph Yovich had a fine year with 40 wickets and more than 300 overs bowled. That should be testimony to his endurance. Styris backed up his batting with 28 wickets at 17.03. But again consistent support was lacking. Daryl Tuffey took only 17 wickets in nine matches, the same as Ian Butler managed in four.As far as spin bowling was concerned ND was without impact. Bruce Martin took 17 wickets but could have expected more while the question has to be asked why Matthew Hart is not used more? His absence from the bowling crease is one of the more curious aspects of the game in this country. On the basis of what he did bowl, he took six wickets, had the best economy of the bowlers (2.21) and the best average (16.66).Summary: A disappointing summer from a side capable of much better. The side was too inconsistent for its own good. It has both the batting and bowling depth, it is just a case of getting them to sing in the same choir.Otago:The best thing that could be said about Otago’s summer was that it finished with a win. It was the only win, but it was a win. It was a shocker of a summer though. New players have been introduced and it can only be hoped that they put in the hard work over the winter to ensure that when stepping up next summer they are ready to show their worth in full.Much could depend on the role Brendon McCullum plays in the side. He should be the rock around which the foundation is built. He topped the averages at a lowly 32.64, achieved his maiden first-class century with 142. He has the undoubted ability.Chris Gaffaney scored 577 runs during the season, but as his average of 32.05 shows, he could have scored many more. He has the talent. Is it just a case of belief?Craig Cumming too. He scored 503 at 25.15 while Craig Pryor was probably the most consistent player in the side while scoring 423 runs at 28.20. However, they lacked consistent support and the Otago collapses have been too many for comfort during the year.The bowling probably lacked one genuine strike force. Kerry Walmsley did well in seven games to take 32 wickets at 22.43 while Pryor picked up 27, but at a cost of 33.25. David Sewell was there or thereabouts with 26 but at 33.26. The spin option was represented by Nathan Morland in six matches. He took 18 wickets at 24.33.But after that there was not the support to lift the side out of the less than ordinary.Some hard work remains to be done in the off season.Summary: While not quite back to the drawing board, it is vital that Otago develops batting consistency and incisive bowling. It got into enough positions to win games this year but lacked the finish.

His grandfather, Sir Leonard, might have been an opening batsman of legendary proportions, but 25-year-old Ben Hutton made a name for himself with the ball at Shenley as the Sri Lankans suffered at the hands of the Middlesex attack. After getting off to a good start, the tourists were bowled out for 186 as Hutton returned career-best figures of four for 37 off 16 overs.Marvan Atapattu scored 19 of the 22 that were on the board after just three overs, while it took just three-quarters of an hour for the 50 to be posted. Atapattu went on to score 46 from 58 balls while opening partner Sanath Jayasuria was even more savage against the county bowlers with an innings of 52 from 62 balls including seven fours and two sixes.However, when the opening partnership was broken with the total on 81, there was little more resistance to what was not the most potent attack Middlesex could field. With the first Test at Lord’s starting on Thursday, the Sri Lankans would have liked their frontline batsmen to have had much longer at the crease and not succumbed to the medium pace of Hutton, whose father Richard played for England as an all-rounder.Having been bowled out cheaply, however, the Sri Lankan bowlers then hit back. There were two wickets for Charitha Fernando and one for Ruchira Perera as Middlesex slumped to 45 for three.England hopeful Owais Shah halted the slide as he and Irishman Ed Joyce put on a century partnership for the fourth wicket. Shah scored 65 before falling to Eric Upashantha, as did Hutton, first ball, and Paul Weekes. But Joyce remained to the close, 65 not out, at which point Middlesex trailed by eight runs with four wickets in hand.

