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Tim Nielsen, the Australia coach, has taken confidence from Kevin Pietersen’s early talk about the Ashes following his opening game as England captain. The series doesn’t start until next July, but Pietersen said after opening his account against South Africa that “if we play like we played this week, we’ll beat Australia”.”I’m pleased that he is thinking about us already,” Nielsen said in the Age. “We’ve got a couple of big series coming up that are taking up most of our thinking at the moment, but we’re certainly very aware that in 12 months we’ll have an Ashes series on the go, and we’re very much looking forward to it.”Australia have a Test campaign against New Zealand in November followed by home-and-away contests against South Africa before they head to England. Nielsen felt England, who lost the 2006-07 Ashes 5-0, had a lot to improve before they could compete with Australia.”Without wanting to put too much on paper, I reckon it is interesting that he’s coming out and saying that already,” Nielsen said. “There are obviously some things they need to work on. It was a dead rubber and if they want to win the Ashes, they’ve got to win two more Tests than they won in this series, against us in England next year.”

Glamorgan have released batsman Alun Evans and all-rounder Keith Newell.Evans made his Glamorgan debut in 1996 after a spell on the M.C.C.groundstaff. In 1998 he made his maiden first-class hundred against CambridgeUniversity and the following year Evans recorded a century in the National League gamewith Derbyshire at Cardiff.Newell joined Glamorgan in 1999 after spendingfour years with Sussex. He subsequently appeared in many of the county`sone-day games, and was their regular opener in 2001 when Glamorgan wonDivision Two of the Norwich Union League.Glamorgan would like to thank both players for their contributions, andwishes them well in the future.

John Bracewell, New Zealand’s coach, has defended the role played by his coaching team during the 2-0 Test series defeat by England.”It’s an interesting debate, and I’m sure it will be debated long and hard by whoever wants to debate it, especially between All Blacks tests. It’ll fill in some time,” he said. “It’s an imponderable. The nature of cricket is not a structured game like other games where you put the play on the whiteboard and you go and play it.”You get the situation where, this is our gameplan, but do I decide or does he [the batsman] decide whether it’s a half-volley or not? Do I decide or does he decide whether he’s going to get forward or back?”Asked about the failure of the New Zealanders to cope with the swing of James Anderson in the first innings at Trent Bridge – Anderson ended up with seven wickets – Bracewell said it wasn’t through lack of planning.”We talked about what we learned from [Kevin] Pietersen’s innings, he tried to present a full face and we felt that was the best strategy to play straight, and we had two guys [Aaron Redmond and Brendon McCullum] play across the line in the first 10 overs and have their off pole pulled out of the ground … you can put all the plans in place, but then who applies them?”Bracewell added that there was also no reason that the tail failed to offer support to Jacob Oram, who was left unbeaten on 50. “We failed to adapt and support a guy who was striking the ball pretty cleanly,” he said. “We knew what our gameplan was, we talked about it, playing a little straighter, not chasing full and wide balls, and supporting in a partnership role. Once we moved out into the middle and the training wheels came off, so did all the wheels. We chased wide half volleys and got sucked into width and failed to support a player who could have got us into a point where we were competitive.”He went on to say that some of the side were not psychologically tough enough. “Some are, some aren’t, that’s the nature of any team. Some of them are pretty tough nuts. Some of them are learning to be tough, and some of them are just our best players and they have their foibles and weaknesses.”

Ajit Bhalchandra Agarkar did not gift the world a new battingphilosophy with his memorable hundred at Lord’s on Monday. He onlyreiterated the importance of being earnest, a virtue last stated withwitty originality by the peerless Oscar Wilde.