Signs are that New Zealand’s three main cricket crocks of the just-completed summer, Daniel Vettori, Chris Cairns and Dion Nash, are well down the comeback trail for next season’s competitive year.With a one-day series in Sri Lanka, a tour to Pakistan, a tour to Australia, successive home series against Bangladesh and England and an end of season tour to the West Indies, the fitness of all players is being given a real work out in the off season.Fitness assessments have been completed on all players who played international cricket last summer and while there were some notable injury and illness problems during the year, it is felt the base fitness of those players tested was better than at the same time last year.The fact that no winter tour was held last year, and no tour this year, provided the perfect chance to do some basic fitness assessments while also tailoring individual programmes for the workloads that lie ahead.New Zealand Cricket’s medical liaison officer Gilbert Enoka said today the medical panel was pleased with the base level of fitness, especially of those who survived major injuries and who played for most of the season.”Those who worked soundly last winter on the programme have come through very well,” he said.”This is the second year we have had web site monitors for the players and most of the players have presented themselves in advance of the positions they were in at the same time last year,” he said.Individual programmes will be given to all players after they have enjoyed specific rest periods based on their workloads over the summer.Of the three top players, Vettori, Cairns and Nash, it was Nash who remained of most concern.But Enoka said Nash was, “keen, eager and enthusiastic to put in the work and give it a shot. He’s got work to do but he presented himself well.”It is 18 months since he bowled for a sustained period in international play and if he is to come back it will be in a dual management situation, where he tells us how he is feeling and we assess that with him.”He’s in the same position he was before going to Zimbabwe last year but will have a much more graduated build-up,” he said.Nash had a fantastic attitude to his situation and Enoka said he had obviously decided it was worth putting himself through the mill again and that Nash realised this would probably be the last station before the desert.”Daniel Vettori is shaping up well. We have given him a rest, but he will be resuming his bowling load soon and we will give him two or three ports of call in his return,” he said.This would mean he would be assessed at various times during the winter at the High Performance Centre (HPC) to see how he copes with his bowling load.Enoka thought a return to the CLEAR Black Caps for Sri Lanka was definitely on the cards for Vettori.”But his return will be handled in a much more structured way.”Cairns was shaping up very well.”He walked into the HPC unaided and without a limp and that was great. He is also on a graduated programme which will be conservatively managed.”He is progressing well,” he said.

England have admitted that they are worried by an injury to key all-rounder Craig White prior to Thursday’s Lord’s Test against Pakistan.White was forced to sit out part of the England team’s training session with a stiff back.”We’ll be monitoring it overnight and see how he is in the morning,” confirmed physiotherapist Dean Conway. “It’s something that has bothered him for the last few days and he struggled a bit to get through his bowling.”Certainly the loss of White would be a big blow to the England team. His all-round skills provide crucial balance to the side and he is expected to play a prominent role throughout the summer.Alex Tudor is a possible replacement if White is deemed unfit tomorrow, though with Dominic Cork already included in the squad as an all-rounder, England may decide to play both new call-ups: Ian Ward and Ryan Sidebottom.

Yuvraj Singh has received the Arjuna Award, an Indian government honour to recognise outstanding achievement in sport, from Indian president Pranab Mukherjee in Delhi. Yuvraj is currently preparing to make a comeback to international cricket after recovering from a rare germ-cell cancer.”It’s a special award for me,” Yuvraj said. “I had been nominated few times but finally I got it this time. It’s a proud moment for me and my family. The award will give me a lot of confidence to make a comeback and perform well.”Yuvraj hasn’t played any top-flight cricket since last November but has been picked for the Twenty20s against New Zealand next month and the World Twenty20 as well. He brushed aside doubts over whether he is fit enough for the rigours of top-flight cricket.”Experts are not watching me. They don’t know about my fitness. It’s me who knows what’s going on. It’s me who is feeling it from inside,” Yuvraj said. “I know myself better and I am confident enough to do well in the World Cup in Sri Lanka.”Following chemotherapy in February and March, Yuvraj began training in June. “I am practising hard at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore,” he said. “The experts over there are watching my fitness level. I know what I am doing and I just want to concentrate on my return and playing cricket.”If you look at the last three months, I am really training hard and peaking well. I am looking forward to play my first game after a year.”Yuvraj also insisted that he had enough practice to be ready for the World Twenty20. “I had played three practice games at NCA. I will get some serious match practice in the two matches against New Zealand scheduled September 8 and 11. Then, I would be playing two more practice matches. So, you see, I will be having seven games before the World Cup. I will be having enough match practice.”