The 24-year-old talented chose his moment well. Hissupreme cricketing achievement after all came on a day when thereputation of India’s most famous dream factory – Mumbai’s ownBollywood – took another beating after transcripts of tapedconversations revealed fresh evidence of its connections with theunderworld. On the field at Lord’s, meanwhile, India were at thereceiving end of what was threatening to turn into a demoralisingthrashing.But far from showing any signs of agitation in the midst of thisturbulence, an earnest Agarkar, showing unstinting commitment, kepthis head for once and let the strokes flow. After arriving at thebatting crease on the fourth evening, he made a cautious start,scoring only six runs off his first 35 balls. But the return of newboy Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff to the bowling crease foundAgarkar changing gears, one searing cut shot and a series of copybookdrives taking him to within earshot of senior partner VVS Laxman.From then on, these were to be his favourite shots. Taking a distinctliking to the English bowlers and their short-of-a-length deliveries,he scored as many as 38 runs in the region between point and thirdman. Jones was the main culprit as far as England were concerned,conceding as many as 15 of these runs. Drives and pick-up shotsbetween mid-off and mid-wicket for their part yielded 42 runs,speaking eloquently about Agarkar’s willingness to hit the ball -often over the infield – when it was up to be hit.As much as his wagon-wheel speaks about his strokes, it also speaksabout where England erred in their bowling on Monday. On a belter of abatting wicket that actually got flatter as the game progressed,bowling short of a length on the fifth day was simply begging to behit. The bounce was even and true, and Agarkar, with his quick eye,could do no wrong under such circumstances.England erred in line as well. Many of the deliveries bowled toAgarkar were not only short but also outside the off-stump, giving thebatsman room to free his arms and play his strokes. Bowling closer tothe batsman’s body may have seen an intended cut fly to slip or chopthe ball onto the stumps, but it was not to be, and the English attackwas accordingly flayed.The shots were all played with lovely timing and considerable elan -facets of Agarkar’s batting that came to the fore in his famous 21-ball 50 against Zimbabwe at Rajkot in December 2000. But sadly beforeSunday, this was all lost upon a Test arena that only knew him as abatsman with a famous penchant for ducks. His invigorating hundred atstarchy Lord’s was timely penitence for the gross injustice that hehad done to his undoubted batting talents on the big stage until now.

India’s batting, especially the incendiary strokeplay of opener Virender Sehwag, has dominated the minds of South Africa’s management during the past few days.As Sehwag flayed England’s bowlers to all corners on Sunday night, they worried about how to prevent a repeat performance in the first semi-final today.With the pitch expected to be another sub-continental featherbed, the South African bowlers know that victory will most probably depend on how they bowl to India’s star-studded batting line-up. If, like England, they buckle under the pressure of an early onslaught then the match will be quickly lost.South African skipper Shaun Pollock said: “From what I saw he (Sehwag) played superbly and looked at the top of his game.”We are going to have to bowl well against all the Indian batters, they have a great line-up. The key will be getting some early wickets and getting into their batting.”According to Pollock they have done their homework: “We have analysed them and have a game plan that we want to implement. We will have different options for different situations. Up front you have got to believe that you can get them out, but if they get in you have got to bowl differently.”Unfortunately for South Africa, they are struggling with injuries.”There are a few injury concerns which are not ideal but the physio is on top of it. We think that Allan (Donald) and Jonty (Rhodes) will be fine. Nicky (Boje) and Alan Dawson will have fitness tests later today,” Pollock said.Boje is expected to be ruled out later today because of the hairline fracture he sustained in the West Indies game. Dawson only has an outside chance of playing, having not bowled a ball since straining his calf against Kenya.Donald, however, looks set to play despite being troubled by an old ankle injury that has flared up during the tour. The injury has dogged him in recent years, requiring six monthly cortisone injections, but Donald believes that he will be able to bowl if the ankle is heavily strapped.”It goes through phases, sometimes there is pain and sometimes there isn’t,” said Donald “Yesterday I had it strapped up and there was no problem at all.”South Africa have called up two replacements as cover, 37-year-old fast bowler Steve Elworthy and uncapped spinner Robin Peterson. Both arrived on Monday morning and started training immediately. After participating in the recent Australia A series they are match fit and both could play.Elworthy is a safer option with the new ball than Makhaya Ntini and has the advantage of swinging the ball, an important asset here in Sri Lanka, especially under lights during the humid evenings. All-rounder Justin Ontong and Peterson are competing for Boje’s place.Despite the threat of India’s batting and injuries, Pollock remained upbeat about his side’s chances: “India have played well and it should be a great game. This is the business end of the tournament and this is where we have to produce the goods.”I think we have the personnel,” he added. “We are pretty confident. We played nicely against Kenya and had a bit of a squeaker against West Indies, which was nice as it prepared us for a closely-fought game.”South Africa:Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Boeta Dippenaar, Jacques Kallis, Jonty Rhodes, Dale Benkenstein, Justin Ontong, Mark Boucher (wk), Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock (capt), Nicky Boje, Alan Dawson, Allan Donald, Makhaya Ntini, Steve Elworthy, Robin Peterson.India:Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly (capt), Dinesh Mongia, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Kaif, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Jai Prakash Yadav, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra.

RAWALPINDI, April 23: As overnight rain and cloudy skies Tuesday brought temperatures down, Pakistan’s pace ace Shoaib Akhtar was still sizzling and said he would be going all-out to break the 100-mile barrier in Wednesday’s second day-night One-day International against New Zealand.While making it clear that taking five wickets in each match was more important for him than the speed record, he said he would however give it a shot.”I’ll try to achieve that with the fourth ball of my third over and then again the third delivery of the fourth over,” he said on the eve of the match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.Shoaib, 26 was recorded to have bowled one at a speed of 98.9 miles in the recent Sharjah Cup. But Rawalpindi provides him his best opportunity yet to achieve the feat in front of his hometown fans.”The kind of pitches we have at home suit me but then weather I am able to break the barrier or not, the bottom line is that I am enjoying my cricket.”

Worcestershire County Cricket Club have awarded David Leatherdale a Benefit Year in 2003 following a long and distinguished career with the Club he first played for in 1988.Aged 34, `Lugsy’ was capped in 1994 and has scored over 9,000 first class and over 3,400 one day runs for the County. A genuine allrounder, he has taken over 200 wickets in all forms of cricket including 5-9 against Durham earlier this season in the Norwich Union League.Chief Executive Mark Newton said, "The award of this Benefit Year is a tribute to David’s long and successful career with the County and I feel sure the Worcestershire Cricketing Public will support him well."

What a great pleasure it was to visit the newly founded Lahore Cricket Academy housed within a beautiful country club, on the eve of the finals of Lahore Veterans Cricket Championship. Apart from the players and officials of Lahore Whites and Lahore Blues the two finalists, about 150 more guests drove all the way from Lahore to attend the gorgeous function.Lahore Veterans-Final:
After an exciting game, Lahore Whites that included at least half a dozen former players of test/national level like Azhar Khan, Ashraf Ali, Saadat Ali, Ali Zia, Ali Ahmed and others, defeated the `Blues’ by 9 runs to clinch the championship. The trophy was awarded by Mr Asadullah Khan Sherazi, GM of the sponsors in Pakistan in his capacity as the Chief Guest.

The credit for arranging such a colorful function goes to Ashiq Qureshi, a devout lover of the game and a highly competent cricket organizer who is the heart and soul behind Lahore Veteran’s cricket. A pleasant and popular figure in cricket circles, his PR has no bounds.

Imbued with the fragrance of sincerity and friendship, he invites people with such a combination of humility and courtesy that no one dare decline! The verbal invitations are supplemented by hand-delivery of cards followed by confirming acceptance on the telephone and if that’s not enough, making a polite transport offer to carry the guests to the venue, in case some one is unable to manage on his own. This is perhaps the extreme in hospitality and I am sure, if there were more people like him in the world there would be no conflicts and controversies.

Despite the scorching summer heat the guests kept arriving after regular intervals. The presence of so many people at a holiday resort located in the wilderness near Muridke, about 25 miles north of Lahore was, however, a matter of real joy. The beautiful landscape adorned with modern facilities in such a desolate place almost neutralized the hostility of the unfavorable weather. A delicious Chinese lunch was served while the beverage company’s hospitality continued from beginning to end. Their slogan of `Enjoy’ was capitalized fully by the guests. After the prize distribution the guests were entertained with a sumptuous high tea that marked the end of a delightful function.Before this event the LCC had organized a knockout Tournament sponsored by a Telecom company and 8 local teams participated. The Slazenger team won the trophy by defeating the Global Telecom team by 6 runs. Last winter a `young Asians’ team from Nottingham had visited Pakistan and played cricket matches at the LCC.Lahore Cricket Academy and Country Club:
Notwithstanding the drawback of a turn-around distance of 70 km from Lahore and enormous traffic jams en-route, the emergence of a verdant country club that houses the cricket academy is a refreshing addition to Lahore’s sphere of outdoor entertainment. The brainchild of Mr Shujaat Ali, an ardent cricket lover who runs a tour and travel business in England, the surrounds and facilities can be counted as one of the most modern in Pakistan. His ambitious plans when fully implemented may even raise its status to top of the line.

Feeling that 100 acres of agricultural land near Muridke were lying unused while he was settled in England, he chalked out the plan of creating a sports complex with recreational facilities in a manner that would even attract foreign visitors apart from the elite of Lahore. Well, over 6 years of devotion and a huge investment is ready to bear fruit and bear witness to his dream.Located in green rural surroundings, it’s more like a dream-palace in the wilderness and for its size and the number of facilities; it excels all clubs in the country. Its many acres of landscaped gardens are studded with hundreds of ornamental trees and fruit orchards.Reflecting the modernisms of the new millennium, the club has an office equipped with all that’s needed, telecommunications, computers, email, the internet and even a website of its own. It offers international standard accommodation in the form of independent villas and a 35-bed hotel, for those who want to get away from noisy city life and spend some time amidst a calm, quiet and fascinating rural setting. Restaurants, sauna, swimming pools, walkways, horse-riding and lakes are all there to enjoy.Apart from a unique blend of unrivaled health, fitness, sports, social and cultural facilities the real focus is on the game of cricket. A full size cricket ground with the requisite number of pitches and well-furnished dressing rooms are excellent for holding domestic cricket and other local matches. Soon, with the creation of a pavilion and spectator stands it may turn into a suitable venue for staging international matches.

Intikhab Alam, a former Pakistan Captain and Coach runs the Lahore Cricket Academy. He is responsible for controlling and organizing all types of cricket activity at the academy. It is especially designed for young cricketers eager to learn the game and achieve international fame. The aim is to unearth, develop and hone young talent into winning material. The academy desires to coach promising youngsters in the finest traditions of cricket and the highest spirit of sportsmanship.The academy offers a full range of specialized cricket coaching, through modern coaching clinics using state-of-the-art techniques and is supervised by qualified coaches. It envisages grooming youngsters further by arranging cricket matches against recognized teams. Though the academy basically caters for the age group of 9 – 19 years, there is no bar on those above this age.Apart from 8 nets meant for coaching and practice for the trainees, bowling and fielding machines have been provided to optimize their standards of learning. To cope with different types of playing conditions, a mixture of tracks like a turning wicket, a quick wicket, a flat wicket etc have been prepared. A gymnasium equipped with the latest exercise machines is also available.

In line with the most modern training institutions, the academy also caters for physiotherapy facilities to keep it’s students fit at all times, the services of a nutritionist to chalk out balanced diet programs and a psychologist to help improve performance and productivity under pressure.In addition to celebrity coaching clinics by Pakistani Test stars, social evenings with present and past test players and other cultural programs are organized.Special program: Expatriate children coaching and trials
In a latest move towards promotion of cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board has opened the avenues for Pakistani expatriates to send their children to Pakistan for cricket coaching and training. Recognizing the fact that the Lahore Cricket Academy possesses all the modern facilities to handle the project, the PCB has authorized the Academy to organize the arrival and stay of youngsters coming to Pakistan followed by their coaching. Trials of those who catch the eye will be arranged for local teams and even for the National team. One can think of no better opportunity for Pakistani families living abroad who have young children keen to become the next Wasim Akrams or Saeed Anwars!To add to the overall attraction and have families visit, there are recreation spots like a fishing lake, horse riding, cycling and jogging tracks, swimming pools, tennis courts, picnic spots, children’s playing areas, farm houses, billiard rooms and restaurants. Future plans envisage the installation of floodlights at the cricket ground, the creation of a 9-hole golf course and other sports facilities.As the famous saying goes `Rome was not built in a day’. So is it here, and shall take some more time to develop fully. Already equipped with the most modern facilities in the backdrop of a rural landscape, it’s an excellent place for family visits apart from the cricket. While club membership at a large scale might take some time to grow, the cricket activity will not take long to flourish. Under the able guidance of Intikhab Alam, the academy is likely to remain the busiest institution with the training and coaching courses run one after the other. With the close cooperation of PCB, the cricket ground can also be permanently listed as venue for domestic cricket matches.

England A collected more bonus points today after skipper Mark Alleyne madehis first half-century in the Busta Cup against Windward Islands in StLucia.

His innings gave England A a lead of 79 runs over their opponents butweather permitting, they will have to double their total from 208 for sixtomorrow to gain the outright win they need from this match to make sure oftheir semi-final place.More rain fell over the Mindoo Phillip ground in Castries allowing just 76overs to be bowled on the second day and it was an offer of bad light thatfinally forced Alleyne and his partner Chris Read off the field with anotherrain-affected day forecast tomorrow.Alleyne’s 50 came off 97 balls and included three fours and a big six pulledthrough mid-wicket off pace bowler Fernix Thomas, who later retired hurtafter dropping the ball and falling onto it, twisting his knee in theprocess.Not only did his innings signal a welcome return to form for the captain butit also brought stability to England A’s middle order after a rocky start totheir reply which at one point saw the tourists struggling at 69 for four.Ian Ward showed he is not invincible when trying to dig out a yorker fromShane Shillingford, he was bowled having made 25 and John Crawley who lookedset fair for a big score was caught behind for 23 off the main strike bowlerThomas.Usman Afzaal was run out by a fine return throw from cover and ChrisSchofield, having provided a contrasting style to the smooth and steadyAlleyne to form a useful 45-run partnership, was bowled to leave England Afive wickets down and still 16 runs short of the 130 target needed for firstinnings bonus points.But Graeme Swann, who had earlier taken the last three Windward wickets in15 deliveries to wrap up the innings for 129, joined Alleyne and played withcalm assurance. With a drive through extra cover for four, he took England Apast the target and from that point on, the runs started to flow moreeasily.He pulled Deighton Butler over mid-wicket for six and picked off quicksingles to rattle up 48 runs propelling his side towards 200 but two runsshort of his half-century, he received a delivery from spinner Orlanzo Jacksonthat was pushed to silly mid off. The umpire raised his finger and Swanndeparted though was later surprised to find he had been adjudged lbw ratherthan caught.”It’s gone well today,” said Swann who joined the tour three weeks ago inGrenada after his county colleague Jason Brown left to take up England dutyin Sri Lanka.”It was good to get those quick wickets this morning and then get some runson the board this afternoon. I haven’t bowled that well on this tour,compared to how I can bowl, but I’m pretty happy with the way things aregoing. It was good to get a five-for and mop up the tail.”I didn’t realise I was two runs of a half-century until I came off thefield. But I felt good when I was batting and it was a shame to find I hadbeen given out leg before but it is just one of those things.””It started well this morning but we didn’t start well with the bat butrallied around at the end to finish 79 ahead which is a good position to bein. We have a good chance of winning now if we can push on tomorrow and get200 ahead perhaps.”The way we have been bowling sides out means we can back ourselves to winthis game,” Swann said.

ScorecardOwais Shah was in fine form as Essex turned a first-innings deficit into a sizeable lead•PA Photos

A commonplace remark was made after Andrew Strauss announced his retirement last week. It was that Owais Shah, when a young cricketer making his way alongside Strauss with Middlesex, was the better prospect.If coaches and colleagues speculated which of the two might play in 100 Test matches, they settled on the right-hander with an array of shots not seen since Mark Ramprakash was attracting similar notices.Strauss has had the stellar career, but at least Shah is still playing. His has been a mixed and wet summer, but that has been the case with so many batsmen. A century against Glamorgan, one half-century and a string of twenties and thirties until he came out to bat here with Essex still in arrears as a result of insufficient runs in their first innings. A second, unbeaten century was the upshot, one brimming with fluent drives in easier conditions than on the first day.How Essex required this contribution, even if they had done markedly well to restrict Hampshire to a first-innings lead of only 49, taking their remaining six wickets in the morning for just 64 runs. When Tom Westley was held at second slip, playing away from his body at David Balcombe, Shah’s side were in need of a long partnership. He and Jaik Mickleburgh provided one.They put on 193 in 60 overs for the second wicket. Why Shah has not achieved more is a judgement best left to the likes of Graham Gooch and Keith Fletcher. Suffice to say he is still a delight to watch. Having reached a half-century off 72 balls with ten fours, he struck Liam Dawson, who in the absence of Danny Briggs was given a supportive spin role to the medium pacers, straight for six and then, next ball, drove him along the ground to the long-on boundary. There were some low-slung pulls and the running between the wickets was eager.His century came up with his 18th four, driven past mid-off. Sean Ervine was the hapless bowler. At this point Shah had double Mickleburgh’s tally – 100 to 52 – but that was just as well. The situation required one of the batsmen to accumulate, or, if nothing else, simply to stay in. Too many Essex wickets have fallen too cheaply in this match and plenty more runs will be required on the third day. Mickleburgh was finally caught at slip off Simon Katich’s underused unorthodox left-arm spin, having made 73 off 206 balls with ten fours.What to make of the pitch? As with most cut by Nigel Gray this season, it has played better after the first three or four sessions. At the outset, grass is left on for the benefit of the side winning the toss.Reece Topley, bowling from the pavilion end, took three wickets in quick succession upon resumption in the morning, having James Vince caught behind, Bilal Shafayat at gully without addition and Michael Bates leg-before aiming to mid-on.David Balcombe was leg-before to Maurice – pronounced with felicitation by John White, the tannoy announcer – Chambers; Ervine, having made 43, was held at deep square leg and Hampshire, all in all, had batted only a little less indifferently than Essex, at a time when they have to extend their splendid form in one-day cricket into the first-class game if they are to be promoted.